Update – Bluetongue virus (BTV) – Disease Control Strategy for Scotland in 2026 – High Risk Period

Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals from 1 June 2026 until 9 September 2026 (dates may be subject to change)

Moving live animals from a Restricted Zone to Scotland

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man are all BTV-3 Restricted Zones, and any movement of bluetongue susceptible animals and germinal products from a bluetongue Restricted Zone to Scotland will be under licence.

General movement licences will be published prior to controls coming into force. Where movements require a specific licence, it should be applied for via the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Duration of controls

For the 2026 active transmission season, environmental data in combination with statistical, epidemiological evidence and veterinary risk assessments have been used to determine the period when full controls should be in place. These dates may be subject to change if there is a significant deviation to typical environmental conditions or if there are developments to the bluetongue situation in Scotland.

Below are the official dates setting the period in Scotland when it is considered that a midge can bite an infected animal and is able to complete the bluetongue virus extrinsic incubation period, becoming able to infect another animal when it bites again:

• 1 June 2026 – this is the earliest date controls will come into force (at 00:01)
• 9 September 2026 – this is the latest date when controls can be minimised (at 00:01)

Testing requirements for live animals

Animals that have been in a Restricted Zone may be at risk of BTV. All BTV susceptible animals moving from a Restricted Zone to Scotland to live, prior to the movement must be PCR tested for bluetongue with negative results received. The sample must have be taken within 7 days of the movement – it is the owners responsibility to ensure the samples are sent to the lab promptly, and the procedure to follow can be found in the ‘sampling instructions’ section of the Scottish Government bluetongue webpage.

The only exceptions to the PCR pre-movement test are:

• for short (up to 4 days – see below) show/sale moves to an event in a Restricted Zone; or
• for cattle that have completed a vaccination course using the Bultavo-3 vaccine with 21 days elapsing since completion of the primary course or that have received a vaccine booster in line with the product label – any such cattle are exempt from the requiring of a pre-movement test; or
• movements direct to slaughter

Movement to slaughter

• no pre-movement test required, but movements may only go to a designated slaughterhouse and must meet the requirements of the general licence
• a relaxation of dawn until dusk restrictions: animals that cannot be processed by operators on the day of arrival at an abattoir premises may be housed overnight and processed as soon as possible the following day. It is expected that only a small percentage of animals will require to be held overnight and operators must report overnight lairage levels – relaxations may be lifted if deemed to be excessive
• moves to the slaughterhouse must be direct after leaving a Restricted Zone, i.e. no further drop-offs or pickups

Movement to live – Restricted Zone to Scotland

• sheep, goats, camelids, and other ruminants will require a PCR test within 7 days of the move, from 00:01 on 1 June 2026 at the earliest until 00:01 on 9 September 2026 at the latest (although this date will remain under review)
• cattle vaccinated with Bultavo-3 and with 21 days elapsed since completing the full course of primary vaccination may move to Scotland from a Restricted Zone without a PCR pre-movement test
• cattle vaccinated with other products (Syvazul/Bluevac) or cattle that are unvaccinated will require a PCR test within 7 days of the move

Moves to shows/markets – moves from Scotland to a Restricted Zone and returning to Scotland

• animals do not require a pre-movement test to enter the show/market in a Restricted Zone, but it is recommended that animals are isolated and post-movement PCR tested upon return to Scotland
• if the animal spends more than four days in the Restricted Zone, it will require a pre-movement test in the Restricted Zone with negative results received prior to a move back to Scotland
• cattle fully vaccinated with Bultavo-3 before they enter the RZ are exempt from PCR testing if they spend more than four days in the Restricted Zone

Specified sales in a Restricted Zone

• Markets in the Restricted Zone in England can hold specified sales for animals sourced exclusively from outside a Restricted Zone if they meet certain requirements and have no animals from a Restricted Zone on site. Be sure to understand the conditions of the general licence EXD657(E) for these sales.

Germinal products

Further analysis of the risks presented by germinal products and bluetongue are ongoing. Consideration is being given to the alignment of domestic market testing requirements with current export testing conditions

Vaccination

Vaccination is the best strategy to protect stock, and it is strongly recommended that livestock keepers consider it, and seek advice from their vet.