BOSSES of a Nelson dairy have pledged to fight a Europe-wide ban on its cheese.

On Saturday it was revealed European Commission insp-ectors claimed to have found a "series of serious food safety and hygiene problems" at Bowland Dairy Products.

They said the firm had collected out-of-date milk from retail operations and used raw milk containing antibiotic residues for vacuum-packed products.

But John Wright, director of Bowland Dairies, which employs 22 people and exports 2,000 tons of cheese to the continent every year, refuted the claims and said the firm would be vindicated following a court process.

And the UK Food Standards Agency said the underlying cause of the row was a difference in scientific opinion between the UK and the commission over how to interpret testing results for antibiotics in milk.

Mr Wright added: "We have been the unfortunate victim of an ongoing dispute between the EC, UK authorities and the Food Standards Agency, on the interpretation of EU food safety regulations.

"Despite the European Court ordering the commission to withdraw a rapid alert notice stating that Bowland produce was unsafe, the commission has now, without any factual or scientific evidence, pushed through this decision.

"In addition, a recent visit to our plant last month by food and veterinary office inspectors did not disclose breaches of food safety law justifying the imposition of emergency measures.

"We have already won one major court case, and we will again challenge the commission. We will be calling on expert witnesses from industry, laboratories and the FSA, and fully expect to be vindicated."

Mr Wright said the other court case victory happened earlier this month when the company defeated the commission on an issue of testing of milk.

He added: "Where milk antibiotic levels are found to be within EU food safety limits, it can be safely used to make cheese, which is what Bowland has been doing, legally and with the approval of the Food Standards Agency, for eight years."

The ban was introduced after food safety experts from 25 EU countries backed the commission's report.

A commission spokesman said: "The ban will stay in place until the UK Food Safety Authority has shown that it has taken measures to ensure that there is no risk to human health."