Page 608 of articles about news in Swine news

The Commission just published the 2008 edition of its yearly report on the agricultural situation in the European Union. A large part of the report is devoted to statistical information on Community agriculture. This is drawn up on the basis of information from Eurostat and data collected by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Denmark and Holland are the biggest exporters of piglets in the UE, together arriving at 10 million exported pigs last year, of which 6.9 million went to Germany. (Original in German. Read Google translation here).

Two cases of swine flu have been identified in San Diego and Imperial counties, leading to an investigation by state, local and federal health officials to find the source or sources. A 9-year-old girl in Imperial County and a 10-year-old boy in San Diego County were identified as suffering from swine flu. Both have recovered, but health officials remain puzzled because neither had been in contact with pigs and the strain was one never identified in the U.S.

The postponement is until July 1, the new inspections were scheduled to start April 20, according to US meat industry association executives.

The Group of Eight rich nations took a first step Monday towards fighting speculators who have helped push up the cost of basic foods, sparking riots in several poor countries. The G8 agriculture ministers called for a study into setting up a global system to stockpile essential foodstuffs after three days of talks in northeastern Italy joined by key emerging and developing countries.

Vietnamese farmers will produce genetically modified plants commercially under the government instructions later this year, experts told a Ho Chi Minh City conference Wednesday.

The Food Fraud Advisory Unit (FFAU) is a group of 15* officials with extensive skills and experience in carrying out food fraud investigations. The FFAU members have agreed, with the support of their employers, to provide advice, on request, to any UK local authority involved in investigating food fraud. This could include any illegal activity relating to food or feed.

The ethanol industry must be wondering where the bottom is. Profits are slim or non-existent, and about 20 percent of all U.S. plants are shut down. In addition, ethanol's main by-product, which is sold as livestock feed, has raised potential food safety concerns.

Sulphurous compounds are the main source of the obnoxious smells from pig farms. Scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences are focusing on these substances in an attempt to remove them and thus probably much of the odour currently emitted from pig houses.

German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner has come out strongly against a European patent application for a test to check pigs for a gene that makes them produce more meat.

Production is now forecast up 2 percent from last year, as expansion in China (nearly 50 percent of world production) overshadows lower production for most other major producers. Global pork imports are now forecast to drop 13 percent from last year, with lower imports expected for 8 of the top 10 importing countries. Pork exports are now cut by 12 percent from last year with global economic weakness, the credit crunch, and trade restrictive policies.

The Japanese government has authorized the entry of all pig meat from Chile from last Friday 17 April. This step assumes the overcoming of the case of contamination with dioxins that affected the swine industry in 2008. (Original in Spanish. Read Google translation here).

The OIE has published a new guide for OIE Members on their rights and obligations relating to the safety of international trade.

In the wake of a series of high-profile foodborne illness outbreaks, the focus has been on how to improve government food safety efforts at the federal level. A new report issued by the Department of Health Policy at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services recommends the development of an integrated national food safety system that not only reforms federal food safety efforts, but also strengthens state and local government roles in detection and inspection.

After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding Friday that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare. The proposed finding, which now moves to a public comment period, identified six greenhouse gases that pose a potential threat.

As of today, the issue on additional financing of projects started in the animal breeding last year is almost decided. The amount which is to be subsidized for these purposes will total to RUB74 billion, Elena Skrynnik, the Minister of Agriculture said.