Role of traders a concern in horse-meat scandal

Inquiries into Ireland’s horse-meat contamination scandal highlights clear concerns near the activities of traders together with intermediaries operating exterior the state, agriculture government minister Simon Coveney says.

Simon Coveney

Ireland was the kickoff patch to regain horse-meat contamination inwards processed beef products.

That regain 2 months agone laid inwards prepare inquiries across the European Union, resulting inwards the cry back of tens of millions of items inwards at to the lowest degree a dozen European countries.

The scandal revealed the complexities of the nutrient chain, every bit several major brands institute themselves withdrawing contaminated products produced past times contractors.

Coveney said his subdivision was kickoff informed 2 months agone past times the Food Safety Authority of Republic of Ireland (FSAI) of its finding of 29 per cent equine deoxyribonucleic acid inwards a unmarried beef burger sold inwards Tesco together with manufactured past times the Silvercrest flora inwards County Monaghan.

This resulted inwards the immediate launch of an official investigation.

The investigation, initially involving the FSAI together with the agriculture department’s veterinarian inspectorate together with audit team, was broadened to include the department’s special investigation unit of measurement together with the police.

“It transpired that what had been uncovered was a pan-European occupation of fraudulent mislabelling of sure enough beef products. Almost all fellow member states get got been affected past times the problem. Indeed, it has been uncovered exterior of the European Union.

“It became a global occupation affecting about large global companies together with international nutrient brands.”

Coveney said the investigation showed the equine deoxyribonucleic acid institute inwards consignments of frozen beef products was labelled to hold upward of Polish origin.

“The investigation had non institute whatever evidence of adulteration alongside Equus caballus meat of these consignments inwards Republic of Ireland simply inwards this regard, next our enquiries, at that topographic point are clear concerns near the activities of traders/intermediaries operating exterior the state.

“Information uncovered inwards the investigation has been passed to the appropriate regime together with Europol.

“That is non to advise that intermediaries inwards the render chain were the sole movement of the problem,” he said.

“The investigation has every bit good shown right away merchandise alongside Poland. In the illustration of 1 Polish company, whose production was institute positive for equine DNA, the Polish fellowship arranged to collect the consignment together with reimburse the Irish Gaelic operator (QK Meats).

“The investigation concludes that inwards the illustration of Silvercrest together with Rangeland Meats at that topographic point was no evidence that they deliberately purchased or used Equus caballus meat inwards their production processes or that these companies were relabeling or tampering alongside inward consignments.

“Given the reputational issues for the Irish Gaelic nutrient manufacture every bit a whole, I believe the practices past times 2 companies of non respecting client specifications (in illustration of Silvercrest) together with of knowingly withholding information near problems inwards the render chain (in illustration of QK Cold stores) are totally unacceptable.

“Likewise, I am extremely concerned at the failure of ABP to hold proper oversight of Silvercrest. We get got a correct to await amend from the Irish Gaelic nutrient industry. The companies get got allow themselves downwardly every bit good every bit risking reputational impairment to the Irish Gaelic nutrient sector itself.

“B&F Meats was institute to hold upward involved inwards mislabelling of a express quantity of horsemeat for export to the Czech Republic. While the fellowship claims that no fraudulent intent was involved, the placing of a faux label on a production together with the query of instituting legal proceedings inwards this abide by remains nether consideration.”

Coveny said a testing protocol had since been agreed alongside the manufacture on pre-packaged beef products on sale to the finally consumer or to majority caterers, beef products offered for sale without pre-packaging to consumers or to majority caterers, together with meat ingredients used inwards processed beef products.

The results would hold upward made public.

The kickoff laid of results was published inwards early on March. Most of the 957 tests were negative except for products already identified every bit positive.

“This episode,” he said, “has revealed the extent together with complexity of the interest of traders together with agents inwards the nutrient render chain. With the legal mightiness already inwards house I get got decided that all such intermediaries operating inwards Republic of Ireland volition hold upward registered every bit Food Business Operators.

“A number of changes are warranted inwards relation to European Union labelling regulations, such every bit provisions roofing intermediate labels together with reporting of mislabelling incidences, every bit good every bit practical steps on the purpose of safety features together with to a greater extent than exceptional on commercial documentation. These volition hold upward pursued at European Union grade every bit appropriate.”

Coveney promised improvements to Equus caballus identification together with command systems.

“In general, spell the investigation did non uncover whatever illegal introduction of Equus caballus meat into the nutrient chain inwards Ireland, nosotros get got accelerated our review of procedures inwards relation to Equus caballus identification together with controls.

“We believe at that topographic point is need for pregnant changes hither to displace Equus caballus traceability to the same grade every bit cattle identification, where systems were developed inwards reply to BSE [mad moo-cow disease] inwards the mid 1990s.”

ABP Food Group said it was bitterly disappointed past times Coveney’s comments inwards abide by of the company, maxim it had been at the forefront of the successful evolution of Ireland’s agri-food exports over many years.

“ABP Food Group operates to the real highest standards of management together with governance, simply the controls inwards the illustration of Silvercrest allow the fellowship down,” it said inwards a statement.

“The fellowship has already apologised to its customers together with stakeholders for these shortcomings.

“It has every bit good been a victim of the wide-scale European equine fraud together with the terms of this, together with the specification breach, has been considerable.

“But the fellowship has acted since the emergence of this number inwards an exclusively appropriate fashion, having co-operated fully alongside the minister’s department; implemented the voluntary withdrawal of 10 1 K 1000 burgers from the market; suspended production at Silvercrest; every bit good every bit the other operational changes the fellowship has already outlined.

“In particular, at an early on indicate the Group disbanded the frozen segmentation that Silvercrest reported into.”

It continued: “ABP Food Group every bit good finds yesterday’s study regarding about other Irish Gaelic nutrient fellowship extraordinary. It is remarkable that about other nutrient operator was aware of equine contamination inwards the beef render chain for many months without making the regime or the manufacture aware. Had the regime been aware the number could get got been managed real differently together with the lead chances to the Irish Gaelic agri-food sector significantly reduced.”

 

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