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Report due on dioxin cattle cull Minister heard feed toxic on TV
(about 9 hours later)
A report into the contamination of animal feed which led to a major cull of animals is to be debated by the Stormont Assembly later. Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew found out on RTE news about animal feed contamination which led to a major cull, an assembly committee has heard.
Thousands of cattle had to be culled because of dioxin contamination in December 2008. Thousands of cattle were culled because of dioxin contamination in December 2008, at a cost of more than £4m.
The crisis cost the NI Executive more than £4m. It affected pig and cattle herds north and south of the Irish border and caused a major recall of pork products.
The report is expected to be critical of communication issues between the government in the Republic of Ireland and the Executive. Sinn Fein MLA Willie Clarke said it was "a disgrace" that Mrs Gildernew was not informed by the Irish authorities.
The problem affected pig and cattle herds north and south of the Irish border and caused a major recall of pork products. The Stormont Agriculture Committee called on the minister to implement the recommendations contained in a report on the incident.
'Disappointed'
Mrs Gildernew said she was disappointed she had not being contacted sooner about the incident by her counterparts in the Irish government.
She said her department had acted appropriately and that interim arrangements had been put in place north and south for early warning alerts about animal feed issues.
An executive review would make recommendations on dealing with future incidents, she added.
The contaminated feed came from one supplier, Millstream Recycling Ltd, in County Wexford.The contaminated feed came from one supplier, Millstream Recycling Ltd, in County Wexford.
Millstream recycles food products into pig meal and said the dioxins entered the feed when contaminated oil was used in a machine used to dry the feed.Millstream recycles food products into pig meal and said the dioxins entered the feed when contaminated oil was used in a machine used to dry the feed.
Millstream is suing the oil supplier, Newtown Lodge Ltd for 36m euros to cover Millstream's 4m euros lossses resulting from the dioxin controversy plus 32m euros in claims against it. Millstream is suing the oil supplier, Newtown Lodge Limited, for 36m euros to cover Millstream's 4m euros lossses resulting from the dioxin controversy plus 32m euros in claims against it.
In December a lawyer for Millstream told the High Court in Dublin that the oil it received "must have been 40 years old". In December, a lawyer for Millstream told the High Court in Dublin that the oil it received "must have been 40 years old".
Ten Northern Ireland farms used the contaminated feed.Ten Northern Ireland farms used the contaminated feed.
There was a temporary withdrawal of Northern Ireland pork from shops during the scare, however, beef products were not recalled. There was a temporary withdrawal of Northern Ireland pork from shops during the scare, but beef products were not recalled.