1.   Britain has until the end of April to prepare a report on a selective cull of younger animals that may have been exposed to the brain-wasting ailment.

2.   Hogg is expected to outline British proposals for containing the disease, such as a selective cull of older animals thought to be more at risk.

3.   In talks with Hogg in Brussels on Tuesday, Fischler said the EU would not ease the ban until Britain presented a detailed plan for a selective cull.

4.   It may include a selective cull of older animals thought to be more at risk from the disease.

5.   Major later reneged on the selective cull agreement, claiming new scientific evidence showed the slaughter of so many younger cattle was unnecessary.

6.   They said they would appeal jointly to the European Union and the British government to restore consumer confidence in beef by helping finance a selective cull.

7.   Fischler noted that Britain has decided to postpone the implementation of a selective cull of cattle judged most at risk of the disease.

8.   German minister Jochen Borchert insisted that even this partial easing of the ban would not be sanctioned before Britain began to implement the selective cull and other measures.

9.   Any progress on the issue will however have to wait until the row over the selective cull is resolved, commission officials warned.

10.   At the end of October, Major signalled that London might be prepared to bow to pressure and proceed with the so-called selective cull.