Italy lifts French cow ban
Italy has lifted its import ban on French cattle
The change will allow cattle over 18 months old to enter the country, although T-bone steak remains banned.
The decision by health minister Umberto Veronesi follows pressure by the European Union, which considered the measures adopted by Italy "too restrictive".
The EU has recently approved mandatory testing for cattle over 30 months old, in an attempt to reassure consumers over the spread of the brain-wasting disease.
No cow is allowed to enter the food chain unless the test shows it is free of BSE.
Mr Veronesi says that none of the 852 tests carried out in Italy so far has shown signs of the disease.
Italy only had two BSE cases in 1994, in cows imported from Britain.
