Representatives of the European Union (EU) institutions are working towards a final deal next week on how much of the EU agriculture subsidies should go towards maintaining meat and livestock production, which might collapse without public funding.
Ukranian pork production increased significantly in the first four months of 2013, with experts predicting that the country could become self sufficient in pork by the end of the year.
Strong beef sales have contributed to a 27% value hike in Irish food and drink exports over the last three years to €9bn in 2012, while trade with the UK has risen by 5% over the last year alone to €3.8bn or 42% of all exports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised that the government will provide special support to Russia’s poultry and pork producers, which are currently suffering record losses due to the country’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The European Livestock and Meat Trading Union (UECBV) has welcomed new European Union (EU) pig meat inspection rules, backed by a key European Commission committee, that sanction a more risk-based approach than in the past.
Russian authorities have stated that German exporters have once again violated veterinary requirements, which has significantly undermined the chances of Germany returning to normal trading conditions with Russia.
Industry leaders in the UK have denied claims that abscesses and tumours could make it into pork products if Brussels relaxes pig inspection rules next week.
Meat production in Germany fell last year to just over eight million tonnes (mt) for the first time since 1997, but consumption remains strong, according to industry experts.
Germany saw a decline in meat production in 2012, to just over eight million tonnes (mt), but the Federation of German Meat Industry (BVDF) said exports have continued to rise.
The British pig industry will start monitoring the UK food chain to ensure that illegal pork is not brought in from farms that are non-compliant with the sow stall ban introduced at the beginning of this year.
Ukraine’s pork market volume is forecast to grow rapidly in the years ahead, following a rise in consumption levels, according to industry participants.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said there are still a number of “crucial” issues to be addressed in order to ensure a workable CAP for Northern Ireland.
An Estonian meat company whose sausages tested positive for horsemeat has claimed that the contamination could have come from raw materials imported from Ireland.
Three-quarters of Russia’s territory is unsuitable for any type of agriculture, including meat production, according to a new report from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) trade barriers imposed by emerging economies such as China and Russia are posing a serious impediment to US livestock and meat exports, according to a report by the Office of the US Trade Representative.
Ukraine’s ban on Brazilian pork imports is likely to lead to a shortage of meat on the domestic market, as well as a jump in prices, industry experts and producers have predicted.
Mechanically separated meat (MSM) from poultry and swine carries similar risks to non-mechanically separated meat unless produced using high-pressure production techniques, according to a scientific opinion published by the European Food Safety Authority...
Scientists in Britain have developed a way of creating a wholly synthetic vaccine, taking away the need to use live and potentially infectious viruses.
Russian food manufacturer Miratorg, which had planned to construct 10 large pig farms in the Kursk region of central Russia, has said it could be forced to stop building, due to the uncertainty on the domestic pork market.
Russia has announced it will ban imports of chilled meat from Spain and the Netherlands due, in its opinion, to a lack of proper veterinary control in these countries.
The Swedish National Food Agency (NFA) has announced that it has started testing meat products for undeclared pig DNA as part of its efforts to combat fraud in the food industry.
Russia is considering a ban on meat imports from 614 companies in Spain that were previously approved as suppliers under the guarantees of Spanish veterinary services, Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has announced.
Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has warned that it might soon update the list of possible meat suppliers from Mexico and Canada, excluding all companies that could possibly export meat with the forbidden feed additive ractopamine.
Russia is planning to re-introduce duties on pork imports to protect national industry, Russian Agriculture Minister Nikolai Fedorov said at a recent meeting of the Russian Parliament (State Duma).
In 2013 Russia plans to increase the production of all types of meat by 2.5% on last year’s level – to 11.92 million tonnes in live weight, according to a recent report from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Iran’s government allocated US$5bn in funds to support the country’s food security, with around half to be spent on meat purchasing to ensure there is sufficient cheap meat on the market, Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi announced recently.
An investigation into Spanish pig farms by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has revealed illegal standards of living for pigs, the charity has claimed.
A new European study has claimed that eating too much processed meat, such as salami, ham and sausages, can increase the risk of early death from heart disease and cancer.
A group of US food and agricultural oganisations has praised the Obama administration for launching free trade negotiations with the EU, but has called for any deal to address barriers to US meat exports.
As contamination scandals continue to rage through Europe, French supermarket giant Carrefour has announced a number of initiatives to improve the traceability and quality of its supply chains.
A free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Peru came into effect on a provisional basis last week (1 March 2013), improving opportunities for meat exporters in both countries.
Byron Center Wholesale Meats has recalled more than 6,500 pounds of ham products that were produced without a Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan.
