A meat trader from Oss has lost his bid to stop the food safety body NVWA recalling up to 50 tonnes of meat which may have been contaminated by horse.

Trader Willy Selten, who was this week declared bankrupt, described the recall as ridiculous and went to court in an effort to have it stopped.

The court ruled that because the recall has begun, and letters have been sent to Selten’s customers, it should go ahead.  However, some two million kilos of meat in Selten’s freezers can be sold, the court said.

The recall was started because of the risk of contamination and because Selten’s paperwork was not in order and the origins of some of the meat could not be traced. He is also suspected of being involved in fraud and money laundering, news agency ANP said.

Halal

Meanwhile, another Dutch meat trader known as Jan F has admitted selling horse meat as halal beef between 2007 and the beginning of 2009. F is director of Cyprus-based trader Draap (the Dutch word for horse spelt backwards).

A court in Breda is currently hearing F’s appeal against a jail term for fraud handed down last year. F faces 18 months in jail. The public prosecution department will also try to claim €3m from F under the law on criminal proceeds.

F denies fraud, saying his two French customers, an Amsterdam slaughterhouse and the halal certification company knew he was dealing in horse meat.