Brussels, 27/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday the European Commission decided to send France a warning letter requesting it to end its embargo on British beef within the next fortnight. If this request is not met the Commission will lodge a complaint with the Court of Justice, which could possibly compel France to pay financial compensation. It has criticised France for not complying with the Court of Justice's decision of 13 December 2001n which ruled that the French embargo went against Community legislation. The Court is free to impose a fine if it deems necessary, which does not have to be the amount proposed by the Commission.
In a press statement, the Commission explained that France was obliged to apply appropriate European rules and allow imports of correctly branded and labelled British beef meat exports and beef products to go ahead. The Commission initiated this procedure with a warning letter send to France on 19 March.
During an Agriculture Council on Thursday, Commission David Byrne pointed out that the Commission had to respect the obligations of the Treaty and that it therefore called on France's legislation to comply with the Court ruling. French Minister, Hervé Gaymard, explained that his government had demanded that the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) to make a risk assessment of British meat products and compare it with products from France. He explained that the British Food Safety Agency (FSA) had just released new scientific data that will be evaluated by the French agency and which the latter will give its opinion in September. The Minister stressed that according to French law, consultation with AFSSA is needed before any amendment to regulatory or legislative documents focusing n intra-Community trade of animal products destined for human consumption, can be made.