Asia Pacific | China's Jiang: Ag Reforms One of 2002's Highlights | Chinese p...

Asia Pacific

 

China's Jiang: Ag Reforms One of 2002's Highlights

Chinese president Jiang Zemin noted that agricultural reforms were one of the highlights of 2002. In his New Year's message, he noted the following:

 

Japan close to marketing beef from cloned cattle; U.S. producers urging caution
As the Japanese move closer to marketing beef from cloned cattle, U.S. producers of cloned livestock continue to suggest that such a proposal is not cost effective and that government agencies have yet to officially declare milk and meat from cloned cattle safe to eat.

 

Americas

 

Canada, Mexico Halt Imports of Calif. Poultry/Products
The situation for California poultry continues to deteriorate. Canada and Mexico have now banned shipments of poultry and poultry products from the state due to an outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease.

 

USDA offers $5 mln export credits to Dominican Rep.

WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department on Thursday said it was offering $5 million in short-term credit guarantees to encourage the Dominican Republic to buy U.S. farm goods.

 

New Brazil ag min to grow more food, raise exports

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Brazil's new agricultural minister, Roberto Rodrigues, pledged on Thursday to expand agricultural and livestock production to help feed Brazil's poor and increase export revenue.

 

Canada Changes Labeling Rules
New regulations released on claims about nutrition and health benefits of food.

 

Europe

 

Russia to limit meat imports
Russian officials proposed new beef, pork and poultry import quotas to shore up the country's domestic-meat industry in the wake of a government analysis implicating excessive European Union meat imports.The quotas will become effective three months after approval by the Russian Prime Minister. Russia's Deputy Prime Minister German Gref said the decision was made to give Russian farmers an opportunity to boost production.The proposal calls for beef imports within an annual quota of 420,000 metric tons to carry a 15 percent import or not less than 0.15 euro per kilogram (2.2 pounds). Imports above the quota would be subject to an import duty of 60 percent or not less than 0.6 euros per kilo. It is not clear how the new quotas will affect U.S. exports to Russia, but declines are expected. Although Russia is not a huge importer of U.S. beef, a reduction in poultry exports to Russia results in excessive domestic supplies. This negatively affected all meat prices during much of 2002.

 

Specified Risk Material found in Irish beef
Specified risk material found in beef from the Republic of Ireland.

 

Crackdown on Illegal Meat Imports
New EU rules on personal meat imports come into force.

 

USA

 

U.S. firm says StarLink corn slipped through tests

CHICAGO, Jan 2 (Reuters) - The unapproved StarLink biotech corn that showed up in Japan last week slipped through a series of tests, the company that sold the grain said on Thursday.

 

Angus Makes Better Burgers
Fast-food chain evaluates the impact of Angus beef on the quality of its hamburgers.