The European Commission began court action this week against France over its refusal to lift the ban on British beef

Date: 06/01/2000

But hopes that the Commission would push for an early ruling by the European Court of Justice are fading after officials said it would be difficult to meet the criteria for special 'interim measures', which would require proof that the damage caused by the ban was “immediate and irreparable”. France has already filed a counter-suit, claiming the Commission failed to take account of new scientific evidence of a possible health risk from UK beef.