Statutory guidance

General licence to move breeding animals, other than cattle and sheep, from a bluetongue restricted zone to a final destination in the free area of Scotland, to live (EXD699(GB))

Published 10 September 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This licence allows, subject to compliance with conditions of the licence, the movement of breeding animals, other than cattle and sheep, out of a bluetongue restricted zone to a final destination in the free area of Scotland, to live.

You do not need to apply for this general licence but you must meet its conditions and follow its instructions.

This licence is valid from 2:30pm on 9 September 2026.

Signed: Karim Hachimi, Veterinary Inspector

Date: 9 September 2026

Time: 2:30pm

Veterinary Inspector appointed by Secretary of State, Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers.

Legislation

This licence is made under regulation 13(2) of the Bluetongue Regulations 2008 (as amended), regulation 13(2) of the Bluetongue (Wales) Regulations 2008 (as amended), and article 16(6) of the Bluetongue (Scotland) Order 2012.

Conditions of the licence

1. 1. The movement of animals authorised by this licence shall be of breeding animals other than cattle and sheep as defined in explanatory note 3 from a restricted zone in England, Wales or Scotland to a final destination in the free area of Scotland.
2. 2. The movement shall be direct from a premises in a restricted zone to another premises in the free area of Scotland.
3. 3. In order to move under this licence,
   1. a. all animals moved must have evidence of a valid negative PCR test which can be linked to each individual animal (see explanatory note 2)
   2. b. the date of sampling in relation to the valid negative PCR test must be no more than 7 calendar days prior to the movement to the free area of Scotland (see explanatory note 7), and
   3. c. any person moving animals must demonstrate condition 3(a) is met by completing the EXD645 (GB) form pack and uploading it alongside relevant testing or vaccination evidence to the APHA portal in accordance with explanatory note 2
4. 4. The licensee must notify the keeper at the destination premises in the free area of Scotland that any animals moved under this licence originated from a restricted zone and provide them with a copy of the EXD645(GB) form pack.
5. 5. Immediately prior to the move, the licensee must ensure the animals to be moved are inspected for clinical signs of bluetongue infection. If any animal inspected or other animal at the premises displays signs that may be indicative of bluetongue infection:
   1. a. this must be reported to 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

Documentation and record keeping

1. 6. This licence and the EXD645(GB) form pack must accompany the animals. Electronic copies are permitted as long as they are filled in and signed where required.
2. 7. The licensee must retain, for a minimum period of 2 years records of:
   1. • the number of animals moved and their identification numbers
   2. • proof of any BTV vaccines and/or BTV tests results
   3. • consignment notes written under condition 8
3. 8. When moving anything under the authority of this licence, a person must carry with them a consignment note. The consignment note must be kept by the licensee for 2 years and include:
   1. a. the species and number of animals being moved
   2. b. the individual ID of each animal moved
   3. c. the date of the movement
   4. d. the name of the consignor
   5. e. the address of the premises from which the movement started (the sale or collection centre),
   6. f. the name and address of the consignee, and
   7. g. the name, address and CPH number of the premises of destination

Explanatory notes

1. 1. This licence is signed by a veterinary inspector, as a member of staff of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), who is:
   1. a. appointed by the Secretary of State for the purposes of the Bluetongue Regulations 2008
   2. b. appointed by the Welsh Ministers for the purposes of the Bluetongue (Wales) Regulations 2008, and
   3. c. in relation to the powers of the Scottish Ministers in the Bluetongue (Scotland) Order 2012, appointed by the Secretary of State, who acts on behalf of the Scottish Ministers under an Agency Agreement between the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State, in relation to which the Secretary of State exercises specified functions of the Scottish Ministers relating to animal health and welfare.
2. 2. A EXD645(GB) form is applied for through APHA prior to moving an animal from a restricted zone to the free area of Scotland. A keeper must complete the form with details of animals that are to be moved and uploading evidence (as applicable) of negative PCR testing results.
3. 3. For the purposes of this licence, “breeding animal” means an adult ruminating animal or camelid, with the exception of cattle and sheep (these being covered under different licences)
4. 4. A bluetongue restricted zone is an area declared as a restricted zone under the Bluetongue Regulations 2008, the Bluetongue (Wales) Regulations 2008 or the Bluetongue (Scotland) Order 2012.
5. 5. The “free area” of Scotland means the area of Scotland not subject to bluetongue restrictions under the Bluetongue (Scotland) Order 2012.
6. 6. “PCR” means Polymerase Chain Reaction.
7. 7. Where condition 3(b) applies, samples for PCR test are valid for 7 days. For avoidance of doubt, this means if samples were taken – for instance – on a Saturday, the animals could move on a negative result until the end of next Saturday.
8. 8. Once the animals are loaded and the journey has commenced, animals must not be unloaded until arrival at the destination premises. 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
9. 9. “Licensee” means the person moving animals under this licence.
10. 10. It is strongly recommended that any animals moved under this licence are isolated after arriving at their destination in the free area of Scotland and monitored for any signs of bluetongue, including arranging privately for a post-movement test. Speak to your vet who can follow the sampling and submission instructions.
11. 11. 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) nor under The Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (Wales) (No. 3) Order 2003 nor under The Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (Scotland) Regulations 2005, to cleanse and disinfect the vehicle.
12. 12. All requirements of the Disease Control (England) Order 2003 (as amended), the Disease Control (Wales) Order 2003 (as amended), or the Disease Control (Interim measures) (Scotland) Order 2002 (as amended) and licences under those Orders must be met.
13. 13. 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, Scottish Ministers or of the Welsh Ministers, give their name and address, produce the consignment note and allow copies or an extract to be taken.
14. 14. When collecting samples, the Private Veterinary Surgeon must follow the sampling instructions on Improve International. It is further strongly recommended that samples submitted to the laboratory are booked with a fast courier as well as following all the recommendations about correct packaging and clear labelling and paperwork.
15. 15. If you suspect of a notifiable disease, you must immediately report this by contacting APHA by telephone:
    1. • England: 03000 200 301
    2. • Scotland: 03000 600 704
    3. • Wales: 03003 038 268 Monday to Sunday, 24 hours
16. 16. 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. If the animals being moved are of a species for which there are no official individual ID requirements, then each animal being moved must be given, prior to samples being taken, an individual ID and identification marking appropriate to the species which correlates the test results with the animal being moved.
17. 17. This licence does not override any other existing movement restrictions on animals under other legislation, and all other relevant legislation must be complied with.

Any person who contravenes any requirement of a licence granted under the Bluetongue Regulations 2008 (as amended), the Bluetongue (Scotland) Order 2012, the Bluetongue Regulations 2008 (as amended) or The Bluetongue (Wales) Regulations 2008 (as amended), is committing an offence and may be liable on summary conviction to a level 5 fine on the standard scale or to 3 months’ imprisonment or both.

Contact us

Contact the APHA on the number provided above (in explanatory note 15) or your Local Authority for further advice on biosecurity measures and any other legislation that may apply.