A major investigation by RTÉ has uncovered evidence of illegal slaughtering and traceability defects among hundreds of horses across Europe slaughtered for human consumption. The European Commission issued alerts for horses slaughtered in Ireland, Italy, and Spain due to suspicions of them being unfit for the food chain or having been declared dead prematurely. The resulting non-compliance notices were shared among EU member states through the Commission’s agri-food network.
RTÉ’s investigation revealed illegal activities at an Irish abattoir, Shannonside Foods, including re-microchipping horses before slaughter. European Commission spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaecker emphasized zero tolerance for fraud, pledging intervention in identified cases. The investigation also raised concerns about imported horse meat potentially entering the food chain in an unsafe manner.
The European Commission issued non-compliance notices affecting 332 horses slaughtered in Ireland, Italy, and Spain, highlighting illegal slaughtering and traceability defects. Professor Christopher Elliot warned of ongoing traceability issues in the horse meat industry, calling for improved oversight and data sharing across member states.
The comprehensive report from RTÉ Investigates airs on Prime Time, providing deeper insights into the alarming findings and systemic problems in the industry.
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