Germany closed nearly 5,000 farms

On January 6, the German government ordered the closure of 4,709 livestock farms across the country to prevent the risk of dioxin contamination after the eggs of dioxin contaminated eggs were discovered on January 3.

According to the German Ministry of Agriculture, among the closed farms there were 4,468 pig and poultry farms in the Lower Saxony region (north), northwestern Germany. These farms will be closed until there are clear test results on dioxin content in animal feed as well as in products produced from here.

Technician Ludger Wessel of the Muenster Veterinary and Chemical Investigation Office examined dioxin levels in chicken eggs on January 4 (Photo: AFP)

Dioxin is a highly toxic compound formed during the incineration of waste and industrial air emission processes such as in the manufacture of chemicals, pesticides, steel, paint, paper . that are being organized by the Health Organization. The world (WHO) classifies as a carcinogen . Absorption of a small amount of dioxin does not pose an immediate danger, but it is difficult for the human body to dispose of it.

According to AFP , 2,500-3,000 tons of fatty acids used as animal feed on farms in November and December 2010 in the Lower Saxony region were contaminated with dioxin. The state agency Schleswig-Holstein said the Harles und Jentzsch Company had provided this material to about 25 regional feed producers. Up to 9/20 animal feed samples have unusually high dioxin levels.

On January 7, Reuters quoted a German Ministry of Agriculture spokesman as saying prosecutors in the country are conducting an investigation and are likely to charge criminal charges against the company if evidence is found. food related to dioxin-contaminated animal feed.

The German Ministry of Agriculture earlier said it was possible that 150,000 tons of feed had been contaminated with dioxin . Responding to this scandal, German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner called for strengthening measures and tightening regulations on dioxin levels in animal feed to protect consumers.

Ms. Ilse said the German government will discuss with state governments the revision of the law regulating the use of industrial chemicals in the production of animal feed.

Deutsche Welle newspaper said dioxin contaminated animal feed was discovered in Germany at the end of December 2010 , but it was not until 3 January 2011 that the number of high dioxin chicken eggs was discovered in this market. . About 100,000 chicken eggs produced by two farms in the North Rhine Westphalen state were first discovered. Shortly thereafter, about 1,200 livestock farms in northern Germany were ordered to stop production.

Concerned that dioxin eggs are spreading to the UK and the Netherlands - two imported chicken eggs from Germany for the food production industry, on January 7, German authorities confirmed a suspected farm has a source. The food contaminated with dioxin in Saxony-Anhalt has exported about 136,000 chicken eggs (equivalent to 9 tons of products) to the Netherlands for use in the manufacture of cakes and mayonnaise.

However, according to Frederic Vincent, a health spokesman for the European Commission, it is unclear whether the number of eggs exported to the two countries has dioxin.

Talking with Youth in the afternoon of 7-1, Mr. Duy Trieu - an overseas Vietnamese living in Germany - said that since the information about chicken eggs spread dioxin, German consumers are very confused. Some of his German colleagues switched to using BIO chicken eggs - a garden chicken egg - despite higher prices.

According to Trieu, of the 4,709 farms closed, most are small farms, of which about 50 large farms in eastern Germany. The market for chicken eggs in Germany does not change much, the amount of eggs in supermarkets in his area is still stable and prices are stable.