Europe urges U.S. to lift meat ban

Nearly three million animals have been slaughtered since the epidemic began

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Europe is increasing pressure on the U.S. to lift its ban on European meat exports.

Calls come after Britain reported a day with no new cases of foot-and-mouth disease, the first since the animal virus began devastating livestock three months ago.

Now European Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler wants the U.S. to resume importing meat from countries unaffected by this year's outbreak.

The U.S. moved to ban imports on March 13 and is now reviewing scientific evidence.

The first outbreak of the livestock disease was confirmed in England on February 20. At the epidemic's height in March as many as 40 new cases were confirmed daily.

But on Thursday no new cases were reported in England, Scotland and Wales. The current total is 1,603 cases in Britain and four in Northern Ireland.

Continental Europe was largely unaffected although there were cases in France and the Netherlands.

So far nearly three million animals have been slaughtered in the UK in an attempt to halt the spread of the highly contagious disease. A further 90,000 await slaughter.

Foot-and-mouth disease rarely infects humans and is not fatal to animals, but its presence has devastated Britain's livestock exports.

A spokesman for the UK agriculture ministry (MAFF) said: "It is very encouraging that the number of new cases is continuing to decline. I don't think we would like to say that it is over yet."

He added: "We have to keep up the guard and stay vigilant because we are hoping for this to be the final throe."

A National Farmers' Union spokeswoman said: "It is brilliant news. If this sets a precedent, that will be reassuring for farmers."

But she warned that it would take years for the worst hit areas such as Devon and Cumbria to recover from the effects of the epidemic.