low graphics version | feedback | help
|
 The BBC's Nicola Carslaw"Tony Blair backs British beef 101%"  real 28k  Agriculture Minister Nick Brown"It will put confidence back into the industry"  real 28k |
Blair backs British beef '101%'
An uphill struggle to restore sales of British beef |
The prime minister has told British beef farmers their product is the safest in the world and pledged his 101% support to a campaign to boost exports.
He also announced the government would meet the £7m cost of charges incurred by beef exporters under the European Union's date-based export scheme.
Farmers welcomed the measures designed to help the beef industry regain the export market lost during the BSE crisis, unveiled at the Downing Street "beef summit" on Wednesday.
 We have got tremendous opportunities. We have introduced standards for British beef that make it as safe as any beef anywhere in the world.  |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair |
He said: "This is a time when we can realistically assess our problems but be optimistic for the future.
"The export market used to be a huge market but as a result of what's happened it's been reduced dramatically. We have got a chance now to get back on the front foot again and really make a case for British beef and get out there and sell it."
Junior agriculture minister Joyce Quin will take responsibility for promoting British beef around the world, Mr Blair disclosed.
He said getting other countries to start importing British beef would be the next challenge, once all the European Union member states backed the decision to lift its ban.
Germany warns of long delay
The "brainstorming" session at 10 Downing Street began with a traditional breakfast fry-up featuring British beef sausages, although there was a vegetarian option.
|
|
Who will buy British beef at present: |
 |
All the European Union, except France and Germany |
|
The Czech Republic |
|
Cyprus |
|
The Falklands |
|
Gibraltar |
|
Hong Kong |
|
Mauritius |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
The industry was boosted by Tuesday's announcement that the domestic beef-on-the-bone ban would shortly be lifted.
But news that Germany was unlikely to allow imports of British beef to resume before February served as a reminder of the obstacles the industry still faces.
The UK agriculture minister, Nick Brown, played down the importance of the German decision ahead of the breakfast meeting, while also describing the beef-on-the-bone change as mainly "symbolic".
"I accept that it has taken time for the Germans to get the ban lifted," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We all knew that it would because of their co-decision making procedures. The problem is they have this co-decision making procedure which requires the consent of some 16 regional governments."
He said the beef-on-the-bone move would "put confidence back into the industry" as it struggled to resume its overseas sales, but said it had no direct relation to exports.
"The beef-on-the-bone issue is more symbolic than real in the context of the date-based export scheme because the scheme is for de-boned beef," he said.
In 1995, Britain's beef exports were worth £600m, but this slumped to £12m last year in the wake of "mad cow disease".
The National Farmers' Union, Meat and Livestock Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, Foreign Office, and representatives from the Scottish and Welsh devolved bodies were all invited to take part in the summit to look at tackling this.
Supermarket defies ban
As the summit took place, shoppers in one UK supermarket were able to purchase beef-on-the-bone again, although the ban is still officially in place until 17 December.
Safeway plans to start selling beef on the bone immediately |
Its decision came despite the government announcing a consultation period before the ban on selling bone-in beef was finally lifted.
In a statement, Safeway said: "Safeway will be selling beef-on-the-bone in its stores from 1 December.
"Customers will be able to buy the meat in Safeway's Camden Town store in London immediately and in Safeway stores around the country within the next few days."
Safeway's commercial director Fiona Bailey said: "Safeway wholeheartedly supports the lifting of the ban which is why we have taken the decision to stock beef-on-the-bone with immediate effect.
"It's what customers want and is great news for the British beef industry and retailers alike."
However, the Ministry of Agriculture warned that firms selling beef-on-the-bone were liable to prosecution.
"They will be guilty of an offence under the law," a spokesman said.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
|
| BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
|
| BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
|
|
See also: |
|
 |
|
 |
30 Nov 99 | UK Politics |
|
Beef-on-bone ban ends |
| |
|
|
30 Nov 99 | UK |
|
Farmers cheer beef boost |
| |
|
|
30 Nov 99 | UK |
|
Beef on the bone - a ban too far? |
| |
|
|
21 Sep 99 | UK |
|
Beef-on-bone risk 'tiny' |
| |
|
|
30 Nov 99 | Scotland |
|
Lifted ban receives all-round welcome |
| |
|
|
05 Oct 99 | Scotland |
|
Expert outlines beef-on-the-bone stance |
| |
|
|
21 Sep 99 | UK |
|
Brown denies devolution beef bust-up |
| |
|
|
Internet links: |
|
|
|
|
|
National Farmers' Union |
| |
|
|
Safeway |
| |
|
|
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food |
| |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites |
|
Links to other UK Politics stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~08~RS~)