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).

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

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 for the movement of 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:

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

Updates to this page

Published 1 July 2025
Last updated 23 September 2025 show all updates
  1. 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)).

  2. 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.

  3. 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))

  4. 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)).

  5. 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)).

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

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

  8. 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).

  9. 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)).

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

  11. First published.

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