Irish farmers fear Europe pork ban

Fears of an EU-wide ban on Irish pork products over a contamination scare were growing today despite moves by pig farmers to kick-start the multi-million euro industry.

As gardai and government officials continue to probe activities at a food recycling plant at the centre of the crisis, slaughterhouses are expected to begin processing fresh produce.

The agri-sector was plunged into chaos at the weekend when officials revealed animal feed - contaminated with dioxins up to 200 times the safe level - were supplied to 10 pork farms in the Republic of Ireland and nine pork farms in Northern Ireland.

Results of tests taken from 37 herds of cattle in the Republic which were also fed the same product should be known by tonight.

State Chief Veterinary Officer Paddy Rogan said contaminated pig meat from the Republic may have reached up to 25 other countries.

"The issue now is to put safe product in the system," he said.

"We are working from the morning to get Ireland Plc back in the market place with guarantees of safe product for staying here and (exporting) in our main market in the UK and all the other markets."

Restrictions remain in place in all farms across the island of Ireland caught up in the crisis.

Food safety chiefs also recalled every pork product produced in the Republic since September 1.

As bacon and sausages were being pulled from supermarket shelves across Europe, the Irish Government tried to quell the crisis by claiming fresh meat will be back on shelves within days.

It said investigations revealed breadcrumbs used in an animal feed distributed by a licensed supplier - Millstream Power Recycling Limited - tested positive for banned contaminants.

Officials are now probing links with an oil used in a machine at the food processor plant, which was closed down in the middle of last week when the contaminated feed was traced.

A company spokesman said the oil being tested by officials was put in a machine used to dry the animal feed and has never been added as an ingredient at any stage.

He added that Millstream will be carrying out its own investigation to establish how the company's strict health and safety procedures and the high quality standards could have been breached.

The Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI) and the UK Food Safety Agency (FSA) urged consumers to avoid Irish pork, but insisted health risks to the public were minimal and claimed the advice was precautionary.

It maintained a new labelling system will be put in place to identify fresh stock coming out of slaughterhouses.

Despite officials maintaining they are fully aware of the processors, pig farms, and supplier involved - it is still unclear how many pigs may been affected or how much tonnage has been recalled.

Mr Rogan said an EU-wide rapid response system has been alerted and that the next aim was to identify exactly what types of products were exported where.

The European Commission said Ireland acted well and quickly in response to the situation, however EU experts are due to meet this week to discuss the crisis and decide whether to impose an Europe-wide ban on Irish pigmeats.

The Republic's pig industry is worth an estimate 400 million euro, with half of all exports going to the UK market, with 30% to the rest of Europe and 20% to the rest of the world.

The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) said more than 400 farms were ready to supply prime produce as soon as the logistics of the recall was completed.

"There is no reason why the Irish industry cannot supply the traditional Christmas ham requirements of consumers," said IFA President Padraig Walshe.

"Once Irish consumers are sure of the safety and high quality of the product, they will support a traditional sector that has always played an important role in Irish farming."

The National Consumer Agency said consumers are entitled to be refunded on pork products purchased after September 1.