THE fine on the French Government for breaking European rules on beef has been welcomed by British MEPs.

The fine of over £11 million has been imposed on six French federations in the beef industry.

The French livestock traders were found to be acting illegally by trying to fix a minimum price for beef with the intention of suspending imports of beef into France and fixing a minimum price for certain categories of cattle.

Gloucestershire MEP Neil Parish, Conservative agricultural spokesman in the EU, said: "For once the French have got their just desserts. For over three years the French Government flouted the rule and got away with it. At least this decision might make them think twice before getting up to their old tricks in future."

Mr Parish added: "This was just another example of the French blatantly ignoring the rules in order to protect their own farmers.

"However, this will be little comfort to those British farmers who were ruined as a result of the illegal French beef ban.

"It's just a pity that the EU did not have the nerve last year to impose the £100,000 a day fine over the beef ban."