It's barmy
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BRITISH hauliers carrying lamb to France are facing disruption for the second time in two years. Operators contacted by CM reported problems resulting from restrictions placed on British lamb by the French ministry of agriculture.
The ministry claims that the British product contains unacceptably high levels of the pesticide Lindane, also known as BHC. Eighty per cent of lambs raised on this side of the Channel are dipped during the summer in solutions containing the chemical. Some of it is inevitably swallowed and this shows up in tests on carcases.
The French are rejecting carcasses containing one part per million of Lindane although British experts on the Veterinary Products Committee regard 7ppm as an acceptable level.
Lamb from at least three British abattoirs has been refused by the French authorities, according to the National Farmers Union. Hauliers carrying their lamb have been the first affected by the action. They are being delayed for up to four days while tests take place.
John Clark, from Clan International Transport Services based in Dover said his drivers had been delayed at the French ports this week. He knew of other hauliers who had trouble last week, too. So far his meat has been found acceptable and his drivers allowed to continue to the Paris markets.
He also believed the restrictions and delays to be political and just "another way of artificially restricting the flow of British lamb into France."