Page 318 of articles about markets-economics

Since January 1, 2010, the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan has increased the duty on live pigs for slaughter from 5% to 40%. Several member states such as Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Estonia have been regularly sending pigs for slaughter to these three countries.

EU Member States just gave the green light for the Commission to pursue negotiations towards free trade agreements (FTAs) with individual countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan established a customs union in early December to simplify trade among them. A single set of customs tariffs goes into effect January 1, 2010.

All the national and international economic indicators lead us to expect a recovery in 2010. The swine sector predicts a growth of 9% in production and 14% in exports in 2010 and a recovery in national consumption.

Conditions imposed for the import of pork and pork-based products will be relaxed to ensure sufficient supply of the meat for the upcoming Chinese New Year.

The Food Standards Agency has published new research about country of origin labelling. The Agency commissioned a package of research to find out more about how people understand and use food labels, including ‘country of origin’ labels. The results will both improve the information we have on this subject and also help to inform discussions about a European proposal on food labelling.

The majority of imported pigs in Holland come from Denmark. During 2009, Holland imported three times as many piglets, with imports from Denmark being nearly five times higher than the year before.

A sustained decline in the value of sterling combined with the economic downturn and severe difficulties in the global dairy market created unprecedented challenges for Irish food and drink exporters in 2009, according to Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects report launched today. The value of Irish food and drink exports declined by 12 percent last year, or by just under €1 billion, to stand at €7.12 billion.

During the last year the average base price of the MPB (Marché du Porc Breton) for a pig was 1.146 €, which represents a decrease of 9.3%. Specialists consider this year to be unique since not only did prices fall but there was also a fall in production.

The government has announced it is to begin consulting on the creation of a body to oversee supermarkets’ relationships with suppliers.

An outbreak of FMD was reported by the Republic of Korea on Jan. 6, 2010. As such, the country is no longer considered to be free of FMD.