Asia Pacific | Vietnam agriculture minister offers resignationHANOI, April 29...

Asia Pacific

Vietnam agriculture minister offers resignation
HANOI, April 29 (Reuters) - Vietnam's agriculture minister, who was reprimanded over the involvement of two former deputies in a corruption case, has offered to step down, state media reported on Thursday.

Infected brains on menu for BSE tests
In an unappetizing experiment, health experts will feed cattle the brains of cows infected with mad cow disease to find an early detection method for the brain-wasting disease, officials said.

China to act forcefully to cool down its economy
BEIJING Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said Wednesday that China was committed to forceful measures to cool its fast-growing economy, which has benefited global growth but, left unchecked, has the potential to drag

Americas

Alberta set to unveil new beef marketing campaign
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said he will unveil a recovery plan for the province's beef industry before the week's end, a strategy expected to including an aggressive marketing and ad campaign, but a plan that will offer no additional financial support for producers.

Europe

EU experts to get another chance to end GMO ban
BRUSSELS, April 29 (Reuters) - EU food safety experts will get another chance this week to bury their differences and lift a five-year blockade on new biotech products, possibly before the bloc's controversial ban is soon ended by default.

WORLD: WTO agricultural talks making slow but steady progress
The bitterness and recriminations fuelled by the failure of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Cancun summit last year are beginning to lift, with the restarted Doha Development Round agricultural talks making slow but steady progress.

New Labeling Rules
The European Commission adopts a report on the implementation of beef labeling legislation.

USA

Veneman Highlights Positive Trade Picture For American Agriculture
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today updated the House Agriculture Committee on the Bush administration’s trade agenda and the overall prospects for U.S. agricultural trade noting that the forecast for U.S. agricultural exports is at near record levels for fiscal year 2004.

Midwest co-op to petition USDA to approve voluntary BSE testing
The Missouri-based Gateway Beef Cooperative board of directors is taking a page from the Creekstone Farms playbook, as it plans to petition the Agriculture Department later this week requesting permission to voluntarily test all of their cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Identification System Identified
USDA announces it’s the design and funding sources for a national livestock identification system.

Asia Pacific

Vietnam agriculture minister offers resignation
HANOI, April 29 (Reuters) - Vietnam's agriculture minister, who was reprimanded over the involvement of two former deputies in a corruption case, has offered to step down, state media reported on Thursday.

Infected brains on menu for BSE tests
In an unappetizing experiment, health experts will feed cattle the brains of cows infected with mad cow disease to find an early detection method for the brain-wasting disease, officials said.

China to act forcefully to cool down its economy
BEIJING Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said Wednesday that China was committed to forceful measures to cool its fast-growing economy, which has benefited global growth but, left unchecked, has the potential to drag

Americas

Alberta set to unveil new beef marketing campaign
Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said he will unveil a recovery plan for the province's beef industry before the week's end, a strategy expected to including an aggressive marketing and ad campaign, but a plan that will offer no additional financial support for producers.

Europe

EU experts to get another chance to end GMO ban
BRUSSELS, April 29 (Reuters) - EU food safety experts will get another chance this week to bury their differences and lift a five-year blockade on new biotech products, possibly before the bloc's controversial ban is soon ended by default.

WORLD: WTO agricultural talks making slow but steady progress
The bitterness and recriminations fuelled by the failure of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Cancun summit last year are beginning to lift, with the restarted Doha Development Round agricultural talks making slow but steady progress.

New Labeling Rules
The European Commission adopts a report on the implementation of beef labeling legislation.

USA

Veneman Highlights Positive Trade Picture For American Agriculture
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today updated the House Agriculture Committee on the Bush administration’s trade agenda and the overall prospects for U.S. agricultural trade noting that the forecast for U.S. agricultural exports is at near record levels for fiscal year 2004.

Midwest co-op to petition USDA to approve voluntary BSE testing
The Missouri-based Gateway Beef Cooperative board of directors is taking a page from the Creekstone Farms playbook, as it plans to petition the Agriculture Department later this week requesting permission to voluntarily test all of their cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Identification System Identified
USDA announces it’s the design and funding sources for a national livestock identification system.