German beef ban under review

In August the EU ruled that British beef was safe

Germany's Agriculture Minister, Karl-Heinz Funke, has said he sees no reason to maintain the ban on British beef.

His words follow similar comments from the German Health Minister, Andrea Fischer, ahead of a vote on the matter on Friday.

The ban was imposed because of fears of the transmission of so-called "mad cow disease", BSE, and its human form, new variant CJD.

But the EU ruled last August that British beef was safe and ordered member states to lift their embargoes. Germany and France were the only member countries to refuse to do so.

Close result expected

The federal government is committed to lifting the ban but the decision has to be made by the upper house, the Bundesrat, which represents the German Länder, or federal states.

The Bundesrat votes on Friday and it is likely to be a close result.

There is still a seven-vote majority against lifting the ban, but according to a spokesman, four states have yet to decide.

At least three regions would have to come out in support of British beef for the ban to be lifted.

German Health Minister Andrea Fischer: "Labelling needed"

Germany's Health Minister, Andrea Fischer, a member of the Green Party, said she wants progress on the issue.

"The German Government wants to lift the ban [but] we have some conditions about labelling," she told the BBC.

Ms Fischer said Germany was under strong pressure to lift the ban from Britain and the European Commission.

Germany has demanded British beef is properly labelled before it can be allowed onto the market. But the country's health-conscious consumers are likely to remain cautious.

Meanwhile EC legal action against France continues.