UK proposals to allow older cattle back into the human food chain are expected to be unveiled this week by the government's food advisers. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) believes that the practice of destroying older cattle is no longer necessary.

Many industry bodies believe that the threat to human health from any lifting of the ban would be miniscule. Furthermore, the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) believes that this would release an extra 800,000 cattle and 232,000 tonnes of meat onto the market next year - a 35 per cent rise.

Many industry bodies believe that the time is right to lift the ban. National Farmers' Union spokesman Stephen Rossides told the BBC that: "Provided this is presented properly by the Food Standards Agency, I think consumer confidence will be maintained".

A sudden increase in the availability of beef would see prices automatically dropping. Any move to lift the ban would therefore need to be accompanied by changes to exports to avoid a glut of meat on the market.

The ban on older meat products was imposed during the height of the country's BSE crisis. Since 1996, 6.5 million cattle aged above 30 months have been bought and disposed of by the government, at a cost to the taxpayer of more £3 billion (€4.4bn).

BSE has been linked to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), a disease that causes paralysis and death in humans. However, the number of recorded cases has dropped from 37,000 in 1992 and 1993 to just 309 so far this year.

The MLC wants to ensure that any lifting of the 30 month rule will be accompanied by a stringent series of tests in order to maintain consumer confidence.

The proposals to drop the ban are expected to go before the FSA board meeting this Thursday, with any final decision being made by ministers.