The scandal over insecticide-contaminated eggs that were discovered in the Netherlands last week and withdrawn from sale is taking on a European dimension, after it was revealed the Dutch authorities knew about the problem late last year, but did nothing to prevent their export or inform the rest of the EU.

Neighbour Belgium is furious.

“A report from the Dutch food safety agency, transmitted to the Dutch minister, indicated the presence of fipronil in Dutch eggs as from the end of November 2016”, said the Belgian Agriculture minister Denis Ducarme

AFP factfile on the egg contamination scandal in Europe. Dutch egg probe widens to chicken meat tests https://t.co/IGkFB8asFs #fipronil pic.twitter.com/p0r2NbRiiK— AFP news agency (@AFP) August 9, 2017


The dodgy Dutch eggs made their way into several EU markets, and shops in Germany, the UK, France and Sweden are busy emptying their shelves. The European Commission insists European food standards are second to none despite this clear failure of procedure on the part of the Dutch.

“Member states have the primary responsibility for conducting investigations and taking the appropriates measures. The European Commission has taken and will continue to take all available measures to assist them in their task,” said Commission spokesman Daniel Rosario.

Eggs are eggs, and can be tracked down and binned, but it is unclear how many have found their way into other things, like pasta or baked goods. Each country will have to perform its own enquiry.

New paper: Effects of neonicotinoids and fipronil on non-target invertebrates http://t.co/uKjGRnWMh1 #springerlink— Dave Goulson (@DaveGoulson) 16 septembre 2014