The Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system contains data on cattle, sheep and pigs. The updated database will contain information on more than 70 percent of equine animals registered since January 1980. Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said the information would be used to supplement current checks at slaughterhouses.
In January, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland discovered horse DNA and pig DNA in frozen food products labeled as containing beef. The discovery in Ireland revealed that horse meat tainted beef had been distributed to countries throughout the European Union, and prompted massive food recalls.
