Statutory guidance

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

Updated 15 October 2025

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This licence allows, subject to compliance with the conditions of the licence, the movement of animals from a premises within a restricted zone direct to a slaughterhouse in Wales, or to a dedicated slaughter market or dedicated slaughter collection centre in Wales for the purpose of immediate slaughter.

This general licence applies in England.

The general licence dated 18 September 2025 which came into force at midday on 21 September 2025 is hereby revoked and replaced by this general licence with effect from 5:00pm on 23 September 2025.

Signed: Katherine Lumb, Veterinary Inspector

Date: 23 September 2025

Time: 4:26pm

Veterinary Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.

Legislation

This licence is made under regulations 13(2) and 14(2) of the Bluetongue Regulations 2008 (as amended).

Conditions of the licence

1. 1. The movement of animals shall be from a premises located within a bluetongue restricted zone to:
   1. a. a slaughterhouse in Wales
   2. b. a dedicated slaughter market or dedicated collection centre in Wales
2. 2. If animals are unsold at the market they must either go direct to slaughter or return to a premises in the restricted zone in England.
3. 3. The source premises must not be under a bluetongue premises restriction notice. See note 7 which defines this term.
4. 4. Immediately prior to the move, the licensee must inspect the animals to be moved under authority of this licence for clinical signs of bluetongue infection. If any animal inspected at the source premises displays signs that may be indicative of bluetongue infection, the animal should be kept isolated from the rest of the herd or flock, and this should be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) immediately. In such a case, no animal may be moved off the holding of origin under this licence.
5. 5. No animal may be unloaded, once the journey has commenced from within the restricted zone until arrival at the slaughter market, collection centre or slaughterhouse in Wales.
6. 6. The licensee must ensure that prior to loading animals, the requirements of condition 8 are complied with.
7. 7. After unloading of animals, prior to the vehicle leaving the destination slaughterhouse the licensee must ensure the requirements of condition 8 are complied with.
8. 8. The requirements referred to in condition 6 and 7 are:
   1. a. The animal area of the vehicle is cleansed adequately ensuring it is free of organic matter that could attract midges prior to treatment in part b.
   2. b. The animal area of the vehicle must have been treated with an insecticide in accordance with the label.
   3. c. Any insecticide applied must be allowed to fully dry prior to loading any animals.
9. 9. The insecticide applied to vehicles used to transport animals moved under the authority of this licence must be effective against flying insects, ideally Culicoides (midges), and applied as per the manufacturer’s instructions. It should ideally contain the active ingredients: pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroids. Ideally, they should be used in a spray format and be suitable for use indoors. It must be currently authorised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as a biocidal product for use in the UK.
10. 10. Single or multiple pick-ups are permitted in a restricted zone and may only take place on the periphery of premises using the approved methods described below:
    1. a. Tailgating
    2. b. Use of pens
    3. c. Temporary pens
11. 11. The movement of animals through a restricted zone to a slaughterhouse in Wales, or a dedicated slaughter market or dedicated slaughter collection centre in Wales, must be by the route that is considered likely to be the quickest available and must be direct, multiple pick-ups are NOT permitted.
12. 12. Multiple drop-offs are permitted to slaughterhouses.
13. 13. Subject to the conditions outlined in the ‘Disease Control Order General Licence for the movement of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs’, scheduled stops are permitted at the following locations:
    1. a. Motorway service stations
    2. b. Official lay-by (on a trunk/main road)
    3. c. Lorry Park or similar place
14. 14. The licensee must retain, for a minimum period of 2 years records of:
    1. a. The number of animals moved and their identification numbers
    2. b. Any insecticides used for the purpose of condition 10
15. 15. Record keeping systems must be in place to ensure that all movements can be traced from the source premises to the destination premises.
16. 16. When moving anything under the authority of this licence, a person must carry a consignment note. The consignment note must include:
    1. a. the species and number of animals being moved,
    2. b. the date of the movement,
    3. c. the name of the consignor,
    4. d. the address of the premises from which the movement started,
    5. e. the name of the consignee, and
    6. f. the address of the premises of destination.

Explanatory notes

1. 1. A licence is not required for slaughter within the restricted zone. This license is required for movements from:
   1. • source premises within a restricted zone to a slaughterhouse within Wales
   2. • a dedicated slaughter market or dedicated slaughter collection within a restricted zone or Wales for onwards transport to a slaughterhouse within Wales
2. 2. ‘The Regulations’ means the Bluetongue Regulations 2008 (as amended).
3. 3. ‘Animal’ means a ruminating animal or camelid. Ruminating animals includes but is not limited to cattle, sheep, goats and deer. Camelid includes camels, llamas and alpacas.
4. 4. A ‘Restricted Zone’ means a restricted zone declared under regulation 13 of the Regulations
5. 5. For the purpose of this licence the term ‘dedicated slaughter market’ means:
   1. a. a red market where ‘Red market’ means premises where a dedicated slaughter collection or dedicated slaughter sale are held for the purposes of the Animal Gatherings Order 2010; or
   2. b. any market running a section of the sale where animals present MUST only be moved direct to slaughter upon purchase. All animals attending either section of such a market must comply with the movement standstill rules; the slaughter exemption does not apply.
6. 6. For the purpose of this licence the term ‘Dedicated slaughter collection’ means an animal gathering for the purpose of onward consignment direct to slaughter in Wales.
7. 7. A bluetongue premise restriction notice refers to a restriction notice served at whole premise level and moves onto or off premise areas that are under part premise level restrictions. For the purpose of this licence, we do not consider premises to be restricted where a restriction notice is applied only to individual animals.
8. 8. If animals are unsold at market they can return to the source premises but they must observe standstill rules in line with the Disease Control (England) Order 2003 (as amended). It is an offence to move unsold animals not going to slaughter anywhere other than to the source premises.
9. 9. The vehicle must be clear of material likely to attract midges immediately prior to loading at the source premises and after unloading at the destination premises. The animal area of the vehicle should be treated with an insecticide and allowed to fully dry prior to loading animals at the source premises and after unloading at the destination premises.
10. 10. The licensee should check and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for the conditions of use of any products applied to the vehicles used to transport animals being moved under the authority of this licence.
11. 11. Annex B (multiple pick-ups and drop-offs) and C (scheduled stops) from the general licence under the Disease Control Order 2002 for the movement of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, as mentioned in conditions 11, 12 and 13 can be found at General licence for the movement of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs: annex A to C
12. 12. This licence cannot be used to move infected animals off an infected premises (IP) to slaughter.
13. 13. The requirements set out in this licence do not affect the user’s obligations under the Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (England) (No. 3) Order 2003 (as amended), or the equivalent legislation in Scotland, to cleanse and disinfect the vehicle.
14. 14. Movements must comply with routine movement standstill and reporting requirements.
15. 15. A person moving anything under the authority of this licence must, if asked to do so by an inspector, or other officer of the Secretary of State, produce the consignment note and allow copies or an extract to be taken.
16. 16. All requirements of the Disease Control (England) Order 2003 (as amended), or the equivalent in Wales, and any applicable licences issued under those Orders, must be met.
17. 17. If you suspect notifiable disease in England, you must report this immediately to Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. If you suspect notifiable disease in Wales, you must report this immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03003 038 268.
18. 18. All other relevant legislation must be complied with.

Failure to observe the measures required in this licence is an offence under Bluetongue Regulations 2008 (as amended). The penalty on conviction of an offence under this section is a maximum of 3 months’ imprisonment or a fine not exceeding Level 5 on the standard scale or both.

Contact us

For further advice on biosecurity measures and any other legislation that may apply, contact the APHA on 03003 038 268 or your local authority.