The Federal Health Minister Rudi Demotte (Francophone socialist) announced the lifting of quarantine at the thirty seven companies, in the Lower House of the Federal Parliament, on Wednesday. It has now been established that contaminated fat from Profat was sold to five animal feed manufactures. Four of these are in Flanders and the other is in The Netherlands.
Fear of dioxins entering the food chain has led to more than four hundred meat producers being put under quarantine. Thirty six of these have now been given the all clear.
Three hundred and eighty six others, mainly pork manufactures, remain under quarantine. They are all to have their animals tested for dioxins, in a testing programme that should be completed within the next couple of weeks.
Farmers want compensation
Farmers' organisations have reiterated their demand that Tessenderlo Chemicals should pay compensation to those who have suffered economic damage, as a result of the dioxin scare.
Hydrochloric acid from Tessenderlo Chemicals has been found to be the source of the dioxin contamination. The judicial authorities in Limburg Province are currently investigating whether Tessenderlo Chemicals was negligent.
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