EU halts pork and beef exports

IRISH pork products are being withdrawn from all European and other importer countries, and fresh exports of beef from the affected farms are being blocked following an alert sent out through the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Feed and Food.

The European Commission is calling a meeting of the health and food authorities of all the member states where Irish pork products are sold to consider the situation following the discovery that Irish pork has been contaminated with dioxins.

A statement said: “The commission is closely following up this contamination incident and the actions taken to withdraw any potentially contaminated pork meat and pork meat products from the market ensuring consumer health protection.”