Northern Ireland is to resume meat and dairy exports to the Continent after being granted regional status by the European Commission's Standing Veterinary Committee.
The decision, which will take effect on April 3rd, excludes Newry and Mourne district where the North's only foot-and-mouth outbreak occurred at a farm in Meigh, Co Armagh.
While expressing disappointment that the ban was not lifted with immediate effect, the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, welcomed the decision, saying it was "significant" news for both producers and processors.
"Our levels of vigilance and control practices are paying off, and it is vital that farmers and the general public continue to co-operate fully with the Executive's guidelines and actions.
"We will press ahead to have the ban lifted on Newry and Mourne District Council area as soon as the full 30-day period, after the case in Meigh, has expired," Mr Trimble said in a joint statement with the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon.
The First Minister praised the Agriculture Minister, Mrs Brid Rodgers, for her handling of the crisis, saying it was both his and the wider community's general opinion that she had done extremely well.
Mrs Rodgers expressed her disappointment at the delay but said the North was facing an "enormous marketing opportunity" by being treated differently from Britain.
"I would like to pay tribute to everyone in my own Department together with those from other Departments who have put in many long hours of hard work, often in miserable weather conditions, to get to this point."
She confirmed that her Department was currently dealing with a "cold suspect" case of the disease at the Foyle Meats plant at Lisahally, Co Derry. It was later cleared.
Meanwhile, a cull of about 2,000 sheep was postponed yesterday after farmers and local residents protested at their intended burial site, Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Co Armagh, saying the burial of the carcasses would destroy an area of outstanding natural beauty.