Exports of beef products and live animals could resume in six weeks

The ban, lifted by the EU vets' committee, was enforced in 1996 to stop the spread of mad cow disease.

The decision means the UK should be able to export live animals, beef and beef products in about six weeks.

The National Farmers' Union said farmers would start as soon as possible to "recapture" their lost market share.

'Ray of hope'

It was estimated that in 1995 - before the ban - beef exports were worth �600m and cattle exports �75m to the UK.

The only beef currently eligible for export is UK boneless beef, produced under the stringent conditions of the Date Based Export Scheme, and beef of foreign origin produced under another scheme.

Exports that sparked protests Timeline: British beef ban

The European Commission eased the original ban on 1 August 1999, allowing exports of boneless British beef products from animals aged between six and 30 months to recommence.

But, on the advice of its scientific committee, the export of live cattle remained banned.

The US still has a ban on imports of British beef products, which was imposed in 1997.

Once legislation has been amended in about six weeks, live animals born after 1 August 1996, beef and beef products made from cattle slaughtered after 15 June 2005 will be able to be exported to those countries accepting British products.

"This decision recognises that the industry has put in place structures which not only meet but exceed European food safety requirements," the NFU president Peter Kendall said.

A lot of EU consumers are very aware of what high quality British beef there is Margaret Beckett Environment secretary Send us your comments

"I believe the quality of the British product will ensure that we begin to recapture our share of beef sales on the continent as soon as the ban is officially lifted."

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said: "I hope France and Germany will act swiftly to bring their domestic legislation in line so that trading can begin as soon as possible.

"This news provides the first ray of hope British farmers have had for a long time."

UK 'vindicated'

Environment secretary Margaret Beckett said it was a vindication of the UK controls on BSE, and expressed optimism for overseas sales.

''A lot of EU consumers are very aware of what high quality British beef there is.

"Of course, I have long argued that British beef is at least as safe and probably among the safest anywhere in the world."

Her optimism was echoed by the chief executive of the National Beef Association, Robert Forster, who said there was a "deficit" of beef in the EU.

"There are lots of wholesalers, lots of retailers who are looking for beef, sourced from within the EU, which is a very high providence production area," he said.

"They will be looking for beef from the UK to top up their supplies."

Hundreds of thousands of calves have been shot at birth because there is no market for them in Britain Conservative spokesman Jim Paice

In announcing the decision, the EU commissioner for health and consumer protection, Markos Kyprianou, said it was time to acknowledge the "great strides" the UK had made.

He said: "The commission has taken no chances when it comes to dealing with BSE and the most stringent monitoring and control measures have been applied."

The ban was enforced after the UK government said there could be a link between BSE, or mad cow disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a disease in humans causing paralysis and death.

BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) led to the destruction of millions of animals in the UK in the 1990s.

The animal charity RSPCA said it was "appalled" live exports would be resumed.

'Black period'

Dr Julia Wrathall, RSPCA head of farm animals, said: "We know from scientific research that long-distance transport can have serious, negative, short- and long-term effects on the health and welfare of young calves.

"The additional complexity of a journey that includes a sea crossing, can only add to the problems these animals will face."

Conservative spokesman Jim Paice said: "Whilst we would prefer all animals to be reared and killed with the minimum travel, hundreds of thousands of calves have been shot at birth because there is no market for them in Britain.

"Thank goodness this black period for our beef industry is over."

Conservative agriculture spokesman in the European Parliament, farmer Neil Parish, said: "Veal calves should not be transported in crates and their welfare must be the top priority."

But he added: "I see no good reason why British calves should not be exported as British veal is now safe and the use of veal crates is rightly banned in the UK."