Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm if it is illegal to trade in minced equine meat; if he will indicate the specific legislation and regulations that apply; if criminal investigations will take place following recent developments; if he will confirm that mechanically recovered meat is included in the definition of minced meat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4013/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Production of and trade in food of animal origin is subject to a series of EU food safety regulations generally referred to as the ‘Hygiene Package’. The principal regulations which apply to meat are Regulations (EC) No. 853/2004 and 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council. These are implemented in Ireland under the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2009, S.I No 432 of 2009.

It is not illegal to trade in minced equine meat, provided this is done in compliance with the relevant legislative requirements. There is no definition of ‘mechanically recovered meat’ in the EU food safety regulations but ‘mechanically separated meat’ (MSM) is defined as ‘the product obtained by removing meat from flesh-bearing bones after boning or from poultry carcasses, using mechanical means resulting in the loss or modification of the muscle fibre structure.’ Under TSE Regulations the production of MSM using bones from cattle, sheep or goats is prohibited. On 26th January I confirmed that test results had been received which were positive for equine DNA in meat imported from another Member State for use in the production of burgers at the Silvercrest Foods plant. This represented a major breakthrough in the joint investigation by my Department and the FSAI into the source of equine DNA in beef burgers, in that it established a direct correlation between burgers in which a high level of equine DNA was detected and imported raw material product.

Tests on samples taken from Irish food ingredients were negative for equine DNA and I am pleased that the integrity of Irish food has been maintained. The current findings of the official investigation do not show any evidence that the company concerned deliberately used horsemeat in their production process. The authorities in the Member State concerned have been informed of the findings of the investigation.