Testing of products for horse and bute to begin across EU

The European Commission yesterday adopted the control-and-testing plan agreed by EU member states in Brussels last week to address the horse meat crisis.

The plan was drawn up to investigate fraudulent practices and enhance consumer confidence following the discovery of horse meat in beef products.

EU funding

The programme, which is 75 per cent funded by the European Union, will start immediately across member states.

It involves taking some 2,250 samples of beef products and testing them for the presence of horse meat.

It also involves testing horse meat for possible residues of bute, a veterinary product administered to horses. Bute is banned from the food chain because it can pose a health risk if taken in large doses. Under the plan, one sample will be tested for every 50 tonnes of horse slaughtered, but every member state will have to carry out a minimum of five tests.

Member states have to submit the first report of their findings on April 15th, but where tests prove positive, the findings must be reported immediately to alert other member states.

The testing programme will run initially for a month, with the possibility of extension for a further two months.

Ministerial meetings

The plan emerged from a meeting convened last week by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney in his role as president of the EU council of agriculture ministers, during the Irish presidency of the EU.

The scandal will also be discussed by EU agriculture ministers when they meet in Brussels next Monday.

EU commissioner for health and consumer policy Tonio Borg has urged member states to keep up the pressure in their efforts to identify a clear picture and a sequence of events.