REPORT OF THE CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER
ON SUSPICION OF ADULTERATING BEEF SENT TO IRELAND WITH HORSE
MEAT
On the part of Poland, actions were taken by the Chief Veterinary Officer
on 26 January 2013 when for the first time Ireland sent the information about the
actions carried out in Ireland for the purpose of determining the origin of horse
meat which had been used in producing adulterated beef burgers and about the
detection of that horse meat in samples taken from frozen beef trimmings coming
from Poland (in accordance with indications on the product label). In connection
with the received information about potential irregularities, despite the fact that
supervision of the quality of food of animal origin does not lie within the
competence of the Veterinary Inspection, the Chief Veterinary Officer, bearing in
mind that consumers had to be ensured safety, took actions aimed at clarifying that
situation. On 27 January 2013 (Sunday), the crisis staff was convened at the
General Veterinary Inspectorate. On the same day, it was ordered to carry out
inspections in two regions, in which there are three plants providing raw material frozen beef trimmings - to the Irish plant, in which adulteration with horse meat
had been identified. Also on the same day, the Irish Chief Veterinary Officer was
contacted with a request to provide additional information about the Irish
investigation. On 28 January 2013, after receiving from Ireland the information
about another plants which had sold meat to Food Service Sp. z o.o. (cutting and
processing plant sending the product to the plant in Ireland), 4 regional veterinary
officers were ordered to carry out inspections in 5 slaughterhouses that had
supplied that meat. On 29 January 2013, another conference call with the Irish
authorities on that issue was held.
Starting from 29 January 2013, the Veterinary Inspection has started taking
samples for tests to determine the quality of meat in beef trimmings. In total, the
National Veterinary Research Institute in Puławy (NVRI) tested 479 samples taken
in Polish cold stores. In the first period, the samples in question were tested using
only the method of isoelectric focusing of proteins in the pH concentration gradient
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(IEF) - 110 pieces, and once the Commission recommendations 2013/99/EU
of 19 February 2013 on a coordinated control plan with a view to establish the
prevalence of fraudulent practices in the marketing of certain foods (OJ EU L 48
of 21.02.2013, p. 28) entered into force, using the real-time PCR method - 369
pieces. As part of the pool of samples tested using the IEF method only,
confirmatory tests using the real-time PCR method were carried out (11 samples)
and the 100% compliance of results was achieved. All results, which confirmed the
presence of horse DNA in the tested samples, were provided, in accordance with
competence to the Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection.
RASFF NOTIFICATIONS
In connection with the information notifications made by Ireland under the Rapid
Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), it was found that the manufacturer of the
product in question, in case of the notification No. 2013.0163 of 8 February 2013
were the Polish establishments. The entity which sent the product obtained from
those plants was Food Service Sp. z o.o. Zakłady Mięsne, ul. Mszczonowska 35A,
96-200 Rawa Mazowiecka, approval number 10133803.
As it results from the information provided by the field bodies of the Veterinary
Inspection, the shipment tested by Ireland, in which the presence of horse DNA at
the level of 4.1% had been found, consisted of the product coming from two
establishments whereas on 30 November 2012, Food Service Sp. z o.o. (approval
number 10133803) provided the shipment to the Irish customer – Silvercrest plant in a form of 22 pallets of beef trimmings.
Another results submitted by Ireland (presence of horse DNA at the level of 3.8%,
7.6%, 13.1%) relate to the shipments from 3 Polish establishments. The shipment of
22 pallets of beef trimmings through Food Service Sp. z o.o. took place on
30 November 2012. As it results from a statement made by the entity, in November
2012 6 shipments of beef in a form of quarters, portions and trimmings were
implemented.
Another result presented by Ireland – the presence of horse DNA at the level of
37.8% - refers to the shipment made on 21 September 2011 (trade document
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No. 25/2011) where raw material was referred to as Polish, but the specification
No. 22/2011 of 21 September 2011 refers to meat from Sweden.
All plants from which above mentioned consignments were dispatched are approved
for slaughter and/or cutting of beef and pork only, and to Food Service Sp. z o.o. in
Rawa Mazowiecka (approval number 10133803) they sent beef only. In Food Service
Sp. z o.o. (approval number 10133803), 14 beef samples have been taken in order
to determine the quality of meat, with samples coming from production batches
manufactured in the period between 28 November 2012 and 14 January 2013. The
results of testing have not demonstrated any presence of horse DNA in the samples.
On 4 February 2013, Ireland provided Poland with the information that the
presence of horse DNA at the level of 75% had been found in the shipment of beef
sent to Ireland and the United Kingdom by FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j., P. Mikulec, M. J. B.
Plata, Moszczenica Wyżna, 33-340 Stary Sącz, approval number 12103801. It is the
only company approved for slaughter and cutting of both beef and horse meat.
According to the manufacturer’s statement, the company did not ship horse meat to
Ireland and the United Kingdom, but only beef.
From the findings of an investigation carried out at FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j. it results
that in the years 2012-2013 company sent 21 beef shipments to Ireland and the
United Kingdom. One of the shipments, sent on 16 October 2012 from the cold
store “PAGO” in Dąbrowa Górnicza (approval number 24651101), was complained
about on 16 November 2012 by the British customer, i.e. Flexi Foods LTD,
4 Newland House Newland Science Park Inglemire Lane, Hull, HU6 7TQ, while the
place of destination was DINOS & SONS Continental Foods Millmead Road
Tottenham N179QU, London, United Kingdom. The product (frozen beef trimmings
80/20) was sent from the Polish cold store in the quantity of 4,956 kg. The British
customer did not give any reasons for the complaint and sent the product back to
the Polish cold store, together with the CMR international bill of lading in which it
was indicated that the tranche contained 10 pallets of beef trimmings 80/20 in the
quantity of 9,981.50 kg. On 27 November 2012, the Polish manufacturer made a
visual assessment of the product and did not recognise the complaint for the
following reasons:
the quantity of the product complained about did not correspond to the quantity
of the product sent from Poland, which is confirmed by the document issued in
the UK,
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labels on the pallets of returned trimmings 80/20 were forged (different font,
different data, different weights than those in the Polish loading documents),
weights written on the pallets were indicated as half-weights (e.g. 0.5 kg), and
both Polish entities do not use half-weights,
cardboard sheets on the pallets were not used by the Polish manufacturer,
the product was partially packed in double bags and the Polish manufacturer
does not use such bags,
green plastic film under stretch film was not used by FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j.
blue wooden pallets were not used by the Polish manufacturers,
two pallets contained trimmings 90/10, while they did not bear a seal applied by
FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j. (each plastic film should bear a label with the identification
number of the manufacturer).
In the opinion of the manufacturer, the product complained about has been
tampered and its condition showed the mixing of different products from different
plants. According to the documentation received, the rejection of the complaint has
been accepted by Flexi Foods LTD and on 8 January 2013, by the means of
transport with the registration numbers WGM XS58/WMA 66CS, the product was
sent to the British customer. However, there is no evidence that the consignment
actually reached Flexi Foods LTD.
From the information from the Irish services it appears that beef trimmings in
which the presence of horse DNA at the level of 75% has been found, were sent to
Rangeland Meats from the Polish company Food Service Sp. z o.o. through the
agent companies, i.e. Norwest Foods and Mc Adams. However, from the findings of
the Polish veterinary services it results that the only product sent from FHU
“MIPOL” Sp. j. to Food Service Sp. z o.o. was beef tallow, which was sent by Food
Service Sp. z o.o. to Tajikistan in the quantity of 3,055 kg. At FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j.
3 samples of beef, produced in the period from 7 November to 10 December 2012,
were taken to be tested for the quality of meat. The results did not show the
presence of horse DNA.
Under the RASFF information notification No. 2013.0194, it was found that Food
Service Sp. z o.o. Zakłady Mięsne, ul. Mszczonowska 35A, 96-200 Rawa
Mazowiecka, approval number 10133803, did not sell beef to Rangeland Foods.
Food Service Sp. z o.o. did not and does not produce a beef product range called
4
“95vl FQ trimmings”. In 2012, Food Service Sp. z o.o. sent only one shipment to
McAdam Food Product - i.e. on 30 November 2012, it sent 21 tons of frozen beef
80/20. That product came from Spain (meat was delivered to Food Service Sp. z o.o.
on 22 November 2012), as well as from the Polish slaughterhouse (1 ton) purchased
by Food Service Sp. z o.o. on 25 October 2012. In the cold store of Food Service
Sp. z o.o., 2,822 kg (3 pallets) of meat of Spanish origin were left. From that meat,
samples were taken and sent on 7 February 2013 to NVRI in Puławy to be tested for
the presence of horse DNA. The tests gave negative results.
The Chief Veterinary Officer received the results of the Agricultural and Food
Quality Inspection’s investigation regarding also the information notifications
No. 2013.0472 of 3 April 2013 and No. 2013.0481 of 3 April 2013. They show that
in the plant FHU "MIPOL" Sp. j. 4 samples of meat for laboratory testing to
determine its quality were collected and there was no horse DNA detected.
Documentation relating to these notifications was secured and taken by the
Department for the Economic Crimes, District Police Headquarters in Nowy Sącz.
INSPECTION AT THE IRISH CUSTOMERS OF QUESTIONED MEAT
On 12-15 February 2013, the representatives of the Polish Veterinary Inspection
and of Food Service Sp. z o.o. carried out an inspection at the individual Irish
plants being in possession the pallets with beef in which the local veterinary
services had detected the presence of horse DNA.
On 12 February 2013, during a meeting in Dublin with the Irish representatives as
the Ministry of Agriculture, the situation, which was up-to-date at that time, was
presented. The questioned product has been retained in three Irish companies:
1) Silvercrest Foods (8 pallets) – in opinion of the Irish side originating in Food
Service Sp. z o.o. (approval number 10133803),
2) Rangeland Foods – in opinion of the Irish side originating in Food Service
Sp. z o.o. (1 pallet) and in FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j. (4 pallets),
3) QK Meats cold store – in opinion of the Irish side originating in several Polish
plants and in which, after carrying out the proprietary tests, the presence of
horse meat has been found. in opinion of the Irish side it was the product sent
from Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. (approval number 30270106),
5
Skłodowscy Sp. z o.o. (approval number 20080304) and Meat Cutting and
Packing Plant “Mogral” Grzegorz Grabowski (approval number 30094202).
At the QK Meats cold store, the following inventories of the retained product have
been shown:
product from Ubojnia Zwierząt Gospodarczych Kucała Stanisław, approval
number 14233801 - the result confirming the presence of horse DNA obtained
on 26 November 2012 – the product returned to Poland on 29 January 2013 in
the quantity of 20,294 kg; the product arrived at QK Meats through an agent
called DK Meats.
product from Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. 95-015 Głowno,
ul. Ludwika Norblina 8, Oddział Ubojnia Linne, 62-730 Dobra, Linne 47,
approval number 30270106 and from MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o., approval number
10203802 (the product in the quantity of 21,610 kg is still in the QK Meats cold
store) – the result confirming the presence of horse DNA obtained on 23 January
2013; the product sent through Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze EUR004;
product from FHU MIPOL Sp. j., approval number 12103801 – the result
confirming the presence of horse DNA obtained on 5 October 2012 – the product
returned to the Polish manufacturer in the quantity of 18,624 kg;
product from Skłodowscy Sp. z o.o., approval number 20080304 (the product in
the quantity of 12,800 kg is still in the QK Meats cold store) – the result
confirming the presence of horse DNA obtained on 13 December 2012;
product from MITMAR Sp. z o.o., approval number 10201101 – the result
confirming the presence of horse DNA obtained on 26 November 2012; the
product arrived at QK Meats through an agent called Tomex Danmark, returned
to the supplier in the quantity of 20,125 kg;
product from Zakład Rozbioru i Pakowania Mięsa “MOGRAL” Grzegorz
Grabowski, approval number 30094202 (the product in the quantity of
21,901 kg is still in the QK Meats cold store) – the result confirming the
presence of horse DNA obtained on 25 January 2013;
product from FHU MIPOL Sp. j., approval number 12103801 – the result
confirming the presence of horse DNA obtained on 27 June 2012; returned to
the Polish manufacturer, but there are discrepancies regarding the declared
returned quantities (QK Meats states that 25,086 kg of meat were returned,
while FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j. claims that 18,624 kg of meat were returned).
6
During an inspection at the Silvercrest plant on 13 February 2013, they confirmed
the presence of 8 pallets of the product in opinion of the Irish side originating in
Food Service Sp. z o.o., in 9 samples of which the different percentages of horse
DNA had been found. The product was sent directly from Food Service Sp. z o.o. on
30 November 2012 and indirectly by Norwest Foods on 14 November 2012. During
the inspection, at the request of Poland, one of the pallets located in the refrigerated
vehicle was disassembled into individual blocks. Raw material was of non-uniform
appearance, it was easy to distinguish at least two types of meat in the individual
blocks - red meat (with slight drying), deliberately mixed with meat of clearly brown,
locally green colour, dry and old. The condition of the blocks showed their having
been thawed and refrozen. The labels were put directly on the slightly thawed
blocks of meat and then wrapped with stretch film. In addition, there were no
spacers between the individual blocks, and the base of the pallet on which the
blocks were arranged was covered in a few cases with a piece of gray paper, in other
cases – with cardboard. There were no seals declared by Food Service Sp. z o.o,
i.e. stickers with the approval number on each side of the pallet in the middle of its
surface. The way of packing and labelling of the product did not correspond to that
applied by the manufacturer. The properly labelled product originating in Food
Service Sp. z o.o. include two A-4 labels on one pallet. In addition, each pallet
contains 4 seals (with the number of the plant and a unique number), pasted on
stretch film. The seals are pasted in the middle of the pallet. Plastic film should be
tight, creaseless. The product should have a form of bare blocks frozen directly in
containers with solid (not mesh) walls without putting plastic film into them. The
blocks are arranged on a wooden pallet with the dimensions of 120 x 100 cm,
covered with cardboard. Each layer of the blocks is covered with plastic film to
prevent bonding of the individual layers. The pallets of 160 cm are wrapped with
stretch film. On the 4 sides of the pallet, a seal with the number of the plant and a
unique number is pasted centrally. Between the layers of stretch film, the pallet
label is put. The last top layer of the blocks is also covered with plastic film.
At Silvercrest Foods, the Polish inspectors were shown 8 pallets, each of which had
the label or a fragment of the label placed between the layers of stretch film or on
top of the pallet:
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Pallet No. 1. Damaged label inserted.
Pallet No. 1. No seal placed on stretch film on the
pallet. Rounded corners show that the pallet has been
thawed before
Pallet No. 1. No seal placed on stretch film on the pallet.
8
Pallet No. 1. Other label damaged.
Pallet No. 1.Spacers made of paper (not of cardboard as in case of the product from Food Service).
9
The pallet No. 13 has 2 A-4 labels placed under stretch film. Also, the pallet does
not bear the internal Silvercrest Food label, which could be seen on some of the
pallets presented:
Pallet No. 13. No seal.
In the pallet No. 15, the label is placed directly on meat. The label comes from the
delivery with the CMR of 30.11.2012. The pallet’s A-4 labels are damaged and seals
are crumpled and displaced. On the pallet, there is also the internal Silvercrest
label:
Pallet No. 15. Damaged label.
Pallet No. 15. Displaced seal. Crumpled stretch film.
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In the pallet No. 16, the product label from the delivery with the CMR of 30.11.2012
was also inserted. The pallet has drawn special attention due to the poor quality of
the product. The label came from the same delivery as, e.g. the pallet No. 13 but
traces of partial thawing of the product on the pallet were visible. This is evidenced
by the rounded corners of the pallets which have been formed in that way due to
thawing and refreezing. The wooden pallet is covered with a layer of paper, not of
cardboard.
Pallet No. 16. Damaged label inserted
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Pallet No. 16. Rounded corners proving that the pallet has been thawed.
Pallet No. 16. Rounded corner proving that the pallet has been partially thawed
12
Pallet No. 16. Frosted block. Meat of the very bad quality. 2 colours of meat visible.
Pallet No. 16. No plastic film between the layers of the blocks.
13
Pallet No. 16. Wooden pallet covered with paper and two plastic bags. This is inconsistent with the
method of packing by the plant.
The small pallet No. 22 has the label for the product with the gross weight of
618 kg, from the direct delivery to Silvercrest Foods, CMR of 30.11.2012.:
Pallet No. 22. Remnants of crumpled stretch film visible. The pallet is re-wrapped using new stretch film
14
Pallet No. 22. Two crumpled seals on one side of the pallet.
Pallet No. 22. Two types of stretch film. One is crumpled. The product is re-wrapped.
15
None of the Polish plants applied a spacer in a form of a sheet of paper printed with “Cisowianka”.
Ideal condition of the label does not show that the product has been transported and stored for 2 years.
16
Seals contain incomplete data (no serial number of the seal)
In accordance with the plant’s practice, the weight was written manually.
17
Label described without diacritical marks. To the printed letter “E”, the so-called “hook” was added
using a marker, thus changing it into the Polish letter “Ę”.
Font not used by the plant, no “EC” symbol and no serial number of the seal.
18
On 13 February 2013, an inspection was also carried out at the cold store holding
the product for Rangeland Foods i.e. questioned raw material in opinion of Irish
side originating from Food Service Sp. z o.o. and FHU „MIPOL” Sp. j. The Polish
delegation was made able to inspect one pallet from both suppliers (the presence of
horse DNA at the level of 75%). The documents accompanying the shipment from
FHU „MIPOL” Sp. j. proved the dispatch of the product (22 pallets) by the McAdam
company, the CMR international bill of lading did not have a number and it
indicated the quantity of meat which differed from that in the specification attached
to the CMR document. The pallet with the product from Food Service Sp. z o.o. has
been delivered to Silvercrest through an agent McAdam and was one of the pallets
purchased by that agent. The remaining pallets with meat came from Spain and
were purchased at Food Service Sp. z o.o. The pallet from Food Service Sp. z o.o.
was repacked by the Irish plant Rangeland Foods, so it did not have the original
packaging and labelling. As in the previous case, we could, however, note the
identical way of mixing of various types of meat in the individual blocks. The pallets
with meat from FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j. had their blocks of meat packed in blue bags
but differences in the colour of those bags were visible, i.e. some were dark blue,
the other light blue. The pallets which were shown to the Polish delegation and
among which horse DNA had been found in one pallet only, were packed in a very
different way. To the individual blocks, various types of blue bags were applied,
some were thicker and navy blue, the other were thin and blue. Also, the way of
separating meat from the pallet was different – on some pallets a blue bag was
placed, on the other - cardboard. The labels were different from those which were
presented, for comparison, by FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j . The way of writing some digits in
Poland differed from that applied on the labels presented by Ireland. Also, the halfweights of 0.5 kg indicated on the labels presented to the Polish delegation were not
used by FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j. (the company uses full weights on its labels).
On 14 February 2013, the Polish delegation had an opportunity to see the blocks of
meat retained by the competent services of the United Kingdom after having been
taken from the pallets in opinion of the Irish sidecoming from Food Service
Sp. z o.o. and sent by the agent McAdam or Flexi Foods to DINOS & SONS
on 8 June 2012 (CMR transport document No. 5081724) in the quantity of
11 pallets of beef trimmings 90/10 (10,500 kg net) and 13 pallets of beef trimmings
80/20 (10,500 kg net). On 19 July 2012, the product was then sent from Flexi
Foods to Rangeland Foods, where it was registered on 23 July 2012. The CMR
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international transport document indicates, as the sender, the Polish entity
PARKUR Sp. z o.o. Tylicz, dealing with slaughter of cattle and horses.
Apart from horse DNA, Great Britain also detected pig DNA in meat in question.
Among the blocks of meat, a remnant of red plastic film with the word “Friskies”
(pet food for cats and dogs made by Purina) was found. In addition, the pallets bore
small labels (so-called seals) with the approval number of Food Service Sp. z o.o.,
but it was clear that they were not original, i.e. in the upper left corner of the label,
the incomplete serial numbers were visible. Meat was packed into a big blue bag
put on the entire pallet. On the surface the pallet, sheets of paper were placed. The
labels, which should have been placed on the individual pallets, were removed
during sampling, but the way they were filled in also may evidence their having
been tampered, as, for example, two different labels were placed on one of the
pallets and on the other – the labels contained incomplete data or the half-weights
which Food Service Sp. z o.o. does not apply.
On the same day, the Polish delegation was brought to the QK Meats plant, in
which samples from the pallets had been taken by the owner of the plant to be
tested for the quality of meat. For the first time, the presence of horse meat was
found on 27 June 2012 in meat originating in FHU “MIPOL” Sp. j. and that meat
was returned to the manufacturer in the quantity of 25,086 kg. Back then,
QK Meats did not inform the competent supervisory authorities of that fact.
Due to the fact that QK Meats had taken meat samples from the selected pallets,
pooling them into one sample from individual suppliers, and due to the
impossibility of indicating from which pallets the samples had been taken
specifically, the Polish delegation asked for showing 3 pallets from each
manufacturer. The presented product was in a better condition than the batches
viewed so far, however, what was visible was the non-uniformity of meat in the
individual blocks, red colour of meat interlaced with brown and the use a sheet of
paper with the visible printed word “Cisowianka” for separating meat from the
wooden pallet. It was found that none of the Polish plants sending product to
QK Meats applied such spacers.
ACTIONS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE INSPECTION AT THE IRISH AND
BRITISH PLANTS
In connection with the visit of the Polish delegation to Ireland, the information was
obtained about the shipments of beef, in which positive results for the presence of
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horse DNA had been obtained, from the Polish plants to QK Meats. The
investigation carried out by the Polish Veterinary Inspection showed the following.
1. Skłodowscy Sp. z o.o., approval number 20080304
In the course of an inspection at Skłodowscy Sp. z o.o., 16-080 Tykocin,
ul. Ogrodowa 26, Zakład Produkcyjny Krypno Kościelne 21 (approval number
20080304), the veterinary services found that in 2012 one shipment of beef took
place (BEEF trimming 80/20) to Ireland, in the quantity of 12,800 kg net (trade
document No. HDI/045/11/2012; shipment on 16 November 2012; batch
manufacture date: 01.07.2012-14.11.2012; customer: Q.K. Meats LTD The
Maudlins, NAAS, CO. KILDARE (IRELAND)). The quantity of the product in the
shipment in question is compliant with the quantity of meat retained at QK Meats.
On the day of shipping to the store, the product from the cold store PAGO Sp. z o.o.,
Gnatowice Stare, 05-085 Kampinos was additionally loaded. From the available
documentation it results that that product was beef (frozen trimmings 90/10) in the
quantity of 7,931 kg, manufacture date 9 October 2012 and shelf date 9 October
2014. The sender of the shipment was P.P.H.U. Gramar Sp. z o.o., ul. Przemysłowa
6, 22-200 Włodawa. In accordance with the transport order, the entire cargo was
delivered to the port in Belgium (Zeebrugge). The documents provided by the
inspector carrying out an inspection at QK Meats are consistent with those
submitted by Skłodowscy Sp. z o.o. to the Polish veterinary services (trade
document, CMR) for control. The positive result of proprietary tests for the presence
of horse protein, obtained by Ireland, has not been confirmed by official tests
carried out by the competent Irish authorities.
2. Ubojnia Zwierząt Gospodarczych Kucała Stanisław, approval number 14233801
In accordance with the findings of the Polish veterinary services, the plant did not
make any direct shipments to the Irish and British market. The customers of the
product of that entity were Polish plants, including: Zakład Rozbioru i Pakowania
Mięsa "MOGRAL" Grzegorz Grabowski, MITMAR Sp. z o.o., Pamapol S.A., PHU Jan
Kowalczyk Kamienna Wola 61 Odrzywół, PPHU HERSAN Chłodnia Składowa
Brzeziny, Zakłady Mięsne Food Service Sp. z o.o. Rawa Mazowiecka, Europejskie
Centrum Gospodarcze Oddział Ubojnia Linne (November and December 2012, beef
elements). In accordance with the findings of an inspection carried out by the Polish
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inspectors in Ireland, the product was to be sent to QK Meats through the agent,
DK Meats, and after obtaining positive results for the presence of horse meat it was
to be returned to the manufacturer in the quantity of 20,294 kg. The lessee of the
plant made a statement, which shows that in 2012 and until April 2013 no returns
of meat have been accepted by the slaughterhouse. It was confirmed by inspections.
The positive result of proprietary tests for the presence of horse DNA, obtained by
Ireland, has not been confirmed by official tests. From the documentation
submitted by Ireland, as well as from the list of customers of the plant Ubojnia
Zwierząt Gospodarczych Kucała Stanisław for the year 2012 it appears that the
product was most probably assembled by MITMAR Sp. z o.o., which regularly
received
smaller
quantities
of
beef
from
the
company
Ubojnia
Zwierząt
Gospodarczych Kucała Stanisław, and then, through DK Meats, sent the product to
QK Meats. In accordance with the findings of the Veterinary Inspection, this
product batch, which through MITMAR Sp. z o.o., should have been returned to the
plant Ubojnia Zwierząt Gospodarczych Kucała Stanisław, was sold through F.H.U
Grzegorz Zajdel, 38-430 Targowiska, ul. Armii Krajowej 13 and to Zakład Masarski
“TRIO” R. Zychowski, W. Kilar Sp. J. 38-200 Jasło, ul. Lwowska 12. Also, the
General Veterinary Inspectorate and the field bodies of the Veterinary Inspection
have recently received complaints regarding illegal horse slaughter at the plant
Ubojnia Zwierząt Gospodarczych Kucała Stanisław. On 22 February 2013, the
Public Prosecutor’s Office in Przysucha was notified of a suspicion of adulterating
beef with horse meat at the Ubojnia Zwierząt Gospodarczych Stanisław Kucała. The
explanatory proceedings in that case conducted by the Veterinary Inspection did
not confirm carrying out illegal horse slaughter at the plant.
It was found that entity F.H.U. Zajdel Grzegorz, 38-430 Targowiska, ul. Armii
Krajowej 13 on 15 February 2013 purchased the entire batch of Class II beef in the
quantity of 20,294 kg from MITMAR Sp. z o.o., 95-015 Głowno, ul. Sikorskiego 5B,
which is confirmed by a VAT invoice. Meat was unloaded on 2 February 2013 at the
Zakład Masarski TRIO in Jasło. The owner of entity F.H.U. Zajdel Grzegorz failed to
produce a trade document. The batch was accompanied by the CMR document only
(unreadable date of issue). Due to a discrepancy between the information about
purchasing the beef batch by establishment F.H.U. Zajdel Grzegorz (15 February
2013) and the documentation confirming the introduction of the product into the
TRIO plant in Jasło (2 February 2013), it was found that meat left Ireland as a
return directly to Jasło, where at the TRIO plant it was unloaded on 2 February
2013. The invoice of sale to FHU Zajdel Grzegorz, 38-430 Targowiska, ul. Armii
22
Krajowej 13 by MITMAR Sp. z o.o. 95-015 Głowno was issued on 15 February 2013.
The differences between the dates were connected with the negotiations between
both entities on the price of meat and Vice President of MITMAR Sp. z o.o. stated
that the entire batch had been accompanied only by the CMR document, which was
a sales document. Ireland has issued no other documentation. As a result of the
further explanatory proceedings carried out at the Zakład Masarski TRIO
R. Zychowski, W. Kilar Sp. j. ul. Lwowska 12, 38-200 Jasło, it was found that on
2 February 2013 the plant received 20,294 kg of Class II beef. At the time of
unloading, that meat was marked with the name of the supplier and the delivery
date in accordance with the identification procedure applicable in the plant. Meat
had been produced by the Ubojnia Zwierząt Gospodarczych Kucała Stanisław
26-132 Wieniawa, Wydrzyn 3, purchased by the agent FHU Zajdel Grzegorz,
38-430 Targowiska, ul. Armii Krajowej 13 from MITMAR Sp. z o. o., 95-015 Głowno,
ul. Sikorskiego 5 B and delivered to the Zakład Masarski TRIO. The entire quantity
of meat, i.e. 20,294 kg has been stored in the container freezer of the Zakład
Masarski TRIO Sp. j. During the explanatory operations, meat samples were taken
to be tested for the quality of meat and those tests did not confirm the presence of
horse DNA.
3. FHU „MIPOL” Sp. j. P. Mikulec, M. J. B. Plata, approval number 12103801
In case of one of returns, the quantities of product delivered, according to the Irish
company QK Meats, to the manufacturer, do not correspond to the data determined
by the field bodies of the Veterinary Inspection. From the documents provided by
FHU MIPOL Sp. j. upon disclosure of the fact that the product had been returned
by QK Meats, it results that the original shipment was sent by FHU MIPOL Sp. j. to
Rotterdam (place of destination according to the CMR bill of lading and trade
document) where the buyer was QK Meats – frozen beef trimmings 90/10 VL in the
invoice No. 1476/2012 of 12 May 2012 in the quantity of 21,095 kg. Contact
between FHU MIPOL Sp. j. and QK Meats took place by an intermediary in the
transaction. The adjustment invoice No. 126/2012 of 30 July 2012 to the invoice
No. 1476/2012 confirms the return of product in the quantity of 17,474 kg. Also,
the CMR document accompanying the return is unclear. The only information
which may be read is: supplier – QK Meats, customer – FHU MIPOL Sp. j., delivery
date: 23 July 2012. According to the information received from the representative of
the plant, the reason for return was the quality incompatible with the order (meat
23
was too fat). This complaint was reported by telephone by sales agent. The plant
accepted the complaint “not to break business contacts”. Surprising is the fact that
the plant had initially concealed the shipment to QK Meats, discrepancies in the
product quantities and only partial (according to FHU MIPOL Sp. j.) return of the
product. There was a difference between the documentation submitted by the field
bodies of the Veterinary Inspection and that by Ireland. The positive results of
proprietary tests for the presence of horse DNA, obtained by Ireland, have not been
confirmed by official tests carried out by the competent Irish authorities.
In case of the second return of product from Ireland in the quantity of 18,610 kg,
the shipment reached the Polish manufacturer in whole.
According to the information received at the beginning of April 2013 from the field
bodies of the Veterinary Inspection, both batches returned by Ireland have been
sent to the plant producing animal feed.
All documentation concerning FHU MIPOL Sp. j. has been retained by the police
and, therefore, carrying out further explanations in the case by the Veterinary
Inspection is hindered. The partial non-compliances have been found in the
available documentation (both that submitted by the field bodies of the Veterinary
Inspection and that by Ireland) in terms of the quantity of the returned product.
4. MITMAR Sp. z o.o., approval number 10201101
The data of the shipment from MITMAR Sp. z o.o. on 12 November 2012 (invoice:
EU 628/650/11/12) correspond to the findings of the inspection at QK Meats (the
quantity of the retained product 20,125 kg, agent). After the goods in question were
returned to cold store of MITMAR Sp. z o.o. official samples were taken to be tested
for the quality of meat. The results showed no presence of horse DNA. A statement
made by the cold store MITMAR Sp. z o.o. on shipments and returns indicates
improper handling of the product by QK Meats (after declaring the return, MITMAR
Sp. z o.o., was informed that meat was not present in the warehouse of QK Meats,
thus the return is invalid, but after some time the product was found and the
return in question was made).
5. MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o., approval number 10203802 and Europejskie Centrum
Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. 95-015 Głowno, ul. Ludwika Norblina 8, Oddział Ubojnia
Linne, 62-730 Dobra, Linne 47, approval number 30270106
24
In 2012, MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o. did not make direct shipments to the Irish market.
Shipments to Ireland from this plant took place primarily through Europejskie
Centrum Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. (approval number 10206008). Shipped meat
questioned by QK Meats supposedly was to have come from animals slaughtered in
the slaughterhouse MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o., however, Ireland did not provide the
documentation accompanying the shipments from MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o. As a
result of an investigation, it was established that the shipment of meat sent to
QK Meat Group was sent through an agent, Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze
Sp. z o.o. from the cold store MAXIMA in Łódź (approval number 10611103) and
included, inter alia, meat derived from slaughter in Europejskie Centrum
Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o., 95-015 Głowno, ul. Ludwika Norblina 8, Oddział Ubojnia
Linne, 63-430 Dobra, Linne 47, approval number 30270106 but cut at the
Ubojnia
Zwierząt
Gospodarczych
Stanisław
Kucała,
Wydrzyn
3,
26-432 Wieniawa, approval number 14233801. In the course of the proceedings,
it was confirmed that the product had been sent from the cold store MAXIMA, but it
came from the cold store of Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o., approval
number 30271102 (trade document No. 11.22/12) and from the Zakład RzeźniczoWędliniarski B. W. Miller Sp. j. Kamionka 27A, 29-120 Bliżyn (trade document
No. 2566/2567 and No. 2012/2012), and not directly from MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o.
Since the entries in the trade document issued by the Zakład RzeźniczoWędliniarski B. W. Miller aroused reservations, documents of beef sale by MILEX
MEAT Sp. z o.o. to the Zakład Rzeźniczo-Wędliniarski B. W. Miller Sp. j. were also
inspected. From the invoices and trade documents of MILEX MEAT Sp. for the
period 20.09-31.10.2012, it follows that only beef quarters derived from young
cattle aged up to 30 months were sold. The sales volume according to the invoices
is 4,154 kg of quarters, while according to the trade documents – 5,199.9 kg. The
differences result from the fact that some quarters have not been accepted by the
customer. In the trade documents for Class II beef, sold from the Zakład RzeźniczoWędliniarski B. W. Miller Sp. J. to Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o.,
the recorded manufacture date was 10.2012, therefore the trade documents of
MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o. for the period 20.09-31.10.2012 were analysed. Based on
the available documentation, it was found that MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o. did not sell
Class II beef to the company Zakład Rzeźniczo-Wędliniarski B. W. Miller Sp. J. The
information contained in the trade documents of the company Zakład RzeźniczoWędliniarski B. W. Miller Sp. J. (No. 2566/2567 and No. 2012/2012) shows that
6,680 kg of Class II beef, which was to be produced by MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o., were
25
shipped to Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. In the analysed period,
MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o. sent to the company Zakład Rzeźniczo-Wędliniarski
B. W. Miller Sp. J. beef quarters in the quantity of 4,154 kg, which is confirmed by
copies of the purchase invoices. There is an evident difference in these quantities
(2,526 kg). In connection with the discrepancy between the documentation obtained
from the Regional Veterinary Inspectorate in Poznań and from Ireland and the
findings of the Regional Veterinary Inspectorate in Łodź, there is a suspicion of
forging the documentation for the purpose of the intra-Community marketing of the
product from the plant registered to run the marginal, localised and restricted
activity. On 26 February 2013, the Regional Veterinary Officer from Łódź sent a
notification on suspicion of committing a crime to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in
Końskie.
In connection with suspicions that supplies of beef trimmings to the cold store
MAXIMA in Łodź, from which shipments were made to QK Meats, were not carried
out by MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o. (as indicated on the labelling of the product retained
in Ireland) but by the Zakład Rzeźniczo-Wędliniarski B. W. Miller Sp. j. which was
not approved for intra-Community trade, on 26 February 2013 an inspection
started at the Zakład Rzeźniczo-Wędliniarski B. W. Miller Sp. j. The inspection
revealed the presence of beef quarters with the label of MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o. in
the plant’s cold store. In the plant, there were also about 20 kg of beef trimmings,
from which a sample was taken to be tested for the quality of meat – the result
showed no presence of horse DNA. On the day of the inspection, the owner of the
plant did not have the documentation of the questioned batch of meat sent to
Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. (agent in sales to QK Meats). On the
other hand, he stated that the aforementioned documents were available at the seat
of the company, in Końskie. The trade documents he submitted on 27 February
2013 do not correspond to the documents from Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze
Sp. z o.o. In addition, the documents contained the incorrect veterinary
identification number (26100304) suggesting that the company was approved. The
shipping dates also differed - 4 and 5 December 2012. The owner of the company
stated that he had not issued the documents from Europejskie Centrum
Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. which he was shown. He also stated that he had sold beef
trimmings to the plant Przedsiębiorstwo Handlowo Usługowe Jan Kowalczyk,
Kamienna Wola 5, 26-425 Odrzywół at a frequency of several times a month, for
which he submitted proofs of delivery signed by himself only. He also stated that,
according to his knowledge, meat had been sold to Europejskie Centrum
26
Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. by Przedsiębiorstwo Handlowo Usługowe Jan Kowalczyk,
Kamienna Wola 5, 26-425 Odrzywół and provided a proof of delivery of 6,680 kg of
Class II beef from the plant in Kamienna Wola to Europejskie Centrum
Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. He also said that upon request of Przedsiębiorstwo
Handlowo Usługowe Jan Kowalczyk, Kamienna Wola 5, 26-425 Odrzywół he had
issued invoices for sale of meat from his own plant and trade documents No. 2566
and No. 2567 for Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze in Głowno. He could not
explain the differences in the quantities of meat and the reasons for which he had
issued sales documents for Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. The
District Veterinary Officer in Skarżysko Kamienna sent a letter to the District
Veterinary Officer in Przysucha with a request to confirm the information provided
by the owner of the plant Zakład Rzeźniczo Wędliniarski B. W. Miller Sp. J. about
delivering
of
beef
trimmings
to
Przedsiębiorstwo
Handlowo
Usługowe
Jan Kowalczyk, Kamienna Wola 5, 26-425 Odrzywół, which is under the
supervision of the District Veterinary Officer in Przysucha and to verify if that plant
had the documentation of Zakład Rzeźniczo Wędliniarski B. W. Miller Sp. J.
i.e. trade documents, proofs of delivery, bills. On 1 March 2013, the District
Veterinary Officer in Przysucha tried to carry out an inspection at the plant
Przedsiębiorstwo
Handlowo
Usługowe
Jan
Kowalczyk,
Kamienna
Wola
5,
26-425 Odrzywół (veterinary identification number 14235312 – entity registered for
transport of products of animal origin), but found no one in. In the light of the
differences in the documents presented and inconsistencies in the explanations of
the owner of the plant, the District Veterinary Officer in Skarżysko-Kamienna
on 1 March 2013, sent a notification on suspicion of committing a crime to the
Public Prosecutor’s Office in Końskie, providing also the findings of the inspection.
According to the information obtained from Regional Veterinary Inspectorate in
Siedlce, the meat shipments sent by the plant Zakład Rzeźniczo Wędliniarski
B. W. Miller Sp. J. and accompanied by trade documents No. 2566/2567 and
No. 2012/2012 could have been made only on the basis of making specialised cars
available by Przedsiębiorstwo Handlowo Usługowe Jan Kowalczyk, Kamienna Wola
5, 26-425 Odrzywół. The proof of delivery No. 146/2012 has been issued for the
purposes of a potential road control or other circumstances related to temporary
possession of meat during transport.
Positive results of proprietary tests by the QK Meats company for the quality of
meat have been confirmed by the result of official testing carried out by the
competent Irish services (the presence of horse DNA at the level of 48%). The
27
sample was taken from the pallet marked with the name of MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o.
Test results of 4 samples taken for official tests from 4 pallets of the same shipment
but originating from Europejskie Centrum Gospodarcze Sp. z o.o. were negative.
6. Meat Cutting and Packing Plant “MOGRAL” Grzegorz Grabowski, approval
number 30094202
Zakład Rozbioru i Pakowania Mięsa “MOGRAL” Grzegorz Grabowski, 62-600 Koło,
Powiercie 9b, approval number 30094202 did not buy horse meat, it is not
approved in this regard by any competent authority, however, during an analysis of
suppliers of raw materials to the above-mentioned plant it was found that one of the
suppliers of raw beef for cutting was the Romanian plant SC DOLY-COM SRL
BOTOSANI with the approval number RO83EC. As it results from the list of plants
approved pursuant to the Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, placed on the website of
the Romanian veterinary services, the aforementioned plant is approved for both
slaughter and cutting of beef and horse meat. Raw material from that plant was
used to produce the batch of beef sent to QK Meat Group, Ireland (trade document
No. 96/2012, invoice No. WDT 0018), however, the product questioned in Ireland is
probably the shipment sent on 11 January 2013 (trade document No. 1065, invoice
No. 13-WDT/0007). The suppliers of raw material for production in “MOGRAL” were
only those Polish plants, which, as part of their approvals, do not deal either with
slaughter or cutting of horse meat. The product has been stored in the cold store of
PPM Firma "Marcinkowscy" Krzywiń, Zbęchy Pole, approval number 30111101. The
compliance of the documentation submitted by the Regional Veterinary Inspectorate
in Poznań and that submitted by Ireland was stated. An inspection by the District
Veterinary Officer in Kościan carried out on 19 February 2013 at PPM Firma
"Marcinkowscy", approval number 30111101, confirmed the previous findings
about the shipment of meat from “MOGRAL” on 11 January 2013 to QK Meats in
the quantity of 22,017.64 kg. The product sent from the Marcinkowscy entity to
QK Meats was assembled on the basis of deliveries from “MOGRAL”, which were
implemented in November and December 2012. On the day of the inspection,
samples were also taken for official tests for the quality of meat supplied by
MOGRAL, however, the results did not confirm the presence of horse DNA in them.
But a striking issue is a difference between the quantity of product sent by
“MOGRAL” and that retained at QK Meats, despite the compliance of received trade
documents from both sources. The results of official tests carried out by the
28
competent Irish authorities for the quality of meat confirmed contamination with
horse meat at the level of 0.1% and 0.2% in 2 of 5 samples taken from 5 pallets
retained at QK Meats.
On 1 March 2013, late in the afternoon, the competent Irish authorities informed
Poland by e-mail that in connection with having received of positive results for the
presence of horse protein in proprietary tests carried out by the cold store
QK Meats, official tests for the same were carried out in case of the questioned
batches of product coming from the Polish plants and retained at QK Meats.
In total, 15 samples were taken from 15 pallets of beef trimmings coming from
4 Polish plant. One result indicated a 48% share of horse meat in the batch of
product produced, in accordance with the labelling, by MILEX MEAT Sp. z o.o.,
approval number 10203802. Ireland also sent the photographs in which it could be
seen that the blocks of meat on that pallet were non-uniform and contained dark
fragments. From the report by the competent authorities it results that meat also
had a specific odour indicating its rotting. The pallet, from which the positive result
was obtained due to official tests, has been entirely retained by the competent
authorities. Two positive results at the level of 0.2% and 0.1% were received in case
of the pallets of product originating in “MOGRAL”. In this case, a small amount of
horse protein does not indicate adulteration but contamination. The results of other
12 samples were negative.
CONCLUSIONS
At the moment, there is a number of doubts which do not allow to determine
clearly participation of Polish companies in potential adulteration of beef with horse
meat. There is no concrete evidence that beef was replaced with horse meat in
the
Polish
plants.
Many
agents
are
involved
in
this
illpractice.
Also,
on 12-15 February 2013, the representatives of the Polish Veterinary Inspection
and of Food Service Sp. z o.o. went to Ireland, in order to carry out an inspection at
individual plants in which the pallets with adulterated beef had been present, in
opinion of the Irish side originating from Poland. In the course of that inspection, it
was found that the product had been tampered – the signs of its thawing,
repacking, relabelling and refreezing were detected. New light on the entire crisis
related to adulterating beef with horse meat may be shed by the information
notification No. 2013.0519 of 10 April 2013, in which two Dutch entities acquired
29
horse meat from unknown sources from 1 January 2011 to 15 February 2013 and
blended horse meat with beef, without proper labelling of the product, and in that
period 50,000 tons of the adulterated product were marketed to more than 300
customers in the EU. The customers of the questioned product were also Polish
entities, inter alia, FHU MIPOL Sp. j.
Accepted by
Chief Veterinary Officer
Prepared at the General Veterinary Inspectorate in cooperation with inspectors visiting business operators in
Ireland: Mrs. Katarzyna Piskorz and Mr. Tomasz Peryt.
30