The Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has said a collective response to the horsemeat crisis is the main focus at a meeting in Brussels.
Mr Coveney is chairing the Agriculture and Fisheries Council today.
Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will also be discussed and the minister said he hopes for an "agreement in principal" on the issue.
Speaking to reporters on his way into the talks, the he said Ireland is leading the way on horsemeat checks.
Mr Coveney said: "We are implementing, domestically, a whole series of DNA checks and we are actually mainstreaming DNA testing within our food safety and health regulations in Ireland.
"Every country has to decide what the response of their own country is, but collectively we need a European response as well and that is what we will be focusing on today."