This change follows discussions between Welsh Government, NFU Cymru and the wider livestock industry about the way forward for BTV-3 control.
Temperatures in Wales during late September are usually low enough to reduce the risk of the BTV-3 virus completing its incubation period in newly infected midges, which reduces the risk of onward transmission of BTV-3. However, the disease can still be transmitted:
- By midges that were infected earlier in the season.
- By infected male animals during breeding.
As a result, BTV-3 vaccination remains the best way to protect your livestock. NFU Cymru encourages all members to speak to their own private farm vet about BTV-3 vaccination and the role it could play on your farm.
What’s Changing?
- Ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, deer) and camelids that have completed a primary vaccination scheme with any BTV-3 vaccine as per the product information datasheet and show no signs of illness can move into Wales without a pre-movement test, under the conditions of a general licence. Vaccination for animals moving under authority of this licence must have been reported on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-your-use-of-the-bluetongue-serotype-3-btv-3-vaccine. The general licence will permit any vaccinated animal to move from the RZ to Wales to live, this includes farm-to-farm, via markets, and from shows or collection centres.
- This new licence will supersede the measures for ‘Specified Green Markets’ in England (introduced on 18th August) and under the new licence arrangements, markets in both England and Wales will be able to sell vaccinated and unvaccinated livestock at the same sale. Only vaccinated animals or those that have received a negative pre-movement test will be able to move from a market in the restricted zone to Wales. Markets will need to follow an approved process and guidance on how markets can confirm vaccination status is being worked on.
- Animals going to slaughter can continue to move under the current general licence, but slaughterhouses will no longer need to be designated after 21 September. The general licence will also be amended to include slaughter markets and collection centres for onward movement to a slaughterhouse and will supersede the current ‘Bluetongue Approved Red Market’ process in Wales. There is no vaccination requirement for animals moving under this licence.
- Non-vaccinated animals will still need a negative pre-movement test, and a specific licence from APHA to enable movements to live in Wales from the RZ.
- Animals which test positive for Bluetongue or are tested in a batch in which one or more animals test positive for Bluetongue cannot move to Wales. Keepers have the option to either pre-movement test again after 30 days or vaccinate the animals.
A primary vaccination scheme of a bluetongue virus serotype 3 vaccination means:
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- For sheep - one injection of Syvazul or Bultavo, or two injections of Bluevac 3 weeks apart, and the onset of immunity period has passed.
- For cattle - two injections of any vaccine 3 weeks apart, and the onset of immunity period has passed.
For Bluevac-3 and Bultavo-3 the onset of immunity is 3 weeks (21 days) after completion of the primary vaccination scheme for sheep and cattle. For Syvazul the onset of immunity is 4 weeks (28 days) after completion of the primary vaccination scheme for sheep, and 3 weeks for cattle. Any such animals must have received any revaccination as required by the product information datasheet, or if 6 months have elapsed since the completion date of primary vaccination. SPCs can be consulted on. The Defra website contains more information on vaccination.
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 |
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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. |
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| From 18 August |
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The trading of BTV3 vaccinated Welsh livestock will be permitted at ‘Wales only’ markets in England, within 20 kilometres of the border. Cross-border movements of vaccinated Welsh livestock attending these specific sales will not require pre-movement testing, subject to the conditions of the general licence which stipulates a ‘same day’ movement requirement. |
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| From 21 September |
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Animals that have completed a primary vaccination scheme with any BTV-3 vaccine and show no signs of illness can move into Wales without a pre-movement test, under the conditions of a general licence. |
Reduction in certain controls. See details in BTV control policy in Scotland. |
