The EU's food safety commissioner, Mr David Byrne, will recommend legal action against France today despite describing last-minute Anglo-French beef talks last night as "close to a solution".
The British Agriculture Minister, Mr Nick Brown, met his French counterpart, Mr Jean Glavany, in Brussels for just 10 minutes - but that was enough for British officials to signal that a deal may be on the cards. Mr Brown declared: "We are close."
He was last night returning to London and intends to speak to Mr Glavany by telephone again today.
But whatever deal was in the offing was not enough for Mr Brown to withdraw his request to Mr Byrne to press ahead with legal action.
"We are maintaining our request for the launch of legal proceedings," said a British spokesman.
And a spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Byrne would go to Strasbourg to consult fellow commissioners today, with a recommendation that legal moves begin.