This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
French decision on British beef
02/10/2002
The French government today accepted advice from its own Food Safety Advisory committee, on the safety of British beef.
Minister for Environemnt and Rural Development Ross Finnie expressed relief at the decision saying:
"I am pleased that the French government has, at last, seen sense and concluded that British beef is as safe as other beef on the French market.
"The Scottish Executive argued strongly that the French ban on our prime Scotch beef was unwarranted, and should never have been imposed.
"This decision paves the way for the return of Scotch beef to continental markets, and I am committed to working with Scottish wholesalers to achieve this goal."
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.