Dioxins in Irish Meat Sparks Recall

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000671

STATE FOR USTR
USDA FOR FAS - OCRA
USDA FOR FAS - OSTA
USDA FOR FSIS/OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
LONDON FOR FAS/MCSHERRY

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EU EI
SUBJECT: Dioxins in Irish Meat Sparks Recall


1. Summary. The Irish agriculture industry has been thrown into a
pre-Christmas crisis with the discovery of dioxins in pork, followed
by the discovery of dioxins, albeit at significantly lower levels,
in beef. Feedstuffs from a single feed-mill were the source of the
dioxin and the Irish authorities swiftly traced the feed to
identifiable farms which have been isolated. Irish consumers have
been advised to destroy pork products purchased since September 1,

2008. However Irish authorities have not issued a recall on beef.
A number of countries in the EU and worldwide have advised consumers
not to eat Irish pork products. End Summary.


2. On December 6, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI)
ordered the withdrawal and recall from sale of all Irish pork
products produced since September 1, 2008. This follows the
discovery of the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
indicative of dioxin contamination, in pork-fat during routine food
chain monitoring for a range of contaminants.


3. The contamination first came to light December 1, but at that
stage was believed to be non-toxic. However, on December 6, the
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) confirmed that
further tests showed that the affected pork was indeed toxic. It is
reported that the contamination was at levels between 80 and 200
times the safe limits. The public were advised to destroy all pork
products purchased since September 1, 2008. This was based on DAFF
testing of historic samples which enabled a specific cut-off date.


4. On discovery of the contamination, DAFF immediately started
investigating the source of the contaminant. It appears that the
feed originated from a single feed mill which recycles bread and
uncooked bread dough into a biscuit-type product that makes its way
into the feed. There is some suggestion that an industrial-oil, not
suitable for human or animal consumption, had been used in the
production of the animal-feed. However the feed-mill has explained
that this oil is used in machinery maintenance only.


5. Further investigation found that the contaminated feed was used
on a total of 47 farms in Ireland. Nine of these farms were
pig-producing farms. The remaining 38 farms were cattle (beef, not
dairy) farms, with one of those also producing pigs. On December 9,
DAFF announced that tests on three of eleven of these beef farms
have shown dioxin levels two to three times the permitted level.
Tests are continuing on the remaining farms. DAFF has stated that
given the low levels of dioxin in the beef there would not be a
recall of beef. However all the animals on the farms which have
tested positive would be slaughtered and the meat destroyed.


6. Following the announcement of the pork recall, all retail stores
in Ireland removed pork and pork products from shop shelves. The
European Commission said that twelve EU countries and nine non-EU
countries import pork products from Ireland. EU countries affected
include the UK, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden,
Denmark, Belgium, Estonia, France, Portugal and Cyprus. Non-EU
countries that have been impacted include the U.S., Japan, Russia,
Singapore, Canada, Switzerland, China (including Hong Kong) and
South Korea.


7. In 2007, 205,000 metric tons of pork were produced in Ireland.
According to trade statistics, just over 90,000 metric tons of
fresh, chilled and frozen pork products were exported while an
additional 26,000 metric tons of products containing pork were also
exported. Of this approximately 1,700 tons of pork products were
exported to the U.S. USDA/FSIS has already identified shipments to
the U.S. since September 1, 2008 and Post is working with the Irish
authorities to further identify sources, production dates and
consignees in the U.S.


8. The Irish authorities have stated that commercial processing of
pork, which has ceased nationwide, will resume as soon as possible.
They have assured consumers that any pork delivered to the market
will be sourced from animals not fed with contaminated feed and will
be labeled as production not affected by the withdrawal order.


9. This is the third dioxin-in-feed scandal in recent memory, the
two most recent being in Chile and in Belgium. While the Irish
Government's decision to instigate a full product recall is being
applauded in many circles, others are questioning whether it is a
proportionate response given the very low risk to human health.


10. Farmer producer groups as well as industry groupings have
already called on the Irish government for an emergency compensation
fund for the pork industry valued at 400 million ($500 million).
While domestic consumer demand is likely to wane for some time after
new production is delivered to market, the Christmas season should
see the usual demand for hams. However, demand for Irish pork from
Ireland's traditional export markets (such as the U.K.) is likely to

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be met in the short-term by importing pork from other EU suppliers,
such as Denmark. Questions are also being raised as to what impact
the recall may have on the long-term future of the Irish pork
sector, which has already been suffering from production cost
difficulties.

Foley