THE National Farmers' Union has complained that the French government continues to stonewall on its illegal ban on British beef.

National Farmers' Union president Ben Gill, who farms near Easingwold, condemned as "high-handed" the French government's decision not to respond before a major deadline passed in the NFU's legal battle with them.

The NFU first told France why it must lift its illegal ban in a formal letter to the French prime minister in February. The letter required an answer by Monday, but so far, France has not responded.

The NFU is now set to take action by lodging a detailed challenge to the French ban in the Conseil d'Etat, one of France's highest civil courts.

Mr Gill said: "France has been given every opportunity to comply with the lifting of the ban on British beef in Europe.

"Its decision to remain outside the law demonstrates high-handed contempt for the rule of European Union law and must not go unchallenged."

He added that France's decision to ignore the EU ruling ten months ago to lift the ban had serious implications for its forthcoming presidency of the European Commission in July.

"How can France be effective in implementing the will of the European Union when it believes it is acceptable to ignore the law to suit itself?" he said.