Hundreds of tonnes of contaminated cattle feed, which was imported here from Germany last month, has been recalled by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Department scientists found traces of what they termed 'terrestrial bone' in sugar beet pulp imported from Germany into Ireland in two shipments between October 18th and 22nd.
The discovery has prompted an island-wide search for the contaminated food and has led to the recall of over 1,000 tonnes of cattle feed into which the material has already been incorporated.
Bone and meal made from animal bones has been banned from animal feed since 1989 by the EU, and from pig and poultry rations since the year 2000.
A statement from the Department said last night that in the first consignment a total of 1,760 tonnes were imported and 1,645 tonnes of this was still in store when the contamination was discovered. It said that of the remaining 111 tonnes, some 78 tonnes had been recalled to store and the balance of 33 tonnes was incorporated into compound feed.
In relation to the second consignment, a total of 2,281 tonnes was imported and all but 198 tonnes of this was still in storage.
Of this, 124 tonnes were supplied to four outlets in the Republic and 74 tonnes to three outlets in Northern Ireland. In the Republic, all but 25 tonnes have been recalled. This was already incorporated into feed.
The statement said that the Department of Agriculture and Food had been in touch with its opposite number in Northern Ireland and materials were being recalled there too. It stressed that the potential danger to human and animal health from the material was negligible due to the successful recall of the pulp.