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EU signs Council of Europe Convention on the welfare of animals during international transport

On the basis of a proposal from the European Commission, the Council decided that the European Union will sign the revised "European Convention for the Protection of Animals During International Transport". This agreement tightens the regulations in Europe. The revised version of the Convention, originally adopted in 1968, includes significant improvements in animal welfare, in line with the recent relevant Commission proposal (see IP/03/1023) and current EU legislation.

David Byrne, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, welcomed the update to the Convention: "The welfare of animals during transport is a matter close to the heart of many Europeans and I welcome any improvement in conditions. I was disappointed that Member States could not reach an agreement on the Commission's recent proposal to tighten EU transport conditions, but I still hope for a solution soon."

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Food industry welcomes discussion in the Bundestag on combating obesity

Commentary by Prof. Dr. Matthias Horst, Chief Executive of the Federation for Food Law and Food Science (BLL), on the discussion of Federal Minister Renate Künast

The German food industry welcomes the broad debate on the causes, prevention and effective solutions to obesity in children and adolescents, which was launched again in the Bundestag on June 17, 2004. Since this is a multifactorial problem of importance to society as a whole, the problem of overweight can only be successfully combated if all social actors pull together and act together. There are already a wealth of initiatives for better nutrition education and the promotion of physical activity, also on the part of the food industry. Now it is time to bundle all these measures and to look for a sustainable solution for society as a whole on a scientific basis. The food industry will continue to vigorously pursue the projects it has already initiated.

However, focusing the discussion on individual foods, as was often the case in the past, does not do justice to the complex topic - this is also shown by scientific work. The Kiel Obesity Prevention Study shows that normal and overweight children hardly differ in their nutritional patterns. A survey of more than 6800 children starting school in Bavaria came to similar conclusions: Overweight children do not eat certain foods more often, such as chocolate and crisps. In addition, consumption studies in Germany show that the consumption of grain products, fruit and vegetables has tended to develop positively in accordance with the recommendations of nutritional science. The calorie intake of children and adolescents has also not increased, as the Donald study in Dortmund shows. On the other hand, calorie consumption has decreased significantly due to reduced physical activity. This results in a problem in the energy balance.

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"A new food movement for Germany"

Bundestag debate in the transcript

meat-n-more.info documents the wording of the government declaration by the Federal Minister for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture Renate Künast and the subsequent debate on June 17, 2004 in Berlin. It's always amazing what individual people's representatives say in the Bundestag.

Read the minutes of the 75-minute debate here as a [pdf file]

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Less poultry meat in the EU

Production dropped in 2003

According to provisional data, gross domestic production of poultry meat in the EU fell by 2003 percent to 3,6 million tons in 9,03. Significant growth was only recorded in Great Britain and Germany, while production fell in all other major producing countries.

The Netherlands and the economic area of ​​Belgium/Luxembourg recorded the strongest declines. The cause was the outbreak of avian influenza in the Netherlands, which also affected farms in Belgium: Gross domestic production in the Netherlands shrank by 171.000 tons or 24 percent; in Belgium/Luxembourg the decrease was 12,8 percent or 41.000 tons. The price situation in 5,5, which was unsatisfactory for suppliers, was probably the main reason for the four percent cuts in production in France and 2002 percent in Italy.

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Künast unteachable with pig husbandry VO

Union demands implementation of the EU directive one-to-one

On the occasion of the renewed submission of a draft of the pig farming ordinance by Federal Minister Künast, the chairman of the working group on consumer protection, food and agriculture of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Peter Harry Carstensen MdB, and the responsible rapporteur, Gitta Connemann MdB, explained:

Trying makes you smart - this wisdom obviously does not apply to Minister Künast. Because she has re-introduced her controversial pig husbandry ordinance largely unchanged, although she had already failed with her draft in the Bundesrat last year. For good reason. Because this draft for the implementation of the EU directive on the pig husbandry ordinance still contains unacceptable competitive disadvantages for German agriculture. This applies, among other things, to the large area specifications for stables and boxes. Despite all expertise, Ms. Künast wants to stick to her demands.

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Food from animals is safe

Swiss zoonosis report 2003

Meat and foods made from animal products also proved to be extremely safe in 2003. This is reported by the Federal Veterinary Office (BVET) in the "Swiss Zoonosis Report 2003". Zoonoses are animal diseases that can also affect humans.

As in previous years, the most common zoonosis in humans was Campylobacter disease, sometimes with severe diarrhoea. A total of 5692 people fell ill in 2003; slightly fewer than in 2002 (6740 cases). The most important risk factors are traveling abroad and the consumption of insufficiently heated poultry meat. In live poultry, the occurrence of Campylobacter decreased significantly by around a third compared to the previous year.

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Reorganization of food and feed law consumer-unfriendly

The President of the German Farmers' Association (DBV), Gerd Sonnleitner, criticized the planned law for the reorganization of food and animal feed law as unclear and not user-friendly. By combining the areas of food and animal feed into one law, provisions that had only applied to one product group in the previous law would be extended indiscriminately to all products in the area of ​​application. This inevitably pre-programmed over-regulation. The simplification of the application of the law hoped for by the responsible Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture will not be achieved. In order to simplify the application of the law, the DBV therefore proposes reviewing the statutory powers of the draft law for their requirements. 

From the perspective of the DBV, only maintaining two independent areas, namely animal feed and foodstuffs and necessities, would guarantee easier application of the law for consumers, economic operators and administration. The necessary adaptation of the two regulatory areas to EU law could be carried out within the framework of a common article law for the reorganization of food and feed law with two separate areas. Sonnleitner emphasized that feed law should be understood as part of the food safety chain, despite the separate consideration of food and feed. Tried and tested structures in the legal system would make it possible to maintain the high level of consumer protection, since those applying the law and those subject to the law would be faced with familiar legislation. In addition, necessary future changes to legislation and law enforcement for the federal and state governments would be made significantly easier.

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further improve food quality

EU supports research projects with 192 million euros

Next year, the European Union will support research into food quality assurance and food protection with 192 million euros. This was announced by the European Commission at a conference on food protection in Dublin. The funds from the EU program for research funding go to a total of 31 research projects and 13 smaller research units. All of these projects and initiatives conduct research on animal epidemics, emerging pathogens, foreign substances (e.g. in the cooling air), food allergies, etc. A total of 185 projects had applied for EU funding. The Commission will now enter into negotiations on the research contracts with the sponsors of the research projects, mostly consortia.

Commenting on the EU's commitment to food research, EU Research Commissioner Busquin said: Research in the fields of agriculture and food safety is crucial to ensure a high quality of life for all citizens in the enlarged Europe. This is truer today than ever before. On the other hand, the competitiveness of Europe's largest industrial sector must be maintained and further promoted. In addition, many of the funded research initiatives will help the EU to put its policies on a scientifically sound basis.”

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Producer prices in May 2004 up 1,6% on May 2003

The index of producer prices for industrial products was 2004% higher in May 1,6 than in May 2003. As the Federal Statistical Office also reports, the annual rate of change was +0,9% in April and +2004% in March 0,3. located. Compared to the previous month, the index rose by 2004% in May 0,5.

The increase in producer prices compared to the previous year is significantly influenced by the development of energy prices, which have risen by an average of 2003% compared to May 3,9. There was a particularly strong price surge for petroleum products (+ 12,9% compared to May 2003). This reflects the sharp rise in world market prices for crude oil. Specifically, the year-on-year price changes were as follows: fuel + 11,6% (including petrol + 11,7%, diesel + 11,6%), light fuel oil + 23,0%, heavy fuel oil + 12,9%, liquid gas + 21,5%.

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Market-ready shrimp grown in aquaculture facilities

Kiel company Ecomares wants to produce six tons per year

Scientists from the Kiel-based company Ecomares have succeeded for the first time in breeding market-ready shrimp in closed aquaculture facilities. The researchers have been working on this for a year at their MariFarm base in Strande, the company Ecomares announced on Friday.

The special thing about the new technology: The crustaceans grow up in a so-called ecological recirculation system. According to Ecomares, the polluted water is treated in its own sewage treatment plant without chemical additives and returned to the breeding tank. "This technology, for example, uses significantly less energy than conventional breeding facilities. The process is also very environmentally friendly," reports Gerrit Quantz, Ecomares' graduate biologist and Chief Technical Officer (CTO). Ecomares did not use antibiotics or other medicines when rearing the animals. The Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Agriculture has therefore funded the research project with 94.000 euros.

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The markets for farm calves and piglets in July

Slight price weaknesses

 From the current perspective, July will probably bring slightly declining producer prices for livestock calves from Simmental breeding. As early as mid-June, an end to price increases was announced in the southern regions of Germany. Bull fatteners will be more cautious about stabling during July, since the earnings for male slaughter cattle are likely to be weak in the summer months. One or the other fattener will also toy with the idea of ​​limiting bull fattening with the decoupling of cattle premiums or giving it up altogether. The producer prices for Fleckvieh calves are likely to be above the four euro per kilogram mark on average in June. However, this level will probably not be maintained in July.

Black-and-white bull calves should still be in high demand from calf farmers as housed animals throughout June and bring in comparatively high revenues. In the first half of June, bull calves from Holstein breeding were billed at over 170 euros per bull calf, which was just short of the very high prices of the previous year. In July, animals for fattening calves are no longer in such high demand, and the seasonal downturn in the prices of livestock calves will probably not be able to be stopped, although without a similarly significant drop in prices as in the previous year.

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