Beef rebels welcome end to ban
30 November 1999
Beef rebels welcome end to ban
By Donald MacPhail
REBELS who defied the governments beef-on-the-bone ban say diplomatic manoeuvring with France, rather than scientific evidence, brought about its end.
Milton Keynes butcher Dejon Terry, who spent £5000 in legal costs after being charged with serving customers beef ribs, welcomed the end of the the two-year ban
“People always want a good old Sunday roast, so its good that all of us can sell beef on the bone legally,” he said.
“But I think its down to political pressure with France. How can we expect France to lift its boycott of British beef if we dont think its good enough to eat ourselves?”
Mr Terry, who owns five butchers shops, added: “Ive heard that France will lift its ban by the end of the week, and that exports will be resumed by the end of the year.”
Many customers would visit their butcher early in the morning to defy the controversial ban and in whispered tones ask for a bone “for their dog”.
“Its been ridiculous, but the government was too embarrassed to back down.”
Another rebel, publican Alan Cooper, is still facing court action on the charge of serving T-bone steaks to his customers at the Bell Inn, Iden, East Sussex.
“Im delighted, but it should never have been in place in the first place,” he said.
“It was a panic measure by the government. I feel sorry for all those farmers who have gone bust in the meantime.”
Mr Cooper also felt the ban was lifted by UK agriculture minister Nick Brown because of the ongoing refusal by France to accept British beef imports.
“They wouldnt consider lifting their boycott unless Britain lifted its ban on beef on the bone, and you cant blame them,” he said.
Scottish farmer and hotelier Jim Sutherland, who was the first person to face court after serving beef-on-the-bone to customers, was on holiday when the news broke.
Mr Sutherland was charged after serving beef on the bone to 170 farmers at a “prohibition dinner” shortly after the ban was brought in 1997.
A colleague quipped: “I think Tony Blair waited until Jim was on holiday before announcing this news.”