Statutory guidance

Bluetongue: general licences to move animals and germinal product from the restricted zone in England to Scotland or Wales

Use these general licences to move animals and germinal product from the bluetongue restricted zone in England to Scotland or Wales (EXD603, EXD608, EXD639, EXD656, EXD657, EXD658, EXD661, EXD662, EXD667).

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
• Published: 1 July 2025
• Last updated: 15 October 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

General licence to move animals from within a bluetongue restricted zone to slaughter in Wales (EXD603(E))

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General licence to move vaccinated animals from within the restricted zone to live in Wales outside a temporary control zone (EXD661(E))

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General licence to move vaccinated animals from within the bluetongue restricted zone in England to a bluetongue temporary control zone in Wales to live (EXD667(E))

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General licence to move non-vaccinated live animals from a sale or collection centre in a bluetongue restricted zone to a destination in Wales (EXD608(E))

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General licence to move animals from Wales into the bluetongue restricted zone, or out of the restricted zone to Wales, for emergency veterinary treatment (EXD639 (W))

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General licence for the movement of animals from a bluetongue restricted zone to Scotland (EXD662(E))

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General licence to move live animals from a specified sale within the bluetongue restricted zone in England, to a premises in Scotland (EXD 657 (E))

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General licence to move germinal product from a restricted zone to Scotland or Wales (EXD656 (SW))

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General licence to move germinal product from designated premises within a restricted zone to premises outside a restricted zone (EXD 658(GB))

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Details

References to ‘animals’ means ruminants (for example, cattle, sheep, goats and deer) and camelids (for example, llamas and alpacas).

If you are planning to move animals or germinal product from England to:

• Scotland, you must follow the guidance on movement licences and pre-movement tests in Scotland
• Wales, you must follow the guidance on movement licences and pre-movement tests in Wales

For any movement out of a bluetongue restricted zone make sure that you: 

• only use a licence if you meet all the conditions
• use the latest version of the licence as they are occasionally updated 
• keep a copy with you when you move animals under the licence
• check your stock for signs of disease before loading

Published 1 July 2025

Last updated 15 October 2025 + show all updates

1. 15 October 2025

   Added points 3 and 4 to the conditions of the general licence to move non-vaccinated live animals from a sale or collection centre in a bluetongue restricted zone to a destination in Wales (EXD608(E)). Point 3 states that this licence allows the movement of animals to premises either in or outside a bluetongue temporary control zone in Wales. Point 4 states that this licence does not allow the movement of animals from or to premises that are under a bluetongue restriction notice.

2. 14 October 2025

   Added a new general licence to move vaccinated animals from within the bluetongue restricted zone in England to a bluetongue temporary control zone in Wales to live (EXD667).

3. 8 October 2025

   We have updated general licence EXD658(GB): the PCR testing window has changed from 6-28 days to 6-34 days after collection.

4. 23 September 2025

   Updated the general licence for movements of animals from within a bluetongue restricted zone to slaughter in Wales (EXD603(E)) and general licence for the movement of animals from a bluetongue restricted zone to Scotland (EXD662(E)).

5. 21 September 2025

   Removed 4 general licences (EXD603(SW), EXD608(SW), EXD627(W), EXD657(W)) which have been replaced with the new general licences for Scotland and Wales.

6. 19 September 2025

   The following new general licences will be valid to use for movements of animals to Scotland from 00:01 on Sunday 21 September: * general licence for the movement of animals from within the bluetongue restricted zone in England to Scotland to live (EXD662(E)) * general licence for the movement of live animals, from a specified sale within the bluetongue restricted zone in England, to a premises in Scotland (EXD657(E)) The following 3 new general licences will be valid to use for movements of animals to Wales from midday on Sunday 21 September: * general licence for the movement of vaccinated animals from within the bluetongue restricted zone in England to Wales to live (EXD661(E)) * general licence for movements of animals from within a bluetongue restricted zone to slaughter in Wales (EXD603(E)) * general licence for the movement of live animals originating from a bluetongue restricted zone, from a sale or collection centre, to a final destination in Wales (EXD608(E))

7. 15 August 2025

   Added general licence for the movement of live animals, from a specified sale within the bluetongue restricted zone in England, to a premises in Wales (EXD 657 (W)). The general licence to move animals from a specified sale within the bluetongue restricted zone in England, to a final destination in Scotland is now listed as (EXD657 (S)).

8. 8 August 2025

   Added general licence for the movement of germinal product from bluetongue susceptible animals from premises within a bluetongue restricted zone to premises outside a restricted zone (EXD658(GB)).

9. 4 August 2025

   Updated the link to guidance on movement licences and pre-movement tests in Wales to https://www.gov.wales/bluetongue-policy-wales

10. 31 July 2025

    Updated the general licence to move animals from the bluetongue restricted zone to an approved 'red market' in Wales (EXD627(W)).

11. 28 July 2025

    Added general licence for the movement of live animals, from a specified sale within the bluetongue restricted zone in England, to a final destination in Scotland (EXD657).

12. 18 July 2025

    Added general licence to move animals from Wales into the bluetongue restricted zone, or out of the restricted zone to Wales, for emergency veterinary treatment (EXD639 (W)). Also added general licence for the movement of germinal product out of a bluetongue restricted zone to Scotland or Wales (EXD656 (SW)).

13. 14 July 2025

    Added general licence EXD627(W) to move animals from the bluetongue restricted zone to an approved 'red market' in Wales.

14. 1 July 2025

    First published.