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| Irish Republic recalls all pork | Irish Republic recalls all pork |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| All pork products made and sold in the Irish Republic since September have been recalled over fears they are contaminated with a toxic substance. | All pork products made and sold in the Irish Republic since September have been recalled over fears they are contaminated with a toxic substance. |
| The action was taken after dioxins were found in slaughtered pigs thought to have eaten contaminated feed. | The action was taken after dioxins were found in slaughtered pigs thought to have eaten contaminated feed. |
| Some pork products were found to contain up to 200 times more dioxins than the recognised safety limit. | Some pork products were found to contain up to 200 times more dioxins than the recognised safety limit. |
| The UK's Food Standards Agency said it was monitoring the situation but UK consumers faced no "significant risk". | The UK's Food Standards Agency said it was monitoring the situation but UK consumers faced no "significant risk". |
| 'Banned substance' | 'Banned substance' |
| A spokesman for the agency said the organisation was awaiting confirmation from the Irish authorities as to whether any of the affected products had been distributed to the UK. | A spokesman for the agency said the organisation was awaiting confirmation from the Irish authorities as to whether any of the affected products had been distributed to the UK. |
| He said they would assess the situation and take any action required to protect UK consumers. | He said they would assess the situation and take any action required to protect UK consumers. |
| "From the information that we have at this time, we do not believe there will be a significant risk to UK consumers," he said. | "From the information that we have at this time, we do not believe there will be a significant risk to UK consumers," he said. |
| The toxic substance believed to have contaminated the pig feed is known as PCB and has been banned in the Irish Republic since 1979. | The toxic substance believed to have contaminated the pig feed is known as PCB and has been banned in the Irish Republic since 1979. |
| Consumers and retailers have been warned to destroy all Irish pork and bacon products bought since 1 September. | Consumers and retailers have been warned to destroy all Irish pork and bacon products bought since 1 September. |
| An Irish government spokeswoman said laboratory results of animal feed and pork samples had confirmed the presence of the dioxins. | An Irish government spokeswoman said laboratory results of animal feed and pork samples had confirmed the presence of the dioxins. |
| "Investigations involving the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI)are continuing to determine the extent of the contamination and to identify the processors and products involved," she said. | "Investigations involving the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI)are continuing to determine the extent of the contamination and to identify the processors and products involved," she said. |
| "Dioxins are environmental contaminants that may be formed during combustion processes and may be present in industrial wastes. | "Dioxins are environmental contaminants that may be formed during combustion processes and may be present in industrial wastes. |
| "It is illegal for dioxins at certain levels to be in food products." | "It is illegal for dioxins at certain levels to be in food products." |
| The Irish minister for agriculture, Brendan Smith, said the problem was confined to 47 farms. The announcement amounts to a threat to the overall viability of our food industry, as great as, if not greater than, the outbreaks of BSE and of foot and mouth Sean Sherlock, Labour Party spokesman | |
| He said: "This includes 38 beef farms. This is the total number of farms identified as having received possible contaminated animal feed. There is only one feed supplier involved." | He said: "This includes 38 beef farms. This is the total number of farms identified as having received possible contaminated animal feed. There is only one feed supplier involved." |
| Discussing the test results, the FSAI's chief executive Alan Reilly said: "The levels in the feed were very high. They were extremely high. The levels in the pork itself were in the region of about 80-200 times above the safe limits." | Discussing the test results, the FSAI's chief executive Alan Reilly said: "The levels in the feed were very high. They were extremely high. The levels in the pork itself were in the region of about 80-200 times above the safe limits." |
| On Saturday Taoiseach Brian Cowen held a series of crisis talks with Mr Smith, health minister Mary Harney and food safety officials. | On Saturday Taoiseach Brian Cowen held a series of crisis talks with Mr Smith, health minister Mary Harney and food safety officials. |
| They called on retailers, the hospitality sector and the pig processing sector to withdraw all pork products from their stock. | They called on retailers, the hospitality sector and the pig processing sector to withdraw all pork products from their stock. |
| The government's medical officer, Tony Holohan, also advised people not to consume or purchase any pork products and to dispose of any they came across. | The government's medical officer, Tony Holohan, also advised people not to consume or purchase any pork products and to dispose of any they came across. |
| Threat to industry | Threat to industry |
| Labour Party spokesman on agriculture and food, Sean Sherlock, said the government's priority had to be consumers but action had to be taken to "save the Christmas pork and harm market". | |
| He said: "The announcement amounts to a threat to the overall viability of our food industry, as great as, if not greater than, the outbreaks of BSE and of foot and mouth. | He said: "The announcement amounts to a threat to the overall viability of our food industry, as great as, if not greater than, the outbreaks of BSE and of foot and mouth. |
| "The authorities must give a full and frank account of the full extent of the risk to human health." | "The authorities must give a full and frank account of the full extent of the risk to human health." |
| About 7,000 people are employed in the Republic of Ireland's pig industry, including about 1,200 on farms. | About 7,000 people are employed in the Republic of Ireland's pig industry, including about 1,200 on farms. |
| Almost 500 farmers produce 3.6 million pigs annually, according to the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Agency. | Almost 500 farmers produce 3.6 million pigs annually, according to the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Agency. |
| The industry exports approximately 60% of its production and is worth more than 250m euros (£216m) a year. | The industry exports approximately 60% of its production and is worth more than 250m euros (£216m) a year. |
| The British Pig Executive said that between April-July this year, the UK imported 230,000 tonnes of pork and bacon. | The British Pig Executive said that between April-July this year, the UK imported 230,000 tonnes of pork and bacon. |
| Up to 15,000 tonnes imported in were from the Republic of Ireland. | Up to 15,000 tonnes imported in were from the Republic of Ireland. |
| A spokeswoman for Defra said it was "keeping in close contact with the FSA as they evaluate any potential implications for Britain", | A spokeswoman for Defra said it was "keeping in close contact with the FSA as they evaluate any potential implications for Britain", |