Progress in French beef ban battle

5 June 2001



‘Progress’ in French beef ban battle

By FWi staff

THE National Farmers Union is claiming a significant step forward in its legal battle to overturn the French ban on British beef.

Frances highest court, the Conseil dEtat, has referred the case to the European Court of Justice.

This is effectively an acknowledgement by the French judiciary that its own government may be breaking the law, claims the NFU.

France is the only country still retaining an illegal embargo, following the decision by the EU Commission in August 1999 to lift the ban.

A legal challenge by the European Commission made in January 2000 is already being heard by the European Court of Justice.

NFU President Ben Gill said: “Frances arrogant approach to the lifting of the ban on British beef has been quite breath-taking.

“It appears to have nothing but contempt for the rule of EU law.

“We are determined to continue challenging this.

“The Conseil dEtat is the highest civil court in France, and it is highly significant that it has decided that there is a case to answer against France in the European Court
of Justice.”

NFU lawyers are now in touch with the commission to find out whether it is possible to combine the NFUs action with its on-going case

They are also considering whether to submit legal observations on the questions put by the Conseil dEtat to the European Court.

Should the French ban be declared unlawful in the European Court of Justice, the British beef industry could then take action for damages, says the NFU.

• Beef damages from France, FWi, 11 February, 2000
• France feints as EU starts French court case rolling, FWi, 07 January, 2000
• Beef action could take 18 months, FWi, 05 January, 2000
• British farmers prepare to sue France, FWi, 14 December, 1999
  

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