Beef-on-bone ban to stay

The Government has confirmed leaks to newspapers that the beef-on-the-bone ban will not be lifted for at least six months.

It has accepted the advice of its chief medical officer, Professor Liam Donaldson, to keep the controls in place until the end of August, when the situation should be reviewed again.

Agriculture minister Nick Brown said: "If we can, consistent with a further assessment of the medical and scientific evidence, we will lift the ban after the review recommended by the CMO for six months' time."