EU go-ahead for 2,250 beef product tests

The Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health with experts from EU countries met to approve the series of tests proposed by agriculture ministers earlier this week as the horsemeat controversy widened further yesterday.

SCOFAH confirmed that 2,250 tests, co-financed by the EU, will be carried out into foods mainly in shops and supermarkets marked as containing beef. Between ten and 150 samples were be tested in each country.

A second series of tests will be carried out on horsemeat to detect traces of phenylbutazone, the anti-inflammatory painkiller administered to horses but which is banned for use on animals, including horse that is destined for human consumption. Each country will carry out a minimum of five tests.