David Sumberg MEP
Date: 02/10/2002
FRENCH BEEF DECLARATION ‘A FARCE’
North West MEP David Sumberg
has branded the French Government’s announcement that it will lift its ban on
British beef ‘a farce.’
"After six years of obduracy and sheer pig-headedness it is difficult to be
enthusiastic about this announcement,’ said Mr Sumberg. “We have known for years
British beef is safe as have the French. But the French have got away with
blatantly flouting EU law and protecting their own industry to the detriment of
our own. We cannot escape the reality that the French ban has hammered our beef
industry.”
Mr Sumberg said he suspected France was only ending the ban because the EU was
threatening to fine it 100,000 pounds a day.
“The French have pushed the ban to the absolute limit,’ he said. “The EU
declared this ban illegal three years ago but has shown all the dynamism of a
sloth in enforcing it. Now the French are finally being made to feel the squeeze
they back down. It was inevitable the ban would end eventually but the end has
come far too late. This whole episode has been a disgrace.'
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