Bluetongue certification article - a correction

We would like to correct an article concerning DEFRA’s Bluetongue vaccination plan, published on page 6 of the June edition of RCVS News (pictured), which stated:

‘For vaccination for regulated movement within Great Britain, the farmer may administer the vaccine. At the time of vaccination, a record should be made of the animals’ identification marks. The number of animals vaccinated should correspond with the quantity of vaccination used and the farmer should present the veterinary surgeon with a list of animals vaccinated and the empty vaccine bottles, with labels and batch numbers legible. The prescribing veterinary surgeon can then sign the relevant part of the certificate to say the vaccine was prescribed and the correct number of empty bottles returned, and the farmer makes a declaration that he or she vaccinated the animals.’

It should be noted that this actually currently only applies to movement of vaccinated animals from the English and Welsh Protection Zones into a free area in England and Wales, not anywhere in Great Britain as previously stated.

The requirements for movement into Scotland are currently the same as for ‘vaccination for export’, i.e. the veterinary surgeon must administer the vaccine and the animals’ identification numbers must be recorded at the time of vaccination. If an export is planned, the official export certificate may be used. If export is only a possibility for the future, the farmer may request a separate vaccination certificate.

Certification is required only for the movement from a Protection Zone into a free area or Surveillance Zone, movement within the Protection Zone itself is unrestricted.

The error is regretted.