New rules to allow the movement of livestock from bluetongue "restricted zones" to bluetongue "free zones" have been agreed in Brussels.

Until now, farmers have been prevented from carrying out such stock movements, except direct to slaughter. But the new regulation provides for farm-to-farm movements between zones at crtain low risk times of year and/or when a vaccine is ready.

In particular, the regulation calls on member states to establish "seasonally vector-free periods", during which time inter-zonal movements may be permitted. This should be granted if:

• There is no virus actively in circulation.
• Vector activity has ceased.
• The midge population has dropped significantly.
• Air temperatures have dropped below a certain threshold.

DEFRA is understood to be consulting with stakeholders on the scope to introduce such a "seasonally vector-free period" in the UK.

The new regulation also specifies a number of conditions for live animals to move out of a restricted zone. These include:

• The animal has been in a "seasonally vector-free period" for at least 60 days, or
• The animal has been protected from vector attack for at least 60 days prior to dispatch, or
• The animal has been protected from vector attack for at least 28 days and subject to a serological test, or
• The animal has been vaccinated at least 60 days before movement, or
• The animal has been shown to have antibodies against bluetongue (suggesting it has acquired immunity).

Bluetongue restriction zones at 15 November 2007

An EU commission official said the new regulations were closer to international standards and were "sustainable, proportionate and based on sound science". "We now have a better scientific knowledge," he told Farmers Weekly. "We know that properly vaccinated animals do not present any risk."