Press release

Owen Paterson statement following Europol meeting in the Hague on horse meat – 14 February

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson today met Europol and Eurojust in the Hague to discuss meat fraud.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and The Rt Hon Owen Paterson
• Published: 14 February 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson today met Europol and Eurojust in the Hague to discuss meat fraud. After the meeting, he said:

“I’m very pleased that Europol is formally involved in the investigation on meat fraud, as first instigated by the UK Food Standards Agency.

“This morning I met Europol and Eurojust, who offered their full support to the national law enforcement agencies involved in meat fraud across Europe.

“This is an incredibly important step. It’s increasingly clear that this case reaches right across Europe. It’s clear that Europol is the right organisation to coordinate efforts to uncover all wrongdoing and bring criminals to justice, wherever there may be.

“I will be speaking to my European colleagues again to urge their enforcement agencies to follow our lead and share all information they have with Europol.”

Published 14 February 2013