Bluetongue guidance for shows and events in England
in 2024
This guidance only applies to movements of bluetongue susceptible animals. Non-susceptible animals may attend shows as normal.
- From:
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Published
- 21 June 2024
- Last updated
-
6
21MayJanuary2025 — See all updates
Applies to England
The UK is now in a lowseasonally risk period of vector transmission.low period. This ismeans whenthe midgesrisk areof activetransmission butof arebluetongue unlikelyis tonow bevery infectious.low. TheYou riskmust ofstill vectorhave transmissiona oflicence bluetongueto ismove considered animals lowout butof remainsa underrestricted review. zone.
You must stillapply havefor a specific licence to move susceptible animals out of a restrictedbluetongue zonezone.
This butguidance youonly mayapplies notto requiremovements aof pre-movementbluetongue test. susceptible animals. Susceptible animals are ruminants and camelids. Non-susceptible animals may attend shows as normal.
CheckThis whichpolicy animalsapplies needto pre-movementEngland only. Movements from any premises in bluetongue testingzones in England to Wales or Scotland are matters for the Welsh and Scottish Governments respectively. Please check with the APHA.
If you’rebefore you consider moving a showsusceptible organiser,animal youfrom shouldWales checkor the: Scotland to a show in a bluetongue zone.
Showorganisersshouldmakethemselvesfamiliarwiththeon-
andthe
YouThey should also review your their contingency plan and and make sure exhibitors are aware of the requirements for attending the show or event. event.
Contact the Defra Rural Services Helpline with any queries.
Further information is also available on our recorded webinar.
Shows heldtaking outsideplace in the bluetongueabsence restrictedof zonebluetongue (thecontrol free area) zones
SusceptibleRisks animalsof mustintroduction beof licensedbluetongue toare leavehigher in the bluetonguesouth restrictedand zonesouth-east toof attendEngland. shows.Keepers Theseshould licencesconsider maythese includerisks pre-movementbefore testingtaking requirementssusceptible stock to shows in high-risk counties. .
ShowShows organisers should considernot whetheraccept toanimals acceptshowing susceptibleclinical animalssigns fromof bluetongueany zones.disease and suspicion of notifiable disease must be reported to the APHA.
Shows helddue insideto thetake bluetongueplace restrictedinside zone bluetongue zones
YouA cancontrol movezone susceptibleand animalsa freelyrestricted withinzone theare restricteddifferent zonetypes toof attendzones and returndifferent fromcontrols showsapply.
Where beinga heldshow withintakes theplace sameinside restricteda zone.
Susceptiblecontrol animalszone, entering the restrictedmovement zoneof fromsusceptible animals onto the freeshowground areamust tobe attendlicensed. shows:
- do
Susceptiblenotanimalsneedmayabelicencelicensedto enterattendshowsinsamezone - must
controlhavezone.aSusceptiblespecificanimalsmovementwilllicencenotbelicensedenterthecontrolzonezonesfollowingtotheattendshow
YouSusceptible mustanimals applycan formove thefreely specificwithin licencerestricted inzones advanceto ofattend and return from shows in the show. same restricted zone.
IfSusceptible theanimals animalentering livesrestricted inzones from the free area andto attendsattend ashows showwill inonly thebe restrictedlicensed to leave the zone forfollowing 4the daysshow orif less,they youmeet canthe returnexit themcriteria tofor thethat sourcezone. premisesThese withoutcriteria pre-movementwill andlikely post-movementinclude testing beingrequirements required. and Yourestrictions mustat stillthe applydestination forpremises aoutside specificthe licence. zone.
Shows outside bluetongue zones
IfSusceptible theanimals animalmay livesbe inlicensed theto freeleave areabluetongue andzones attendsto aattend showshows, independing on the restricteddisease zonesituation. andThese eitherlicences moveswill frominclude thepre-movement showtesting premisesrequirements.
Show organisers should consider whether to anotheraccept premisessusceptible inanimals thefrom restrictedbluetongue zonezones.
Bluetongue orzones staysdeclared atafter theshows showhave forstarted
If morea thanshow 4is daysin thea animalcontrol mayzone requirethat pre-movementis testingdeclared toafter leaveanimals start arriving, the restrictedshow zone.may Checkcontinue whichbut no further susceptible animals needwill pre-movementbe bluetonguelicensed testing.to Youenter mustthe stillcontrol applyzone forto aattend specificthe licence.
Showsshow. thatSusceptible areanimals putwill intoneed a bluetonguelicence zoneto afterleave itthe hasshow, started
Ifand youthis havewill aninclude animaltesting atand restrictions.
If a show that is putsubject intoto a restricted zone,zone you:
- can
measuresmoveaftertheanimalsanimalstarttoarriving,anothersusceptiblepremisesanimalsinmayleaveshowzonebutwithoutwillanotlicence - cannot
bemoveablethetoanimalleaveout of the restricted zone without a specific licence, which maywillrequireincludepre-movementtestingtesting
Bluetongue suspicion or confirmation at the show show
If bluetongue is suspected at the showground, the animal keeper or show organiser must immediately immediately notify the APHA, withand details of the animal.
If you’re the show organiser,organiser youshould should contactconsult the APHA for for advice onin how to manage the show.first instance. The show may be allowed to continue, but all susceptible animals mustwill be required to remain on the premises untilpending after a veterinary inspection is completed. investigation.
YouNo mustfurther notsusceptible acceptanimals anywill furtherbe susceptibleable animalsto intoenter the showground until disease is no longer suspected. negated.
If bluetongue is confirmed, the APHA will giveadvise youon advicemeasures onto whatbe youtaken shouldand dothe controls and testing required to allow susceptible animals tooff leave the showground.
Updates to this page
Last updated 6
-
Updated the policy for the movement of animals from the free area to attend a show in the restricted zone.
-
21 June 2024 First published.
Update history
2025-05-09 13:16
Updated the guidance under the ‘Shows held outside the bluetongue restricted zone (the free area)’ heading.
2025-05-06 17:48
Updated the policy for the movement of animals from the free area to attend a show in the restricted zone.
2025-01-21 17:21
The UK is now in a seasonally vector low period (SVLP) and the guidance has been updated to reflect this. Clarified that bluetongue control zones, and bluetongue restricted zones are different types of zones with different restrictions.
2024-06-21 11:56
First published.