Health checks on imported meat are to be stepped up after remnants of spinal cord were found at an Eastbourne abattoir yesterday.

The outlawed offal, banned to prevent BSE, was discovered in two separate consignments of beef at Anglo Dutch Meats (ADM).

Inspectors found spinal cord in five quarters of beef from Kalkar in Germany and seven quarters from Leevwarden in Holland.

Under EU law the material should have been removed from the cattle immediately after slaughter.

It is the third time German beef contaminated with spinal cord has been found at ADM but the first breach detected in Dutch meat.

Both consignments have been detained by the Meat Hygience Service (MHS) and the affected material will be destroyed.

Suzi Leather, deputy chairman of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), said: "None of this meat will get anywhere near the food chain and this shows the importance of robust inspection systems.

"Both the MHS and local authorities have been vigilant in ensuring that BSE controls are being enforced.

"We are investigating the abattoirs that are the source of these breaches and will be informing the relevant enforcement authorities."

The FSA has ordered new health checks on imports of meat, which look set to rise due to the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

Local authorities and the MHS have been told to step up their BSE-related checks as meat from abroad plugs the gap left by the ban on movements of British livestock.

Much of the increase in imported meat due to the foot and mouth outbreak is expected to come from countries affected by BSE, particularly those that have experienced a recent drop in demand and a steep fall in prices.

No one from ADM was available to comment.