Exports of fresh meat, live animals and milk products will be banned from all of mainland Britain for the time being, following its recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the European Commission said today.
A spokesman said the Commission would formalise the decision later today.
"The main element (of the decision) will be the establishment of a high-risk area from which cattle, sheep and goats cannot be exported," spokesman Philip Tod told a daily news briefing.
"Nor can fresh meat and milk be exported."
Tod said the Commission, in agreement with British authorities, had agreed to define the territory of Great Britain as that high-risk area.
EU veterinary experts will meet on Wednesday and possibly review the measure, he said.
"That means live animals and milk products will not be able to be despatched from Great Britain," he said.