A US ban on imports of French foie gras and meat is not a response to EU moves to stop shipments of poultry from across the Atlantic, the European Commission said today.
The EU banned imports of eggs and day-old chicks from the United States yesterday following the outbreak of bird flu in Texas. Washington later on the same day said it would stop shipments of foie gras, beef, pork and poultry from France.
"It's a coincidence the US halted French foie gras and pork imports on the same day," Commission food safety spokeswoman Ms Beate Gminder told reporters.
"We regret that a solution couldn't be found to avoid a halt in trade," she added.
"The US and EU have different ways of checking hygiene standards in food factories and it's a recurring problem."
Ms Gminder said the Commission would organise a seminar between EU and US officials to help resolve the dispute.
France has protested against the US ban, arguing that the food is safe for consumption. The trade is worth €4 million a year to Paris, according to the Commission.