Press Release: Commission publishes European test results on horse DNA and Phenylbutazone: no food safety issues but tougher penalties to apply in the future to fraudulent labelling

Launched in March 2013, the coordinated EU-wide testing for horsemeat DNA and phenylbutazone1 requested, and co-financed, by the European Commission in the wake of the horsemeat scandal has revealed that less than 5% of the tested products had horse DNA and that about 0.5% of the equine carcasses tested were found to be contaminated with bute.

The results have been exchanged through the EU's Rapid Alert for Food and Feed (RASFF) which is an on-line portal that plays a key role in ensuring a high level of food safety for EU citizens since it allows European food safety authorities to swiftly inform each other of serious risks found in relation to food or feed.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU begins month of intensive DNA tests for horsemeat http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-begins-month-of-intensive-dna-tests-for-horsemeat/

ESO: Background information: Widening scandal prompts EU to seek DNA testing of meat http://www.europeansources.info/record/widening-scandal-prompts-eu-to-seek-dna-testing-of-meat/

BBC News, 16.04.13: EU horsemeat and 'bute' random test results expected http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22162872

EurActiv, 17.04.13: Tests show up to 5% of EU beef products contain horsemeat http://www.euractiv.com/health/eu-tests-show-5-horsemeat-beef-p-news-519161

---