USA | State ag officials may be heading for BSE testing split with USDA...
USA
State ag officials may be heading for BSE testing split with USDA
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture may be heading for a split with the Agriculture Department at a meeting in Chicagonext month, where the association is scheduled to discuss formulation and approval of a bovine spongiform encephalopathy testing policy quite different than the expanded surveillance program announced March 15 by USDA.
National Farmers Union backs Creekstone
The National Farmers Union is voicing support for Creekstone Farms' efforts to force the Agriculture Department to reverse itself and allow the Arkansas City, Kan.-based processor to test all of its cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy and regain access to international beef markets.
Two executives of Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC, Arkansas City, Kansas – CEO John Steward and COO Bill Felding – sent a letter USDA Secretary Ann Veneman, USDA chief of staff Dale Moore and USDA undersecretaries J.B. Penn and Bill Hawks, arguing the company’s case to conduct its own testing of cattle it processes for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
World Trade
WTO ministers hold informal confab in May to break impasse
GENEVA, April 15 Kyodo - The ministers of several World Trade Organization (WTO) members will hold an unofficial meeting in Paris May 14 to break an impasse over the new round of global trade liberalization talks, a trade source said Thursday.
European Union
EU: New member states on course to meet food safety standards
The ten new member states due to join the European Union on 1 May 2004 are on course to meet the EU's food safety standards, according to Health Commissioner David Byrne.
China/New Zealand
Meat and Wool New Zealand has welcomed the results of a government study into a possible Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and China. MWNZ director Jeff Grant says the study, along with the finalized Trade and Economic Cooperation Framework is a great opportunity to explore what possibilities exist to increase market access for New Zealand meat and wool industries into China.
Japan
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.
USA
State ag officials may be heading for BSE testing split with USDA
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture may be heading for a split with the Agriculture Department at a meeting in Chicagonext month, where the association is scheduled to discuss formulation and approval of a bovine spongiform encephalopathy testing policy quite different than the expanded surveillance program announced March 15 by USDA.
National Farmers Union backs Creekstone
The National Farmers Union is voicing support for Creekstone Farms' efforts to force the Agriculture Department to reverse itself and allow the Arkansas City, Kan.-based processor to test all of its cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy and regain access to international beef markets.
Two executives of Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC, Arkansas City, Kansas – CEO John Steward and COO Bill Felding – sent a letter USDA Secretary Ann Veneman, USDA chief of staff Dale Moore and USDA undersecretaries J.B. Penn and Bill Hawks, arguing the company’s case to conduct its own testing of cattle it processes for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
World Trade
WTO ministers hold informal confab in May to break impasse
GENEVA, April 15 Kyodo - The ministers of several World Trade Organization (WTO) members will hold an unofficial meeting in Paris May 14 to break an impasse over the new round of global trade liberalization talks, a trade source said Thursday.
European Union
EU: New member states on course to meet food safety standards
The ten new member states due to join the European Union on 1 May 2004 are on course to meet the EU's food safety standards, according to Health Commissioner David Byrne.
China/New Zealand
Meat and Wool New Zealand has welcomed the results of a government study into a possible Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and China. MWNZ director Jeff Grant says the study, along with the finalized Trade and Economic Cooperation Framework is a great opportunity to explore what possibilities exist to increase market access for New Zealand meat and wool industries into China.
Japan
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.