The Department of Agriculture has called in the gardaí to assist in an investigation into the wrongful certification of beef at a processing plant here, which was destined for the Russian market.
It is understood that the irregularities involved the substitution of beef from male animals with lower priced meat from cows.
However, it is not known yet if any of the cow beef has actually been exported.
The Irish Times reports that irregularities were uncovered during a recent audit by the department at the meat plant.
Russia imports about €50m worth of beef annually in recent years, and is one of the few countries outside the EU buying Irish beef.
