I LUXEMBOURG, Apr 3: EU I farm ministers have agreed measures to eradicate mad row disease and protect con sumers Irish Agriculture , Minister Ivan Yates said after marathon talks ended here today, reports AFP

Britain, where there are I most cases of bovine spongl I form encephalopathy (bse). agreed tn slaughter all cattle | over 30 months old so that their meat could not enter the food chain.

| The British must also put i forward by April 30 "at the lat | eat a programme of obligatory ; selective slaughter of animals or herds Identified as having

1 l>een most likely to be fed with | Infected animal fodder

I rn delighted that the | council has reached agree 1 ment. Yates said after emerg 1 ing first from the tense all I night negotiations at 6 30 am 10430 GMT)

file reason for the delay I was twofold, but primarily be

cause a number of member states were very concerned that there would be adequate safeguards In terms of political declaration that there would be further intervention mea sures. other market supports or review of the premia.' he told reporters.

AP says: meeting on the third day of marathon talks, the ministers were trying iron out final details of a draft pro posal that should confirm the EU offer to help foot the huge bill for the mass slaughter

That proposal Is in fine with British suggestions for a selective slaughter" of 15.000 cattle a week Tor the next six years, or a total of about 4 7 million heads

Older cattle are considered most at risk for carrying mad row disease

The-plan also asks Britain to offer proposals by the end of the months for culling younger cattle from heads afflicted with the disease.

In return. Britain demanded that the EU lift its global ban on British exports, of cattle ’beef and beef products. The ban was imposed last week in a bid to contain the crisis and guard consumer confidence in continental beef supplies

Other EU nations have refused to connnif to lifting the ban until Britain takes strong measures io contain mad c^w disease

Wednesday s proposal only confirmed a pledge to reconsider the ban within six weeks In light of the slaughter policy and other safeguards

The draft ‘EU plan confirms the EU will fund 70 per cent of the cost of compensating farmers who lose out m the slaughter Such compensation would cost the EU 400 million dollars a year, the proposal said

It also made clear that other EU members affected by mad cow disease are eligible for EU aid.