FOUR men appeared in court yesterday facing charges over the traceability of meat following last year's investigation into the horsemeat scandal.

They are said to have breached food regulations that say meat should be traceable from field to fork.

They appeared in two pairs at Westminster Magistrates' Court, and were sent to Southwark Crown Court, with their next appearance to be on April 28.

Two slaughterhouse bosses face charges over claims that they broke laws governing the traceability of horsemeat.

Peter Boddy, 64, of Todmorden, West Yorkshire, faces two counts of failing to comply with traceability requirements, as does David Moss, 53, of Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, who is also accused of making a false instrument. It was indicated that Boddy would plead not guilty. It is not alleged that the horsemeat was being sold as another meat.

Two men and a company appeared in relation to the alleged mislabelling of goat meat as lamb or mutton.

Dafydd Raw-Rees, 66, the owner of Farmbox Meats Limited in Aberystwyth and Colin Patterson, 43, the company representative, both of Bow Street, Dyfed, are charged with 19 offences contrary to the Food Safety Act 1990, and one of failing to comply with traceability requirements of meat sold by the company.

It was indicated that both would plead not guilty.