Beef war to scale down as Britain accepts EU line on ban

A CESSATION of hostilities in the EU's bitter beef war of words appeared imminent last night as a senior British diplomat gave strong indications that Britain accepts the Commission's framework for the lifting of the export ban.

A simultaneous lifting of the British policy of non co-operation, and endorsement of the Commission's proposals by its fellow member states are likely to take place tomorrow at the Florence summit. The move will be a considerable relief to both the Italian Presidency and its Irish successor.

Late last night the situation firmed up when the EU Standing Veterninary Committee approved the British eradication programme. This technical paper is distinct from the framework of proposals for lifting the ban. The three page document approved by the Commission on Tuesday night and released yesterday is a procedure for the phased lifting of the ban without any dates, modelled largely on Britain's own proposals.

Crucially, the plan, which refers to "considerable misgivings about the effectiveness of past actions taken by the UK in relation to BSE", insists that future decisions on each of the four stages of the ban's lifting will, all be taken "in accordance with established procedures". As "established procedures" were always on offer, sceptics might well ask, and no doubt will in the Commons, precisely what the British have achieved.

The Commission does insist on two significant changes to the British proposals an increase in Britain's selective slaughter by up to 67,000 at risk animals born in 1989, and a lifting of the ban on exports to third country markets only on the same basis as other parts of the ban. Britain is already committed to a cull of some 80,000 younger animals.

In an attempt to ease Franco German fears, the Commission has also moved to set up a multidisciplinary scientific committee.

A senior British diplomat last night confirmed that the issue of a complete lifting of the ban on exports to third countries would continue to be discussed with the Commission and the states, but would not prove an obstacle to agreement in Florence on the framework.

But a de-escalation of the row at Florence will not be automatic. "What is critical now is not just what is in the document, but the response of our partners to it" he said. Britain would expect a clear commitment by its partners to adhere to the Commission's scientific advice.

That should not prove too difficult, however, as it has now become a mantra, repeated by every member state, that they are totally driven by the scientific evidence.

Announcing the details of the Commission's framework proposals, the Commission President, Mr Jacques Santer, warned MEPs in Strasbourg that "to put it bluntly, we are waiting for the non co-operation policy to end. Without that commitment, there will be no agreement in Florence".

He took the opportunity for another strong attack on Britain's record in a "crisis which has rocked the Union". Farmers had suffered huge losses, he said, consumers had been unnerved, and "our institutions paralysed".

"The prejudice summoned up by this crisis is acute. The European Council gives us a chance for a turning point let us take it."

But even if we are seeing the beginning of the end of the beef war it can only be the end of the beginning of the BSE crisis. It will be many months before British beef actually trades again freely on European markets.