Rules preventing the use of cattle over thirty months old - the so called OTM rule - in the food chain are expected to be replaced with a Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) testing regime before the end of the year.
Food minister Lord Bach told an industry gathering last week that, subject to approval by the Food Standards Agency, "we should be on course for a rule change some time later this autumn"
The OTM rule was introduced as a safety measure and to restore confidence in British beef following the damage inflicted on the industry following outbreaks of BSE within UK herds. BSE in cattle has been associated with the similar incurable and fatal disease in humans, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).
Once replaced, it will open up the possibility for getting export restrictions on British beef lifted. At the same time a new voluntary "older cattle" disposal scheme will be introduced for animals born before August 1 1996.
"Good progress is being made and all movement is in the right direction, although there are numbers of legislative and administrative hurdles to overcome," said Bach. "No changes will be made until the FSA board can recommend that the testing system is robust and that ministers have accepted that advice."