European Union | British TV chefs voice support for proposed pork import ban ...
European Union
British TV chefs voice support for proposed pork import ban
Several popular TV chefs in the United Kingdom are voicing their support for a campaign against pork imports produced with welfare standards lower than those in the U.K. pork industry, according to wire service reports.
Chefs including Antony Worrall Thompson, Brian Turner, Phil Vickery, James Martin and John Torode are supporting the campaign, which would make nearly 70 percent of pork imports illegal to produce in the U.K. Specifics of the campaign are detailed in a recent publication of the British Pig Executive organization (BPEX).
Czech Officials Confirm 2004's Sixth BSE Case
Czech agriculture officials Thursday confirmed this year's sixth case of a cow infected with BSE. State Veterinary Administration spokesman Josef Duben said the eight-year-old animal with so-called mad cow disease came from a Pisek-area farm, where more than 80 other animals would be slaughtered as a precaution. Duben said the infection was found during routine testing, and that consumers were not at risk. He also said the 14 cases detected on Czech farms since 2001 comprise "a small number compared with other European countries". Last year Czech officials reported four BSE-infected cows, while two cases were reported in each of the previous years.
Brazil
Cargill to buy Brazilian poultry and pork supplier
U.S. food and agribusiness giant Cargill has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire a majority share of Seara Alimentos, a Brazilian branded poultry and pork processor.
China
WHO probes possible case of bird flu in pigs
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is investigating evidence that pigs have contracted a highly infectious strain of bird flu, the first time such transmission has been noted. It has sent scientists to China’s Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, to examine claims that pigs from Chinese farms have been infected with the H5N1 strain.
Australia
Indonesian delegation hopes to promote farm trade
An Indonesian 'goodwill' delegation has arrived in Australia for a national tour, and says there's huge potential to increase farm trade between the two countries. Noke Kiroyan from the Indonesia Australia Business Council, says while his country imports Australian cotton and livestock, there are opportunities for other industries.
"We actually are also importing Australian fruit, so I think there's still some room for improvement: and given the proximity between the two countries, I think the position, while being the tenth largest partner from the Australian perspective is good; but I think there's room for improvement - I think we could be number six or number seven."
Russia
Confidence Inches Up in August
Business confidence nudged upward in August, as the Yukos affair dragged on and concerns over a summer banking crisis appeared to subside. The MT Business Confidence Index, compiled from a pool of managers and market watchers, inched up by one point to 25 in August.
The slight rebound in August signaled the end to a two-month plunge in which the index fell from 33 in May to 24 in July. On the MT scale, 10 represents the lowest confidence and 50 the highest. Data for the survey was collected between Aug. 5 and Aug. 25, before a wave of terror attacks shook the nation.
European Union
British TV chefs voice support for proposed pork import ban
Several popular TV chefs in the United Kingdom are voicing their support for a campaign against pork imports produced with welfare standards lower than those in the U.K. pork industry, according to wire service reports.
Chefs including Antony Worrall Thompson, Brian Turner, Phil Vickery, James Martin and John Torode are supporting the campaign, which would make nearly 70 percent of pork imports illegal to produce in the U.K. Specifics of the campaign are detailed in a recent publication of the British Pig Executive organization (BPEX).
Czech Officials Confirm 2004's Sixth BSE Case
Czech agriculture officials Thursday confirmed this year's sixth case of a cow infected with BSE. State Veterinary Administration spokesman Josef Duben said the eight-year-old animal with so-called mad cow disease came from a Pisek-area farm, where more than 80 other animals would be slaughtered as a precaution. Duben said the infection was found during routine testing, and that consumers were not at risk. He also said the 14 cases detected on Czech farms since 2001 comprise "a small number compared with other European countries". Last year Czech officials reported four BSE-infected cows, while two cases were reported in each of the previous years.
Brazil
Cargill to buy Brazilian poultry and pork supplier
U.S. food and agribusiness giant Cargill has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire a majority share of Seara Alimentos, a Brazilian branded poultry and pork processor.
China
WHO probes possible case of bird flu in pigs
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is investigating evidence that pigs have contracted a highly infectious strain of bird flu, the first time such transmission has been noted. It has sent scientists to China’s Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, to examine claims that pigs from Chinese farms have been infected with the H5N1 strain.
Australia
Indonesian delegation hopes to promote farm trade
An Indonesian 'goodwill' delegation has arrived in Australia for a national tour, and says there's huge potential to increase farm trade between the two countries. Noke Kiroyan from the Indonesia Australia Business Council, says while his country imports Australian cotton and livestock, there are opportunities for other industries.
"We actually are also importing Australian fruit, so I think there's still some room for improvement: and given the proximity between the two countries, I think the position, while being the tenth largest partner from the Australian perspective is good; but I think there's room for improvement - I think we could be number six or number seven."
Russia
Confidence Inches Up in August
Business confidence nudged upward in August, as the Yukos affair dragged on and concerns over a summer banking crisis appeared to subside. The MT Business Confidence Index, compiled from a pool of managers and market watchers, inched up by one point to 25 in August.
The slight rebound in August signaled the end to a two-month plunge in which the index fell from 33 in May to 24 in July. On the MT scale, 10 represents the lowest confidence and 50 the highest. Data for the survey was collected between Aug. 5 and Aug. 25, before a wave of terror attacks shook the nation.