Guidance

General licence to move resolved inconclusive reactors from herds in England or Wales with officially TB free status to slaughter or to an approved finishing unit

Updated 1 January 2026

Animal Health Act 1981

The Tuberculosis in Animals (England) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1001)

The Tuberculosis (Wales) Order 2010 (Wales S.I. 2010/1379 (W.122))

In accordance with article 24 of The Tuberculosis in Animals (England) Order 2021 and article 23 of The Tuberculosis (Wales) Order 2010, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Ministers authorise by this general licence the movement of resolved inconclusive reactor (IR) bovine animals from the premises to which they are restricted subject to the following conditions:

1. 1. Permitted movements under this licence are from a herd in England or Wales with officially TB free (OTF) status:

   1. a) directly to a slaughterhouse

   2. b) to a market or collecting centre approved to receive TB-restricted bovine animals from which all animals go direct to slaughter

   3. c) directly to an approved finishing unit (AFU)

   4. d) to an approved dedicated collection (England only) or sale for TB-restricted bovine animals (‘orange market’) in England or Wales and from there to an AFU in England or Wales or to a slaughterhouse

2. 2. No bovine animals may be moved on or off premises if such movements would be contrary to any other notifiable disease restrictions that are in place at the time of the proposed movement.

3. 3. Movements to an AFU and to an approved dedicated collection or sale for TB-restricted bovine animals must meet the conditions of the General Licence for the Movement of Cattle in England or Wales.

4. 4. Isolation of animals in transit:

   1. a) the animals must not be unloaded (except in an emergency) from the vehicle in which they are being transported until arrival at the destination premises.

   2. b) other bovine animals from OTF herds can travel in the same vehicle as the resolved IRs only when they are being transported to the same destination premises.

   3. c) other species of animals (for example horses, sheep and pigs) may be carried in the same vehicle only when they are being moved for slaughter at the same slaughterhouse and subject to the regulations governing the transport of animals.

5. 5. Cleansing and disinfection of vehicles and vessels

   1. a) any means of transport used for conveying animals under this Licence shall be cleansed and disinfected in accordance with the requirements of The Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection)(England) (No.3) Order 2003 (as amended) in England or The Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (Wales) (No. 3) Order 2003 (as amended) in Wales.

   2. b) the disinfectant used must be approved for use against tuberculosis under The Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants)(England) Order 2007 in England or The Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (Wales) Order 2007 in Wales, and applied in accordance with the requirements of such approval.

It is the cattle keeper’s responsibility to ensure compliance with the conditions set out in this licence. Non-compliance with the terms of this licence is an offence under The Tuberculosis in Animals (England) Order 2021 or The Tuberculosis (Wales) Order 2010.

This licence comes into force at 00.01 on 1 January 2026.

Signed by:

Sergio Thomas

For the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Alison Jones

Under authority of the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, one of the Welsh Ministers

Dated: 11 December 2025

Notes

1. 1. Resolved inconclusive reactors (IRs) are defined as bovine animals that gave an inconclusive result to the tuberculin skin test and upon retesting not less than 60 days later, gave a negative result to the skin test. In Wales, this policy applies to IRs disclosed at standard interpretation only.
2. 2. In the High Risk Area, Edge Area and in TB breakdown herds in the Low Risk Area of England, resolved IRs are restricted for life by notice to the holding where they were tested and can only move off under licence, unless they are subsequently subjected to an interferon-gamma blood test with negative results.
3. 3. In Wales, resolved IRs are restricted for life by notice to the holding where they were tested and can only move off under licence.
4. 4. An approved finishing unit (AFU) includes an approved finishing unit (enhanced) (AFUE) with grazing.
5. 5. If during movement the licensed cattle are watered, the water must be supplied in a clean bucket direct from a tap and not from a water trough. The bucket must then be disinfected.
6. 6. The movement of cattle under this licence must be entered in the record required to be kept under the Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 or the Cattle Identification (Wales) Regulations 2007 and all movements must be reported to the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) within 3 days of the movement.

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and also works on behalf of the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Food Standards Agency to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy.