Page 809 of articles about news

The gross production value in the livestock, meat and egg sector rose sharply last year. The 9% increase amounted to almost € 5.6 billion. This increase can mainly be attributed to the pig sector, where the price levels were higher than in 2007.

Finland’s Ministry of Agriculture has arrived to an agreement with representatives of the swine industry (farmers and meat industries) to improve all aspects related to pig welfare. Producers and industry have made a commitment to revise and improve conditions.

Last week in Chile the law Nº 20,417 was passed through which the Ministry, the Environmental Evaluation Service and the Supervision of the Environment Board were created.

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 major project to deliver clearer labelling to the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme was launched yesterday (Thursday, January 14).

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.

Following interventions by the Commission Belarus has lifted all temporary import restrictions, imposed on animals and animal products from certain EU Member States, based on measures due to pandemic H1/N1 influenza virus.

The results for the agri-food trade balance for December 2009 in Brazil were the best ever for December with a surplus of 3,975 million dollars.