International | WORLD: Health agencies propose global rules on use of antibio...
International
WORLD: Health agencies propose global rules on use of antibiotics in feed
The three big international food health agencies are proposing that global rules are developed to fight anti-microbial resistance caused by the feeding of antibiotics to livestock, blunting their effectiveness in consumers of meat and dairy products.
Recommendations have been developed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Office International des Épizooties (OIE) and the World Health Organisation following a joint-workshop.
They have suggested the development of risk assessments for using these veterinary medicines that includes a “threshold of resistance” concept triggering controls if such drugs are over-used. They also proposed that a class of antibiotics be established - “critically-important” to humans - whose use in animals should be banned outright.
China/New Zealand
Fonterra applauds progress towards China free trade agreement
New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra has praised the achievement of the New Zealand government in making rapid progress towards establishing a free trade agreement (FTA) with China.
Chairman Henry van der Heyden said Fonterra was a strong supporter of a comprehensive FTA with China and praised the efforts of the government in bedding down a trade and economic framework in a relatively short timeframe.
USA
McDonald's sees 38% rise in Q1 earnings
U.S. fast-food company McDonald’s has said it expects a 38% rise in first-quarter earnings, boosted by strong sales.
The company said global systemwide sales for McDonald's restaurants, which include sales at all McDonald's restaurants, including those operated by the company, franchisees and affiliates, increased 11.5% in March and 17.5% for the first quarter compared with the same periods in 2003. In constant currencies, these increases were 5.8% and 10.3% for the month and quarter, respectively.
Legal Action Against USDA Threatened
A livestock group says it will sue the U.S. Department of Agriculture if the country's borders are opened to Canadian cattle and beef. The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, or R-CALF, announced its lawsuit plans Tuesday afternoon.
Right now, the United States does not allow live Canadian cattle or most beef across the border. USDA is deciding whether to lax those standards. They were put in place last May after a Canadian cow was found to have mad cow disease.
Japan
Farms back in business as bird flu ends
KYOTO-For poultry farmers and residents of Kyotoand neighboring prefectures, the long wait is finally over. Almost seven weeks, 47 days to be precise, after bird flu was first confirmed at a poultry farm in Tanba, Kyoto Prefecture, Governor Keiji Yamada declared early Tuesday that avian flu is over, lifting a ban on poultry and eggs. He later visited Tanba to thank townspeople for their cooperation and to pledge support for farmers.
Japan to urge testing of all cattle for BSE at OIE+
TOKYO, Apr 13, 2004 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- Japan will call on the Paris-based Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to carry out rule changes to emphasize the importance of testing all cattle for mad cow disease, agricultural ministry officials said Tuesday.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will make the request at the OIE's general assembly, to be held from May 23, on the grounds that blanket testing of cattle for the brain-wasting disease is effective in ensuring the safety of meat, the officials said.
Australia
A U.S. consumer-led spending spree in March has heightened fears of a rise in US interest rates and yesterday triggered a rally in the greenback that sent the Australian dollar skittling almost 2c lower.
The sharp rise in the U.S. dollar had some analysts predicting the run in the Australian dollar - up 25 per cent in the past 12 months - will end as investors bail out of high yielding currencies.
International
WORLD: Health agencies propose global rules on use of antibiotics in feed
The three big international food health agencies are proposing that global rules are developed to fight anti-microbial resistance caused by the feeding of antibiotics to livestock, blunting their effectiveness in consumers of meat and dairy products.
Recommendations have been developed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Office International des Épizooties (OIE) and the World Health Organisation following a joint-workshop.
They have suggested the development of risk assessments for using these veterinary medicines that includes a “threshold of resistance” concept triggering controls if such drugs are over-used. They also proposed that a class of antibiotics be established - “critically-important” to humans - whose use in animals should be banned outright.
China/New Zealand
Fonterra applauds progress towards China free trade agreement
New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra has praised the achievement of the New Zealand government in making rapid progress towards establishing a free trade agreement (FTA) with China.
Chairman Henry van der Heyden said Fonterra was a strong supporter of a comprehensive FTA with China and praised the efforts of the government in bedding down a trade and economic framework in a relatively short timeframe.
USA
McDonald's sees 38% rise in Q1 earnings
U.S. fast-food company McDonald’s has said it expects a 38% rise in first-quarter earnings, boosted by strong sales.
The company said global systemwide sales for McDonald's restaurants, which include sales at all McDonald's restaurants, including those operated by the company, franchisees and affiliates, increased 11.5% in March and 17.5% for the first quarter compared with the same periods in 2003. In constant currencies, these increases were 5.8% and 10.3% for the month and quarter, respectively.
Legal Action Against USDA Threatened
A livestock group says it will sue the U.S. Department of Agriculture if the country's borders are opened to Canadian cattle and beef. The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, or R-CALF, announced its lawsuit plans Tuesday afternoon.
Right now, the United States does not allow live Canadian cattle or most beef across the border. USDA is deciding whether to lax those standards. They were put in place last May after a Canadian cow was found to have mad cow disease.
Japan
Farms back in business as bird flu ends
KYOTO-For poultry farmers and residents of Kyotoand neighboring prefectures, the long wait is finally over. Almost seven weeks, 47 days to be precise, after bird flu was first confirmed at a poultry farm in Tanba, Kyoto Prefecture, Governor Keiji Yamada declared early Tuesday that avian flu is over, lifting a ban on poultry and eggs. He later visited Tanba to thank townspeople for their cooperation and to pledge support for farmers.
Japan to urge testing of all cattle for BSE at OIE+
TOKYO, Apr 13, 2004 (Kyodo via COMTEX) -- Japan will call on the Paris-based Organization for Animal Health (OIE) to carry out rule changes to emphasize the importance of testing all cattle for mad cow disease, agricultural ministry officials said Tuesday.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will make the request at the OIE's general assembly, to be held from May 23, on the grounds that blanket testing of cattle for the brain-wasting disease is effective in ensuring the safety of meat, the officials said.
Australia
A U.S. consumer-led spending spree in March has heightened fears of a rise in US interest rates and yesterday triggered a rally in the greenback that sent the Australian dollar skittling almost 2c lower.
The sharp rise in the U.S. dollar had some analysts predicting the run in the Australian dollar - up 25 per cent in the past 12 months - will end as investors bail out of high yielding currencies.