French warned over cord ban
French warned over cord ban
FRANCE has been warned not to press ahead with a planned ban on spinal cord in sheep carcasses over six months old from July 1, a move that would damage exports of older UK lambs.
A report from EU scientists concluded there was no need to extend the list of specified risk materials. Food safety commissioner, David Byrne, said: "I hope [the French ban] will now be reviewed in the light of this opinion. It is hard to see how a more damaging confrontation on food safety can be avoided if these national measures enter into force."
Farm leaders welcomed Mr Byrnes intervention. "The French cannot continue to fly in the face of EU scientific advice," said NFU Scotland president, Jim Walker. "Their continued illegal ban on British beef is another example of French protectionist measures disguised under the name of science."
Legal warning
In relation to the French beef ban, Mr Byrne confirmed he had now had a written reply from Paris in response to his legal warning sent last month. But the French letter had simply asked for more time while its food standards agency liased with its UK counterpart on the incidence of BSE in older cattle.
Mr Byrne said his view would be influenced by events of two years ago, when France used every stalling tactic available before sticking with its unilateral ban anyway. Observers said it was likely Brussels would press on with legal action – sending a legal opinion before a second court case – but probably not until June.
Only after a second court ruling, expected towards the end of next year, would France be fined, though this could be backdated to Dec 2001, when the European Court first ruled that France was acting illegally. *