The European Union is to lift the ban on exports of British beef, including those from Northern Ireland.
The EU vets' committee has unanimously adopted a resolution lifting the ban - imposed 10 years ago to prevent the spread of the cattle disease, BSE.
It will now go to the European Commission and the ban should be lifted within about six weeks.
Wesley Aston, from the Ulster Farmers Union, said it was "great news" and heralded a new era.
"Before the beef ban was imposed in 1996, we had very good markets throughout mainland Europe, particularly in Holland," Mr Aston said.
"Obviously, our grass-produced beef was widely sought after.
"Hopefully, those markets will still be there for us and it gives us another marketing opportunity and, hopefully, will increase competition for our products."
Once the proposal is adopted and published, the UK will be able to export live cattle born after 1 August 1996 and bovine meat and products produced after 15 June 2005, under the same terms as other member states.
The ban on the export of UK beef was issued in March 1996, due to the high incidence of BSE cases in the UK at the time.
The brain disease claimed more than 2,000 cattle in Northern Ireland. The epidemic was tailing off by the time the government announced the news in March 1996 that BSE was linked to new variant CJD in humans.
'Great strides'
Speaking after Wednesday's decision to lift the ban, the EU's commissioner for health and consumer protection, Markos Kyprianou, said the EU had taken no chances when it came to dealing with BSE.
"Precautionary measures, including the embargo on UK beef exports, were taken when deemed necessary to fully protect consumers," he said.
"However, the UK has made great strides in tackling this disease and has met all of the criteria that were set for the lifting of the beef export ban, in line with scientific and veterinary advice.
"We must now acknowledge this and resume normal trade in this area."
Welcome
DUP MEP Jim Allister welcomed the lifting of the beef ban.
He said it was a "tremendous boost" for the NI farming community.
"I hope that the Northern Ireland beef industry can now get back on to a level playing field with all other regions within Europe," he said.
Sinn Fein MEP Bairbre de Brun also welcomed the decision.
"It is to be hoped that we will now see a speedy re-opening of the export market to farmers," she said.
"This is a very welcome announcement indeed for farmers across the north, indeed for the whole of our economy."
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said it was "disappointing" that it had taken so long to end the ban.
"Let there be no distractions and let us all move forward together to ensure that Northern Ireland beef becomes the world class market leader that it once was," he said.
"I expect to see the export of calves begin immediately."
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