Bluetongue Movement Restrictions to Change from 1st July

Livestock movement restrictions will be lifted across England as the entire country is brought into a single Bluetongue virus restricted zone.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed that this major shift in disease control strategy will commence from 1 July, meaning livestock movement restrictions will be removed.

This change will allow farmers to transport cattle, sheep, ruminants and camelids across England without the need for movement testing.

A new online tool has been launched to cut through the confusion surrounding Bluetongue movement rules and help farmers move livestock across Britain safely and legally.

The Bluetongue Movements Checker offers an interactive platform to help farmers understand the licensing and testing requirements for moving animals within Great Britain, particularly in light of the spread of Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3).

The free-to-use tool aims to simplify the often complex and evolving rules surrounding the disease, which is affecting the movement of livestock between England, Scotland and Wales.

For further Bluetongue information, the following links provide up-to-date guidance: