Bluetongue restriction zone to be expanded across all of Scotland

Bluetongue restrictions are to be expanded across the whole of Scotland from Saturday.

Official response and confirmed impact

Parts of south-west Scotland were already in a restricted zone, after cases in the region began appearing in August.

The Scottish government said the decision will make trading more straightforward for farmers, hauliers, and auction markets.

Bluetongue is an insect-borne viral disease that affects sheep and cattle among other animals.

It does not affect people or food safety but causes a high rate of death in infected sheep and fertility problems in infected cattle.

The first case in Scotland was reported in early August, in a single sheep on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway.

The decision to expand the zone follows talks with industry representatives, including the National Farmers' Union (NFU) Scotland, the National Sheep Association, and the Scottish Beef Association.

The movement licences currently required to move susceptible livestock into, within, and out of the south-west zone, will no longer be needed after Saturday, due to the whole of Scotland sharing the same disease status.