This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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French food report says British beef is safe
20/09/2002
The French food standards agency (AFSSA) has published a report concluding that British beef is at least as safe as other beef on the French market.
Minister for Environment and Rural development Ross Finnie welcomed
the AFSSA report which accepts that there is now no negligible difference in the safety of DBES beef and beef available on the market in France.
Exports of beef to Europe under the Date Based Exports Scheme (DBES) resumed in 1999. All Member States - except France - are prepared to accept it. The European Court of Justice ruled this illegal last year and imposed a daily penalty on the French Government in June this year.
The Minister for Environment and Rural Development said:
"I am pleased that the AFFSA report concludes that British beef is at least as safe as other beef on the French market.
"This confirms our original view that the French ban on our prime Scotch beef was unwarranted, should never have been imposed, and should now be removed.
"I call on the French government to heed this report and lift their illegal beef ban without delay."
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on 13 December 2001 that the French ban was illegal. On 17 July 2002, the Commission stated that it would be referring the case back to the Court with a recommendation that it should impose substantial fines on the French Government for non-compliance with the ECJ ruling. The Commission asked the Court to impose a fine of 158,250 Euros (about £100,000) a day.
On 13 June 2002 the French Government asked AFSSA for an opinion on the relative safety of British beef as compared with other beef on the French market. Under French law the Government cannot amend legislation in respect of the ban on British beef - or any other food safety related matter - without first obtaining an opinion from AFSSA. The report will now be discussed by French Ministers; the French Government is likely to respond to the report in 2 weeks.
AFSSA issued two previous opinions on British beef exported under the Date Based Export Scheme in 1999.
Exports of British beef under the Date-based Export Scheme have resumed following changes to the Scheme formally agreed in Brussels on 20 August in Commission Decision 2002/670/EC. These changes make the export scheme more accessible, as both DBES eligible and ineligible beef can be processed in approved establishments on the basis that processing occurs at different times. Previously, establishments were required to handle only DBES eligible cattle and beef even for output destined for the domestic market. Currently one plant in Wales is DBES approved. Other plants across the UK, including Scotland, are in the process of obtaining approval status.