News in brief

California bans fois gras

A state-wide ban of fois gras will come into effect in California on Sunday (1 July), eight years after the legislation was signed by the then-Californian Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Russia to lift EU import ban

Russia’s veterinary services have announced that the ban on imports of livestock from the EU will soon be partly lifted.

Moldova aims for EU market

Moldova is seeking to dramatically increase exports of meat and meat products to EU countries this year, in response to a failing domestic market.

Antibiotics campaign targets US supermarkets

A new campaign is calling on US supermarkets to stop selling meat raised on antibiotics, claiming that the majority of consumers want antibiotic-free meat.

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New tool to track cattle

The US State of Louisiana has implemented a new system of animal identification that will allow officials to trace a single animal in the event of a disease outbreak or terrorist attack.

Brazil to take action on chicken anti-dumping duty

Brazilian ministers have decided to press ahead with official objections to an anti-dumping duty on chicken exports introduced by South Africa.

UN Conference calls for more sustainable livestock

Agriculture ministers worldwide are digesting the details of the agreement struck at the United Nations (UN) Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which stressed the need for livestock production systems to be more sustainable.

Two firms gain US salmonella testing certification

Two companies have achieved US certification for pathogen testing kits, which can be used to detect salmonella in meat products.

Bodies join forces for global fight against foot-and-mouth

The Food and Agriculture Association (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) have announced a new global strategy for the fight against food-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Scottish producers stress need for CAP reform

Scottish red meat bosses and politicians are pushing for vital CAP reforms that deliver a much-needed boost to livestock numbers in Scotland, in order to meet unprecedented global demand for its products.

Europe must maintain disease vigilance, say experts

Europe should not become complacent about the risks of animal- and food-borne diseases, animal health experts have warned.

Goat and sheep disease causes crisis in Congo

An outbreak of animal disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is threatening to cause a food security crisis, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization has warned.

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International meat industry faces rise in operation costs

Demand for meat around the world is currently strong, but “mounting operation costs, higher shipping expenses and healthy competition” are putting pressure on some producers, according to a report carried out by financial website StockCall.com.

EU meat exporters likely to face barriers

Europe faces significant challenges when exporting animal-derived products, despite having some of the world’s highest standards in animal health, a representative of the EU Commission has warned.

Bilateral deal sees Canada drop Korean access case

Canada has dropped a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against South Korea over access to beef import markets, after the two countries signed a bilateral agreement to end the long-running dispute.

Dutch food packaging company opens new factory in England

The international food packaging company Faerch Plast (FP) opened a new factory in County Durham, England, last week to add to its portfolio of factories in Denmark and the Czech Republic.

Grass-fed meat vital for health, warn experts

Environmental groups are risking human health and the environment by recommending diets that are very low in meat, experts have warned.

EU and Brazil sign sustainable agriculture agreement at Rio+20

Brazil and the European Union have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a dialogue on agriculture following a conference on sustainable and inclusive agriculture held alongside the Rio+20 Summit of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

Russian pig population under ASF threat

Experts in Russia have predicted that the continued spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Central-Federal District of Russia could lead to catastrophic consequences for the country’s pork industry.

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EFSA launches GM consultation

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on its draft guidance for the environmental risk posed by genetically modified animals.

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Award-winning speech on livestock auction markets given at LMA

An award-winning speech about the role of nationwide livestock auction markets has been given to the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) in California, by a 15-year-old boy.

UK minister calls for EU review on livestock journey times

The agriculture minister for the UK, Jim Paice, has called on the European Commission (EC) at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg to asses the rules surrounding the transport of livestock.

Brazilian firm gains Rainforest Alliance recognition

One of the largest organic meat producers in Latin America has become the first company in the world to be awarded Rainforest Alliance certification for sustainable cattle production.

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Anthrax detected in Indonesia

More than 100 cattle and buffaloes have died in two Indonesian villages, following infection with anthrax.

Security pays off for US processor

The meat packer and distributor, Master Purveyors, has seen an increase in staff production and a reduction in theft since installing surveillance hardware and software at their Florida site.

Canada asked to drop hog subsidy prior to TPP talks

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to stop its hog subsidy before entering the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks.

Custom Union to bring in new safety law

The Custom Union (CU) of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus has introduced a new law on the safety of meat and meat products, intended to align safety standards between members and ensure they meet EU and World Trade Organization (WTO) requirements.

EFSA publishes latest SBV assessment

Following the first detection of the Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in Germany in 2011, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently published an assessment of the impact caused by the infection.

Jobs threat as Vion streamlines

Dutch-based food and ingredients company Vion has announced more than 630 potential redundancies in its Dutch and German businesses after disappointing result for 2011 prompted the company to accelerate efficiencies outlined in its long-term strategy plan.

Transatlantic deal on food safety

The UK’s Food Environment Research Agency (Fera), based in York, and US-based Waters Corporation are to open a laboratory-based training facility in the UK, designed to help solve the global food safety challenge.

Russian firm plans state-of-the-art meat processing plant

Russian agricultural company Ariant is constructing a new meat-processing complex, which it claims will be the largest in Europe.

Russian meat group buys agricultural assets

Russian meat processing giant Cherkizovo Group has acquired a number of new agricultural facilities in Central Russia, which it claims will further strengthen its position on the Russian meat market.

New FMD strain found in Kyrgyzstan

An unknown type of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which destroys even vaccinated livestock populations, has been discovered in the republic of Kyrgyzstan.

Schmallenberg may survive winter, says EFSA

The Schmallenberg virus (SBV) may survive this coming winter and infect livestock to the south and east of its current core outbreak areas in Germany, the Netherlands and France, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has warned.

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Brazil in crisis talks over pig industry

Brazil’s agriculture ministers have met with industry representatives for crisis talks about the country’s floundering pig sector.

US firm snaps up Crossgar

A Northern Ireland food firm has been bought by a US corporation, which also acquired another Ireland-based food company in 2009.

US meat exports see mixed results in Q1

Meat exports from the US have shown a mixed performance in the first quarter of 2012, according to a report released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Canadian beef back to Peru

Peru has re-opened its doors to Canadian beef after lifting a ban which was implemented following Canada’s first BSE outbreak in 2003.

World Meat Congress

Tough markets see consumers change habits

With the economic downturn affecting markets all around the world, global consumption habits are changing across the board, consumer expert Helen King told delegates to the World Meat Congress in Paris.

JBS wins injunction against Greenpeace

Brazilian meat company JBS has won a court injunction against Greenpeace, following the publication last week (6 June) of a report, which JBS claimed was ‘erroneous’ and ‘defamatory’.

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Raw beef liver ban in Japan

Japan has announced that it will ban the sale of raw beef liver in restaurants, following a spate of food poisoning cases last year.

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Higher toxoplasmosis risk from organic meat

A report published recently in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal has highlighted the increased risk in humans contracting toxoplasmosis from organic meat.

Canadian industry welcomes new food safety bill

Canada’s meat and livestock industries have welcomed the Canadian government’s proposal to overhaul the country’s food safety regime.

EU and China to share best practice on livestock

Best practice regarding animal husbandry technology and veterinary science is to be shared between the European Union (EU) and China’s meat and livestock industries under a co-operation plan signed this week in Beijing. The agreement was initialled by the EU agriculture commissioner Dacian Ciolos and the Chinese agriculture minister Han Changfu.

Russia set to reform beef production

The Russian government is due to embark on a large-scale development in beef production, which will enable the country to increase its beef export potential within the next 10 years.

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Learn from US horse slaughter ban, says congressman

Lessons need to be learnt from the US ban on horse slaughter or risk similar happening in other protein sectors, a former US congressman has warned.

World Meat Congress

Panda has a lesson for vegans

The panda is a warning for all against veganism, delegates to the World Meat Congress were told.

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Three-way effort on meat’s environmental impact

International meat representatives have announced a deal that will see them work with UN authorities when it comes to assessing the industry’s impact on the environment.

Collaboration results in positive growth for US meat exports

The United States’ Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has highlighted growing red meat exports as the bright spot in expanding American agricultural trade overseas.

Global opportunity for English beef and lamb

English beef and lamb exporters could soon be targeting a wider range of new markets in countries outside the European Union, because exchange rate fluctuations currently makes English meat nearly 7% cheaper than a year ago.

World Meat Congress

Project urges meat industry to combat child hunger

The global meat industry is being called upon to support and back a new initiative to end child starvation and hunger.

World Meat Congress

Younger people needed to farm sheep

The world needs to work together to encourage more youngsters into sheep farming, delegates to the World Meat Congress were told.

NFU president calls for action on food challenges

Focusing on long-term horizons and 2050 forecasts has allowed governments and other organisations to put off big, and sometimes difficult, decisions that need making today, England’s farming leader told delegates to the World Farmers Congress.

World Meat Congress

Swine fever in Russia raises European concern

Concern is rising over the ongoing outbreak of African Swine Fever across Russia and the possibility it could spill out into wider Europe.

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JBS hits back at Greenpeace report

One of the world’s largest meat companies, JBS has threatened legal action over a damaging report published by Greenpeace, which claimed that the company was collaborating in the deforestation of the Brazilian rainforest.

World Meat Congress

GDP fall set to hit meat industry

The economic downturn and fall in global GDP growth is shaping up to be a serious “cloud on the horizon” of the meat industry, a leading expert told delegates to the World Meat Congress in Paris.

UK animal welfare body calls for better transport standards

Britain’s animal welfare charity, the RSPCA, has called for better enforcement of welfare standards for livestock being transported across Europe, and reiterated its call for a maximum eight-hour journey time.

Indonesian Beef Committee calls for increased import quota

The Jakarta Beef Committee recently held a demonstration at Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture. The committee insisted the government add a beef import quota of 50,000 tonnes (t) in the second semester of 2012.

World Meat Congress

World pork industry increasingly efficient

Producers and processors around the world are becoming more efficient at making high-quality pork products according to the International Meat Secretariat (IMS) – and it is benefiting the environment.

World Meat Congress

Senator defends Brazil’s environmental conduct

US and EU farmers would struggle to cope with some of the strict environmental legislation imposed in Brazil, according to a Brazilian senator.

Bird flu detected on a large poultry farm in Russia

Russian veterinary services have warned that avian flu, which is currently spreading through south-east Asia, has been found on a large poultry farm in eastern Russia.

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India poultry firm launches training institute

Indian poultry company Suguna Group has set up an Institute for Poultry Management, offering diploma and certificate courses. The Institute’s principal Dr F R Sheriff said: “We want to promote nutritional safety and (financial) security in India’s poultry sector by attracting educated youth in the field.”

New Zealand defends meat inspection reforms

New Zealand’s food safety body, MAF, has denied that proposed meat inspection reforms are a cost-cutting exercise, but rather designed to bring the country more into line with international standards, while maintaining or improving food safety.

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Sara Lee subsidiary outlines meat strategy

American food giant Sara Lee Corporation, has unveiled an aggressive new strategy of innovation and marketing for its meat business.

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Hong Kong opens up to UK bone-in beef

Hong Kong has agreed to accept UK bone-in beef imports 16 years after all British beef exports were banned due to the BSE crisis.

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Penza region to become largest Russian producer of turkey and beef

The Penza region of Russia is set to become the biggest producer of turkey meat and beef in the country following a joint venture with Damate Agribusiness.

Gold-plating “causing confusion” in EU meat industry

Lack of consistency and gold-plating is causing confusion and undermining the European meat industry on the global stage, according to a leading livestock and meat trading union.

World Meat Congress issues message of cautious optimism

Cautious optimism appears to sum up the general global meat supply scene, with high prices and relatively buoyant export markets, delegates to the World Meat Congress (WMC) were told.

Polish wholesaler upping committment to high welfare pork

One of Poland’s major wholesale retailers has upped its commitment to sourcing high welfare pork.

E.coli testing changes cause concern for US

Meat industry experts are calling the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest plan to test domestic and imported ground beef products for six different strains of E coli unnecessary and a waste of resources.

New blog for American Meat Institute

The American Meat Institute (AMI) continues to embrace the digital communication age. It recently launched its own Facebook page to highlight industry news and has now started publishing a new blog post to keep readers up to date with industry developments.