Eng/French/Nat Britain's Prime Minister John Major has personally intervened to try and stop the European Union banning British beef. As the crisis over B-S-E in beef threatens to devastate the British meat industry, the EU veterinary committee met again to hear more evidence. Meanwhile, another row's broken out over whether the European Commission has backed the ban. It's been a confusing day of statements, counter-statements and detailed scientific evidence over the B-S-E crisis in Britain. European Commission Vice-President Sir Leon Brittan began his day by denying there's a Commission ban on British beef. That's despite Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler yesterday saying there is. SOUNDBITE There was no commission meeting and no commission decision\" (Q) \"So had commissioner Fischler full permission of the commission then to say as he did?\" (A) \"Well I didn't hear what he said.\" (Q)\"Well he said there was a complete ban.\" (A) \"There wasn't.\" SUPERCAPTION: European Commission Vice President Sir Leon Brittan British officials are meeting the Commission this afternoon to plead the case for British beef. This morning they met the veterinary committee again, in a second attempt to prove there's no scientific evidence of a link between B-S-E in cows and an incurable brain disease in human beings. SOUNDBITE: English The purpose of this morning's meeting was really to look at the process of this afternoon's meeting and the information which we will be sharing. This information will be of a scientific nature. And that is the purpose of our meeting here today to talk to the committee about the science behind the information that we got in the UK. SUPER CAPTION Sir Kenneth Calman, UK Chief Medical Officer Meanwhile, an E-U spokesman said the Commission had not approved the ban but is waiting for the result of another round. And he told of a last-minute intervention by Britain's Prime Minister John Major. He personally called Jacques Santer to persuade the committee to hear more British evidence. SOUNDBITE: French Mr Major explained that he thought there were scientific information that was not enough taken into consideration. Information that was not known in Brussels. And that therefore he (Major) wanted to send this morning British scientific experts to Brussels, and he asked the president if the committee could meet again today to hear these scientific opinions. SUPER CAPTION Klaus Van der Pas, E-U Spokesman But despite this move, he's doubtful it'll lead to a different outcome. SOUNDBITE: English It gave a crushing majority view yesterday in favour of a ban. If the Commission gets the same opinion again, I can't see it depart from that opinion. SUPER CAPTION Klaus Van der Pas The ban has divided the E-U Commission, with the two British members complaining it should have been given full Commission approval. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/41bb53b4301c4ec932f199f01f951acf Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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