Dodds: Horsemeat scandal one of "mammoth proportions"
Dodds: Horsemeat scandal one of "mammoth proportions"
(about 5 hours later)
The DUP MEP Diane Dodds has described the horsemeat scandal as one of "mammoth proportions".
DUP MEP Diane Dodds has described the horsemeat scandal as one of "mammoth proportions".
She is attending a meeting of EU officials from countries affected in Brussels on Wednesday.
She was speaking before attending a meeting of EU officials from countries affected in Brussels on Wednesday.
It has been called by the Republic of Ireland which currently holds the EU presidency.
It was called by the Republic of Ireland which currently holds the EU presidency.
Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill will attend a series of meetings in Northern Ireland to discuss the controversy.
Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill also attended a series of meetings in Northern Ireland to discuss the controversy.
She is meeting with Food Standards Agency (FSA) and senior representatives from the local supermarket chains for an update on quality assurance checks and also to encourage them to use local produce.
The minister said 2012 had been an "exceptionally difficult year" for farmers and the horsemeat controversy was "therefore a very unwelcome development".
Minister O'Neill said she would also be raising her concerns regarding the threat to the reputation of the local industry and will be stressing that local farmers should not bear additional costs resulting from the controversy.
"It is essential that the major supermarkets take this into consideration when dealing with the fallout from this serious issue for the industry," she said.
Later she will take part in a teleconference involving the UK's Agriculture Minister David Heath, Scottish and Welsh ministers, and major supermarket multiples to discuss emerging issues from the horsemeat issue.
Safety
Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said the aim of the meeting in Brussels was to discuss whatever steps necessary at EU level to comprehensively address the matter.
Ms O'Neill also stressed the quality of the beef from Northern Ireland.
"The traceability controls in our agri-food supply chains are robust and well integrated which emphasises the benefits to consumers and businesses of purchasing local produce, not only due to the environmental, economic and social benefits but also the integrity and safety of our produce.
"This provides confidence and reassurance to concerned consumers who want to know where their food comes from and what it contains."
Ms O'Neill also met the Foods Standards Agency (FSA) to get an update on their investigation.
Earlier, Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said the aim of the meeting in Brussels was to discuss whatever steps were necessary at EU level to comprehensively address the matter.
Mrs Dodds said consumers had been badly let down.
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.
"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 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".
She said she did not want to scandal to "compromise the good name of that product and the safety of that product".
Northern Ireland's Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill is
The horsemeat scandal began last month when Irish authorities discovered horsemeat in some burgers stocked by a number of UK supermarket chains.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mr McCurdy said "fraud is a real possibility" and "some of it may be prone to legal action".
