Lifting of French beef ban welcomed
Both the British government and the European Commission have welcomed the French government’s decision to lift its ban on British beef.
The decision brings France into line with the rest of the European Union, which removed its embargo in 1999. It followed a ruling from the French food safety agency FSSA that the meat was no longer contaminated with BSE.
"I am glad that the validity of the EU scientific opinion has been validated," said European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection' David Byrne.
UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett, said she was pleased with the decision in theory, but stressed the need for swift implementation "so that British exporters can work towards recovering markets".
The European Court of Justice ruled last December that Paris was in breach of EU law, and threatenend non-compliance fines worth Eur158,250 ($155,000) a day.
Officials within the British meat industry have called for reforms in European law to prevent countries avoiding paying fines for breaches of European directives and regulations. The French will escape punishment as the ban was lifted before the legal proceedings were completed.
