The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, and farmers' interests have welcomed the EU's decision to lift the export ban on Northern beef. However, they have acknowledged that it would be a major challenge to regain lost international markets.
The British government has set aside £2 million to try to restore international confidence in Northern Ireland beef. The two-year-old BSE crisis wiped out an industry worth some £200 million annually.
Dr Mowlam said the removal of the export ban from Monday marked a clear recognition by the European Commission and other European countries of the quality and reputation of Northern Ireland beef.
She said the BSE crisis had created a very difficult time for Northern farmers. Taken in tandem with the current opportunity for peace and stability, she believed farmers could benefit from the EU decision.
"I am confident that the farming and agri-food industry will be one of the key sectors to reap the rewards of a lasting settlement in Northern Ireland," said Dr Mowlam.
The £2 million earmarked to bolster beef exports will be used to carry out marketing and to assist in re-establishing export accounts, said Lord Dubs, the North's agricultural minister.
He said no other country in the world produced better or safer beef but he acknowledged that it would take some time to win back confidence in Northern beef as a result of the BSE scare.
"I think it's going to be quite a long haul," he said.
The president of the Ulster Farmers' Union, Mr Will Taylor, welcomed the EU move, but said it would take a long time before confidence was restored.
It could take possibly four or five years to restore lost markets. "There is no quick fix," he added.
Mr Robert Watson, chairman of the Meat Exporters' Association in the North, said there were still difficult times ahead.
"We don't underestimate the extent of the task in front of us. But we are delighted that we have finally reached this decision. We can now actively go out and look to renew our customers," he told BBC Radio Ulster.
The high value of sterling would create some further difficulties. "But we did not sell our product on price alone before the beef ban. We sold it based on quality and traceability, and we would believe that we can give the best guarantees for our beef," added Mr Watson.
