Doubt over French beef ban fine

The European Commissioner in charge of the case said on Thursday no decision has yet been taken on whether to proceed with action to claim the fine.

But the National Farmers Union (NFU) says the delay is unacceptable and has accused the French of "cocking a snook" at the law.

The French Government made the announcement on Wednesday to lift its six-year ban on British beef imports.

The ban was imposed over fears of mad cow disease and was ruled illegal by the European Court of Justice last December.

'Not decided'

When the French failed to comply with an order to drop its ban, the European Commission sought to impose a £100,000-a-day fine for non-compliance.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme David Byrne, the European Commissioner for Consumer Protection said that order is still before the courts.

"I have not decided finally whether to abandon these proceedings," he said.

But NFU president Ben Gill said the French had been allowed to get away with its ban "without paying a penny".

He told the Today programme: "It (the ban) created a stigma that is going to be very hard to get rid of and the French Government have paid nothing.

"The Commission should have the powers to expedite this. They (the French) are just cocking a snook at the law."

Six-year beef row
1996: European Commission imposes a worldwide ban on British beef exports
1999: Commission declares worldwide markets open again
2000: Germany agrees to take UK imports
2001: European Court of Justice rules French refusal to take British beef illegal
June 2002: Commission asks European Court to impose daily fines of £100,000 against France
Sept 2002: French food agency advises lifting the ban and the French government complies

On Wednesday Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett said she was pleased the issue of the ban had finally been resolved.

The French food agency certified the safety of British beef on 20 September, prompting a consultation exercise with farm, health, and trade officials.

It was followed by a statement on Wednesday from the French Government which declared the prime minister had decided to lift the embargo."

It has also asked for new labelling measures in restaurants and more stringent rules on animal exports.

The French market has historically been worth some £300m a year to British farmers.