Page 876 of articles about news

Pollutant emissions from thousands of industrial installations throughout the EU must be further reduced, but more flexibly, said the European Parliament. MEPs back a Commission proposal to update and strengthen existing rules, but inserted new provisions for introducing EU-wide emission limits, greater flexibility in granting permits, excluding small plants, and better informing the public. The resolution was adopted with 402 votes in favour, 189 against and 54 abstentions. The scope of the recast legislation (IPPC directive plus six more specific ones) correspondents more or less to the one of the current directives. It covers different industry sectors from metals, chemicals and paper to processed food, oil refineries and large-scale pig and poultry farms.

EFSA has launched a call for data on the implications of animal cloning. This follows a request from the European Commission to provide further scientific advice on this issue, building on the recommendations included in EFSA’s 2008 opinion on the implications of animal cloning on food safety, animal health and welfare and the environment.

Salmonella has been found in the pig feed Yhdistelmä-Tiiviste (protein concentrate) from the Rehuraisio Oy factory in Raisio. The salmonella found is suspected to be of the same strain of Salmonella Tennessee as the strain previously detected on two egg production farms and in the poultry feed protein concentrate Kanatiiviste Herkku.

China’s CPI dropped 1.6 percent in February from last February, as food, clothing and fuel costs declined. Biggest drops were recorded in pork prices, 18.9 percent lower than last February. This is the first negative CPI in China since 2002, however it is likely to have been influenced by high prices over the Chinese New Year holiday in 2008, which fell in Februay last year but in January this year. The CPI may rise to give a more representative figure in March.

Average retail prices for meat and poultry in Russia increased by more than 23 percent in 2008 while the increase in overall food prices jumped nearly 18 percent. Meat market analysts expect this trend to continue in 2009 as the Russian government continues to take protectionist measures to limit imports of meat and poultry.

The Government of Canada will now allow tax deferrals to livestock producers who are forced to sell animals due to flooding.

During 2008, the number of pigs slaughtered in Germany reached 54.8 million, a 2.9% increase on the previous year. The slaughter of animals from Denmark and Holland also showed a significant increase. (Original in German. Read Google translation here).

Hershell Brown, project director of the Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP) in the ministry, revealed that 2008 was a record-breaking year for the nation's pig farmers.

In the last four years, Mexico has become an important provider of aliments for the Japanese market, having increased exports from 501.1 millon dollars in 2005 to 689.3 millon dollars in 2008. The main agroalimentary products exported from Mexico to Japan last year were pig meat (43%), diverse fruit (23%) and beef. (Original in Spanish. Read Google translation here).

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA will be delivering its first actions implementing the $28 billion provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

In January, Danish exports of pigs to the EU increased by 25% compared to the same month of the previous year. (Original in German. Read Google translation here).

While shoppers are eating out less and cooking more, they are also trading down, substituting and eliminating, resulting in the overall spending amount remaining roughly the same, at $91 per week. While grocery expenses may be relatively unchanged, the way shoppers are spending most certainly is not. The study found that at least half are using coupons whenever possible, buying only what they need and switching from national brands to store brands. Other popular measures include resisting luxury foods and buying items on sale.

The Bureau of Animal Industry has finished culling over 6,000 hogs on a farm in Pandi, Bulacan to stop the transmission of the Ebola Reston virus or ERV. BAI Director Davinio Catbagan said in a report that the depopulation process was completed at 8:15 p.m. Friday with 6,210 hogs of various ages killed, burned, and buried.

The federal agriculture minister says Canada is prepared to resurrect its World Trade Organization challenge to U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling rules once such action becomes necessary.

Classical swine fever or hog cholera has gripped Karnataka, incurring huge losses and hardships for breeders and farmers in the state.