A HORSE meat market in the UK would not only help fulfil demand for red meat but also boost animal welfare as well, the Princess Royal has said.

Speaking at the World Horse Welfare charity conference in London last week, Princess Anne, who is president of the organisation, said: “Owners would be more likely to take better care of their animals if they were eventually destined for supermarket shelves.

“Our attitudes to the horse meat trade and the value of horse meat may have to change. There is a debate to be had around the subject.

“Should we be considering a real market for horse meat and would that reduce the number of welfare cases if there was a real value in the horse meat sector?

“I chuck that out for what it’s worth because I think it needs a debate.”

The scandal of horse meat in food earlier this year caused outrage in Britain and left consumers wary of retailers.

Farming chiefs called for tighter and “more transparent”

supply chains. But Princess Anne, a former Olympic eventer, said the furore was mainly caused by the mislabelling of products such as lasagne and meatballs ,which were sold as beef.

She said: “Horse meat in France is more expensive than any other meat and added value has a part to play in reducing animal welfare issues.”