§ Lord Inglewoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will press the European Commission to bring quickly an action for interlocutory proceedings in the European Court of Justice against France to open up the French market to British beef. [HL341]
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman)The Government have made it clear to the European Commission that we expect the Commission to take legal action against the French Government quickly for France's failure to lift its import ban on British beef. On 14 December the European Commission issued a Reasoned Opinion. The French responded to the Reasoned Opinion on 30 December again refusing to lift their ban. The Commission, therefore, submitted an application to the European Court of Justice on 4 January.