991136 Franco-British Beef Spat ContinuesNovember 15, 1999Brussels, Belgium - French, British and European Union health experts were unable Friday to find a diplomatic solution to the cross-Channel fight over British beef exports. The failure to produce a breakthrough in the bitter dispute puts additional pressure on France, which faces court action if it does not end its ban on British beef. EU officials labeled the talks as “constructive,” but said the panel of eight French and six British officials at EU headquarters had not brought the sides closer to a compromise. Meanwhile, a war of words on the issue has intensified. French Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany accused Britain of falling victim to “an anti-French backlash ... with xenophobic overtones.” “Why so much hate?” he asked on France's LCI television network. Britain is angry because France refuses to follow the EU's Aug. 1 decision to lift a worldwide ban on the export of British beef. The ban had been imposed in 1996 because of fears that what is commonly called “mad cow disease” could be linked to a similar brain-wasting disease in humans. But the French imposed their own ban Oct. 1, saying new evidence showed British beef still posed a danger. An EU scientific panel shot down those arguments last week, putting more pressure on France to comply. The French government said it wants further guarantees to ensure the safety of British beef. “These guarantees are essential for us in as far as they must allow the safety-first principle to be respected,” said French President Jacques Chirac late Thursday. EU Health Commissioner David Byrne is set to hold last-ditch meeting with Glavany and his British counterpart Nick Brown in the margins of Monday's EU farm ministers meeting to head off a legal battle. Byrne will report to the 20-member Commission on Tuesday, at which time it may take its first effective action against France since the nation decided to disregard an EU ruling ending a ban on British beef. All sides still hope to avoid legal action, but the issue has inflamed passions on both sides of the Channel. British farmers and opposition politicians have been pressing the government to take firm action. “We tell Britons : 'Open your eyes and let's see what we can do together',” said Glavany.
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