Regulatory Officials

The SSWS Plan was developed to provide guidance on issuing movement permits for animals moving from production sites with no evidence of FMD infection to another site and to harvest. This business continuity approach for the sheep industry aligns with Regulatory Officials’ goals of containing disease and controlling its spread while ensuring a secure food supply for consumers. The SSWS Plan acknowledges that decisions will be made by Regulatory Officials based on the unique characteristics of the outbreak.

Based on the results of a survey of State Animal Health Officials in 2018, state and federal foreign animal disease exercises, and strategies used to control FMD in other countries, the Managed Movement of Susceptible Livestock Species during a U.S. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Outbreak: Considerations for Regulatory Officials highlights issues that each state should consider when drafting emergency preparedness and response plans.

FMD is not a public health or food safety concern. Meat is safe to eat.

Explore the MENU and the SSWS Plan page for more information.