Brussels, 04/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - As announced in EUROPE 29 December on page 7, the European Commission under pressure from certain countries like France and Ireland, decided last week to extend the special purchase scheme for beef for a further three months (until 31 March). The scheme allows the Commission to buy a certain quantity of beef, provided the animals are over 30 months old, do not qualify for intervention purchases and whereby the countries make a firm commitment to destroy...