Follow-up tests on a sheep in Northern Ireland suspected of having foot and mouth disease have shown it was not infected, the North's Agriculture Minister Ms Brid Rodgers said today.
The Stormont Agriculture Minister confirmed tests on the suspect sheep, from a meat plant in Co Tyrone, gave it the all-clear.
Ms Rodgers said the findings would "provide a welcome boost for farmers in Northern Ireland".
So far Northern Ireland has had only one case of the disease, on a farm in Meigh, South Armagh, from a consignment of sheep imported from Cumbria.
The SDLP minister added that everyone must remain "vigilant in the fight to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth".
The Northern Ireland executive has imposed strict movement restrictions to prevent the spread of the disease.
Security along the border remains tight, with Gardaí checking vehicles entering from Northern Ireland.
PA