Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease

Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals from 1 June 2026 until 9 September 2026 (dates may be subject to change)

This information is for people who whish to move the following types of animals from another part of the UK to Scotland: 

• ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats and deer) 
• camelids (llamas and alpacas)

Please read carefully.

Moving live animals from a Restricted Zone to Scotland (including shows /markets/gatherings, even if temporary)

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man are all bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) Restricted Zones, and any movement of bluetongue susceptible animals and germinal products from a bluetongue Restricted Zone to Scotland must comply with the conditions set out in the relevant movement licence.

A general movement licence will be published prior to controls coming into force and will cover all moves of live animals from a bluetongue Restricted Zone to Scotland. More details in section 5 – ‘Licensing’, but briefly:

Before the move to Scotland takes place, a completed ‘EXD645’ pro forma, and supporting evidence of compliance with licence requirements must logged on the APHA portal (requires registration). You do not need to wait for any approval before moving animals, but a copy of the general licence, completed EXD645 pro forma, APHA portal reference, and any supporting evidence must accompany the animals. (except animals originating in Scotland that attend a sale/show in a Restricted zone for up to 4 calendar days, which only require a sale/show operator endorsed general license for a return journey to Scotland).

Where animals move from a Restricted Zone, through a market, show or collection centre, the site operators must endorse the general licence after confirming licence conditions have been met.

A completed EXD645 form must also include (if applicable) any negative test results, evidence of vaccine purchase, and vaccine administration dates. A copy of the complete ‘EXD645 form pack’ must travel with the animals.

Duration of controls

For the 2026 active transmission season, environmental data in combination with statistical, epidemiological evidence and veterinary risk assessments have been used to determine the period when full controls should be in place. These dates may be subject to change if there is a significant deviation to typical environmental conditions or if there are developments to the bluetongue situation in Scotland.

Below are the official dates setting the period in Scotland when it is considered that a midge can bite an animal already infected with the bluetongue virus and is able to become competent in infecting another animal when it bites again:

• 1 June 2026 – new movement controls will come into force (at 00:01 hrs).
• 9 September 2026 – this is the earliest date when movement controls can be reduced (at 00:01 hrs).

Testing requirements for live animals

Bluetongue virus (BTV) susceptible animals that have been in a bluetongue Restricted Zone may be at risk of BTV. All BTV susceptible animals moving from a bluetongue Restricted Zone to Scotland to live, prior to the movement must be PCR (and ELISA in certain cases) at the owners expense and tested for bluetongue with negative results received. The sample must have be taken within 7 calendar days of the movement – it is the keepers responsibility to ensure the samples are sent to the national Reference laboratory at the Pirbright Institute promptly, and the procedure to follow can be found in the ‘sampling instructions’ section of this page. Results of negative results must be uploaded to the APHA portal when completing the pro forma, and a copy must move with the animals

The only exceptions to the pre-movement test for susceptible animals moving into Scotland from a bluetongue restricted zone are:

• for short (up to 4 days – see below) show/sale moves from Scotland to an event in a bluetongue Restricted Zone 
• for cattle that have completed a vaccination course using the Bultavo-3 vaccine with 21 days elapsing since completion of the primary course, and have received a vaccine booster if 12 months have elapsed since completion of primary course – any such cattle are exempt from the requiring of a pre-movement test
• movements direct to slaughter

Sampling instructions

Your private vet must follow Improved International guidance when collecting and sending samples. You pay for the testing. Tests are valid for 7 calendar days after sample collection. 

Important information about testing at the Pirbright Institute: 

Submission process

Pirbright Institute webpage.

Your private vet will complete a Sample Submission form (NVR-FORM-21)

To prevent delays, ensure the keeper’s email is entered within the ‘additional address for return of results’ box, also that the text “Licensed move to Scotland” is entered within the ‘Other tests, requirements or instructions’ box. Failure to do so will delay return of results

Timing and capacity: 

• no testing happens at weekends or bank holidays, and there’s limited daily capacity 
• the lab need at least 3 working days from receipt of sample for test processing, and samples are tested in the order they arrive with no priority service
• please do not phone the lab to request priority or chase results

Sample requirements: 

• please ensure you add the full animal ID’s, (e.g. UK123456789012), date of sampling & species (e.g. bovine, Ovine, etc), complete all forms accurately and make sure samples are taken correctly and clearly labelled to avoid delays or extra fees for amending reports or test validity lapsing
• clearly state on the sample form whether you need PCR only, or both PCR and ELISA testing: most animals only need a PCR test but for pregnant cows in the third trimester then an ELISA test is needed in addition to PCR. Third trimester is defined as 6 months elapsed since conception,

Results and licencing: 

• test results are emailed to the private vet and also to the additional address (keeper) provided on the submission form. Make sure it is correct and able to receive emails
• once negative test results are received, they must be added to the EXD645 pro forma, and uploaded when logging the movement to Scotland on the APHA portal,  a copy must also accompany the animals
• please don’t phone Pirbright for licensing queries

Payment and planning: 

• plan your testing so samples are still valid on your planned move date 
• Pirbright will send you an invoice following completion of testing

Movement to slaughter

• no pre-movement test, but movements may only go to a designated slaughterhouse and must meet the requirements of the general licence
• moves to the slaughterhouse must be direct after leaving a bluetongue Restricted Zone, i.e. no further drop-offs or pickups
• a relaxation of dawn until dusk restrictions: animals that cannot be processed by operators on the day of arrival at an abattoir premises may be housed overnight and processed as soon as possible the following day. It is expected that only a small percentage of animals will require to be held overnight and operators must report overnight lairage levels to FSS as part of their designation – relaxations may be lifted if deemed to be excessive

Movement to live – bluetongue Restricted Zone to Scotland

• sheep, goats, camelids, and other ruminants will require a pre-movement test  within 7 days of the move, from 00:01 on 1 June 2026 at the earliest until 00:01 on 9 September 2026 at the latest (although this date will remain under review)
• cattle vaccinated with Bultavo-3 and with 21 days elapsed since completing the full course of primary vaccination, and have received a vaccine booster if 12 months have elapsed since completion of primary course, may move to Scotland from a Restricted Zone without a pre-movement test
• cattle vaccinated with other BTV3 approved vaccines (Syvazul/Bluevac) or cattle that are unvaccinated will require a pre-movement test within 7 days of the move

Licensing

• the general licence will set out the conditions that must be adhered to in order to move a BTV susceptible animal to Scotland
• an EXD645 pro forma must be completed prior to a move to Scotland attaching the following evidence (as applicable)
  • negative PCR/ELISA test results
  • proof of vaccine purchase (Invoice/Vet confirmation)
  • proof of vaccine administration dates (copy of medicine book)
• the EXD645 pro forma and supporting evidence must be logged onto the APHA portal, and a copy must move with the animals with the addition of the APHA portal reference.
• only animals originating in Scotland that spend less than 4 days inside a Restricted Zone, or cattle originating in Scotland that are fully vaccinated with bultavo-3 that spend less than 4 days inside a Restricted Zone, do not require a pro forma
• it is the licensee’s responsibility to ensure the conditions of the general licence are met, that a complete pro forma is logged on  the APHA portal, and a copy of the general licence and supporting evidence, the ‘form pack’, move with the animals
• a sale/show operator will confirm a complete ‘form pack’ is presented with the animals and endorse the general licence prior to a move to Scotland. A copy must move with the animals and be available to a new keeper.

Moves from Scotland to a Restricted Zone and returning to Scotland to attend show/markets

• animals do not require a pre-movement test to enter the show/market in a Restricted Zone, but it is recommended that animals are post-movement PCR tested upon return to Scotland
• if an animal spends more than four days in the Restricted Zone, it will require a pre-movement test in the Restricted Zone with negative results received prior to a move back to Scotland
• cattle fully vaccinated with Bultavo-3, (in line with product label and having received a booster dose if 12 months have elapsed since completion of a primary vaccine course), are exempt from PCR/ELISA testing
• the movement from Scotland to a Restricted Zone are ‘free moves’, a return to Scotland within 4 days are licenced using the General Licence.
• a show operator must endorse the general licence, confirming animals have spent less than 4 days inside a RZ, or that cattle are fully vaccinated using Bultavo-3
• animals remaining in RZ areas for more than 4 days are subject to the same conditions as animals naturalised in the RZ and will require a completed pro forma prior to a move back to

Moves from a Restricted Zone to a show/market in Scotland

• conditions for animals from a RZ to attend a show/market in Scotland are the same as “Movement to live – Restricted Zone to Scotland”
• cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, and other ruminants will require a PCR test within 7 days of the move, from 00:01 on 1 June 2026 at the earliest until 00:01 on 9 September 2026 at the latest (although this date will remain under review)
• cattle vaccinated with Bultavo-3 and with 21 days elapsed since completing the full course of primary vaccination, and having received a booster dose if 12 months have elapsed since completion of the primary course, may move to Scotland from a Restricted Zone without a PCR/ELISA pre-movement test
• cattle vaccinated with other products (Syvazul/Bluevac) or cattle that are unvaccinated will require a PCR test within 7 days of the move
• animals must be accompanied by a completed EXD645 pro forma with evidence of; a negative PCR test result, and/or for cattle, evidence of Bultavo-3 vaccine purchase and a copy of medicine record indicating date of administration.
• return journey to a Restricted Zone are free movements

Germinal products

Both the freezing of germinal products in the RZ requires a licence, as well as the movement of germinal products (frozen or fresh) out of the RZ. Collection and use of fresh GPs from healthy animals in the RZ does not require a bluetongue licence.

Read more and see the instructions on how to apply for licences here:

• Bluetongue: moving, freezing and storing germinal product (gov.uk)
• Apply to freeze or move germinal product from bluetongue zones (gov.uk)

Vaccination

Vaccination is the best strategy to protect stock, and it is strongly recommended that livestock keepers consider it, and seek advice from their vet.