Note: As of January 1, 2023, option 2c regarding male goats imported from any premises in the USA (i.e. of unknown scrapie status) was removed from the import policy “Requirements for Small Ruminants Imported from the United States for Breeding, Domestic or Captive Purposes” . Therefore, new temporary enrollments under this program no longer apply to this category of imported animals. Any requirements in this program that apply to males previously imported under option 2c (for example, being kept separate from females and lambs) still apply, and any new requirements for all males in the herd also apply to imported males.
Participation in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP) is optional. The program is designed to give producers a means of detecting and controlling scrapie within their flock/herd, resulting in recognition that the risk of their animals being infected with scrapie diminishes to negligible with progressive participation in the program. A sheep or goat producer can join the SFCP provided that the producer agrees to adhere to the program rules. The program certifies flocks/herds with respect to classical scrapie only, and does not cover “atypical” scrapie which is clinically, pathologically, biochemically and epidemiologically unrelated to classical scrapie. Atypical scrapie may, in fact, be a non-contagious, spontaneous degenerative condition of older sheep. As such, throughout this document, when the term “scrapie” is used, it refers to classical scrapie only.
Since there is no test to rule-out the disease in the individual live animal, “scrapie-negligible-risk” status is based on the results of surveillance testing carried out on deadstock, screening the flock/herd for presence of disease, removing genetically susceptible animals, restricting animals entering the flock/herd, practicing good biosecurity to limit both direct and indirect transmission via saliva, urine, feces, blood and birthing fluids, and the absence of clinical signs.
The Program involves limiting acquisitions to animals (male and female) from similar or higher status flocks/herds and ongoing surveillance through the submission of all deadstock for scrapie testing. The program includes seven levels, from the entry (level E) to the certified level, with the addition of a higher level of certified plus. The certified plus level is for flocks or herds which desire to be recognized as more fully aligned with WOAH requirements. A minimum of five years (one year each at level E, D, C, B, A) is necessary to reach the certified level. A minimum of 7 years, along with additional sampling requirements is necessary to reach the certified plus level.
The SFCP is used for trade between owners/ farm operators within Canada, for export outside of Canada, and for individual risk mitigation on enrolled farms.
The SFCP is carried out in co-operation with producers, accredited veterinarians, national stakeholder organizations, provincial governments, approved laboratories and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The roles assumed by each of these organizations may vary in different regions of Canada.
This role and the associated responsibilities will be assumed by the CFIA in all situations. The CFIA is responsible for the development, using a consultative process, of national (minimum) standards for a scrapie flock certification program. Modifications and updates to these standards will be undertaken as required. The CFIA is responsible for providing the current national standards to the organizations responsible for regional administration. (See point 1.2 below.)
Where the regional administration is assumed by organizations other than the CFIA, it is the CFIA’s responsibility to review any scrapie flock certification program proposed for the specific region of Canada and determine equivalency to the published national scrapie flock certification program standards. International negotiation for recognition of the program and endorsement of export certification by the CFIA will only be done for those scrapie flock certification programs judged by the CFIA to meet the national standards.
The CFIA is responsible for conducting audits of program design and implementation to verify that the scrapie flock certification program in a particular region of Canada meets the national standards.
The CFIA is responsible for the design and implementation of a quality assurance program for non-CFIA laboratories performing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) testing, and laboratories providing genotyping for scrapie susceptibility. All confirmatory testing on suspect or positive scrapie tissue samples will be performed by a CFIA laboratory. In the case of a confirmed positive animal, the CFIA will implement the National Scrapie Eradication Program, the official disease control program of Canada. Discrepancies between genotyping results from two laboratories will be subject to final genotype testing by a CFIA laboratory.
The CFIA is responsible for ensuring a publicly accessible report (e.g. published on a website) of all enrolled flocks and herds and their status is maintained. This report will be updated on a quarterly basis.
This role and the associated responsibilities may be assumed by a national or provincial industry group, the provincial government or the CFIA Program Network. The regional administrator is responsible for overseeing enrolment and membership in the scrapie flock certification program for a particular region of Canada, including the following:
The role of assessor of flock/herd status may be assumed by a national or provincial industry group, the provincial government or the CFIA district office. The status assessor is responsible for the following:
Program delivery is carried out by a veterinarian accredited by the CFIA. A CFIA veterinarian or a veterinarian who is an employee of a provincial department that is the status assessor or regional administrator may also carry out program delivery, and can be substituted anywhere the services of an accredited veterinarian is required in the standards. The inventory portion of the initial or annual report may be conducted by an accredited veterinarian, an animal health technician supervised by the accredited veterinarian, a CFIA veterinarian, or staff of a provincial department or agency that is the status assessor or regional administrator.
Veterinary practitioners are authorized (that is, accredited) by the CFIA or the appropriate provincial government to perform inspections, to take samples for diagnostic or genotyping purposes and to check records.
For details on how to obtain accreditation, please refer to Module 1.2 of the Accredited Veterinarian’s Manual or contact your local CFIA District Office.
The accredited veterinarian must sign the application form completed by the owner.
If the owner decides to stop doing business with the accredited veterinarian who signed the original application form, the new accredited veterinarian must be asked to sign a copy of the form, or – if the situation has changed – a new application form.
In rare instances where a flock or herd has been subject to CFIA disease control actions as a result of being declared positive for scrapie, a CFIA veterinarian may act as the program delivery person for the SFCP during the CFIA’s mandatory follow-up period for deadstock surveillance.
Program delivery personnel are responsible for the following:
Laboratory approval is accompanied by training and the implementation of a quality assurance program established by the CFIA. A member of the laboratory staff must have taken CFIA training in order to be able to supervise scrapie tests and ensure that the quality assurance program is followed. Laboratories providing diagnostic testing services for the SFCP are responsible for the following:
In this program, an owner is a person who owns the premises and the animals on the premises. A producer is a person who has responsibility for the care and handling of all animals on a premises; this person may or may not be the owner.
The owner of a flock/herd wishing to enrol in the SFCP is responsible for the following:
The flock/herd owner contacts the local CFIA district veterinarian to determine the organization responsible for the SFCP in the region in which the flock/herd is located.
The owner contacts the SFCP regional administrator and requests an application package.
An application package is completed and submitted to the organization responsible for status assessment. The application must be accompanied by the following:
*Except for when an owner joins under the temporary enrolment option, which exists for owners who do not have any sheep or goats on their property, and are confirmed to be eligible to import by the CFIA, and will be importing sheep or goats from the U.S. to start their flock/herd. The owner must complete a full initial animal inventory, conducted by their SFCP accredited veterinarian, and submit it within 30 days of importing (along with any other remaining paperwork required by the regional administrator/status assessor).
Accelerated admission to more advanced levels of the SFCP may be possible for flocks/herds which have met all program requirements for a number of years prior to application or are from a program considered equivalent in terms of risk reduction. If all animals are not considered to be of the same status at time of enrollment, the flock/herd will be assigned that of the lowest status animal.
A flock/herd that has been subject to the CFIA’s National Scrapie Eradication Program may be admitted to the certification program at the entry level (level E) of the SFCP provided all scrapie eradication program requirements have been completed, and any declarations of infected place or quarantines have been removed.
Owners who will be starting a new flock/herd with acquired animals of status D or higher and who intend to keep that status will need to follow all regular application form protocols as above, but in addition, provide a letter (written by the owner) stating that the premises where the flock will reside meets one of the following conditions:
In cases where owners will be starting a new flock/herd with acquired animals all of status D or higher and they intend to keep that status on a premises that, within the last 10 years, has previously contained (or it is unknown whether it has previously contained) small ruminants, all regular application form protocols as above will need to be followed, and the owner will agree to follow the approved cleaning and disinfection protocol for the SFCP under the supervision of their accredited veterinarian prior to stocking any animals on the property. To retain the higher status, it will be necessary for the accredited veterinarian to certify to the administrator that the cleaning and disinfection has been done in a satisfactory manner prior to stocking the animals on the premises. In cases where the acquired herd/flock has animals of different statuses, the status assigned to the new herd/flock will be that of the lowest status animal. For example, if animals were previously kept separate from the main herd/flock, they may have a lower status. Flock/herd owners successfully enrolling in the SFCP and quitting the SFCP within the same 24-month period will not be permitted to re-enrol in the SFCP for a period of three years from their date of departure from the program (subject to appeal).
In addition, flock/herd owners who obtain temporary enrolment and do not complete the requirements for full enrolment in the SFCP will not be permitted to re-enrol in the SFCP for a period of three years from their date of acceptance for temporary enrolment (subject to appeal).
An owner may apply to have the certification status of the flock/herd upgraded if the following conditions are met:
To upgrade the certification status of the flock/herd, the owner must submit a request. The owner must submit the annual report, documenting all requirements have been met, that would make them eligible for advancement to the status assessor for review and approval. The report must be completed and signed by the owner and the accredited veterinarian on record.
The status assessor reviews the annual report and approves advancement, or identifies deficiencies that prevent advancement.
When deficiencies are identified, the status assessor may require that the current level be maintained until the deficiencies are addressed, or that the status of the flock/herd be downgraded or suspended. The decision is documented to the program participant and copied to the accredited veterinarian and the regional administrator.
Owners successfully participating in the SFCP (at level E or above) who have purchased one or more animals (male or female) from a non-enrolled or level E flock/herd, resulting in downgrading to status E (or penalty to remain at level E), will not be permitted to introduce additional animals (males or females) from non-enrolled or level E flocks/herds for a period of three years from the date of their previous introduction or downgrading within the program (subject to appeal).
Once the certified level is reached, an owner may choose to keep the flock/herd at certified level, or may apply for advancement to the certified plus level if the additional requirements are met.
Once a flock/herd has attained the certified level, or certified plus level, annual request for renewal of this level is required. To maintain their status of certified or certified plus, the owner must submit an annual report, documenting that all ongoing requirements have been met, to the status assessor for review and approval. The report must be completed and signed by the owner and the accredited veterinarian responsible for the flock/herd.
If the owner of a registered flock/herd contravenes the program rules, the organization responsible for status assessment will temporarily suspend the certification status of the flock/herd, and after reviewing the situation, may reinstate at the same level, downgrade, or revoke the status of the flock/herd and remove it from the program.
An owner whose flock/herd is under review for possible removal from the program will be given the opportunity to submit any relevant information to the status assessor, provided that this is done no later than 30 days after suspension.
Any owner who fails to submit an inspection report within the month following the end of the anniversary quarter will have their flock/herd automatically suspended.
The status assessor will notify the owner and the accredited veterinarian in writing of the reasons for the decision and give the owner the opportunity to appeal within the following 60 days. The notice will include the name and address of the responsible person within the appeal committee as established by the status assessor.
An owner whose flock/herd has been removed from the program due to contravention of program rules may submit a new application after meeting the conditions stipulated in the program. In such a case, the owner must submit satisfactory proof to the status assessor that steps have been taken to ensure that the flock/herd will meet the program requirements in the future. In the case of a flock/herd that is reinstated in the program, the reinstatement level will depend on the reasons for suspension. The flock/herd will not be automatically reinstated at its previous level. In cases where the flock/herd was removed for reasons of information falsification, failure to report to a veterinary inspector that an animal might have scrapie, or any other action that might expose other animals to scrapie, an owner may lose the privilege of registering in the program.
If a participating flock/herd is found to be either infected with, or a source of scrapie, its certification status will be immediately revoked and it will be removed from the program. The flock/herd will be subject to the CFIA’s scrapie eradication program governed by the Health of Animals Act and the Health of Animals Regulations. The flock/herd may re-enroll at the entry level (level E) of the SFCP provided all scrapie eradication program requirements have been completed, and any declarations of infected place or quarantines have been removed.
If it is determined, as part of a CFIA scrapie disease investigation, that scrapie exposed animals may have resided in a SFCP flock/herd, then the flock/herd will have its status immediately suspended and will be subject to CFIA’s scrapie eradication program. The exposed flock/herd’s status is reinstated only once all requirements of CFIA’s scrapie eradication program are complete and all testing is negative. These requirements include genotyping and scrapie testing all genetically susceptible exposed animals. If it is determined that the exposed animals are no longer in the flock and cannot be located and tested, then the corresponding CFIA’s scrapie eradication program requirements for this situation must be followed. If any of the unavailable exposed animals are genetically susceptible breeding animals (male or female), then the flock/herd may only re-enroll at the entry level of the SFCP.
A producer may appeal a decision regarding advancement or downgrading in the event of an incomplete or unsatisfactory application for advancement. A producer may also appeal a temporary suspension or a revocation of registration, but not both.
The results of all reports, including information on registrations, tests, suspensions, revocations, and changes in status, are distributed to the owner, the accredited veterinarian and the CFIA district veterinarian.
The regional administrator will maintain a list of all flocks and herds enrolled in the program, along with the pathway and their current level, on the Scrapie Canada website. Flock/herds for which a report is not submitted to the status assessor within the prescribed time will be identified on the website as being suspended.
The regional administrator publishes on their website a list of all enrolled flocks and herds, along with their current certification levels.
Records must be kept of feed given to animals, according to the Health of Animals Act and the Health of Animals Regulations.
The SFCP will be reviewed on an annual basis and/or as scientific information becomes available and changes are required.
The certification program must be open to any owner of a premises on which sheep or goats are kept, provided that the owner and the premises meet the program requirements and the owner of the premises has not had the right to participate in the SFCP removed (revoked).
All sheep and goats on a premises must be included in the flock/herd enrolled in the certification program, ownership notwithstanding.
Multiple premises must be listed under the same certification contract if the premises belong to the same owner and are located contiguous to each other.
Multiple premises that are non-contiguous to each other still need to be included under the same certification contract if the small ruminants on the premises meet the definition of established herd.
Multiple non-contiguous premises may be permitted to be enrolled under different certification contracts (i.e. different flocks/herds with separate statuses) if they are not considered an established herd (see definition), including no exchange of animals, and no direct or indirect (shared use of pasture, facilities, equipment) contact of animals.
The flock/herd owner must arrange for the services of an accredited veterinarian (or equivalent) to deliver the SFCP. The accredited veterinarian’s acceptance of their role in implementation of the SFCP within the identified flock/herd is reflected by their signature on the application form.
The owner of a flock/herd must report to their accredited veterinarian any sheep or goat with any clinical sign associated with scrapie and any illness in a sheep or goat over 12 months of age lasting longer than two weeks, except a physical injury. The owner may not dispose of the animal unless the accredited veterinarian determines the signs are not consistent with scrapie. The accredited veterinarian must maintain a written record of each such determination. The accredited veterinarian will be responsible for monitoring the outcome of the case and for reporting the case to the CFIA if scrapie is a differential diagnosis. If CFIA determines the animal may be a scrapie suspect, then CFIA’s scrapie eradication program procedures must be followed. If the flock/herd is found to be infected with scrapie or a source of scrapie, its certification status will be immediately suspended. The flock/herd will be subject to the CFIA’s scrapie eradication program governed by the Health of Animals Act and the Health of Animals Regulations.
All animals aged 12 months or more must be identified with two unique identifiers.
Animals less than 12 months of age must be identified in a manner that enables the owner to track these animals in the flock/herd inventory. All animals aged less than 12 months must be appropriately identified (as required by regulation) when a change in ownership occurs or when the animals are moved outside their usual location (e.g. exhibition, insemination centre, sales barn or auction barn).
The owner must keep detailed flock/herd records of every sheep or goat that is born on or enters the premises, no matter who the owner is or who is responsible for the sheep or goat. The records must be kept for a period of five years after the animal has left the flock/herd or has died. They must be made available to the program delivery person or the CFIA inspector at any reasonable time and must be presented at the time of each annual inventory.
For all animals in the flock/herd, the basic minimum data that must be maintained in records and submitted as part of the annual report includes the following:
Sheep or goat milk, colostrum or their derived products destined for use in sheep or goats may only be sourced from sheep or goats in the same flock/herd or from a flock/herd on the SFCP of greater or equal status as the recipient flock. Sheep or goat milk, colostrum or their derived products from a lower status flock/herd or a flock/herd not enrolled in the program will result in downgrading in status of the recipient flock /herd. Sheep and goat milk and colostrum or their derived products from a scrapie – positive animal, a scrapie suspect animal or a genetically susceptible exposed animal (136AA 171QQ, 136AV 171QQ, 136VV 171QQ, 136AV 171QR) may not be used. Bovine milk and colostrum and their derived products may be used. Appropriate biosecurity standards should be applied when sourcing milk and colostrum from any source including bovine.
Inventories (initial and annual) will be conducted by the accredited veterinarian or an appropriate third party supervised by the accredited veterinarian. The inventory will identify all sheep and goats on the premises. During the inventory inspection, all animals over 12 months of age in the flock/herd must be identified individually (by tag) and the veterinarian must check for any clinical symptoms of scrapie. For extremely large flocks/herds using electronic inventories, all animals over 12 months of age must be identified individually and their identifiers must be physically verified over the course of the year. However, only a statistically significant random sampling must have their identifiers physically verified during the annual inventory inspection. Sampling tables are available upon request. If a flock/herd inspection is performed by a CFIA veterinary inspector for the purposes of the scrapie disease control program, this may replace part or all of the annual inspection by the accredited veterinarian.
The annual report lists the following:
The report must be forwarded to the status assessor within the anniversary quarter in which the certified flock/herd was registered. The status category is effective from the date when the flock/herd is accepted within the program, and the anniversary quarter for subsequent years is the quarter in which the acceptance date falls (Jan. 1-March 31; April 1-June 30; July 1-Sept. 30; Oct. 1-Dec. 31).
*Official documents produced by provincial identification/traceability programs will be accepted as supporting documentation for animals that have moved on and off the premises.
In all cases, the owner is ultimately responsible for clarifying any inventory questions/concerns that may arise during the course of the review of the annual report by the status assessor.
A post-mortem sample for the SFCP always requires two tissues: a brain sample (that includes the obex) and a retropharyngeal lymph node. The medial retropharyngeal lymph node is targeted as it typically remains with the head when removed and is accessible. One lymph node is required to be tested, but submit both to ensure suitable tissue is available. In situations where retropharyngeal lymph nodes are unavailable the mandibular lymph node or tonsil would be accepted.
The head (containing the brain and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes) of the animal may be submitted directly to an approved laboratory by the producer, or the accredited veterinarian may collect brain and lymph node samples for submission to either an approved laboratory or to a CFIA district office to be sent to a CFIA laboratory (as part of the national scrapie surveillance program). The brain and lymph node samples may be collected by a trained third party under the supervision of the accredited veterinarian however, the responsibility of the sample collection and submission is always that of the accredited veterinarian. In all cases, the head (or the samples) should be chilled or frozen immediately.
The owner must contact the laboratory or the accredited veterinarian must contact the CFIA district office in advance before submitting a head. The head must bear animal identification.
A live animal sample for the SFCP requires either a rectal biopsy obtaining a sample of recto-anal mucosal lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) or a third eyelid biopsy obtaining a sample of third eyelid lymphoid tissue. Samples are collected by the accredited veterinarian, or by a trained third party under the supervision of the accredited veterinarian (the responsibility of the sample collection and submission remains with the accredited veterinarian), and subjected to testing for scrapie by a laboratory approved by the CFIA for that purpose. Live animal testing is restricted to animals over 14 months of age and, if sheep, of genotype 171QQ.
If the animal is a scrapie suspect or implicated in a scrapie disease investigation, sampling is done by CFIA and according to National Scrapie Eradication Program procedures.
If a submitted sample results in a scrapie positive test result, action on the flock/herd is per section 2.3 Suspension/Revoking of Registration/Appeals.
A brain and lymph node sample from all sheep or goats over 12 months of age owned by the producer that die or are humanely destroyed, other than those sent for routine slaughter, must be submitted for scrapie testing by a CFIA-approved laboratory.
If the dead animal is not found immediately, or the accredited veterinarian and the laboratory are not available within 36 hours of death, the head (containing the brain and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes) of the animal must be frozen by the owner and submitted as a frozen specimen. Freezing enables the scrapie diagnostic test to be applied to the tissues which otherwise would no longer be suitable for testing.
Animals older than 12 months which are submitted for routine post-mortem may be considered as dead submissions for the annual minimum sampling requirements if tested for scrapie.
Genetically susceptible sheep, or goats over 14 months tested by live-animal sampling or post-mortem sampling (culled, slaughtered animals) may be used to meet the minimum sampling requirement for the Certified Plus level.
Specimens must meet the requirements specified in the diagnostic protocol approved by the CFIA, which guarantees the reliability and accuracy of the results. If an unsuitable specimen is received, the receiving laboratory is to notify the status assessor and accredited veterinarian responsible for the flock/herd. A follow-up of the details of the individual situation will be undertaken with the responsible accredited veterinarian or status assessor. If negligence on the part of the producer is identified as the cause, or this occurrence is repeated, then the program’s requirements are not considered to have been met and the flock/herd will be suspended.
It is not necessary to submit for testing more than five adult animals from a group of animals that die from a common cause, as determined by a veterinarian or veterinary pathologist, within the time frame (not to exceed four weeks) of the same epidemiologically linked episode.
The status assessor should consider the following as automatic exemptions from the requirement to submit, unless the status assessor suspects that the conditions set out were not met or that the exemption is being abused to the detriment of the flock certification program.
A. Destruction of sheep by fire
B. The destruction and carrying away of the head of a sheep by a predator
C. Theft
D. Loss or destruction of the sample when it is no longer in the control of the owner (e.g. by an accredited veterinarian or laboratory). Recognized laboratories should note on reception of the specimen that the obex and/or lymph node is not present and the reason why.
E. Any other reason over which the owner could not reasonably be expected to have control which results in the destruction or disappearance of the body, such as a flood
Genotyping results will be recognized from samples (e.g. blood samples) taken by a veterinarian accredited to deliver the SFCP or a third party under the supervision of a veterinarian accredited to deliver the SFCP (e.g. a technician) and tested at a laboratory approved by the CFIA or a CFIA laboratory. Approved identifiers are required on sheep being genotyped and the official identification number (15 digits) included with the sample submission.
The genotype of 136AA 171RR breeding rams must be determined twice: by using a combination of predictive parentage and testing by a laboratory approved by the CFIA, or a combination of testing at any laboratory and at a laboratory approved by the CFIA. Genotype results with only codon 171 for those animals determined to be 171RR are considered acceptable. This is due to the knowledge that R cannot be found at site 171 in combination with V at site 136 (V at site 136 is linked with Q at site 171).
Accordance between the results of the two separate determinations of genotype is required. In cases of discordance, a separate sample will be taken from the animal and submitted to the CFIA lab for determination of the genotype.
Genotyping two different tissues (blood, hair follicle or buccal swab) should be considered especially for confirming genotype in 136AA 171QR animals due to the phenomenon of blood chimerism. There are limitations of the standard blood sample in this rare situation of a chimeric animal.
Information sharing requires all flock/herd information, including inventories, test results, documents related to purchases and sales of animals or embryos, deaths, to be available to the owner, the CFIA, the status assessor, the regional administrator and the accredited veterinarian. The owner must also agree to allow publication of the status of the flock/herd under the program.
The program includes seven levels (E, D, C, B, A, certified, and certified plus). With the entry level being level E and the highest level being certified plus. Advancement through each level from E to certified occurs annually if all program requirements are met. The owner must make an annual request for advancement or maintenance of the flock/herd status within the SFCP. An annual report including animal inventory and all supporting documentation must be submitted to the status assessor.
A minimum of five years (one year each at level E, D, C, B, A) is necessary for an enrolled flock/herd to reach the certified level. Once a flock/herd has reached the certified level, it maintains this level provided that the applicable requirements continue to be met. All requirements in section 4 and the previous sections must be met.
Two further years, for a minimum of 7 years, and additional sampling minimums are required to advance to the certified plus level. Section 5 details the requirements to advance to the certified plus level.
The status category is effective from the date when the flock/herd is accepted within the program, and the anniversary quarter for subsequent years is the quarter in which the acceptance date falls (Jan. 1-March 31; April 1-June 30; July 1-Sept. 30; Oct. 1-Dec. 31).
A brain and retropharyngeal lymph node sample from all sheep or goats over 12 months of age owned by the producer that die or are humanely destroyed, other than those sent for routine slaughter, must be submitted for scrapie testing by a CFIA-approved laboratory.
One-hundred per cent of animals older than 12 months owned by the producer that die or are humanely destroyed, other than those sent for routine slaughter, are to be submitted for scrapie testing. Animals that are unavailable for testing beyond the automatic exemptions detailed in these standards will be considered as per policy detailed by the status assessor. A program participant who does not agree with the decision of the status assessor may appeal the decision.
a) If no suitable samples have been submitted for testing for a period of time equal to or exceeding 12 months, at least one animal 18 months of age or older, which has resided in the flock/herd for no less than 18 months, is to be humanely destroyed (in any manner: slaughter, euthanasia) and a sample (that includes brain and retropharyngeal lymph node), submitted for testing. If the flock is genotyped, then select a genetically susceptible animal to be humanely destroyed for testing. If humanely destroying an animal for deadstock testing will have a significant impact on the flock or herd due to its small size, a producer may be able to advance using the alternative live animal sampling protocol detailed in d) below.
b) Alternatively if no suitable samples have been submitted for testing for a period of time equal to or exceeding 12 months, an enrolled producer may be permitted to remain on the program without advancing to the next level for one additional year (allowing time to raise an animal for slaughter and testing). For certified producers, they would incur a one year status penalty dropping them from certified to Level A.
c) The annual sampling minimum is waived for genetically resistant flocks, defined as all sheep in the flock with documented proof of 136AA 171QR or 171RR genotype, and all rams of 171RR genotype. The genotype of 136AA 171RR breeding males must be determined twice and the genotype of breeding females must be determined once as described in sections 3.20 and 3.21 under General Rules. All animals owned by the producer that die or are humanely destroyed, other than those sent for routine slaughter, must still be submitted for scrapie testing as per 4.3 and 4.4.
d) Alternative live animal sampling protocol
To be eligible for advancement live animal sampling must include the following:
* foundation flock is the number of test eligible animals present at enrollment, if the number of test eligible animals was not known for a sheep flock upon enrollment (i.e. number of 171QQ sheep) then the total number of animals in the flock is used.
Introduction of female animals or embryos from the following sources, with a supporting zoosanitary health certificate, will have no impact on the certification level:
A) Introduction of males from flocks/herds from the following sources, with supporting documentation, will have no impact on the certification level and these males will acquire the status of the flock/herd:
B) Males from sources (other than those mentioned above in 4.7A), that were previously allowed to enter the herd, will have no impact on the certification level, provided they are kept in the following manner:
∆ maintained separate is defined as any housing or pasture that does not allow contact (direct or indirect) between animals (see glossary for definitions).
The flock/herd status certificate accompanying the purchase of the animals or embryos will be the supporting document required to attest to the certification level of the flock/herd of origin.
Introduction of one or more animals (males or females) or embryos obtained from flocks/herds registered in the SFCP at the same certification level but registered in a later anniversary quarter will result in the recipient’s anniversary quarter being moved to that of the flock/herd of origin. If one or more animals (males or females) or embryos from a non-participating flock/herd are introduced, the enrolled producer’s anniversary quarter will change to the quarter in which the new animal(s) or embryo(s) were introduced, in addition to the penalty to downgrade to or remain at level E. Anniversary quarter will not be affected for flocks where these embryos or males have been introduced and have met the genotype requirement as set out in 4.6 or 4.7.
If animals (male or female) or embryos from flocks/herds of a lower certification level are introduced, the status of the recipient flock/herd will be downgraded to that of the flock/herd of origin of the lowest category. If animals or embryos from a non-participating flock/herd are introduced, the status of the recipient flock/herd will be reduced to level E. Anniversary quarter will not be affected for flocks where these embryos or males have been introduced and have met the genotype requirement as set out in 4.6 and 4.7. Anniversary quarter will not be affected for flocks or herds where these males have been introduced and met the requirements to be maintained separately as set out in 4.7.
With the exception of limited contacts (see definitions), commingling of animals (male or female) from non-participating flock/herds or a flock/herd of a lower status will result in downgrading of the certification level to that of the flock/herd of origin of the lowest category (level E if animals are commingled with animals from a non-participating flock/herd).
Semen may be sourced from males in non-participating flocks/herds or flocks/herds of any certification level, with no impact on the certification level of the recipient flock/herd, provided that, on the date of insemination, the semen donor is not affected by scrapie (positive animal) or suspected of being affected by scrapie or from a scrapie exposed susceptible animal. The semen must meet the requirements of the national artificial insemination program.
The owner must make an annual request for advancement or maintenance of the flock/herd status within the SFCP. The annual report, including the animal inventory and all supporting documentation, showing that ongoing requirements have been met must be submitted to the status assessor.
Once certified status is achieved, the producer makes an annual request to maintain certified status for their herd/flock or, once the additional requirements are met, the producer may make a request for advancement to the certified plus level.
All program requirements in the previous sections must continue to be met for advancement to certified plus status and to maintain certified plus status. Additional requirements to be met in order to advance to certified plus status are detailed in this section.
To attain certified plus status a flock/herd must have been enrolled for a minimum of 7 years with a minimum of 30 animals scrapie tested or the equivalent as set out in 5.3.
a) The minimum sampling requirement for the flock/herd to advance to certified plus status is 30 animals scrapie tested or all genetically susceptible animals over 14 months of age scrapie tested whichever is less. This minimum sampling requirement is met by any combination of the following:
b) In addition to the minimum sampling requirement above, any genetically susceptible female animals not acquired from certified plus flocks in the preceding two years must be sampled by live-animal or post-mortem testing before advancement.
Once certified plus status is achieved, the producer must make an annual request to maintain certified plus status for their herd/flock. The owner must submit an annual report that documents that all ongoing requirements have been met, to the status assessor for review and approval. The request must be completed and signed by the owner and the accredited veterinarian responsible for the flock/herd.
