I KNOW I keep on about the EU but this is getting crazy, we now have the EU calling for all mince to be produced from an animal within six days of slaughter and we know it is only the French driving this through as they like their raw mince dishes such as "steak tartare".

A "mince summit", this is not a late April fool's joke, has taken place in Brussels which could spell the end for Cornish pasties and cottage pies with new laws pricing mince and beef off the menu.

This law will be enforced to avoid contamination if eaten raw whereas British butchers traditionally hang meat for between 18 and 24 days.

But the new rules, contained within the EU hygiene regulations, seek to bring all British red meat up to standards typically reserved for raw mince dishes as savoured by the French.

UK consumers could face higher costs for British mince as a consequence, as trimmings from matured carcasses could not be used. If the rules are passed it could increase the price of mince and beef by 50 per cent.

Neil Parish MEP, chairman of the European Parliament's agriculture committee, voiced his support, calling the EU regulations "short-sighted".

Butchers unite for the sake of our Cornish Pasty.

Derek Elliott PPC for UKIP (Camborne Redruth, and Hayle)

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