9th July 2002
French Lamb Ban ‘An Utter Disgrace’
North West Tory MEP David Sumberg has branded the French Government’s latest ban on lamb imports ‘an utter disgrace’.
Mr Sumberg said the move – to ban imports of all lamb over six-months-old unless the spinal cord is removed – was designed to protect French farmers and would cripple the British lamb industry.
“The European Commission has declared this ban illegal but yet again the French are happily flouting European Law to suit themselves,’ he said. “They have pig headedly refused to import British beef, three whole years after Europe lifted the ban on UK exports, and now they have the obduracy to kick our farming industry again when it most needs the support of our EU partners.
Mr Sumberg said prior to the foot and mouth outbreak Britain exported 75% of all its lamb to France.
“There is a real fear this ban will send the price of the lamb into free fall,’ he said. “And for what? Farmers have pointed out that removing the spinal column either requires expensive equipment, which has proved ineffective for the job, or would force carcasses to be split – slashing their value.”
Mr Sumberg said it was time for the European Commission to bare its teeth to enforce French compliance with European law.
“The French must not be allowed to get away with this blatant protectionism for a second time,’ he said. “It sets a precedent which could open the floodgates for other countries to do exactly the same without fear of punishment. British agriculture must be defended otherwise the whole reason for having the EU is fundamentally undermined.”