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 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.
Tests showed some pork products contained up to 200 times more dioxins than the recognised safety limit.
Tests showed some pork products contained up to 200 times more dioxins than the recognised safety limit.
The UK's Food Standards Agency said it did not believe at this stage that UK consumers faced any "significant risk".
The UK's Food Standards Agency said it did not believe at this stage that UK consumers faced any "significant risk".
'Banned substance'
'Banned substance'
A spokesman said the agency was awaiting confirmation from the Irish authorities as to whether any of the affected products had been exported to the UK.
A spokesman said the agency was awaiting confirmation from the Irish authorities as to whether any of the affected products had been exported 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.
Consumers and retailers in the Irish Republic have been warned to destroy all Irish pork and bacon products bought since 1 September as a precaution.
Consumers and retailers in the Irish Republic have been warned to destroy all Irish pork and bacon products bought since 1 September as a precaution.
Dioxins are formed during combustion processes, such as waste incineration, and during some industrial processes.
Dioxins are formed during combustion processes, such as waste incineration, and during some industrial processes.
Suspicions over contamination were first raised on Monday as a result of the routine testing of pigs and restrictions were placed on a number of pig farms.
Suspicions over contamination were first raised on Monday as a result of the routine testing of pigs and restrictions were placed on a number of pig farms.
The presence of the dioxin polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in animal feed and pork samples was confirmed on Saturday afternoon in test results from a UK laboratory.
The presence of the dioxin polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in animal feed and pork samples was confirmed on Saturday afternoon in test results from a UK laboratory.
Chronic long-term exposure to the dioxin can have serious health effects, including causing cancers, but Irish officials said the recall would ensure consumers only had minimum exposure to it.
Chronic long-term exposure to the dioxin can have serious health effects, including causing cancers, but Irish officials said the recall would ensure consumers only had minimum exposure to it.
An Irish government spokeswoman 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.
An Irish government spokeswoman 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.
"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
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."
The FSAI's chief executive Alan Reilly said: "The levels in the feed were very high. The levels in the pork itself were in the region of about 80-200 times above the safe limits."
The FSAI's chief executive Alan Reilly said: "The levels in the feed were very 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 ham market".
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 ham 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 were from the Republic of Ireland.
Up to 15,000 tonnes imported 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".
UK retailer Tesco said it did not import any fresh pork from the Republic of Ireland and it did not believe it was contained in any other products, although this was being checked urgently.
UK retailer Tesco said it did not import any fresh pork from the Republic of Ireland and it did not believe it was contained in any other products, although this was being checked urgently.
"If any product is found to contain Irish pork, we will, of course, take immediate action to remove it from sale," a spokeswoman said.
"If any product is found to contain Irish pork, we will, of course, take immediate action to remove it from sale," a spokeswoman said.
Are you a pig farmer in the Republic of Ireland or employed in the country's pork industry? Please send your comment using the form below:
Are you a pig farmer in the Republic of Ireland or employed in the country's pork industry? Please send your comment using the form below:
