Preliminary results of tests on samples taken from a sheep showing signs of foot-and-mouth disease at Irish Country Meats plant in Navan, Co Meath, have proved negative.
The results of the initial tests from the Pirbright laboratory in England were received by the Department of Agriculture last night.
Further tests on the samples will be carried out later this week.
A major security operation was launched on Friday after the sheep, from a farm at Kilcogy in Cavan, was found to have a blister on its lip.
A number of plant staff and farmers werekept at a hotel in Navan as a precautionary measure. The plant was sealed off and disinfected immediately.
However, a Department of Agriculture spokesman said on Firday the case was not one of "major concern".