Meat producers anxious about possible outcome of EU investigation

Poland's meat producers are facing the loss of subsidies for sales in the EU, if the results of an investigation planned for next week go against them. Meat producers may be accused of exposing consumers to the risk of BSE, even though no case of the disease has ever been found in Poland. "This will be a scandal," said Jerzy Byczynski, head of raw meal producers association Ekoutil. The main problem relates to the disposal of waste products. According to information uncovered by Gazeta Wyborcza, in the past two months only 50% of so-called high risk waste has been sent to specialized recycling plants. EU investigators might also be concerned about claims that meat from unfit animals is being sold for human consumption. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p.1) M.K.