Statutory guidance

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))

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 non-vaccinated animals from within a sale or collection centre within a bluetongue restricted zone direct to a destination premises in Wales, other than for the purpose of slaughter.

The general licence EXD608(E) dated 19 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 15 October 2025.

Signed: Karim Hachimi, Veterinary Inspector

Date: 15 October 2025

Time: 9:30am

Veterinary Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.

Legislation

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

Conditions of the licence

Any person moving an animal under the authority of this licence must comply with the following conditions:

1. 1. EITHER
   1. • Box 1 (at the bottom of these licence conditions) is endorsed by a representative of the sale or collection centre, confirming that all animals to be moved under this licence are specified in a valid licence EXD597(E).
   2. OR
   3. • Box 2 (at the bottom of the licence conditions) is endorsed by a representative of the sale or collection centre, confirming that the animals to be moved under this licence moved to the sale or collection centre from Wales and are returning to Wales, having not remained in the restricted zone for more than 4 days prior to departure under this licence. Where an animal is moving in these circumstances, condition 13 must be complied with.
2. 2. The movement of animals authorised by this licence shall be from a sale or collection centre in the restricted zone in England to a destination in Wales.
3. 3. Animals are permitted to move:
   1. i. To a premises in a bluetongue temporary control zone in Wales.
   2. ii. To a premises outside of a bluetongue temporary control zone in Wales.
4. 4. No movement may take place under this licence if either the source premises or the destination premises are subject to a bluetongue premises restriction notice.
5. 5. The licensee must have notified the operator of the sale or collection centre of the destination premises for the animals moved under this licence. The licensee must also have informed the operator of the sale or collection centre of any amendments to the destination premises.
6. 6. The licensee must accurately record the animal movements from the sale or collection centre to the destination on the relevant animal movement platform including the animal identification number.
7. 7. 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 or other animal at the same premises displays signs that may be indicative of bluetongue infection:
   1. a. This must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) immediately;
   2. b. The animal must be isolated from the rest of the herd/flock; and
   3. c. That animal may not be moved under this licence.
8. 8. Once the animals are loaded and the journey has commenced, animals must not be unloaded until arrival at the destination premises (subject to the following condition).
9. 9. Subject to the conditions outlined in the ‘Disease Control Order 2003 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
10. 10. The licensee must retain, for a minimum period of 2 years, records of:
    1. a. The number of animals moved,
    2. b. The identification numbers of the animals moved from the sale or collection centre under this licence,
    3. c. Accurate destination premises of the animals moved.
11. 11. When moving anything under the authority of this licence, a person must carry with them 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 (the sale or collection centre),
    5. e. The name and address of the consignee, and
    6. f. The name, address and CPH number of the premises of destination.
12. 12. The licensee must ensure that the keeper at the destination premises is aware that the animals moved under authority of this licence have either:
    1. a. originated from a bluetongue restricted zone,
    2. b. attended a sale in a bluetongue restricted zone.
13. 13. Where an animal is to be moved under this licence under the second bullet point of condition 1, having moved to the sale or collection centre from Wales, and is returning to Wales, the following requirements must be met:
    1. • Where the residency in the restricted zone is 4 days or fewer:
       1. a. APHA must be notified by contacting APHA.CymruWales@APHA.gov.uk for Wales on the day of the licensed move that an animal or animals has/have been purchased and is/are moving under this licence, and provided with the following information:
          1. i. The species and number of animals being moved,
          2. ii. The date of the movement,
          3. iii. The name of the consignor,
          4. iv. The address of the premises from which the movement started (the market / collection centre),
          5. v. The name and address of the consignee, and
          6. vi. The name, address and CPH number of the premises of destination.
       2. b. Animals must be isolated upon return to Wales and kept in isolation until instructed otherwise by APHA;
       3. c. A post-movement test for BTV must be arranged at the licensee’s expense;
       4. d. Monitor animal(s) for signs of BTV and report them immediately to your local APHA office.
    2. • Where an animal has been in the restricted zone for longer than 4 days, a specific EXD597(E) licence will be needed from APHA in accordance with the first bullet point of condition 1.
14. 14. The licensee must ensure that prior to loading animals, the requirements of condition 16 are complied with.
15. 15. After unloading of animals, prior to the vehicle leaving the destination, the licensee must ensure the requirements of condition 16 are complied with.
16. 16. The requirements referred to in condition 14 and 15 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.
17. 17. The licensee must retain, for a minimum period of 2 years, records of:
    1. • The number of animals moved and their identification numbers.
    2. • Any insecticides used for the purpose of condition 14.
18. 18. All movements are subject to the animal being properly identified in compliance with the current livestock identification regulations for the species and accompanied by the appropriate duly completed movement documentation. Movements must comply with routine movement standstill and reporting requirements.

Box 1 (strike through if not applicable)

I, the market or collection centre representative, confirm that animals in the lots listed below and being moved under this licence and originating from the restricted zone are specified in a valid EXD597(E).

Animal lot numbers:

Signature:

Name (printed):

Role:

Date:

Box 2 (strike through if not applicable)

I, the market or collection centre representative, confirm that to the best of my knowledge, the animals in the lots listed below and being moved under this licence moved to the restricted zone from Wales no more than 4 days prior to the date on which they will move from the restricted zone under this licence.

Animal lot numbers:

Signature:

Name (printed):

Role:

Date:

Explanatory notes

1. 1. ‘The Regulations’ means the Bluetongue Regulations 2008 (as amended).
2. 2. ‘Animal’ means a ruminating animal or camelid. Ruminating animals include but are not limited to cattle, sheep, goats, deer. Camelids include but are not limited to llamas and alpacas.
3. 3. A ‘restricted zone’ means a restricted zone declared under regulation 13 of the Regulations.
4. 4. A ‘bluetongue restricted zone’ means a restricted zone declared under the Bluetongue (Wales) Regulations 2008 (as amended) (S.I. 2008/1090) (W. 116).
5. 4. ‘PCR’ means Polymerase Chain Reaction.
6. 6. ‘Sale or collection’ means a sale or collection falling within the definition of ‘animal gathering’ in the Animal Gatherings Order 2010, held at a market premises or collection centre licensed under article 5(1) of that Order.
7. 7. ‘Licensee’ means person moving animals under this licence.
8. 8. 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 to cleanse and disinfect the vehicle.
9. 9. All requirements of the Disease Control (England) Order 2003 (as amended) and licences under that Order must be met.
10. 10. 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 give their name and address, produce the consignment note and allow copies or an extract to be taken.
11. 11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 12. The Private Veterinary Surgeon must undertake testing under this licence in line with the sampling instructions on Improve International.
14. 13. 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.
15. 14. 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.