Wales: Concerns raised as new bluetongue controls have been announced

At the end of May, DEFRA confirmed that from 1st July 2025 the restricted zone for bluetongue will be extended to cover all of England.

Following the announcement by the Welsh Government, from 1st July 2025 all BTV-3 susceptible animals (sheep, cattle, goats, deer and camelids) moving from the RZ (i.e., England) to Wales will need a negative pre-movement test and a specific licence. There will be an exemption in place for any animals moving direct to slaughter.

The Welsh Government confirmed that a specific movement licence will be administered by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The pre-movement test must be arranged and paid for privately.

Once DEFRA moves England to become a whole country RZ, the free testing that is currently available will end.

The Welsh Government has committed to keeping this policy under review based on the evidence “on the ground” in Wales and the rest of Great Britain. The Welsh Government said that “whatever the future holds, it will be reviewed in autumn”.

READ MORE: Bluetongue restricted zone set to cover all of England

‘Many unknowns’

NFU Cymru has expressed its concern at the cost and practicality of these controls and stressed the importance of keeping this policy under regular review.

In response to the written statement from the deputy first minister, NFU Cymru president Aled Jones said: “We recognise that the decision over whether or not to follow the whole-country action set to be taken in England from the 1st July has been a difficult one for the deputy first minister, balancing the impact of the disease on livestock and productivity on-farm against the cost to industry of delivering and complying with the controls announced today.”

Mr Jones highlighted that there are “many unknowns” about how BTV-3 could impact the herds and flocks across Wales. He also said that Welsh farmers are “extremely worried” about the threat of the spread of the disease.

“However, we have significant concerns about the lack of resources and capacity within the laboratories and APHA to deliver against the potential demand for each and every animal to be tested and licensed, given the significant amount of stock that move across the border from England to Wales for management, welfare and trading purposes.

“We have raised these concerns directly with Welsh Government and continue to seek assurances that this policy can practically be delivered. We understand that going forward the costs of testing will be borne by the farmer, which will cause a huge increase to the cost of trading,” the NFU Cymru president continued.

‘This trade is critical’

Mr Jones said that as we are about to enter an extremely important time of the year in the farming calendar, with many farmers looking to trade breeding stock and store stock ahead of the autumn and winter months.

“For many herds and flocks, the opportunity to trade breeding stock, both those looking to purchase or sell stock, only comes once a year, and this trade is critical.

“Not only because these sales are an important part of a farm’s annual cash flow but also because Welsh farmers need to be able to purchase the right animals for their businesses to enable them to be productive, profitable and to deliver on market and contractual demands.

“Welsh Government must ensure that a sustainable solution is found as soon as possible that negates the need for excessive testing and licensing, balancing the impact of the disease against the potential huge costs of industry delivering and complying with the controls announced today,” he added.

NFU Cymru believes the best method for farmers to protect their herds and flocks from infection is via vaccination.

“We support a campaign to promote vaccine use and facilitate the maximum number of doses being available on Welsh farms as quickly as possible. We would urge all farmers to speak to their vets to discuss a vaccination plan for their farm,” Mr Jones concluded.

Bluetongue is a notifiable animal disease. All livestock keepers are urged to remain vigilant and any suspicion of bluetongue must be reported immediately to APHA on 0300 303 8268.

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