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Publication - Advice and guidance

Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease

Last updated
11 September 2026 - see all updates
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic
Farming and rural

Advice on what to do if you suspect there is an outbreak of this infectious disease.

Part of

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Importing animals from bluetongue affected countries

You should get advice from your vet about the risks and the health status of animals you want to import, before you import them.

For information on importing animals to Scotland from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland please see the Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals section.

If you import animals you should:

  • make sure animals comply with all of the requirements of the model health certificate to confirm they have come from a bluetongue free country or, where a vaccine exists, the animal has been correctly vaccinated against the right strains of bluetongue – this will depend on which country you are importing from
  • fill in the bluetongue declaration GBHC172 if transiting through a bluetongue restricted territory, and be aware that even if the origin country is BTV free, transiting through countries with known infection carries risks of picking up infection on route
  • check if current issues relating to imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products affect your import
  • consider what additional guarantees the seller can provide – such as a pre-export testing to prove the animal is not infected and has immunity to BTV
  • consider pre-vaccinating your flock or herd against the relevant strains of bluetongue before introducing new animals

Movement restrictions will apply to cattle or sheep imported from countries where bluetongue is known to be circulating. These restrictions will apply until the animals have been tested and confirmed free of the disease.

Animals that test positive for bluetongue may be humanely culled or returned to the country of origin. Any animals that travelled in the same vehicle and are at risk of becoming infected may also be humanely culled. No compensation will be paid for the culled animals. This only applies to imported animals. For UK born and bred animals that are culled to control the spread of disease, compensation will be paid at market value.

All other animals on the premises that are at risk of becoming infected will be placed under movement restrictions. These restrictions will apply until it is confirmed that the disease has not spread. These restrictions may last several weeks.

Contact

If you suspect signs of any notifiable diseases, you must immediately notify your Scotland: field service local office at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Failure to do so is an offence.

First published
29 October 2018
Last updated
11 September 2026 - show all updates

  1. Updated number of cases under latest situation.

  2. Updated number of cases under latest situation.

  3. Updates to movement rules from 10 September.

  4. Additional minor updates to latest situation and current movement restrictions pages.

  5. Updates to latest situation and current movement restrictions pages.

  6. Updates to latest situation and current movement restrictions pages.

  7. Updated latest situation and current movement restrictions pages.

  8. Case numbers updated and new affected holding announced.

  9. Current case numbers updated.

  10. Reviewed and TCZ licences updated.

  11. Time changed regarding pre-movement tests from 00:01 on September 9 to 23:59.

  12. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  13. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  14. Updated latest situations and movement controls pages due to changes from 10 September.

  15. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  16. Addition of abattoir 1160 and EXD677 in placed in both moves to live and slaughter section

  17. Updated made to movement restrictions section.

  18. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  19. Minor update to 'how to complete an EXD645 pro forma' section on movement restrictions page.

  20. Updated movement controls to include controls in place from 10 September.

  21. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  22. Updated total cases and changes made to movement restrictions for animals.

  23. Updates made to movement conditions within a temporary control zone, total number of cases and movement controls.

  24. Update made to movement conditions within a temporary control zone.

  25. Updated made to movement restrictions section.

  26. Latest situation updated with current cases and TCZ information.

  27. Several updates made to include latest situation section, update on movement restrictions and controls in place.

  28. Current situation updated.

  29. Current situation updated.

  30. Current situation and overview updated.

  31. Current situation updated following single positive case detected in Scotland.

  32. Update to the Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals and germinal products (licensing) page.

  33. Updates to overview and movement restrictions pages.

  34. Updated movement restriction and importing from affected countries pages.

  35. Revised layout of the movement controls page to make it clearer to follow.

  36. Licensing section updated on Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals and germinal products (licensing) page.

  37. Updated movement restrictions page and archived movement restrictions from 1 June page.

  38. Updates to movement restrictions page from 1 June 2026 to include license information and links.

  39. Changes made to movement restrictions page from 1 June 2026 to include information about adjustments for new licensing process under general license.

  40. Created new page for movement restrictions from 1 June 2026.

  41. Updates to overview and movement restrictions sections to include movement restrictions from 1 June 2026 to 9 September 2026.

  42. Minor text updates to overview and movement restrictions sections.

  43. Minor text updates to overview and movement restrictions sections.

  44. Update to overview and movement restrictions section to reflect current situation.

  45. Licence details and links updated on overview and movement restrictions pages.

  46. Minor text update made to bluetongue movement restrictions section.

  47. Updates to overview and bluetongue movement restrictions sections.

  48. Updates to overview page.

  49. Bluetongue movement restrictions section updated.

  50. Guide updated to reflect rule changes.

  51. Update to germinal products on Bluetongue movement restrictions page.

  52. Text on specified sales in the restricted zone added to Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals (licensing).

  53. Updates to movement restrictions page.

  54. Added non-compliance info.

  55. Update to germinal products on Bluetongue movement restrictions page.

  56. Added further details on germinal products and Restricted Zones.

  57. Added further details to the movement restrictions page.

  58. Updates to movement restrictions page.

  59. Additional regions added to designated slaughterhouses.

  60. Added links to licensing forms on gov.uk.

  61. Various updates to licensing page, now Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals page.

  62. Updates made to licensing page.

  63. Updates made to the licensing section.

  64. Updates made to licensing page.

  65. Updated information relating to current situation and licensing.

  66. Added advisory note for veterinarians prescribing BTV-3 inactivated vaccine.

  67. Updates made to licensing page.

  68. Current situation updated.

  69. Current situation updated.

  70. Updated to explain that BTV serotype 3 vaccines have been permitted for emergency use in Scotland.

  71. Updated section in how to control disease.

  72. Added link to clinical signs page.

  73. Updates made to licensing page.

  74. Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease

  75. Added link to Bluetongue webinar.

  76. Update to licensing section.

  77. Licensing page updated to include designated slaughterhouses section and minor text amend.

  78. Text updated to reflect latest situation and put into chaptered html pages.

  79. Clinical signs posters added as supporting documents and minor text updates.

  80. Page content updated to reflect latest situation.

  81. Leaflet removed pending update.

  82. Updated throughout with current situation.

  83. Current situation information updated.

  84. Leaflet added as supporting document.

  85. Updated with current situation.

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