Polish beef imports to Czech to be carefully inspected amid concerns

Czech authorities will inspect all beef imported into the Czech Republic from neighbouring Poland following the discovery of salmonella in a 700 kg batch of imported Polish beef, news agency CTK said on Wednesday.

The agency reported that Agriculture Minister Miroslav Toman had said the government was also considering a ban on Polish imports. The order follows a January food scare sparked by a TV documentary showing a Polish abattoir killing sick cows. Poland produces about 560,000 tonnes of beef a year, with 85 per cent exported.