Hopes rise for lifting of meat ban

Moves to export British meat to non-European Union countries were underway today after Britain was declared free of foot-and-mouth disease by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

The ruling could soon see British meat back on the tables of many foreign countries.

The EU has still to lift its own restrictions on British meat imports.

The announcement comes a week after Britain was declared officially foot-and-mouth free, 11 months after the disease first crippled the countryside.

The farming industry and government is keen to get the disease-free status confirmed throughout the international community.