EU RELAXES BAN ON BRITISH MEAT

Senior veterinary officers meeting in Brussels agreed exports could resume from Saturday, although the ban will continue in the 6 mile surveillance zone around the farms in Surrey where the outbreak occurred.

The news was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown who announced a campaign promoting rural tourism would be launched at the weekend in an effort to ensure farming communities "get back to normal" as quickly as possible.

The National Farmers' Union said it was "fantastic news" while Britain's deputy chief veterinary officer Fred Landeg, who briefed the meeting, said he confident the outbreak was now over.

In a statement, the Commission said the relaxation was possible due to "the favourable evolution of the disease situation and the strict and immediate movement ban implemented in the whole of Great Britain and the implementation of further specific protection measures".

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it was lifting the movement ban on livestock outside the surveillance zone from midnight.

As a precaution however, animals will have to remain on the premises they are moved to for 20 days, unless the further movement is within five miles or direct to slaughter.

The ban on animal markets and shows will remain, although the immediate 2 mile protection zone around the two farms where infected cattle were found will be lifted from noon on Friday

However, the Chief Vet Debby Reynolds has imposed a 3 mile temporary biosecurity area around the two animal health research laboratories at Pirbright, 3 miles from the first farm, which are at the centre of the investigation into the cause of the outbreak.

The export ban covered cattle, sheep, goats and pigs and products made from them, although those produced before July 15 were acceptable as well as heat-treated products and those made in Britain from imported animals.