Brussels, 20/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Agriculture Council opened on Monday with a round the table discussion on the mad cow crisis which was to continue during the evening with a debate on the future European Food Agency. In this context, Commissioner David Byrne asked France what measures it planned to take to guarantee that its beef exports did not present a higher risk to consumers of other countries than to French consumers. French Minister Jean Glavany pledged that all bone meal and T-bone steak exports would be banned on French territory. Commissioner Franz Fischler stressed that a total ban on animal flour in animal feed within the Union should under no circumstances compromise EU commitments towards the WTO and the general guidelines of Agenda 2000 which brought in a balance between crops of cereals, oilseeds and protein crops. At any rate, most delegations remain opposed to such a ban. The Commissioner stressed that the substitution solutions could only be found in a combination of raw materials partly produced in the Union and partly imported. A majority tendency is in favour of Community measures, considered more appropriate than the unorganised unilateral measures for containing the mad cow crisis. The Commission proposal to considerably extend the rapid screening tests received, at ministerial level, more support than last week within the Standing Veterinary Committee, thanks to the fact that Germany has now rallied to the idea. The technical arrangements (age of cattle and date when tests will be applied) will be determined by the Standing Veterinary Committee which must give its position during its meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.