Lithuania bans German meat

Imports of livestock, meat and animal food to Lithuania from Germany were banned on May 29 after reports that organically raised chickens in Germany were probably fed with wheat tainted by a cancer-causing herbicide, said the Lithuanian State Veterinary Service.

"The ban was imposed taking into account the information received from the German State Veterinary Service that animal food and poultry had remnants of nitrofen, banned since 1981", said a statement.

The ban is valid for all kinds of meat and animal food.

The Agriculture Ministry in the German state of Lower Saxony confirmed on June 3 that nitrofen was probably fed to poultry at more than 100 organically-run farms.

The Federal Consumer Affairs Ministry launched an inquiry to find companies involved in distribution of contaminated wheat.

Nitrofen is believed to cause cancer and affects the blood and central nervous system.