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Cervids: CWD Voluntary Herd

Certification Program

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Interstate Movement of Cervids

The CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) is a cooperative effort between the

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), State animal health and wildlife

agencies, and farmed cervid owners. APHIS coordinates with these State agencies to

encourage cervid owners to certify their herds and comply with the CWD Herd

Certification Program Standards.

The goal of the HCP is to provide a consistent, national approach to control the

incidence of CWD in farmed cervids and prevent the interstate spread of CWD.

Achieving this goal will ultimately result in several important long‐term outcomes,

including:

Healthy cervids (both farmed and wild populations) with a reduced risk of CWD.

Increased confidence that HCP‐certified herds are low risk for CWD infection.

Strong trade of cervid animals and products (increased market confidence).

Reduced risk of transmission from, and environmental contamination by,

CWD‐positive herds.
This goal is accomplished through the establishment of the national CWD herd

certification program and interstate movement requirements for CWD‐susceptible

cervids found in title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 55 and 9 CFR

part 81. These regulations are written as performance‐based regulations that

describe the legally required outcomes.

National CWD HCP requirements for all enrolled herd owners include fencing,

individual animal ID's, regular inventories, and testing of all animals over 12 months

that die for any reason. With each year of successful surveillance, participating

herds will advance in status until reaching five years with no evidence of CWD, at

which time herds are certified as being low risk for CWD. Interstate movement of

animals from herds will depend on participation in the program, compliance with

program requirements, and herd certification status.

Twenty-eight (28) states are currently participating in the program as of December

2017. States interested to join the National CWD HCP must submit an application

and supporting documents to APHIS. To find out more about the application process,

please see link below.

List of Approved State CWD Herd Certification Programs(HCP)

Application Document for States

VS Form 11-2

The CWD Herd Certification Program Standards

The CWD Herd Certification Program Standards provide detailed descriptions of

acceptable methods for complying with the legal requirements in 9 CFR parts 55 and

81, which are performance-based regulations that describe the legally required outcomes. The Program Standards also provide guidance for sample collection,

biosecurity, and disposal:

Part A, Herd Certification Program, describes acceptable methods to meet the

minimum requirements to certify farmed cervid herds for interstate movement.

Part B, Guidance on Response to CWD, describes acceptable methods to meet

the minimum requirements to respond to the finding of CWD in farmed cervid herds.

The methods in these Program Standards have been approved by the APHIS

Administrator. Alternatively, States may propose other methods/approaches to meet
the regulatory requirements. These alternative proposals should be submitted in

writing to APHIS for approval. States may also have additional or stricter

requirements that exceed the minimum requirements described in the CWD

regulations.

The Program Standards will be reviewed regularly by APHIS and, as appropriate,

representatives of the cervid industry and State and Federal agencies. A notice will

be published in the Federal Register to inform stakeholders of any revisions APHIS

plans to the Program Standards.

CWD Herd Certification Program Standards, May 2019

CWD Program Standards Review Working Group Summary Document2016

Regulatory Sample Collection

Notice

No farmed or captive deer, elk or moose may be moved interstate unless it meets

the requirements listed in Part 81 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

ADT/Traceability Fact sheet for interstate transport of cervids

Requirements for Interstate Transport of Wild Caught Cervids

Surveillance and Testing Requirements for Interstate Transport of Wild Caught

Cervids

Related Links

Sampling Options for CWD Herd Certification Plan Compliant Herd Owners to

Replace a Missed Mortality or Poor-Quality Sample Submission (VS Guidance

8003.1)

CWD Herd Certification Program Training

CWD Rule

CWD Status of Captive Herds

Revised Program Standards: Overview of Changes: Presentation
2018 Revised CWD Program Standards: What You Need to Know- for Cervid

Producers

2018 Revised CWD Program Standards: What You Need to Know- for Accredited

Veterinarians and Sample Collectors

CWD HCP Standards Revision Public Listening

Sessions

APHIS Announces Listening Sessions on Chronic Wasting Disease Herd

Certification Program Standards

CWD HCP listening session #1 Agenda

CWD HCP listening session #2 Agenda

CWD HCP listening session #3 Agenda

CWD HCP listening session #4 Agenda

CWD HCP Standards Revision Public Listening Session #5 registration - Sept. 14

at 3 pm EDT

CWD HCP listening session #5 Agenda