An anti-BSE measure to protect people from eating infected beef by keeping older cattle out of food should be lifted in the second half of next year, ministers said yesterday.
They accepted the advice of the Food Standards Agency that the rule banning animals over 30 months old from food was no longer proportionate to the risk, providing there was robust testing at abattoirs.
An independent group of advisers will check the proposed system before the changes go ahead and increase UK-based beef production by more than a quarter. Any cattle born after August 1 1996, the date animal feed controls were tightened, might then be used for food as long as they test negative.
Other measures, which remove from food any tissues likely to be infected with BSE, will remain in force.
The over 30 month rule was introduced in 1996 when the first cases of variant CJD in humans were linked to the eating of infected meat. Yet BSE in cattle, first identified in 1986 and peaking in 1992 when there were more than 37,000 cases, has dwindled to 186 cases so far this year, most of which have been linked to animals born before 1996.
John Reid, health secretary, has been concerned over recent testing failures at abattoirs. Animals over two years old that have been culled for injury or illness should only be allowed into food after testing, but an investigation earlier this year revealed that at least 261 such casualty cattle had not been checked.
He said changes would not go ahead until ministers "receive assurances ... that the new testing regime for older cattle is able to operate to the highest standards. Those who operate and oversee all our BSE controls have a very important job to protect the consumer."
Margaret Beckett, environment secretary, also said that continued vigilance was needed.
Around 750,000 cattle aged over 30 months were destroyed and sent for rendering last year, according to the National Farmers' Union.
Tim Bennett, its president, said: "This is very positive news for the beef industry and we are confident there is a market place for this product and that it should generate a realistic price for producers."
Farmers have received compensation for animals slaughtered under the scheme, but will be hoping to generate more cash as the market adjusts to the influx of home-grown meat. Significant amounts have been imported in recent years, predominantly from Brazil and Argentina.
