Byrne tries to persuade US to ease food import controls

Attempts to amend the US ban on EU agricultural exports to exempt the 11 countries not affected by foot-and-mouth disease are likely to depend on evidence over the next fortnight that the outbreak has been contained, diplomatic sources said yesterday. This follows a meeting between the EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr David Byrne, and the US Secretary for Agriculture, Ms Ann Veneman.

Mr Byrne, speaking to journalists, said their discussions had been "open and friendly" and that he had pressed the EU case that US measures were not proportionate to the extent of the outbreak. He had not raised the question of whether such measures were compatible with World Trade Organisation guidelines.

Ms Veneman, who is facing pressure to extend import controls to other countries, arising from fears about the spread of the disease, would give no assurances beyond a promise to keep the matter under review. The US is understood to be particularly concerned at the situation in the Netherlands because of the density of animals there.

Mr Byrne, in his first meetings with the new administration, also had talks with the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Zoellick, and Mr Alan Larson, Under-Secretary for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs.