Commission to lift ban tomorrow on British beef by-products

EU agriculture ministers failed last night to reach agreement on a partial lifting of the ban on British beef exports.

However, the Commission will, in its own right, tomorrow lift the ban on beef by products such as tallow, gelatin and semen.

The decision nonetheless will not end Britain's policy of non co-operation, which is set to continue until a framework is set in place for the lifting of the worldwide ban on exports of British beef. And yesterday senior British sources made it clear that they intended to bring the issue to the Florence summit.

Yesterday in Luxembourg, Britain blocked an initiative to make 1997 the European Year Against Racism. EU Social Affairs Commissioner Mr Padraig Flynn called the move disappointing. "I can't believe that anyone could be pleased by the lack of solidarity on this issue, he told a news conference.

Britain also blocked three other measures at the meeting, including a text urging governments to push for more women in decision making positions.

In the Agriculture Council Britain submitted its long awaited "comprehensive" plan for the eradication of BSE. In addition to the selective culling of 80,000 at risk cattle, it proposes new measures to recall all potentially contaminated feed and make it illegal for farmers or mills to store it.

Under the EU's voting procedures the decision on the partial lifting can only be taken by ministers on a weighted qualified majority vote. But it can, and will, be taken by the Commission tomorrow.

Last night, with Spain changing sides, nine member states were prepared to back the partial lifting, but that still fell short of the qualified majority required.

The Commission had been anxious to give as strong as possible legitimacy to the move, but last night failed to broker an agreement. Compromise proposals which would only allow the export of semen from certified healthy herds a particular Dutch concern were insufficient to bring about an agreement, but the Commission has made clear it will implement the partial lifting anyway.

The disagreement makes the prospect of a long term frame work for the lifting of the overall ban far more difficult.

Last night, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, warned that the British obstructionism was "deeply counterproductive". Earlier, he told journalists there was a danger continental member sates might become as "bloody minded as the British".

Mr Yates is also here press for increased compensation for beef producers and said Commission proposals for a compensation fund of £580 million of which £58 million is earmarked for Ireland were wholly inadequate. Following talks with the Germans and French, he said he would be pressing for a fund of at least £800 million.