Page 283 of articles about markets-economics

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) last week warned that food prices for basic commodities hit record highs last month, fuelling fears of inflation, protectionism, unrest and reduced demand from emerging economies.

Belarus has imposed a ban on the import of pork from Leningrad Oblast of Russia after an outbreak of African swine fever in the region.

An agreement signed by the French pig meat industry on 15th December stipulates that from now on for fresh meat and offal and before 31st March 2011 for processed products, the country of origin will appear on labels of fresh pig meat and offal and pig meat products.

Philippine chicken meat and pork imports rose more than 50% and 68.6%, respectively, in the first 10 months of 2010.

On January 2, 2011, the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation #853 dd. October 20, 2010, “On imposition of the temporary ban for exports of the certain range of agricultural products from the territory of the Russian Federation” came into force.

U.S. refusal to allow Mexican trucks free access into the United States, as called for under the NAFTA, as well as a 2001 NAFTA dispute settlement ruling. The “concept paper” released by DOT on a phase in of Mexican trucking into the United States will open the door to quick progress and resolution of this dispute.

The Korean government says it halted all imports of pork and poultry from Germany on Saturday after tests results showed high levels of cancer causing dioxin in animal feed. Meanwhile, Russia has announced it is tightening restrictions on meats imported from Germany.

The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger Regulation to the acquisition of D&S Fleisch of Germany by Danish Crown of Denmark.

On December 22, 2010, Russian and Belarusian Ministries of Agriculture agreed to a Common Agricultural Policy of the Russia-Belarus Union State as well as established 2011 import quotas for dairy, meat and poultry, and sugar, in accordance with also agreed Union State food balance sheets.

During the recent years, COFCO, China's state-owned foodstuffs import and export holding companies, is dedicated to establishing a large comprehensive corporation by investing pig industry. Its reared pigs have arrived more than 40 million, with the consumed feed coming up to 12 million tons. It stated last year that slaughtering pigs in the future will be 30 million per year, which meant a yearly increase of 9 million tons of feed consumption.

This year's European Union cereals harvest was 277m tonnes, a 12m tonne decrease on last year, according to estimates by European farmers union Copa-Cogeca.

The government plans to use the duty income charged on imported soybean meal to lower the production cost of chicken, pork and eggs so it can cut the retail prices on these items for consumers.The strategy is part of a broader policy to cut the price of some foods and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to reduce the cost of living.

China has put on the market state pork reserves to stabilize prices and ensure adequate supplies during the upcoming New Year Festival, an unnamed official with the Ministry of Commerce said Friday.