Authorities here, and in the UK, have been criticised for the slow pace of their investigation into the horsemeat scandal.

Six months after the Food Safety Authority revealed horsemeat had been found in frozen burgers made here, a British parliamentary inquiry says prosecutions should be mounted.

It says the scandal was most likely due to fraud, and described it as 'highly organised'.

The British Environment and Rural Affairs Committee says it's dismayed at the slow pace of investigations into how horsemeat came to be passed off as beef in millions of "beefburgers" and ready meals.

Its report, made public this morning, says Irish and British authorities failed to acknowledge the extent of the network or prosecute any companies involved.

MPs say they are "dismayed at the slow pace of investigations".

The report is also critical of retailers, arguing they should have been more vigilant.

It recommends retailers carry out regular DNA tests on meat and meat-based ingredients and says the cost should be borne by food producers themselves and not passed on to consumers.

The committee of British politicians wants an "assurance that prosecutions will be mounted where there is evidence of fraud or other illegal activity."