Asia Pacific | Sources say Japan may abandon blanket BSE testingJapan may sto...

Asia Pacific

Sources say Japan may abandon blanket BSE testing
Japan may stop testing cattle younger than 20 months for bovine spongiform encephalopathy because existing test methods cannot readily detect the disease in young animals, sources told the Japan Times.

Korean pork imports post dramatic increase
Pork imports rose 63.2 percent during the first six months of this year, whileKorea's beef imports were down 48.5 percent, according to the Korea Times.

LAMB EXPORT RECORD
Australia reports a 15 percent increase in lamb exports during its 2003-2004 fiscal year due to expansion of new markets.

PORK PRESSURE
Shortages of beef inJapan may require Japan to raise its pork import quotas to fill the beef gap.

Americas

Canada to Enhance BSE Feed Controls
The Government of Canada today announced it will introduce new animal feed restrictions to further strengthen Canada's safeguards against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The Government intends to require the removal of bovine specified risk materials (SRM) from the animal feed chain. SRM are tissues that, in infected cattle, harbour the BSE agent. These tissues are already removed from all animals slaughtered for human consumption.

Canadian PM urges resolution on trade disputes
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin warned a business conference that a major trade dispute was brewing over the United States' closed border policy to live cattle from Canada, and the Canadians were prepared to up the ante by increasing processing capability in their country.

MERCOSUR EXPANSION
Mexico will petition to join the South American trading block.

USA

USDA and HHS Strengthen Safeguards Against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced three actions being taken to further strengthen existing safeguards that protect consumers against the agent that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as "mad cow disease").

Government Announces Strengthened Safeguards Against BSE
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced three actions being taken to further strengthen existing safeguards that protect consumers against the agent that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as "mad cow disease").

RUMINANT PROTEIN PROPOSAL
USDA and HHS propose revising rules covering the use of ruminant-derived proteins.

FDA Taking Step to Ease U.S. BSE Risk
The Bush administration reportedly is considering tighter rules on animal feed to further cut the U.S. risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Colorado State U. Study Evaluates BSE Effects
Despite the positive case of BSE in Washington last December, only 22 percent of a surveyed population changed its buying habits, according to a Colorado State U. study.

Asia Pacific

Sources say Japan may abandon blanket BSE testing
Japan may stop testing cattle younger than 20 months for bovine spongiform encephalopathy because existing test methods cannot readily detect the disease in young animals, sources told the Japan Times.

Korean pork imports post dramatic increase
Pork imports rose 63.2 percent during the first six months of this year, whileKorea's beef imports were down 48.5 percent, according to the Korea Times.

LAMB EXPORT RECORD
Australia reports a 15 percent increase in lamb exports during its 2003-2004 fiscal year due to expansion of new markets.

PORK PRESSURE
Shortages of beef inJapan may require Japan to raise its pork import quotas to fill the beef gap.

Americas

Canada to Enhance BSE Feed Controls
The Government of Canada today announced it will introduce new animal feed restrictions to further strengthen Canada's safeguards against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The Government intends to require the removal of bovine specified risk materials (SRM) from the animal feed chain. SRM are tissues that, in infected cattle, harbour the BSE agent. These tissues are already removed from all animals slaughtered for human consumption.

Canadian PM urges resolution on trade disputes
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin warned a business conference that a major trade dispute was brewing over the United States' closed border policy to live cattle from Canada, and the Canadians were prepared to up the ante by increasing processing capability in their country.

MERCOSUR EXPANSION
Mexico will petition to join the South American trading block.

USA

USDA and HHS Strengthen Safeguards Against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced three actions being taken to further strengthen existing safeguards that protect consumers against the agent that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as "mad cow disease").

Government Announces Strengthened Safeguards Against BSE
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced three actions being taken to further strengthen existing safeguards that protect consumers against the agent that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as "mad cow disease").

RUMINANT PROTEIN PROPOSAL
USDA and HHS propose revising rules covering the use of ruminant-derived proteins.

FDA Taking Step to Ease U.S. BSE Risk
The Bush administration reportedly is considering tighter rules on animal feed to further cut the U.S. risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Colorado State U. Study Evaluates BSE Effects
Despite the positive case of BSE in Washington last December, only 22 percent of a surveyed population changed its buying habits, according to a Colorado State U. study.