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The three month beef
Three months of boycotts, legal action and talks |
London and Paris are approaching a deal for France to resume imports of British beef. News Online charts the tortuous months of negotiations.
1 August 1999
The international ban on the export of British beef is lifted by the European Union.
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France says it will keep the ban pending an investigation by its food safety agency.
1 October 1999
France confirms the continuation of the embargo, following advice from the agency.
2 October 1999
UK Agriculture Minister Nick Brown threatens legal action against France, and announces a personal boycott of French produce, but says he would prefer a diplomatic solution.
4 October 1999
The European Commission threatens France with legal action and demands reasons for the continued ban.
12 October 1999
Hundreds of British farmers and their families stage a protest at Plymouth docks. This is fhe first of several weeks of protest by UK farmers.
The row overshadowed Anglo-French relations |
France submits a 300-page dossier to the European Commission, outlining why it believes there is still a high incidence of BSE in British beef.
20 October 1999
Armed riot police are called in to a demonstration staged by Conservative Euro-MPs in Paris.
23 October 1999
As the row reaches its peak, the UK Government rejects calls for a retaliatory ban on French produce. Supermarkets stage boycotts of their own.
27 October 1999
The French Government urges calm. French farmers, meanwhile, blockade Calais in retaliation against the informal UK boycotts of French produce.
29 October 1999
European Union scientists decide unanimously that France should lift its ban on British beef, after completing a study of the 300-page French dossier.
31 October 1999
France promises to review the ban, but gives no details of the process.
2 November 1999
UK Agriculture Minister Nick Brown, still hoping for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, agrees to French demands for another round of reviews of safety procedures by EU experts.
16 November 1999
The European Commission begins legal moves against France, as negotiations between France and Britain continue.
19 November 1999
Britain and the EC agree that France can label British beef "British" or "Scottish".
23 November 1999
Britain and France approve a "protocol of understanding", clarifying EC and UK anti-BSE measures. The report is submitted to the French food agency.
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See also: |
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23 Nov 99 | Europe |
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Beef breakthrough raises UK hopes |
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03 Nov 99 | UK |
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UK and France - the official story |
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Internet links: |
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Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |
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National Farmers Union |
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French Ministry of Agriculture (in French) |
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European Commission |
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German Federal Government |
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