Legal moves made against French beef ban

The European Commission launched new legal moves against France tonight for continuing to ban imports of British beef.

More than three months after the European Court of Justice ruled the trade blockade illegal, the French government has still failed to lift the ban.

Now another round of laborious legal steps has been triggered - but the Commission admits it could take years to restore normal trade unless the French comply voluntarily.

France has been accused of foot-dragging over the European Court ruling until after the French general election.

But, with pressure on Brussels from the British government, EU food and consumer heath commissioner David Bryne has decided to act.

A Commission statement tonight said that, failing any efforts by France to resume trading in British beef since the court ruling last December, a ‘‘letter of formal notice’’ has been sent, giving France 30 days to justify its continued flouting of the law.

But that is just the start: initiating a new court case to seek fines and compensation for UK farmers from the French, will take years.

Last December’s order against France came when the judges rejected French fears that beef from Britain remains a health risk despite safety measures introduced in the wake of the crisis over mad cow disease.

The Commission has powers to seek massive daily fines against countries which refuse to comply with the law, but has to go back to court to do so.

Now Mr Bryne is likely to use the beef ban example to press for new Commission powers to slap fines on member states without having to refer back to the judges.

Only France continues to claim that UK beef is a health threat - relying on concerns expressed by its own national food safety authority.