Horsemeat: Government panel set up after scandal

Published on 01/03/2013 00:00

A NEW expert group has been up by the Scottish Government as under-fire ministers sought to reassure the public that there will be no repeat of the ongoing horsemeat scandal.

The group will make key recommendations to ministers during a consultation also launched yesterday on the role of Scotland’s new independent food safety body.

Ministers revealed that no evidence of horsemeat food fraud had been found during inspections of Scottish meat factories, which they said would all be completed bar one by the end of the yesterday.

Public health minister Michael Matheson said: “The expert group will identify any lessons we have learned from this horsemeat scandal.

“The scandal has made clear that a single independent public body should have clear responsibility for all aspects of food safety and standards.”