By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 16:50:00 05/18/2009
http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20090518-205712/Ban-on-beef-from-The-Netherlands-lifted
MANILA, Philippines--The country has lifted the ban on the entry of beef and beef products from The Netherlands following confirmation from global animal health authorities that the exporting country has managed to control mad cow disease in its territory.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said in a statement on Monday that the ban was lifted based on the declaration by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) or World Organization on Animal Health that the classification of The Netherlands improved to the level of “controlled risk“ from mad cow disease or the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy” (BSE), a brain-wasting illness.
Yap noted that recent international guidelines set out by the OIE provided for certain measures under which all beef and beef products from animals of all ages might be safely traded.
As such, he said, the DA has been allowing the importation of beef from The Netherlands with the following conditions:
*Boneless and bone-in beef can be sourced from cattle of all ages devoid of any nerves and other BSE-specified risk materials;
*The beef, whether boneless, or bone-in, should come only from healthy
ambulatory and not downer cattle;
*The age of the slaughter cattle shall be certified by the government
authority; and,
*The slaughter date of the cattle or the production date of the beef shall be included in the packaging label.
“All shipments into the country of beef originating from The Netherlands not complying with these conditions shall be confiscated by Veterinary Quarantine Officers/Inspectors at all major sea/airports,” Yap said.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Canada Reports 16th BSE Case
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced it has confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy in an 80-month-old dairy cow from Alberta.
In a statement, CFIA said no part of the animal's carcass entered the human food or animal feed systems.
This case was detected through the national BSE surveillance program. The animal's birth farm has been identified and an investigation is underway.
Canada remains a Controlled Risk country for BSE, as recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). "Accordingly, this case should not affect exports of Canadian cattle or beef," the agency stated.
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF), which has long opposed U.S imports of Canadian cattle for fear of BSE exposure, noted that this cow would have been born in 2002, making it the tenth BSE-positive cow in Canada young enough to be exported to the United States.
Since 2007, USDA has allowed imports of Canadian cattle over 30 months of age as long as they were born after March 1, 1999.
In a statement, CFIA said no part of the animal's carcass entered the human food or animal feed systems.
This case was detected through the national BSE surveillance program. The animal's birth farm has been identified and an investigation is underway.
Canada remains a Controlled Risk country for BSE, as recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). "Accordingly, this case should not affect exports of Canadian cattle or beef," the agency stated.
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF), which has long opposed U.S imports of Canadian cattle for fear of BSE exposure, noted that this cow would have been born in 2002, making it the tenth BSE-positive cow in Canada young enough to be exported to the United States.
Since 2007, USDA has allowed imports of Canadian cattle over 30 months of age as long as they were born after March 1, 1999.
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
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Pork imports from US not banned, traders say
By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09:01:00 05/09/2009
Filed Under: Swine Flu, Foreign Aid
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has not banned pork and pork products from the US after all, according to industry leaders both in the US and in the Philippines.
This, despite the Department of Agriculture’s announcement in late April that it would restrict the entry of pork and pork products from countries with an outbreak of A(H1N1) virus as “a precautionary measure.”
“The Philippines has decided not to impose restrictions on US pork imports contrary to previous announcements,” US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) communications director Joe Schuele said in a report.
“The Philippines has decided to only ban pork imports from Canada due to the detection of the H1N1 virus in a swine herd in Alberta,” he said.
Canada reported the world’s first case of a human transmitting the new influenza virus to swine.
Schuele called it “a bit of good news” as US meat exporters were still reeling from bans imposed by major markets Russia and China.
The US is also worried about economic disruptions resulting from the A(H1N1) outbreak in Mexico, also a major market for these US products, even though the country remains “fully open” to US pork and beef.
The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) confirmed that its members may still import pork from the US “if there is a need.”
“There was some restraint in the sense that the applications for importation submitted by members took more time for processing recently but now they are progressing,” PAMPI executive director Francisco Buencamino said in an interview. “As far as I know the import restriction applies more to Alberta, Canada.”
Buencamino, however, could not say how much US pork was to be imported for canned goods and other processed meat products but said it was “minimal.”
“We also source locally so we don’t need to import so much from the US,” he said.
Buencamino also declined to comment on why the supposed import ban did not push through.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09:01:00 05/09/2009
Filed Under: Swine Flu, Foreign Aid
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has not banned pork and pork products from the US after all, according to industry leaders both in the US and in the Philippines.
This, despite the Department of Agriculture’s announcement in late April that it would restrict the entry of pork and pork products from countries with an outbreak of A(H1N1) virus as “a precautionary measure.”
“The Philippines has decided not to impose restrictions on US pork imports contrary to previous announcements,” US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) communications director Joe Schuele said in a report.
“The Philippines has decided to only ban pork imports from Canada due to the detection of the H1N1 virus in a swine herd in Alberta,” he said.
Canada reported the world’s first case of a human transmitting the new influenza virus to swine.
Schuele called it “a bit of good news” as US meat exporters were still reeling from bans imposed by major markets Russia and China.
The US is also worried about economic disruptions resulting from the A(H1N1) outbreak in Mexico, also a major market for these US products, even though the country remains “fully open” to US pork and beef.
The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) confirmed that its members may still import pork from the US “if there is a need.”
“There was some restraint in the sense that the applications for importation submitted by members took more time for processing recently but now they are progressing,” PAMPI executive director Francisco Buencamino said in an interview. “As far as I know the import restriction applies more to Alberta, Canada.”
Buencamino, however, could not say how much US pork was to be imported for canned goods and other processed meat products but said it was “minimal.”
“We also source locally so we don’t need to import so much from the US,” he said.
Buencamino also declined to comment on why the supposed import ban did not push through.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Pork export bans on flu fears unjustified: O.I.E.
(MEATPOULTRY.com, May 07, 2009)
by Bryan Salvage
PARIS — After several countries imposed trade restrictions on countries exporting pigs or products of pork origin that have declared human cases related to the new A/H1N1 influenza, the World Organization for Animal Health (O.I.E.) charged imposing such bans do not comply with international standards published by the O.I.E. and all other competent standard-setting international bodies for animal health and food safety.
On May 5, the first transmission of"A/H1N1" virus from human to pigs in a single herd was officially notified to the O.I.E. by Canada. The virus is the novel influenza virus "A/H1N1", but the disease linked with the "classical" swine influenza virus is different and is not notifiable to the O.I.E. since it is mild in pigs and the infection only rarely seriously affects humans.
"The O.I.E. will develop appropriate standards for this emerging disease," the organization said in a statement. "In the meantime, and until new standards have been adopted by its 174 member countries and territories, the O.I.E. recommends all animals from the currently infected Canadian farm be maintained in strict isolation and that quarantine from the farm not be lifted until it has been rigorously demonstrated by the Veterinary Services of the country concerned that there are no pigs infected with the "A/H1N1" virus at the farm. This recommendation would also apply to any other country that should experience a similar situation."
The O.I.E. iterated its recommendations already published jointly with W.H.O., F.A.O. and the W.T.O on May 2 regarding the safety of pork and pork products.
by Bryan Salvage
PARIS — After several countries imposed trade restrictions on countries exporting pigs or products of pork origin that have declared human cases related to the new A/H1N1 influenza, the World Organization for Animal Health (O.I.E.) charged imposing such bans do not comply with international standards published by the O.I.E. and all other competent standard-setting international bodies for animal health and food safety.
On May 5, the first transmission of"A/H1N1" virus from human to pigs in a single herd was officially notified to the O.I.E. by Canada. The virus is the novel influenza virus "A/H1N1", but the disease linked with the "classical" swine influenza virus is different and is not notifiable to the O.I.E. since it is mild in pigs and the infection only rarely seriously affects humans.
"The O.I.E. will develop appropriate standards for this emerging disease," the organization said in a statement. "In the meantime, and until new standards have been adopted by its 174 member countries and territories, the O.I.E. recommends all animals from the currently infected Canadian farm be maintained in strict isolation and that quarantine from the farm not be lifted until it has been rigorously demonstrated by the Veterinary Services of the country concerned that there are no pigs infected with the "A/H1N1" virus at the farm. This recommendation would also apply to any other country that should experience a similar situation."
The O.I.E. iterated its recommendations already published jointly with W.H.O., F.A.O. and the W.T.O on May 2 regarding the safety of pork and pork products.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
China bans pork from 17 more U.S. states on apparent flu fears
By Tom Johnston on 5/5/2009
MeatingPlace.com
China on Monday banned pork from 17 more U.S. states amid the 2009 H1N1 virus outbreak, according to USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The recent action brings to 36 the number of U.S. states that China has banned since late April. The latest were the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
The ban applies to fresh/frozen and heat-treated pork and pork products derived from swine raised or slaughtered in those states on or after May 3.
Meanwhile, Russia was among a number of other Eastern countries to add to or implement new bans following the flu outbreak.
On Monday, Russia announced that beef, poultry and pork produced on or after May 2 in South Carolina, except for heat-treated product, is ineligible. It has placed similar bans on at least 10 U.S. states since the outbreak began.
Kyrgyzstan on Monday banned all U.S. meat and poultry, while Uzbekistan banned all U.S. pork and pork products.
Pork safety
International health officials have reiterated that people cannot contract the H1N1 virus from eating pork and other meats.
Over the weekend, the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Organization for Animal Health and World Trade Organization issued a joint statement to that effect.
"In light of the spread of influenza A/H1N1 and the rising concerns about the possibility of this virus being found in pigs and the safety of pork and pork products, we stress that pork and pork products, handled in accordance with good hygienic practices … will not be a source of infection," the groups said.
The statement also urged veterinary authorities to work with human health counterparts to monitor pig herds and look for any signs of illness that may be linked to human cases of A/H1N1 influenza. On Monday, the United Nations also called on countries to carefully monitor their pig herds after pigs in Canada were infected.
Canada
Canada also has been the subject of numerous trade bans, most recently implemented by China. Philippines, Singapore, Honduras and several other countries also have closed their borders to Canadian pork.
Canada's biggest pork export markets, including the United States and Japan, have not followed suit. South Korea has banned live hogs from Canada.
MeatingPlace.com
China on Monday banned pork from 17 more U.S. states amid the 2009 H1N1 virus outbreak, according to USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The recent action brings to 36 the number of U.S. states that China has banned since late April. The latest were the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
The ban applies to fresh/frozen and heat-treated pork and pork products derived from swine raised or slaughtered in those states on or after May 3.
Meanwhile, Russia was among a number of other Eastern countries to add to or implement new bans following the flu outbreak.
On Monday, Russia announced that beef, poultry and pork produced on or after May 2 in South Carolina, except for heat-treated product, is ineligible. It has placed similar bans on at least 10 U.S. states since the outbreak began.
Kyrgyzstan on Monday banned all U.S. meat and poultry, while Uzbekistan banned all U.S. pork and pork products.
Pork safety
International health officials have reiterated that people cannot contract the H1N1 virus from eating pork and other meats.
Over the weekend, the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Organization for Animal Health and World Trade Organization issued a joint statement to that effect.
"In light of the spread of influenza A/H1N1 and the rising concerns about the possibility of this virus being found in pigs and the safety of pork and pork products, we stress that pork and pork products, handled in accordance with good hygienic practices … will not be a source of infection," the groups said.
The statement also urged veterinary authorities to work with human health counterparts to monitor pig herds and look for any signs of illness that may be linked to human cases of A/H1N1 influenza. On Monday, the United Nations also called on countries to carefully monitor their pig herds after pigs in Canada were infected.
Canada
Canada also has been the subject of numerous trade bans, most recently implemented by China. Philippines, Singapore, Honduras and several other countries also have closed their borders to Canadian pork.
Canada's biggest pork export markets, including the United States and Japan, have not followed suit. South Korea has banned live hogs from Canada.
Pig industry confirms ‘Pork is Safe’
“Pork is safe to eat and handle,” the US pork industry continues to assure people in the wake of a report from Canada that pigs in an Alberta pork operation contracted an H1N1 virus.
A worker who recently visited Mexico – and became ill with flu-like symptoms – is suspected of transmitting the virus to a pig.
“People cannot get the flu from eating or handling pork,” said Dr. Jennifer Greiner, director of science and technology for the National Pork Producers Council. “The flu is a respiratory illness, it’s not a food-borne illness.”
According to the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security the H1N1 flu strain that has been contracted by a number of people worldwide cannot be transmitted by eating or handling pork; it does not pose a threat to the safety of food.
Early yesterday, the World Trade Organization, the OIE and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization issued a joint statement saying pork is safe. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a statement after hearing about the situation in canada, “This is not a food-borne illness. The American food supply is safe and pork and pork products are safe.”
A worker who recently visited Mexico – and became ill with flu-like symptoms – is suspected of transmitting the virus to a pig.“People cannot get the flu from eating or handling pork,” said Dr. Jennifer Greiner, director of science and technology for the National Pork Producers Council. “The flu is a respiratory illness, it’s not a food-borne illness.”
According to the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security the H1N1 flu strain that has been contracted by a number of people worldwide cannot be transmitted by eating or handling pork; it does not pose a threat to the safety of food.
Early yesterday, the World Trade Organization, the OIE and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization issued a joint statement saying pork is safe. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a statement after hearing about the situation in canada, “This is not a food-borne illness. The American food supply is safe and pork and pork products are safe.”
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