Bluetongue – movements and licences update

Updated14 July 2025

Cattle for auction coming off a trailer.

From 14 July, new bluetongue approved red markets mean animals can move from the RZ to a designated slaughter house in Wales via an approved Welsh red market without vaccination or a pre-movement test. This page sets out the differing policies across England, Wales and Scotland and what to do if you're moving animals out of the restricted zone.

The Welsh Government, along with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies has announced the introduction of Bluetongue approved red markets. Get the details on BTV control policy in Wales.

From 1 July 2025, the RZ (restricted zone) was extended to cover all of England. Keepers can move cattle, sheep, all ruminants and camelids within England without a bluetongue licence or testing.

The RZ has been extended following recognition between industry and scientists that ‘the area of England where disease has been found is now too large for movement restrictions to remain an effective and proportionate way of controlling the disease’.

Read: GOV.UK | Bluetongue virus restricted zone to be extended to all of England on 1 July 2025

BTV control policy in Wales

Red markets

From Monday 14 July, animals can be moved from the RZ in England to a bluetongue approved red market in Wales, for direct onward movement to a designated slaughterhouse in Wales or one within the restricted zone.

The decision follows a Bluetongue Roundtable meeting hosted by the Deputy First Minister on Tuesday 8 July.

Key points:

  • Movements of animals from a premises located within the bluetongue restricted zone are subject to the conditions of the EXD627 general licence.
  • The movement of animals from a Bluetongue Approved Red Market in Wales for onward movement direct to a designated slaughterhouse in Wales or a slaughterhouse within the restricted zone of England are subject to the conditions of the EXD628 general licence.
  • Animals brought to these markets would not require vaccination or pre-movement testing so long as they are taken direct to a designated slaughterhouse in Wales or a slaughterhouse in the Restricted Zone in England.

More information can be found at:

Prior to this latest announcement, and from 20 June, cattle fully vaccinated with Boehringer Ingelheim’s Bultavo-3 vaccine have been allowed to move under licence from a RZ to Wales without a pre-movement test. This still applies for cattle moving from the RZ into Wales to live.

Sheep must all be pre-movement tested and require a licence to move into Wales to live from the RZ in England. Welsh Government has stated that this is because ‘no vaccine products currently meet the requirements for protecting sheep from BTV-3 to allow them to move out of the RZ.’ 

BTV control policy in Scotland

Scottish Government also revealed new Bluetongue control measures on 12 June, allowing animals vaccinated with Bultavo 3 to move from the RZ (England) into Scotland without a pre-movement test. Testing for movements to Scotland will be at the keeper’s expense and must be privately arranged. 

Key dates

  England Wales Scotland
From 1 July

You will be able to move animals within England without a bluetongue licence or testing.

You will need to have a specific licence to freeze germinal products within the restricted zone and testing will be required. Keepers will be responsible for the cost of sampling, postage and testing. 

Cattle fully vaccinated with Boehringer Ingelheim’s Bultavo-3 vaccine will be allowed to move under licence from a RZ (Restricted Zone) to Wales without a pre-movement test.

The pre-movement test must be arranged and paid for privately. Once Defra moves England to become a whole country RZ, the free testing that is currently available will end.

The current pre-movement testing requirements remain the same.

This means animals moving from a BTV-3 RZ to Scotland to live will require a valid pre-movement test at the keeper’s expense, or vaccination with the Boehringer Bultavo-3 vaccine for cattle.

Keepers can apply for a movement licence on gov.uk.

On or after 1 July 2025 a test will be valid for 7 calendar days after the day when the sample is taken.

From 14 July

 

Animals can be moved from the RZ in England to a Bluetongue approved red market in Wales, for direct onward movement to a designated slaughterhouse in Wales or one within the restricted zone.

 

Vaccinating your herd

If you haven’t yet vaccinated your livestock, you should speak to your private vet to determine if BTV3 vaccination is right for your animals.  This is particularly important if you are not currently in the RZ. 

Vaccination remains the most effective long-term approach for disease controls. 

If you keep animals in England and routinely move animals into Wales or Scotland you need to check for updates at GOV.WALES and GOV.SCOT. on what licences you will need and whether or not you will need to organise and pay for a pre-movement test.

Read: BTV3 vaccination update and usage reminder

Reporting suspected cases

Bluetongue is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it you must report it immediately. Failure to do so is an offence:

Read more around the net

This page was first published on 27 March 2025. It was updated on 14 July 2025.


Ask us a question about this page

Once you have submitted your query someone from NFU CallFirst will contact you. If needed, your query will then be passed to the appropriate NFU policy team.

You have 350/350 characters remaining.

By completing the form with your details on this page, you are agreeing to have this information sent to the NFU for the purposes of contacting you regarding your enquiry. Please take time to read the NFU’s Privacy Notice if you require further information.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.