Shifts have restarted at a Gwynedd abattoir, two weeks after 47 workers were laid off with the firm blaming the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey.
Cig Cibyn abattoir in Caernarfon had said operations would be suspended until a meat export ban was lifted.
The ban on exporting UK meat and animal products ended on Saturday.
It is not known if all the abattoir staff have returned. Gwynedd Council has been in talks about short-term aid to enable the plant to reopen.
Around 70% of the lamb handled at the Cig Cibyn plant is exported.
Earlier, Gwynfor Roberts, co-director of the company, had said he believed the abattoir would be able to trade this week and had said his target date was Tuesday.
He had said he hoped all the workforce would be re-employed, saying: "To be honest, we need to have a full workforce or none of them. There's no happy medium."
"We hope to be able to propose support for the company to re-start trading following the lifting of the ban on exports"
On 16 August, directors said that they had been left with no choice but to lay off staff following the export ban imposed after two foot-and-mouth cases were confirmed in Surrey.
At the time, co-director Sian Pritchard said 47 workers had been laid off at the plant and a further 17 allied jobs had also been affected.
She added that they had decided to "mothball" rather than face a situation where the business would face "real financial difficulties".
They met Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones to discuss financial help.
Mr Roberts said the firm was still in discussions with Gwynedd Council regarding some kind of aid package.
Talks ongoing
A Gwyneth Council spokesman said: "Cig Cibyn Ltd is a valued employer and provides an important service to local food producers.
"The council has held a series of meetings with the company during the past weeks, and we hope to be able to propose support for the company to re-start trading following the lifting of the ban on exports."
He added that that discussions with the company would continue in the coming days.
The ban on exporting UK meat and animal products was lifted on Saturday following a decision by the European Commission.
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said the re-opening of the EU market for Welsh farm produce, particularly for lamb, would be "vital" to the economic well-being of the Welsh livestock industry.
General restrictions on animal movements imposed in Wales were lifted last Thursday.
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~52~RS~)