Germany lifts beef ban at least
17 March 2000
Germany lifts beef ban at least
by FWi staff
GERMANY has agreed to lift its ban on British beef, leaving France isolated as the only EU member state refusing access to the product.
The German upper house — the Bundesrat — voted in favour of ending the ban for beef produced under the date-based export scheme.
The vote followed intense pressure from the federal government, including a last minute intervention by chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
As predicted, it was a close call, with the government proposal winning 39 of the votes available, out of a total 69, on Friday (17 March).
British farmers and meat industry welcomed the news but appeared under no illusion that German consumers would still be reluctant to buy British beef.
Ben Gill, NFU president, said: “This was the right decision and leaves France conspicuously out on a limb in Europe over its illegal stand.
Don Curry, chairman of the Meat and Livestock Commission, said: “This is great news for the British beef industry and a victory for common sense.
“The Germans used to take top quality British beef and it is now up to us to regain that market
British beef could be back on sale in Germany as early as next month, though the country of origin will have to be clearly labelled.
Germany was never a major market for British beef, taking just 2358t in 1995, worth 8m, compared with 106,000t to France and 30,000t to Italy.
But a number of former customers outside the EU were waiting to see which way Germany would vote before deciding whether to reopen their markets.
The development also vindicates the EU commission, which last month initiated the first stage of legal action to put pressure Germany to lift the ban.