Europe | New BSE case discovered in Italy | An eight-year old cow in Southern...
Europe
New BSE case discovered in Italy
An eight-year old cow in Southern Italy has been confirmed as the country's 124th case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy since testing began in 2001 and the seventh this year. According to the Associated Press, the animal was found on a breeding farm in the Avellino region. The seven cases so far this year compare to 50 in 2001.
EU: Bluetongue spreads in Europe, salmon anaemia reported in Scotland
The Office International des Épizooties (OIE), the world animal health organisation, has warned that the livestock disease bluetongue has spread throughout southern Spain and has now broken out in Croatia.
Caribbean
Jamaica lifts U.S. beef ban
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that Jamaica's Ministry of Agriculture has lifted its ban on American beef products. That business was estimated at $4.3 million in 2003.
"We are very pleased with this agreement with Jamaica because it marks an important step forward in getting U.S. beef markets open," said Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. "Our goal continues to be the resumption of normal beef trade throughout the world, and we are working tirelessly on that effort."
USA
High court to hear beef over government ads — Case about 'It's What's for Dinner' spot
WASHINGTON -"Beef - It's What's for Dinner." Tomorrow, the justices will hear oral arguments in a case about the familiar ad - a case widely considered the juiciest First Amendment controversy of the term so far.
The Livestock Marketing Association, the Western Organization of Resource Councils and several individual cattle producers from South Dakota and Montana filed suit in federal court in December 2000, attacking the advertising campaign.
They said the promotion, conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, violates their First Amendment right to free speech.
US May Postpone Finalizing BSE Food Safety Rules
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--The U.S. Department of Agriculture may postpone for six to 12 months finalization of the rules it implemented on an interim basis nearly a year ago to protect the food supply from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, former USDA food safety undersecretary Elsa Murano said in an interview last week.
Canada sees cattle exports to U.S. in spring 2005
WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Canada's ambassador to the United States said on Tuesday he thought exports of some Canadian cattle would resume this spring.
Canadian Ambassador Michael Kergin said his country was "very optimistic" that "sometime, I'm guessing in the spring," Canadian cattle under 30 months of age would again be allowed into the United States.
Imports of cattle from Canada were suspended in May 2003 after Canada discovered its first domestic case of mad cow disease. Since then, the two countries have been in talks aimed at reopening the trade.
Australia
Australian Dollar drops as loans dwindle
The Australian dollar dropped sharply yesterday in the wake of further evidence of weakness in Australia's housing market.
With foreign exchange markets reacting to the weaker national growth and trade numbers, the dollar, which fell 1c to US$76.5 yesterday, has now lost 3c against the U.S. dollar over the past nine days.
Japan
Dollar hits 105 yen in New York for 1st time in 3 weeks
Kyodo - The U.S. dollar briefly touched the 105 yen line for the first time in about three weeks in New York on Wednesday as participants continued buying the currency against the yen following a downward revision in Japan's gross domestic product data.
South Korea
South Korea Becomes 10th Largest Economy
South Korea overtook Mexico to become the world’s 10th largest economy last year.
The World Bank ranked Korea 10th with a gross national income (GNI) of $606 billion in 2003, narrowing the gap with China, which slid to seventh from sixth a year ago.
According to the World Development Indicators 2004 published by the World Bank, Brazil, ranked 13th in 2003, slid to 15th place while India maintained the 12th spot on the basis of GNI.
The report showed that Korea overtook Mexico, whose GNI stood at $602 billion last year. Canada (eighth), Spain (ninth), the Netherlands (13th) and Australia (14th) posted similar figures with Korea, with GNI’s of $833 billion, $828 billion, $494 billion and $465 billion, respectively.
Europe
New BSE case discovered in Italy
An eight-year old cow in Southern Italy has been confirmed as the country's 124th case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy since testing began in 2001 and the seventh this year. According to the Associated Press, the animal was found on a breeding farm in the Avellino region. The seven cases so far this year compare to 50 in 2001.
EU: Bluetongue spreads in Europe, salmon anaemia reported in Scotland
The Office International des Épizooties (OIE), the world animal health organisation, has warned that the livestock disease bluetongue has spread throughout southern Spain and has now broken out in Croatia.
Caribbean
Jamaica lifts U.S. beef ban
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that Jamaica's Ministry of Agriculture has lifted its ban on American beef products. That business was estimated at $4.3 million in 2003.
"We are very pleased with this agreement with Jamaica because it marks an important step forward in getting U.S. beef markets open," said Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. "Our goal continues to be the resumption of normal beef trade throughout the world, and we are working tirelessly on that effort."
USA
High court to hear beef over government ads — Case about 'It's What's for Dinner' spot
WASHINGTON -"Beef - It's What's for Dinner." Tomorrow, the justices will hear oral arguments in a case about the familiar ad - a case widely considered the juiciest First Amendment controversy of the term so far.
The Livestock Marketing Association, the Western Organization of Resource Councils and several individual cattle producers from South Dakota and Montana filed suit in federal court in December 2000, attacking the advertising campaign.
They said the promotion, conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, violates their First Amendment right to free speech.
US May Postpone Finalizing BSE Food Safety Rules
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--The U.S. Department of Agriculture may postpone for six to 12 months finalization of the rules it implemented on an interim basis nearly a year ago to protect the food supply from bovine spongiform encephalopathy, former USDA food safety undersecretary Elsa Murano said in an interview last week.
Canada sees cattle exports to U.S. in spring 2005
WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Canada's ambassador to the United States said on Tuesday he thought exports of some Canadian cattle would resume this spring.
Canadian Ambassador Michael Kergin said his country was "very optimistic" that "sometime, I'm guessing in the spring," Canadian cattle under 30 months of age would again be allowed into the United States.
Imports of cattle from Canada were suspended in May 2003 after Canada discovered its first domestic case of mad cow disease. Since then, the two countries have been in talks aimed at reopening the trade.
Australia
Australian Dollar drops as loans dwindle
The Australian dollar dropped sharply yesterday in the wake of further evidence of weakness in Australia's housing market.
With foreign exchange markets reacting to the weaker national growth and trade numbers, the dollar, which fell 1c to US$76.5 yesterday, has now lost 3c against the U.S. dollar over the past nine days.
Japan
Dollar hits 105 yen in New York for 1st time in 3 weeks
Kyodo - The U.S. dollar briefly touched the 105 yen line for the first time in about three weeks in New York on Wednesday as participants continued buying the currency against the yen following a downward revision in Japan's gross domestic product data.
South Korea
South Korea Becomes 10th Largest Economy
South Korea overtook Mexico to become the world’s 10th largest economy last year.
The World Bank ranked Korea 10th with a gross national income (GNI) of $606 billion in 2003, narrowing the gap with China, which slid to seventh from sixth a year ago.
According to the World Development Indicators 2004 published by the World Bank, Brazil, ranked 13th in 2003, slid to 15th place while India maintained the 12th spot on the basis of GNI.
The report showed that Korea overtook Mexico, whose GNI stood at $602 billion last year. Canada (eighth), Spain (ninth), the Netherlands (13th) and Australia (14th) posted similar figures with Korea, with GNI’s of $833 billion, $828 billion, $494 billion and $465 billion, respectively.