Other trading options for TB-restricted cattle in England

Cows being unloaded - Bovine TB

Movements between TB-restricted holdings

Subject to a satisfactory veterinary risk assessment, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) may licence cattle to move from one TB-restricted holding to another. Cattle must have been skin tested with negative results in the previous 30 days, excluding calves under 42 days of age.

When a licence is required, you must complete an application form and return it to APHA as detailed on the form. Please note that the TB licensing team require a minimum of five working days to process licence requests, and this can increase during busy periods.

It is important to provide as much notice as possible when applying for a licence. If you are unsure about TB licensing requirements please contact APHA via the Defra Rural Services helpline on 03000 200 301.

Calves - TB Hub

Moving unrestricted cattle onto a TB-restricted holding

Once a TB breakdown herd has had its first short interval test, and subject to a satisfactory veterinary risk assessment, APHA may licence cattle to move from an unrestricted (officially TB free) holding to a TB-restricted holding.

When a licence is required, you must complete an application form and return it to APHA as detailed on the form. Please note that the TB licensing team require a minimum of 5 working days to process licence requests, and this can increase during busy periods. If you are unsure about TB licensing requirements please contact APHA via the Defra Rural Services helpline on 03000 200 301.

Meat carcasses - Bovine TB

Movements to slaughter

To facilitate the movement of clear tested cattle from TB breakdown herds to slaughter, APHA usually issues a general movement licence (TB24c). This negates the need to apply for a movement licence every time cattle need to go to slaughter. The TB24c licence is usually included in the reactor pack that herd owners receive following disclosure of one or more reactors.

In higher risk situations, where a general licence cannot be permitted, herd owners would need to apply for a specific movement licence. Please contact APHA via the Defra Rural Services helpline on 03000 200 301 if you require a licence to move animals to slaughter.

Approved TB slaughter gatherings

Approved TB slaughter gatherings must be approved and licensed by APHA. Cattle entering these gatherings must not be reactors, inconclusive reactors or direct contacts, and must be eligible for human consumption. Cattle moved to an approved TB slaughter gathering can only then be moved to slaughter.

As set out in the government response to the independent review of Defra’s bovine TB eradication strategy, approved TB slaughter gatherings (slaughter markets and collection centres) for TB-restricted cattle from breakdown herds and Approved Finishing Units (AFUs), are no longer permitted in the Low Risk Area (LRA) of England since 31 August 2020. This does not apply to cattle from Licensed Finishing Units (LFUs) which are still permitted to be sold at approved TB slaughter gatherings in the LRA.

Approved TB slaughter gatherings can be licensed to accept

  • Cattle from TB-restricted holdings in England, Wales, and Scotland. From 30 September 2024, cattle will not require a negative TB skin test in the previous 90 days. Cattle must not be reactors, inconclusive reactors or direct contacts

  • Cattle from AFUs with grazing in England. Animals must have been skin tested with negative results within the previous 90 days before movement, except calves under 42 days old

  • Untested cattle from AFUs without grazing in England and Wales
  • Untested cattle from LFUs in England
  • Untested cattle from unrestricted (officially TB free) holdings in England, Wales, and Scotland
Calves in the field - TB Hub