Horse meat scandal: MEPs want tougher controls and sanctions to ensure food safety

More tests and heavier sanctions for offenders are needed to prevent a second horse meat scandal, according to members of the EP's public health and food safety committee.

They debated on 18 February about what should be done after horse meat had been found mislabelled as beef in several EU countries, however they ruled out the need for new EU legislation.

Committee members also called on member states to better respect existing rules on labelling and to better collaborate on traceability.

MEPs agreed on the need for credible penalties and better enforcement.