Australia lifts abattoir welfare standards

17-May-2012 - The government of New South Wales (NSW) has announced measures to improve animal welfare at abattoirs after an undercover video exposing cruelty sparked controversy in February.

Canada denies legalisation of roadkill meat

17-May-2012 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has denied allegations that proposed changes to the meat inspection rules would allow roadkill meat to be served to consumers.

Asian markets join forces against livestock disease

16-May-2012 - The governments of China, South Korea and Japan have vowed to work together to ensure effective livestock disease control across Asia.

Chicken leg duty could damage US-Mexico trade, says report

16-May-2012 - A Mexican duty on US chicken leg quarter imports would damage the US poultry industry and leave many Mexican consumers unable to afford to eat poultry, according to a new report by Dermot Hayes PhD, professor of Economics and Finance at Iowa State University.

New Zealand opens doors to US pork

15-May-2012 - The US National Pork Producers’ Council (NPPC) has welcomed a decision by the New Zealand High Court to allow imports of consumer-ready uncooked pork from countries affected by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

EU lifting of Thai raw chicken ban to affect world trade

14-May-2012 - Brazil and Argentina will face increased competition on the international poultry market now that the EU has announced it would lift its bird flu-related ban on raw chicken from Thailand on 1 July 2012, a report has said.

US industry denies ‘meat glue’ allegations

14-May-2012 - The American meat industry has hit back at claims that transglutaminase (TG), dubbed as ‘meat glue’, was used to form fake premium cuts from low-quality cuts, in an attempt to avoid a media scandal similar to the ‘pink slime’ controversy.

News in brief

Kemin launches antimicrobial for ready-to-eat meat and poultry

11-May-2012 - US food safety company Kemin has launched a propionic acid-based antimicrobial to protect ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products from listeria.

CIS countries face FMD threat

11-May-2012 - Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is actively spreading on countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), especially Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

News in brief

BPI plant closures over ‘pink slime’ become permanent

09-May-2012 - US meat manufacturer Beef Products Inc (BPI) is closing down three of its plants permanently after a month of suspended production caused by the ‘pink slime’ scandal.

Customs Union adopts harmonised meat policy

09-May-2012 - Countries of the Customs Union – Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus – have decided to create and follow a single policy on meat issues, meaning that import restrictions imposed by any of them on a third country will automatically be extended to the rest of the alliance.

China and Bhutan deal with fresh bird flu outbreaks

09-May-2012 - The Chinese government is fighting to contain a fresh outbreak of avian flu virus H5N1 in central China farms, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Safeway to phase out sow gestation crates

08-May-2012 - US supermarket giant Safeway has announced its intention to phase out gestation crates from its pork supply chain due to “animal welfare concerns”, a move encouraged by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

USDA stengthens E.coli controls

04-May-2012 - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a new series of measures meant to protect consumers from E.coli infections.

New FMD strain threatens Middle East

03-May-2012 - A novel strain of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) discovered in Egypt and Libya in February has now spread to the Gaza Strip, putting Gulf countries at risk, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warns.

Russian ban on EU pigs affects Estonian prices

03-May-2012 - The Russian ban on European pig imports forced Estonian producers to cut prices by 20% in April.

UK government increases measures to combat bovine TB

03-May-2012 - The UK’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced further control measures, due to be implemented on 1 July 2012, to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England.

AMI Expo

Good communication essential for product recalls

03-May-2012 - Communication is key when it comes to a product recall, leading experts have told delegates to the American Meat Institute (AMI) Expo in Dallas.

AMI deplores media ‘war’ against ‘pink slime’

02-May-2012 - The US meat industry is going on the offensive when it comes to the ‘pink slime’ furore, claiming the media were “waging war” on the sector.

CIWF worried about EU stall ban compliance

01-May-2012 - Animal welfare organisation Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has expressed concerns over member state compliance to the EU sow stall ban, as only 10 countries are expected to have made the transition by January 2013.

Focus on Denmark

Facing post-2013 challenges

30-Apr-2012 - Exporting 90% of its pork production to countries in and out of the EU, Denmark tends to be ahead of the game when it comes to food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare. But with the requirement to replace sow stalls with group pens due to be implemented by the European Commission in January 2013, the Danish pig industry is facing unprecedented challenges.

Focus on Denmark

Strategy for growth

30-Apr-2012 - Co-operative the Tican Group has adopted several methods to improve production and ensure steady growth in the past 15 years, but the size and location of its abattoir are set to prove a challenge for the future.

Focus on Denmark

Medicinal purposes

30-Apr-2012 - With animal antibiotics in media headlines of late, Denmark finds itself at the forefront of research and investment in food safety.

Focus on Denmark

Ahead of the game

30-Apr-2012 - As the EU sow stall ban draws nearer, Denmark’s pig industry faces a fresh set of challenges, but believes its policies on welfare, the environment and the quality of its products will carry it through.

US beef industry welcomes withdrawal of youth labour law

30-Apr-2012 - The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) commended the Obama administration for withdrawing a proposed rule that would have prevented young people from working on farms.