Gas, Electrical Stunning Found to be Equally Humane
US - Fast-food giant, McDonald's, has published the update on its research comparing controlled atmospheric stunning (CAS) with the conventional electrical method. It found both methods to be equally humane.

WTO Investigates Poultry, Livestock Complaints
SWITZERLAND - The World Trade Organization (WTO) has started its enquiry into the European Union ban on importing poultry meat from the US, and American labelling rules for cattle and pigs from Canada and Mexico.

Poultry Company Falls Fowl on GM-Free Claim
NEW ZEALAND - The Commerce Commission has warned a poultry company about its claim that its chicken free of genetically modified (GM) ingredients, following an expert report that stated: 'There can be a residual difference in animals or animal-products...

WVPA Congress: Record Attendance at Global Health Meeting
MOROCCO - The 16th World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) Congress was held in Marrakech from 9 to 12 November, and greeted with praise by a record number of participants. Jackie Linden reports for ThePoultrySite.

Sweden Reports Newcastle Disease Outbreak
SWEDEN - The country's veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of Newcastle Disease, also known as Paramyxovirus 1.

Defra's New Guidelines to Reduce Salmonella in Feed
UK - The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published a new Code of Practice for the control of salmonella in animal feeds, bringing together three previous codes and updating these with current best practice and regulatory...

Ag Secretary Says US, China Working on Poultry Trade
US - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working with China to allow trade in poultrymeat, said Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, following talks in Hangzhou.

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.

EU Blocks WTO Talks on Ban on US Chicken - For Now
GLOBAL - The EU is reported to have blocked the US call for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to investigate the EU ban on imports of US chicken.

H1N1 Flu Infects Turkeys in Canada
ONTARIO, CANADA - Turkeys in one house on an Ontario farm have been found to be infected with the influenza A H1N1 virus. Authorities are reminding the public that food safety is not at risk. Turkey workers are recommended to get immunised against the...

New Case of HPAI in Spain
SPAIN - The veterinary authorities have reported a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

US, Brazil Poultry Industries Sign Historic MoU
GLOBAL - Poultry industry leaders from the US and Brazil have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

WTO Case Filed Against EU Over Poultry Restrictions
US - The US government said yesterday that it has asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish a dispute settlement panel regarding the European Union's (EU) restrictions on imports of US poultry.

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.

Ag Committee Agrees over Chinese Poultry Imports
US - Agreement has been reached in principle for poultry meat to be imported from China, providing certain conditions are met.

China Investigates US Poultry Part Exports
CHINA - China has launched an investigation into alleged dumping of US chicken parts.

Case Opens against Farmers in Poultry Litter Lawsuit
US - The state of Oklahoma has opened its case in a lawsuit in which poultry producers in Oklahoma and Arkansas are accused of allowing litter to pollute the catchment area of the Illinois River.

JBS Buys Major Stake in Revamped Pilgrim's Pride
US - Pilgrim's Pride has announced it is to file a plan of its reorganisation and disclosure statement with US Bankruptcy Court. JBS is to purchase a majority equity stake in the reorganised company, and Pilgrim's Pride is expected to emerge from Chapter...

Marfrig Acquires Seara from Cargill
BRAZIL - Brazilian meat processor, Marfrig, is to buy the entire business of Seara Alimentos Ltda - the poultry, pork and processed meat operation, including subsidiaries in Europe and Asia, and the brand, Seara, in Brazil and abroad from Cargill Inc....

Russia May Up Beef Quotas But Cut Pork, Poultry
RUSSIA - Russia is expected to raise quotas for beef imports while cutting allocations for pork and poultry next year.

FAO Raises Concerns over Possible H1N1 Pandemic
GLOBAL - The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is concerned that the H1N1 flu virus in turkeys in Chile could strengthen a global pandemic.

ESPN 2009 - Satellite Seminar Looks to the Future
SCOTLAND, UK - A Satellite Symposium to the European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition took place on Sunday evening. Organised by DSM Nutritional Products, its theme was 'New Horizons, New Technologies'. Jackie Linden, editor of ThePoultrySite, reports on...

ESPN 2009 - European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition
SCOTLAND, UK - Last night saw the start of the European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city. Jackie Linden, editor of ThePoultrySite, reports on the opening ceremony.

Call for More Imports of GM Feed Ingredients into EU
UK - Ministers and farmers say that imports of genetically modified (GM) imports should be increased. To overcome the dilemma of dwindling global supplies on non-GM feed ingredients and the EU ban on growing GM varieties, the permitted maximum GM ingredient...

OIE Provides Guidance on Veterinary Legislation
GLOBAL - The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is supporting its Members modernise their veterinary legislation by making guidelines available on its web site.