Japan ...
Japan
Japan Adopts New Maximum Limits For Residues In Pork May 29
USMEF has been working with the National Pork Board (NPB) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to address issues raised when Japan’s new maximum residue limits (MRLs) for veterinary drugs in food, including pork and pork products, come into force May 29. As part of these efforts, NPB issued a news release today (May 2) and published information to help producers with the new requirements on their Web site, www.pork.org.
U.S. pork production standards are expected to satisfy most of the new requirements, but producers are advised to take the following steps to find out if the new regulations require changes to their animal health product use:
• Contact their packer and find out if their hogs are being channeled to the Japanese export market and therefore affected by these new regulations.
• Visit the pork Web site to determine if medications being used in their production operation have withdrawal periods that are impacted by the new standards. This information can be found at http://www.pork.org/producers/JapanMRL.aspx This Web page will be updated as information from animal health companies is received.
• Contact their herd veterinarian to discuss changes to their herd health program if their use of animal health products is impacted.
“Japan is a valuable export market for U.S. pork producers, representing 45 percent of all United States pork exports at a value of $1.070 billion. It is important that U.S. pork producers take this issue seriously,” USMEF President & CEO Philip Seng said in the NPB news release.
“The United States can’t afford to lose this essential market, and unfortunately, just one out-of-compliance animal could put this strategic market at risk,” cautioned Seng.
Currently, U.S. pork producers are required to adhere to animal health product withdrawal standards determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Following product label guidelines, producers will satisfy most of the new Japanese guidelines as well. A question-and-answer created by USMEF can be read online.
China
China Steps Up Meat Inspections And Food Safety Efforts
China is stepping up its inspection of cold storage facilities known to hold imported meat stocks in an effort to eliminate the import and distribution of meat from ineligible supplying countries. Over the last two months, authorities have raided cold stores in Foshan, a large imported beef wholesaling center near Guangzhou, and seized beef and beef offals from U.S. and South American suppliers who are currently not eligible to export beef to China. Most recently, authorities have visited a number of restaurants in Shanghai that have been advertising offerings of “Kobe beef” despite a ban on Japanese beef imports due to BSE. A similar campaign was noted by USMEF’s South China consultant two weeks ago as curious reporters approached restaurant operators openly promoting U.S. beef.
China’s efforts to clean up meat distribution extends to increased inspections over its domestic meat sales. A Guangzhou epidemic-prevention official was quoted by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that 90 percent of hogs from Hunan Province, which borders Guangdong to the north, are fed the illegal beta-agonist clenbuterol to enhance the “color, texture and flavor” of the pork. The official stated that they will initiate a series of fines on wholesale market butchers who are found to be selling pork with traces of clenbuterol. The same report claimed that imported tuna sashimi from Taiwan was being treated with carbon monoxide to improve the appearance of freshness and that imports of tuna sashimi were being temporarily banned by the province. The official was also quoted as stating his agency would be cracking down on beef sellers who made claims that they carried Japanese beef.
European Union
Avian Influenza Found In British Commercial Poultry
British authorities report that avian influenza has been found in broiler and breeder chickens in eastern England. The British Director General for Animal Health and Welfare, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced the detection of low pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H7N3 on April 28. The diagnosis was confirmed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Reference Laboratory for avian influenza in Weybridge, England; 87 birds are dead and 34,358 susceptible birds have been destroyed.
British authorities are controlling the movement of poultry and taking other measures in response.
Japan
Japan Adopts New Maximum Limits For Residues In Pork May 29
USMEF has been working with the National Pork Board (NPB) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) to address issues raised when Japan’s new maximum residue limits (MRLs) for veterinary drugs in food, including pork and pork products, come into force May 29. As part of these efforts, NPB issued a news release today (May 2) and published information to help producers with the new requirements on their Web site, www.pork.org.
U.S. pork production standards are expected to satisfy most of the new requirements, but producers are advised to take the following steps to find out if the new regulations require changes to their animal health product use:
• Contact their packer and find out if their hogs are being channeled to the Japanese export market and therefore affected by these new regulations.
• Visit the pork Web site to determine if medications being used in their production operation have withdrawal periods that are impacted by the new standards. This information can be found at http://www.pork.org/producers/JapanMRL.aspx This Web page will be updated as information from animal health companies is received.
• Contact their herd veterinarian to discuss changes to their herd health program if their use of animal health products is impacted.
“Japan is a valuable export market for U.S. pork producers, representing 45 percent of all United States pork exports at a value of $1.070 billion. It is important that U.S. pork producers take this issue seriously,” USMEF President & CEO Philip Seng said in the NPB news release.
“The United States can’t afford to lose this essential market, and unfortunately, just one out-of-compliance animal could put this strategic market at risk,” cautioned Seng.
Currently, U.S. pork producers are required to adhere to animal health product withdrawal standards determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Following product label guidelines, producers will satisfy most of the new Japanese guidelines as well. A question-and-answer created by USMEF can be read online.
China
China Steps Up Meat Inspections And Food Safety Efforts
China is stepping up its inspection of cold storage facilities known to hold imported meat stocks in an effort to eliminate the import and distribution of meat from ineligible supplying countries. Over the last two months, authorities have raided cold stores in Foshan, a large imported beef wholesaling center near Guangzhou, and seized beef and beef offals from U.S. and South American suppliers who are currently not eligible to export beef to China. Most recently, authorities have visited a number of restaurants in Shanghai that have been advertising offerings of “Kobe beef” despite a ban on Japanese beef imports due to BSE. A similar campaign was noted by USMEF’s South China consultant two weeks ago as curious reporters approached restaurant operators openly promoting U.S. beef.
China’s efforts to clean up meat distribution extends to increased inspections over its domestic meat sales. A Guangzhou epidemic-prevention official was quoted by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that 90 percent of hogs from Hunan Province, which borders Guangdong to the north, are fed the illegal beta-agonist clenbuterol to enhance the “color, texture and flavor” of the pork. The official stated that they will initiate a series of fines on wholesale market butchers who are found to be selling pork with traces of clenbuterol. The same report claimed that imported tuna sashimi from Taiwan was being treated with carbon monoxide to improve the appearance of freshness and that imports of tuna sashimi were being temporarily banned by the province. The official was also quoted as stating his agency would be cracking down on beef sellers who made claims that they carried Japanese beef.
European Union
Avian Influenza Found In British Commercial Poultry
British authorities report that avian influenza has been found in broiler and breeder chickens in eastern England. The British Director General for Animal Health and Welfare, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced the detection of low pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H7N3 on April 28. The diagnosis was confirmed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Reference Laboratory for avian influenza in Weybridge, England; 87 birds are dead and 34,358 susceptible birds have been destroyed.
British authorities are controlling the movement of poultry and taking other measures in response.