THE worldwide ban on British beef exports was lifted yesterday by the European Union, ten years after it had been imposed to stop the spread of “mad cow” disease.

British beef farmers were jubilant at being allowed to resume exports of live cattle and beef products, which had been worth £675 million a year before the ban was introduced. Government veterinary experts meeting in Brussels voted unanimously to end the ban, after France, Germany, Italy and Spain said that they were satisfied that British beef was no longer a health threat.

Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, hailed the decision as a vindication of the efforts that Britain had made to eradicate bovine spongiform encephalopathy. “This is excellent news for the British beef industry,” she said. “Britain’s farmers produce high-quality beef which will be in demand across Europe once the ban is lifted. We know that our beef is, at the very least, as safe as beef produced anywhere else in the EU.”

Markos Kyprianou, the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said: “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 ban. We must now acknowledge this and resume normal trade in this area.”

The ban was partially lifted in 1999, after intense lobbying by the Government, but under such stringent conditions that exports remained less than £1 million a year. After the lifting of the ban is rubber-stamped by the European Parliament, which will take about six weeks, British farmers will be free to export any beef products from animals slaughtered after June 15, 2005, or any live cattle born after August 1, 1996.

However, some markets will remain closed. Many non- Union countries, such as the United States, maintain a unilateral ban on all EU beef.

Farmers are planning a massive promotion to restore confidence in British beef among European consumers. A particular target is France, where beef wholesale prices are 25p a kilogram more than in Britain.

“This is the most positive news for the British beef industry in a decade,” Peter Kendall, of the National Farmers’ Union, said. “We are back on an even footing with our competitors in the EU.” Before the ban Britain exported £600 million of beef products and £78 million of live animals in 1995. Scotland exported 42,000 tonnes of beef, worth £130 million

After the ban British beef exports dropped to zero and remained less than £1 million a year after a partial lifting in 1999.

IN A STEW

Before the ban Britain exported £600 million of beef products and £78 million of live animals in 1995, Scotland exported 42,000 tonnes of beef, worth £130 million

After the ban British beef exports dropped to zero and remained less than £1 million a year after a partial lifting in 1999