The Schmallenberg virus (SBV), recently observed in ruminants, is likely to spread to other European countries when temperatures get warmer, according to the European Food safety Authority (EFSA).
Meat production has increased by 36% in the past five years, and is expected to grow another 23% by 2020, Russian agriculture minister Yelena Skrynnik has announced.
The European Commission has granted legal protection to a ham from the northern German state Schleswig-Holstein, preventing meat traders from selling ‘Holsteiner Katenschinken’ unless it is made in its home area by traditional production.
Russian authorities have defended their decision to temporarily restrict imports of cattle from Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France from February 1 over the Schmallenberg virus, and warn a meat ban may follow.
UK cattle slaughterings dropped by 6% in the second half of 2011, mainly due to a reduction in young bull kill, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has announced.
The European meat industry has criticised a decision by the European Parliament not to introduce food labelling that would display percentages of cuts in salt, fat and sugar.
The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to provide a scientific assessment of the risks related to the Schmallenberg virus.
The Dutch government is pressing for a co-ordinated European Union (EU) response to fighting the Schmallenberg virus, a damaging disease spreading rapidly among livestock across Europe.
The UK poultry sector needs to focus on consolidation, efficiency and internationalisation to maintain its competitiveness on the EU market, a new report has suggested.
