Consistent State Status

February 25, 2005 -- Obtaining Consistent State status is an important link in the chain of steps taken toward scrapie eradication in the United States. As of Feb. 15, 2005, 18 states had the required regulations in place, 22 states had submitted work plans and specific timelines to implement the regulations, while 10 states had not submitted complete work plans.

Back in August 2001, all states were given two years in which to complete Consistent State status with a grace period also added to this deadline.

?Now the grace period is coming to an end,? says Diane Sutton, the National Scrapie Program coordinator. ?States have just one legislative cycle left to implement their program and achieve Consistent State status.? If they by-pass the timeframe and fail to do this, other measures which are described in the rule will be implemented.

If a state does not meet the status requirements, that burden falls to the producers. Individual producers who wish to move sheep over state lines from a non-compliant state will be required to enroll in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program and the flock will have to be inspected annually. Producers in these states may face time delays in moving sheep out of the state.

Jim Logan, Ph.D., health committee chairman for the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), encourages producers to contact their state veterinarian to check where their particular state is in the Consistent State status process.

?Ask the state vet where they are in the process,? says Logan. ?He or she will know what has to be accomplished before the state reaches Consistent State status.?

The fastest way to eradicate scrapie in the United States is for every state to reach Consistent State status. The 18 states that have the required regulations include: Ala., Ark., Ariz., Calif., Fla., Ga., Iowa, Idaho, Ill., Mich., Neb., N.J., Nev., Ore., Texas, Va., Wash. and Wis.

Staff contact: Paul Rodgers, 303-771-3500