Movement and testing FAQs

Pre-movement testing

From 1 July 2025 the bluetongue restricted zone was extended to cover the whole of England. This means you will be able to move animals within England without a specific bluetongue license or pre-movement testing.
You will need to have a specific licence to freeze germinal products within the restricted zone and testing will be required.

Use the Bluetongue Movements Checker tool to find out the correct advice and licensing requirements for moving animals within or across a border within GB, depending on the specific situation, location and nature of the movement.

A: View the below links to get the latest updates  

Bluetongue: get free testing for your animals – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Wales:

From 20 June 2025 any susceptible animals moving from a Bluetongue Restricted Zone to Wales to live will require a specific movement licence (on gov.uk), a valid pre-movement test at the keeper’s expense or vaccination with the Boehringer Ingelheim Bultavo-3 vaccine for cattle only. All sheep must be pre-movement tested and require an accompanying licence to move into Wales to live from the England RZ.

Scotland:

From 13 June 2025 any ruminants moving from a BTV-3 Restricted Zone 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. Movements of sheep are currently not permitted without a negative BTV-3 pre-movement test even if they are vaccinated.

England

From 1 July you will be able to move susceptible animals within England without a specific bluetongue licence or pre-movement testing.

There are no restrictions within Scotland (providing a restricted zone is not declared in part of Scotland). For moves from the Restricted Zone (RZ) to Scotland, hauliers can undertake multiple pickups in the RZ but upon leaving the RZ the move must be direct to the destination.

The requirements for moves from the restricted zone to Scotland (after 12th June) will be as they were in last year’s vector active season. This includes: 

 For moves from RZ to slaughter in Scotland

  • The vehicle must be clear of material likely to attract midges immediately prior to loading at the source premises and after unloading at the destination premises. The animal area of the vehicle should be treated with an insecticide and allowed to fully dry prior to loading animals at the source premises and after unloading at the destination premises.
  • Animals should arrive at the slaughterhouse and the slaughterhouse operator is required to slaughter animals at least 1 hour after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset to avoid the times of peak vector activity. In the case of delay in arrival, the licensee must contact APHA. In any case animals must be slaughtered within 24 hours of arrival.

The insecticide applied to vehicles used to transport animals moved under the authority of this licence must be effective against flying insects, ideally Culicoides (midges), and applied as per the manufacturer’s instructions. It should ideally contain the active ingredients: pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroids. Ideally, they should be used in a spray format and be suitable for use indoors. It must be currently authorised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as a biocidal product for use in the UK.

 For moves from RZ to live in Scotland

  • The animal area of the vehicle is cleansed adequately ensuring it is free of organic matter that could attract midges prior to treatment.
  • The animal area of the vehicle must have been treated with an insecticide in accordance with the label.
  • Any insecticide applied must be allowed to fully dry prior to loading any animals.
  • The licensee must retain, for a minimum period of two years records of:
    • Number of animals moved and their identification numbers.
    • Insecticides used.

Moves from a Free Area to another Free Area transiting through the RZ

  • The movement must be direct from source to destination without stops in the RZ, except in an emergency.