This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk-news/2013/jul/16/horsemeat-scandal-mps-food-standards-agency

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Horsemeat food scandal inquiry's 'slow pace' criticised by select committee Horsemeat food scandal inquiry's 'slow pace' criticised by select committee
(2 months later)
A complex and highly organised network of companies mislabelling meat and trading it fraudulently is behind the horsemeat scandal, according to an influential group of MPs. They are critical that UK and Irish authorities have failed to acknowledge the extent of the network or prosecute any companies involved.A complex and highly organised network of companies mislabelling meat and trading it fraudulently is behind the horsemeat scandal, according to an influential group of MPs. They are critical that UK and Irish authorities have failed to acknowledge the extent of the network or prosecute any companies involved.
MPs on the environment, food and rural affairs (Efra) select committee said they were "dismayed at the slow pace of investigations" into how horsemeat came to be passed off as beef in millions of "beefburgers" and ready meals.MPs on the environment, food and rural affairs (Efra) select committee said they were "dismayed at the slow pace of investigations" into how horsemeat came to be passed off as beef in millions of "beefburgers" and ready meals.
The committee also found that the official UK response to the adulteration was hampered by the fact that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) did not have sufficient powers to deal with the scandal because part of its responsibilities had been taken away and given to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).The committee also found that the official UK response to the adulteration was hampered by the fact that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) did not have sufficient powers to deal with the scandal because part of its responsibilities had been taken away and given to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The MPs have called on the government to consider reversing changes made by the coalition government in 2010. These split responsibility for the composition and authenticity of foods away from the FSA, which was left with just food safety.The MPs have called on the government to consider reversing changes made by the coalition government in 2010. These split responsibility for the composition and authenticity of foods away from the FSA, which was left with just food safety.
It was not initially clear which agency should have led investigations when the scandal emerged. The FSA has no powers to force retailers and manufacturers to test food or report their results, nor can it require local authorities to test samples. This must be changed, the report says.It was not initially clear which agency should have led investigations when the scandal emerged. The FSA has no powers to force retailers and manufacturers to test food or report their results, nor can it require local authorities to test samples. This must be changed, the report says.
The MPs' concern that those responsible for the largest consumer fraud of recent times may never be identified or brought to justice echoes similar fears already expressed by leading victims of the fraud within the retail and manufacturing industry.The MPs' concern that those responsible for the largest consumer fraud of recent times may never be identified or brought to justice echoes similar fears already expressed by leading victims of the fraud within the retail and manufacturing industry.
The Conservative MP Anne McIntosh, the Efra select committee chairwoman, said retailers should be required in future to test the DNA of all their meat and meat-based products to check which species they were selling.The Conservative MP Anne McIntosh, the Efra select committee chairwoman, said retailers should be required in future to test the DNA of all their meat and meat-based products to check which species they were selling.
The committee took evidence for its inquiry from the British minister, the FSA, Irish officials, and from executives from supermarkets and meat processors, including Paul Finnerty, chief executive of the ABP Food Group – the Irish meat processor whose factories had made the Tesco "beefburgers" that tested as 29% horse and Asda frozen beef mince, which was also found to be 29% horse.The committee took evidence for its inquiry from the British minister, the FSA, Irish officials, and from executives from supermarkets and meat processors, including Paul Finnerty, chief executive of the ABP Food Group – the Irish meat processor whose factories had made the Tesco "beefburgers" that tested as 29% horse and Asda frozen beef mince, which was also found to be 29% horse.
In some robust exchanges, MPs suggested that the Irish authorities were more concerned with protecting the Irish beef industry than finding out how the adulteration, which was first identified in products from Irish-owned factories, had taken place – a view rejected as untrue by Professor Alan Reilly, the head of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.In some robust exchanges, MPs suggested that the Irish authorities were more concerned with protecting the Irish beef industry than finding out how the adulteration, which was first identified in products from Irish-owned factories, had taken place – a view rejected as untrue by Professor Alan Reilly, the head of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Finnerty was asked about the previous record of ABP's owner, Larry Goodman, and the fact that a 1994 public inquiry in Ireland, known as the Beef Tribunal, had found that his firm then had "faked records, cheated customs officers, commissioned bogus meat stamps and practised institutionalised tax evasion with the use of fake invoices".Finnerty was asked about the previous record of ABP's owner, Larry Goodman, and the fact that a 1994 public inquiry in Ireland, known as the Beef Tribunal, had found that his firm then had "faked records, cheated customs officers, commissioned bogus meat stamps and practised institutionalised tax evasion with the use of fake invoices".
Asked what assurance he could give the committee that ABP's paper trail was more reliable than that of the previous company Goodman was involved in, Finnerty replied that the events raised were 25 years ago, many of the allegations made back then were not true and the old inquiry bore no relevance to the current inquiry into horsemeat. ABP said it had never knowingly bought horsemeat and had itself been victim of fraud.Asked what assurance he could give the committee that ABP's paper trail was more reliable than that of the previous company Goodman was involved in, Finnerty replied that the events raised were 25 years ago, many of the allegations made back then were not true and the old inquiry bore no relevance to the current inquiry into horsemeat. ABP said it had never knowingly bought horsemeat and had itself been victim of fraud.
Finnerty was also asked whether Goodman had any secret shareholdings in other meat companies now similar to a hidden network that he controlled in the past called the Cork companies.Finnerty was also asked whether Goodman had any secret shareholdings in other meat companies now similar to a hidden network that he controlled in the past called the Cork companies.
The Labour MP Barry Gardiner quizzed him on whether there was any connection between two executives at a hamburger manufacturing company called Freeza Meats, on whose cold store premises a large consignment of frozen meat that turned out to be 80% horse had been found. Freeza Meats said it was storing the consignment as a goodwill gesture for another small trader but that otherwise it had nothing to do with the meat.The Labour MP Barry Gardiner quizzed him on whether there was any connection between two executives at a hamburger manufacturing company called Freeza Meats, on whose cold store premises a large consignment of frozen meat that turned out to be 80% horse had been found. Freeza Meats said it was storing the consignment as a goodwill gesture for another small trader but that otherwise it had nothing to do with the meat.
Eamon Mackle, Freeza Meats' founding director, and its sales director when the horsemeat scandal was uncovered, Jim Fairbairn, worked for Goodman during the period investigated by the Beef Tribunal.Eamon Mackle, Freeza Meats' founding director, and its sales director when the horsemeat scandal was uncovered, Jim Fairbairn, worked for Goodman during the period investigated by the Beef Tribunal.
"Mackle and Fairbairn were part of what I think was called the 'A team' at the Goodman Group, repackaging and relabelling meat at various plants. Did they engage in this activity at Freeza?" he asked."Mackle and Fairbairn were part of what I think was called the 'A team' at the Goodman Group, repackaging and relabelling meat at various plants. Did they engage in this activity at Freeza?" he asked.
Finnerty told the committee MPs he had no knowledge of the "A team" and that all ABP's business was done through ABP. ABP said there was no corporate relationship of any sort between ABP and Freeza Meats and that there was no network of other meat companies in which it or Goodman had any interest.Finnerty told the committee MPs he had no knowledge of the "A team" and that all ABP's business was done through ABP. ABP said there was no corporate relationship of any sort between ABP and Freeza Meats and that there was no network of other meat companies in which it or Goodman had any interest.
Freeza Meats also said it had no links to ABP. It added that it had co-operated fully with the authorities and that no DNA of other species had been found in any of its own beef products.Freeza Meats also said it had no links to ABP. It added that it had co-operated fully with the authorities and that no DNA of other species had been found in any of its own beef products.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.