Inspectors dispatched to Poland by the European Commission after the detection of fraud involving damaged beef exported to the EU began their audit of official controls on the ground with the Polish investigating authorities on Monday 4 February, the Commission confirmed on the same day.
"The report will be available within one month. It must be sent to the Polish authorities and then returned to us for adoption”, said Anca Paduraru, a Commission spokeswoman.
On Monday, at midday, 15 countries, including Poland, were affected by this fraud, with the Czech Republic and Greece added to the initial list (Germany, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia - see EUROPE 12185).
When asked about the quantities of fraudulent meat sold to the final consumer in the EU, the spokeswoman did not comment. "Member States are better placed to respond, not the Commission", which is responsible for managing the Rapid Alert Service for Food and Feed (RASFF).
Of the 2.7 tons exported by Poland, 795 kg were sold in France. Of the 650 kg found, 500 were destroyed, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Friday. The missing 145 kg were "finally identified in meat lots marketed by wholesalers, butcher shops or restaurants. Some of it could be withdrawn from the market", the Ministry said on Saturday. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)