A decision by the OIE, the world organisation for animal health, to modify BSE risk levels could lead to the UK having the same status as the rest of Europe.

In the same week that Canada reports its first case of BSE in ten years, the UK National Farmers Union (NFU) reports that following a thorough analysis of international research, the OIE has decided to adjust BSE risk status criteria to give a truer reflection of the risk.

Under the OIE's current thresholds, the UK was in the highest BSE risk category but under new thresholds and with the reducing number of cases we should be able to achieve a "moderate" BSE risk in the near future.

NFU President Ben Gill said achieving moderate risk status would put the UK in the same category as countries such as France.

"The UK has successfully applied a robust control program that has ensured public safety and rapidly reduced BSE cases.

"The sustained reduction in the number of BSE cases creates the basis for the UK to move to control measures that reflect the reduced risk and pave the way for the re-establishment of lost beef markets in other EU countries."

And not only this, Gill underllined the absolute importance that British products are given the same market opportunities as those from other parts of the EU with the same risk status.