FU Scotland has welcomed the encouraging talks between the Scottish Executive and the European Commission on the resumption of Scottish beef exports. Scotland's Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie today met EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou to discuss the issue.

Last December, the UK Government outlined the programme to remove the Over Thirty Months Scheme by Autumn 2005 to be replaced with a rigorous BSE testing regime. This decision followed advice from the Food Standards Agency. This is one of a number of steps to put the Scottish beef industry back onto an equal footing with the rest of Europe.

The EU has now recognised the UK as moderate risk status for BSE, the same status accorded to the rest of Europe. European Commission vets are expected to inspect the UK BSE controls in June and, subject to a favourable report, the Commission will recommend to the Brussels veterinary committee that the UK's beef export controls are removed.

NFUS Vice President David Mitchell said:

“The industry continues to work towards the removal of the restrictions on our beef industry. Whilst we do this, it is important that the political momentum in Europe is maintained and I am pleased the Minister has been raising the crucial issue of lifting export controls.

“The Scottish beef industry is hugely important to Scottish agriculture and the whole rural economy. The latest report from Quality Meat Scotland emphasises this. The sector represents almost third of Scottish agricultural output and is worth over £600 million. Before the ban in 1996, the beef export market was worth over £150 million to Scotland so regaining this market will be a huge economic boost for the country.

“The work must continue to ensure that, as close as possible, the lifting of the OTMS and resumption of beef exports go hand in hand.”