Poland says it exported suspect beef to EU
January 31, 2019
Polish authorities on Thursday announced that 2,700 kilograms of tainted beef were exported to European Union countries.
The country's chief veterinary officer, Pawel Niemczuk, said the meat went to Romania, Sweden, Hungary, Estonia, Finland, France, Spain, Lithuania, Portugal and Slovakia.
"Our neighbors were asking about details of actions we have taken. I have convinced most of the countries that this situation in Poland was an individual case," Niemczuk said. "The produce is being voluntarily withdrawn."
Read more: Meat labels misleading EU consumers, says watchdog report
The announcement comes days after an investigative report aired on local broadcaster TVN, with hidden camera footage showing a slaughterhouse butchering sick cows.
The abattoir supplies more than 20 meat processing plants.
The report triggered immediate inspections and widespread concern over food safety standards.
The Czech Republic announced this week it was stepping up its controls on beef imported from Poland.
"The protection of our consumers is the highest priority for me," said Agriculture Minister Miroslav Toman.
Poland produces about 560,000 tonnes of beef a year, with 85 percent exported.
Read more: Pass the beans, hold the beef to save yourself and the planet
nn/rt (dpa, Reuters)