AN INTENSIVE lobbying campaign has been launched to save the British sugar beet industry from potential destruction.

A European proposal would allow the world's 48 poorest countries to export everything but weapons to the European union - free of any taxes or quota restrictions.

Sugar was originally excluded because of the impact it would have on the British and European sugar industries, but was later secretly included.

To make matters worse, the proposal could mean a 40pc cut in EU sugar quotas. That, coupled with the influx of cheap foreign sugar, could wipe out the entire UK sugar industry and its estimated 23,000 jobs.

The threat is even greater because the proposal does not have to go before the European Parliament or governments of member states.

European Commissioners could simply nod it through as early as December 2.

The EBA (Everything but Arms) proposal is designed to stimulate trade between the EU and the least developed countries, thereby improving their economies.

Critics do not believe the ordinary people or workforces of those countries would benefit, only the traders.

It is also seen as a bid by the European Commission to score political points against America ahead of the next round of the World Trade Organisation talks.

Critics say it is ludicrous to put at risk the British and other EU sugar industries.

The NFU spotted the inclusion of sugar purely by chance and has moved quickly to alert the rest of the industry and its counterparts in Europe, who were equally ignorant of the move.

Mr Mike Blacker, who farms at Newton on Ouse, near York, is vice-chairman of the NFU's national sugar beet committee. He has urged all sugar beet growers to write to their local MPs and Euro MPs as quickly as possible.

"It does not have to be a long letter; just explain how it would affect you," he said at the NFU's regional potato and sugar beet committee meeting in York on Thursday of last week.

"If growers do not write, the MPs will simply turn round and say they have not received a single letter so where is the problem."

The NFU has sent packs out to all growers explaining the situation and giving the contact addresses of all Euro MPs and MPs.

"This has been railroaded through in a way which has never been seen in Europe, we only came across it by chance," said Mr Blacker. "It would take the whole industry out, we have got to force proper consultation and find out exactly how it is going to affect jobs and the industry.

"It will have an horrendous impact on the sugar beet industry throughout Europe and among ACP cane sugar suppliers."

Mr Robert Sturdy, Euro MP for the Eastern region, who also farms and grows sugar beet at Wetherby, is determined to fight the proposal.

"I cannot stand by and let the economy of an entire region suffer because the European Commission wants to score political points," he said.

He also believes EBA would be detrimental to the developing countries as those producing sugar already had a quota to export to the EU at guaranteed prices. EBA would remove that guarantee, hitting the price they could receive. Only big users such as the soft drinks industry would benefit.

"The biggest problem that MEPs face is that we will not be consulted on these proposals at all," said Mr Sturdy. "The European Commission is basing its proposal on a treaty article, which allows them to bypass the European Parliament completely, and only consult the Council of Ministers for final approval of the proposal."

He has asked for all the relevant Commission documents to be made available to the European Parliament's agriculture committee for consideration.

Members of the NFU's regional potato and sugar beet committee were horrified that such a potentially devastating decision could be made without any consultation of MEPs or individual governments.

They urged growers to write immediately to MPs and MEPs.

They were also concerned about proposed reforms to the existing sugar beet regime which would see a cut in sugar beet quota from 2003.

The British, Danish, Swedish and Dutch governments support the plan but ten others want the regime to stay as it is. Italy wants aid for its southern sugar production before it will vote.

It was pointed out that the UK sugar beet industry was in the top three for quality and efficiency but only produced half the needs of the country. Coupled with that is the effect of the strong pound, which means British producers receive 34pc less in price compared with the rest of Europe.

l On Tuesday night Miss Anne McIntosh, MP for Vale of York, raised the matter in the House of Commons, and expressed concern about North Yorkshire sugar beet growers and the British Sugar beet factory in York.

Agriculture minister Joyce Quin said the government had taken it up with its European partners.