DEFRA has worked closely with the Welsh Assembly Government and has had a range of discussions on this and a number of other issues concerning bluetongue.
It may be possible during a vector free period, should that be declared, to move animals out of the zone following pre-movement tests, at the farmers' expense.
The issue of whether to extend the bluetongue surveillance zone into Wales to enable free movement across the border is a devolved matter for the Welsh Assembly Government, but we are working closely to co-ordinate our disease control strategy to prevent the spread of bluetongue.