Letter: Tracing beef

Sir: You report (11 November) that the French demand that shipments of British beef be traceable to the farm of origin poses immense practical difficulties in England and Wales. Why?

As fruit importers supplying English supermarkets, we require traceability for all the citrus, apples and pears we supply. All our Spanish, French, Dutch and other growers have implemented without argument full traceability from orchard to consumer. Food standards abroad are much better than Mr Hague thinks.

Taking into account the disastrous results of mad cow disease, the least the British producers could do is to offer traceability of their product not only for exports but also for us UK consumers.

SALVADOR VALIENTE

Clipsham, Rutland