As the German dioxin scare develops the number of farm closures has risen to 4,700. Of these 4,468 are in the state of Lower Saxony, where the crisis originated and where 2,500 out of the 3,000 tonnes of contaminated fatty acids used for animal fodder were delivered in late 2010. Deliveries have been halted until farms are checked and found clear of contamination with the carcinogen.

The closures and ban on deliveries apply equally to businesses implicated with production of the contaminated feed. The Agricultural Ministry in Berlin say the embargo should be gradually lifted in the coming days, once tests have been carried out on farms.

Harles und Jentzsch, the firm responsible for the scare, supplied 25 animal feed makers with fatty acids intended only for industrial use. Instead, these fatty acids were used to enrich feed for egg-laying hens, poultry and pigs. A ministry spokesperson revealed that out of 20 samples analysed, nine showed dioxin levels higher, or much higher than the legal limits.

The German Government has stated that up to 150,000 tonnes of feed were feared to have been contaminated. The crisis was sparked when dioxin levels exceeding legal limits were found in eggs in late December. The scare has now spread to thirteen states within Germany, with eight of these seeing farm closures. 

Tainted feed firm passed safety inspection

It has been revealed that Harles und Jenzsch passed their certification for quality and safety, conducted by monitoring firm Dekra, on October 18. The Dekra press office has told the German press that their evaluation did not involve analysing the feed, and that this was in line with their protocols. A spokesperson said “The Dekra Certification Company did not assess or analyze any products within the certification framework and also, in accordance with the quality and safety requirements, carried out no analysis.”

On Wednesday, German authorities informed the EU's Executive Commission and business partners that 136,000 eggs, nine tonnes of product, feared to be contaminated had been exported to the Netherlands.

Hunt for contaminated eggs leads to Britain

The European Commission revealed Thursday that the hunt for the dioxin-tainted eggs has also moved to Britain, where fourteen tonnes of tainted eggs have been exported for use in processed food. Following their export to the Netherlands, eggs were mixed with non-contaminated ones to make liquid egg, which was then exported to the UK.

However, the UK Food Standard Agency have stressed that there is not thought to be a risk to humans, as the eggs would have been diluted with other products. A spokesperson today said "The FSA is currently liaising with the industry and will provide further updates as information becomes available."

There have been calls for restitution in Germany, where officials have speculated that the incident could lead to new rules on animal feed; Friedrich Ostendorff, a Green MP and farmer, has advocated tougher legislation, saying “Without new laws, we will not get a grip on the animal feed industry. We need a precise set of rules about what may go into animal feed.”

German Consumer Minister Ilse Aigner has lambasted the carelessness of Harles und Jentzsch, declaring that “Anyone who puts the existence of hundreds of firms at risk and endangers the health of consumers must be held accountable,” and Helmut Born, head of the German Farmers’ Federation (DBV) has demanded that “Losses for farmers who have to cull their chickens and destroy their eggs will have to be compensated for by those causing this damage.”

German farmers have claimed that they face insolvency due to the farm closures, as their costs continue to mount while their farms are under quarantine. Amid rising anger, employees of Harles und Jentzsch have begun to receive death threats.

The company claims that they notified the authorities themselves about the contamination; marketing chief Klaus Voss told German newspaper Westfalen-Blatt  that Harles und Jentzsch “will likely have to close up shop" as a result of the scandal.