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Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney today welcomed the publication of the results of the EU wide testing programme for equine DNA in beef products and phenylbutazone (bute) in horse carcases.

The adulteration of beef products was initially discovered by the official control regime in Ireland, where advanced DNA testing methods were used in an FSAI survey on meat authenticity. The presence of equine DNA discovered in a single burger ultimately uncovered a pan European problem. the results of

The results show that, across the EU, there were 4,144 tests under the equine DNA programme of which 193 were positive. In Ireland, all of the results of the 50 DNA tests on Irish beef products under the EU programme were negative.

In relation to the EU programme for bute testing there were 16 positives from 3,115 tests.

In Ireland of the 840 tests carried out on horse carcases for bute, only one was positive. The carcase concerned was destroyed and the case is under investigation.

The Minister said:

...the results published today will be considered by the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health to determine what further action at EU level is required. The level of testing in Ireland clearly went beyond what was required at EU level and, combined with the fact that the official control regime here uncovered this problem, shows our commitment to maintaining the world-wide reputation of Irish food. Ireland will continue to show leadership on this issue, both nationally and in Europe.

Read the full press release here for more details.