US authority intensifies inspections of imported food to combat bio-terrorism
The
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tightened its watch on food
imports as a part of its ongoing effort to safeguard the food supply
from possible terrorist tampering. The Bush administration has announced
a grant of $5 million for new research funding to further enhance food
security. Among the priorities is the hunt for better ways to detect
chemical or biological contamination of food, and the development of
food processing techniques that could eliminate such contamination.
The September 11, terrorist attacks have heightened awareness towards
food supply especially the millions of pounds of food imported across
it’s borders. So far this year, FDA has conducted 62,000 inspections
of food imports, up from a mere 12,000 in all of 2001. One of the initial
steps taken by FDA to ensure the implementation of the new rule requires
the food importers to provide detailed shipping information to FDA no
later than the day before the items arrive in the US.
WTO
to examine Australia’s safety restrictions on EU food
The
European Union has won a WTO commitment to investigate the Australian
health and safety restrictions on EU food imports.
It
has asked the WTO panel to examine Australia’s use of sanitary and phyto
sanitary measures reportedly in place to keep imports under control.
EU says excessive use of rules to protect Australia from imported plant
and animal diseases costs EU exporters millions of dollars annually
and is not justified.
While
the EU said it is difficult to calculate market loss, it noted that
Europe sold 8,000 tonnes of fresh vegetables to Australia in 2002 while
sales into Canada were 35,000 tonnes
Malaysia
tightens noose on unhygienic food handlers
The
2.2 million food operators in Malaysia must abide by hygiene standards
or face closure when the amended Food Hygiene Regulation comes into
force at the end of the year. The Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng
said that the amendment would make it compulsory for all food handlers
and operators - from five-star hotels, restaurants, stalls to mobile
hawkers - to be registered with the Ministry. They would also be required
to attend a one-day course on hygiene and
cleanliness.
All
state and district health departments will conduct regular inspections
to ensure compliance.
Excel
and eMerge unite
eMerge
Interactive from Chicago, a technology company that serves the food
and cattle industry, has finalised a deal with Excel Corp to install
up to 15 meat inspection systems at Excel beef plants. Excel Corp is
the second largest beef company in the US and is a unit of the privately
held Cargill Inc.
eMerge’s
VerifEYE Carcass Inspection Systems (CIS) will be installed at eight
Excel beef plants by the end of 2004 and is expected to generate $20
million in lease revenues over 3 years. The VerifEYE system uses fluorescent
illumination to detect microscopic levels of organic contamination that
may harbour such pathogens as E coli 0157:H7, salmonella, listeria,
and others. Which could lead to a plethora of food borne diseases. The
automated system can inspect up to 450 beef carcasses in an hour.
Seychelles
gets a $1-mn grant from India for food industries
Vice
President of India, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, has announced a $1 million
grant to Seychelles for the development of agro industries, food processing
and small scale industries in the island nation. The grant will be spread
over a period of 5 years for mutually agreed projects.
During
delegation-level talks with his counterpart James Alix Michel, Mr Shekhawat
said India will also give $50,000 for medicines to fight HIV/AIDS.
“We
consider Seychelles as a close neighbour and partner to explore resources
of the Indian Ocean region for the benefit of our people,’’ said Mr
Shekhawat.
US
beverage packaging demand set for slight increase
According
to a 5-yearly report from the Freedonia Group, the US demand for beverage
containers, by far the biggest such market in the world, is projected
to increase 1.7 percent per year to 224 billion units in 2007, giving
the sector an estimated value of $17.5 billion.
Accordingly,
plastic containers (including fast-growing pouches) will continue to
represent the growth segment in the industry, as they further supplant
metal, glass and paperboard alternatives.
Advances
will be propelled by Pet-bottled water’s emergence as a popular beverage
in its own right, coupled with the proliferation of single-serving soft
drink bottles, which will continue to intensely compete with aluminium
cans.
The
report also highlights that prospects will improve for glass bottles,
as their replacement in the soft drink, milk, isotonic and water markets
has been largely completed, and usage in certain alcoholic and alternative
beverage segments stimulates growth opportunities that could be profitably
harnessed.
New
Zealand farmers strongly oppose ‘fart tax’
The
proposed ‘fart tax’, on greenhouse gas emissions from sheep and cattle
is facing stiff opposition as New Zealand farmers refuse compliance
as it would cost each farmer about $300 a year. The farmers have presented
a petition with 65,000 signatures opposing the planned greenhouse gas
levy on farm animals by the government.
The
Government wants to raise about $8 million a year from farmers for research
regarding agricultural greenhouse gas emissions aimed at reducing the
methane output of farm animals. Methane belched by the country’s farm
herds makes up more than half of the total greenhouse gas produced by
New Zealand each year.
Australia
and New Zealand revise seafood standards
Australia
and New Zealand have taken joint steps to tighten rules for the seafood
industry with a host of new food safety regulations just around the
corner. The food safety agency, Food Standards Australia New Zealand,
is due to revise the seafood safety laws, pinpointing critical points
in the production and processing of the food, in a bid to provide the
consumer with added protection. The new seafood standard will be based
on international risk management principles, which will enable Australia
to provide levels of seafood safety equal to the best in the world.
The standard will be mandatory in all states and territories and will
apply to the harvesting, processing, handling and storage of seafood,
including aquaculture production. It will also apply to imported seafood.
The new national standard is likely to pass into a law in mid-2004 and
become effective a year later.
Néstlé
plans to grab early opportunities, enter Iraq
Food
and beverages company Néstlé is planning to open a sales office in Iraq
to take advantage of the business opportunities mushrooming in the country.
The
company already has a strong presence in neighbouring Iran, where it
operates a dairy factory. Other international food groups such as Group
Danone, are reported to be jostling for the market share in Iraq after
the US-led overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime earlier this year.
Tequila
for youngsters: New flavour to be launched in US
In
order to tap the younger generation of American customers, Mexico’s
tequila industry will be offering the centuries-old firewater tinged
with citrus flavours. “Young people are drinking flavoured products,”
said Miguel Aguilar Romo, Director for Standards at the Economy Ministry
of Mexico. The new fruity tequila would be made available from January.
The
fruit-flavoured tequila will contain the same percentage of alcohol
as the original tequila, but for many will be less harsh on the taste
buds. The US is already the main export market for tequila. Mexico last
year exported 63 per cent of the 141 million litre of tequila produced
and more than 80 per cent of it went to the US.
Thai
troops on a friendly mission to Iraq
The
Thai troops in Iraq will hand out more than 650 tonnes of food, donated
by
the private sector, to Iraqis during their
humanitarian mission. Supreme Commander General Surayud Chulanont said
the donations would go to needy Iraqis in the southern city of Karbala,
where the Thai contingent would be
stationed. General
Chulanont said the food distribution would be an ice-breaking gesture
to forge friendly relations with the local people and assure them of
their helpful intent.
