§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers the EU has cited in imposing a worldwide ban on exports of British beef. [31812]
§ Mrs. BrowningCommission decision 96/239/EEC on emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which imposed a ban on the export of cattle, beef and other bovine material and products, cites article 10(4) of Council directive 90/425/EEC, concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market, and article 9(4) of Council directive 89/6672/EEC, concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market, as the powers under which the decision is made.