Move animals from the bluetongue restricted zone to a market
Licences to move animals to market from a bluetongue restricted zone.
Applies to England
The UK is in a seasonally vector low period (SVLP). This means the risk of transmission of bluetongue is now very low. Seasonally vector low periods allow licence conditions to be eased in the UK but may not be recognised by third countries.
You must still have a licence to move animals out of a restricted zone but you may not require a pre-movement test.
Check which animals need pre-movement bluetongue testing.
You do not need to do post-movement tests during the SVLP.
Get a general licence
For any bluetongue susceptible animal movement out of a bluetongue restricted zone make sure that you:
- use the right licence
- download the latest version of the licence as they are updated from time to time
- keep a copy with you when you move animals under the licence
| General licence | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| EXD634 (E) | To move animals kept within a restricted zone (RZ) to a slaughterhouse in England or Wales, for the purpose of immediate slaughter. |
| To move animals originating from a restricted zone from a market to its final destination. |
Moving animals not for immediate slaughter from a restricted zone
During the SVLP, you must get a specific licence to move animals from premises in a restricted zone to a market anywhere in Great Britain.
If at any point the animals leave the restricted zone, you will need to:
- apply for a specific licence (EXD632) to move animals directly to the market
- use general licence (EXD637 (GB)) to move the animals from the market directly to their destination premises
You should also check if your animals will need pre movement testing under the conditions of the specific licence.
Find out how to get free bluetongue testing for your animals.
What the market will need
You’ll need to give the market a copy of your specific licence (EXD632). This will confirm that the animals in part 2 moved in compliance with the licence.
You do not need a licence if you know your animals will not leave the bluetongue restricted zone at any point in the sale.
Your auctioneer may be able to offer your animals for sale to clients who will only move stock to premises within the same restricted zone.
If you’re not sure, apply for a specific licence for any movement in a bluetongue zone not covered by a general licence. You may need to test your animals before the move.
Animals intended to be sold via a market must:
- be individually identified and have no signs of bluetongue infection
- have a specific licence in most cases
- have a general licence to leave the market direct to their onward destination - this must be endorsed by the market operator before leaving the market
With a general licence, you are allowed multiple drop-offs of animals at their final destination after leaving the market. This only applies during the SVLP.
You must apply for a specific licence to move animals (not intended for slaughter) to a market or onward destination outside of the restricted zone during the SVLP. You might need to test the animals before movement as a condition of the movement licence.
Move animals to a market for onward movement for immediate slaughter
Movements from the market must be direct to slaughter. Any animal moving out of the restriction zone for slaughter must comply with EXD634 (E). No testing is required for such animals.
If animals have moved out of the restricted zone without testing, the market operator can only permit buyers to purchase these animals for movement direct to slaughter.
You are allowed multiple drop-offs of animals after leaving the market. This only applies during the SVLP.
Moving animals into the restricted zone
When moving animals into the restricted zone to a market, you do not need to test them if they are:
- being sold and moved immediately back out of the restriction zone and going direct to slaughter – you must have a general licence EXD634 (E)
- moving to another premises outside the restricted zone – you must move animals using general licence EXD637 (GB)
You can sell them to a premises in the zone without testing or a licence. If they then leave a premises in the restricted zone, they will be subject to the rules in place at the time of movement.
Approved red markets and approved breeding markets
Approved red markets and approved breeding markets are suspended during the seasonally vector low period.
Updates to this page
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Until 23 April 2025, you do not need to test non-breeding animals over the age of 60 days before being moved out of the restricted zone. This temporary change reflects the current low risk of moving these animals out of the zone. More information about this temporary change in pre-movement testing rules has been added.
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Updated general licence for movements of animals from within a bluetongue restricted zone to slaughter during the seasonal vector low period (EXD634 (E)).
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Updated general licence for movements of animals from within a bluetongue restricted zone to slaughter during the seasonal vector low period (EXD634(E)).
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Information had been added about the timeframe for samples and we have clarified the rules for animals intended to be sold via a market.
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Updated general licence EXD634 to move animals kept within a restricted zone (RZ) to a slaughterhouse in England or Wales for the purpose of immediate slaughter. Updated general licence EXD637 to move animals originating from a restricted zone (RZ) from a market to their final destination.
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The UK is now in a seasonally vector low period (SVLP) and the guidance has been updated to reflect this. Use general licence EXD634 (E) for movements of animals kept within a restricted zone (RZ), to a dedicated slaughter market in England or direct to slaughterhouse in Great Britain, for the purpose of immediate slaughter. Apply for a specific licence to move animals from the RZ to a market outside of the RZ. Use general licence EXD637 to move animals not intended for immediate slaughter from the market to the final destination. Markets approvals are suspended during the seasonal in the SVLP. Removed licences and information about approved breeding and slaughter markets.
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The UK is now in a seasonally vector low period (SVLP) and the guidance has been updated to reflect this. Use general licence EXD634 (E) for movements of animals kept within a restricted zone (RZ), to a dedicated slaughter market in England or direct to slaughterhouse in Great Britain, for the purpose of immediate slaughter. Added information about moving animals to other types of markets.
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Removed information about laboratory services, licence applications and deadlines over the Christmas period.
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The processing of movement licence applications and tests will take longer over the Christmas period, so you will need to allow extra time. Information on cut-off times and turnaround times has been added to the page.
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Updated EXD 608 (E) - General licence for the movement of animals from a bluetongue approved dedicated breeding sale.
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Added Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart Co Ltd as a bluetongue approved dedicated breeding sale market.
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Added EXD630 (E) 'General licence for movements of animals from within a bluetongue zone to a Designated slaughterhouse for slaughter during a period of low risk of transmission' and removed general licences EXD627(E) and EXD628(E).
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Updated the guidance under the 'Bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding animal sales at markets' heading.
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Replaced document 'EXD628(E)' with updated version
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Added 'Rugby Farmers Market (RM-10) Stoneleigh Park, CV8 2RG' to the list of bluetongue-approved slaughter markets in England.
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Added a market (BM-01) to the list of bluetongue-approved breeding animal sales markets in England. Added links to movement licences EXD 606 (E) and EXD 608 (E). Updated the 'Bluetongue approved dedicated breeding animal sales at markets' section to reflect the latest conditions for moving breeding animals to bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding markets.
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Added information to the 'Bluetongue approved dedicated breeding animal sales at markets' section to clarify the conditions of moving breeding animals to bluetongue approved dedicated breeding markets. Added new section 'Bluetongue approved breeding animal sales markets in England'.
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First published.