THE British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, said last night he was "very angry" at the decision of the European Commission to reject additional scientific arguments from the UK and implement the worldwide ban on sales of British beef.
Mr Major described the measure as disproportionate and criticised what he described as "hysteria" about BSE in Britain.
Plans to selectively cull cattle may be announced during an emergency debate today on the beef crisis in the House of Commons following the EU decision.
The British Health Secretary,
Mr Stephen Dorrell, acknowledged cattle may have to be slaughtered to restore consumer confidence.
"The issue is no longer a question of the safety of British beef", he said. "The best available evidence demonstrates that British beef and beef products can be safely eaten by consumers both here and around the world. The question now is a matter of consumer confidence."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture last night confirmed that a temporary ban on Irish beef was beings imposed by the Iranians, pending "veterinary clarifications" from the Department.
The Government is cautiously hopeful that President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt will respond positively to requests by the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, that he relax his ban on EU beef and allow Irish cattle into his country.
However, senior Government, sources warned that presidential clearance for £2 million worth of live Irish cattle and beef on board ships off the Egyptian coast was far from certain.
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Michael Dowling, and a senior vet will travel to Cairo today in an effort to reinforce Government efforts to have the ban lifted.
Mr Bruton had a brief telephone conversation with President Mubarak yesterday.
President Mubarak undertook to address the situation urgently.
Between 14,000 and 18,000 British cattle carrying false Irish Department of Agriculture identity papers passed through France, into Italy last year, a French prosecutor claimed last night on the French television channel TF1.