NEWSLETTER

February 2007

NEWSLETTER January 2007TABLE OF CONTENT

EU and EUROPEAN AFFAIRS...........................................................3Mariann Fischer Boel at the Green Week in Berlin: "2007, a year of delivery".........................3EU Constitution........................................................................................................................3Bulgarian, Romanian and Irish join the EU family....................................................................3MEPs welcome Slovenia to the euro........................................................................................3Mid-term elections for top posts in Parliament........................................................................350th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome..................................................................................3The EU reconnecting with citizens...........................................................................................3"Europe and you in 2006 - a snapshot of EU achievements"...................................................3First success for European Transparency Initiative – Annual disclosure of recipient data for EU funds..................................................................................................................................3Study into the administrative burden for farmers....................................................................3EUROPE: Poorer French farmers buck income trend................................................................3New food-labelling rules due by mid-2007...............................................................................3EU to vote on widespread obesity action plan.........................................................................3

ANIMAL/PUBLIC HEALTH-FOOD SAFETY ISSUES..............................3France: Des cas de trichinella détectés sur des porcs d'élevage du Finistère..........................3UK processor under fire for BSE slip........................................................................................3Another BSE slip hits UK meat industry...................................................................................3Experts review UK regulator's research focus..........................................................................3Regulator approves more meat processing antimicrobals.......................................................3Tyson warns on food versus fuel conflict.................................................................................3Food testing leaps ahead with space-age technology.............................................................3Remote monitor signals food safety problems.........................................................................3Gas controller provides fine touch to atmosphere control .......................................3Review of UK meat inspection system focuses on cost recovery.............................................3

NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.......................................3Doha trade talks back on track................................................................................................3US and EU near farm trade deal..............................................................................................3The European Commission has issued the following initial reaction to the new US Farm Bill proposals:................................................................................................................................3Korea imports rose in 2006.....................................................................................................3US and Korea to negotiate again.............................................................................................3Canada may limit imports from outside Nafta.........................................................................3Mexico halts Uruguayan beef imports.....................................................................................3Argentina.................................................................................................................................3

NEW COMMUNITY LEGISLATION February 2007.............................3

EU and EUROPEAN AFFAIRS

Mariann Fischer Boel at the Green Week in Berlin: "2007, a year of delivery"

Source: European Commission Date: 18 January 2007

"This will be a decisive year for European agriculture, with crucial reforms to two major farm sectors and reflections due to start on what can be done to make the Common Agricultural Policy work more effectively in future." This was the message of Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, at the start of the 2007 Green Week, a major international exhibition for the food, agricultural and horticultural industries. It takes place in Berlin from 19 to 28 January 2007.”

"By the end of this year, I hope we will have been able to agree on fundamental reforms to our wine and fruit and vegetable markets," Mrs Fischer Boel said. "We must be bold if we are to give our producers the ability to compete in an increasingly tough marketplace."Proposals to reform the €1.5 billion Common Market Organisation for fruit and vegetables are due to be adopted on 24 January and legislative proposals on wine will follow before the summer."These are the last two sectors which are not yet part of the reform process we began in 2003. We need to move away from old-fashioned methods of support and allow producers to become more competitive and market-orientated," the Commissioner said."Our wines are the best in the world, yet we are losing ground to the 'New World' wine producers. We need to win back markets, and remove some of the obstacles which are holding back our wine producers," she added. "Fruit and vegetables are vital to promoting healthier eating. Our reforms aim to strengthen growers, modernise the system of support and encourage consumption, especially amongst the young," Mrs Fischer Boel said. "We will also take measures to boost organic production, which will be assisted further by the anticipated final agreement on a new Organic Regulation during the German presidency."Last week, the Commission unveiled an ambitious strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce Europe's dependence on imported fossil fuels."Agriculture can play a key role in this strategy. I am delighted with the decision to propose a compulsory target of 10 percent biofuels in the fuel mix by 2020. This is an excellent opportunity for European agriculture to play a part in one of the greatest challenges facing the European Union today. Our CAP reforms have already given biofuel production a major push – now I want to build on this further," the Commissioner said. Simplifying the Common Agricultural Policy is also high on Commissioner Fischer Boel's priorities for 2007.The Commission has already proposed a number of important technical changes, which will make life easier for farmers and administrators. The next step is to look at the system of Cross Compliance – the set of environmental, animal welfare and food quality standards farmers have to respect to receive their direct subsidies."Cross Compliance is crucial if we are to maintain public support for our payments to farmers. But I am not deaf to farmers' concerns. I have therefore promised a report on the system in time for the March meeting of the Agriculture Council. I will work closely with Minister Seehofer to look at how we can streamline the system, without losing sight of the principles behind it."2007 will also be a year of intensive work behind the scenes to prepare for the so-called "Health Check" of the CAP reforms."My proposals for the Health Check will be unveiled in 2008, but we are clearly already looking in great detail at the issues. This will not be a fundamental reform, but rather an effort to make things work better. After the reforms of the past few years, farmers need a period of consolidation," Mrs Fischer Boel concluded.

Link to the press release

EU Constitution

PDF:ENFRDE

Source: European Voice Date: 25 January 2007

Germany leads charge to make treaty more ‘social’Germany and other member states strongly supportive of the EU constitution want to add a social protocol to the rejected treaty in a bid to win over French and Dutch support. Some EU leaders are even seeking a commitment to EU-wide minimum guarantees on income and levels of social protection. But the move is likely to complicate negotiations with the UK, which is expected to resist strongly the addition of any new social rights to the constitution.Read the article

Bulgarian, Romanian and Irish join the EU family

Source: European Parliament Date: 10 January 2007

"United in diversity" is the motto of the European Union and this is never more evident in the languages it embraces. This year sees the number of official languages in the Union rise to 23 with the arrival of Bulgaria and Romania as well as the adoption of Irish. This reflects the cultural heritage of Europe and the principle that all EU citizens have access to documents and information in their own languages. It also means that debates in the Parliament will be heard in these languages.

Read the article

MEPs welcome Slovenia to the euro

Source: European Parliament Date: 8 January 2007

New Year and a new currency - that was the story from Ljubljana as Slovenia became the first of the 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 to embrace the euro. It is the second time in 15 years Slovene shoppers have had to adapt to new money after Yugoslav dinars gave way to Slovene Tolars in the early '90s. Some 234 million Slovene euro coins have been specially minted in Finland and are the first to feature a map of all the current EU members.

Read the article

Mid-term elections for top posts in Parliament

Source: European Parliament Date: 9 January 2007

Tuesday in Plenary: President and Vice-presidential electionsTuesday, 16thJanuary, was an exceptional day for the European Parliament, gathered for its plenary session in Strasbourg. The day was devoted to the election of Parliament's new President, 14 Vice-Presidents and 6 Quaestors. The votes opened the second two-and-a-half-year part of the parliamentary term. Hans-Gert Poettering was elected the 26th president of the European ParliamentRead the press-release

Presidents of EP committees have been newly elected as follow:

Foreign Affairs (AFET) : M. Saryuz-Wolski (PPE / Poland)Development ( DEV) : M. Borrell (PSE / Spain)International Trade (INTA) : M. Markov (GUE / Germany)Budgets (COBU) : M. Boege (PPE / Germany)Budgetary Control ( COCOBU) : M. Bosch (PSE / Austria)Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) : Mme Beres (PSE / France)              Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) : M. Andersson (PSE / Sweden)

Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) : M. Ouzki (PPE / Tchek Republic)             Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE): Mme Niebler (PPE / Germany)Internal Market and Consumer Protection ( IMCO) : Mme Mac carthy (PSE / UK)Transport and Tourism (TRAN) : M. Costa (ADLE / Italy)Regional Development (REGI) : M. Galeote (PPE / Spain)           Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) : M. Parish (PPE / UK)Fisheries (PECH) : M. Morillon (ADLE / France)Culture and Education (CULT) : M. Sifunakis (PSE / Greece)Legal Affairs (JUR) : M. Gargani (PPE / Italy)Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs ( LIBE) : M. Cavada (ADLE / France)Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) : Leinen (PSE / Germany)               Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEM) : Mme Zaborska (PPE / Sovakia)          Petitions (PETIT) : M. Libicki (UEN / Poland)Human Rights ( HOM) : Mme Flautre (Verts / France)Security and Defence (SED) : M. Von Wogau (PPE / Germany)           Crisis of the Equitable Life Assurance Society Mrs McGuinness (PPE / Ireland)Alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners M. Coelho (PPE / Portugal)

The Presidents of the Political groups are as follow:

PPE / Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats :

Joseph Daul (France)PSE / Socialist Group in the European Parliament : Martin Schulz ( Germany)ADLE / Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe:

Graham Watson (UK)UEN / Union for Europe of the Nations Group: Brian Crowley (Ireland) and

Cristiana Muscardini (Italy)Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance: Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Germany)Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left:

Francis Wurtz (France)Independence/Democracy Group : Jenz-Peter Bonde (Denmark)Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty Group : Bruno Gollnisch (France)

50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome

Source: European Commission Date: 5 January 2007

The 25th of March 2007 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome which established what the European Union is today. The anniversary is a great opportunity not only to celebrate, but also to highlight what European integration process has brought to our lives since its inception. It will also be a chance to reflect on where Europe was 50 years ago, the main European Union achievements and failures and what we European citizens expect from the European Union in the future. The objective therefore is not only commemorating a milestone in European history, but also encouraging debate, discussion and reflection on the European Union’s principles, achievements and future.In order to commemorate this Anniversary, the Directorate General Communication of the European Commission has created a special EU 50th anniversary site, which has now been published at http://50.europa.eu.

The EU reconnecting with citizens

Source: European Commission Date: 2 January 2007

The European Union is less complicated than it appears.  ‘Europe and you in 2006’ is an attempt to show that, in its everyday activities, the Union in fact addresses many of your concerns as citizens, consumers or workers. We have made a selection of 10 concrete examples out of the many areas where the EU is active. Each one demonstrates in a different way what the EU has done in 2006 to promote your economic and social well-being, how it has acted to protect the environment or how it is increasingly helping out in global hot spots."Europe and you in 2006 - a snapshot of EU achievements"

First success for European Transparency Initiative – Annual disclosure of recipient data for EU funds

Source: European Commission Date: 22 December 2006

With adoption of the revised Financial Regulation the EU has committed itself to full transparency about who receives monies from the EU budget. There will be annual ex-post publication of beneficiaries of money received from the Structural Funds as from 2008 and of money received under the Common Agricultural Policy as of 2009. The Commission has itself already started publishing information on beneficiaries under the programmes it manages directly. With this, the European Commission's ambitious Transparency Initiative launched end 2005 has achieved its first objective. The European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee is today debating a working document on the Transparency Initiative.Read the press release

Study into the administrative burden for farmers

Source: European Commission Date: 22 December 2006 

Today the European Commission signed a contract to conduct a study into the administrative burden imposed on farmers by the direct payment rules introduced in the 2003 CAP reform. In the framework of simplification, the Commission is seeking to identify and to assess the administrative burden resulting from CAP-related measures. This study will be a big step forward in identifying what can be and should be simplified. It forms part of Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development's contribution to promoting Better Regulation and therefore contributing towards the Lisbon Strategy. To cover the different ways in which the direct payments could be implemented after the 2003 CAP reform, the study will measure the actual burden in five Member States: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland and Italy. The study also covers the administrative burden related to the cross compliance obligations that are a part of the direct payments system. First results of the study are expected mid-2007. The measurement of administrative burdens is a key element in identifying policy areas in which simplification would have the biggest economic impact. To ensure comparability of results the contractor will follow the EU methodology for assessing administrative costs [pdf].

EUROPE: Poorer French farmers buck income trend

Source: FT.com Date: 14 December 2006

French farmers, seen by many as the pampered beneficiaries of generous European subsidies, have been getting poorer since the late 1990s, despite the fact that they are increasingly taking second jobs outside farming to boost their income.The drop in French farmers' incomes, revealed in a report today by Insee, the state statistics agency, contrasts with the recent European Union trend of rising incomes for the average farmer in the bloc.

The trend of French farmers getting steadily worse off compared with their fellow citizens and their European peers explains why they are increasingly agitated about the prospect of further reform to Europe's common agricultural policy (CAP) next year.French farmers receive about €9bn ($11.6bn, £6bn) of CAP handouts a year, more than a fifth of European agriculture spending, which in turn accounts for 40 per cent of the EU budget. A review of the programme is due next year ahead of a renegotiation in 2013.Earlier CAP reforms, slowing productivity improvements and sharp falls in agricultural prices have squeezed French farmers' incomes in the last decade, according to Insee. It says farming revenues have fallen since 1998 and, in spite of a recovery last year, are still down about 10 per cent.This financial pressure has forced a growing number of farming households, in particular the spouses of farmers, to take a second job outside the farm.While average French households became richer over the last decade, as incomes rose 1.8 per cent between 1997 and 2003 to €28,410, the income of the average French farming household fell 1.8 per cent to €30,630.Insee argues that, in fact, French farmers are worse off than the average household, because they have more children. Farming families have! on aver age 3.2 members, against only 2.4 in an average French family, so their income per head is lower.This drop in French farmers' income would have been much greater if many had not started to earn a second income. The share of an average farming household's income coming from a non-agricultural source increased from 19-31 per cent between 1997 and 2003.The findings seem to add weight to the warning from Mariann Fischer Boel, EU farm commissioner, who last month told the Financial Times that a growing number of farmers would need a second income to survive in the next decade.Ms Fischer Boel's comments brought an angry rebuke from Paris on behalf of French farmers. Dominique Bussereau, France's farm minister, called her suggestion "an insult to the social model to which European citizens are profoundly and legitimately attached".Jean-Pierre Butault, research director at the French National Institute for Agricultural Research, said: "There was a reversal in incomes from 1997, as productivity gains in French farms ran out of steam and changes in world agriculture prices took effect."Arnaud Petit at Copa-cogeca, the European farming union, said France was a "halfway house" between the farming sectors of southern and eastern Europe that were still dominated by small, family farmers, and the more industrialised farms of northern Europe.A study published by Eurostat last month showed that while incomes for French, Greek, Belgian and Italian farmers fell between 2000 and 2006, farmers in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and the 10 EU members that joined in 2005 enjoyed sharp rises in their incomes.

New food-labelling rules due by mid-2007

Source: Euractiv Date: 29 January 2007

The Commission is identifying labelling rules to propose to help European consumers make healthy choices. 

A stakeholder debate was organised by the Brussels-based think-tank Friends of Europe, with the support of Kellogg's, on 24 January 2007.An official said that the Commission had no view on the way forward yet but that it would produce an official proposal for the new labelling rule by mid-2007. The new rules are set to address issues such as what is mandatory or voluntary information, how much information should be provided and where should the label be placed. The options for the type of labelling vary from traditional 'back-of-the-pack' numerical labelling to a simplified front-of-pack scheme using colour codes, both, or labelling based on guideline daily amounts (GDA s).The speakers from industry, academia and the European Parliament debated the issue - all agreed on the need for a consistent labelling scheme to be used across Europe. However, an SME representative expressed his fear over the impact of the new rules on small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs), which, according to him, produce more than 50% of EU food.The Commission responded by promising either exemptions for certain products and industry sectors or longer time-periods for the introduction of labelling.

Positions: Kellogg's, and other large food companies, such as Danone, Kraft or Nestlé, have announced their own labelling scheme based on guideline daily amounts (GDAs). "Consumers have a hard time navigating through the very technical information of nutrition labels, but we have some promising research results on consumers' using and understanding of the GDAs," said Marta Baffigo, from Kellogg's Europe.However, the European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC)  food officer Ruth Veale said that the French consumer organisation CLCV has consumer-research data proving that, in particular, the lowest socio-economic groups cannot understand the GDAs. BEUC could support the GDA scheme, if it was supported with an interpretative element such as a logo or colour coding, as consumers need help in interpreting technical information.Which?, the British consumer association has long campaigned for the introduction of a 'traffic-light sytem' on food packaging, arguing that a colour-coded scheme is the quickest and easiest way to help people make healthier food choices.UEAPME, the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, has voiced concern over the impact the new labelling rules could have on small companies (such as bakeries) if they were obliged to introduce such labels on their various, constantly changing products. "We have very little information on...how much labelling affects consumers' purchasing choices," said Klaus Grunert from the Centre for research on customer relations in the food sector in Denmark. "We need more research and data on the kind of decision-making consumers use in shops. We also need to know that consumers like simplicity of information, but not at the expense of completeness of information." "We need to remember that the strating points in this discussion are health, food and obesity," said MEP Dorette Corbey. "We should have a European simplified labelling scheme. All information on food packages should be readable and understandable for consumers, on the front-of pack. The technical information concerning for example allergies can be put at the back of the pack," she added. 

Latest & next steps:The Commission is expected to put forward a formal proposal on nutrition labelling by mid 2007.

EU to vote on widespread obesity action plan

Source: Foodnavigator.com Date: 25 January 2007

The European Parliament is next month set to vote on a report that calls obesity a "European epidemic" and proposes that all countries implement certain measures to combat the growing condition.

The own-initiative report by Belgian Liberal MEP Frdrique Ries calls for better information and more education about food, as well as healthy school dinners and more exercise. According to the latest estimates, Europeans are getting increasingly overweight. Across the EU, 14 million children are thought to be overweight and a further three million classed as obese. In some states, already half of the adult population is overweight and between 20 to 30 percent is obese. And these figures are growing rapidly. For example, the number of overweight children in the EU is thought to be increasing by 4000,000 a year. The Parliamentary report, entitled "Promoting healthy diets and physical activity", recommends that all countries take certain steps to combat the epidemic. These include recognizing obesity officially as a chronic disease to prevent discrimination, and informing people from an early age about the effects of a poor diet. In addition, the report recommends that funding is provided to enable schools to offer healthy meals instead of fatty foods, as well as ensuring that schools have proper sports facilities. It also calls on the European Commission to push for rules to end the promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar to children. Last May, Parliament endorsed a report by the Italian MEP Adriana Poli Bortone, which aimed to tighten up nutritional and health claims made on foods.

According to the report, studies have shown that consumers tend to rely more on labels such as reduces cholesterol, low fat, rich in calcium, high fibre, fat free, light than the nutritional analysis tables on the packs. The regulation aims to prevent the use of health claims to promote foods with high quantities of sugar, salt or fat, with the future seeing all claims having to backed up by scientific claims. A compromise between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers means a regulation on improving consumer protection will be introduced this year. All new health claims on food will need to be registered with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA

ANIMAL/PUBLIC HEALTH-FOOD SAFETY ISSUES

France: Des cas de trichinella détectés sur des porcs d'élevage du Finistère

Source: AFP / MHR Date: 11 December 2006

Des cas de trichinella, un parasite, ont été détectés sur un lot de porcs originaires du Finistère abattus le 8 janvier, ont annoncé jeudi les ministères de la Santé et de l'Agriculture dans un communiqué commun. Les directions générales de la Santé et de l'Alimentation ont été informées de "la détection, confirmée par l'Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments (AFSSA), de larves de trichine pouvant provenir d'un ou plusieurs animaux d'un lot de 400 porcs abattus le 8 janvier 2007, originaire de cinq élevages du Finistère", indique le communiqué. Il s'agit du premier cas identifié en France dans un élevage de porcs "hors sol". Une enquête est en cours pour déterminer l'origine exacte de la contamination. Le parasite Trichinella peut provoquer chez l'homme la trichinellose, maladie qui se manifeste par des problèmes digestifs suivis, dans les huit à quinze jours, d'une fièvre parfois élevée. Des complications "potentiellement graves", selon le communiqué, peuvent survenir en l'absence de traitement adapté.

France: Le point sur la trichinellaFrance: Cas de Trichinella, recommandations aux consommateurs

UK processor under fire for BSE slip

Source: FoodProductionDaily.com Date: 26 January 2007

Processing firm ABP Shrewsbury is under investigation by the UK's food regulator after allowing a heifer to enter the food chain without undergoing mandatory testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

The incident comes only months after the EU relaxed restrictions on the sale of UK meat to the continent on the condition that it maintained stringent testing controls. This is the third heifer to slip through since safety measures were put in place. For processors, it also highlights the importance of traceability procedures and the maintaining the integrity of the data throughout the food chain. Read thel article

Another BSE slip hits UK meat industry

Source: Financial Times Date: 30 January 2007

A case of mistaken identity has led to another breach of the UK's bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) regulations, the country's food regulator said yesterday.The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it had been notified that a cow born before 1 August 1996 had been slaughtered on 19 October 2006 and the meat had been sold through a local bucher in Newport. Under UK regulations meat from cattle born or reared in the UK before 1 August 1996 cannot be placed on the market. The incident is the fourth to occur since safety measures were put in place and highlights the continuing problems the FSA is having in ensuring that its BSE regulations are watertight. The EU relaxed restrictions on the sale of UK meat to the continent last year on condition that stringent BSE controls were maintained. In the case of the current incident the FSA said the error was not discovered until 12 December. DNA tests confirmed the mistake on 16 January 2007. The FSA believes the cow was misidentified as one born in May 1997 at a farm in Powys. The animal was sent from the farm to Ensor's Abattoir, which is based in Gloucestershire and is licenced to slaughter cattle over thirty months old for human consumption. The meat from the cow was delivered on 6 November to Jim Oliver, a butcher's shop in Newport. Although the cow was slaughtered on 19 October 2006, the possible identification error was not discovered until 12 December. The FSA said it is still investigating the incident. The UK's laws requires that cows over thirty-months-old must be tested for BSE before being slaughtered. The regulations also require slaughterhouses to remove specific risk material from the animals. The FSA said the cow in question had these parts removed and these did not enter the food chain. Therefore, any risk to human health from consuming products derived from the heifer is extremely low, claims the FSA. Since the BSE testing regime came into force in November 2005, about 400,000 cattle over thirty-months-old have been slaughtered in the UK for human consumption, according to the FSA. The UK has been allowed to ship beef to the rest of the EU market since the bloc lifted a 10-year-old ban earlier in 2006. However, only live cattle born after 1 August 1996 can be exported, along with beef from cattle slaughtered after 15 June 2005. The EU has maintained a ban on UK for beef containing vertebral material and for beef sold on the bone. The ban was lifted as cases of BSE dropped in the UK. Before the BSE crisis in 1986, the UK's beef exports were worth about £1bn (€1.5bn) compared to £20m (€29m) in 2004, according to Food from Britain, a consultancy. The ban on the export of UK beef was issued in March 1996, due to the high incidence of BSE cases in the UK at the time.

Experts review UK regulator's research focus

Source: FoodProductionDaily Date: 23 January 2007

A panel of independent experts will review the UK's regulator research programme for the year in a bid to ensure these help lower the presence of food borne pathogens in the supply chain.

This review forms past of a wider evaluation of all its research programmes targeting microbiological safety, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said in announcing the event, to be held over two days beginning on 21 March. The programme outline sends a signal to processors about the areas that the FSA plans to target in reducing pathogens. The programme reviews are intended to provide interested parties with the opportunity to discuss the FSA-funded work and to help identify priorities for the future, the agency stated yesterday.

The review will examine programmes such as ones focused on developing a risk assessment models for the different pathways of infection of VTEC O157 and for Listeria monocytogenes in cooked meat and poultry. Other projects study foodborne infections in milk and food storage conditions, raw milk analyses methods, the effectiveness of pre-milking teat cleaning regimes, Listeria monocytogenes in cheese, and the impact of butter production on growth of Listeria monocytogenes.The final session will examine the FSA's future research priorities. Earlier this month the FSA said it is currently looking to commission research or survey projects in 12 main areas.Read the article

Regulator approves more meat processing antimicrobals

Source: FoodProductionDaily Date: 23 January 2007

In USA, the federal food safety inspection unit has approved an additional batch of additives, antimicrobals and agents for use as processing aids directly on meat and poultry products.

The updated list adds more substances that can be used during meat and poultry processing operations, adding more options to the food safety arsenal available to processors. The new approvals were made since the list was last updated on 10 May 2006. Increased food safety regulations and the cost of recalls due to contaminated foods are driving processors to search for better solutions to reduce pathogens in their plants. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulations define processing aids as substances -- such as an organic cleaning acid -- that are required during the manufacture or processing of a food and that are ordinarily removed from the final food. Although residuals might carry over to the final food, residuals must not have any health effect. Other additives may be used to provide a technical effect in the final food, such as the antioxidants BHA and BHT.Naming the additive used is not required on the label. The Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) classifies all such substances  as acidifiers, anticoagulants, antimicrobials, antioxidants, binders, coloring agents, curing accelerators, denuding agents, film forming agents, flavoring agents, poultry scald agents, and packaging system agents.A new addition to the range of antimicrobial agents is a blend of citric acid and sorbic acid in a 2 to 1 ratio. The mix has been approved for use in reducing the microbial load of purge trapped inside soaker pads in packages of raw whole muscle cuts of meat and poultry. It may be incorporated into soaker pads at a level not to exceed 1 to 3 grams per pad.The FSIS has also approved the use of citric acid as an antimicrobial agent on separated beef heads and offal. It may be used at a 2.5 percent solution applied as a spray prior to chilling. Lactic acid has also been approved for use as a 2 to 2.8 percent solution applied to brushes in a washer cabinet system used to clean beef heads and tongues.Lauramide arginine ethyl ester has been approved for use on ready-to-eat ground meat products, such as sausages, that permit the use of any safe and suitable antimicrobial agent. A residue maximum limit has been set at 200 ppm by weight of the finished product.A 60 to 40 blend of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid has been approved for use in generating carbon dioxide in packages of raw whole muscle cuts of meat and poultry. The blend must be incorporated into soaker pads at a level not to exceed 0.5 to 2 grams per pad.Trisodium phosphate has been approved as a component of phosphate blends, not to exceed 40 percent of the mix. It may be used to decrease the amount of cooked out juices in meat food products except where otherwise prohibited by the meat and poultry inspection regulations For meat food products, processors are allowed to use 5 per cent of phosphate in pickle at a 10 percent pump level. It can also be used as 0.5 percent of phosphate in meat food product. Only clear solution may be injected into the meat food product. For poultry food products, the FSIS has approved its use as 0.5 percent of the total product.The introduction of novel and value-added products and additive free foods is boosting the use of antimicrobials in almost all food processing segments, according to a report last year from Frost & Sullivan. The analysis forecasts that US demand for antimicrobials -- chemicals used to wash equipment and foods to ensure they are free of food borne pathogens -- will reach $215.8m in 2012, from $161.7m in 2005.

The market segments demanding more and more antimicrobials include dairy, bakery, beverages, and meat processors.

Tyson warns on food versus fuel conflict

Source: Financial Times Date: January 2007

Tyson, the US meat producer, on Monday intensified its warning about the potential conflict between the farming and energy sectors for corn, which it said would lead to a "significant" rise in food costs.Food producers have expressed concern about the impact of ethanol-driven corn prices for months, but calls for a food versus fuel debate have grown louder in the wake of last week's White House plan for a five-fold rise in renewable fuel production over the next decade.Tyson, the world's largest protein producer by sales, was already suffering from a domestic glut of chicken and reduced export demand for its beef in the wake of the BSE crisis.The Arkansas-based group and rivals such as Pilgrim's Pride and Smithfield have also had to tackle an 84 per cent price in corn costs during 2006. The meal accounts for about 40 per cent of chicken-rearing expenses.Dick Bond, Tyson's president and chief executive, has already called on Washington to recognise the competing claims of the food and energy sectors when drawing up a proposed new farm bill. "The dramatic rise in corn prices has! become a major issue for us and others in the food industry," said Mr Bond in a statement accompanying Tyson's first-quarter results. "Companies will be forced to pass along rising costs to their customers, meaning consumers will pay significantly more for food.""If left unaddressed, the bigger long-term issue will be the availability of US and global grain for protein and other foods. We fully support efforts toward renewable energy; however, as the food versus fuel debate unfolds, we must carefully consider the negative and unintended consequences of over-using grains."Mr Bond has been among the most outspoken of food industry executives about the potential side-effects of booming ethanol production, which is set to double over the next two years, pushing corn prices to 10-year highs in recent months.Mike Johanns, the US agriculture secretary, is expected to provide more details of the proposed new farm bill this week after calling more funds for research into alternative energy. Mr Johanns also wants a wholesale reform of farm subsidies – in part to rescue the Doha round of trade talks – but faces a tough battle with the powerful US farm lobby.Archer Daniels Midland, the largest US ethanol producer, also reports results this week, and is expected to detail its plans for expanded production.Mr Bond's warning came as Tyson returned to profitability with its best performance in five quarters, helped by a $200m cost-cutting plan and capacity cuts.Its chicken and beef segments both produced profits in its fiscal first quarter to December 30, while beef losses dropped by two-thirds.Net profits rose from $39m to $57m in the quarter, and the company also retained its 2007 guidance.

Food testing leaps ahead with space-age technology

Source: FoodProductionDaily Date: 25 January 2007

A high-speed imagining system using satellite technology to detect contamination and defects could soon be part of standard food safety equipment if prototype testing proves successful.Increased food safety regulations and the cost of recalls due to contaminated foods are driving processors and researchers to search for better solutions to reduce pathogens in plants. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) said it has developed advanced technology to support human inspection of food and equipment. Using filtered light to scan individual fruits, carcasses and processing areas, the developed devices expose contamination previously invisible to the naked eye.

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Remote monitor signals food safety problems

Source: FoodProductionDaily Date: 25 January 2007

An automatic monitor and alarm system alerts plant managers to breaches in food safety round-the-clock, ensuring they remain aware of emerging production problems -- even if they are off site. The Sensaphone 400 helps protect firms from breaking regulations forcing them to discard stock by alerting, facility managers, lab technicians, and others to changes in critical environmental conditions, such as temperature, power supply, and alarms, claims the manufacturer. Condition monitoring, especially of temperatures, form an integral part of hazard analysis critical control plans (HACCP) preventative measures. HACCP is a set of international standards that set out procedures on how to prevent food safety problems in the plant. HACCP is now being incorporated into law by food regulators throughout the world. Sensaphone's sensors can also detect other conditions that can lead to contamination or spoilage including excess humidity, water on the floor, and intrusion, the company claims. Read the article

Gas controller provides fine touch to atmosphere control

Source: FoodQualityNews.com Date: 19 January 2007

A new gas flow controller can help processors save on costs by accurately adjusting oxygen levels in packaging or at produce storage facilities, its manufacturer claims.

UK-based Witt Gas Techniques said its new KD 100-1A is an electronic gas flow control system designed for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and for controlling the atmosphere when storing fruits and vegetables. Methods of regulating the amount of oxygen in an enclosed area is used by the food industry as a means of reducing spoilage and extending shelf life. MAP is used extensively in the food industry as a means of extending shelf life. Typically, air is removed from the space above the food as it is being packed by flushing the package with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen.It is an increasingly lucrative technology for packaging companies currently used to provide fresher food such as sandwiches, fresh pizzas and meats."This system can save up to 30 per cent of gas consumption by automatically regulating the gas flow until the required oxygen (O2) level is reached and its non-destructive gas analysis protects the quality of the products," Witt Gas claimed about the KD 100-1A.The device  uses an O2 sensor with an error range of 0.2 per cent between tests. It has an RS232 interface with ASCII-output for remote recording and transfer of line settings including date, time and the measured values."Reliability is a feature of this system, the gas supply is monitored by pressure switches, whereby a low gas pressure will trigger an alarm and the line is immediately shut down," the company said.An audible alarm is available as an optional addition. At the same time the system will compensate for pressure fluctuations in the gas supply and the speed of the line or size of packages. The machine is easy to calibrate, with low maintenance, and comes with a digital display and an integrated gas sample pump.It is available as either 230V AC, 110V AC or 24V DC versions and can be supplied with an optional integrated mechanical or electronic gas mixer for a complete package to mix gas and control oxygen (O2) levels in one unit, Witt Gas said.It comes supplied with a lockable door to protect the settings and is set in a splash proof, stainless steel casing. The gas controller can also be used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Review of UK meat inspection system focuses on cost recovery

Source: FoodProductionDaily Date: 22 January 2007

A review of UK food safety laws for meat processing plants could end up with companies paying more for inspections.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said a current review of the UK's meat inspection system aims to recover more of the cost of delivering official controls and gradually reduce government subsidy to the meat industry. The FSA estimates the current subsidy at about £40m (€61m) per year for meat hygiene and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) controls. In a overview of the agency's plans, the FSA said its board has approved a programme of work to look into a range of options in light of EU food hygiene regulations that came into force in January 2006. In April 2006, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), in conjunction with the FSA, consulted on proposed changes to veterinary supervision arrangements.The FSA has also consulted on revised charging arrangements for meat hygiene controls and has received proposals from the meat industry for an alternative approach.The responses to the two consultations and the industry proposals have been taken into account in the review, the FSA stated.The proposed programme will have two stages. In the first stage the review team will deliver a long list of options for the regulator's board to consider at itsFebruary 2007 meeting. The board will then select the two or three options for further analysis in phase two.Phase two will result in the review team delivering to the July 2007 board meeting a detailed analysis of the shortlisted options, including impact assessments, cost benefit analyses and assessments of costs, feasibility, opportunities and risks.The review team will also make recommendations, together with a draft implementation plan. The board will be asked at the July meeting to decide on what changes it wants to the meat inspection system.The FSA noted that the review would also consider the potential impact of any changes -- including a rise in fees -- on smaller plants."Any proposals to increase charges may be seen to impact disproportionately on smaller plants currently operating at the margin of profitability," the FSA stated. "This will raise issues around sustainability, rural economic development, local food sourcing and food miles, animal transport to slaughter and diversity and is therefore likely to attract political interest."One of the proposals the FSA is considering is to charge smaller plants in proportion to the time that vets and inspectors need to attend rather than a flat rate per animal processed.Part of the programme involves developing a model of inspections based on risk. Inspection resources would become more focused on plants that pose a potentially greater food safety risk. The inspection system would also move to a model where most vets are directly employed by the MHS and work alongside meat inspectors in integrated teams.The MHS would also form partnerships with industry through "operating contracts" that set out required standards and opportunities for businesses to earn greater autonomy.Another option being considered would be to delegate the delivery of official controls to one or more independent third-party bodies. Under the legislation, a control body is an independent, impartial third-party, accredited to EN450044 or equivalent, approved and audited by the competent authority to deliver specified tasks under contract."This option is favoured by some in the industry who see it as a means to improve standards, build industry responsibility and reduce costs," the FSA stated.Another option would be to devolve as much responsibility as possible to the industry itself for the daily inspection tasks, with the government setting the standards to be achieved and then auditing delivery. Government would retain the duty to approve premises and responsibility for enforcement.Under EU legislation, this model is currently possible only in the poultry industry, the FSA noted.

NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Doha trade talks back on track

Source: Agrafacts Date: 6 December 2006

The Doha round of global trade talks is officially back on track after trade ministers from around the world agreed to new negotiations.The breakthrough was achieved during the World Economic Forum in Davos, where 30 ministers told their officials to step up talks on a world trade deal.Top negotiators for the US, the EU, Brazil and possibly other countries are now set to meet in Geneva on 29 January to discuss the talks. The move is triggering hopes of a successful outcome for the Doha round of trade talks, which collapsed last July amid politically sensitive farm trade. World leaders displayed an unusually optimistic mood about the talks during the Davos meeting, with EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson saying that “Europe is ready to do what needs to be done”. Mandelson said the EU would improve its offer to cut farm tariffs by an average of 39 per cent. US trade negotiator Susan Schwab, meanwhile, said Washington would “do more” to cut farm subsidies. British Prime Minister Tony Blair was also upbeat, declaring that a deal in the next few months is now “more likely than not”. “Countries are moving closer together; there is a reignition of political energy and drive and an increased recognition of the dire consequences of failure,” he said. A breakthrough will depend on a number of key concessions – including deeper US cuts to farm subsidies, lower farm tariffs in the EU, and lower industrial duties in developing countries. But in spite of the world leaders’ optimism, there are still many hurdles to a successful trade deal. France remains opposed to Mandelson’s proposal to reduce farm tariffs, and it is likely to be very difficult to bring Paris on board in the run-up to the French presidential elections in May. The round could also be jeopardised if talks drag on past the 30 June expiry of US president George W. Bush’s fast-track powers to approve trade deals. 

Other material:

US President George Bush and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso met on Monday 8 January 2007 in Washington DC. They strongly agreed on the economic and political importance of completing the Doha Round of trade talks. They instructed their negotiators to step up their work for an early and ambitious deal.Read the press releaseEU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Japanese Trade Minister Akira Amari have today expressed their joint commitment to an early and ambitious final agreement in the Doha world trade talks.Read the press release

Questions and Answers on the Doha Round, answering the following questions :   

Why does Doha matter? What is the "possible outline of a deal"? Is the deal worth having? Is the US the key to success in the Doha Round? What is the EU asking from the US? What is the EU offering?

Read the MEMO

US and EU near farm trade deal

Source: Financial Times Date: January 2007

Trade negotiators from the US and European Union have reached the brink of an agreement that could restart stalled world trade talks, according to people familiar with the discussions. The progress follows a meeting of high-level officials that finished at the weekend and constant cabinet-level contact between Washington and Brussels in the run up to the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, this week, officials said. The proposed outline of an agreement between the world's two largest trading blocs includes politically explosive concessions that are already causing rifts in Europe and alarm in the US farm lobby.

The fragile deal that is starting to emerge has yet to be finalised and comes amid tremendous uncertainty about whether negotiators can get the political backing to achieve a breakthrough in the Doha round of trade talks.The deal that has been taking shape behind closed doors includes a proposal by Brussels to cut barriers to foreign agricultural products by an average of at least 54 per cent and a conditional offer by the US to lower the ceiling on its domestic farm subsidies to close to $17bn (€13.1bn, £8.6bn).This tentative pact represents a significant advance beyond entrenched battle lines over farm policy that have impeded wider trade talks for years. Both sides have also explored yet deeper cuts to tariffs and subsidies, according to people familiar with the dialogue.An official said: "We are trying to get to the absolute limit of what is politically feasible without falling off a cliff."The latest round of transatlantic talks began four days ago and included detailed technical discussions about ways to narrow differences over exemptions for so-called sensitive products such as b! eef and dairy produce. A senior EU trade official said the talks were "constructive but not definitive".Both sides are also aware that the provisional EU offer on tariff cuts could lapse under the strain of opposition from Paris, which has demanded that the farm talks in Doha be put on the agenda of the meeting of EU agriculture ministers next Monday. This hostile political environment makes the progress in negotiations all the more remarkable and has prompted Brussels to seek the support of Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany. While Germany has traditionally played a key role in persuading Paris to accept trade deals, the poor state of Franco-German relations suggests that while Berlin might find it easier to push for a deal, France might feel freer than before to block it.The Bush administration has also met key figures on Capitol Hill who will shape policy on agriculture and trade under the new Democratic leadership of Congress. But it is likely to take weeks to establish whether Congress would consider renewing President George W.?Bush's trade promotion authority – which expires in six months and is needed to complete a deal.These approaches included an appeal to Collin Peterson, the influential chairman of the agriculture committee in the House of Representatives, to tone down his opposition to the renewal of trade promotion authority.The congressman said after the meeting that he remained deeply critical of US trade policy but was not determined to wreck a Doha deal that included meaningful benefits for US farmers. Mr Bush is also likely to use his State of the Union speech on Tuesday to address growing public and political concerns about the economic disruption caused by trade.But this is unlikely to quash scepticism at the World Tra! de Organ isation about the political mandate of US and EU negotiators, or cure the breakthrough-fatigue shared by participants and observers of the Doha round. Any agreement is also contingent on reciprocal concessions by Brazil and India on lowering barriers to trade in industrial goods and services – which are still under negotiation.Brazil has been negotiating separately with the US and EU and dispatched a senior diplomat to Delhi over the weekend to try to broker a common position ahead of talks planned for Davos. A US trade official said the Swiss forum would allow for important meetings to take place but would not produce any public statement on a "breakthrough". But there was sufficient expectation that fresh political impetus would emerge from the forum that the G20 group of developing nations was mobilising to hold multilateral talks next week in Geneva.

 

The European Commission has issued the following initial reaction to the new US Farm Bill proposals:

Source: Commission services Date: 2 February 2007

"This is a 183-page document, which will need careful study before we reach definitive conclusions. And this is not the final word, but the Administration's first steer to Congress.So far as Doha is concerned, it is not possible for us to form a clear view from this proposal of what the Administration's negotiating approach will be.We note a modest shift towards more "green" direct payments. We are examining the proposals on Counter-Cyclical payments to see if they offer any genuine improvement.Cuts in Loan Deficiency Payments - the basic safety net of the 2002 Farm Bill - are extremely modest. Key trade distorting programmes for dairy and sugar remain virtually untouched.

The proposals assume that commodity prices will remain at their current high levels. If so, US farm support will be lower. But if price trends change, trade distorting farm support would rise again under these proposals.If we are to have a successful outcome to the Doha Round, the US will need to propose more ambitious cuts and disciplines in trade-distorting domestic farm subsidies.We had hoped the Administration's proposal for the new Farm Bill would signal this more clearly. But this is not the end of the story: further steps are not precluded by these initial proposals.We in the EU are already going through a painful process of reform, which allows us to offer to cut our trade-distorting domestic farm subsidies by 70 percent. There is a clear obligation on all of us in the developed world to move decisively in this direction."

Korea imports rose in 2006

Source: World beef report Date: 25 January 2007

Korean beef imports rose 26% in 2006 when compared with 2005 the Ministry of Agriculture informed last week. Imports totalled 179,405 tones shipped weight.Imports are still 33% lower than those of 2003 when mad cow scare wasn´t present.Australia sold 75% of the beef, Meat and Livestock Australia informed, while New Zealand was responsible for 17% of the imports and Mexico was the third exporter far behind.According to a survey developed by the International Labour Organization Koreans pay the highest price for beef among 13 major countries including several OECD members.

US and Korea to negotiate again

Source: World beef report Date: 25 January 2007

Analysts following free-trade agreement negotiations between the United States and South Korea believe their dispute over beef could stick a fork in the deal, a survey has indicated.The Washington-based Korea Economic Institute polled 25 people between Dec. 14 and Jan. 9, 22 of whom had participated in two previous surveys conducted by the institute, and three new respondents. The group includes 12 from trade and business organizations, eight representing think tanks and Korea specialists, and five current and former U.S. government officials.Although the institute warns against drawing definitive conclusions because the pool of respondents was so small, 56 percent of them indicated that Korea’s continued rejection of U.S. beef will be a deal-breaker.More optimistic was US Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns. He said yesterday (Tuesday) that he believes renewed talks with South Korea to try to open up beef trade could resume as early as this month or early February.Johanns told reporters that the two countries have not yet agreed on an agenda for the negotiations, but expressed optimism that U.S. and South Korean “technical“ officials would be able to sit down together in the next couple weeks.

Canada may limit imports from outside Nafta

Source: World beef report Date: 25 January 2007

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture tabled a recommendation that Canadapermanently constrain the use of supplementary imports for beef and veal from non-NAFTA countries.Canada restricted supplementary imports of non-NAFTA beef following Canada’s initial BSE incident of May 2003 when the disruption to exports resulted in surplus supplies of Canadian beef, informed the web site cattlenetwork yesterday.Canada has no quantitative controls on imports of U.S. or Mexican beef and from Chile (under the Canada/Chile FTA), but it does operate a tariff rate quota for beef imports from what are commonly referred to as non-NAFTA sources (mostly Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay).

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association asked the support of members of the House AgricultureCommittee in adopting the resolution that recommends that that supplementary imports only be authorized by the government in exceptional circumstances and should not exceed 1,500 metric tons in any year.

Mexico halts Uruguayan beef imports

Source: World beef report Date: 25 January 2007

The absence of labels showing information about cattle origin on beef boxes hindered access of Uruguayan beef to Mexico. The data is demanded by Mexico and the Uruguayan sanitary services already sent the relevant information and waits for a reply from Mexican sanitary services.The Director General of the Mexican Animal Health Services, Dr. José Angel del Valle Molina, told WBR that he is waiting for Uruguay to send “documented proofs” about how this boxes actually reached Mexican ports without the relevant information. “this is a transparent process, there are procedures commonly used internationally to guarantee health safety”, he explained.Consulted with respect to the behavior of the Mexican supervisor Tomás Más, in charge of trade surveillance between both countries who works and resides in Uruguay, he ratified his previous opinion: “precisely for that we want to know how this shortcoming could happen”.He assured that his services have “the best intentions to resume trade, but we need to clear what really happened with the traceability of these boxes”.The Uruguayan ambassador in Mexico said there are pressures in that market from importers who work with other suppliers and also from Mexican cattle producers.He regretted the occurrence of this mishap in a moment of import beef price increases in the US and added that it seems necessary to closely look after the Mexican market to keep it permanently open.The Director of Uruguay’s Cattle Services, Francisco Muzzio, told WBR that he expects the problem will be solved within the week, though he explained that the matter is on the hands of Mexican officials and any speculation is relative.The company responsible of the shipment (Las Moras) was doing its first sale to Mexico after the reopening and was not sure that the questioned labels were indispensable.When the problem was detected, there were no containers travelling but some were stored in the harbor of Buenos Aires. Shipments were immediately stopped and some already agreed transactions are now waiting for the matter to clear completely.Some operators complained about the action of Mexican officials who are in Uruguay supervising the trade current and outstand that the Uruguayan authorities were the ones to warn the Mexicans about the deficiency. This helps to keep sanitary transparency, a characteristic of Uruguayan behaviour during the last years.There is some haste to solve the problem because, as reported last week, the Russian market is almost absent and sales to Canada will be practically over within February’s first half. Price drops reported in our cattle market comment, refers to a demand situation and Mexico’s role is important to balance the market.

Argentina

Source: World beef report Date: 24 January 2007

The Argentine government is not issuing export certificates since the past week and additionallydecided to sanction three meatpackers, among otherreasons for transgressing the top price-list onpurchases outside the Liniers market.The sanctioned companies are Frigorífico Rioplatense, Argentine Beef Packers and Frigorífico Visom. At the same time, since past Thursday, a big portion of the beef companies are not getting Official Export Registers (ROE) so that exports were stopped for everything but Hilton cuts.Governmental pressure seems to have generated industrial decisions announced yesterday evening about the remittance of one million kilograms of beef to the domestic market “to

help with policies to reduce inflation”. They are this way trying to rebate supermarket beef prices.This was announced by Carlos Oliva Funes, president of Swift Armour and leader of the Argentine Beef Exporters’ Consortium (ABC).Argentine business circles expect that these beef remittance – loosing money – to the local market could be the key to resume exports.As observed in the accompanying chart, Argentine final export data shows a 20% descent. Slaughters fell around 7% which shows a growing remittance of beef to the local market by effects of the pressures exercised by the government.Meanwhile, the market remains firm due to a short supply and a firm demand in the local market. Prices go up just to what is permitted by governmental tops.Producers, on its side, are mobilizing in protest in different points of the country and evaluate a new agrarian standstill.

NEW COMMUNITY LEGISLATION February 2007

Commission Regulation (EC) No 87/2007 of 29 January 2007 specifying the extent to which applications lodged in January 2007 for import certificates in respect of young male bovine animals for fattening as part of a tariff quota provided for in Regulation (EC) No 800/2006 may be accepted

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 68/2007 of 25 January 2007 determining the extent to which applications lodged in January 2007 for import licences for certain pigmeat sector products pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1233/2006 can be accepted

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 69/2007 of 25 January 2007 determining the extent to which applications lodged in January 2007 for import licences under the regime provided for by tariff quotas for certain products in the pigmeat sector for the period 1 January to 31 March 2007 can be accepted

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Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods (  OJ L 404, 30.12.2006)

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 32/2007 of 16 January 2007 fixing the export refunds on beef and veal

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 33/2007 of 16 January 2007 fixing the export refunds on poultrymeat

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 amending Appendix B of Annex VII to the 2005 Act of Accession as regards certain establishments in the meat, milk and fish sectors in Romania (notified under document number C(2006) 6801) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 approving contingency plans for the control of avian influenza and Newcastle disease (notified under document number C(2006) 6806) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 amending Decision 2005/393/EC as regards restricted zones in relation to bluetongue (notified under document number C(2006) 6970) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 laying down transitional measures for certain products of animal origin covered by Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council introduced into Bulgaria and Romania from third countries before 1 January 2007(notified under document number C(2006) 7019) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 laying down transitional measures for the marketing of certain products of animal origin obtained in Bulgaria and Romania (notified under document number C(2006) 7028) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 laying down transitional measures as regards the dispatch of certain products of the meat and milk sectors covered by Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council from Bulgaria to other Member States (notified under document number C(2006) 7029) (1)

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Commission Decision of 18 December 2006 amending Decision 2005/779/EC concerning animal health protection measures against swine vesicular disease in Italy (notified under document number C(2006) 6574) (1)

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Commission Decision of 20 December 2006 amending Decision 2005/648/EC concerning protection measures in relation to Newcastle disease in Bulgaria (notified under document number C(2006) 6717) (1)

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Commission Decision of 20 December 2006 amending Commission Decision 2005/362/EC of 2 May 2005 approving the plan for the eradication of African swine fever in feral pigs in Sardinia, Italy (notified under document number C(2006) 6718)

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Commission Decision of 20 December 2006 amending Decision 2005/363/EC concerning animal health protection measures against African swine fever in Sardinia, Italy (notified under document number C(2006) 6729) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 adapting Decision 2002/459/EC as regards the additions to be made to the list of units in the Traces computer network as a result of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania (notified under document number C(2006) 6810) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 amending Decision 2002/613/EC as regards the approved porcine semen collection centres of Canada (notified under document number C(2006) 6812) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 approving monitoring plans for the detection of residues or substances in live animals and animal products pursuant to Council Directive 96/23/EC as submitted by Bulgaria and Romania (notified under document number C(2006) 6815) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 laying down transitional measures for intra-Community trade in semen, ova and embryos of the bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine species obtained in Bulgaria and Romania (notified under document number C(2006) 6823) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 approving contingency plans for the control of foot-and-mouth disease pursuant to Council Directive 2003/85/EC (notified under document number C(2006) 6855) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 approving contingency plans for the control of classical swine fever pursuant to Council Directive 2001/89/EC (notified under document number C(2006) 6858) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 concerning a financial contribution by the Community for the implementation of an epidemiological survey and bluetongue surveillance measures in the context of the emergency measures taken to combat this disease in Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands in 2006 and 2007 (notified under document number C(2006) 6968)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 amending Decision 2005/760/EC as regards certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza and imports of birds other than poultry into the Community (notified under document number C(2006) 6969) (1)

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Commission Decision of 22 December 2006 amending Decision 2006/875/EC approving programmes for the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases, of certain TSEs, and for the prevention of zoonoses presented by the Member States for the year 2007 (notified under document number C(2006) 6971)

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 16/2007 of 10 January 2007 on the issue of import licences for high-quality fresh, chilled or frozen beef and veal

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1994/2006 of 27 December 2006 opening Community tariff quotas for 2007 for sheep, goats, sheepmeat and goatmeat

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Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013)

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Decision No 1/2006 of the EU-Bulgaria association Council of 31 May 2006 concerning the improvement of the trade arrangements for processed agricultural products provided in Protocol 3 to the Europe Agreement

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Commission regulation (EC) No 1965/2006 of 22 December 2006 adapting several regulations concerning the beef and veal sector by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1939/2006 of 21 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 462/2003 laying down detailed rules for the application of the arrangements applicable to imports of certain pigmeat products originating in the ACP States

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1940/2006 of 21 December 2006 amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 1556/2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 774/94 concerning the import arrangements for pigmeat

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Regulation (EC) No 1923/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (1)

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Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods

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Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods

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Commission Decision of 15 December 2006 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 as regards guidelines and procedures for the electronic identification of ovine and caprine animals (notified under document number C(2006) 6522) (1)

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Council Decision of 19 December 2006 amending Decision 90/424/EEC on expenditure in the veterinary field

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 of 22 December 2006 on good click

manufacturing practice for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (1) here

Council Regulation (EC) No 1997/2006 of 19 December 2006 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs (1)

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 2008/2006 of 22 December 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application in 2007 of the tariff quotas for baby beef products originating in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1898/2006 of 14 December 2006 laying down detailed rules of implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

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Commission Directive 2006/142/EC of 22 December 2006 amending Annex IIIa of Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council listing the ingredients which must under all circumstances appear on the labelling of foodstuffs (1)

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Council Regulation (EC) No 1944/2006 of 19 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

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Commission Regulation (EC) No 1950/2006 of 13 December 2006 establishing, in accordance with Directive 2001/82/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products, a list of substances essential for the treatment of equidae (1)

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Decision No 2/2006 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 17 October 2006 amending Protocols 1 and 2 to Decision No 1/98 on the trade regime for agricultural products

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