US lifts ban on Ireland's beef

First EU country to regain market access as 'mad cow' fears recede

The United States, the world's biggest beef consumer, is lifting a ban on imports from Ireland more than 15 years after mad cow disease spurred restrictions of supplies from Europe.

Ireland's Agriculture Ministry said it is the first European Union country to regain access to the US market, which buys more beef than any other country, according to an online statement on Monday. The nation is the EU's sixth-biggest beef producer and ranks third for exports, data from statistics agency Eurostat show.