Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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982. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 178, 179, and 180 of 31 January 2013, if he will provide an update on the issues raised; the current status of investigations here and in other member States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34956/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The report on the 'Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation', which I published on 14th March, provides extensive details on the investigation and the actions taken by my Department. Operations in a total of four plants were suspended (in some cases on a voluntary basis) for varying periods arising from the investigation.

My Department is considering legal proceedings where appropriate, as indicated in the report. It is important to note in that context that while some of the failures referred to in the report risked reputational damage to the Irish food sector, they did not breach EU or national law.

Actions taken in relation to this issue at both national and EU level include a programme of DNA testing of beef products and testing of horse meat for the presence of phenylbutazone. Controls relating to horse identification are being strengthened and my Department has taken responsibility for the supervision of all horse abattoirs in Ireland. Meat traders/agents will also be required to register as food business operators.

The EU Commission is pursuing an action plan over the remainder of 2013 and into 2014 which includes specific actions and measures on the following basic elements: fighting food fraud, testing programmes, horse passports, official controls and origin labelling. It is important that controls in this area are strengthened on a pan European basis, not just at national level, and as stated in the report some of the measures envisaged will require legislative change at EU level.

The Irish authorities were the first to discover and disclose this problem of adulteration of beef products, which turned out to be a pan European problem. Information in relation to activities by traders and other intermediaries in the supply chain outside of the jurisdiction has been passed to Europol and other Member States to facilitate continuing investigations in other countries. Exposure of this malpractice will result in improved consumer protection not just in Ireland, but across the EU.