APHIS HomeAbout APHISNewsroomCareer OpportunitiesHelpContact Us
Search
Browse by Subject
Animal Health
Animal Welfare
Biotechnology
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Import and Export
International Services
Permits
Plant Health
Regulations and Assessments
Wildlife Control and Management
Newsroom

Printable version

Joelle Schelhaus  (301) 734‑0595
Suzanne Bond     (301) 734-5175

USDA AMENDS REGULATIONS REGARDING THE INTERSTATE MOVEMENT OF SHEEP AND GOATS

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2009‑‑The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its regulations regarding the interstate movement of animals to require APHIS approval of livestock facilities that handle sheep and goats in interstate commerce.
 
This includes stockyards, livestock markets, buying stations, concentration points or any other premises where sheep and goats are assembled for interstate commerce.
 
Under this final rule, facility operators must meet certain minimum standards and other conditions related to the receipt, handling and release of sheep and goats at the facility.  In order to receive APHIS approval, they must also comply with certain animal identification and recordkeeping requirements.
 
These standards and conditions are based on existing APHIS regulations related to interstate movement of sheep and goats in order to prevent the spread of scrapie, a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats.

This final rule is scheduled for publication in the April 1 Federal Register and becomes effective May 1.

#

Note to Reporters:  USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet.  Go to the APHIS news release page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom.  Also, anyone with an e‑mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press releases automatically.  Send an e‑mail message to lyris@mdrdlyriss10.aphis.usda.gov and leave the subject blank.  In the message, type
subscribe press_releases.

 

    APHIS Releases

  • USDA Releases
  • Publications
  • FOIA Reading Room
  • Speeches
  • Subscriptions
  • Hot Issues
  • Notices
  • Videos
  • Art & Symbols