GovWire

The UK is in a seasonally vector low period. This means the risk of transmission of bluetongue is now very low. You must still have a licence to move animals out of a restricted zone.

If you moved animals out of the restricted zone on or before 20 January 2025, you must comply with any post-movement testing requirements set out in your licence or restriction notice.

References to animals means ruminants (for example, cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other ruminants) and camelids (for example, llamas and alpacas).

When you need to apply for a licence

Certain movements are not permitted in a bluetongue zone or from premises which have been served a bluetongue premises or individual animal restriction notice.

Some movements may be permitted by a general licence, or you can apply for a specific licence.

You may need to:

• download and comply with the conditions of a general licence where applicable
• apply for a specific licence for movement

General licences

Check carefully that the bluetongue general licence applies to you before making a movement and always download the latest version as they are updated from time to time. A copy should accompany any animals moved under the general licence.

General licences do not apply if your premises is under a bluetongue restriction notice. If you have been served a bluetongue premises or individual animal restriction notice and wish to move animals, you can apply for a specific licence.

Apply for a specific licence

You can apply for a specific licence if you need to move stock out of the restricted zone and a general licence does not apply to your circumstances.

Allow at least 5 days for your licence application to be processed where possible. Complex and high-risk movements will need extra time to process.

Make contingency plans to allow for the time it takes to be issued. Consider what steps you will need to take if the licence is refused or cannot be issued in time.

If a specific licence is issued, it will allow a movement that is subject to certain conditions based on disease control risk.

You may need to organise pre-movement testing of your animals. APHA will provide instructions when you apply for a licence.

Premises that have any land within the restricted zone or straddle the boundary are classified as being within the zone.

Take precautions when moving animals. Check your stock for possible signs of disease before loading.

Holdings in arestricted zone

You can download and use EXD 634 (E) (GL) (PDF, 155 KB, 4 pages)for movements of animals kept within a restricted zone (RZ):

• to a dedicated slaughter market outside the restricted zone in England and then directly to a slaughterhouse in Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales)
• directly to a slaughterhouse in Great Britain for immediate slaughter

The declaration of the bluetongue restricted zone (RZ) also imposed a bluetongue Infected Area which applies to the same geographical area as the RZ which restricts the movement of animals on and off premises and in or out of the Infected Area. This licenceEXD612(E) (GL) is published to overcome legal restrictions that would otherwise prevent movement of animals. This does not remove any obligations to comply with BTV movement restrictions and licences and does not permit the movement of animals out of a RZ.

You must apply for a specific licence if you need to move germinal products from susceptible animals out of the zone, or you wish to freeze germinal products in the zone. If you operate a germinal product collection centre you may apply to be designated.

Holdings or animals with a restriction notice

APHA will issue a notice to the keeper or occupier that explains the restrictions that are in place.

You can apply for a specific licence if:

• you need to move your animals or germinal products onto and off the premises while these restrictions are in place
• there is an urgent welfare need to move animals, including short distance moves out of the restricted zone

If APHA approves a welfare licence, the animals will be placed under restriction. APHAmay ask you to organise a visit by your private vet, at your cost, to take samples from the animals after they have moved. The samples will be tested free of charge.

Designated slaughterhouses

Slaughterhouses do not need to be designated to slaughter animals that originate from a bluetongue restricted zone during the seasonally vector low period.