71.   EU countries can impose exceptional bans on imports on public health grounds but are required to seek the prior approval of the commission, which France did not do.

72.   European Union countries imposed a ban on British beef earlier this year.

73.   No country has imposed sanctions against Russia, but criticism abroad of the month-old war in Chechnya is mounting.

74.   Numerous countries have imposed measures to prevent Ebola fever coming in, particularly by imposing medical checks on travellers disembarking from planes from Zaire.

75.   Regional countries have meanwhile imposed an economic blockade on Burundi in a bid to force peace talks.

76.   Regional countries imposed an embargo on Burundi following a Tutsi army coup there in July to press the government into talks with Hutu rebels.

77.   Several countries worldwide have imposed similar bans.

78.   The fresh criticism came amid a US campaign to get European countries to impose international sanctions against Nigeria for its poor human rights record.