It is "desperately welcome" news for the industry
Counties which have not had a case of the disease and which do not adjoin high risk areas will be able to export pork and bacon from 22 October.
The decision was made on Wednesday by the European Union's Standing Veterinary Committee.
Secretary of State Margaret Beckett welcomed the decision but warned that Britain must not "drop our guard" against the disease.
"We still need to bear down on the disease in the High Risk and At Risk areas and to maintain good biosecurity," she said.
The Meat and Livestock Commission also said it was good news.
MLC international manager Peter Hardwick said: "We will be working hard to re-establish our pig meat exports as soon as possible and secure the lifting of restrictions in other areas and on cattle and sheep soon."
The National Farmers' Union and the National Pig Association said the news offered "desperately welcome" access to overseas markets.
NFU president Ben Gill said: "This is the first of many steps that will need to be taken to rebuild Britain's livestock industry after the devastation that has been caused by foot-and-mouth."
Sheep hopes
Mr Gill warned farmers not to allow the good news to distract them from the task of maintaining strict disease protection measures on farms.
NPA chairman James Black said: "This comes as a huge boost to the pig industry.
"Producers have been particularly hard-hit by the closure of overseas markets. We will, of course, be pressing for the resumption of exports from other areas as soon as they comply with the EU requirements."
Scotland's rural development minister Ross Finnie described the announcement as "the first glimmer of light on exports" since foot-and-mouth started.
But he said he was disappointed sheep meat had not been included - and said he was meeting the commission on Friday to discuss the resumption of lamb and mutton exports from Scotland.
Since the disease struck in February more than 3.9m animals have been slaughtered - 139,000 of which were pigs. The last recorded case in the UK was on 30 September.