This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Europe re-opens to Scottish meat
16/01/2002
Ross Finnie today expressed delight at the decision by the European Union to remove Foot and Mouth controls which have applied to meat exports from Scotland since February last year.
Live sheep exports, however, will not be eligible for export to Europe at this stage.
The Minister for Environment and Rural Development said:
"This is excellent news for Scotland. It will strip extra costs out of the export business at a time of year when our lamb exports, in particular, are very important.
"The Executive has put huge energy into achieving this outcome and I am delighted that our European partners are prepared to accept our lamb, pigmeat and our beef without additional FMD controls."
The EU Standing Veterinary Committee decides when relaxations are appropriate. Meat export restrictions have been progressively lifted October 2001.