British beef seized in Germany

19 August 1997

British beef seized in Germany

GERMAN officials have seized sixty tons of beef from Britain. The consignment violated a European Union export ban designed to keep out BSE-infected product.

The meat had been shipped from Ireland in three containers in April, May and June. Customs officials in Brussels tipped off the authorities because they doubted the validity of an Irish stamp. They said a UK mark had been removed.

The importer was arrested, but then freed after investigators said he might not have known the meat originated from Britain.