The Belgian Health Ministry has confirmed that the head of the country’s food safety agency, Luc Beernaert, has resigned.

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Beernaert was initially suspended on Tuesday when the Ministry found that 59 samples of pig feed made by a local company were not tested for traces of polychlorinate biphenyls (PCB). Five of these samples were then found to contain traces of PCB that exceeded the national threshold of 200 micrograms/kg.


Speaking on Belgian VRT radio yesterday [Thursday], Health Minister Magda Aelvoet revealed: “There were problems in terms of functioning and leadership and so on. We had a good conversation and the labour contract has been terminated.”


Sources revealed that a crisis manager for the agency would be appointed over the next week.

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