European Union vets addressing the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in England have relaxed rules on meat certification to assist Northern Ireland in establishing a clearer distinction between its meat products and British meat products, according to the North's Department of Agriculture.
The EU, however, has maintained its ban on the export of fresh meat and livestock from Britain for at least another two weeks.
The EU's view was that the FMD situation had not "stabilised" in Britain since the outbreak last Friday, with culling at a third farm in Surrey ordered yesterday afternoon. A European Commission spokesman said it would be "premature" to alter the EU measures.
The Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture, Michelle Gildernew, said yesterday evening that a meeting of EU veterinarians yesterday had acknowledged that the North was a disease-free zone and that this could be made clear in export documentation.
The experts also agreed that meat from Northern Ireland will be allowed to transit through Britain on route to the European mainland.
"This is a very significant decision," she said.
"It is further confirmation of the distinct status of our exports and a major boost for the agrifood industry," added Ms Gildernew.
Emphasising the point that Northern Ireland, notwithstanding its position within the UK, is distinct from Britain and that it is free of FMD has posed a problem for the Northern Ireland Executive and the Northern agriculture industry.
The association of Northern Ireland meat with that produced in England, where the FMD outbreak occurred, through general UK certification, has caused problems for meat and dairy exporters in recent days.
Ms Gildernew said yesterday that the necessary certification of Northern Ireland meat products would be amended "to reflect the fact that our products are coming from the North of Ireland".
She said the EU "agreed that we can differentiate ourselves from Britain in our export documentation. This is very welcome and allows our export trade to continue".
Meanwhile, Northern Executive Ministers are embarking on a global lobbying campaign to point out that there has been no FMD outbreak in Northern Ireland and that "there is clear blue water" between Britain and Northern Ireland.