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		EU challenge to hunt ban Monday 3 November 2003 Local Euro-MP Roger Helmer is raising the question whether a ban on fox-hunting could represent an infringement of EU Single Market rules. East Midlands Tory MEP Roger Helmer points out that in the event of a ban in England, many hunt followers will travel to Ireland, France or other EU member-states where hunting is still legal, in order to follow their sport. This, he argues, may be a prima facie breach of the EU's Single Market, and a distortion of trade in the EU. Mr Helmer is putting down a Written Question to Commissioner Mario Monti (Competition) and Commissioner Fritz Bolkestein (Single Market), to see if they agree with his view. Commenting on his initiative, Roger Helmer, said: "It goes against the grain to appeal to EU law over the head of the British government, but I am prepared to do so in order to oppose Labour's jaundiced and illiberal proposal to ban fox-hunting". Draft of Roger Helmer MEP's written question to Commissioners Monti and Bolkestein: You will be familiar with the plans of the British Government to ban hunting with hounds in England and Wales (a ban of sorts already exists in Scotland). The likely effect of such a ban would be to drive hunt followers to visit other EU countries where fox-hunting is still legal, for example Ireland, to pursue their sport. Given the considerable commercial implications of country sports like fox-hunting, there appears to be a prima facie case that a hunting ban in England and Wales would create a serious distortion of trade, both in tourism and in the equestrian business, and thus breach the spirit if not the letter of the Single Market. Please may I have the Commission's views on this question.