DEFRA Press Release, 8 March 2006
The EU standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCOFCAH) unanimously approved a proposal to resume exports of cattle born after 1 August 1996, and beef from cattle slaughtered after 15 June 2005.
This means that exports should be able to start again by the end of April, or early May. When exports do resume, they will be subject to certain rules. Further information on these will be available shortly.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Margaret Beckett said:
“This is excellent news for the British beef industry. This EU decision is a vindication of our controls on BSE and our efforts to eradicate this disease.
“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.”