50,000 contaminated pigs slaughtered since pork crisis

Almost 50,000 contaminated pigs have already been slaughtered as a result of the dioxin scare that led to the withdrawal of all Irish pork and bacon products late last year.

The secretary-general of the Department of Agriculture told an Oireachtas committee today that a further 40,000 pigs were also due to be slaughtered before the end of this week.

He said the carcasses were all being disposed of and incinerated in line with EU regulations.