The UK’s new Central Equine Database will be fully operational this spring, according to Defra minister George Eustice MP. The database has been created in response to the 2013 horsemeat scandal, in order to prevent the accidental or fraudulent slaughter for human consumption of horses – which should not enter the food chain.

In 2013 it was discovered that food items being sold in the UK and EU labelled as containing beef had been adulterated with horse and pigmeat, with the meat content of some items containing up to 100% horsemeat.

Levels of phenylbutazone (bute) were found in tins of Asda Smart Price Corned Beef, albeit at levels too low to affect human health. Animals treated with bute are prohibited from entering the food supply chain.

According to Mr Eustice: “Usability testing has been successfully completed. Defra’s supplier is working closely with Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) to prepare and import their historical passport records into the Central Equine Database, with two thirds of PIOs having now provided data.

“Enforcement bodies, including Local Authorities and the Food Standards Agency, are able to search records and the database will be fully operational for PIOs by spring.”