1.   Even there, he was hopeful of progress, notably on persuading the EU to alter a planned ban on certain pharmaceutical and cosmetic products based on beef derivatives.

2.   Rifkind pointed out that the British government has ceased insisting the ban be totally lifted, settling instead for the removal of the ban on beef derivatives.

3.   Six countries last month opposed the lifting of the embargo on beef derivatives, even though these had been declared BSE-safe by the World Health Organisation.

4.   Sweden announced it was to test all medicines currently in use to ensure they do not contain British beef derivatives.

5.   The commission supported Britain in its efforts to get the ban on beef derivatives lifted last week in the face of opposition from a significant minority of member states.

6.   The ban was eased only under strict conditions, notably on the production of beef derivatives to World Health Organisation standards.

7.   The commission supported Britain in its efforts to get the ban on beef derivatives lifted in the face of opposition from a significant minority of member states.

8.   The EU committee on cosmetics was Friday to draw up a list of products covered by the EU embargo on items using beef derivatives.

9.   The EU agreed this week to lift the ban on certain beef derivatives, but the ban on meat itself remains in place.