Asia-Pacific | Japan Lifts Ban On French PorkJapan has lifted its ban on Fren...
Japan Lifts Ban On French Pork
Japan has lifted its ban on French pork, which was imposed in March 2001 due to concerns over the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Europe. The ban was prolonged because of an outbreak of classical swine fever in the Moselle region in April this year.
Japanese Emperor, on Birthday, Touches on Poor Economy
TOKYO (Reuters) - In an unusual move, Japanese Emperor Akihito, who turned 69 on Monday, told well-wishers gathered to celebrate the day that he understood the nation's economic troubles were making their lives difficult. In a traditional appearance on a balcony at the Imperial Palace, Akihito said: "I understand that everyone has been living through continuing tough economic times.
Tigers, Alligators Head for China Theme, Food Park
BEIJING (Reuters) - One hundred tigers and 2,000 alligators have been flown from Thailand to China to grace an animal park where visitors will be able to admire and eat some of the creatures displayed, a park official said Thursday. The Web site www.sina.com.cn published a Jiang Nan Times story with the headline: "A hundred tigers arrive in Hainan, Sanya to allow eating tiger meat openly."
Brazil calls Russian pork import ban protectionism
SAO PAULO, Brazil, Dec 27 (Reuters) - A Russian ban on pork from Brazil's top exporting state on the grounds it is infected with Aujesky disease amounted to sanitary protectionism, Brazilian officials said on Friday.
EU Sheep ID Proposals
The National Farmers Union of Scotland has condemned as unworkable the proposals from the European Commission that will require the individual identification numbers on all sheep being moved to be recorded on movement documentation. The proposal is part of a wider package of measures put forward by the Commission for a new EU-wide sheep identification and traceability system to be implemented in July 2003.
USA
Campaign Tells Girls "It's Cool To Be Real"
A new checkoff-funded campaign aimed at girls aged 8 to 12 is now underway by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). Mary Young, executive director for nutrition at NCBA, kicked the education program off last week with a media tour of key publications in New York City, and was joined by Sylvia Rimm, a child psychologist and author of "See Jane Win".
TIME Cites GM Tomato As One Of 2002 Best Inventions
TIME magazine's list of the “2002 Best Inventions” lists one of the highlighted inventions as a genetically-modified tomato, altered to host vaccine potential. The item features the work of Arizona State University biologist Charles Arntzen, who is looking for vaccines which could help fight E. coli organisms.
Beef Companies On The Mark For Quality
Three beef processors – Maverick Ranch, Schwan, and Tyson -- have earned the U.S. beef checkoff's Mark of Quality for new beef products. The products were approved by the Joint Brand-Like Commission and recently received approval from the Executive Committee of the Cattlemen's Beef Board and USDA.
AMI Foundation offers animal handling video en Espanol
The American Meat Institute Foundation has released Spanish versions of its "Good Animal Handling Practices for Beef Processors" and "Good Animal Handling Practices for Pork Processors." The English versions of the training videos were released in 1999 as part of a joint effort between AMIF, animal behavior expert and consultant Temple Grandin's company, Grandin Livestock Handling Systems, and McDonald's Corp
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Americas
Venzuelan Strike Pushes Oil to 2-Year High
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- World oil prices raced higher again on Friday with no end in sight for a four-week-old strike in Venezuela that has cut exports from the OPEC member to a trickle. Fears that the United States could launch an attack on Iraq in the New Year also helped sustain prices that now are up $10 a barrel since the start of 2002.