Japan | Japan-U.S. trade talks progress | After trade talks late last week, t...
Japan
Japan-U.S. trade talks progress
After trade talks late last week, the United States and Japan announced in a joint statement Saturday that they have agreed to protocols aimed at resuming beef trade between the two nations.
According to the statement, both countries will establish a group of experts and government officials to meet monthly to discuss technical issues. Discussion topics will include the definition of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the method of testing; the definition of specified risk materials (SRMs) and the method of removal; appropriate surveillance; appropriate feed ban implementation; risk categorization/status of countries and cattle age identification.
Tesco said the transaction is being co-ordinated by the Industrial Revitalisation Corporation of Japan (IRCJ), and is conditional upon successful restructuring of Fre'c's debt with the IRCJ's support.
Shipping companies bolster fleets
Surging demand, particularly from China, has dockyards humming. But firms are also hedging risk by chartering vessels. Japan's three leading shipping companies are planning a combined outlay of over 2 trillion yen in the coming years to augment their fleets. A surge in demand driven by China's rapid economic growth is behind the expansion plans, although the companies intend to hedge the risk of a possible market downturn by chartering some 30 to 40 percent of the new vessels from other shipowners. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Japan's second-largest shipping company, plans to spend 1.16 trillion yen on 243 vessels, including chartered ships, in the six years through fiscal 2009.
USA
R-CALF files suit over change in Canadian import restrictions
The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund has asked a U.S. District judge in Montana to immediately halt imports of Canadian ground beef, bone-in meat, processed products and other tissues that the U.S. Agriculture Department began allowing back into the country last Monday.
A decision on the lawsuit, which was heard April 23 by U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, is expected sometime this week.
AMI names new public affairs VP
The American Meat Institute has announced the addition of David Ray as the institute's vice president of public affairs. Ray joins AMI after serving for 15 years at the Federation for American Immigration Reform, where he was the media spokesman. AMI said Ray will be responsible for overseeing media relations, drafting speeches, op-eds and other public communications, and manage news reporting on the institute's Web site, MeatAMI.com.
Thailand
BIRD FLU: New outbreak in Thailand delays all-clear announcement
A new outbreak of bird flu has forced Thai officials to delay for the fourth time an announcement that the country is free of bird flu, according to Agence France Presse. The latest case of bird flu was discovered in northern Uttaradit province. Now Thailand must wait to make an all-clear announcement until a new 21-day monitoring period expires May 10.
Thailand has slaughtered at least 36 million chickens and other poultry and placed quarantines on affected zones to help contain the disease, which has hit 41 of 76 provinces. The country has reported 12 human cases of bird flu, including eight deaths.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong increases live chicken imports
Hong Kong authorities have decided to increase the daily quantities of imported live chickens from the Chinese mainland.
During the first phase of a pilot arrangement, three consignments of about 6,000 chickens were imported from the mainland each day. That number is now up to 12,000.
A government spokesman said further reviews about the daily quantities of live chickens to be imported will be done at the end of this week.
European Union
EU paves way to end five-year ban on new GM foods
LUXEMBOURG, April 23 (Reuters) - The European Union was expected on Monday to soon end a five year ban on approvals of new genetically modified (GM) foods, paving the way for a biotech maize product to hit Europe's supermarket shelves.
The EU's trade partners, including the United States, have pressured the bloc to end the ban, but many consumers remain wary.
Japan
Japan-U.S. trade talks progress
After trade talks late last week, the United States and Japan announced in a joint statement Saturday that they have agreed to protocols aimed at resuming beef trade between the two nations.
According to the statement, both countries will establish a group of experts and government officials to meet monthly to discuss technical issues. Discussion topics will include the definition of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the method of testing; the definition of specified risk materials (SRMs) and the method of removal; appropriate surveillance; appropriate feed ban implementation; risk categorization/status of countries and cattle age identification.
Tesco said the transaction is being co-ordinated by the Industrial Revitalisation Corporation of Japan (IRCJ), and is conditional upon successful restructuring of Fre'c's debt with the IRCJ's support.
Shipping companies bolster fleets
Surging demand, particularly from China, has dockyards humming. But firms are also hedging risk by chartering vessels. Japan's three leading shipping companies are planning a combined outlay of over 2 trillion yen in the coming years to augment their fleets. A surge in demand driven by China's rapid economic growth is behind the expansion plans, although the companies intend to hedge the risk of a possible market downturn by chartering some 30 to 40 percent of the new vessels from other shipowners. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Japan's second-largest shipping company, plans to spend 1.16 trillion yen on 243 vessels, including chartered ships, in the six years through fiscal 2009.
USA
R-CALF files suit over change in Canadian import restrictions
The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund has asked a U.S. District judge in Montana to immediately halt imports of Canadian ground beef, bone-in meat, processed products and other tissues that the U.S. Agriculture Department began allowing back into the country last Monday.
A decision on the lawsuit, which was heard April 23 by U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, is expected sometime this week.
AMI names new public affairs VP
The American Meat Institute has announced the addition of David Ray as the institute's vice president of public affairs. Ray joins AMI after serving for 15 years at the Federation for American Immigration Reform, where he was the media spokesman. AMI said Ray will be responsible for overseeing media relations, drafting speeches, op-eds and other public communications, and manage news reporting on the institute's Web site, MeatAMI.com.
Thailand
BIRD FLU: New outbreak in Thailand delays all-clear announcement
A new outbreak of bird flu has forced Thai officials to delay for the fourth time an announcement that the country is free of bird flu, according to Agence France Presse. The latest case of bird flu was discovered in northern Uttaradit province. Now Thailand must wait to make an all-clear announcement until a new 21-day monitoring period expires May 10.
Thailand has slaughtered at least 36 million chickens and other poultry and placed quarantines on affected zones to help contain the disease, which has hit 41 of 76 provinces. The country has reported 12 human cases of bird flu, including eight deaths.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong increases live chicken imports
Hong Kong authorities have decided to increase the daily quantities of imported live chickens from the Chinese mainland.
During the first phase of a pilot arrangement, three consignments of about 6,000 chickens were imported from the mainland each day. That number is now up to 12,000.
A government spokesman said further reviews about the daily quantities of live chickens to be imported will be done at the end of this week.
European Union
EU paves way to end five-year ban on new GM foods
LUXEMBOURG, April 23 (Reuters) - The European Union was expected on Monday to soon end a five year ban on approvals of new genetically modified (GM) foods, paving the way for a biotech maize product to hit Europe's supermarket shelves.
The EU's trade partners, including the United States, have pressured the bloc to end the ban, but many consumers remain wary.