France ordered to end beef ban
13 December 2001
France ordered to end beef ban
By Philip Clarke in Brussels
EUROPES top judges have ruled that Frances ban on British beef is illegal, and instructed the French government to lift its embargo immediately.
Other member states reopened their borders more than two years ago under the terms of the Date-based Export Scheme.
The decision on Thursday (13 December) comes almost two years after the EU commission first took France to the European Court.
“France has failed to fulfil its obligations by refusing to permit the marketing on its territory of correctly marked or labelled products.”
But it concedes that France was within its rights to block imports of British beef that came in, unmarked, via other member states.
National Farmers Union leader Ben Gill has urged the French government to lift its illegal ban immediately.
“It must do everything in its power to rebuild the trading links that have been destroyed or obstructed by its illegal action.
“The losses have been heavy for Britains farming and food industries. The reparation must start today.”
But it remains to be seen whether France will fall in with the court ruling.
Compensation from France to British farmers for lost business is a possibility, but this depends on a parallel case the NFU is taking in Paris.
This will be further strengthened by Thursdays ruling.
But Meat and Livestock Commission export manager, Peter Hardwick says establishing what level of business has been lost will not be easy.
“Frances ban has given other Third countries an excuse to ban British beef, and their action has damaged confidence in other markets.”
Before beef exports were banned from the UK in 1996, France was the countrys number one market, taking over 300m-worth a year.
The court has split the cost of the case, two-thirds awarded to France and one-third to the commission.