Brussels, 14/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission's response to the fraud over horsemeat used instead of beef has been swift. It involves DNA testing of products using processed beef and testing for phenylbutazone (or “bute”) -an anti-inflammatory drug for horses, banned for human consumption - to be carried out within one month by member states. The Commission's response takes the form of a recommendation for coordinated controls, and member state experts meeting within the EU's standing food chain committee will, from Friday 15 February, be looking at the proposals put forward on Wednesday evening by the Commission during the informal meeting of ministers from the countries most concerned by the scandal, convened as a matter of urgency by the Irish Presidency of the EU Council (see EUROPE 10785). It was also decided that Europol should coordinate criminal investigations conducted in member states and the European Commission has been asked to speed up the presentation of its report on the feasibility of labelling to show the origin of meat used in industrially processed dishes. Simon Coveney, the president-in-office of the Agriculture Council, says they have called on the Commission to make this report a priority.
It is more than likely that experts from the 27 member states will, on Friday, approve the Commission's recommendation in favour of coordinated controls as, in the meantime, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have been added to the initial list of countries directly affected by the scandal (France, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Cyprus and Romania). On Thursday, the Romanian slaughter house seemed to be cleared of blame, while suspicion turned to Dutch intermediaries possibly involved in labelling fraud. Speaking on Wednesday evening, Coveney said it was in everyone's interest to trace the origin of the labelling fraud, as no conclusions can be reached while inquiries are on-going. They want to find those who are to blame, he said, but it is necessary to be absolutely certain that accusations are based on fact. The results of the French, Irish and British investigations are imminent, he said on Wednesday evening. At the time of going to press on Thursday evening, the results of the French inquiry (DGCCRF) were pending.
In practical terms, the European Commission recommends that testing be carried out over an initial 30-day period beginning on 1 March and that the results should be made known by member states by 15 April for publication at that date. This, as Tonio Borg pointed out, will restore consumer confidence although there are further measures that could still be put in place.
In all, up to 2,500 DNA tests for identifying the animal species used in processed products will be carried out, but their breakdown will depend on the size of the country.
Tests for detecting phenylbutazone residue in horsemeat will number 4,000 (2,500 in establishments handling horsemeat in the EU, and 1,500 on imported products). On Wednesday, Tonio Borg said the coordinated control plan should be implemented by all member states. The Commission, he added, is ready to finance 50% of the cost. Each test costs roughly €400. (AN/transl.jl)