EU To Lift British Beef Ban
The European Union has today announced it will remove its ban on the export of UK produced beef as of the end of this week, after top regional vets inspected the range of the condition.
The EU had until now banned any form of animal exports from the UK after foot and mouth disease was discovered at several UK farms over the last week and a half.
Whilst overall the ban will be lifted, restrictions will still remain in place in the 10km radius surrounding the original outbreak as a precautionary measure for the time being.
The decision was made today by a panel of EU representative vets, after British produce was given the all clear to resume pan-European export.
British beef and animal products, which account for significant trade with the UK through Europe and further afield had been completed halted after the discovery of the condition on two farms in early August.
However, after swift precautionary actions by the UK authorities, the condition has yet to be discovered elsewhere in the UK, prompting today’s decision.
The EU decision will allow meats from the UK to travel within the European Union, although many countries still have international restrictions on UK produce for fear of spreading the disease.
Northern Ireland will also now be able to move its animal products through the UK as normal when the ban is lifted on Saturday.
The last foot and mouth epidemic in the UK of several years ago lead to the widespread culling of livestock throughout the mainland, and cost millions of pounds in damages to businesses and the economy as a whole.
International reaction to the latest outbreak was designed to prevent the condition from infecting more cattle, which appears so far to have achieved its goal.
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