The lifting of the ban on British beef exports will boost the morale of many farmers.

But the industry says it could be the middle of 1999 before the first meat leaves British shores.

And even then, farmers here will not be competing on equal terms with their European partners, because Monday's agreement by European agriculture ministers is hedged about with restrictions.

The Meat and Livestock Commission, responsible for promoting British meat, says there is plenty of work to be done before exports can start.

"European Union representatives will have to check every slaughterhouse that wants to be considered for an export licence," says the MLC's Phil Saunders.

"They will be checking hygiene standards, technology and record keeping.

"The only exports that will be allowed are those off the bone - so they will be looking closely at the abattoir's boning hall."

No rush to buy

And who will buy the beef once it is exported? The 32 months that have passed since 20 March 1996, when the government announced the probable link between BSE and CJD, have cut savagely into consumer confidence.

"It will be a slow process getting customers back," said Mr Saunders.

"Some are keen, but nothing like the numbers who used to buy our meat."

Mr Saunders believes it could be the end of March before exports restart. By some estimates, he is one of the optimists.

Peter Scott: "Morale boost"

The Federation of Fresh Meat Wholesalers (FFMW) represents the slaughterhouse owners. General Secretary Peter Scott said: "The lifting of the ban is going to be a great morale booster.

"It's important politically. But we must not get carried away with euphoria.

"This is a restricted scheme and the industry will have to blow money away for a good six months to try to get back into the market."

Mr Scott says the restricted export scheme will be difficult and costly to operate.

"Farmers will have to establish that animals for export were born from mothers which themselves survived for six months after calving without contracting BSE," he added.

Peter Scott gives his reaction to the lifting of the beef ban

The agency responsible for guaranteeing the history of cattle from birth to death is the British Cattle Movement Service, based at Workington in Cumbria.

"If all farmers register with the service, it will be swamped." said Mr Scott.

Some BSE victims' offspring may still be on farms

He thinks it will probably be June before the first exports leave. And he says one cause of delay could be the cattle which might still harbour BSE.

"There are 6,000-8,000 cattle whose mothers died of BSE after calving," he says.

It is at the moment voluntary for farmers to have them slaughtered. The EU may say it must be compulsory.

And could they be entering the food chain? "They could", says Peter Scott.

Confidence gone

On recovering lost markets, he says there is a long way to go.

"There are some niche markets in Italy, Spain and France for prime cuts from the animals' hindquarters," he says.

But confidence has gone. At the height of the scare in 1996, he recalls, a German woman rang to seek advice.

"I am sitting on a leather sofa. Can I catch CJD?" she asked in great alarm.