SCRAPIE BILL VOTE DECEMBER 1 

WHAT: Scrapie Bill vote, Courts and Justice Committee
WHERE: House Room C, General Assembly Bldg, Richmond
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 1, 10:00 a.m.

ACTIONS:
1.  PLEASE CALL and email all members of the House Courts of Justice Committee BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
Ask them to support HB1525.  Tell them that VDACS has not changed the scrapie regulation to exempt low risk goats and sheep as allowed by federal regulation. 

2.  Please COME to the Committee for the vote on December 1.

On Monday December 1st, the House Courts of Justice Committee will vote on our Scrapie Bill, HB1525.  This bill was not voted on during the regular 2008 General Assembly because a VDACS official implied they would amend the scrapie regulations to meet our concerns by exempting low risk goats and sheep.  The regulations, that will devastate small goat and sheep farmers, have since been adopted and gone into effect with nothing changed!

Our bill, HB1525 restricts the authority of the Virginia Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), on any Scrapie Regulations with respect to goats and sheep, by limiting intrastate identification, reporting, and movement restrictions to infected and source flocks and high risk animals.  This bill allows Virginia to continue to be a “consistent” scrapie state according to federal  regulations.

House Courts of Justice Committee

BACKGROUND: When the bill was heard in January, the Scrapie regulation had not been adopted.   2VAC5-206, Regulation for Scrapie Eradication, requires sheep and goat owners to register their farms with the state to obtain a Premises Identification Number, identify each animal and keep records (which are subject to inspection by the state vet or his designee) for five years every time they buy, sell, barter, lease, trade, loan, exhibit, or otherwise move, from one management to another, a sexually intact goat or sheep, unless that animal goes directly to slaughter.  Any violation of these regulations is punishable by a year in jail and/or a $2500 fine.

SCRAPIE IS NOT A HEALTH THREAT
Scrapie is not transmittable to humans and is not a public health threat.  Also, there have never been any cases of scrapie in goats in Virginia, and none in white-faced or hair sheep in Virginia in the last 10 years.  The regulation is far too burdensome and will hurt small local farmers unless exemptions are created.

THE SCRAPIE REGULATIONS ARE A BACK DOOR WAY TO FORCE GOAT AND SHEEP FARMERS INTO NAIS.  
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BILL TO HELP STOP THIS!!

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL Christine Solem: 434.973.6505.

Directions to General Assembly Building at www.VICFA.net

Yours for food freedom,
Deborah Stockton, Editor
VICFA Voice
[email protected]

www.VICFA.net
Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association
Our purpose is to promote and preserve unregulated direct farmer-to-consumer trade 
that fosters availability of locally grown or home-produced food products.