France opposes lifting of beef ban
10 February 1998
France opposes lifting of beef ban
By FWi staff
FRANCE reasserted its opposition to any early lifting of the British beef export ban yesterday (9 February) after the French Government reported its 33rd case of mad cow disease.
French Farm Minister Louis le Pensec said he will resist any attempts to get the ban lifted until Britain complies fully with its undertaking to track individual cattle history and movement.
That undertaking was given at an agreement reached between European farm ministers in Florence in June 1996.
“As long as that procedure has not been fully implemented, I dont see any reason for a decision in favour of partially lifting the ban,” M le Pensec told reporters.
European Union farm ministers will meet next Monday (16 February) to discuss Britains proposal to lift the beef ban in Northern Ireland, where a computer database for cattle is already up and running.
Britain needs at least eight votes out of 15 if the ban is to be lifted. But Germany has already said it will vote against the proposal and Austria is also expected to oppose the motion.