Statutory guidance

General licence to move live animals from a bluetongue restricted zone to a final destination in Scotland (EXD608(EW))

Published 15 May 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This licence permits, subject to compliance with relevant law and the conditions set out in this licence, the movement of live animals from a bluetongue restricted zone to a final destination in Scotland.

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

I being an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers for the purposes of the Bluetongue Regulations 2008 (as amended) or the Bluetongue (Wales) Regulations 2008 (as amended) permit, subject to the conditions set out in the Schedule below, the movement of animals from within a bluetongue restricted zone in England or Wales direct to a destination premises in Scotland, otherwise than for the purpose of slaughter. 

This licence is valid from 00:01 on 1 June 2026

Veterinary Inspector 

Signed by: Karim Hachimi 

Date: 10:00 on 12 May 2026  

Veterinary Inspector appointed by Secretary of State. 

Schedule of conditions 

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

Either

1. The movement is direct from a farm in a restricted zone to another farm in Scotland and the animals are accompanied by an EXD645(EW) form pack, that confirms all animals:  

• have evidence of a valid negative PCR test in accordance with conditions 12-16 and evidence of treatment with an insecticide in accordance with conditions 18-20, or:
• evidence of vaccine purchase and administration in accordance with condition 9 and 10

Or

2. The movement is from a sale or collection centre in a restricted zone and, either: 

• Box 1 (appended to this Schedule of Conditions) is endorsed by a representative of the sale or collection centre, confirming that all animals to be moved under this licence originate from a restricted zone, and are specified in a EXD645(EW) form pack in accordance with condition 5

Or

• Box 2 (appended to this Schedule of Conditions) is endorsed by a representative of the sale or collection centre, confirming that the animals to be moved under this licence originated from a premises in Scotland and have not remained at the sale or collection centre for more than 4 days. 

Or 

• Box 3 (appended to this Schedule of Conditions) is endorsed by a representative of the sale or collection centre, confirming that the animals originate from a premises in Scotland and are cattle which have been vaccinated, have not remained at the sale or collection centre for more than 4 days, and meet the requirements of condition 9 of this Schedule.

3. The movement of animals authorised by this licence shall be from a restricted zone to a final destination in Scotland.   

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, or if the source premises has had a confirmed bluetongue case in the 6 months prior to the movement. This licence does not override any other existing movement restrictions on animals under other legislation. 

5. The licensee must notify the operator of the sale or collection centre (if applicable) of the destination premises for the animals moved under this licence, provide them with a copy of the EXD645(EW) form pack (if applicable), and request that they complete and sign either box 1, 2 or 3 in this Schedule.  

6. Immediately prior to the move, the licensee must ensure the animals to be moved under the authority of this licence 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. 

7. 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 or main road).  
3. c. Lorry Park or similar place. 

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 two years and include: 

1. a. The species and number of animals being moved.
2. b. The official ID of all animals 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.
7. g. The name, address and CPH number of the premises of destination.

The licensee, if not the same person, must ensure that the keeper at the destination premises is aware that the animals moved under authority of this licence have come from a restricted zone.  

Vaccination 

9. Cattle which have originated in Scotland prior to arriving at a sale or collection centre and have been vaccinated with the Boehringer ‘Bultavo-3’ vaccine, with at least 21 days having elapsed since the second dose of the vaccine before they enter the restricted zone, and have received a booster dose if 12 months have elapsed since completion of the primary course can be moved under this licence if box 3 in this Schedule is endorsed. The person responsible for the vaccination of the animals must give ScotEID permission to share the animal’s vaccination status with the market. 

10. Cattle which have originated in the restricted zone and have been vaccinated with the Boehringer ‘Bultavo-3’ vaccine, with at least 21 days having elapsed since the second dose of the vaccine, and have received a booster dose if 12 months have elapsed since completion of the primary course, can be moved under this licence either directly from a farm in the restricted zone to a farm in Scotland, or from a sale or collection centre in the restricted zone to a final destination premises in Scotland. For the latter, box 1 in this Schedule must be endorsed by the sale operator.

11. Evidence of any vaccination treatment should be provided in the EXD645 form pack and accompany the animals. 

Testing 

12. Animals to be moved under authority of this licence, which are not:

1. a. youngstock at foot with a tested dam in accordance with condition 15 below.  
2. b. cattle vaccinated in accordance with conditions 9 or 10 above. 

may not be moved under this licence unless they have undergone testing by PCR for bluetongue virus, with negative results returned, prior to the movement taking place.  

13. The date of sampling for the negative test in condition 12 must be no more than 7 calendar days prior to the movement to Scotland. 

14. In addition, for all cattle in the third trimester of pregnancy (served more than 6 months prior to the movement), samples must have undergone serology testing by ELISA, for antibodies to the bluetongue virus with negative results.  

15. Where condition 12a applies, maternal dams must be tested by BTV PCR and ELISA. 

16. Evidence of any testing must be provided in the EXD645 form pack and accompany the animals. 

Youngstock  

17. Youngstock travelling at foot of the maternal dam do not require testing provided that the dam has tested negative in accordance with conditions 12 and 13. If dams are cows travelling under the vaccination conditions in 9 or 10, then calves must either also be vaccinated or tested clear in accordance with this schedule.  

Insecticide treatment of vehicles  

18. The licensee must ensure that prior to loading animals, the requirements of condition 20 are complied with. 

19. After unloading of animals, prior to the vehicle leaving the destination, the licensee must ensure the requirements of condition 20 are complied with. 

20. The requirements referred to in condition 18 and 19 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. 

Record keeping 

21. The licensee must retain, for a minimum period of two years records of: 

• the number of animals moved and their identification numbers
• any BTV vaccines and/or BTV tests

22. 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 accompanied by an EXD645 form pack listing the appropriate vaccination and/or as set out in conditions 9 to 17. 

Animal lot number(s): 

EXD645(EW) licence reference number(s):  

Signature:  

Name (printed): 

Role: 

Date: 

Box 2 (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 originated from a premises in Scotland and have spent no more than 4 days in the sale or collection centre.

Animal lot number(s): 

Date of arrival to the RZ: 

Date of return from the RZ: 

Signature:  

Name (printed): 

Role: 

Date: 

Box 3 (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 originated from a premises in Scotland, have spent no more than 4 days in the sale or collection centre, and I have checked ScotEID to verify they were vaccinated and meet the requirements of condition 9 of this Schedule.

Animal lot number(s): 

Signature:  

Name (printed): 

Role: 

Date: 

Notes 

1. Any animal which has spent longer than 4 days in a restricted zone is considered resident in the restricted zone and therefore must be tested or vaccinated as appropriate before it comes to Scotland. 

2. A EXD645(EW) form is applied for through APHA prior to moving an animal from a restricted zone to Scotland. A keeper must complete the form with details of animals that are to be moved and uploading evidence (as applicable) of: negative testing results, vaccination purchase, and vaccine dosage records. A copy of the EXD645(EW) form and the evidence must accompany the animals (the EXD645(EW) form pack). 

3. The EXD645(EW) form pack is not required if the animal(s) moving: 

• originated from a premises outside of a restricted zone, have not remained at a sale or collection centre for more than 4 days and are therefore exempt from pre-movement testing; or
• originally moved from Scotland and are cattle which have been vaccinated and meet the requirements of condition 9 of this Schedule 

4. In the case of non-direct movement through a market/collection centre in Scotland, a market operator can provide the EXD645 (EW) form pack to a new keeper for assurance that licence conditions have been met, prior to animals continuing onto a final destination in Scotland (or elsewhere).

5. “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. 

6. A “restricted zone” means a restricted zone declared under regulation 13 of the Regulations. 

7. “PCR” means Polymerase Chain Reaction. 

8. “Sale or Collection” means a sale or collection defined as an animal gathering under the Animal Gatherings Order 2010 at a market premises or collection centre licenced under article 5(1) of the Animal Gatherings Order 2010. 

9. “Licensee” means the person moving animals under this licence. 

10. It is strongly recommended that any animals moved under this licence are be isolated after arriving at their destination in 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 on the Improve International website.

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 nor under The Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (Wales) (No. 3) Order 2003 to cleanse and disinfect the vehicle. 

12. All requirements of the Disease Control (England) Order 2003 (as amended) or the Disease Control (Wales) Order 2003 (as amended) and licences under that Order must be met. 

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 or of the Welsh Ministers, give their name and address, produce the consignment note and allow copies or an extract to be taken. 

14. 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. 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 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.   

15. The Private Veterinary Surgeon must undertake testing under this licence in line with the sampling instructions on Improve International.

16. 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. If you suspect notifiable disease in Scotland, you report this immediately to the Local Animal and Plant Health Agency Field Services team. 

• Ayr - 03000 600 703
• Galashiels - 03000 600 711
• Inverness - 03000 600 709
• Inverurie - 0300 600 708
• Perth - 0300 600 704

17. All other relevant legislation must be complied with.  

18. Contact the APHA on the number provided above or your Local Authority for further advice on biosecurity measures and any other legislation that may apply. 

Any person who contravenes any requirement of a licence granted under 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.