Bluetongue: Exports, food, meat and animal by-products
Slaughterhouses
- Bluetongue: List of slaughterhouses outside the Bluetongue Surveillance Zone approved to receive animals from the Bluetongue Protection and Surveillance Zones.
- Bluetongue: List of approved slaughterhouses in Wales to receive animals from the Bluetongue Surveillance Zone and Protection Zone.
Exports
In accordance with EU rules (Council Directive 2000/75/EEC and EC Regulation 1266/2007), clearly defined Protection and Surveillance Zones exist in Great Britain. These rules which set strict conditions permit movements of live ruminants and their semen, ova and embryos from the Zones to slaughter, to other EU Member States and to third countries. Third countries importing live ruminants or their germplasm from a Bluetongue Virus (BTV) infected country or zone would also require similar conditions to be met under OIE rules.
Tests or other measures laid down in Commission Regulation 1266/2007 to demonstrate freedom from BT infection will be required before trade in live animals from the Bluetongue Zones can take place. Further information on the export situation is available via Customer Information Notes.
Species of animals covered by the trade restrictions
Restrictions apply to live ruminants (including cattle, sheep, goats, deer, alpacas and other camelids) and their germplasm (semen, ova and embryos) which originate from the Protection and Surveillance Zones. Species such as horses and pigs and their germplasm are not affected by the Bluetongue rules and so can be traded.
Animals that originate from outside the Bluetongue Zones
Although Bluetongue susceptible animals that come from outside the Bluetongue Zones may be eligible for trade with other EU Member States and third countries (non-EU countries may well require additional reassurances). If these animals have to transit a restricted area they and the vehicles that transport them will need to be treated with an approved insecticide to protect them from any attack by vectors.
Animal products
Under OIE and EU rules, there are no restrictions on meat and other animal products due to Bluetongue.
Trade in germplasm from ruminants
Exports to other Member States or third countries can take place subject to official certification, and compliance with the additional requirements for Bluetongue which can be found on the TRACES pages of the website. The requirements for Bluetongue are similar to those for domestic movements within England. The official certification requires and annotation to the effect that the requirements of the Commission Regulation 1266/2007 have been complied with.
Bluetongue restrictions
Details of the Bluetongue restricted areas are listed on the Commission website 
. These areas remain subject to revision.
Imports of susceptible species
Bluetongue-susceptible species that originate from a Bluetongue Zone in another Member State must meet the requirements of Annex III of EC Regulation 1266/2007.
Bluetongue-susceptible animals that transit a Bluetongue Zone, either abroad or in the UK must be treated with an insecticide treatment to protect the animals from any attack by vectors.
Further information is available via Customer Information Notes.
Food safety
Food Standards Agency new story: Bluetongue poses no food safety risks.
There is no risk to human health. See the Health Protection Agency statement.
Page last modified: 11 June, 2008