Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccination
Information on BTV-3 vaccines including permits and licences.
There are 3 bluetongue serotype (BTV-3) vaccines that can be used in Great Britain. These are:
- Bluevac-3
- Bultavo 3
- SYVAZUL BTV 3
Where you can use BTV-3 vaccines
In England, you can use the Bluevac-3, Bultavo 3 or SYVAZUL BTV 3 vaccines, as long as you comply with the conditions of the general licence for England including reporting vaccination activity.
In Scotland, you can use the Bluevac-3, Bultavo 3 or SYVAZUL BTV 3 vaccines, as long as you comply with the declaration including reporting vaccination activity.
In Wales, you can use the Bluevac-3, Bultavo 3 or SYVAZUL BTV 3 vaccines, as long as you comply with the conditions of the general licence for Wales including reporting vaccination activity.
In Northern Ireland, you can use the Bluevac-3, Bultavo 3 or SYVAZUL BTV 3 vaccines, as long as you apply for a specific licence for Northern Ireland and report vaccination activity.
Advisory note for vets
The UK, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Chief Veterinary Officers ask all vets to record BTV-3 vaccine use and inform relevant authorities of any adverse effects.
Veterinarians should read the relevant advisory note for their country before prescribing any BTV-3 vaccine:
- advisory note for England
- advisory note for Wales
- advisory note for Scotland
- advisory note for Northern Ireland
Market authorisation
These vaccines were authorised under exceptional circumstances and therefore assessments were based on customised requirements for documentation.
Transition period for permitted vaccines
Marketing authorisations for BTV-3 vaccines have been granted for use in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Unauthorised BTV-3 vaccines permitted for use subject to licence or declaration can:
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be imported into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) under a permit until October 2025
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be imported into Northern Ireland under a permit until 31 December 2025
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continue to be used under permit until they reach their expiry date, as long as they were purchased on the Great Britain and Northern Ireland markets
You can use authorised vaccines as soon as they are available.
Bluevac-3 suspension for injection for sheep and cattle
Permitted Bluevac-3 product information
For the permitted Bluevac-3 product for use during the transition period, you can view the:
- summary of product characteristics for Bluevac-3 BTV-3 vaccine in the UK
- permit for use of Bluevac-3 bluetongue serotype 3 vaccine in the UK
Authorised Bluevac-3 product information
The marketing authorisation for this vaccine is held by CZ Veterinaria S.A.
This vaccine has marketing authorisations for use in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and is for the active immunisation of:
- sheep to reduce the viraemia, mortality and clinical signs caused by the serotype 3 of the bluetongue virus
- cattle to reduce the viraemia against the serotype 3 of the bluetongue virus
The summary of product characteristics (SPC) for the authorised Bluevac-3 product in Great Britain is available on the VMD’s Product Information Database (PID), and for Northern Ireland is available on the European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s Union Product database.
Bultavo 3 suspension for injection for sheep and cattle
Permitted Bultavo 3 product information
For the permitted Bultavo 3 product for use during the transition period, you can view the:
- summary of product characteristics for Bultavo 3 BTV-3 vaccine in the UK
- permit for use of Bultavo 3 bluetongue serotype 3 vaccine in the UK
Authorised Bultavo 3 product information
The marketing authorisation for this vaccine is held by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Limited.
This vaccine has marketing authorisations for use in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and is for the active immunisation of:
- sheep to reduce viraemia and to prevent clinical signs caused by BTV-3
- cattle to prevent viraemia and to prevent clinical signs caused by BTV-3
The summary of product characteristics (SPC) for the authorised Bultavo 3 product is available on the VMD’s Product Information Database (PID).
SYVAZUL BTV 3 suspension for injection for sheep and cattle
Permitted Syvazul product information
For the permitted Syvazul product for use during the transition period, you can view the:
- summary of product characteristics for SYVAZUL BTV 3 vaccine in the UK
- permit for use of SYVAZUL BTV 3 bluetongue serotype 3 vaccine in the UK
Authorised Syvazul product information
The marketing authorisation for this vaccine is held by Laboratorios SYVA S.A.U.
This vaccine has marketing authorisations for use in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and is for the active immunisation of:
- sheep to reduce viraemia, mortality, clinical signs and lesions caused by bluetongue serotype 3
- cattle to reduce viraemia caused by bluetongue virus serotype 3
The summary of product characteristics (SPC) for the GB-authorised SYVAZUL BTV 3 is available on the VMD’s Product Information Database, and for Northern Ireland is available on the European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s Union Product database.
Movement controls and trade restrictions
All trade restrictions still apply to vaccinated animals. You should not test vaccinated animals as part of a pre-movement test in bluetongue zones until 7 days after their vaccination. This will prevent interference with BTV-3 monitoring.
Updates to this page
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You can use these vaccines in Northern Ireland: updated guidance to include the rules you must follow.
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Information has been updated about the transition period for permitted vaccines. Unauthorised BTV-3 vaccines permitted for use subject to licence or declaration can be imported in Northern Ireland under a permit until 31 December 2025. They can continue to be used under permit until they reach their expiry date, as long as they were purchased on the Great Britain and Northern Ireland markets.
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First published.