The European Commission has called for a partial lifting of the worldwide export ban on British beef.

The move comes after talks between the EU Commissioners meeting in Strasbourg and marks the first breakthrough since the trade blockade was imposed 22 months ago.

It was immediately hailed by the Government as a sign of faith in Britain's comprehensive health controls - and a recognition of the UK's new constructive role in Europe under Labour.

Computer scheme is the key

EU Commissioner Franz Fischler, who originally imposed the ban, made the announcement.

He said the Commission had agreed the terms of a Certified Herd Scheme first submitted under the previous Conservative administration and since pursued by Agriculture Minister Jack Cunningham.

Beef sales from Northern Ireland were worth £170m in 1995, accounting for 28% of UK total

The scheme provides for export trade to be resumed in meat from herds certified as BSE-free and whose records are logged on computer systems.

Effectively, that limits the breakthrough to Northern Ireland, the only part of the UK so far to boast a computerised database for cattle.

The commission's proposal must be put to chief vets from the 15 EU governments next Wednesday and then to agriculture ministers before any export trade can be restored.

According to a BBC correspondent, agreement is far from guaranteed and it may be months before Northern Irish beef can be sold in Europe.

Fewer cases of BSE

The resumption of exports would represent a boost to Northern Ireland's beleaguered farms, the vast majority of which are involved in beef production, and reflects the fact that the province has been far less affected by the BSE epidemic than mainland Britain.

This compares with a total of 169,947 cases to date in the rest of Britain.

Northern Ireland also has the advantage of having had a computerised cattle tracing system since 1988, making it easier to establish the history of individual animals. The rest of Britain has only had compulsory cattle passports since July 1996.

Dr Jack Cunningham welcomed the move. He said: "This marks a significant step forward in regaining international markets for British beef.

"The decision is the result of open, constructive dialogue with the Commission and the European Parliament. We are continuing that dialogue on our proposals for the Date-Based Export Scheme which would allow beef exports to resume for the whole of the UK."

The ban on British beef exports was imposed as a measure to answer consumer fears about mad cow disease or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
 

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