In response to an application by Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has made the recommendation to upgrade Northern Ireland from its current controlled BSE risk status, shared with the Republic and Britain.

The case for changing the status will be considered at the next OIE annual congress in Paris in May. A country can apply for negligible BSE status if it has had no cases in animals born in the preceding 11 years and must demonstrate high levels of disease control.

“The move to negligible risk status will help improve our global image as a disease-free area and possibly facilitate access to new markets across the world for our premium exports,” DAERA said in a statement announcing the OIE’s recommendation this Wednesday.

Negligible status also removes the obligation to dispose of specific risk material from animals, cutting costs for the beef industry.

We have been held back by the stigma associated with BSE as we try to access new markets

UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt said the announcement was encouraging news and described negligible risk status as “a way to dismantle costly BSE controls that are no longer proportionate to the risk”.

“Our industry has worked hard to get into a position where we can supply a product that meets world-leading standards. However, we have been held back by the stigma associated with BSE as we try to access new markets,” Chestnutt added.

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