CAMPAIGNERS who lost their High Court action against MAFF will not appeal against the ruling.

The British Pig Industry Support Group faces a £150,000 bill after losing its claim that MAFF discriminated unfairly against pig producers by making them pay "BSE tax".

The group sought a judicial review, arguing that the Ministry should not have imposed the offal charge on pig producers - estimated to be £5.65 per pig - as pigs were not affected by BSE.

It also argued that beef and sheep producers had received help to meet offal disposal costs and other measures, which the pig sector had not.

The BPISG claimed MAFF could have applied to Europe for aid for the pig sector.

On Thursday of last week Mr Justice Richards agreed with the financial loss estimates put forward by the group and the hardship producers had suffered.

But he found the Ministry had acted properly in taking advice from Brussels that an application for relief for pig farmers was unlikely to succeed.

Mr Digby Scott, spokesman for the BPISG, said they were naturally disappointed with the outcome but they had received a fair hearing from a fair judge.

The case cost the group about £100,000 to take to court and it has been ordered to pay MAFF's costs, which are expected to be less than £50,000. BPISG had already raised £130,000 and any difference would be underwritten by further pledges of support.

Mrs Meryl Ward, BPISG treasurer, said the group would not appeal against the judgement. They had proved the cost to producers had been £5.65 per pig