NOW that the French ban on British beef imports has been ruled illegal by the European Court of Justice, there is a call for compensation.
MEP Robert Goodwill, who farms at Terrington, says: "The French have been acting illegally for over two years and they must act immediately to open up imports of British beef from areas in the UK which have been declared free of foot and mouth disease.
"British farmers deserve substantial compensation and it is now time for the French Government to start reimbursing farmers for the economic losses caused by closure of the export markets to France.
If France fails to address these issues as a matter of urgency then we will press the European Commission to impose further fines until we have secured a fair resolution from France."
Derek Watson, who has a 100-strong cattle herd on his farm at West Knapton, said he thought the French should be penalised for their actions.
He said: "If you or I break the law we expect to be fined or made to pay for it."
He added that the court ruling "shows that we are quite right, our beef is the safest in Europe, and probably the safest in the world."
But farmer Rosie Dunn from Stockton-on-the-Forest, who is North Yorkshire NFU county vice-chairman, said she was sceptical that the French would take steps to right the wrong.
She said: "It's something that we knew we were right about all along.
"But whether the French will take any notice remains to be seen."
Updated: 08:58 Thursday, December 20, 2001
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