The move comes as Defra continues to face criticism over the potential waste of millions of doses of vaccine after it was revealed officials were warned of the situation in October last year.

Under the new stringent testing regime, brought in following the import of 10 consignments of bluetongue-infected animals from Europe last year, sheep and cattle will be tested twice – one to two days after arriving in the country, and again seven days later.

As EU rules currently permit free trade between bluetongue zones, chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said the new system would allow Defra to ‘be quick on to any new cases' and to monitor the progress of new serotypes such as BTV1.

Defra is now pushing through licences for vaccines against BTV1 to prepare the UK for any new outbreaks, but said it would not be issuing a tender for any supplies.

Culling policy

While Defra will continue its ‘no cull' policy on animals importing BTV8 into the UK, Mr Gibbens said imported stock infected with new strains is likely to be culled to prevent the spread of disease.

He also responded to heavy criticism aimed at Defra after it was revealed it may be forced to dispose of millions of doses of vaccine because of poor uptake.

He said no final decision had been made on what to do with the excess vaccine. He urged farmers to buy Defra's remaining doses, warning that, once stock is gone, the vaccines available on the free market will be more expensive.

However, a source told Farmers Guardian, Defra was warned six months ago there was too much vaccine and it would be unable to sell all its stock. “But they ignored the warning. If they had approached other member states at the time, they may have been able to get rid of it, but now it really looks like they are going to be stuck with it.”

Shadow Agriculture Minister Jim Paice criticised the potential waste, warning it sets a bad example as Defra tries to convince the industry to sign up to its controversial cost sharing proposals.

“Reports that officials ignored warnings about excess doses of vaccine are a cause for concern and, if true, raise a number of serious questions,” he said.

“This sort of extra expense is not something the industry should have to bear under any future cost-sharing arrangements.”