The European Commission is preparing to order cross-border restrictions on selling Irish pork and pork products in the EU following the discovery of widespread dioxin contamination.

Today (8 December), Brussels said it would “organise within very short notice” a meeting between the food safety authorities of EU countries importing potentially contaminated Irish pork “to share information and to ensure a harmonised enforcement approach.”

Later today, the Commission expects to circulate information about the distribution of these pork and pork products inside and outside the EU via its Rapid Alert System for Feed and Food.

The Commission added that dioxin contaminated pig feed, which has been identified as the cause of the crisis, was also delivered to some cattle farms – although not dairy farms. Movement of livestock and food from these establishments have been blocked.

Brussels has indicated that 12 EU countries and nine non-EU countries have imported meat from Ireland that is subject to recall. Japan, Singapore and South Korea have suspended imports of Irish pork.