THE European Commission has given Britain until today to provide details of tests which have revealed that nine brands of baby milk contained unauthorised levels of phthalates - chemicals that have been linked to fertility problems.
But an EU Commission official last night ruled out a beef style ban on British baby milk, insisting that there was no legal framework for Brussels to take such action.
The Commission's demand has been made under procedures which give it the power to demand information from one member state on behalf of the others.
A spokesman for the British Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food said last night that no official notification of the Brussels deadline had been received but officials would consider the request overnight.
The demand puts the ministry in an embarrassing position because, so far, it has refused to go public in Britain on the matter.