France Bluetongue Zone

This means that all animals moving from France to GB must now comply with BTV1 conditions before they can be moved. Broadly, this means animals must be vaccinated against BTV1, and then serve a waiting period of 60 days (or quicker with a negative PCR test).

Purpose

1. To make people aware that France has declared the whole of its mainland territory as a BTV 1 and 8 zone. This is to allow vaccination against both serotypes across the entire country.

Background

2. Controls on movements of Bluetongue-susceptible species are laid down in Annex III of Commission Regulation 1266/2007 on implementing rules for Council Directive 2000/75/EC as regards the control, monitoring, surveillance and restrictions on movements of certain animals of susceptible species in relation to bluetongue.

3. All animals from France must now comply with the conditions for exemption from the exit ban in Annex III of the regulation for BTV1 in addition to BTV8. Until this change, BTV1 conditions only applied to animals from the BTV1 area in south west and Brittany. However, as GB is a BTV8 Protection Zone, only BTV1 conditions apply to moves to GB.

Further detail on movement conditions
4. Animals can move freely within a Protection Zone, including the confluent BTV8 Protection Zones across Europe. However, as the UK has only BTV8, our BTV status differs from France (BTV1+ BTV8). France now has a separate BTV restriction zone and all animals moving from France to GB must comply with Annex III conditions for BTV1.

5. Animals are not permitted to move out of a Protection Zone unless they are being moved direct to slaughter, or they can meet the criteria set out in Annex III of the Regulation 1266/2007, which include:

• That they were vaccinated against BTV1 more than 60 days before the date of movement to ensure animals can no longer be infectious even if they were infected just before vaccination;

• That they have been vaccinated and then PCR tested for BTV1 with negative results 14 days after the onset of protective immunity (again, to ensure they have immunity and are not infected); or

• Other, limited movement conditions (e.g. naturally immune animals which have already been infected with BTV1 but are no longer infectious, or conditions in some circumstances to confine young animals in vector proof facilities before testing and moving them).

6. The movement of pregnant animals is subject to compliance with certain conditions before insemination and before the date of movement.

7. Animals transiting France must comply with the requirements of transit – application of insecticide to animals and vehicle prior to departure. If a rest period is foreseen at a control post in a restricted zone, the animals must be protected against attack by vectors. The route plan should be examined for evidence of whether transit may have occurred. If there is doubt apply insecticide.

Enquiries about exports should be directed to your local Animal Health Division Office:

AHDO: Galashiels – Tel: 01896 758806 or Fax No: 01896 756803
AHDO: Inverness – Tel: 01463 728800 or Fax No: 01463 711495
AHDO: Ayr – Tel: 01292 291350 or Fax No: 01292 291351
AHDO: Inverurie – Tel: 01467 626610 or Fax No: 01467 626611
AHDO: Perth – Tel: 01738 602211 or Fax No: 01738 602240

Contact point for enquiries: John Peerless (0131 244 6555, fax: 0131 244 6616) or (England and Wales – 01245 358383, fax: 01245 351162).

Animal Health Branch