Fans of the famous Fiorentina T-bone steak were sharpening their knives Tuesday as the battle to bring back the 'real' version of the juicy beef cut entered its final stretch.
Italian Farmer's Union Coldiretti said an EU decision to raise the age limit for cattle providing off-the-bone meat from 24 to 30 months is likely to come into effect soon after Easter.
''After seven years of it being banned, we will finally be able to taste a Fiorentina from adult animals,'' the union said.
The Fiorentina steak has been legal in Italy since New Year's Day 2006 when the EU lifted a five-year ban on beef off the bone prompted by the mad cow crisis.
But so far only meat from cattle up to 24 months old has been allowed back onto the shelves.
Fiorentina purists say a true steak should come from older cattle, which make for a juicier, tastier meal.
Coldiretti said the EU ruling would be a tribute to efforts by livestock producers to promote quality, traceability and safety.
These efforts were also reflected in the number of cattle infected with BSE in the country, which fell from 50 in 2001 to just two in the first nine months of 2007, according to the union.
Before the 2001 ban, the cut accounted for 5% of Italy's meat consumption.
Coldiretti said they hoped the final EU green light would help reverse recent poor sales figures.
Consumption of beef dipped by 4.2% in the first ten months of 2007 compared to the previous year, according to agricultural and food market services institute Ismea.
In 2006 Italians spent 3.5 billion euros on beef, with each family consuming over 23 kilos of the meat.
