A relaxation of foot-and-mouth restrictions in the State could follow a report from the Government's expert group that is due today.
The Minister for Agriculture is to make announcement tomorrow morning on any changes to the restrictions based on the findings of the review, department spokesman Mr Paul Savage told ireland.com.
The Department of Agriculture expert group's report on the measures implemented to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth into the Republic is expected later today.
This week is seen as critical as it marks an end to the 30-day period since restrictions were first introduced here.
Mr Savage said he could not pre-empt the report. But he said: "While there will be no relaxation across the board, there may be some modifications on measures in certain circumstances."
The department is also in final consultations with US and Canadian authorities to ensure Irish food and drink imports are excluded from the ban on EU animals and animal products imposed after the foot-and-mouth outbreak in France.
"We are confident the US will not ban the bulk of Irish food and drink exports including cream liqueurs, chocolate crumb and casein. The only difficulty envisaged is in relation to pork products," Mr Savage said.
The exclusion follows representations, made over the past 24 hours, through the Irish Embassy in Washington and a meeting between Minister Walsh and the chargé d'affaires of the US embassy in Dublin, Mr Earle Scarlett.
The Taoiseach Mr Ahern will also emphasis Ireland's disease-free or "white-zone" status during his first meeting with the US President, Mr George W Bush, in Washington tomorrow.
Irish food exports to the US are estimated to be worth £340 million a year.
The department is also in consultation with the Canadian authorities after indications they intend to exclude Ireland from the EU ban.