Guidance

Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine: information for keepers

Information about the availability of BTV-3 vaccines for animal keepers.

If your livestock have been vaccinated for BTV-3 you still need to comply with all BTV-3 movement and testing requirements.

Three BTV-3 vaccines have been permitted for use. Two of these have been granted a marketing authorisation by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), and the third is unauthorised. You can only use these vaccines if your use is compliant with a valid licence or declaration.

For more information on the BTV-3 vaccines including permits and licences visit Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccination.

Where you can use the BTV-3 惫补肠肠颈苍别蝉听

You can use these vaccines in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In:

Important information for vets

In addition to your responsibility to inform the relevant authorities of any adverse effects that you notice, the UK and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Chief Veterinary Officers have published an:

These ask for your cooperation to keep records of the bluetongue vaccine doses that you order, supply and prescribe.听听

Vets in England, Scotland and Wales should notify Defra within 7 days of prescribing the vaccine using the听prescription of the听BTV-3听vaccine reporting form.

In Northern Ireland, vets should and return the completed record to their local DAERA Direct Office.

Deciding whether to vaccinate

Work with your vet to determine if BTV-3听vaccination is right for your animals.听

Reasons you might want to vaccinate include:

  • having high-value stock, high production units, rare breeds or smallholdings
  • if the impact of reduced productivity, abortions or reduced animal welfare could affect conservation efforts

You can also check the for more information on making vaccination decisions.

Keep a record of your vaccinations听

Your vet must prescribe the vaccine, but you, the animal keeper, can administer the vaccine to your animals. You are reminded to use safe practice.听

In England and Wales when you use a听BTV-3听vaccination you must:听听

In Scotland when you use a听BTV-3听vaccination you must:听听

In Northern Ireland when you use a听BTV-3听vaccination you must return the to your local DAERA Direct Office within 5 working days of vaccinating.

Moving vaccinated animals

All movement controls and trade restrictions听are the same for听BTV-3听vaccinated animals as for unvaccinated animals.听听

You should not test vaccinated animals as part of a pre-movement test in bluetongue zones until at least 7 days after their vaccination. This will prevent interference with听BTV-3听monitoring.听

There is some risk that individual countries could take a precautionary approach regarding trade in products from vaccinated animals. Defra does not judge this to be a major concern, particularly given current use of these vaccines on the continent. There are no known trading restrictions on products of animal origin from vaccinated animals. If restrictions were applied, we would engage with trade partners to try to mitigate these.

Updates to this page

Published 1 October 2024
Last updated 31 July 2025 show all updates
  1. You can use these vaccines in Northern Ireland: updated guidance to include the rules you must follow.

  2. Two BTV-3 vaccines have been granted marketing authorisation by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Unauthorised vaccines can continue to be imported into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) until October 2025. You can continue to use unauthorised vaccines under permit until their expiry date, as long as they were bought on the British market.

  3. The general licence for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) now applies to all counties in England.

  4. First published.

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