Brazil: Sadia and Perdigão may merge

The two companies, which together slaughter more than 2 bln chickens and other birds a year, said they are in discussions for a merger that would rescue Sadia and create one of the world's largest frozen and processed food companies.

Sadia was crippled in 2008 by a bln-dollar. For Perdigão, Sadia's stumble is a chance for it to take over its main competitor on Brazilian store shelves.

Brazil's government's development bank could help finance a merger with as much as $750 mln, Citibank analyst Carlos Albano estimated in a report.

A tie-up of Perdigão and Sadia, with about $11 bln in combined annual sales, would rank as the 10th-largest food company in the Americas, it is reported.

Such mergers could intensify the rivalry with US firms such as Tyson Foods Inc., which last September announced an aggressive move into Brazil, buying 3 poultry firms. With low wages and costs, Brazil is attractive for food producers, and already exports more chicken than any country.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

USA - Industry battles social media over flu misinformation

By Lisa M. Keefe on 4/28/2009
MeatingPlace.com

The pork industry was facing plenty of challenges before the swine flu outbreak became a story over the weekend. Now the industry is attempting to engage — and correct — the vast social media networks that are spreading misinformation about the virus.

Bloggers, Facebook posts and Twitter are among the non-moderated networks through which many consumers spread information about and read up on issues. By Monday afternoon, Facebook had more than 100 "group" Web pages dedicated to swine flu.

Wrote one Facebook poster: "MmMmM BACON. & all you have to deal with is a little fever nausea and diarrhea and a chance of death but other than that your cool!" (sic).

Among bloggers, a large number are spreading the word from the CDC, WHO and the Obama administration that the virus is mis-named, treatable with medicines such as Tamiflu and unrelated to swine so far.

Others, however, are picking up and repeating a story that appeared in a Mexican newspaper near the town where the outbreak seems to have started, in which residents (not the authorities) blame a nearby pig production facility. "Swine-flu outbreak could be linked to Smithfield factory farms" is the headline on a blog entry on the Grist site by food editor Tom Philpott, himself co-founder of Maverick Farms, an educational, non-profit farm in North Carolina.

(Smithfield's business unit has not been named by any authorities of the Mexican government as a possible culprit. The company, in a statement on its Web site, said it has "found no clinical signs or symptoms of the presence of swine influenza ... in Mexico," and that the Mexican businesses "routinely administer influenza virus vaccination ... and conduct monthly tests for the presence of swine influenza.")

Twitter seems particularly adept at spreading misinformation, with such statements as "Swine flu? Wow. All that pork infecting people … " and "pigs are the reason for swine flu, don't eat pork."

Industry intervention

Industry groups and government officials are doing their best to battle the pandemic of inaccuracies. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley tweeted his own message on Twitter: "U can't get swine flu from eating pork. Eatup. Regardless of epidemic."

The world organization for animal health OIE in Paris released a statement noting "it is not justified to name this disease swine influenza" and positing that the name be changed to "North American influenza" due to its geographic origins.

North American Meat Processors Association, American Meat Institute, National Meat Association, National Pork Producers Council and the Pork Board also released statements decrying the fear that pork could infect humans.

And from Sunday evening to Monday afternoon, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack released two statements about the outbreak and the safety of pork and USDA published a Q&A about the virus. (See USDA has answers on swine relationship to hybrid influenza, on Meatingplace, April 27, 2009.)

"It is important to remember that … swine flu viruses are not transmitted by food. In fact, cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F kills all viruses and other foodborne pathogens. Eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products is safe," Vilsack said in a statement.

Still, it's hard to keep pace with the viral nature of social media. In the course of a five-minute search on Facebook Monday afternoon, the number of "group" Web pages dedicated to the new flu jumped to 115 from 108.

Sturgeon Valley Pork to use DNA-based meat traceability system

(MEATPOULTRY.com, April 15, 2009)
by Bryan Salvage

ST. ALBERT, ALBERTA, CANADA — Sturgeon Valley Pork announced it intends to incorporate a state-of-the-art DNA traceability system that can trace its pork from the grocer's meat case back to the processing plant and farm of origin. The company’s federally inspected processing plant supplies fresh pork to Western Canada.

Sturgeon Valley Pork is using a meat-tracking system called DNA TraceBack, developed by IdentiGEN Inc., which has been used in Europe since 2000. Under the system, DNA samples will be taken from Sturgeon Valley hogs at the processing plant and sent to IdentiGEN's laboratory, where their unique DNA identifiers are used to verify product origin.

Once the program is implemented, pork from Sturgeon Valley will display IdentiGEN's DNA TraceBack seal at the retail meat case.

"The DNA TraceBack program helps link Sturgeon Valley producers directly with the consumer," said Dan Majeau, one of the principals at Sturgeon Valley Pork. "Because it is based on sound science, it provides an added assurance that helps us build trust with our customers."

Brazil suffering from economic meltdown

(MEATPOULTRY.com, April 15, 2009)
by Bryan Salvage


FATIMA DO SUL, Brazil — Grain and beef prices in Brazil have plummeted in recent months. What’s more, demand has also plunged for Brazilian beef, coffee and soy, according to The Associated Press. Dozens of slaughterhouses hit by the credit crunch in recent months have shut their doors in both Mato Grosso do Sul and the neighboring agricultural state of Mato Grosso, putting thousands of meat cutters out of work.

No one expected such a sudden drop from the agribusiness boom that sent Brazilian land prices skyrocketing and attracted many American and Argentine investors looking to snap up farmland just before the meltdown last fall. The economic crisis even is starting to hurt the previously high popularity ratings for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Farmers are angry at his claims that the country won't be hit as hard by the meltdown as Europe and the United States.

While economists predict Brazil's economy won't expand at all this year or will contract, Mr. Silva's administration in March predicted 2% growth but just reduced the forecast to 1.2% — figures that Fatima do Sul residents call fantasy.

Rancher and soy farmer Alberto Dalben, who heads Fatima do Sul's association of farmers, said ranchers previously were able to buy three cows to raise after selling one to the slaughterhouse. Now they get less than two.

Mr. Dalben says he may reduce his soy acreage and increase the size of his cattle pastures on his 2,270 acres because raising cows requires less investment and work than soy, though the returns are often lower.

Philippine AI swine disease check initiated

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is to establish a registration and accreditation system for artificial insemination (AI) centres and providers to prevent the spreading of swine diseases such as the Ebola Reston virus.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap directed the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), an attached agency of the DA, to formulate the registration and accreditation system in consultation with stakeholders.

“Based on scientific studies, Ebola Reston and the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome can be transmitted through unchecked, uncertified semen and poor AI techniques,” said Yap in a memorandum.

PRRS & Ebola Reston
Yap noted the decision to have a registration and accreditation system for AI centres and providers was made after the losses caused by a typical PRRS and the detection of the Ebola Reston virus in pigs in farms in Pangasinan and Bulacan.

AI, a technology that promotes genetic improvement among pigs, is accepted in many areas of the country and has contributed to the growth of the swine industry. “While recognising its importance in genetic improvement, AI’s role on disease transmission should also be reviewed in the light of emerging swine diseases,” said Yap.

U.S. access to Philippine pork market maintained

(MEATPOULTRY.com, March 03, 2009)
by Bryan Salvage

WASHINGTON – In what is being called a victory for U.S. pork producers, the Philippine government indicated last week it will maintain current rules for the administration of its tariff rate quota for pork, preserving U.S. access to a fast-growing market for U.S. pork exports, according to the National Pork Producers Council.

In recent months, the Philippine government had threatened to severely restrict pork imports by denying to legitimate Philippine importers the licenses they need to import pork within the country’s 54,210 metric ton pork T.R.Q. Amounts of imported pork below the T.R.Q. are subject to a lower, or in-quota, tariff rate. Once imports reach the T.R.Q. threshold, a higher tariff rate kicks in, N.P.P.C. explained.

Responding to that threat, the National Pork Producers Council filed a petition in December 2008 with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, requesting removal of the Philippines from the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences. N.P.P.C. noted in filing that petition that the Philippine action would have violated World Trade Organization rules and a 1999 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and the Philippines.

G.S.P. is a program designed to provide developing countries, such as the Philippines, with preferential duty access to the U.S. market. In 2007, the Philippines exported $1.1 billion worth of products to the United States under the G.S.P. program.

"We are delighted the Philippine government has lived up to its international obligations and given Philippine importers full access to the pork T.R.Q.," said Bryan Black, N.P.P.C. president and a pork producer from Canal Winchester, Ohio. "In light of that, we have withdrawn our G.S.P. petition. However, we will remain vigilant to ensure the Philippine government continues to give the U.S. pork industry full access to its pork market."

N.P.P.C. said the Philippine decision to maintain its current T.R.Q. administration rules preserves a growing market for U.S. pork exports. U.S. pork sales to the Philippines in 2008 increased by 360% to 25,300 metric tons valued at $46 million.

Brazilian beef company files U.S. bankruptcy proceeding

By Tom Johnston on 3/3/2009
MeatingPlace.com

Brazilian beef producer Independencia S.A. has filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in a New York City court amid a decline in beef exports and a burdensome debt load, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, the Sao Paulo-based company commenced a restructuring process under Brazilian insolvency law. In filing the Chapter 15 proceeding, Independencia seeks from U.S. courts recognition of its Brazilian reorganization.

In its filing, according to Reuters, the company said its total debt was about $1.2 billion, about half of which was in Brazil and half of which was in the form of private debt issues in the United States and other countries outside Brazil.

Independencia said sales fell 41 percent between October 2008 and January 2009, and that non-payment in exports had surpassed 20 percent of total sales in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The company said in its filing that it "has witnessed as a result of the current economic crisis a dramatic disruption in the international beef markets with Brazilian exports decreasing by approximately 34 percent in volume terms, since September 30, 2008."

Independencia said its debt rose because some 86 percent of its debt was in U.S. dollar-denominated trade lines and the Brazilian real recently depreciated against the U.S. dollar, according to Reuters.

Court documents showed the company owes nearly $105 million to JPMorgan Chase Bank and roughly $99 million to Citibank.

Phils: Culling of pigs with Ebola strain will take a week

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/27/2009 1:08 PM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/02/27/09/culling-pigs-ebola-strain-will-take-week


The culling of 6,000 pigs infected with the Ebola Reston virus in Pandi, Bulacan will push through on Saturday (February 28).

Health and agriculture officials said the pigs will be electrocuted, then buried in a 30-meter pit inside the farm.

The media will not be allowed to cover the culling ordered by the government to prevent the possible spread of the disease.

The Department of Health (DOH) said this will also minimize human exposure to the sick pigs.

Health officials said the Ebola Reston virus poses no serious risks to humans.

"Ito po has not caused significant illness in humans, subalit ngayong nakita natin sa baboy, ang DOH ay tinitignan po ang maaring maging epekto sa tao. Sa ngayon, wala pa pong nagkakasakit," said Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health.

"Tayo, ang trabaho natin hindi ko iniisip na bakit sa atin ang problema, sisiguraduhin natin na lalampasan natin at susulusyunan ito," said Bulacan Governor Jon-jon Mendoza.

The DOH said six pig farm workers have tested positive for Ebola Reston, but are in good health. – report from ANC

US maintains access to Philippine pork market

The Philippine government indicated this week that it will maintain current rules for the administration of its tariff rate quota (TRQ) for pork, preserving US access to a fast-growing market for US pork exports.


This was made public by the US' National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) at its website.


The Philippine government had threatened in recent months to severely restrict pork imports by denying to legitimate Philippine importers the licenses they need to import pork within the country’s 54,210 metric tonne pork TRQ.


In response to that threat, the NPPC filed a petition with the Office of the US Trade Representative in December 2008, requesting removal of the Philippines from the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).


Memorandum
In filing the petition, NPPC noted that the Philippine action would have violated World Trade Organization rules and a 1999 Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and the Philippines.


GSP is a programme designed to provide developing countries such as the Philippines with preferential duty access to the US market. In 2007, the Philippines exported $1.1 billion worth of products to the USA under the GSP programme.


Delighted
"We are delighted the Philippine government has lived up to its international obligations and given Philippine importers full access to the pork TRQ," said NPPC president Bryan Black.


"In light of that, we have withdrawn our GSP petition. However, we will remain vigilant to ensure the Philippine government continues to give the US pork industry full access to its pork market."


The Philippine decision to maintain its current TRQ administration rules preserves a growing market for US pork exports. US pork sales to the Philippines in 2008 surged by 360% to 25,300 metric tonnes valued at $46 million.

Phils: 3,000 kilos of 'hot meat' seized in Balintawak

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/26/2009 1:10 PM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/02/26/09/3000-kilos-hot-meat-seized-balintawak


Amid reports of Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) infections among pigs and pig handlers, police seized 3,000 kilos of rotten pork meat at a Quezon City Market Wednesday.

Authorities arrested four vendors who were reportedly unloading from a jeepney 3,000 kilos of rotten pork meat at the MC Market in Balintawak at about 11 p.m. Wednesday evening.

This was after Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) and the Quezon City Health Office conducted meat inspections and found several batches of meat being sold at less than their normal market price. Authorities said that the normal selling price for pork is about P150 per kilo, while "double dead meat" is sold at P90 to P100 only.

The pork flesh was also reportedly smelly, pale, and had no National Meat Inspection Service (NIMS) seal, signs that the meat was unsafe for consumption. Reports by the Quezon City Crime Investigation Detection Unit (CIDU) revealed that the vendors were carrying legitimate meat permits.

Authorities said that the meat was allegedly delivered from Bulacan, and did not pass legal inspections by the NIMS. The Health office also said that the meat could have been carved from sick or dead pigs who may have died from heat stroke.

Health officers said that eating rotten meat, popularly called "botcha", would cause numerous health hazards including diarrhea.

In light of the unabated sale of 'hot meat' on the market, meat inspector Dicoroso Domingo called for harsher penalties for those found selling rotten meat. "Sana yung Congress taasan iyong penalty," he said.

The vendors, meanwhile, reportedly told authorities that they resorted to illegal activities because their businesses were losing money. "Wala na po kasi kaming alam na alternatibong trabaho eh," a female vendor said in an interview with ABS-CBN.

The four suspects were charged for violating the Consumer Act of the Philippines and Republic Act 9296 or the Meat Inspection Code.

Under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the illegal sale of unsafe products like double-dead meat has a corresponding penalty of P1,000 to P10,000 and not less than six-months but not more than five years of imprisonment. -- with a report from Doland Castro, ABS-CBN News

Phils: No salmonella outbreak in hogs in EV – DA

By RANULFO DOCDOCAN, ABS-CBN Tacloban | 02/26/2009 1:09 AM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/25/09/no-salmonella-outbreak-hogs-ev-–-da

TACLOBAN CITY -- There is no salmonella outbreak in Region 8, announced Dr. Archie Lluz who is Chief of Regional Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the region.

Lluz said that the results of the laboratory examination on specimens sent to Philippine Animal Health Center at the Bureau of Animal Industry in Manila proved to be negative of salmonella.

The results were identified as "Pasteurella hemolytica" a type of bacterial infection that reportedly causes deaths of swine and is due to bad sanitation and changes in weather conditions.

Pigs with this infection reportedly suffer form loss of appetite, dehydration, fever and diarrhea.

Lluz was referring to the specimens from Tacloban and Babatngon where cases of sick pigs were reported.

In Babatngon, there were 270 reported swine deaths due to this condition.

Swine vaccination were already conducted to avoid the spread of the diseases.

Lluz said however that there remains possibility that some of the dead hogs contracted hog cholera. He said, however that this has yet to be confirmed.

He also said, however, that hog raisers should immediately report sick pigs to local government veterinarians so that necessary measures could immediately be taken.

Never butcher hogs which are sick, Lluz also warned. He said this will only make the spread of the disease easier and wider. Also, the sick hogs must be isolated from the healthy ones, he advised.

He said hog raisiers should always see to it that the environment where the swine are should be sanitary and clean. Lluz said that those affected were those raised in backyard pens and not really those in hog farms.

The agriculture department has received reports of sick hogs and early slaughtering from Babatngon, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Palo, Pastrana, Dagami, Burauen, Tabontabon, Lapaz, Mayorga, and Abuyog in Leyte; Sogod in Southern Leyte; Catbalogan, Calbiga, Daram, and Sta. Rita in Samar; and Lope de Vega in Northern Samar.

Agriculture officials in the region reported that hog diseases have spread to 18 towns and one city in Eastern Visayas this month and have affected thousands of backyard hog raisers in the region.

DA officials said that unrestricted slaughtering of sick animals has triggered the spread of swine diseases.

Pork vendors in Tacloban are already complaining. They said there is a marked decrease in their sales because many consumers now refrain from buying pork for fear of salmonella.

There is no salmonella outbreak yet, reiterated DA officials. They also said that this type of infection can be treated by antibiotics.

Phils: 'Hot meat' seized in Pasay City

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/25/2009 12:24 PM


Amid nationwide investigations into the Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) contamination among pigs and pig handlers, authorities seized more than 200 kilograms of rotten pork meat at a local market in Pasay City Wednesday.

Local officials arrested Rafael Fruelda in Barangay 186 in Maricaban, as he was loading a bundle of alleged rotten pork meat onto a tricycle. The suspect admitted that the meat had been taken from already dead pigs. The tricycle driver, meanwhile, had reportedly escaped.

Godofredo Villafranca, a veterinarian at the Pasay City Veterinarian Office, confirmed that the meat was rancid, saying that although Fruelda had a valid meat permit, the pork had not passed through a legal slaughterhouse.

Authorities found that the meat was bloody and did not have a National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) seal, making the pork unsafe for consumption. The meat was reportedly disposed and fed to crocodiles.

Fruelda was charged with violations to the Meat Inspection Code and Consumer Act of the Philippines.

The Pasay City Veterinary Office reportedly said it is planning to appeal to government officials to impose more penalties and higher fines on those found selling rotten meat.

NMIS chief veterinarian Dr. Ana Maria Cabel had earlier issued a statement blaming low fines for the continued sale of banned ‘hot meat.’ Under the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the illegal sale of unsafe products like double-dead meat has a corresponding penalty of P1,000 to P10,000 and not less than six-months but not more than five years of imprisonment.

In a statement issued Monday, the Department of Health urged consumers to buy pork meat tagged with the National Meat Inspection Service Seal (NMIS). Double-dead pork, popularly called “botcha”, are usually smelly, cold, pale and cost almost half the original market price. The NMIS has reportedly tightened its control on unsafe pork sale practices and prevent the entry of double dead meat into the market. -- with a report from Dominic Almelor, ABS-CBN News

as of 02/25/2009 1:11 PM

Phils: Inspection widened after spread of Ebola strain

By karen_flores
Created 02/24/2009 - 09:18
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/24/2009 9:18 AM

Following the order to depopulate 6,000 pigs with Ebola Reston Virus (ERV) in certain farms in Bulacan, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has decided to expand its monitoring and surveillance to neighboring provinces.

Director Dave Catbagan of the DA's Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said they will be begin their inspection of hog farms in the whole of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Pangasinan province in the Ilocos region after the disposal of the 6,000 infected pigs in Pandi, Bulacan.

Catbagan said the slaughter is set to be commenced within the week, with the ocular inspection of the pig farms in Pandi scheduled today.

"As a precautionary measure, while there are many questions left unanswered, these ERV-contaminated pigs should be extinguished so we can move forward and study the virus," Catbagan said in an interview at ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda."

DA Secretary Arthur Yap reported Monday in a press conference that there is an ongoing spread of the ERV among pigs in Pandi, Bulacan, while quarantine of the hog farm in Palauig, Pangasinan has been lifted after finding no traces of viral transmission.

Meanwhile, Catbagan said the DA, along with health experts, will continue their study of the ERV's symptoms and effects on pigs, and possibly to humans. The joint investigation started last January 5.

Clean, cooked pork still safe

In an interview at ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said it is still safe to eat pork amid the ERV scare, provided that the four guidelines set by the DA and the Department of Health are followed. According to him, these include the following:

1. Make sure the meat is thoroughly cooked, leaving no raw areas (usually indicated by red or pink spots). Juices secreted by the meat should be clear.

2. Proper handling and preparation of food should always be followed.

3. Unusual occurences such as herds of pigs dying or getting sick should be reported to the proper authorities (DA and DOH).

4. Avoid buying double-dead meat, which is banned from being sold in markets.

Phils: State to undertake first large-scale animal culling

Business World
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW022409/content.php?id=071&src=2

THE GOVERNMENT would cull some 6,000 hogs from a swine farm north of Metro Manila following a confirmed outbreak of Ebola Reston virus (ERV), making it the first disease-related large-scale destruction of domestic animals.

"A depopulation will be carried out in Bulacan province... to prevent the spread of Ebola within and outside the farm," Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said in a press briefing yesterday.

The hogs would be immediately culled after procedures to ensure animal, operator and biosecurity safety.

Mr. Duque said the culling would have a minimal impact on pork supply given an estimated 13 million head of pigs nationwide.

Animal and public health experts from the World Health Organization, World Organization for Animal Health, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Agriculture and Health departments have collected animal and human blood and tissue samples from two hog farms in Bulacan and Manaoag, Pangasinan province last month.

Meanwhile, an additional human sample from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija province was tested positive for ERV, bringing the people who have been infected to six.

"He [patient] does not recall any direct contact with sick pigs but remembers having flu-like illness in the past 12 months. There is no evidence that the flu-like symptoms can be attributed to ERV infection," the agencies said in a joint statement.

Mr. Duque said Ebola Reston "poses a low risk to human health at this time."

"This now confirms the earlier tests done by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine that Bulacan has an ongoing viral transmission," read a statement issued also yesterday.

The cost of culling would be shouldered by the government, said Davinio P. Catbagan, director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). Mr. Yap refused to disclose the actual amount.

The department has spent less than P10 million to keep the tested farms in operation, Mr. Yap said.

In a separate interview, Albert R. T. Lim, Jr., president of the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc., said fatteners and piglets cost an average of P3,000-P4,000 per head, boars cost P25,000-P30,000, and sows cost P14,000-P15,000.

That will be the first large-scale eradication of animals because of a disease, Samuel B. Animas, chief of BAI’s animal health division, said in a separate phone interview.

"Only one to three pigs are slaughtered at a time in backyard farms during the foot and mouth disease infection [in the 1990s]," he added.

Ebola Reston, which is only found in the Philippines, had been confined to monkeys. The latest detection among pigs is the first time the virus has jumped species.

Hog farmers from Bulacan, whose movement would not be limited, will engage in self-monitoring for 21 days from leaving the farm.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap has lifted the quarantine in a hog farm in Manaoag since there were "no evidence of ongoing viral transmission."

Ebola Reston, a sub-type of the deadly Ebola in Africa, was first discovered in the Philippines in 1989 among crab-eating macaques being exported to the Hazleton Laboratories in Reston, Virginia, USA.

Late in October, the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory of the US Department of Agriculture reported to the Philippine Agriculture department that six out of 28 pig tissue samples taken from four different hogs in Luzon island were tested positive of the Ebola strain.— Neil Jerome C. Morales

Phils: Smuggled Peking duck, chicken parts worth P25-M seized

Customs agents seized four 40-foot containers containing smuggled Peking duck, pork loin and choice cut chicken and pigeon parts worth an estimated P25 million, which arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said the shipments, which came from China, were misdeclared as food ingredients. The shipments arrived January 22 and February 11 and were seized recently.

Jarius Paguntalan, Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG) OIC, said the customs bureau had received a tip that a large shipment of poultry products was arriving. He said Reach World Logistics, Inc, the forwarding company that brought in the shipments, failed to present pertinent import documents from the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Authorities have yet to determine who imported the items.

Phils: Corn Shortage Likely to Up Pork and Chicken Prices

THE PHILIPPINES - An agricultural lawmaker has warned of possible increases in the price of pork and chicken as the country faces a shortage of corn.

According to AGAP party-list group Rep. Nicanor Briones, the shortage of corn would definitely have an impact on the price of pork, chicken and eggs since corn comprises 50 per cent of the feeds animal raisers use.

“As it is now, there is a price hike on chicken and pork and it will continue to increase if there will be a corn shortage,” Briones said.

Moreover, corn prices increased in January to between 25 and 28 pesos (PHP) a kilo from PHP 12 to 13 a kilo, reports The Manila Times.

However, Mr Briones said the price of corn went down to PHP 18 a kilo this month because of the importation of 100,000 metric tons of young corn from Brazil and 120,000 tonnes of feed wheat from Ukraine.

He said the country would import more corn, 62,500 tonnes this month and 187,500 tonnes from March to May to meet the demand until the second quarter of the year.

He added that corn is being pegged at 600,000 tonnes in the coming months.

According to Mr Briones, the original plan was to course the privately financed importation through the National Food Authority (NFA) to expedite the process and minimize, if not lift, the 35 per cent tariff duty on imports.

But NFA imposes a fixed tariff of Php 4 for a kilo of corn, which is not beneficial to the farmers especially when the price of corn in the world market has gotten really low.

The Department of Agriculture has said NFA should have a buffer stock of 75,000 tonnes to 100,00 tonnes of corn to shield the farmers from shortages and possible unscrupulous hoarding.

In light of this development, Mr Briones has asked the Agriculture department to bring down the fixed tariff to PHP 2 a kilo to help the poor farmers, and avoid the subsequent increases in the price of pork and chicken.

Salmonella-tainted pork circulates the Philippines

The Department of Health in the Philippines has warned people in Eastern Visayas about pork infected with Salmonella bacteria.

In the wake of reports that Salmonella infected hundreds of hogs in one Samar town alone, health officials are urging consumers to only buy pork meat that has been certified by the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS).

“Salmonella bacteria are present in the intestines of the infected animal. For this reason, we at the Department of Health strongly advise against its consumption,” Boyd Cerdo, regional sentinel nurse of the Department of Health for Eastern Visayas said.

The regional office of the Department of Health has reported that salmonella has infected about 750 pigs from various villages. Eighty-four of these hogs were confirmed to have died due to the bacteria, according to reports. The Department of Health said the emergence of the bacteria could have been caused by poor sanitation, contaminated feeds, improper care of animals and even the bad weather condition.

China becomes largest pork importer in history

(MEATPOULTRY.com, February 03, 2009)
by MEAT&POULTRY Staff


DENVER – In 2008, imports of pork and pork products to China represented the highest volume to any single country, according to U.S. Meat Export Federation. China's overseas purchases and imports of pork and pork products in calendar year 2008 were unprecedented, according to U.S. Meat Export Federation calculations from just-released Chinese trade data. Based on import totals from both China and Hong Kong, China imported 1.925 million metric tons (4.2 billion lbs.) of pork and pork products last year, including 1.161 million tons (nearly 2.6 billion lbs.) of pork variety meats and 764,000 tons (1.7 billion lbs.) of pork cuts. China's imports exceeded the previous single-year record of 1.022 million tons (2.2 billion lbs.) of pork imported by Japan in 2005.

"The volume demonstrates the huge influence China can have on global markets when supply and demand become imbalanced," said Joel Haggard, senior vice president of U.S.M.E.F.'s Asia Pacific region. "The import volume, though huge, represents less than 5% of China’s consumption."

Total U.S. pork and pork product exports to China and Hong Kong are estimated by U.S.M.E.F. to have reached 386,000 tons (851 million lbs.) valued at nearly $700 million in 2008. The E.U. and Brazil were the other major pork suppliers to the region.

It is unlikely that China's pork imports this year will match last year's record, Mr. Haggard said. Increased industry profitability last spring, coupled with a range of hog raising subsidies, has resulted in a substantial expansion of China's herd, and lower hog and pork prices.

Although the post lunar new year early spring period usually marks the annual low point in demand, U.S.M.E.F. has heard reports of serious respiratory disease outbreaks that could be adding a bearish tone to the market. It expects imported variety meat demand to hold through 2009, although U.S. muscle cuts face stiffer competition from domestic supplies.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission, in concert with key ministries including the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture, AQSIQ and the Ministry of Finance, announced Jan. 12 a new temporary pork price stabilization program designed to smooth out the country's volatile hog cycle. The program establishes an early-warning system for low live-hog and pork prices based upon the ratio of live hog to grain prices.

Ebola stops Singapore-bound pork shipment

The Philippines has stopped a shipment of 50,000 tonnes of pork to Singapore after traces of low pathogenic Ebola-Reston virus were found on some hog farms in the country, officials said on Monday.

The shipment was supposed to be the country's first-ever pork export. The pork products were set to be sent to Singapore on Dec. 10 when the government voluntarily stopped the shipment due to food safety concerns, said Davinio Catbagan, director of the government's animal industry bureau.

The Ebola Reston virus scare broke out Wednesday last week when the DA and the Health department confirmed that six out of 28 hog tissues tested positive for the virus. The hogs were from four swine farms in Pandi (Bulacan province), Manaoag (Pangasinan) and backyard farms in Talavera and Cabanatuan (Nueva Ecija).

The hogs from the commercial farms were immediately quarantined following the confirmation, but last week, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the hogs that were quarantined in swine farms in Luzon were all tested negative for the Ebola Reston virus strain. Yap said the case may be considered "isolated," considering that the strain had not spread and no additional cases were reported.

Following the negative results of all hogs quarantined, the RITM would most likely cease the testing of hogs from Luzon piggeries.

USDA lowers meat production, export, price forecasts

USDA reduced its total U.S. meat production forecasts for 2008 and 2009 from last month, reflecting lower forecasts for all meats in 2008 and lower forecasts for beef and poultry more than offsetting predicted production gains in pork in 2009, according to the agency's monthly World Agriculture Supply and Demand report.

Beef

U.S. beef production for 2008 was reduced to 26.589 billion pounds from 26.699 a month ago. USDA predicts cattle placements for the remainder of 2008 will decrease, resulting in reduced beef production during the first half of 2009.

The agency barely changed its beef export forecasts from last month, reflecting actual third-quarter data. Beef exports in 2008 were raised ever so slightly to 1.860 billion pounds from 1.841 billion pounds forecast in November. USDA maintained its 2009 forecast for beef exports at 1.900 billion pounds. International demand is expected to remain weak amid economic uncertainty, and a stronger U.S. dollar may further dampen sales, the agency said.

USDA lowered its average Choice steer price (Nebraska, Direct, 1,000-1,300 pounds) for 2008 to $92.59 per hundredweight from $93.22 projected in November. For 2009, the agency lowered its average price range forecast to $92 to $99 from $93 to $100 last month.

Pork

U.S. pork production for 2008 was reduced somewhat to 23.419 billion pounds from 23.452 billion pounds projected last month. USDA raised its pork production forecast for 2009, saying lower feed costs result in slightly heavier weights.

Pork export forecasts are reduced for 2008 and 2009 for the same factors affecting beef exports. USDA lowered its 2008 export forecast to 4.769 billion pounds from 5.068 billion pounds last month. For 2009, the agency reduced its forecast to 4.100 billion pounds from 4.500 billion pounds predicted in November.

USDA dropped its average barrows and gilts (live equivalent 51-52 percent lean) price estimate for 2008 to $47.73 per hundredweight from $47.86 per hundredweight projected last month. For 2009, the agency maintained its predicted range of $48 to $52.