North beef export ban to be removed, say sources

The European Commission is to send an inspection mission to Northern Ireland shortly to remove the final hurdle to the return of Northern Ireland beef to EU and world markets, according to British diplomatic sources.

The move, breaking a severalmonth deadlock, could result in exports resuming ahead of the rest of the UK early next year.

Until last week, the Commission and the British were in a diplomatic war of words, each insisting "the ball is in the court" of the other.

However, if the scientific mission gives its expected approval to the integrity of the North's computerised records and tracing system, a proposal will go from the Agriculture Commissioner, Mr Franz Fischler, to the Union's Standing Veterinary Committee, probably in December, and then to farm ministers to lift the Northern Ireland ban.

The breakthrough has been made possible by agreement between the British authorities and the Commission on the amended details of a "certified herd scheme" under which animals from herds certified free of BSE for eight years will be exportable. Some 95 per cent of Northern Ireland herds have been BSE-free.

The scheme will also be applicable to the rest of the UK but only when Britain introduces a fully computerised system. The British government has said it will do so next year but it could be a considerable time before it is fully operational.

Acceptance by the UK that written records were not sufficient had been the key blockage to an agreement on a certified herd scheme proposed by the British in July.

In a letter to the Commission, the British have now indicated their willingness "to make the change called for to remove the `major stumbling block' ", and to confine the "certified herd scheme to cattle in respect of which the information required is held on an official computerised tracing system".

There were also concerns that the reluctance of Scottish producers to see Northern Ireland beef return to markets first had delayed a British initiative on moving ahead in the North.

The British letter also says they are prepared to accept other minor amendments to the scheme proposed by scientists from the member-states and invites the Commission to send an inspection mission to the North soon.

Meat from certified herds will be exportable under the revised scheme with the Commission if: The animal comes from a herd in which there has been no BSE for eight years and for which there is a full computerised record of all animals;

In its life it has not passed through an uncertified herd;

The animal has had all spinal, brain and specified risk material removed;

Slaughtering of such animals and storage of carcasses is separately handled from non-certified animals;

All animals are traceable back to herd up to the time of slaughter by computer and then by clear labelling;

At the time of slaughter, the animal is not over 30 months or under six months and its dam has not shown signs of BSE within six months of its birth.