A partial resumption of British beef exports was welcomed tonight by the British government and the National Farmers' Union.
EU veterinary experts say beef sales can start again with the outside world from counties in the UK which have not experienced foot-and-mouth disease and from those which have been free of the current outbreak for at least 90 days.
The move follows a similar decision by the EU experts earlier this month which triggered the resumption of pig meat exports from counties free of foot-and-mouth at the start of this week.
The move was welcomed by the British government as a step forward for a beleaguered agricultural industry which has faced the total shutdown of lucrative export markets for years - first because of mad cow disease and then because of this year's foot-and-mouth epidemic.
The National Farmers’ Union in Britain tonight described the latest decision as a moral boost for farmers and a sign that there is "light at the end of the tunnel".
The decision was taken by a panel of 15 veterinary experts representing the EU member states. They decided that the foot and mouth outbreak was now significantly well contained and that the export markets could begin to open up.
But the decision will be reconsidered if the number of outbreaks begins to rise once more.
PA
