The US Government has agreed to lift the ban on beef exports from the UK for the first time since the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak.

British beef products will be soon exported to the US market.

The UK Government expects the deal to create export opportunities for British farmers over the next five years. It estimates the total value at around £66m.

UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said: “It is great news that the US has reopened the market to British beef. This is a win for our farmers and I look forward to seeing high-quality British beef enjoyed on tables across the US very soon.

“The UK’s farming industry will benefit from a free trade agreement with the US because we can create wider opportunities for farmers locked out of the largest consumer market on the planet. A stronger trading relationship is a win-win for both sides.”

This week, the US Government agreed equivalence of standards on the UK’s disease control measures. This came after it conducted a three-week inspection in 2019.

The UK Government said that the agreement is the result of an ongoing process of negotiations between the two countries, as well as the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and industry groups.

This month, the UK Government expects to begin negotiations for a UK-US free trade agreement. This could create new opportunities for British businesses.

In January, the Japanese Government announced plans to end the ban on UK beef and lamb products. These had been in place since 1996, following the outbreak of BSE.

The end of the ban could generate £127m for the British farming industry over a period of five years.