Guidance

Bluetongue-approved slaughter markets and designated breeding sales

Licences to move animals to bluetongue-approved slaughter markets or breeding sales and how to become a bluetongue-approved market.

Applies to England

You must follow the conditions of a general licence to move animals to bluetongue-approved markets. You do not need a licence for sales that originate, stay, and end within the same restricted zone. Make sure 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 is for
EXD630(E) (PDF, 135 KB, 5 pages) 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.
EXD 606 (E) (PDF, 183 KB, 5 pages) To move animals from a bluetongue zone to a bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding sale outside the bluetongue zone of origin.
EXD 608 (E) (PDF, 157158 KB, 5 pages) To move animals from a bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding sale.

Slaughter markets: selling

To sell animals from a bluetongue restricted zone (RZ), protection zone (PZ) or surveillance zone (SZ) at a slaughter market outside the zone, you must: 

Become an approved slaughter market 

You will need to apply to become an APHA approved bluetongue slaughter market. 

Email outbreakmarketlicensing@apha.gov.uk to request an application form. 

Before you apply, you must comply with the animal gatherings order (AGO).

Bluetongue-approved slaughter markets in England

East Midlands: 

  • Melton Mowbray Market (RM-03), Melton Mowbray, LE13 1JY 

West Midlands: 

  • Worcester Livestock Market (RM-08), Worcester, WR4 0SQ 
  • Ludlow Livestock Market (RM-09), Ludlow, SY8 4BH
  • Rugby Farmers Market (RM-10) Stoneleigh Park, CV8 2RG

North East: 

  • Darlington Farmers Auction Mart (RM-05), Darlington, DL2 2XX 

Yorkshire and the Humber: 

  • Selby Livestock Auction Mart (RM-01), Selby, YO8 8NB 
  • York Auction Centre (RM-02), Murton, YO19 5GF 
  • Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart (RM-04), Thirsk, YO7 3AB 
  • Northallerton Auctions (RM-06), Northallerton, DL7 8LZ 
  • Malton Livestock Auctioneers (RM-07), Malton, YO17 7JN

Bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding animal sales at markets

You can now move breeding animals to bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding markets as long as:

  • the movement is within England (animals cannot move to Scotland or Wales) 
  • the animals are individually identified and have no signs of bluetongue 
  • where required, the animals have tested negative for bluetongue before you move them 
  • you follow the conditions specified in your general licence as a seller, buyer or market

A bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding market is a place where breeding animals will either leave a bluetongue zone: 

  • to attend the market 
  • once purchased at the market 

You do not need a bluetongue movement licence if your animals are only moving within:

  • a free area
  • the same bluetongue restricted zone

Breeding animals: sell at approved markets 

Animals must have a negative test to be available for sale to a destination outside of the restricted zone (RZ). You must arrange sampling and testing before you move your animals.

Animals do not need to be tested if you intend to only sell them to a destination within the same RZ.

To move breeding animals to a dedicated breeding sale, you must:  

Breeding animals: buy and move to destination 

To buy breeding animals at a bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding sale, you must:  

  • provide an accurate address for the final destination in England 
  • organise and test the animals for bluetongue 6 to 10 days after leaving the market 
  • keep them at the destination premises until they have negative post-movement results

Become an approved breeding sales market 

To run bluetongue dedicated breeding sales, you will need to apply for approval from APHA.

Email outbreakmarketlicensing@apha.gov.uk to request an application form.  

If APHA approves your application, you must make sure: 

Bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding sale markets in England

East Midlands: 

  • Melton Mowbray Market (RM-03), Melton Mowbray, LE13 1JY

North East:

  • Darlington Farmers Auction Mart (BM-01), Darlington, DL2 2XX

Yorkshire and the Humber:

  • Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart Co Ltd (BM-03), Thirsk, YO7 3AB

Updates to this page

Published 22 October 2024
Last updated 2229 November 2024 + show all updates
  1. Updated EXD 608 (E) - General licence for the movement of animals from a bluetongue approved dedicated breeding sale.

  2. Added Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart Co Ltd as a bluetongue approved dedicated breeding sale market.

  3. 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).

  4. Updated the guidance under the 'Bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding animal sales at markets' heading.

  5. Replaced document 'EXD628(E)' with updated version

  6. Added 'Rugby Farmers Market (RM-10) Stoneleigh Park, CV8 2RG' to the list of bluetongue-approved slaughter markets in England.

  7. 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.

  8. 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'.

  9. First published.

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