Minimal fine for Harles & Jentzsch in dioxin scandal

Feed ingredient supplier Harles & Jentzsch in Uetersen, Germany might get away with a mild penalty for causing the dioxin scandal earlier this year. Indications are a fine of €20,000 (US$28,536.98).

Harles & Jentzsch (H&J) is considered having caused the dioxin scandal in Germany, resulting in the killing and destruction of thousands of animals and blocking of almost 5,000 farms, resulting in a dramatic loss of revenue for the meat and egg sector.

Agriculture law experts say the German Feed Law offers room for interpretation. H&J apparently did not contaminate feed with dioxin, but only feed fats, or a component of animal feed. Read more ... 

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers

Dioxin scandal: Fat supplier files for bankruptcy

The feed company Harles and Jentzsch, which is accused of causing the German dioxin scandal, has filed for bankruptcy. Harles & Jentzsch from Uetersen in Schleswig-Holstein on Wednesday afternoon at the District Court of Pinneberg submitted an application for insolvency. As a provisional liquidator, the court had appointed a lawyer from Hamburg.

The company is suspected of having marketed dioxin-contaminated industrial fats as feed fats and thus caused the recent dioxin scandal where thousands of farms are involved that have received contaminated feeds. Last week already the GMP+ accreditation of the company was withdrawn. Sources said Harles & Jentzsch had GMP+ certification for its major processing unit, but the contaminated fats were processed at a different location which was not audited.

The People's Republic of China has halted the imports of eggs and pork from Germany from fear of containing too much dioxin, press agency AFP reports. The border has been closed even for products in which traces of German pork or eggs have been processed. This was made public by the Chinese watchdog for food safety. The ban has been put in place by January 11. Ships that have left Germany for China, loaded with potentially contaminated products, will not be sent back but will have to be tested for dioxin. Read more...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.