Asia PacificSouth Korea denies it is reopening its border to U.S. beefA repor...

Asia Pacific

South Korea denies it is reopening its border to U.S. beef
A report circulating in South Korea that President Roh Moo-hyun had promised U.S. President George W. Bush that he would reopen the market to U.S. beef was strongly denied by government spokesmen, who said that Roh had only told Bush that he would try to expedite the decision-making process.

Tests indicate 20th case of BSE in Czech Republic
Preliminary tests indicate another case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the Czech Republic, the country's second such case this month and its 20th thus far, according to the state veterinary authority.

Japanese Market Nervous
Fears over higher safeguard tariffs in Japan hit beef prices.

U.S. gets Japan’s beef timeline
Japan has presented the U.S. with a timetable for resolving the issue of U.S. beef imports, suspended in December 2003, amid concerns over mad cow disease, a senior U.S. official said.

Americas

New slaughter plant in planning stages in Alberta
Designs are underway to build a $40 million (Canadian) beef processing plant in Pincher Creek, Alberta.

Europe

Pork imports should be Food Standards Agency priority, says geneticist
Food safety, especially regarding meat, should be a priority for Dame Deirdre Hutton when she takes over from Sir John Krebs as chair of the Food Standards Agency in July, according to Dr Grant Walling, head of research and genetics with JSR Genetics.

Belgian Promotion for English Lamb
Push for English Lamb as consumption rises in Belgium.

USA

USDA expects BSE test results soon
Tests to confirm whether a U.S. cow was infected with mad-cow disease should be finished soon, perhaps as early as Friday, government officials said.

Consumers union calls on USDA over BSE detection and prevention
Consumers Union is formally asking Agriculture Secretary Michael Johanns to require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to test all cattle over 20 months of age at slaughter and adopt the most accurate and sensitive "Western blot" test as part of its testing protocol in suspected mad cow cases.

Pork producers urge senate committee members to reauthorize mandatory price reporting
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) urged members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to support the reauthorization of mandatory price reporting for a period of five years to provide pork producers with a transparent, accurate and timely market price reporting system in order to make knowledge-based business decisions.

Asia Pacific

South Korea denies it is reopening its border to U.S. beef
A report circulating in South Korea that President Roh Moo-hyun had promised U.S. President George W. Bush that he would reopen the market to U.S. beef was strongly denied by government spokesmen, who said that Roh had only told Bush that he would try to expedite the decision-making process.

Tests indicate 20th case of BSE in Czech Republic
Preliminary tests indicate another case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the Czech Republic, the country's second such case this month and its 20th thus far, according to the state veterinary authority.

Japanese Market Nervous
Fears over higher safeguard tariffs in Japan hit beef prices.

U.S. gets Japan’s beef timeline
Japan has presented the U.S. with a timetable for resolving the issue of U.S. beef imports, suspended in December 2003, amid concerns over mad cow disease, a senior U.S. official said.

Americas

New slaughter plant in planning stages in Alberta
Designs are underway to build a $40 million (Canadian) beef processing plant in Pincher Creek, Alberta.

Europe

Pork imports should be Food Standards Agency priority, says geneticist
Food safety, especially regarding meat, should be a priority for Dame Deirdre Hutton when she takes over from Sir John Krebs as chair of the Food Standards Agency in July, according to Dr Grant Walling, head of research and genetics with JSR Genetics.

Belgian Promotion for English Lamb
Push for English Lamb as consumption rises in Belgium.

USA

USDA expects BSE test results soon
Tests to confirm whether a U.S. cow was infected with mad-cow disease should be finished soon, perhaps as early as Friday, government officials said.

Consumers union calls on USDA over BSE detection and prevention
Consumers Union is formally asking Agriculture Secretary Michael Johanns to require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to test all cattle over 20 months of age at slaughter and adopt the most accurate and sensitive "Western blot" test as part of its testing protocol in suspected mad cow cases.

Pork producers urge senate committee members to reauthorize mandatory price reporting
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) urged members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry to support the reauthorization of mandatory price reporting for a period of five years to provide pork producers with a transparent, accurate and timely market price reporting system in order to make knowledge-based business decisions.