Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler unveiled a seven-point plan to head off a looming beef surplus caused by a slump in demand due to the BSE crisis.

Date: 15/02/01

He said the measures would cost an extra €157 million and the total bill would rise to more than €1 billion in 2002. German farm minister Renate Künast said she would strongly oppose his plan to take 1.2m cattle out of the market.