Germany’s will look to enforce tighter slaughterhouse controls after exported beef containing animal parts at risk of carrying bovine spongiform encephalopathy surfaced in Britain.
Meat containing risk materials was discovered in Britain among four deliveries made in mid-January. European Union Commissioner David Byrne asked the German government to revoke export licenses of the slaughterhouses involved as well as suspending the inspection officials in the cases.
Agriculture Minister Renate Kuenast warned Germany’s 16 states at a meeting earlier this week that they must strictly enforce the regulations to keep risk materials – such as spinal cord and brain – out of the food supply.
The ministry, however, isn’t aware if such steps have yet been taken, ministry spokeswoman Katrin Ohse said. She added that this would be the responsibility of the states involved.
