EU scientists raise hopes of North's re-entry to world beef markets

Hope was raised yesterday that Northern Ireland's beef producers may soon get back into world markets when EU veterinary scientists approved control measures now in place in the North. In principle, they accepted that animals from "certified herds", herds acceptably certified free of BSE for at least eight years, should be allowed back into the market.

The scientists rejected procedures in the rest of the UK because of their inadequate animal tracing system.

However, it is a non-binding opinion from the group which now passes to the committee of Chief Veterinary Officers and then to ministers.

The tracing of Northern Ireland cattle has been computerised for nine years, while the rest of the UK still relies on written farm records, a "major stumbling block", the scientists say. Computerisation of their records will not be in place until 1998.

British diplomatic sources were, however, unable to say whether London would be willing to press ahead with regard to Northern Ireland alone. Pressure from Scottish farmers, fearful for their markets, has blocked any previous suggestion that the British government should explore having the export ban lifted on a regional basis.

Three months ago, the committee rejected Britain's certified herds scheme as "inadequate".

Britain's revised proposal covers the whole of the UK, but highlights Northern Ireland's strong case for special treatment.

"The number of cases confirmed in Northern Ireland so far in 1997 is less than half the number confirmed in the Republic of Ireland; and exports from the Republic are not subject to any restriction," it states.

"Furthermore, in Northern Ireland, the origin and movement history of all animals can be accurately traced whereas this information is not readily available in the Republic."

The proposals set tight controls to guarantee the safety of beef exports. To qualify, meat must:

Come from herds which have had no cases of BSE for eight years

Come from animals over six months which were still in the herd where they were born or had all their movements recorded on a computer database

Be de-boned according to specifications laid down by the EU Commission

Mr Ian Gardner, of the British National Farmers Union, yesterday gave the proposals a cautious welcome.

The NFU, he said, would look closely at the details of what the Commission puts forward to ensure the scheme could be extended to the rest of the UK once its computerised records to monitor cattle were put in place next year.

He said: "We want to see a scheme which even if it is applied in practice in Northern Ireland can be switched on in Great Britain purely by us developing a computerised database and not through a further set of political negotiations which could take another two or three years."