The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to evaluate the risk for consumers arising from the presence of residues of anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone in horsemeat.
This move comes after recent identification of beef products contaminated with horsemeat and the discovery of phenylbutazone - also known as bute - in a small number of horse carcasses intended for the food chain.
The European Union agencies will conduct the joint assessment and will provide scientific advice by 15 April 2013 to help inform decision-making of the European Commission with regard to these recent findings.
For the joint assessment, the two agencies will use all available scientific evidence and consider data and results of ongoing testing of horsemeat in member states as these become available.
EFSA and EMA will provide advice on any potential risk for consumers arising from the presence of phenylbutazone residues in horsemeat. The agencies will evaluate both the risk posed from consumption of horsemeat itself as well as that arising from other products illegally contaminated with horsemeat.
The agencies have been asked to advise, where appropriate, if additional control options are needed to minimize any risks identified.
Phenylbutazone use is permitted in some Member States for pain relief and to reduce inflammation in non-food producing animals such as dogs and sport horses.
However, phenylbutazone is not permitted to be used in the treatment of animals destined for the human food chain and any presence of the substance in food of animal origin therefore results from the illegal use of carcasses of treated horses.
