Europe gets tough on American meat

The European Commission says it will ban all imports of fresh meat and poultry from the United States, unless American hygiene standards are strengthened.

A spokesman for the Commission said the United States had six months to increase its controls before the ban came into operation.

Correspondents say the Europeans are concerned over residues in the meat of antibiotics and hormones given to the animals to maximise their growth rate.

They say there have been an increasing number of international disputes over meat exports and imports -- ostensibly for safety reasons, but frequently also to try to gain commercial advantage.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service