PROPOSALS to reduce and eventually eliminate scrapie from the national sheep flock have been published for consulation.

The first phase of the National Scrapie Plan would provide for a voluntary genetic testing scheme for farmers. Initially it will be targeted at rams in pure bred flocks, aiming to select the most resistant genotypes for further breeding.

"We are consulting on a voluntary scheme in which we will provide genotype testing for participating farmers," said Agriculture Minister Nick Brown. "We are aiming to significantly increase the resistance to scrapie in the breeding ram population and in lambs going to slaughter.

"We shall be discussing our proposals with sheep breeders and their representatives to seek their views first hand. We hope to have the scheme in place around the end of this year. At the same time, we will be working on the development of further phases of the National Scrapie Plan which will be concerned with checks for scrapie and help for farms with a scrapie problem."

Details are on the MAFF internet site http://www.maff.gov.uk/animalh/bse/bse-science/scrapie/nsp/nsp.html.