§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the legality of(a) the original Fischler ban on United Kingdom beef, (b) the ban by individual EU countries on United Kingdom beef and (c) the Commission ban on United Kingdom beef (i) within the EU and (ii) internationally indicating how, whether and when the 3W Government may seek to challenge any of the above; and under what circumstances and to whom compensation may be payable. [23997]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 2 April 1996]: The EU ban on the export of British beef is not justified on the basis of science as a measure necessary to protect public health, and it is totally disproportionate. We are pressing at every opportunity in the Council of Ministers for this ban on the export of British beef to be lifted. We are also intending to challenge the legality of the ban before the European Court of Justice.
Compensation is a matter to be pursued by the private parties affected either before the domestic courts or the European Court.