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EU meeting over horsemeat scandal Dodds: Horsemeat scandal one of "mammoth proportions"
(about 2 hours later)
A meeting of EU officials from countries affected by the horsemeat scandal is taking place later. The DUP MEP Diane Dodds has described the horsemeat scandal as one of "mammoth proportions".
The meeting in Brussels has been called by the Republic of Ireland which currently holds the EU presidency. She is attending a meeting of EU officials from countries affected in Brussels on Wednesday.
Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said he wanted the meeting to discuss "whatever steps may be necessary at EU level to comprehensively address this matter". It has been called by the Republic of Ireland which currently holds the EU presidency.
He said the European Commission needed to be involved to find a solution. Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said it aimed to discuss whatever steps necessary at EU level to comprehensively address the matter.
The meeting will be chaired by EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg. Mrs Dodds said consumers had been badly let down.
"Those of us who go to our local supermarkets, who have the trust that what is there is exactly what it says on the label, have been grossly betrayed by this type of scandal," she said.
"I think it implicates the retail and processing sector equally and they both have to bear the blame for what is actually happening.
"I also want to want to make it very clear that in Northern Ireland we have a premium beef product which our farmers produce under the highest environmental and traceability standards."
She said she did not want to scandal to "compromise the good name of that product and the safety of that product".
The horsemeat scandal began last month when Irish authorities discovered horsemeat in some burgers stocked by a number of UK supermarket chains.
Horsemeat has also been found in branded and supermarket-own ready meals, including lasagne and spaghetti bolognese.
The crisis has spread across Europe as details of the convoluted supply chain in the meat industry emerged.
Horsemeat has also been found in imported meat samples in Northern Ireland.
Irish meat processors are to be asked to carry out DNA testing on their products and to work alongside the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in developing a testing system.Irish meat processors are to be asked to carry out DNA testing on their products and to work alongside the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in developing a testing system.
The Food Standard Agency (FSA) in the UK has ordered food businesses to carry out tests on all processed beef products and the first results are expected on Friday. They are testing for the presence of horsemeat and pork.
The FSA also ordered an audit of all horse-producing abattoirs in the UK.
On Tuesday, a slaughterhouse in Todmorden, West Yorkshire and a meat firm near Aberystwyth, Wales, were raided by (FSA) officials supported by police.
Operations at both premises have been suspended and paperwork seized.
Mr Coveney said the European Commission needed to be involved to find a solution.
The meeting will be chaired by EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg.
On Monday, Tesco said DNA tests had revealed some of its Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese contained 60% horse meat.On Monday, Tesco said DNA tests had revealed some of its Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese contained 60% horse meat.
The product, which was withdrawn from stores last week, was supplied by the French company Comigel, which also produced the Findus beef lasagne found to contain horse meat.The product, which was withdrawn from stores last week, was supplied by the French company Comigel, which also produced the Findus beef lasagne found to contain horse meat.
On Tuesday, Northern Ireland assembly members were told that available information on contaminated meat pointed to fraudulent activity and to Europe.On Tuesday, Northern Ireland assembly members were told that available information on contaminated meat pointed to fraudulent activity and to Europe.
Gerry McCurdy, of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), told the meeting of two assembly committees that he could not be more specific.Gerry McCurdy, of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), told the meeting of two assembly committees that he could not be more specific.
The issue is complex, he told the health and agriculture committees.The issue is complex, he told the health and agriculture committees.
Mr McCurdy said "fraud is a real possibility" and "some of it may be prone to legal action".Mr McCurdy said "fraud is a real possibility" and "some of it may be prone to legal action".