Congleton Councillor welcomes lifting of beef ban

3.56.49pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 3rd May 2006

A councillor who personally defied the ban on British beef today welcomed the lifting of the European Union ban.

Simon Davey, Lib Dem Councillor for Congleton North-West was cautioned in 2002 when he carried a piece of prime Cheshire beef past French customs. He later cooked and ate it with his colleagues in a house in Lyon.

Welcoming the lifting of the export ban today, Simon Davey said:

"The lifting of this ridiculous ban is long overdue, and I am delighted that British farmers are once again able to export their beef."

"British beef is not only the best tasting beef in the world, it is the safest, with British farmers operating safety standards which are among the highest in the world."

"There's no doubt that this ban has hit British farmers, including many in Cheshire, particularly hard. But ending the embargo will enable them to get on with their lives and compete again in the European marketplace."

"I am now looking forward to eating British beef when I next visit France without fear of prosecution!"