Pressure is on to ban German beef
Pressure is on to ban German beef
PRESSURE is mounting on the government to ban imports of beef from Germany in the event of further lapses in German BSE controls. Opposition politicians backed calls from NFU president Ben Gill who warned that consumer confidence could be damaged after four batches of imported German beef were found to contain banned spinal cord. More robust checks were needed, he told delegates at the NFU annual conference in London on Tuesday (Feb 6).
Mr Gill said Brussels should "do its duty and enforce" regulations designed to control BSE or risk wasting British controls imposed nearly five years ago. "I am calling for the European Commission to undertake an immediate – and I mean immediate – full audit of German BSE control procedures; and if they are not totally satisfied, to stop German exports."
Shadow agriculture minister Tim Yeo told delegates that Britain should implement European rules allowing imports to be banned if consumer health is at risk. He told delegates: "Britain should act unilaterally if the European Commission is not prepared to act."
But farm minister Nick Brown said the government would only ban imports of German beef in the event of a recommendation by the Food Standards Agency. He added: "If that advice says ban a particular food import, we will not hesitate to ban it. What we will not do is invent health risks as a cover for trade protectionism and a Tory trade war."