Brussels, 19/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The opening of Monday's Agriculture Council was dominated by the outbreak of foot and mouth. French Minister Jean Glavany asked for the Commission to lift specific measures imposed ion France if no new case appeared by 27 March. His British counterpart, Nick Brown, spoke of the situation in the United Kingdom, where 326 farms have been declared infected. At a press conference, Glavany stressed the dramatic nature of the situation in Britain, with 20 to 25 new cases a day. "Our British friends give us the feeling that they are chasing the epizooty, for not having had in under control in time", he said. Mr. Glavany, moreover, said that vaccination was especially a debate within the media and that no delegation had wanted it in round the table talks. Portugal asked for ban, throughout the Union, of the movement of animals from one Member state to another. Such a ban, which already applies to France and the UK, ran up against reluctance on the part of other countries. France, backed by Belgium, also asked for Community aid for preventive measures taken (notably the culling of 20,000 sheep from the United Kingdom).