European Union
European Union
EU Resumes Export Subsidies For Pork
European Union member states approved today (January 23) a European Commission proposal to reintroduce for a limited period export refunds (subsidies) for pork carcasses and cuts.
A statement by the European Commission said the refund will be set at EUR40 per 100 kilograms for half carcasses and cuts and EUR25/100 kg for pork bellies, and will be valid for all exports outside the EU between January 27 and April 30.
A strong euro, high feed prices and low consumer demand have caused EU pork prices to fall to around EUR112/100 kg.
BSE
BSE Briefing In Washington, D.C. On February 3
The American Meat Institute, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and USMEF are holding a BSE Briefing at the Fairmont Washington, D.C. on February 3. The agenda includes a Scientific Status Report, a USDA update on the U.S. situation and assessments of consumer responses. The expert speaker lineup includes:
· William Hueston, DVM, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
· Ron DeHaven, DVM, APHIS
· Richard T. Johnson, MD, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH
· Alejandro B. Thiermann, DVM, Ph.D., OIE
· David Ropeik, Harvard University Center for Risk Analysis
· Elsa Murano, Ph. D., Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA
· J.B. Penn, Ph. D., Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, USDA
The agenda and registration form are available at www.meatami.com (click on AMI Meetings).
No Progress In Talks With Japan
According to press reports, today’s (January 23) talks between U.S. and Japanese officials did not include new proposals from either side, and there is no end in sight to Japan's suspension of imports of U.S. beef.
U.S. officials were in Tokyo to explain U.S. measures to ensure the safety of U.S. beef and to persuade the Japanese government to lift the ban.
According to Reuters, Japanese officials reiterated that the United States must implement safeguards that match its own, such as testing all cattle slaughtered for consumption for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), but the United States repeated that it saw no need for BSE tests on all cattle.
USDA Undersecretary J B Penn told a news conference the two countries planned to meet again next month, but details have yet to be worked out. The issue of beef left in ports due to the ban was not raised.
A Japanese fact-finding team back from North America issued a report this week saying there was no guarantee other cases of mad cow disease would not be discovered in the United States.
Three herdmates of the only U.S. BSE case were identified in Idaho, the USDA announced January 23. An earlier animal was located in an Oregon dairy herd.
The USDA has killed about 620 cattle in three Washington herds as an extra precaution. So far, the animals have tested negative for the disease.
European Union
EU Resumes Export Subsidies For Pork
European Union member states approved today (January 23) a European Commission proposal to reintroduce for a limited period export refunds (subsidies) for pork carcasses and cuts.
A statement by the European Commission said the refund will be set at EUR40 per 100 kilograms for half carcasses and cuts and EUR25/100 kg for pork bellies, and will be valid for all exports outside the EU between January 27 and April 30.
A strong euro, high feed prices and low consumer demand have caused EU pork prices to fall to around EUR112/100 kg.
BSE
BSE Briefing In Washington, D.C. On February 3
The American Meat Institute, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and USMEF are holding a BSE Briefing at the Fairmont Washington, D.C. on February 3. The agenda includes a Scientific Status Report, a USDA update on the U.S. situation and assessments of consumer responses. The expert speaker lineup includes:
· William Hueston, DVM, Ph.D., University of Minnesota
· Ron DeHaven, DVM, APHIS
· Richard T. Johnson, MD, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/NIH
· Alejandro B. Thiermann, DVM, Ph.D., OIE
· David Ropeik, Harvard University Center for Risk Analysis
· Elsa Murano, Ph. D., Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA
· J.B. Penn, Ph. D., Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, USDA
The agenda and registration form are available at www.meatami.com (click on AMI Meetings).
No Progress In Talks With Japan
According to press reports, today’s (January 23) talks between U.S. and Japanese officials did not include new proposals from either side, and there is no end in sight to Japan's suspension of imports of U.S. beef.
U.S. officials were in Tokyo to explain U.S. measures to ensure the safety of U.S. beef and to persuade the Japanese government to lift the ban.
According to Reuters, Japanese officials reiterated that the United States must implement safeguards that match its own, such as testing all cattle slaughtered for consumption for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), but the United States repeated that it saw no need for BSE tests on all cattle.
USDA Undersecretary J B Penn told a news conference the two countries planned to meet again next month, but details have yet to be worked out. The issue of beef left in ports due to the ban was not raised.
A Japanese fact-finding team back from North America issued a report this week saying there was no guarantee other cases of mad cow disease would not be discovered in the United States.
Three herdmates of the only U.S. BSE case were identified in Idaho, the USDA announced January 23. An earlier animal was located in an Oregon dairy herd.
The USDA has killed about 620 cattle in three Washington herds as an extra precaution. So far, the animals have tested negative for the disease.