TIMETABLE OF THE CRISIS

1 October The French warn they will not lift the ban on British beef because of a report by the French Agency for Health Safety in Foods (AFSSA), claiming there is new evidence of dangers from BSE, in contravention of an EU ruling in August that exports should be given the go-ahead.

1 October The French warn they will not lift the ban on British beef because of a report by the French Agency for Health Safety in Foods (AFSSA), claiming there is new evidence of dangers from BSE, in contravention of an EU ruling in August that exports should be given the go-ahead.

2 October The French Government are warned they could be forced to pay compensation over the ban.

8 October A new investigation into the safety of British beef is ordered after France and Germany continue to refuse to lift the ban.

15 October Talks in Finland between Lionel Jospin and Tony Blair end in threats of legal action on both sides.

23 October French farmers are accused of feeding human sewage to their livestock.

26 October French farmers begin a campaign of harassment against British lorry drivers.

29 October The European Commission's full scientific steering committee rules that British beef is safe and there is no justification for France's continued ban.