The Veterinary Services Division of the Resources Ministry said this afternoon that there was no cause for alarm and no danger to food safety after it closed the emergency section of the abattoir.

A newspaper said this morning that the section was closed because of the presence of rats.

The division said that during an inspection yesterday, 'some shortcomings' were noted and immediate action was taken by the contractor to rectify them.

"There are no grounds for alarm, controls such as those carried out yesterday are meant to ensure public safety at all times because of the nature of the place," the division said.

It added that the contractor's contract was recently extended so that all the abattoir could be regularly disinfected .

"The reported shortcomings were limited to the emergency section only, an area which has the carcasses of horses, sheep and goats, and not the whole abattoir," the division said

It added that in the immediate future, the emergency section would be closed and the slaughter of horses, goats and sheep would take place in the abattoir proper.