Northumberland County Council Trading Standards and Animal Health Team are urging farmers to be aware of the upcoming changes in England for Bluetongue control measures and to plan ahead if moving livestock. 
 

From today, 1 July 2025 the restricted zone for Bluetongue – a viral disease which affects ruminants - will be extended to cover all of England. This means that from this date animals can be moved within England without a bluetongue specific licence or test. 
 

However, as Scotland and Wales will not be part of this new Restricted Zone, further rules must be followed when animals are moved across the English border. These include pre-movement testing and applying for specific licence. 
 

Bluetongue is a viral disease that primarily affects ruminants like sheep, cattle, and goats, and is transmitted by biting midges. It's a notifiable disease, meaning that suspected cases must be reported. While it can cause severe illness and even death in some animals, particularly sheep, it does not affect humans or food safety.   
 

Northumberland County Councillor Gordon Stewart Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Safety said: 

 “These new measures make livestock movements within England easier in that the process is simplified. However, there are ramifications with cross-border moves from England to Scotland and Wales, so keepers need to be organised in understanding what they need to do - especially with upcoming breeding sales like Kelso Tup Sale.” 
 

Specifics are; 

• From 1 July 2025 a test will be valid for 7 calendar days after the day when the sample is taken.  

• There is limited availability in the number of tests which can be undertaken by the National Reference Laboratory (Pirbright) and they need a minimum of 72 working hours from receipt of samples to be able to turn the test around. You should organise for your test and licence application to be completed in good time. Care should be taken by both the licence applicant and the private veterinary surgeon when undertaking sampling to ensure that the forms are completed accurately, the sampling is undertaken correctly, and the labels are completed clearly, otherwise this could lead to delays and potential fees to correct reports. 

• Bluetongue testing for movements to Scotland from the Restricted Zone (RZ) will be at the keeper’s expense and must be privately arranged.  

• Keepers in Scotland must check to ensure animals have been subject to a valid test with a negative result prior to the movement to Scotland.   

• Your own Private Veterinary surgeon (PVS) should collect samples at your cost. Guidance on collecting and sending samples can be found through Improve International and must be followed by the PVS. 

• If you are planning to move animals from England to Scotland you should follow the guidance on movement licences and pre-movement tests in Scotland 

• Before moving stock cross-border, you must also apply for a licence ONLINE Apply to move animals out of bluetongue zones - GOV.UK 

 

For further information and guidance see:- Bluetongue: news, information and guidance for livestock keepers - GOV.UK 

For further information and guidance on moving stock to Scotland from England see:- Licensing - Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot 

For further information and guidance on moving stock to Wales from England see:- Bluetongue virus (BTV) | GOV.WALES