Bluetongue: moving, freezing and storing germinal product

The rules to follow when you are moving, freezing or storing germinal product (semen, ova or embryo) in the bluetongue restricted zone.

References to ‘animals’ means ruminants (for example, cattle, sheep, goats and deer) and camelids (for example, llamas and alpacas).

References to ‘germinal product’ means semen, ova or embryo.

As of 1 July 2025, the whole of England is in a bluetongue restricted zone.

You can move fresh or frozen germinal product within the bluetongue restricted zone without a licence, as long as the donor animal does not have signs of bluetongue. This includes germinal product that was collected and frozen at a premises in England before 1 July.

You must not move or use germinal product collected from any animal showing signs of bluetongue until a veterinarian has assessed the animal.

Moving germinal product to Wales or Scotland

You need a licence to move germinal product out of the restricted zone to Wales or Scotland. Follow the guidance on:

To move germinal products from the English, Welsh or Scottish restricted zone to the disease free area of Scotland use general licence EXD656 (GB).

To freeze germinal product in the bluetongue restricted zone you must either:

Regardless of whether the germinal product is being moved, when freezing germinal product that has been collected in a bluetongue zone, you must test animals after collection by either:

Testing is not required if the germinal product was collected from animals resident in Scotland or Wales and then transported to England to be frozen.

When you are collecting germinal product regularly from the same animal: