Bluetongue-approved slaughter markets and designated breeding sales

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, EXD 135630 KB,(E) 5(PDF, 141 pages)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, 158 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: 

• check it is a bluetongue-approved slaughter market 
• follow general licence conditions for the movement of animals in and out of the market - see licence EXD630(E) (PDF,EXD 135630 KB, 5 pages)(E)
• check the slaughterhouse is designated

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:  

• check the market is a bluetongue-approved dedicated breeding sales 
• make sure the animals are individually identified 
• prove to the market operator that your animals tested negative for bluetongue before you moved them 
• follow general licence conditions for the movement of animals in and out of the market - for example, by checking the animals are not showing signs of illness or infection

Important notice: Bluetongue laboratory service during the Christmas period

Allow extra time for APHA to process your licence application over the Christmas period.

Apply for a licence and submit samples for testing as soon as you can.

Pre-movement testing

Pre-movement samples taken from: 

• 16 to 18 December will be valid until 30 December 
• 19 to 22 December will be valid until 2 January 
• 23 to 29 December will be valid until 6 January 
• 30 December to 1 January will be valid until 8 January 
• 2 January 2025 onwards will be valid for 7 days after sampling

To make sure you receive your licence to move animals between: 

• 25 and 27 December, the laboratory must receive your samples before 9am on 23 December 
• 28 and 31 December, the laboratory must receive your samples before 9am on 24 December 
• 1 and 3 January, the laboratory must receive your samples before 9am on 30 December 

APHA will issue your licence on the next working day after they receive the test results. 

Consider using a delivery service that can guarantee the delivery time. 

 Samples that arrive: 

• after 9am will not be tested that day 
• after 9am on 24 December will be tested on 30 December and 2 January 

Samples are stored in temperature-controlled facilities until they are tested.

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

Bluetongue laboratory service during the Christmas period

Allow extra time for APHA to process your licence application over the Christmas period.

Apply for a licence and submit samples for testing as soon as you can.

Post-movement testing

For movements between 14 and 27 December that require post-movement testing, the period for collecting samples has been extended. You can collect samples from animals 6 to 17 days after the move.  

Keepers and veterinarians should be aware that reporting results may take longer than usual, which can delay the removal of restrictions for tested stock.

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: 

• your clients are aware of the general licence conditions for the movement of animals in and out of the market
• the market is licenced and complies under AGO

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