Asia-Pacific | StarLink Corn Found in U.S. Shipment to JapanAccording to an O...
Asia-Pacific
StarLink Corn Found in U.S. Shipment to Japan
According to an OsterDowJones report this morning, a load of corn shipped to Japan has been found to contain StarLink biotech corn content. StarLink is a form of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that was never approved for human consumption. The U.S. embassy is aware of the issue and U.S. agriculture officials are working with the Japanese to sort out the problem.
Stocks Decline in Tokyo
TOKYO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Stock prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended lower Monday in shortened trading session ahead of the long New Year holiday, pressured by weakness in high technology issues and Friday's declines on Wall Street. Japan's blue-chip Nikkei Stock Average, which added 13.95 points Friday, fell 135.10 points, or 1.6 percent, to 8,578.95 -- its lowest year-end close since 1982, and lost 18.6 percent for the year 2002.
China Names New Central Bank Chief
BEIJING, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A new central bank leader has been appointed in China, in a move that is seen as the start of broad changes among economic leaders. The Wall Street Journal reports Zhou Xiaochuan was named over the weekend to head the People's Bank of China. Zhou was formerly China's top securities-market regulator.
USA
New Fungus Offers Alternative To Meat
A relatively new meat alternative derived from a fungus is popping up in grocery stores across the United States and nutritionists say it could provide a welcome and healthful change to soy-based products for vegetarians or people looking to lower their meat intake.
USDA Seeks Comment On Meat Marketing Claim Rules
WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agriculture Department said it would accept comments until March 31 on proposed regulations setting minimum standards for production and marketing claims, increasingly being used by the livestock and food industry to distinguish their products. When adopted, the regulation would become the U.S. Standards for Livestock and Meat Marketing Claims, which would establish minimum requirements for producers who choose to operate a USDA-certified or verified program involving marketing claims.
Hormel Buys Unit of Imperial Sugar
AUSTIN, Minn., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Hormel Foods Corp. said it has acquired the Diamond Crystal Brands unit of Imperial Sugar Company, which packages and sells various sugar, sugar substitutes and dessert mixes to retail and foodservice customers, in a deal valued at $115 million. Hormel said the deal has received regulatory approvals.
New Beef Checkoff Campaign To Target Men and Women
Beginning in January, a new $13.4 million beef checkoff-funded advertising campaign will target adult men and women ages 25-54, based on research showing nearly 75% of U.S. households have a real passion for beef. The campaign goal is to fuel consumer passion for beef and encourage consumers to add at least one more beef meal to their diets every week, according to Linda Joy Stovall, chairman of the Joint Advertising Committee.
Europe
Russia Warns North Korea to Stay in Nuclear Treaty
North Korea's close ally, Russia, warned it not to back out of an international agreement to halt the spread of nuclear weapons. In Moscow, Mikhail Lysenko, the director of the Foreign Ministry's security and disarmament department, warned Pyongyang against withdrawing from the treaty.
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.
Americas
Mexico, U.S. Talk Poultry Trade
According to the Wall Street Journail this morning, trade officials for the U.S. and Mexico are close to an agreement that would extend protection of the Mexican poultry market. NAFTA reaches a milestone on Jan. 1 when another round of tariffs on agricultural products are eliminated.
WTO Upholds Ruling On Canadian Export Subsidies
The World Trade Organisation has upheld a ruling that Canada has been unfairly subsidising dairy products sold to the US and New Zealand. An appeals panel of the WTO rejected Canada’s appeal against a ruling that its Commercial Export Milk programme amounts to a banned export subsidy. The WTO had originally ruled on the case, which was brought by New Zealand and the US, in 1999, enforcing changes in the programme. New Zealand and the US could now ask the WTO’s permission to impose trade sanctions on Canada.