WSR 98-08-023
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[Filed March 20, 1998, 9:51 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: New chapter 16-89 WAC, Scrapie control and eradication in sheep and goats
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 16.36.040
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Scrapie has been implicated as the source of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or Mad Cow Disease) in the United Kingdom. BSE has been implicated as the source of human new variant Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease (CJD). These implications and the need to assure a safe quality product have increased the need to control and eradicate this disease
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: United States Department of Agriculture APHIS VS administers the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program and enforces the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 54 and 79, "Scrapie in Sheep and Goats." Washington State Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture maintain a cooperative agreement to jointly control and eradicate animal diseases
Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making; all segments of the sheep and goat industries will be invited to participate in public meetings. The final rules will be negotiated with the Washington Woolgrowers Association Scrapie Coordinating Committee (WWGA) and the WWGA board of directors
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Dr. Robert W. Mead, State Veterinarian, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42577, Olympia, WA 98504-2577, (360) 902-1878, FAX (360) 902-2087, e-mail rmead@agr.wa.gov. Regional state meetings, committee meetings, phone conferences, FAX and e-mail. All meetings will be announced at least two weeks in advance
March 17, 1998
Candace A. Jacobs
Assistant Director