The Welsh Government has outlined the measures which will be in place for the active transmission period of Bluetongue.
In response to increased risk of Bluetongue, including temperatures that are consistent with the active transmission period, some measures are being introduced from 20th June in relation to the current Restricted Zone in England.
However:
- There is no ban on movements of livestock from England and there is no hard border. (All livestock can be moved subject to licenses, qualifying vaccination for cattle and pre-movement testing as appropriate)
- Livestock movements within Wales are not subject to Bluetongue restrictions.
- Livestock moves from Wales to the Restricted Zone in England are not subject to Bluetongue restrictions.
From today (Friday, June 20), all animals that need to move from the current Restricted Zone in England to live in Wales, will need a movement licence issued by APHA which confirms the animals have:
- a valid pre-movement test
- vaccination with the Boehringer Bultavo-3 vaccine (for cattle only)
- have no clinical signs of illness
The Welsh Government will allow cattle fully vaccinated with Boehringer Ingelheim’s Bultavo-3 vaccine, to move under licence, from a Restricted Zone to Wales without a pre-movement test.
This applies from 20th June and is based on the latest information from vaccine manufacturers regarding the prevention of viraemia by available vaccine products.
All sheep must be pre-movement tested and require an accompanying licence to move into Wales to live from the RZ in England, as no vaccine products currently meet the requirements for protecting sheep from BTV-3 to allow them to move out of the RZ.
Arrangements will also be put in place to allow livestock to move to and from shows and sales in the RZ from 20 June, subject to meeting licencing conditions that are set out online at Bluetongue virus (BTV) | GOV.WALES.
These policies will continue to apply after 1 July when the England-wide RZ comes into effect.
Moves direct to slaughter can continue from 20th June and these livestock moves do not require a pre-movement test.
There will be an additional requirement from 1 July when receiving abattoirs in Wales must be designated and meet appropriate licencing conditions to handle Bluetongue-susceptible animals.
Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, said:
“My goal at this stage remains to keep Bluetongue out of Wales for the benefit of our animals and those who keep them.
“The economic and farmer wellbeing concerns caused by dealing with severe Bluetongue are first and foremost in my mind.
“I also want to allow more time to observe the severity of the disease in England, and for keepers to vaccinate their herds and flocks.
“I have made clear the thinking behind my decision in the Senedd this week, but I want to keep it under review. Should the evidence change, and we need to alter the policy, we will revisit and review this in a dynamic way.
“Our shared priority over the coming weeks is to promote vaccine take-up. All representatives at the Roundtable I recently convened were unanimous in their support for vaccination as the best method of protecting livestock and reducing the impacts of Bluetongue.”
“I cannot in all conscience invite Bluetongue into Wales, but we are prepared to adapt to the evolving disease situation.”
