International trade: Customer Information Notes - GEN/08/73
Bluetongue – Intra-community trade and exports to third countries of susceptible animals
1. Background
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 implements rules for Council Directive 2007/75/EC as regards the control, monitoring, surveillance and restriction on movements of certain animals of susceptible species in relation to bluetongue. This Regulation has recently been amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 289/2008 as indicated below.
2. Changes to Annex III of Regulations (EC) 1266/2007 which now apply are as follows:-
Conditions for exemption from the exit ban
A. Animals
In the case of animals that are intended for intra-Community trade or export to a third country, health certificates must be annotated with a revised additional health attestation as specified in Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 as amended.
In addition, in order to comply with the conditions of paragraphs 6-7 of Annex III, the animal must never have been vaccinated against bluetongue.
B. Semen of animals
In the case of semen intended for intra-Community trade or export to a third country, health certificates must be annotated with a revised additional health attestation as specified in Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 as amended.
C. Ova and embryos of animals
In vivo derived embryos and ova of bovine animals must have been obtained from donor animals which do not show any signs of bluetongue on the day of collection.
In addition, in the case of ova and embryos intended for intra-Community trade or export to a third country, health certificates must be annotated with a revised health attestation as specified in Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 as amended. Further guidance...
3. Safeguard measures on imports
Declarations are issued to implement safeguard measures banning or restricting imports when a disease outbreak in another country may present a risk through imports into England. A list of restricted areas is included in an Annex to the Declaration.
On 12 October 2007, a Declaration was issued implementing an amendment to Commission Decision 2005/393/EC (now repealed) on protection and surveillance zones in relation to bluetongue and conditions applying to movements from or through these zones. This Declaration has been revoked.
Regulation (EC) No. 1266/2007 does not include an annex of affected areas. Instead, it provides for Member States to notify the Commission and other Member States of restricted zones in their country. A map and list of bluetongue restricted zones is then published on the European Commission website.
Stakeholders wishing to bring in bluetongue susceptible animals or their germplasm from other Member States affected by bluetongue should ensure that each consignment meets the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 1266/2007, and health certificates are annotated accordingly.
4. Movement licences
The EU Commission Regulation 1266/2007 on Bluetongue allows the movement of ruminant animals, including camelids (llamas, alpaca, guanaco and vicuñas), out of a protection or surveillance zone under certain conditions. This is to minimise the risk of infected animals moving to a disease-free area of the UK or EU. The licensing regime is summarised below and can be found on the Defra website.
Slaughter licences – Movements to slaughter are permitted out of the Bluetongue Protection Zone and the Surveillance Zone to an area free from Bluetongue restrictions subject to specific timing, movement and insecticide licence conditions. Animals cannot come from Bluetongue Protected Zone into Wales.
Movement to slaughter from the Bluetongue Protection zone to the Surveillance Zone (and the Restircted Zones in Wales) are also permitted, subject to licence conditions.
Movement out of the Bluetongue Protection Zone or Surveillance Zone – In England, these movements can take place under a licence with a self declaration subject to certain conditions. Further information...
Transit licences – The licensing regime allows transiting the zones subject to licence conditions, as follows:
FA through the RZ back to the FA
RZ through the FA back to the RZ
SZ through the PZ back to the SZ
PZ(1) through the SZ to PZ(2)
Semen, Ova and embryos out of the Restricted Zone – this movement is permitted subject to conditions set out in the licence.
Contact point for enquiries
Please email EU Policy Team via: iah-eulp@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Issued by: International Animal Health Core Team
Page published: 18 April, 2008