Four men were convicted in a Paris court last week of falsely labelling horsemeat as beef.

Jacques Poujol, former director of the French meat processor Spanghero, was sentenced to 24 months in jail, with 18 months suspended.

He also had €100,000 that was seized from his home confiscated.

He is banned from working in the meat industry for two years.

Patrice Monguillon, also formerly of Spanghero, received a 12-month sentence, which was suspended.

Dutch trader

Johannes Fasen, a Dutch trader who mislabelled 500t of meat that was sold in ready meals, received a two-year suspended sentence.

His partner and fellow Dutchman, Hendricus Windmeijer, received a one-year suspended sentence.