Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
Restaurants lose - canteens and caterers win
As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, turnover in the hospitality industry in Germany in May 2004 was 1,2% nominal and 2,0% lower in real terms than in May 2003. After calendar and seasonal adjustment of the data, the nominal figure compared to April 2004 was 1,0 % and in real terms 1,2% less sold.
In the first five months of 2004, companies in the hotel and catering industry turned over a nominal 0,9% and a real 1,6% less than in the same period of the previous year. This decline is solely due to the unfavorable sales development in the hospitality industry. In contrast, the accommodation industry (nominal + 2,0%, real + 1,3%) obviously benefited from the 2004% increase in tourist overnight stays between the beginning of the year and April 2,8.
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
Veterinary standards have improved tremendously
Member States, at a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, approved a European Commission decision authorizing the import of shrimp, farmed fish, honey, royal jelly, rabbit meat and a range of other products of animal origin from China into the EU becomes. The exporting companies have to have their products tested by the Chinese food safety authorities and each shipment is certified to comply with the relevant EU food safety standards. In January 2002, imports of all products of animal origin from China were stopped because the EU found China's control system for veterinary drug residues in farm animals to be inadequate. China has since made significant strides in strengthening its food and feed controls. The 2002 ban was partially lifted last year with positive results and the Commission is confident that, provided proper controls continue, imports of the other products of animal origin mentioned can now safely be authorised. However, the Commission remains concerned about the safety of chicken and other poultry meat from China - particularly in light of the recent new cases of avian influenza in East Asia. The EU import ban on poultry products from China will therefore continue to be maintained.
In January 2002, the Commission suspended imports of products of animal origin from China for food safety reasons, in particular due to the presence of veterinary drug residues in food and feed from China (see IP/02/143). Since then, information from the Chinese authorities and the positive results of controls carried out by Member States have already encouraged the Commission to relax restrictions on a number of products (surimi, natural casings, marine fish, crabs - compare also IP/02/1898).
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
Communicate modern animal husbandry realistically
Representatives from politics, science, the media and business demanded realistic information about modern animal husbandry instead of a glorified image of "idyllic" agriculture at the 3rd German Turkey Day in Sarstedt near Hanover. At the forum of German turkey producers, around 180 participants critically discussed impetus for a future-oriented development of the entire branch. The focus of the event was questions of consumer behavior and consumer information, current trends in market development, new research results on turkey husbandry and turkey meat production as well as animal welfare. The symposium was organized by the Association of German Turkey Producers (VDP) in cooperation with the teaching and research facility Ruthe of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover. knowledge and science
In the thematic block "Knowledge and Science", veterinarian Thomas Uchtmann from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover presented the first results of his practical investigations into outdoor climate areas in turkey husbandry, which supplement the usual open stalls. Previous experiments had shown that such outdoor spaces would be very well accepted by the animals; Effects on animal health and animal welfare will be explored in more detail in the coming months. Other lectures by Professor Dr. Silke Rautenschlein and Professor Dr. Josef Kamphues dealt with crisis management after the appearance of the poultry disease TRT in the USA in the mid-90s and with the connections between trace element intake via turkey feed and environmental effects.
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
The TÜV SÜD Group is strengthening its position in the food sector with an organizational change: TÜV Vitacert GmbH, the food TÜV of TÜV SÜD and the Technical University of Munich, is integrated under company law into TÜV Management Service GmbH, TÜV SÜD Group.
TÜV Management Service certifies quality, environmental and safety management systems in all sectors worldwide; TÜV Vitacert has successfully established itself as a certifier in the food sector. Both companies had already worked closely together due to the interdependence of products and customers. With the integration under company law, further synergy potential is now to be exploited, customer service to be even better integrated and the activities of the TÜV SÜD Group in the food and animal feed sector to be bundled. The integration of TÜV Vitacert GmbH into the globally active TÜV Management Service GmbH became legally effective on July 1, and the "TÜV Vitacert" brand, which is successful on the market, will remain in place.
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
Biomembrane filters ensure waste water-free fish production in recirculation systems
The consumption of fish and seafood is increasing worldwide - at the same time the stocks in seas, lakes and rivers are shrinking. In order to meet the growing demand, more and more fish will be bred in large fish farms - in aquacultures. The natural fish stocks in the seas, rivers and lakes can be spared in this way, because: Thanks to modern biotechnology initiated by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), fish production in aquaculture can also be environmentally friendly and relieve the water bodies. The waste water from the recirculation systems is filtered through the finest biomembranes. Bacteria, viruses and residues of feed additives and therapeutics are removed, there is practically no waste water. This enables the use of aquaculture systems even in water-scarce areas. Some German manufacturers are already offering membrane filtration throughout Europe and Asia as an export technology.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that the demand for fish as food will increase from currently around 2030 to 120 million tons per year (million t/a) by 160. The forecasts for the development of the sustainably achievable catch yields from fishing are around 100 million t/a. Fish production in aquaculture can meet this growing demand. Since the early 80s, there have been national and especially international recommendations and requirements for environmentally friendly, sustainable aquaculture. Since the mid-70s, considerable efforts have been made in freshwater aquaculture to develop innovative, environmentally friendly and resource-saving technologies that enable economical and environmentally friendly, intensive fish production. The development of so-called recirculation systems was of particular importance. However, until a few years ago, technical progress was not sufficient to develop satisfactory solutions. For existing systems in routine operation, a water exchange of around 10 to 20 percent of the system volume per day is still necessary - otherwise one is sufficient
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
FAO supply and consumption forecast
According to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), global pork production will grow by 1,5 percent this year, with China accounting for almost all of the increase.
According to calculations by the FAO, international trade in pork will increase by a further two percent. Above all, exports from China, the USA and Canada are likely to be larger. In contrast, Brazilian pork exports will fall by almost 2004 percent in 40 after the rapid increase in recent years due to Russian import quotas. For the world's largest import market, Japan, the FAO expects an increase in the import volume of a good twelve percent to one million tons of pork.
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
Livestock and Meat
On the meat wholesale markets, sales of beef were very narrow. Wholesalers and butchers reacted to the more restrained sales opportunities due to the holidays and planned very cautiously. Beef prices hardly changed. Due to the sluggish demand for meat, the slaughterhouses tried to reduce the prices paid for young bulls. However, deductions were not possible or only possible to a limited extent due to the reluctance of the fatteners to sell.
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
The number of overweight children continues to rise
"We have to reverse the trend when it comes to eating and drinking. Too much energy intake is offset by too little energy consumption through physical activity," said Federal Consumer Minister Renate Künast. As a result, children and adolescents who are overweight often have mental problems, are less fit, feel left out (e.g. in physical education) and could develop certain diseases, such as type II diabetes, due to their diet. "It's not about banning the so-called petty sins. But the numbers we have are alarming," explained Künast.
The first results of a study in northern Germany (Kiel Obesity Prevention Study KOPS) show that 23 percent of the 5- to 7-year-olds examined and even 42 percent of the 10- to 11-year-olds are overweight. A hypothesis put forward at the beginning of the study that the frequency of obesity in children and adolescents increased during the observation period - namely from 22 percent in 5- to 7-year-old children to 27 percent in 10- to 11-year-olds and 35 percent in 13- to 14-year-olds - was far exceeded for 10- to 11-year-olds. Here the values have almost doubled, to 42 percent! 87 percent of the 6- to 7-year-old obese children were found to remain obese during the follow-up period.
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
The DBV's concerns about the proposed legislation are confirmed
Despite clear criticism, the Federal Council has not fundamentally rejected the planned reorganization of food and feed law. The merging of the previously independent laws in the areas of food hygiene, animal feed, consumer goods and cosmetics into one set of rules is happening at the expense of the clarity of the legal regulations for the user, according to the Federal Council in its statement. In the future, only experts in food and feed law would know reliably which regulations are to be applied. The Federal Council also sees the large number of ordinance authorizations as problematic. With future changes to important decisions in food and feed law, the Bundestag as the decision-making body will be ignored with these authorizations.
The leading agricultural committee of the Bundesrat had already agreed on the critical statement in Bonn last week. The basic goal of the draft law, namely simplification for the user, was judged to be unsatisfactory by the state representatives. Nevertheless, the committee spoke out against a motion by Saxony and Baden-Württemberg to leave food and feed law in two separate regulatory areas.
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
The European Commission has decided to refer Germany to the European Court of Justice for incorrectly applying EU legislation on the protection of protected designations of origin (PDO) to the name 'Parmigiano Reggiano'. Germany does not guarantee the full protection of this PDO on its territory. The use of this designation, registered at European Union level since 1996, is de jure reserved exclusively for producers of a delimited Italian territory who produce this cheese according to a mandatory specification.
According to European legislation on Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI)[1], Member States must protect protected designations against any misappropriation, imitation or evocation, even where the true origin of the product is indicated or if it is a translation of the estimated designation. This also applies to the designation "Parmigiano Reggiano", which has been registered since 1996[2].
Submitted by Thomas Pröller, meat-n-more on , Published in Archive
All about meat and direct marketing
The Federal Association of German Galloway Breeders offers a seminar on meat and direct marketing on 29./30. October 2004 in the agricultural center Haus Düsse. Helpful tips and advice on all aspects of direct marketing are provided. This was announced by the German Farmers' Association (DBV). The thematic focus will be hygienic regulations, public relations and customer loyalty. In addition, legal bases, sales structures and trends in direct marketing will be examined in lectures. In order to gain an insight into practice, a visit to a direct marketing company is also planned.
Direct marketing has long been an important mainstay for numerous cattle farmers. In order to be able to survive against discounters, the demands on the farmer are becoming more and more extensive. Quality and freshness are the top priority, but the appropriate customer approach should not be neglected. It is therefore becoming increasingly important for the individual farmer to keep up to date through further training. The seminar "Meat Marketing" offers an opportunity to acquire and refresh knowledge.
