Group to Bolster Work Improving Food Supply Chain
EU - The European Commission has decided today to extend the mandate of the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry, upgrading it to a High Level Forum to improve the functioning of the food supply chain as regards contractual...

New Procedure for Vet Drug Imports
RUSSIA - The federal veterinary service, Rosselkhoznadzor, has announced a new procedure for the import of veterinary drugs into the Russian Federation, which comes into effect on 2 August.

China Plans for Nationwide Cold-Chain
CHINA - A national commission is drawing up a plan to establish a plan for cold chain logistics of agricultural produce across the country by 2015.

Barnett Honoured at Animal Production Conference
AUSTRALIA - Professor Paul Hemsworth presented the inaugural John L Barnett Lecture at the 28th Biennial Conference for the Australian Society of Animal Production earlier this month.

Maple Leaf Foods Shows 'Steady Improvements'
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has reported its financial results for the second quarter ended 30 June 2010, which the CEO described as showing "continued steady improvements across our business in spite of challenging market conditions". The poultry...

Marel Achieves 'Sustainable Performance'
ICELAND - It was another good quarter for Marel, said the company's CEO as the financial results for seocnd quarter 2010 were presented yesterday, 29 July, at the company's headquarters. A short profile of one of its poultry processing equipment...

Strategy for Food Safety, Risk Assessment Adopted
BULGARIA - MEPs have adopted a strategy for the establishment of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency and Risk Assessment Center.

Joardar Joins Hy-Line Sales & Marketing Team
ASIA - Hy-Line International is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Dinabandhu (Dina) Joardar, as the Regional Director for Southeast Asia & Pacific Rim (excluding China) effective 1 July 2010.

Sanofi-aventis, Merck Appoint CEO for New JV
GLOBAL - Sanofi-aventis and Merck have announced their intention to combine Merial with Intervet/Schering-Plough, to create a new global leader in Animal Health to be called Merial-Intervet. Raul Kohan has been appointed CEO of the new joint venture...

Water Quality Continues to Improve
NETHERLANDS - Water quality continues to improve, according to a study by GD Deventer but problems remain.

EFSA: Cautious Approval of Manure Lime Treatment
EU - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) judges that the treatment of dry pig or poultry manure batch-wise with quick lime and heated was effective in destroying pathogens but it warns that its opinion covers only the conditions used in this study....

CPF Sets Sights on Turkey
THAILAND - Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) expects its overseas business operations, especially in Turkey and India, to generate high income for the group even as demand for meat in the Middle East is rising.

Weekly US Broiler Hatchery Report
US - According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), compared to the same week last year, three per cent more broiler-type eggs were set, and one per cent more chicks were placed.

Hester Sets up Vaccine JV in Nepal
INDIA - Hester Biosciences has posted a net profit of 18.2 million rupees (INR) in the first quarter, and has signed an agreement to manufacture animal biologicals in Nepal as a joint venture.

Eurogroup Calls for Stricter Rules on Welfare
EU - Welfare campaigners, Eurogroup for Animals, welcomes the report published yesterday by the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA), which it say confirms our concerns related to the widespread welfare problems associated with the breeding of chickens....

DSM Shows Commitment to Animal Nutrition, Health
SWITZERLAND - DSM's strong commitment to Animal and Human Nutrition & Health as well as Personal Care was spelled out at its 2010 Nutrition Forum, whose theme was '2020: Nourish, Protect and Improve', thereby focusing strongly on sustainability questions....

Opportunities to Improve Irish Competitiveness
IRELAND - Addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment yesterday (28 July), IFA president, John Bryan, called on the Government to show their commitment to maximising the potential of the agri-food sector by eliminating all unnecessary...

EFSA Identifies Potential Welfare Issues
EU - The European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) has adopted a scientific opinion on the influence of genetic selection on the welfare of broilers and another opinion on the influence of housing and management...

Commission Authorises Six GM Maize Varieties
EU - The European Commission has authorised six genetically modified (GM) varieties of maize for food and feed uses.

FSA Identifies Key Steps to Control Campylobacter
UK - The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published the proceedings of an international meeting it hosted to identify and prioritise key interventions to reduce campylobacter in chicken in the UK.

International Egg and Poultry Review: US
US - This is a weekly report by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), looking at international developments concerning the poultry industry. This week's report covers US poultry meat exports to Russia and other countries.

Leong Hup Invests in New Broiler Farm
MALAYSIA - Leong Hup is planning a new broiler farm at Bio Desaru Food Valley that will produce up to one million birds in three years.

WTO Supports China over US Chicken Imports
GLOBAL - The World Trade Organization (WTO) is reported to be backing China in its trade dispute with the US over chicken.

Egg Prices Start to Return to Normal
THAILAND - After a spell of high prices caused by hot weather, egg prices are now dropping steadily again.

WHO Head Praises China over Disease Control
CHINA - China's Agriculture Minister and the WHO Director-General met yesterday. They discussed animal health and food safety issues.