§ Mr. BurnettTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress made in the case of the European Unionv. Government of France relating to the ban on UK beef. [113399]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 16 March 2000]: On 4 January the European Commission brought before the European Court of Justice its infringement action against the French Republic over France's failure to lift its import ban on British beef. Notification of these proceedings (Case C-1/00) was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 4 March. The French Government has now to prepare its defence.