ASI Submits Scrapie Comments
October 22, 2004 -- "The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) supports an aggressive and expeditious approach to eradicating scrapie." This statement came from the formal comments ASI submitted to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in response to the Proposed Rule for Interstate Movement of Sheep and Goats.
ASI agrees that it is very important that scrapie-infected, suspect and high-risk animals be handled separately and appropriately at assembly points and that the risk of exposure to healthy animals be minimized. Therefore, it is appropriate to include sheep in the regulation as it already applies to cattle, swine, bison and horses.
However, with regards to the definitions of "scrapie exposed" and "scrapie high-risk," ASI believes that a change is warranted. It was urged that APHIS redefine these definitions and then, based on current science, require the segregation or quarantine of only high-risk animals. Redefining these definitions would also align them more closing to those being used in the Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules.
A complete copy of the comments submitted by ASI and approved by the Executive Board can be found on the ASI Web site at: Interstate Movement Comments.
Notice of this proposal was published in the Aug. 26 Federal Register. Comments that are received on or before Oct. 25 will be given consideration.
Staff contact: Paul Rodgers, 303-771-3500
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