Jack Cunningham: Rogue plants damaged our case

Jack Cunningham puts his positive message on BBC Radio's Today programme

Cunningham Fails to Move Euro-MPs on Beef Ban

Addressing a special committee in Strasbourg on BSE or 'mad cow disease', Dr Cunningham argued that Britain had the most effective standards of hygeine and control in Europe - but his message had been blunted by the revelation on Monday that two British meat plants had been closed down because they were falsely labelling their beef with documents from abroad, in order to bypass the ban.

Afterwards he said he regretted the "significant harm" this had caused to the Government's campaign to lift the blockade imposed last year by the European Commission.

He had tried to persuade the Euro-MPs and EU Commissioners that he had acted quickly to close down the meat handling plant and cold storage depot for allegedly failing to meet minimum cleanliness standards.

But there was no hint of any readiness to end the ban. The European Union's Consumer Affairs Commissioner, Emma Bonino, said Brussels would carry out its threat of legal action unless the Government satisfactorily explained why it had failed to halt the smuggling of banned beef.

Illegal exports of about 700 tonnes of British beef were uncovered after EU vets visited the UK last month to monitor compliance with the ban.

Appeal falls on deaf ears

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme before he left, Dr Cunningham said he deplored what had happened, and that Britain had co-operated fully with EU officials to stamp out the practice.

"If people are determined to break the law, it is very difficult to legislate for honesty", he added.

Elmar Brok, a German MEP who liaises between the Commission and the European parliament on the BSE issue, said the timing of the latest Government effort was wrong.

"The consumer is very worried that there is no proper control and therefore I think it is the wrong moment after this scandal happened to ask for a lifting of the ban," he said.

A BBC correspondent in Strasbourg says the committee's attitude to Dr Cunningham was far from hostile. He faced tough but polite questioning and was warmly applauded when he finished.

The refusal of his Tory predecessor, Douglas Hogg, to appear before this same committee had angered members.