British lamb could be back on the US market by early next year, ending a two-decade ban on British red meat imports, the UK government has said.

George Eustice, the farming minister, will tell farmers at the National Sheep Event on Wednesday that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published proposals to relax import restrictions on lamb from the UK.

According to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the move is a “significant step forward [that] means that British lamb is on track to be available for US consumers by early 2017”.

A spokeswoman for the USDA’s animal, plant and health inspection service (Aphis) confirmed that proposals had been made to change the rules on imports of sheep and goats. She said: “Aphis is aligning the agency’s regulations with current, internationallyaccepted science on BSE [bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or ‘mad cow disease’] and related diseases.

“Because it has been shown that sheep and goats pose a minimal risk of spreading the BSE disease agent, Aphis is proposing to remove the current BSE-related restrictions on imports of live sheep and goats, as well as most sheep and goat products.”

The US has banned the import of British beef and lamb since 1989 after the first outbreak of the neurodegenerative disease BSE.

Eustice will say: “The US decision to press ahead with proposals to lift export restrictions on British lamb is great news for our farmers who are one step closer to gaining access to the lucrative American market, worth an estimated £35m a year.

“Our world-leading food and drink industry is a key part of our nation’s economic success and in addition to forging good trade deals with our European neighbours, we want to secure more export opportunities in the States as well as with our close friends in the Commonwealth and other countries around the world.”

Defra says it will help prepare the UK farming industry for the 60-day USDA consultation and that it has been liaising with US trade associations to “gain support for proposals”.

Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, said: “Increasing the number of export destinations for British sheep meat is vital for our industry, ensuring there is demand for our quality product in as many markets as possible.

“It is very encouraging that the USA is interested in opening its doors. Lamb sales in the USA have dropped over the years, as a result of a falling domestic production base, and NSA would like to see British lamb exported and promoted to boost consumption. It could be a real opportunity for our sector.”

It is hoped that the resumption of trade in lamb could soon extend to beef as well. A 1,000-page dossier was submitted to the USDA detailing the safety and quality of British beef, as well as lamb, ahead of trade talks with the US secretary of agriculture, Tom Vilsack, in Washington in April.

Environmentalists responded to the news by warning that there must be no reciprocal relaxation on the import of hormone-treated beef from the US.

Clare Oxborrow, Friends of the Earth’s senior food and farming campaigner, said: “While this decision has been a long time coming, the UK must not accept imports of US hormone-treated beef in the future as a quid pro quo for this decision.

“The EU currently bans US hormone-treated beef, which is produced in highly intensive and environmentally damaging feedlot systems. Whatever happens following the Brexit vote, the UK must not weaken this protection.

“Many farmers are set to struggle if we leave the EU, which is why the government must support fruit and vegetable growers to the same extent as livestock producers, and put the promotion of sustainable, healthy diets at the heart of a new, joined-up food and farming policy.”

