Asia Pacific | Japan asks US to prevent Canada beef exports-KyodoJapan on Thu...
Asia Pacific
Japan asks US to prevent Canada beef exports-Kyodo
Japan on Thursday asked the United States to create a system to check data on cows, such as where they are born and bred, to prevent shipments of Canadian beef, Kyodo news agency said, quoting farm ministry officials.
Japan to Raise Beef Tariff to 50% Aug. 1
Japan will raise its tariff on refrigerated beef to 50% from the current 38.5% Aug. 1 due to a surge in beef imports despite strong opposition by the United States and Australia, government sources said Thursday.
Americas
Canadian supermarket cuts ground beef prices to aid sagging beef industry
The Real Canadian Superstore announced that it is reducing the price on its regular ground beef to 49 cents per pound in all its Alberta stores in a bid to support the Canadian beef industry, which has languished since the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease.
Quebec Helps in BSE Recovery
Quebec joins in the national bovine spongiform encephalopathy recovery programmed in Canada.
Europe
WTO chief says "this is the moment" for deal-paper
The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said in an interview published Thursday that world governments were giving strong support to negotiations on a new global trade pact, which he called a hopeful sign.
USA
NPPC commends House on blocking COOL funds
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that includes an amendment offered by its Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas, that prohibits the USDA from using any appropriated funds to enforce mandatory country-of-origin labeling on meat products."The country-of-origin-labeling law, as currently written, clearly requires more congressional attention," says Jon Caspers, National Pork Producers Council president. "NPPC is pleased that members of Congress have recognized that producers have many concerns about the tremendous potential for unintended consequences."
Don't rule out COOL yet
Even though the U.S. House denied the use of funds for COOL, three U.S. senators warn not to write the measure off just yet. The farm-based senators believe they will get the votes to make COOL mandatory. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., all individually commented that the House vote was a temporary setback, and they believe attempts to repeal COOL will fail in the Senate. "We have a bipartisan coalition of Senators who are willing to stand up to the big meatpackers and fight for family farmers and ranchers," Daschle said. "The recent mad-cow scare in Canada is one more reminder that the new labeling law can serve as an important marketing and informational tool."
NCBA schedules open forums
The NCBA's Midyear Conference takes place this week in Dallas, and there is no shortage of issues to discuss. In an effort to encourage member participation, the association has scheduled a series of open forums on some of the more contentious topics facing the beef industry. Forum topics include country-of-origin labeling, the Beef Checkoff, BSE and animal identification.
Asia Pacific
Japan asks US to prevent Canada beef exports-Kyodo
Japan on Thursday asked the United States to create a system to check data on cows, such as where they are born and bred, to prevent shipments of Canadian beef, Kyodo news agency said, quoting farm ministry officials.
Japan to Raise Beef Tariff to 50% Aug. 1
Japan will raise its tariff on refrigerated beef to 50% from the current 38.5% Aug. 1 due to a surge in beef imports despite strong opposition by the United States and Australia, government sources said Thursday.
Americas
Canadian supermarket cuts ground beef prices to aid sagging beef industry
The Real Canadian Superstore announced that it is reducing the price on its regular ground beef to 49 cents per pound in all its Alberta stores in a bid to support the Canadian beef industry, which has languished since the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease.
Quebec Helps in BSE Recovery
Quebec joins in the national bovine spongiform encephalopathy recovery programmed in Canada.
Europe
WTO chief says "this is the moment" for deal-paper
The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said in an interview published Thursday that world governments were giving strong support to negotiations on a new global trade pact, which he called a hopeful sign.
USA
NPPC commends House on blocking COOL funds
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that includes an amendment offered by its Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas, that prohibits the USDA from using any appropriated funds to enforce mandatory country-of-origin labeling on meat products."The country-of-origin-labeling law, as currently written, clearly requires more congressional attention," says Jon Caspers, National Pork Producers Council president. "NPPC is pleased that members of Congress have recognized that producers have many concerns about the tremendous potential for unintended consequences."
Don't rule out COOL yet
Even though the U.S. House denied the use of funds for COOL, three U.S. senators warn not to write the measure off just yet. The farm-based senators believe they will get the votes to make COOL mandatory. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., all individually commented that the House vote was a temporary setback, and they believe attempts to repeal COOL will fail in the Senate. "We have a bipartisan coalition of Senators who are willing to stand up to the big meatpackers and fight for family farmers and ranchers," Daschle said. "The recent mad-cow scare in Canada is one more reminder that the new labeling law can serve as an important marketing and informational tool."
NCBA schedules open forums
The NCBA's Midyear Conference takes place this week in Dallas, and there is no shortage of issues to discuss. In an effort to encourage member participation, the association has scheduled a series of open forums on some of the more contentious topics facing the beef industry. Forum topics include country-of-origin labeling, the Beef Checkoff, BSE and animal identification.