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Asia Pacific
Japan Considers Traceability of Imports
A beef import traceability bill was introduced, then withdrawn, in the Japanese parliament last week. The bill proposed that imported beef should be subject to the same individual identification of cattle as domestically produced beef, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
The red meat industry has received an important boost with the final approval given to form a new representative body for processors, retailers and exporters - the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) - according to Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss.
Americas
More Canadian cattle slaughtered as BSE investigation continues
Canadian authorities have destroyed about 400 cattle and sent the animals' brains for testing in an effort to pinpoint the source of the country's bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease outbreak.
Colombia says half of cattle herd now FMD-free Colombia declared that 52 percent of its 22 million head of cattle are now free of foot-and-mouth disease, with five new regions of the country certified as FMD-free.
Europe
The European Court of Justice has thrown out a decision by the European Commission to end the ban on beef and beef products from Portugal. The ban was introduced to combat BSE.
British poultry companies reintroducing antibiotics
One in five poultry companies that abandoned the use of antibiotics to make chickens grow faster are now using them again, according to a story in London's The Guardian.
Boost for British Beef Exports
A relaxation on restrictive rules on beef exports from the UK has come a step closer after the world animal health body - the Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) - agreed to increase international thresholds for BSE risk categorisation.
USA
BSE in Canada: U.S. Dog Food Recalled
US authorities have confirmed that the remains of the cow which tested positive for BSE in Canada went into dog food, which was sold into the United States. So far 1300 bags of dog food have been recovered from about most US states. Although dogs cannot contract BSE, authorities are taking all precautions to ensure it's not mixed in with other animal feeds.
Critics say U.S. mad cow animal feed rules inadequate
CHICAGO, May 28 (Reuters) - Discovery of mad cow disease in Canada last week has pushed the issue of U.S. livestock feed safety to the forefront, with critics questioning whether U.S. rules are either strong enough or adequately enforced.
BSE scare sparks claims for natural, organic beef
Organic and “natural” beef purveyors exploited news of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Canada to say their products are “a true alternative” for consumers worried about “mad cow” disease. Organic cattle are “never fed rendered animal byproducts that could have been contaminated” with BSE, said Organic Valley Meats in Wisconsin, and California's Niman Ranch made similar claims.
Martell: Corn/Soybean Planting Surge Ahead, Germination Still Slow
Meteorologist Gail Martell of MartellCropProjections.com says planting figures released by USDA Tuesday afternoon met optimistic predictions as Midwest growers seeded crops at a record pace in the week ending May 24. Corn planting advanced 11 percentage points reaching 88% complete while soybean seeding jumped 25 percentage points to reach 50% complete.
Asia Pacific
Japan Considers Traceability of Imports
A beef import traceability bill was introduced, then withdrawn, in the Japanese parliament last week. The bill proposed that imported beef should be subject to the same individual identification of cattle as domestically produced beef, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
The red meat industry has received an important boost with the final approval given to form a new representative body for processors, retailers and exporters - the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) - according to Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss.
Americas
More Canadian cattle slaughtered as BSE investigation continues
Canadian authorities have destroyed about 400 cattle and sent the animals' brains for testing in an effort to pinpoint the source of the country's bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease outbreak.
Colombia says half of cattle herd now FMD-free Colombia declared that 52 percent of its 22 million head of cattle are now free of foot-and-mouth disease, with five new regions of the country certified as FMD-free.
Europe
The European Court of Justice has thrown out a decision by the European Commission to end the ban on beef and beef products from Portugal. The ban was introduced to combat BSE.
British poultry companies reintroducing antibiotics
One in five poultry companies that abandoned the use of antibiotics to make chickens grow faster are now using them again, according to a story in London's The Guardian.
Boost for British Beef Exports
A relaxation on restrictive rules on beef exports from the UK has come a step closer after the world animal health body - the Office Internationale des Epizooties (OIE) - agreed to increase international thresholds for BSE risk categorisation.
USA
BSE in Canada: U.S. Dog Food Recalled
US authorities have confirmed that the remains of the cow which tested positive for BSE in Canada went into dog food, which was sold into the United States. So far 1300 bags of dog food have been recovered from about most US states. Although dogs cannot contract BSE, authorities are taking all precautions to ensure it's not mixed in with other animal feeds.
Critics say U.S. mad cow animal feed rules inadequate
CHICAGO, May 28 (Reuters) - Discovery of mad cow disease in Canada last week has pushed the issue of U.S. livestock feed safety to the forefront, with critics questioning whether U.S. rules are either strong enough or adequately enforced.
BSE scare sparks claims for natural, organic beef
Organic and “natural” beef purveyors exploited news of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Canada to say their products are “a true alternative” for consumers worried about “mad cow” disease. Organic cattle are “never fed rendered animal byproducts that could have been contaminated” with BSE, said Organic Valley Meats in Wisconsin, and California’s Niman Ranch made similar claims.
Martell: Corn/Soybean Planting Surge Ahead, Germination Still Slow
Meteorologist Gail Martell of MartellCropProjections.com says planting figures released by USDA Tuesday afternoon met optimistic predictions as Midwest growers seeded crops at a record pace in the week ending May 24. Corn planting advanced 11 percentage points reaching 88% complete while soybean seeding jumped 25 percentage points to reach 50% complete.