Bluetongue movement licences, designated slaughterhouses and slaughter markets
When you need to use movement licences, the designated slaughterhouses to use for bluetongue restricted premises, and selling animals from a bluetongue zone.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
This page is about movement licences. Licences relating to vaccination can be found on Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccination.
When you need to apply for a licence
Certain movements are not permitted in a bluetongue zone or from premises which have been served a bluetongue premises or individual animal restriction notice. Some may now be permitted by a general licence, or you may apply for a specific licence.
You may need to:
- download and comply with the conditions of a general licence where applicable
- apply for a specific licence for movement
General licences
Please check carefully that the bluetongue general licence applies to you before making a movement and always download the latest version as they are updated from time to time. A copy should accompany any animals moved under the general licence.
| General licence | What it is for |
|---|---|
| For movements of animals kept within a restricted zone (RZ), protection zone (PZ) or surveillance zone (SZ) to a designated slaughterhouse in England or Wales, for the purpose of immediate slaughter. | |
| For movements of animals to a slaughterhouse located in a temporary control zone (TCZ) in England for the purpose of immediate slaughter. | |
| For movements of animals to a designated slaughterhouse in England for the purposes of immediate slaughter. | |
| For movements of susceptible animals between premises which are wholly or partly inside a temporary control zone (TCZ) in England. | |
| For movements of susceptible animals from a free area into a temporary control zone (TCZ). | |
| For movements from a bluetongue zone to an approved ‘red market’ outside a bluetongue zone, for the purpose of direct sale to a designated slaughterhouse or restricted zone slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter. | |
| For movements from an approved ‘red market’ to a designated slaughterhouse or restricted zone slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter. |
Apply for a specific licence
Allow at least 5 days for your licence application to be processed where possible. Complex and high-risk movements will need extra time to process.
Make contingency plans to allow for the time it takes to be issued. Consider what steps you will need to take if the licence is refused or cannot be issued in time.
If a specific licence is issued, it will allow a movement that is subject to certain conditions based on disease control risk.
References to animals means ruminants (for example cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other ruminants) and camelids (for example llamas and alpacas)
Premises that have any land within the restricted zone or straddle the boundary are classified as being within the zone.
Take precautions when moving animals. Check your stock for possible signs of disease and spray the inside of vehicles with an insecticide approved for use against flying insects prior to loading. Only move animals when it is absolutely necessary.
Holdings which are in a Restricted Zone
You can download and use for movements of animals kept within a restricted zone (RZ), protection zone (PZ) or surveillance zone (SZ) to a designated slaughterhouse in England or Wales, for the purpose of immediate slaughter.
You do not need a licence to move to a slaughterhouse located in an RZ and as such a slaughterhouse in a RZ does not need to be designated.
This general licence does not apply if your premises is under a bluetongue restriction notice. If you have been served a bluetongue premises or individual animal restriction notice and wish to move animals, you can apply for a specific licence.
The declaration of the bluetongue restricted zone (RZ) also imposed a bluetongue Infected Area which applies to the same geographical area as the RZ which restricts the movement of animals on and off premises and in or out of the Infected Area. This licence EXD612(E) (GL) is published to overcome legal restrictions that would otherwise prevent movement of animals. This does not remove any obligations to comply with BTV movement restrictions and licences and does not permit the movement of animals out of a RZ.
For all other animal movements, including moves to live to premises outside the restricted zone, you must apply for a specific licence. At this time, you cannot move animals to a market outside the zone and cannot move animals purchased at a market inside the zone to destinations outside the zone. We are keeping this under review.
If you need to move germinal products from susceptible animals out of the zone, or you wish to freeze germinal products in the zone, you must obtain a specific licence. If you operate a germinal product collection centre you may apply to be designated.
Holdings which are in a TCZ (but not under bluetongue premises restrictions)
You can download and use for movements of animals to a slaughterhouse located in a Temporary Control Zone in England. Conditions apply.
You can download and use for movements of animals to a designated slaughterhouse in England. Conditions apply.
You can download and use for movements of susceptible animals between premises which are wholly or partly inside a temporary control zone (TCZ) in England. Conditions apply.
You can download and use for movements of susceptible animals from a free area into a temporary control zone (TCZ). Conditions apply.
Licence EXD610 and EXD611 apply to movement to or from a livestock market in a zone. Currently no licence is available to move animals from a market located in the TCZ to premises outside the TCZ.
These general licences do not apply if your premises is restricted by a specific bluetongue restriction notice.
For all other moves, including moves to live to premises outside the zone you must apply for a specific licence if you need to move your animals or germinal products on to and off the premises.
Holdings with links to premises where positive cases have been confirmed also known as traced premises
An epidemiological investigation will be carried out. Restrictions appropriate to these specific circumstances will be put in place. If you need to move your animals onto and off these premises, whilst these restrictions are in place, you can apply for a specific licence.
You can also apply for a specific movement licence if there’s an urgent and genuine welfare need to move animals, including short distance moves out of the RZ.
If a welfare licence is approved, the animals will be placed under restriction. You may be asked by the APHA licensing team to organise a visit by your private vet, at your cost, to take samples from the animals after they have moved. The samples will currently be tested free of charge.
Premises where a disease investigation is being done into the possible presence of bluetongue
The keeper or occupier will be issued with a notice explaining the restrictions in place. A specific licence will be needed to move any bluetongue susceptible animal or germinal products produced from them on or off the premises.
Premises that have completed official bluetongue virus testing, and one or more polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or serology positive entire males or pregnant females are still present
Keepers will be issued with a multiple use licence (EXD595). Under this licence any animal may be moved on or off the premises, except the animals detailed in the prohibited list of the licence.
Designated slaughterhouses
Abattoirs that can slaughter animals from a bluetongue virus restricted premises under licence.
England
East Midlands:
- Foyle (2077), Melton Mowbray LE14 3PR
- R B Elliott and Son Ltd (4168), Chesterfield S44 5UN
- University of Nottingham (4333), Loughborough LE12 5RD
- T G Sargeant & Sons (4367), Uttoxeter ST14 5BG
- Dovecote Park Ltd (5116), Skellingthorpe LN6 5TX
- Woodhead Bros (5513), Spalding PE11 3YY
East of England:
- Dunbia (5106), Cardington MK44 3SB
- C A Leech & Son (5144), Melbourn SG8 6DU
- H K Hellett & Sons (5154), Spaldwick PE28 6DU
- HG Blake Ltd (5207), Costessey NR10 4DU
- Fowler Bros Ltd (5280), Latchingdon CM0 8NA
London:
- Romford Halal Meats Ltd (5319), Romford RM4 1TH
North East:
- Linden Foods (2056), Burradon NE23 7NB
- J A Jewitt Meat Ltd (2161), Spennymoor DL16 7QD
North West:
- Hartshead Meats Ltd (2095), Ashton-under-Lyne OL5 0JL
- Dunbia (2388), Cumbria LA12 0LT
- Dunbia (4071), Preston PR5 6AJ
- Beesons Ltd (4152), Crewe CW1 5QF
- Manchester Abattoir (4227), Stockport SK4 1BJ
- Woodhead Bros (4471), Colne BB8 8LH
- Dunbia (4486), Sawley BB7 4LH
South East:
- ABP (6238), Guildford GU1 1RP
- J R Meats Ltd (6326), Aylesham CT3 3HN
- Down Land Traditional Meats Ltd (6342), Henfield BN5 9BB
South West:
- Foyle (2172), Gloucester GL14 2PH
- Dunbia West (8071), Devon EX20 3HT
- St Merryn Foods (8073), Bodmin PL31 2QB
- ABP (8207), Sturminster DT10 1HA
- ABP (8216), Yetminster DT9 6HQ
- ABP (8285), Langport TA10 9HG
West Midlands:
- Pickstock Ltd (2536), Telford TF1 7FA
- Severn Valley Lamb Ltd (2569), Walsall WS6 6AY
- ABP (4073), Ellesmere SY12 9BL
- ABP (4109), Shrewsbury SY1 4AH
- Farmers Fresh Ltd (4133), Kenilworth CV8 1NN
- ABP (4182), Kingswinford DY6 7JS
- Corvedale Fresh Ltd (4451), Craven Arms SY7 9PA
Yorkshire and the Humber:
- Dovecote Park Ltd (2045), Stapleton WF8 3DD
- Dunbia (2100), Carnaby YO15 3QY
- ABP (2141), York YO19 5GH
- Woolley Brothers Wholesale Meats Ltd (2241), Sheffield S20 3RW
Wales
- Dunbia (7015), Llanybydder SA40 9QE
- Farmers Fresh Wales Ltd (7132), Wrexham LL13 0TS
- Pilgrims UK Lamb (7135), Powys SY18 6LX
- St Merryn Foods (7176), Merthyr CF48 2TA
Always check with your usual outlet as other abattoirs may also be designated or in the process of applying for designation.
Bluetongue approved slaughter markets
To sell animals from a bluetongue restricted zone at a slaughter market outside the zone, you must:
- follow general licence conditions for the movement of animals in and out of the market – see licence and licence
- comply with the animal gatherings order (AGO) – find out how to be AGO-compliant
- ensure that it’s an approved slaughter market – to become an approved slaughter market, request an application form at outbreakmarketlicensing@apha.gov.uk
England
Yorkshire and the Humber:
- Selby Livestock Auction Mart (RM-01), Selby YO88NB
- York Auction Centre (RM-02), Murton YO19 5GF
Updates to this page
Last updated
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The page has been updated to add a designated slaughterhouse.
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The page has been updated to add designated slaughterhouses and approved markets.
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Added a licence for movements from bluetongue zones to approved slaughter markets (or 'red markets') outside bluetongue zones. Added a licence for movements from approved slaughter markets to designated slaughterhouses or restricted zone slaughterhouses.
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Updated the list of abattoirs that can slaughter animals from a bluetongue virus restricted premises under licence.
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Updated the list of designated slaughterhouses
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Added 4152 Beesons Ltd (CW1 5QF) to designated slaughterhouses.
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Updated general licences EXD 601 and EXD 603. Check carefully that the updated bluetongue general licence applies to you before making a movement and always download the latest version.
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Added 4 new general licences.
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Added EXD 612 (E) (GL) licence.
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Added 2045 Dovecote Park Ltd (Stapleton) (WF8 3DD) to Designated Slaughterhouses, removed Approval to move under the Movement of Animals Restrictions Order.
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Added general licence EXD 612 and updated the page with latest information
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Added general licence EXD 603 (E) (GL) for movements of animals kept within a restricted zone (RZ), protection zone (PZ) or surveillance zone (SZ) to a designated slaughterhouse in England or Wales, for the purpose of immediate slaughter.
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Added general licence EXD601 for movements of animals kept within or outside a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) to a slaughterhouse located in a TCZ in England, for the purpose of immediate slaughter. Also updated general licence EXD602 as it now applies to Wales as well as England.
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Updated the landing page by adding links to pdf versions of general licences EXD602 (E), EXD610 (E) and EXD611 (E). Also made updates with further information as a result of recent bluetongue cases.
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Updated the landing page to reflect changes caused as a result of a recent bluetongue case.
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Added a new entry to the list of designated slaughterhouses
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Abattoir added to the list of designated slaughterhouses.
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Added J A Jewitt (Meat) Ltd (DL16 7QD) and ABP Kingswinford (DY6 7JS) to designated slaughterhouses.
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Added 2536 Pickstock Telford Ltd, 2569 Severn Valley Lamb Ltd and 8071 Dunbia West Devon to the list of designated slaughterhouses.
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Abattoirs added to the list of designated slaughterhouses.
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Abattoirs added to the list of designated slaughterhouses.
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Abattoirs added to the list of designated slaughterhouses.
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Abattoirs added to the list of designated slaughterhouses.
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Abattoir added to the list of designated slaughterhouses.
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First published.