Cabinet Secretary Stakeholder Meeting

Meeting was chaired by Michael Mathieson, cabinet Secretary for Health in the absence of Richard Lochhead. (Michael said that he was a good customer of Patricks of Camelon.)

Director of the FSA in Scotland, Charles Milne was also absent at an FSA Board Meeting in London. In his absence Elspeth McDonald reported. She reported on the results of Industry testing for horsemeat, publishing 44 positive in 17 products. Majority of this industry testing now done, next will be quarterly.

DS questioned the collection of this data feeling that more accountable testing procedures were required. After all FSA were relying on companies to tell them what they found and it would appear that the increased scope of testing had only revealed positives for horsemeat in products that had already been identified as being a problem. DS was supported by Scotland Food and Drink.

Further test demanded by FSA would include another 224 samples in UK in 28 local authority then further five each in public sector. EU testing would seek further 150 samples.

Border inspection sampling started 4/3/13 but only on meat from outside the EU.

Local authority visits had taken on all meat plants but not retailers but it had included audits at 26 standalone cold stores.

Products found with more than 1% horsemeat were also tested for tested for bute and none had been found.

Helpline for consumers has tailed off and closed down on 5th March. It would seem that the first phase of this incident is over and public assurance has been achieved.

Citizens forums would be held by FSA and will include Glasgow. The FSA were interested In views on carry over.

Trust had been measured in QMS research insert press release

Jim McLaren requested that contamination should not be the term used. Elspeth confirmed that FSA had been referring to it as “carry over”. Minister said that it was dependent on how media report and that traces of horsemeat was contamination because it should not be there in the first place. Halal and Kosher products cannot afford carry over. Dealing with butchers acknowledged as needing to be proportionate.

Focus has been on horse DNA but pork DNA has been found in sampling.

Source of horsemeat not entirely sure. Birds Eye announced on Tuesday that the source of horsemeat in their products had emanated from a QK Meats plant in Co Kildare.

Threshold questioned by NFUS

Review group headed up by Jim Scudamore in Scotland. Expert Review group will report in summer. That will suggest the necessary testing regime. EU directives may well have a bearing on this.

Communications
Media interest is dying down. Statement from Michael Mathieson (28th February) was the last major item. Ray Jones, chair of Scotland Food and Drink will chair a group on traceability.
Joint statement on Wednesday 6th March
Sunday Mail will publish re beef and lamb substitution.

Butchers need to make the point over traceability and use of Scotch product.
Supermarkets spoke to SRC last Wednesday over what they were doing to restore consumer confidence. They agreed to report test results to FSA but need to address reporting to consumers.

Quality of meat supplied to Local authorities will be examined.

Next steps, restoring confidence will be a long process and the creation of NFB in Scotland also provides an opportunity. It could challenge dietary habits.