March 16, 2010
Northern Ireland Assembly to debate report about contaminated feed
A report into the contamination of animal feed which led to a major cull of animals will be debated by the Stormont Assembly.
Thousands of cattle had to be culled because of dioxin contamination in December 2008. The crisis cost the Northern Ireland Executive more than GBP4 million (US$6 million). The report is expected to be critical of communication issues between the government in the Republic of Ireland and the Executive.
The problem affected pig and cattle herds north and south of the Irish border and caused a major recall of pork products.
The contaminated feed came from one supplier, Millstream Recycling Ltd, in County Wexford. Millstream recycles food products into pig meal and said the dioxins entered the feed when contaminated oil was used in a machine used to dry the feed.
Ten Northern Ireland farms used the contaminated feed. There was a temporary withdrawal of Northern Ireland pork from shops during the scare, however, beef products were not recalled.