Asia Pacific | Japan's Nippon Meat subsidiary official orders beef scam A sec...

Asia Pacific

 

Japan's Nippon Meat subsidiary official orders beef scam
A section chief at a local branch of Nippon Meat Packers Inc. subsidiary Nippon Food Inc. said Thursday he ordered imported beef be passed off as domestic to obtain subsidies under a state-run beef buy-back scheme, Japan's Kyodo News reported.

Investigators begin probe into Nippon Meat subsidiary
HIMEJI, Japan, Aug. 8 Kyodo - Investigators from the farm ministry and the agricultural bureau in the Kinki region launched a probe Thursday at a local branch of Nippon Meat Packers Inc. subsidiary Nippon Food Inc. over a recently revealed scandal involving a state-run beef buyback program.

Good news! Beef prices recovering in Japan
Finally, there is some good news to report about beef in Japan following months of bad news as the result of a bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreak and recent beef-labeling scandals. Kyodo News Service reports that Japanese beef prices are recovering to levels seen before last September's mad cow disease outbreak.

 

USA

 

Common Antibody May Fight 'Mad Cow'
A common antibiotic has shown promising results in the battle against 'mad cow' disease and other brain-wasting diseases, according to a study released by Italian researchers.

 

USDA Assists Klamath Basin Farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the first Klamath Basin Environmental Quality Incentives Program contract under the 2002 Farm Bill was signed today at an on-farm ceremony near Klamath Falls, Ore. 

 

NCBA Expresses Concerns to USDA About Foreign Animal Diseases
The nation's leading cattle producer organization has again contacted key government agency trade, animal health, and food safety officials to express concern about countries wanting to export meat into the U.S.

 

Congress Argues Over Tax Cut Costs
Echoing Reagan-era battles over supply-side economics, Congress' top budget analyst is resisting pressure from Republicans who want estimators to change how they project the costs of tax cuts.

 

Dissecting chronic wasting disease- Barriers likely to prevent spread to humans, cattle, experts at conference say (8/08, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
The barriers preventing chronic wasting disease from spreading to cows and humans remain formidable, more than 400 hunters, public health officials and scientists were told Wednesday.