France To Lift Mad Cow Beef Ban
British beef: Back on French menus

September 20, 2002

France is poised to lift the ban on British beef after its own food safety agency said it was safe.

France's national food safety agency has said that lifting the ban, imposed over fears of mad cow disease, would not put public safety in danger.

Mad cow disease has been linked to a deadly human variant, Creudtzfeld Jacob Disease (vCJD), which has so far killed more than 100 people, mostly in Britain but also some in France.

Opinion

Agency president Martin Hirsch said:"Things have changed considerably in Britain, France and Europe. Many safety measures have been added...The risk of contamination is much more limited than before."

The ban has cost British farmers an estimated £520m a year.

The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "We welcome the French food standards agency decision. The ban on British beef by France is illegal and we hope to get some positive outcome from the French government."

A French government official said the health, farm and trade ministries "have taken note of this opinion and will study it with the attention it deserves."

Fine

It said a joint view by the three ministries would be made within 10 days "so the government can take its decision".

France has refused to comply with a European Union ruling ending a ban on British beef exports after EU experts said it was safe.

France faces a £100,000-a-day fine for ignoring the ruling - imposed three years ago - but may be let off if it lifted its ban.

However, the government is not bound to accept the food agency's opinion.

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