Asia PacificCzech meat output down 8.8 pct in 2004Czech meat output fell by 8...

Asia Pacific

Czech meat output down 8.8 pct in 2004
Czech meat output fell by 8.8 per cent year-on-year to 473,623 tonnes in 2004, the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) said today.The figures, excluding poultry meat output, were affected by lower output of both beef and pork.

Exports Rise
Australian sheep meat exports to South Africa up in 2004.

Europe

BSE is identified in French goat for first time ever
A French goat has become the first ever to test positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad-cow disease, the European Union said.

New study says that BSE transmission risk to humans is very low
A study published in the online version of the British medical journal Lancet finds that while bovine spongiform encephalopathy can be transferred to humans in the form of variant Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease, it takes massive consumption of specified risk materials like brains and other parts associated with the central nervous system to produce an infection.

Europe to look at labeling
The European Commission is planning a new directive that will standardize labeling across Europe.

Standards before trade
Imported beef in the UK should meet strict British production standards.

Americas

Calgary health inspectors seize meat
Food safety officials have seized 2,000 kilograms of uninspected beef from a private home, including hamburger bound for a commercial operation.

USA

U.S., Canada and Mexico to meet to discuss changes to Nafta
The leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico will meet to discuss changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement making it easier to resolve trade disputes, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said.

House agriculture committee named
Eleven new members to the House Agriculture Committee were announced as part of the 109th Committee Roster.

Measures against BSE 'working'
Current safety precautions are enough to protect humans against mad cow disease, according to BSE experts.

Asia Pacific

Czech meat output down 8.8 pct in 2004
Czech meat output fell by 8.8 per cent year-on-year to 473,623 tonnes in 2004, the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) said today.The figures, excluding poultry meat output, were affected by lower output of both beef and pork.

Exports Rise
Australian sheep meat exports to South Africa up in 2004.

Europe

BSE is identified in French goat for first time ever
A French goat has become the first ever to test positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad-cow disease, the European Union said.

New study says that BSE transmission risk to humans is very low
A study published in the online version of the British medical journal Lancet finds that while bovine spongiform encephalopathy can be transferred to humans in the form of variant Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease, it takes massive consumption of specified risk materials like brains and other parts associated with the central nervous system to produce an infection.

Europe to look at labeling
The European Commission is planning a new directive that will standardize labeling across Europe.

Standards before trade
Imported beef in the UK should meet strict British production standards.

Americas

Calgary health inspectors seize meat
Food safety officials have seized 2,000 kilograms of uninspected beef from a private home, including hamburger bound for a commercial operation.

USA

U.S., Canada and Mexico to meet to discuss changes to Nafta
The leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico will meet to discuss changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement making it easier to resolve trade disputes, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin said.

House agriculture committee named
Eleven new members to the House Agriculture Committee were announced as part of the 109th Committee Roster.

Measures against BSE 'working'
Current safety precautions are enough to protect humans against mad cow disease, according to BSE experts.