Conservative Party demands for a ban on imports of French beef and beef products following a surge in the number of BSE cases in France have been rejected by MAFF, the FDF and the NFU. Agriculture minister Nick Brown was urged by his shadow, Tim Yeo, to introduce an embargo "to protect British consumers" after there were 14 cases of BSE in France in the first four months of this year, compared with just five in the same period last year. Yeo said: "At last, the truth about BSE in France is being dragged out of a reluctant French government. This is not the first, nor will it be the last, report to admit that BSE is much more widespread in France ­ and, in contrast to Britain, the number of cases is still rising. "Nick Brown should show he is willing to stand up for British consumers and farmers. Failure to do so will expose his eagerness to protect French farmers while putting British consumers at risk." A MAFF spokesman said: "Our advisory bodies have given us no reason to believe there is a health risk that would require a ban on French beef. The standards required for imported beef are the same as those for beef produced in the UK." The NFU, however, accused the French government of "arrogance and hypocrisy" by continuing to ban British beef imports. A spokeswoman said: "We don't want a cross-Channel trade war, but the French should realise that our stringent controls have directly led to a fall in the number of BSE cases here, yet that's not happening in France." Meanwhile, the FDF described calls for an official blockade against French imports as "premature". A spokesman said: "We want the EU to carry out a scientific assessment of the BSE situation in France." 0n Thursday, as two new BSE cases were reported in Brittany, French agriculture minister Jean Glavany said he was unable to explain the surge in the disease. But he said France would not lift the ban on British beef. He added: "Just because BSE is increasing here does not make British beef any safer." However, as The Grocer went to press there were reports from the more militant factions among Britain's farmers that port blockades could start unless the government takes a firmer line. {{NEWS }}

Topics