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Written question asked by Lady Hermon (Independent (affiliation)) on Tuesday, 12 February 2013, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 February 2013. It was answered by David Heath (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 5 March 2013 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Horsemeat

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reassurances he has sought from the Irish Government that horsemeat from the Irish Republic is not making its way into the food chain in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

[143571]

Answer

On 13 February the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), met Agriculture Ministers from Ireland, France, Romania, Luxembourg, Sweden and Poland to seek coordinated action across Europe for consumers so that they can have confidence in what they are buying.

He was pleased to report that agreement was reached on a number of key issues in order to ensure that the current unacceptable situation with horsemeat cannot happen again, this includes a programme of DNA testing of beef products across the EU covering domestic and imported products, with first results by 15 April. In addition, both domestic and imported horsemeat will be tested for bute. The Secretary of State made a statement following this meeting on 13 February providing more details.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
143571; 559 c929W
Session
2012-13
Subjects
Imports Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland Horse meat
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk