Italy ban on French beef

The Italian government has announced a partial ban on imports of French beef, because of renewed concerns about mad cow disease or BSE.

The ban applies to adult cattle and beef on the bone.

Italy is the biggest market for French meat and dairy exports.

The French President, Jacques Chirac, has expressed regret at the ban.

He said it showed the need for the European Union to harmonise rules on food safety.

The families of two French victims of the human form of BSE have meanwhile filed a lawsuit, accusing the British, French and European authorities of failing to take the threat of disease seriously enough.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service