Final Rule on Interstate Movement of Sheep and Goats Published

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the regulations regarding the interstate movement of animals to add sheep and goats to the approved livestock facility agreement.

Livestock facilities that handle sheep and goats in interstate commerce must meet the requirements for approval including complying with this agreement to utilize certain provisions in the scrapie regulations that reduce the movement requirements for sheep and goats moving to or from these establishments. Such facilities include stockyards, livestock markets, buying stations, concentration points or any other premises where sheep and goats in interstate commerce are assembled and which choose to become an approved livestock facility.

The approval by APHIS will be contingent on the facility operator meeting certain minimum standards and other conditions related to the receipt, handling and release of sheep and goats at the facility, as well as complying with certain animal identification and recordkeeping requirements.

These standards and other conditions will serve, in part, to support the regulations relating to the interstate movement of sheep and goats in order to control the spread of scrapie.

APHIS responded to all of the comments received from industry organizations and markets. Therefore, the final rule will be effective May 1, 2009.

The Federal Register posting is available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-7233.htm.

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