The Department of Agriculture is conducting a joint investigation with the French authorities into the seizure of a consignment of Irish beef in Belfort in France at the weekend.
The French authorities which held the driver of the Northern Ireland-registered truck and his colleague overnight while they investigated the consignment, said half of the 18-tonne consignment bore illegible stamps, and half of that was not fit for human consumption.
The seizure has further heightened tension between the French and British authorities over France's unilateral decision to ban the import of British beef because of BSE despite the EU lifting the ban.
British farmers have threatened to prevent French imports into Britain in retaliation. The Department of Agriculture said last night that a consignment of chilled beef left a plant in the Republic on October 1st in an officially sealed container and the truck was registered in Northern Ireland.
"The product was certified officially by the Department as being fit for human consumption at the time of departure. The Department has not established whether the seal was intact on arrival at the first point of destination in France," said the statement.
"It is understood that most of the consignment was released last Friday. Out of a total of 18 tonnes, approximately less than two tonnes were detained by the French authorities," it said.
"As regards the stamping of the carcasses, the Department is investigating claims that some of the stamps were either illegible or had been removed altogether during trimming without being replaced as is required. This is being followed up with the company," it concluded.
Industry sources said yesterday that the load had been transported in a Northern-registered lorry bearing GB plates from the Irish midlands and travelled via Larne-Stranraer and from England to France.
French customs officers seized the consignment after an initial delivery of beef from the consignment had been dropped off in Epinal, seven days after the seals were put on the meat in Ireland.
One exporter said last night that it appeared the consignment had been mistaken for British beef because of the GB markings on the lorry and had been caught up in the row between the French and British.