http://www.smartgroups.com/message/viewdiscussion.cfm?gid=774210&messageid=8881 snip of discussion: EU COMPULSORY SCRAPIE MEASURES apply from Oct 1st <A HREF="http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_041/l_04120030214en00410045.pdf"> http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_041/l_04120030214en00410045. pdf</A> From Scottish Farmer--- concern is being expressed particularly for Shetland Island sheep breeders, although the island is scrapie free there are few Type 1 (ARR/ARR) rams. If scrapie is 'imported' the whole flock would be taken out. Also under the new rules, after a case of scrapie anywhere in Scotland, trading would be prohibited until three years after all the sheep in that flock are confirmed with the ARR/ARR genotype. All rams other than type 1 would be culled. This new regulation was 'rushed through' in Brussels where suggested amendments from the Scottish Executive were ignored. Editorial comment--taken at face value the 'severe' stick offered by the EU legislation will do nothing more than drive the problem underground at the end of a JCB. If the legislation is backed by a full compensation package based on market value, this newspaper would hate to see a free-for-all scramble for money, such as that which seems to be happening in NI with TB and brucellosis.

Why does it not suprise me that not ONE person has replied to this? Probably because the British are so good at one thing in particular - APATHY! Here we have a situation that threatens a great many of our traditional breeds of sheep (and MY goats too if the powers that be have their way) and yet not one sheep farmer has made any comment about this. No doubt you will all start screaming when the slaughter starts. Have you learnt nothing from the horrors of the FMD crisis, or are you like your sheep and go willingly to the impending slaughter?