FRANCE has finally acknowledged that British beef is at least as safe as any other.
The French Government enraged farmers when it alone refused to accept British beef because of apparent fears about BSE even after the EU had cleared it for export.
The French food standards agency, the AFSSA, announced recently that Britain's beef is safe, leaving the French government with no choice but to lift its unilateral ban.
The Meat and Livestock Commission welcomed the AFSSA ruling and began gearing up for the first British beef exports to France in more than six years.
NFU president Ben Gill also welcomed the decision but added that more must be done to prevent such "flagrant violations" of EU law and called on the European Commission to fine France for its stance.
l EXPORTS of British beef have begun again for the first time since the foot-and-mouth crisis.
The first shipment left for the Netherlands on September 25 under the Date Based Export Scheme.
Food and farming minister Lord Whitty said it was: "A boost to the industry to see its produce heading abroad again."
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