Bluetongue virus: current restrictions

A bluetongue virus restricted zone was declared across the whole of Wales from 00:01 on Monday 10 November 2025. This means that to move animals within Wales, you:

• do not need a specific licence
• do not need pre-movement tests
• just need to meet the conditions of general licence EXD671(EW) (on gov.uk)) for movements between the bluetongue restricted zone in England and the restricted zone in Wales. 

This applies if you are moving animals to a market, show, slaughterhouse or anywhere else within a bluetongue restricted zone. 

The declaration of the bluetongue restricted zone also imposed a bluetongue Infected Area which applies to the same geographical area as the restricted zone which restricts the movement of animals on and off premises and in or out of the infected area. General licence under the Movement of Animals (Restrictions) (Wales) Order 2003 (as amended) EXD612(W) (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 restricted zone.

Holdings or animals with a restriction notice

All restriction notices issued to individual holdings and animals that were in place before 10 November 2025 were lifted on 10 November.

Check the guidance on moving animals from Wales to Scotland (on gov.scot).

There are currently no temporary control zones.

View revoked Bluetongue virus restrictions.