The ban will remain until all Brazilian farms licensed for export have been vetted by European experts and given the all-clear.

Euro-MPs have been demanding action for months in the face of growing concern about foot-and-mouth disease in Brazilian cattle.

But EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou gave Brazil until the end of last year to improve beef quality standards.

Now, following the failure of EU talks with Brazil on a list of farms licensed for export to the Europe, the Commission is imposing the ban on beef from all holdings until inspections have been carried out.

Brazil says as many as 2,600 farms could be eligible for licence but its officials have not carried out a full audit.

Source: The Press Association