THE long process of lifting the EU export ban on British beef began yesterday when the Commission agreed to a review of the ban on gelatin, tallow and semen.
On a proposal from the Agriculture Commissioner, Mr Franz Fischler, the Commission agreed to ask the Union's Standing Veterinary Committee next Wednesday to consider lifting the ban on the by products, subject to the introduction of new processing techniques.
Cattle semen is not regarded as a problem because there has never been any suggestion that BSE can be passed on through it.
The measures have been approved by the Union's specialist Scientific Veterinary Committee acting on recommendations from the World Health Organisation.
The WHO concluded: "Gelatin in the food chain is considered to be safe. The manufacturing process has been demonstrated to significantly inactivate any residual infective activity that may have been present in source tissues. Tallow is also considered safe if effective rendering procedures are in place.
If the Standing Veterinary Committee, consisting of chief veterinary officers from each of the member states, backs the proposal by a qualified majority - vote, the Commission can lift the ban on tallow, gelatin and semen - as soon as Britain has the required procedures in place.
A Commission spokesman said that it had been advised that the British had the means to fulfil the requirements "very rapidly".
The Standing Veterinary Committee has already once rejected a Commission appeal to lift the ban on gelatin, tallow and semen, but officials are more confident that it will accept the recommendation this time.
Few doubt that it will be months before the overall export ban is lifted.
