The BBC's Alva McNicol: Ban could be lifted in a matter of days

Speaking to The Times newspaper, Mr Brown said: "I will have something to say very soon.

"It's clearly right to consult others first then make the statement rather than say what I want the statement to be then consult others."

Ban undermined

The ban was imposed as of 16 December 1997 by then Agriculture Minister Dr Jack Cunningham over fears that the human form of BSE, called CJD, could be contracted from beef.

The lifting of the ban in the time scale hinted at by Mr Brown would allow for the sale of beef products like oxtail, T-bone steak and ribs by the first quarter of 1999.

The lobby to lift the beef on the bone ban is likely to receive another boost on Monday with the release of a scientific study that undermines the basis of the ban.

The report by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee - a government advisory body - is expected to confirm that the possibility of humans contracting CJD from beef is negligible.

No turkey ban

But any moves towards ending the ban will involve in-depth discussions between the Mr Brown's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the European Commission.

Even before that can occur, the minister will have to secure the agreement of his political masters at home.

Mr Brown also said in the interview that plans to ban the sale of turkeys with their heads, feet and giblets in place - a traditional sight in British butchers' shops at Christmas time - will no longer be implemented.

"Farm-fresh turkeys can still be produced from on-farm slaughterhouses in the traditional way," he said.