Bluetongue BTV-3: Guidance for cross border movements through livestock markets

Following announcements from Defra, Scottish Government & Welsh Government, the guidance below outlines movements restrictions applicable, due to the current BTV-3 Bluetongue outbreak:

England will become an all-England RZ from 1st July 2025

All moves out of the England RZ to Wales from 1st July 2025 will be subject to the rules below.

All moves out of the England RZ to Scotland from 1st July 2025 will be subject to the rules below.

The Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this document. 

As from 1 July 2025 the Restricted Zone (RZ) for bluetongue will be extended to cover all of England. This means that from this date animals can be moved within England without a bluetongue specific licence or test.

Vaccination remains the most effective long-term option for disease control. Farmers are encouraged to discuss BTV-3 vaccination with their vet to determine if it is right for their animals. If you vaccinate your animals, you must report it to APHA within 48 hours. 

Moving animals from the England (RZ) to Wales to live (store or breeding): 

Movements to live must meet conditions of a specific licence (detailed below.) Any reference to pre-movement or post-movement testing below means – testing at the national reference laboratory (or an official designated lab) with negative PCR and ELISA (where specified) results.

• Moving animals from within the England RZ - to a market within the England RZ - and on to live in Wales  
  • To be sold to live in Wales, animals from the England RZ must move to the market in compliance with, and be accompanied by, the specific licence, EXD597(SW).
  • Animals must be pre-movement tested OR vaccinated (cattle only).
    • Prior to 1st July 2025, pre movement tests are valid for 10 calendar days from the date of sampling.
    • From 1st July 2025 onwards, pre movement tests are valid for 7 calendar days from the date of sampling.
    • Only cattle may move without a pre-movement test and only if vaccinated with the Boehringer ‘Bultavo-3’ vaccine and a minimum of 21 days has elapsed since the second dose was administered.  Your private vet will be able to advise you.

  • Animals must leave the market accompanied by and in compliance with the general licence, EXD608(SW), endorsed by the market.

     

• Moving animals from within the England RZ - to a market within Wales - and on to live in Wales
  • To be sold to live in Wales, animals from the England RZ must move to the market in compliance with and be accompanied by the specific licence, EXD597(SW).
  • Animals must be pre-movement tested OR vaccinated (cattle only).
    • Prior to 1st July 2025, pre movement tests are valid for 10 calendar days from the date of sampling.
    • From 1st July 2025 onwards, pre movement tests are valid for 7 calendar days from the date of sampling.
    • Only cattle may move without a pre-movement test if vaccinated with the Boehringer ‘Bultavo-3’ vaccine and the 21 days have elapsed since completing the full course of vaccination (2 doses, 2 weeks apart). Your private vet will be able to advise you.

Moving animals from the England (RZ) to Wales for slaughter: 

• Moving animals from within the England RZ - to a market within the England RZ - and on to slaughter in Wales
  • Animals from within the England RZ, moving to a market within the England RZ do not require a license to move.
  • Animals may be moved from a market within the RZ directly to a slaughterhouse within Wales.
  • Until 11:59pm 30th June 2025, animals can only leave the market in compliance with general licence EXD634(E)
  • From 1st July 2025, animals can only leave the market in compliance with general licence EXD603 (SW)
  • The movement must meet the requirement of the EXD603 (SW) general licence, such as:
    • the slaughterhouse must be designated
    • animals must be culled within 24 hrs
    • appropriate insecticides must be used
    • the movement must be direct after leaving the restricted zone and must take place after dawn and be completed before dusk
  • No pre or post movement test is required.

  • These animals cannot be moved to another premises for finishing within Wales or Scotland (Free Areas).

     

• Moving animals from within  the England RZ - to a market within Wales - and on to slaughter in Wales
  • Animals from within the England RZ, moving to a market within Wales, must be accompanied by, and in compliance with the specific licence EXD597(SW).
  • Animals must be pre-movement tested OR vaccinated (cattle only).
    • Pre movement tests are required where samples are taken within 10 calendar days of the move prior to 1st July 2025.
    • Pre movement tests are required where samples are taken within 7 calendar days of the move from 1st July 2025 onwards.
    • Only cattle may move without a pre-movement test if vaccinated with the Boehringer ‘Bultavo-3’ vaccine and a minimum of 21 days has elapsed since completing the full course of vaccination (2 doses, 2 weeks apart). Your private vet will be able to advise you.

Moving animals from the England (RZ) to Scotland to live (store or breeding): 

Movements to live must meet conditions of a specific licence (detailed below.) Any reference to pre-movement or post-movement testing below means – testing at the national reference laboratory (or an official designated lab) with negative PCR (and ELISA where specified) results.

• Moving animals from within the England RZ - to a market within the England RZ - and on to live in Scotland 
  • To be sold to live in Scotland, animals from the England RZ must move to the market in compliance with, and be accompanied by, the specific licence, EXD597(SW)
  • Animals must be pre-movement tested OR vaccinated (cattle only).
    • Prior to the 1st of July 2025, pre movement tests are valid for 10 calendar days from the date of sampling
    • From 1st of July 2025 onwards, pre movement tests are valid for 7 calendar days from the date of sampling
    • Only cattle may move without a pre-movement test if vaccinated with the Boehringer ‘Bultavo-3’ vaccine and a minimum of 21 days has elapsed since the second dose was administered. Your private vet will be able to advise you.

  • Animals must leave the market accompanied by and in compliance with the specific licence, EXD608(SW), endorsed by the market.

     

• Moving animals from within the England RZ - to a market within Scotland - and on to live in Scotland 
  • To be sold to live in Scotland, animals from the England RZ must move to the market in compliance with and be accompanied by the specific licence, EXD597(SW).
  • Animals must be pre-movement tested OR vaccinated (cattle only).
    • Prior to 1st July 2025, pre movement tests are valid for 10 calendar days from the date of sampling
    • From 1st of July onwards, pre movement tests are valid for 7 calendar days from the date of sampling
    • Only cattle may move without a pre-movement test if vaccinated with the Boehringer ‘Bultavo-3’ vaccine and the 21 days have elapsed since completing the full course of. Your private vet will be able to advise you.
    • Animals must leave the market accompanied by and in compliance with the specific licence, EXD608(SW), completed by the market. 

Animals from England (RZ) moving into Scotland for slaughter:

• Moving animals from within the England RZ - to a market within the England RZ - and on to slaughter in Scotland 
  • Animals from within the England RZ, moving to a market within the England RZ do not require a license to move.
  • Animals may be moved from a market within the RZ directly to a designated slaughterhouse within Scotland.
  • Animals can only leave the market in compliance with general licence EXD603(S)
  • The movement must meet the requirement of the EXD603(S) general licence, such as:
    • the slaughterhouse must be designated
    • animals must be culled within 24 hrs
    • appropriate insecticides must be used
    • the movement must be direct after leaving the restricted zone and must take place after dawn and be completed before dusk
  • No pre or post movement test is required.
  • These animals cannot be moved to another premises for finishing within Scotland or Wales (Free Areas).

Animals from Wales moving to the England RZ to live (store or breeding): 

• Moving animals from Wales - to a market within the England RZ and on to live in England

• No movement restrictions apply to animals from Wales (Free Area) moving into a market within the RZ and remaining in England to live. 

   

• Moving animals from Wales - to a market within the England RZ - and back to live in Wales
  • Animals from Wales do not require a licence or pre-movement test to enter a market within the England RZ.
  • Animals from Wales, sold through a market within the England RZ and returning to Wales to live must leave the market in compliance with and accompanied by the general licence EXD608(SW) completed by the market.
  • These animals must be isolated upon return to Wales and post movement tested. Sampled within 6-10 days after arrival in Wales.
    • You must notify APHA, who will serve a restriction notice requiring the animals to be isolated at the premises in Wales until post-movement testing has been completed with negative results, at the owner’s expense.
    • Animals should remain in isolation until a negative result is received.
      • There may be high demand for testing which may result in animals remaining under restriction until such time that a post-movement test returns a negative result.
      • Animals with a positive result may be culled.  
    • Cattle vaccinated with Boehringer 'Bultavo-3' vaccine (with 21 days since completing the full course of vaccination, before entering the RZ) don't need pre or post-movement testing
    • If the animal spends more than 4 days in the England RZ it becomes ‘resident’ and will then need to be pre-movement tested in the RZ, and moved in compliance with specific licence EXD597(SW), instead of post movement testing once returned to Wales (see conditions above for pre-movement testing).

Animals from Wales moving into the England RZ for slaughter:

• No movement restrictions apply to animals from Wales (Free Area) moving into the England RZ for slaughter. 

Animals from Wales moving into Scotland to live (store or breeding):

• Testing is not required for the movement of animals from Wales (Free Area) to Scotland (Free Area) but the movement must without stops in the RZ during transit.
• Subject to the conditions outlined in the Disease Control Order General Licence for the movement of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, scheduled stops are permitted at the following locations:
  • motorway service stations
  • official lay-by (on a trunk/main road)
  • lorry park or similar place
• In Scotland, these stops must follow conditions in the Disease Control Order General Licence for moving cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
• In Wales, these stops must follow conditions in The Disease Control (Wales) Order 2003 for moving cattle, sheep, goats, deer and pigs.

Animals from Wales moving into Scotland for slaughter:

• Testing is not required for the movement of animals from Wales (Free Area) to Scotland (Free Area) but the movement must be without stops in the RZ during the transit.
• Subject to the conditions outlined in the Disease Control Order General Licence for the movement of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, scheduled stops are permitted at the following locations:
  • motorway service stations
  • official lay-by (on a trunk/main road)
  • lorry park or similar place
• In Scotland, these stops must follow conditions in the Disease Control Order General Licence for moving cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
• In Wales, these stops must follow conditions in The Disease Control (Wales) Order 2003 for moving cattle, sheep, goats, deer and pigs.

Animals from Scotland moving into the England RZ to live (store or breeding): 

• Moving animals from Scotland - to a market within the England RZ - and on to live in England

  • No movement restrictions apply to animals from Scotland (Free Area) moving into a market within the RZ, remaining in England to live. 

     

• Moving animals from Scotland - to a market within the England RZ - and back to live in Scotland
  • Animals from Scotland do not require a licence or pre-movement test to enter a market within the England RZ.
  • Animals from Scotland, sold through a market within the England RZ, returning to Scotland to live must leave the market in compliance with, and accompanied by the general licence EXD608(SW), completed by the market.
  • These animals must be isolated upon return to Scotland and post movement tested. Sampled within 6-10 days after arrival in Scotland.
  • You must notify APHA, who will serve a restriction notice requiring animals to be isolated at the premises in Scotland until post-movement testing has been completed with negative results at the owner’s expense.
  • Animals should remain in isolation until a negative result is received.
    • There may be high demand for testing which may result in animals remaining under restriction until such time that a post-movement test returns a negative result.
    • Animals with a positive result may be culled.  
  • Cattle vaccinated with Boehringer 'Bultavo-3' vaccine (with 21 days since completing the full course of vaccination, before entering the RZ) don't need pre or post-movement testing
  • If the animal spends more than 4 days in the England RZ, it will then need to be pre-movement tested in the RZ before moving to Scotland, and moved in compliance with specific licence EXD597(SW) instead of post movement testing once returned to Scotland.
  • Pre or post movement tests will not be required for cattle vaccinated with a Boehringer ‘Bultavo-3’ vaccine and at least 21 days have elapsed since the second dose was administered, before entering the RZ.

Animals from Scotland moving into the England RZ for slaughter:

• No movement restrictions apply to animals from Scotland (Free Area) moving into England for slaughter.

Animals from Scotland moving into Wales to live (store or breeding):

• Testing is not required for the movement of animals from Scotland (Free Area) to Wales (Free Area) but the movement must be without stops in the RZ during the transit.
• Subject to the conditions outlined in the Disease Control Order General Licence for the movement of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, scheduled stops are permitted at the following locations:
  • motorway service stations
  • official lay-by (on a trunk/main road)
  • lorry park or similar place
• In Scotland, these stops must follow conditions in the Disease Control Order General Licence for moving cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
• In Wales, these stops must follow conditions in The Disease Control (Wales) Order 2003 for moving cattle, sheep, goats, deer and pigs.

Animals from Scotland moving into Wales for slaughter:

• Testing is not required for the movement of animals from Scotland (Free Area) to Wales (Free Area) but the movement must be direct from source to destination without stops in the RZ during the transition.
• Subject to the conditions outlined in the Disease Control Order General Licence for the movement of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, scheduled stops are permitted at the following locations:
  • motorway service stations
  • official lay-by (on a trunk/main road)
  • lorry park or similar place
• In Scotland, these stops must follow conditions in the Disease Control Order General Licence for moving cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
• In Wales, these stops must follow conditions in The Disease Control (Wales) Order 2003 for moving cattle, sheep, goats, deer and pigs.

The new licenses have now been published on gov.uk

• Bluetongue movement licences and designated slaughterhouses - GOV.UK
• Move animals from the bluetongue restricted zone to a market - GOV.UK

If you are planning to move animals from England to Scotland you should follow the guidance on movement licences and pre-movement tests in Scotland.

If you are planning to move animals from England to Wales  you should follow the guidance on movement licences and pre-movement tests in Wales.

Applying for a specific licence to move animals from the bluetongue restricted zone to Scotland or Wales

If you are applying for a specific licence to move animals from the bluetongue restricted zone to Scotland or Wales, you will need to download and complete an EXD645(SW) pro-forma (PDF, 157 KB, 3 pages) before you start.

Allow at least 10 days for your licence application to be processed where possible. Complex and high-risk movements will need extra time to process.

We recommend preparing the following information before you start:

• the licensee’s address and contact details
• the address the animals would be moved from and to
• county parish holding (CPH) numbers
• designated premises approval number (if you have one)
• animal identification marks if available (such as ear tags, freeze brands, slap marks and tattoos)
• stock vehicle and driver details if available
• a declaration for the animals moving under this licence that are exempt from testing

Designated slaughterhouses in Scotland as at 22.06.2025

The following slaughterhouses are designated to process animals from a BTV-3 Restricted Zone:

GB1560 ABP Bridge of Allan

GB1106 Kepak McIntosh Donald

GB1160 Millers of Speyside

Designated slaughterhouses in Wales as at 22.06.2025

The following slaughterhouses are designated to process animals from a BTV-3 Restricted Zone:

Dunbia, Llanybydder

Euro Farms Wales, Haverfordwest

Farmers Fresh, Wrexham

Pilgrims UK Lamb, Llanidloes

Kepak/St Merryn, Merthyr Tydfil

For more information visit: GOV.UK, GOV.Scot & GOV.Wales.

Or contact your local auctioneer who will be able to advise on the marketing opportunities available to you.