Scientific experts discussed the French ban for seven hours in Brussels before agreeing to reconvene on 25 October.

Before then the experts want to see updated figures on incidence of BSE - "mad cow disease" - in UK herds.

Even the next meeting is unlikely to resolve the issue, with EU officials likely to pass the matter to a full meeting of the Scientific Steering Committee on 28 October.

The delays have increased the anger of British farmers over what the Commission has acknowledged is a French breach of EU law.

National Farmers' Union president Ben Gill says there is no reason to delay taking a decision over France.

'No new evidence'

"It is ridiculous that we are two weeks down the line and a decision is still potentially a further two weeks away," he said.

"It is also unacceptable that we are having to go over old ground in providing the same information to counter misleading information put forward by the French.

"The EU Commission must prove it is effective at ensuring that all member states abide by the same rules. If not, the credibility of, and confidence in, the Commission is jeopardised.

"Our farmers have waited patiently for three-and-a-half years. Why should they suffer any longer in the face of this thinly veiled attempt by France at protectionism?"

A spokesman for Food Safety Commissioner David Byrne said he had a duty to investigate the new concerns raised by France.