Bluetongue Policy in Wales

From June 20, susceptible animals will be allowed to move to Wales to live subject to the requirements of a specific licence and receipt of a valid pre-movement test. Bluetongue (BTV-3) testing for movements to Wales from the Restricted Zone will be at the keeper’s expense and must be privately arranged. 

Keepers in Wales must ensure animals have received a negative test result prior to the movement to Wales. Your private veterinary surgeon (PVS) should collect samples at your cost. Cattle that have completed treatment with Boehringer ‘Bultavo-3’ vaccine and have no clinical symptoms can move from a Restricted Zone to Wales without a pre-movement test. You must still apply for a movement licence regardless of whether you’re using pre-movement testing or vaccination. Guidance on collecting and sending samples can be found through Improve International and must be followed by the PVS.

Prior to 1 July 2025 a test is valid for 10 calendar days from the date when the sample is taken. On or after 1 July 2025 a test will be valid for 7 calendar days from the day when the sample is taken. 

Testing requirements 

The National Reference Laboratory (Pirbright) needs a minimum of 3 working days’ notice to turn a test around. The laboratory does not work on weekends so tests should be organised, and licence applications completed in good time. Care should be taken by both the licence applicant and the private veterinary surgeon when undertaking sampling to ensure that the forms are completed accurately, the sampling is undertaken correctly, and the labels are completed clearly, otherwise this could lead to delays. Clearly indicate on the sample form whether you need PCR only, or PCR and ELISA testing. Test results will be sent to APHA, who will complete the licence. Do not phone Pirbright for results, as they will not be able to give them to you. 

For information on how to arrange Bluetongue testing please visit Get bluetongue testing - GOV.UK.

Vaccination is the best way to protect animals from BTV-3 and is a key part of our disease control strategy along with movement controls. Talk to your private vet about whether vaccination is right for your herd or flock.

Vaccinated cattle that have completed treatment with Boehringer 'Bultavo-3' vaccine and have no clinical symptoms can move from a Restricted Zone to Wales without a pre-movement test.  Completed treatment means both doses of the vaccine were administered, and 21 days elapsed since the second dose.

No vaccine products currently enable the movement of sheep out of the restricted zone, and all sheep must be pre-movement tested to move.

You must apply for a movement licence regardless of whether you're using pre-movement testing or vaccination.

Vaccinated animals may test positive for BTV and will be treated as infected and cannot move to Wales, unless further investigation determines they are not at risk of spreading BTV.

You can access more information and resources at Ruminant Health & Welfare. This is part of a ‘battle bluetongue’ campaign which is running across industry.

You can apply for a specific licence to move animals in, out or within a bluetongue disease control zone (on Gov.UK).

The following movement controls will be in force when an animal is moved to Wales from a Bluetongue Restricted Zone in England.

From July 1, no pre-movement test is required for animals going direct to a designated slaughterhouse from the Bluetongue Restricted Zone. . However these movements must meet the requirements of the general licence (i.e. animals must be culled within 24 hrs, appropriate insecticides must be used, and the movement must take place after dawn and be completed before dusk). The general licences on GOV.UK facilitating this move and the conditions of the licence must be observed. There is no need to apply to APHA for a licence for this type of movement. 

The following slaughterhouses are designated to process movements from a Bluetongue Restricted Zone:

• Dunbia, Llanybydder
• Euro Farms Wales, Haverfordwest
• Farmers Fresh, Wrexham
• Pilgrims UK Lamb, Llanidloes
• Kepak/St Merryn, Merthyr Tydfil 

You must apply for a specific movement licence before moving animals from a Bluetongue Restricted Zone to Wales. Movements to live must meet conditions of a specific licence (applying for a licence on GOV.UK). 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 results (and or ELISA testing where required).

Movements to live: Bluetongue Restricted Zone to Wales 

• Until 1 July 2025 - a pre-movement test is required within 10 calendar days of the move (the test is valid from the date the sample was taken).
• From 1 July 2025 onwards - a pre-movement test is required within 7 calendar days of the move (the test is valid from the date the sample was taken).
• cattle vaccinated with Boehringer 'Bultavo-3' vaccine can move without pre-movement testing if 21 days have passed since the second dose was administered

Movements to live: Movements to shows or markets: Bluetongue Restricted Zone to Wales

• Animals must be pre-movement tested and receive a negative result to leave the Bluetongue Restricted Zone and attend a show or market in Wales.
• You must apply for a specific movement licence on GOV.UK before moving animals from a Bluetongue Restricted Zone to a show or market in Wales.
• Cattle vaccinated with Boehringer 'Bultavo-3' vaccine (with 21 days since completing the full course before entering the RZ) don't need pre-movement testing. Animals must have a general licence on GOV.UK to leave the market direct to their onward destination – this must be endorsed by the market operator before leaving the market to ensure the animal(s) have moved to the market in compliance with the specific licence.  

Movements to live: Movements to shows or markets in the Bluetongue Restricted Zone

• Animals moving from Wales do not require a pre-movement test to enter a show/market of less than 4 days duration in the Bluetongue Restricted Zone but must be isolated upon return to Wales and post-movement tested at the owner’s expense. You must notify APHA who will serve restrictions until a negative test 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 before entering the RZ) don't need pre or post-movement testing
• If the animal spends more than 4 days in the Bluetongue Restricted Zone, it becomes ‘resident’ and will require a pre-movement test to exit the Bluetongue Restricted Zone instead of post movement testing in the free area (see conditions above in the section Movements to live – Bluetongue Restricted Zone to Wales) unless they were protected by the above vaccine.

No testing is needed if moving directly from a Free Area to Wales through the Restricted Zone without stops.

Scheduled stops are permitted at:

• motorway service stations
• official lay-bys on trunk/main roads
• lorry parks or similar places

In Wales, these stops must follow conditions in The Disease Control (Wales) Order 2003  for moving cattle, deer, goats, pigs and sheep.