AGRICULTURE/BSE: PROCEEDINGS TAKEN AGAINST BERLIN FOR ITS EMBARGO OF BRITISH BEEF.

European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, indicated that he had "had constructive contacts with the German government and the signs are positive". "However, I must ensure that EU law is respected, particularly given the long delay in Germany's response to lifting the ban on British beef", he added. The Commissioner hoped to "avoid a legal confrontation if Germany complies quickly with the law". The Commission opened proceedings against France on January 4 at the European Court of Justice for the same reason (European Report No 2462).On September 10, 1999, the Directorate-General for Agriculture sent a letter to the German authorities about their delay in implementing Decisions on the United Kingdom's Date-Based Export Scheme (DBES). On November 17, 1999, a pre-infringement letter was sent to the German government and in its December 3 reply, Berlin promised to meet its legal obligations. On December 15, German Minister Andrea Fischer sent Commissioner David Byrne a brief letter on the beef issue, but it was not until December 22 that the German authorities sent a copy of the draft...