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The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Meat Hygiene Service (an executive Agency of the FSA) have submitted statements, and witnesses from both agencies are expected to be called to give evidence.

The hearings, which are being chaired by Professor Hugh Pennington, will enable issues which are central to the inquiry to be explored in detail. These include the source of the outbreak, the inspection of food businesses, the procurement of school meals, and the way the outbreak was managed.

Other witnesses likely to be called include representatives from local authorities, the National Public Health Service for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government, expert witnesses and representatives of families and individuals who were affected by the outbreak.

Expected to last six weeks, the hearings will be open to the public and evidence will be published on the inquiry’s website along with full transcripts of each day's proceedings.