Move to lift beef penalty on France criticised

A RECENT decision by the European Commission to withdraw a proposed 158,280-a-day penalty against France over its illegal ban on British beef imports has been sharply criticised by an Irish food lawyer.

Raymond O'Rourke said the decision speaks volumes about the inadequacy for penalising member States that intentionally obstruct the smooth functioning of the internal market.

The Commission has asked the European Court of Justice to order that the costs of the case be borne by France hardly an adequate sanction compared to their imposition of an illegal ban on British beef for over two years, he said.