Asia PacificHealth officials confirm first death from human variant of mad co...

Asia Pacific

Health officials confirm first death from human variant of mad cow disease
Japan confirmed the country's first death from the human form of mad cow disease, saying it's not clear if the victim contracted the illness in Japan or on a one- month visit to the U.K.

South Korean imports of pork up, beef and chicken down
Imports of pork to South Korea rose sharply last year, while those of beef and chicken declined, the Korea Customs Service said Friday.

Russia plans to increase import quotas
Russia plans to increase meat import quotas by not more than 2.5% a year, Deputy Agriculture Minister Sergei Mitin told Interfax.

Russia imposes restrictions on pork from Italian region
Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phitosanitary Inspection has imposed restrictions on imports of pork from the Italian region of Ambruzzo, unless raw pork undergoes a special thermal treatment, sources at the services said.

Americas

Brazil leads U.S. in high-tech cattle
For all the talk we hear about things like artificial insemination, embryo transplants, and estrus synchronization in the beef industry, the use of these tools has plateaued in the US. That worries D.J. Patterson, a University of Missouri professor and expert in reproductive control of cows and heifers.

Canada proposes new science-based import regulations to allow expanded access for U.S. cattle and beef products
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) today announced proposed regulations to remove import restrictions from a range of currently prohibited U.S. commodities.

USA

U.S. mulls decision on Canadian cattle
The Bush administration is reviewing a rule to reopen the U.S. border to Canadian cattle because of rising concerns that it will hurt American meatpackers.

Ag Committee urges Johanns to turn up heat on Japan, reconsider final rule
While Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Agriculture Committee differed in vehemence, most favored an immediate and thorough review of the USDA Final Rule that will reopen the Canadian border to live cattle next month.

Asia Pacific

Health officials confirm first death from human variant of mad cow disease
Japan confirmed the country's first death from the human form of mad cow disease, saying it's not clear if the victim contracted the illness in Japan or on a one- month visit to the U.K.

South Korean imports of pork up, beef and chicken down
Imports of pork to South Korea rose sharply last year, while those of beef and chicken declined, the Korea Customs Service said Friday.

Russia plans to increase import quotas
Russia plans to increase meat import quotas by not more than 2.5% a year, Deputy Agriculture Minister Sergei Mitin told Interfax.

Russia imposes restrictions on pork from Italian region
Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phitosanitary Inspection has imposed restrictions on imports of pork from the Italian region of Ambruzzo, unless raw pork undergoes a special thermal treatment, sources at the services said.

Americas

Brazil leads U.S. in high-tech cattle
For all the talk we hear about things like artificial insemination, embryo transplants, and estrus synchronization in the beef industry, the use of these tools has plateaued in the US. That worries D.J. Patterson, a University of Missouri professor and expert in reproductive control of cows and heifers.

Canada proposes new science-based import regulations to allow expanded access for U.S. cattle and beef products
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) today announced proposed regulations to remove import restrictions from a range of currently prohibited U.S. commodities.

USA

U.S. mulls decision on Canadian cattle
The Bush administration is reviewing a rule to reopen the U.S. border to Canadian cattle because of rising concerns that it will hurt American meatpackers.

Ag Committee urges Johanns to turn up heat on Japan, reconsider final rule
While Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Agriculture Committee differed in vehemence, most favored an immediate and thorough review of the USDA Final Rule that will reopen the Canadian border to live cattle next month.