Changes to Bluetongue Control Policy.

As I’m sure many of you have heard, from the 1st July DEFRA/APHA has put the whole of England into a Bluetongue Restricted Zone (RZ). This extension of the RZ will enable easier movement and trade of stock within England, as all areas are now under the same restriction category, eliminating the need to navigate between different risk zones.

This change only applies to England. The Welsh Government has decided not to align themselves with England and put Wales under the same restrictions. Last summer/autumn, the restriction zones in England helped slow the disease's spread by limiting animal movements. The Welsh Government's decision will continue to limit the movement of stock from England into Wales with the aim of limiting transmission. While in principle this is a sensible approach and I’m sure appreciated by farmers further west, it will have significant impact on all businesses that do any cross-border trade of stock. 

New Requirements for Moving Livestock into Wales

As of 20th June 2025, all ruminants (including cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, and deer) moving from an English RZ into Wales to live must:

• Apply for a movement licence

• Undergo a pre-movement blood test (at the owner’s expense)

• Complete the move within 7 days of testing

STEP 1 - Apply for a licence

Allow 10 days for licence to be processed

Apply here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-move-animals-within-into-and-out-of-bluetongue-zones

STEP 2 - Organise and take pre movement blood test.

This test must be completed before moving the animals and is valid for 7 calendar days from the day the sample is taken.

This is not a simple process and due to limited capacity at the one laboratory we are allowed to send samples off too there are very tight time windows to hit. It can take at least 72 hours to receive the results and no testing is carried out on weekends. This test is also not cheap coming in at approx. £57 per animal just for the lab testing.  

STEP 3 - Receive blood result and move animal

The move must be completed within 7 days of the test date.

Practical Impacts

The complexity of protocols, narrow timeframes and high costs of sampling will inevitably make everything, bar private on farm sales, unmanageable. There are multiple businesses that will be severely affected by these changes, from calf rearers buying stock from Sedgemoor to commercial flocks attending breeding ram sales at Hereford. 

There are separate rules for movements from RZ to slaughterhouses and shows that are explained in more detail on the government website and on the movement diagram below.  

https://www.gov.wales/bluetongue-policy-wales 

These policies are constantly under review and I have no doubt will change in the coming weeks to months. We will keep you updated as new information becomes available.  

A Glimmer of Hope? 

The Welsh Government have just announced that there will be an exemption for cattle moving from a RZ into Wales without a pre-movement test if:

• They have received both does of the Bultavo 3 vaccine

• At least 21 days have passed since the second dose.

• They show no clinical signs of Bluetongue.

However, you still must apply for the specific movement license.

No exemption currently exists for vaccinated sheep. All sheep must be pre-movement tested before crossing into Wales.

Vaccination is the most effective tool we have to prevent significant disease and slow the spread across the country.  

Following a period of supply issues with the bluetongue vaccine we now have the ability to fulfil orders. Vaccination is the only tool we have to prevent significant disease and slow the spread across the country.  

Bultavo 3 is a 1ml dose for both cattle and sheep, with a single injection in sheep and two doses three weeks apart in cattle, goats and camelids.  

If you have any questions or queries please give us a ring on 01453511311.

Contact us or your local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) office immediately on 0300 303 8268 if you suspect Bluetongue. 

A reminder of clinical signs of Bluetongue: 

Sheep 

• ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose 

• discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from the mouth 

• swelling of the lips, tongue, head, neck and coronary band 

Cattle 

• lethargy 

• crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle 

• redness of the mouth, eyes, nose, coronary band, teats 

• nasal discharge 

• fever 

• reduced milk yield 

• fertility problems