Cherry Valley Awarded Freedom Foods Accreditation
UK - Lincolnshire-based Cherry Valley, the UK’s largest duck manufacturer, has been recognised for its continued commitment to duck welfare with a Freedom Foods Accreditation.

Govt Decisions Taking Too Long for Industry
UK - The UK government and EU Commission are taking far too long to make decisions and this delay is having an adverse impact on the poultry industry.

EU Moves to Improve Animal Welfare Labelling
EU - A new European Commission report has launched a political debate over animal welfare labelling. The aim is to make it easier for consumers to identify more animal welfare-friendly food products.

UFU Welcomes Clearer Poultry Meat Labelling
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - The Ulster Farmers’ Union Poultry Committee has welcomed the new EU rules for poultry meat labelling, which extend the current marketing standards to poultry preparations and products.

Meetings Scheduled on Interstate Meat Shipments
US - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan has announced public meetings on the proposed regulations on co-operative inspection programmes on the inter-state shipment of meat and poultry products.

British Lion Eggs to be Stamped on Farm
UK - The Code of Practice for Lion Quality Eggs has been further strengthened with on-farm marking of eggs to be introduced across all systems of production.

WTO Panel to Be Requested to Address US M-COOL
CANADA - The federal government has announced it will ask the World Trade Organization for a panel to resolve Canada's dispute with the United States over US Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labelling, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Canada Requests WTO Panel on US M-COOL
CANADA - The Canadian government has announced its intention to file for a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement process over the US mandatory country-of-origin labeling (M-COOL) law that went into effect on 16 March 2009.

Farmers Urged to Follow Product Label Instructions
NEW ZEALAND - The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is reminding farmers that off-label use of veterinary medicines may land them a day in court and a significant fine.

NFU Praises Retailers' Honest Food Labelling Move
UK - The National Farmers Union (NFU) is pleased that Tesco and Morrison's have signed up to the Conservative Party's 'Honest Food' campaign, which is aimed at letting consumers know where the food they are buying is reared and sourced.

Input on Use of 'Natural' in Labelling Products Sought
US - The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced through the publication of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) that it is soliciting additional public comment to define the conditions under which is would permit the voluntary...

Doubts over Free-Range Egg Verification
AUSTRALIA - A recent newspaper article has cast doubt on the system for the verification of free-range egg production.

Traceability Consensus Expected to be Challenging
CANADA - According to Bruce Cochrane, a senior scholar with the University of Manitoba says defining terminology and getting a consensus on the importance of traceability will be among the challenges in developing a national food traceability research...

FSIS Proposes Chicken Definition and Standard
US - The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is providing new information on and re-proposing the definition and standard for "roaster" and "roasting chicken."

Empire Expands Antibiotic Free and Organic Poultry
US - Empire Kosher Poultry today announced the expansion of its line of Kosher chicken and turkey products to include Organic and Antibiotic Free ("ABF") poultry, along with its regular offerings.

FSIS Issues New Directive for Imported Meat
US - The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a directive on verifying requirements for pre-stamping of imported meat and poultry.

M-COOL Negotiations Yield Little Progress
CANADA - The minister of international trade reports there is little progress in discussions with the United States aimed at resolving Canada's concerns over Mandatory US Country of Origin Labelling (M-COOL), writes Bruce Cochrane.

Foster Farms Sets up Anti-Plumping Web Site
US - As concern about chicken 'plumping' spreads among experts and consumers, Foster Farms has set up a web site to inform about and campaign against the use of the '100 per cent natural' label on these products.

Same Organic Standards in US, Canada in Future
GLOBAL - The US and Canada have reached agreement for organic trade equivalence between the US National Organic Program and the Canada Organic Product Regulation.

Antimicrobials in Livestock Debated
US - A consumer group appears to be pressing for any antimicrobial (including anti-parasitics) used in rearing to be listed on product labels because, it is alleged, their definition under the law is 'murky'.

Liability Risk Increases Under Enhanced Traceability
CANADA - An assistant professor of law with the University of Saskatchewan suggests, when entering contracts with food processors, farmers need to consider their increased risk of liability as a result of enhanced food traceability systems, writes Bruce...

Promising First Step on Journey to Food Traceability
CANADA - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says the challenge in developing a national food traceability system will be to accommodate a range of commodities across a range of regions, writes Bruce Cochrane, University of Manitoba.

Food Traceability Not to be Confused with Food Safety
CANADA - The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors is encouraging the public to not confuse food traceability with food safety, writes Bruce Cochrane.

NFU Renews Call for Support of COOL
US - National Farmers Union yesterday strongly urged the US Trade Representative (USTR) to defend mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) against a World Trade Organization (WTO) challenge. The Canadian and Mexican governments claim the labeling law...

Food Traceability Not a Food Safety Issue
CANADA - The CEO of Cargil says enhanced traceability of food products offers a number of advantages but it will not improve food safety, writes Bruce Cochrane.