USDA-APHIS-VS role in the design and implementation of a national Johne's strategic plan has been to provide expertise and help coordinate implementation of Johne's disease programs by the States. Some activities include: The Voluntary Bovine Johne's Disease Control Program (VBJDCP) has been developed cooperatively by USDA APHIS, the National Johne's Working Group (NJWG) a subcommittee of the Johne's Disease Committee of the U.S. Animal Health Association and Industry. The program has been approved by USDA APHIS VS. Current minimum national standards are included in APHIS 91-45-016 "Uniform Program Standards for the Voluntary Bovine Johne's  Disease Control Program - Effective June 1, 2006." States may implement standards and rules that are more stringent then the national standards, but all regulations relative to interstate animal movement must conform with Federal Regulations.   The final ruling for proposed changes to the CFR (Parts 80 and 71) were published on April 10, 2000 and went into effect on May 10, 2000. These changes include: requiring cattle that are positive for an Official Johne's disease test be moved interstate to slaughter only with changes to make this movement easier. The changes define an official test as an organism based test, and eliminate the need for VS 1-27 and branding for interstate movement.   To see the full text of the changes and the responses to the written comments read Johne's Disease in Domestic Animals; Interstate Movement [Docket No. 98-037-2] Information on Johne's disease producer knowledge, risk factors, cost to producers, and herd prevalence was obtained through Dairy NAHMS 96 and Beef NAHMS 97.  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cahm National Veterinary Service Laboratory (NVSL) continues to provide Johne's disease serologic and organism detection check testing. In addition, NVSL also offers a fecal culture training course to laboratories.  For information on participating in a check test or training courses, contact Dr. Janet Payeur, (515) 239-8676. National Updates National Updates Maps and Charts VBJDCP Enrolled Herds by Type and Region Herds and Animals Tested by Region, Species Group and Test Type Herds Tested and Confirmed by Herd Type and Region Herds Tested and Confirmed by Species and Region Number of Vaccinated Herds and Calves Source: USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services, 2005