Beef bone limit now 24 months

With the lifting of the beef export ban the UK must now comply with EU regulations on the removal of vertebral column from the carcasses of over-24-month cattle.

Until now the UK has been allowed to sell beef on the bone from animals up to 30 months.

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, says removing the vertebral column will add about £80 to the cost of slaughtering an animal.

The rule will also end the sale of T-bone steaks.

But butchers and small abattoirs have recently received permission to perform the task and, by using creative butchery techniques, will still be able to sell bone-in beef, albeit only partial bone-in.