The European Union on Thursday relaxed a ban on exports of British livestock, meat and dairy products that was imposed after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in southeastern England earlier this month.

Butcher Rodney Macken holds a piece of British beef at his butcher shop in Turnham Green, London, in May 2006. The EU eased restrictions on British beef and other products Thursday.
(Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press)

The ban will remain in effect in a 10-kilometre surveillance zone around the infected farms in the county of Surrey, but products from elsewhere in Britain can be exported as of Saturday, the EU executive said.

The disease, first confirmed Aug. 3, struck two cattle farms 50 kilometres southwest of London and sparked worries of a repeat of a major 2001 outbreak, when seven million animals were slaughtered and British meat was shut out of world markets for months.

The disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cows, sheep, pigs and goats. Around 600 animals have been slaughtered as a result of the latest outbreak.

The European Commission said veterinary experts from the 27 EU member states expressed support for the control measures taken by British authorities to contain the disease. They said the "strict and immediate" provisions helped curb the outbreak.

"In accordance with the new decision … trade in live animals and their products from most of the U.K. will be possible, subject to strict controls and veterinary supervision, from Aug. 25," a commission statement said.

Trade ban cost farmers $4.16 million daily

All of Britain had been classified as a "high-risk" zone for livestock and product exports at the request of British authorities. Farmers have said the trade ban was costing them close to $4.16 million a day in lost income. Exports from Northern Ireland had not been affected.

A protection zone was set up around the two farms where the disease broke out Aug. 3 and 7, and movement of animals has been restricted. The veterinary committee is slated to meet again on Sept. 11 to review the situation.

Foot-and-mouth disease leaves cattle with blister-like sores on their tongues, lips, teats and hooves, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them weakened and debilitated.

The Canadian agency said humans rarely contract the disease. The last case of cattle contracting foot-and-mouth disease in Canada was in 1952. In Britain, prior to 2001, the last outbreak was in 1967.