Horsemeat scandal: EU urges DNA tests of processed beef

08:11, 14 February 2013

BRUSSELS. February 14. KAZINFORM The EU is urging members to conduct random tests to tackle a widening scandal over mislabelled horsemeat.

All members should carry out DNA tests on processed beef for traces of horsemeat for three months from 1 March, the health commissioner said.

Horsemeat should also be tested for the presence of the veterinary medicine phenylbutazone ("bute"), he added.

Tonio Borg was speaking after a meeting with ministers from the UK, France and other affected countries in Brussels, Kazinform has learnt from BBC News.

"This is a Europe-wide issue that needs a Europe-wide solution," Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said.

"This is about someone in the food supply chain selling horsemeat as beef and making money in a fraudulent way by doing that," he added.

Mr Borg said the programme of random tests should report after 30 days, but testing should continue for three months.

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