Dunfermline's artificial pitch has been widely criticised

"The surface is not the best artificial turf that there is," William Gaillard, director of communications at Uefa, told BBC Radio Scotland.

"And the new standard, that will be established in the next few weeks, will be much superior and more natural than the one used in Scotland.

"Only a cow could tell between real grass and the new generation turf."

Dunfermline were given a Uefa grant to install a synthetic surface in September 2003 but now say the pitch is not good enough.

Other pitches were installed in Austria, Russia, Sweden, Turkey and the Netherlands at the same time.

"We experimented with different grounds, with different companies supplying the turf," Gaillard continued.

"And we have analysed the merits and shortcomings of each over the course of a season.

"We are now dealing with a fifth generation turf that is of a standard beyond any of those used around Europe."

Uefa will allow teams using the new approved surface to play on it in their Champions' League and Uefa Cup competitions.

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston told BBC Sport last weekend that the much criticised pitch at East End Park will be replaced before the end of this season.

However, he did not reveal the date of the operation, or the type of surface that will be installed.