Page 871 of articles about news

The Brazilian Government published on April 2, 2009 Joint Directive No. 1 in Brazil's Official Gazette regulating the so-called integrated yellow-green drawback system to allow agricultural processors to be exempt from local taxes on domestic or imported inputs for the processing of agricultural and food products for exports.

Manitoba Pork Council is encouraging swine producers to provide their input on a new draft sustainable development strategy.

During the first part of this decade, the organic food and drinks market grew rapidly; sales in the U.S. and the nine largest European markets reached more then $40 billion in 2007. However, growth appears to have slowed in the market in 2008.

In relation to the news published last week, and according to figures released by the Association of Mexican Pig Meat Exports, in the last three years Mexico has increased its exports to Japan, and in fact Mexico is the only country that has managed to do this. (Original in Spanish).

Germany has banned the only type of genetically-modified crop grown there, the highly insect-resistant MON 810 maize. Germany is the sixth EU country to introduce a provisional ban on the US biotech corn, after France, Austria, Hungary, Luxembourg and Greece.

The pig stock declined by 14.8 per cent in 2008 compared to 2007, while the number of pigs slaughtered increased by 8.3 per cent. In December 2008, the pig population amounted to 65,511 heads, representing a decline of 14.8 per cent, or 11,389 pigs over 2007. The stock of piglets rose by 0.5 per cent, while stocks of young and fattening pigs fell by 21.2 and 22.0 per cent respectively. Breeding stock, which consists mainly of breeding sows, fell by 3.4 per cent when compared to 2007.

Large quantities of U.S. pork and some U.S. beef are shipped to Mexico in large combo containers, which have proven to be an efficient and effective packaging method. In December, however, Mexico announced its intention to ban all incoming meat shipments in combo containers effective January 15. Mexico later revised this policy change by only prohibiting the use of combo containers for frozen meat. Fresh and chilled meats shipped in combo containers are still being accepted in Mexico, but these shipments are scheduled to undergo a change in inspection procedures on April 20. Under the proposed change, products from the top, bottom and middle of each combo bin would require inspection. According to Chad Russell, USMEF regional director for Mexico and the Dominican Republic, this type of inspection creates significant obstacles because of the time and resources required, and the potential for damaging the product.

Members attending Manitoba Pork Council's annual general meeting Tuesday in Winnipeg passed a by-law directing the board of directors to proceed with a series of structural changes designed to keep the organization current with changes in the pork industry. Council chairman Karl Kynoch explains, due to the fact that the pork industry has down-sized, producers felt it was appropriate to down-size the board of directors so an independent committee outside of council was formed to consult with producers and recommend changes.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has amended FSIS Directive 7120.1, which identifies substances approved for use in meat and poultry products as food additives.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sirkka-Liisa Anttila (Centre) is considering whether or not Finnish salmonella enforcement should be upgraded, and if legislation on animal feed should be amended in the light of the recent outbreak of salmonella at the Raisio Feed Ltd. feed plant.

The incidence of the most common foodborne illnesses has changed very little over the past three years, according to a 10-state report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Philippines has imposed a temporary ban on swine, cattle and other FMD-susceptible animals from Taiwan, Egypt and Lebanon after the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) confirmed reports of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in these countries.

Mortality in pigs was reported on the pig farm OOO “Romanovka” in the Salsky Rayon of the Rostovskaya Oblast. Lesions of internal organs typical of African swine fever were detected in dead animals after autopsy. Laboratory analysis of pathological material detected African swine fever virus. All pigs in the settlement of Romanovka (1,875 animals on the farm OOO “Romanovka” and 268 animals in private backyards) were subject to bloodless destruction and incineration. All roads in the settlement were disinfected, quarantine was imposed; veterinary and police posts were established along the roads of the rayon, disinfection barriers were imposed, earth roads leading to the settlement were turned over.

Red meat consumption is forecast to decline in 2009 as middle and lower income consumers are expected to replace consumption of red meat for cheaper processed meat and other protein sources. Despite the reduction in consumption, 2009 red meat production is not expected to decline dramatically. However, 2009 red meat imports from the U.S. are forecast to decline in large part to the fall in the value of the peso relative to the U.S. dollar.