The Verkests were facing charges of forgery and using false documents. The prosecution argued that this showed they knew the fat was contaminated, and tried to hide the fact from their clients. “The defendants were driven purely by lust for profit,” the prosecutor told the court. “They made huge profits through unfair competition with companies who play by the rules.”

The dioxine crisis caused major damage to the food processing and distribution sectors, when first poultry and then pork were suspected of being contaminated. Public demand for chicken plummeted, and it was revealed that the health and agrculture ministers had been informed of the problem a month before the story broke, but took no action. Coincidentally, federal elections took place less than three weeks later, in which ecologist party Agalev made significant gains, allowing them to enter the government for the first time.

Among the other accused were brother and sister Jacques and Jacqueline Thill of the rendering company Fogra in Bertrix (now called Protelux) in the Ardennes. They delivered fat gathered from deep-fryers which was contaminated with PCBs, motor oil and melted plastic. They each were sentenced to one year suspended.

The court will now take time to consider the case of the civil parties, including the government, which is demanding €400 million compensation. Joining them is a group of some 60 farmers and animal feed manufacturers affected by the contaminated products.