//22 Sep 2011
Almost half of Russian chicken is infected with salmonella, the Russian media has reported in reference to a study of the World Health Organization. Although a shocking conclusion, it’s supported by existing statistics.
Salmonella is the leading cause of human poisoning in the country and chicken is one of its main sources. According to experts security regulations should be tightened and more effective ways of chicken disinfecting should be implemented.
Currently there are serious inconsistencies in Russian and European legislation. In the EU inspections fully examine for the presence of infection: not only inside the carcass, but also on its surface. But in Russia, such checks are carried out only inside the chicken, but not on the surface.
WHO has tested Russian carcasses on the basis of international standards also looking for the infection on the surface of chicken. The study examined chicken products from various large manufacturers, and also that grown in private farms. Samples were collected in almost all regions of the country.
In conclusion, inspectors declared that about half of the tested chickens had Salmonella on the surface, making it a potential danger to the health of consumers. According to official data, from 2010 to 2011 Rosselkhoznadzor revealed about 250 examples of Salmonella in domestic chicken and only 12 times in import products. But these are the results of selective monitoring just inside the carcass.
According to experts, the complete tests would give much more alarming figures. Russian veterinary services don’t do it, infact the draft federal law "On Veterinary Medicine" (which is now being approved by the Government) proposes to refuse active monitoring outright, meaning that the quality of Russian chicken will not be checked at all.
Showing posts with label chicken. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chicken. Show all posts
22 September 2011
21 September 2011
US challenges China in chicken anti-dumping case
//21 Sep 2011
The United States has initiated the next step in the fight for better access to Chinese markets, by asking the World Trade Organization to look at Beijing's duties on the billion-dollar chicken trade.
"China must play by the rules," said US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, calling on the WTO to look into the one-year-old dispute - the first step toward possible sanctions.
US poultry industry response
In response the US poultry industry stated that it greatly appreciates the determination that Ambassador Kirk and his staff have shown to address this significant trade problem. The action being brought is a trade remedy case that challenges the method by which China determined that the product was allegedly sold as less than normal value, the National Chicken Council (NCC) and USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) said in a joint statement.
The China case used “average cost of production” to determine normal value rather than using domestic US market prices for comparable sales as is customary in anti-dumping actions. The use of “average cost of production” reflects neither market realities nor the way in which companies in the industry commonly keep their accounts.
Methodology seriously flawed
The US poultry industry agrees that the Chinese methodology was seriously flawed and that the anti-dumping proceeding did not comply with international rules. The Chinese authorities also found that US poultry exports benefit from farm subsidies, such as support prices for corn and soybeans. The reality is that US poultry receives no government subsidies and does not benefit from any of the government crop programs.
In the statement by poultry industry representatives it was considered unfortunate that this dispute has to be addressed through the formal WTO process, but they believe that it is necessary that this incorrect methodology be challenged and that US trading rights guaranteed by WTO agreements be protected. The US industry also believes that this case will have direct implications for dumping cases that have previously been brought by other WTO Member countries that are also incorrectly based on an average cost of production methodology.
Two-way poultry trade
The US poultry industry has been cooperating with the Chinese industry and the Chinese government on other initiatives to improve conditions of two-way poultry trade that are unrelated to the issues being addressed in the case initiated. The industry’s commitment to those initiatives will continue and not be affected by the initiation of the WTO case.
Related websites:
USTR
NCC
USAPEEC
The United States has initiated the next step in the fight for better access to Chinese markets, by asking the World Trade Organization to look at Beijing's duties on the billion-dollar chicken trade.
"China must play by the rules," said US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, calling on the WTO to look into the one-year-old dispute - the first step toward possible sanctions.
US poultry industry response
In response the US poultry industry stated that it greatly appreciates the determination that Ambassador Kirk and his staff have shown to address this significant trade problem. The action being brought is a trade remedy case that challenges the method by which China determined that the product was allegedly sold as less than normal value, the National Chicken Council (NCC) and USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) said in a joint statement.
The China case used “average cost of production” to determine normal value rather than using domestic US market prices for comparable sales as is customary in anti-dumping actions. The use of “average cost of production” reflects neither market realities nor the way in which companies in the industry commonly keep their accounts.
Methodology seriously flawed
The US poultry industry agrees that the Chinese methodology was seriously flawed and that the anti-dumping proceeding did not comply with international rules. The Chinese authorities also found that US poultry exports benefit from farm subsidies, such as support prices for corn and soybeans. The reality is that US poultry receives no government subsidies and does not benefit from any of the government crop programs.
In the statement by poultry industry representatives it was considered unfortunate that this dispute has to be addressed through the formal WTO process, but they believe that it is necessary that this incorrect methodology be challenged and that US trading rights guaranteed by WTO agreements be protected. The US industry also believes that this case will have direct implications for dumping cases that have previously been brought by other WTO Member countries that are also incorrectly based on an average cost of production methodology.
Two-way poultry trade
The US poultry industry has been cooperating with the Chinese industry and the Chinese government on other initiatives to improve conditions of two-way poultry trade that are unrelated to the issues being addressed in the case initiated. The industry’s commitment to those initiatives will continue and not be affected by the initiation of the WTO case.
Related websites:
USTR
NCC
USAPEEC
26 June 2011
Newcastle disease outbreak leads to Thai chicken scandal
//21 Jun 2011
A Newcastle disease outbreak in Thailand is reported to have caused the deaths of tens of thousands of chickens which were then slaughtered and illegally sold on to consumers, restaurants and shops in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima.
The food scandal was revealed last week with livestock authorities reported to have tried to suppress the disease because of fears it may seriously harm the lucrative chicken export market.
Panya Chotitawan, chairman of Saha Farm Co, said the Nakhon Ratchasima scandal has caused domestic poultry meat consumption to drop by about 10%. Officials are now concentrating on chicken farms in neighbouring Saraburi as the sources of the illegally sold carcasses.
Large chicken farms in Saraburi have been vaccinating chickens against Newcastle disease, while livestock authorities were concentrating their efforts on domestic fowls. "Had it not been for this disease, the incident in Nakhon Ratchasima would not have happened," said one Livestock Development source.
Last Monday, abattoirs in the province were raided and about eight tonnes of decomposed chicken was seized. Police have laid charges against four of the 11 operators of the abattoirs.
"When you have 1,000 chickens die on average a day, that's a lot. So what farm owners may have possibly resorted to is getting rid of them quickly, but as we have learned several do not have standard disposal facilities," the source said.
Under the Disease Outbreaks Act, dead chickens commercially produced must be either buried or incinerated. However, the Animal Slaughter Control and Meat Sale Act allows farm owners to sell dead livestock if they are examined and approved by a veterinarian for sale.
Nirandorn Uangtrakoolsuk, who heads the Disease Control and Veterinary Bureau, said the department needed time to further investigate any farms' alleged involvement and a panel needed to be set up.
Any chicken farmer found to be still involved in the scandal would have their certificate revoked, he said.
Source: Bangkok Post
A Newcastle disease outbreak in Thailand is reported to have caused the deaths of tens of thousands of chickens which were then slaughtered and illegally sold on to consumers, restaurants and shops in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima.
The food scandal was revealed last week with livestock authorities reported to have tried to suppress the disease because of fears it may seriously harm the lucrative chicken export market.
Panya Chotitawan, chairman of Saha Farm Co, said the Nakhon Ratchasima scandal has caused domestic poultry meat consumption to drop by about 10%. Officials are now concentrating on chicken farms in neighbouring Saraburi as the sources of the illegally sold carcasses.
Large chicken farms in Saraburi have been vaccinating chickens against Newcastle disease, while livestock authorities were concentrating their efforts on domestic fowls. "Had it not been for this disease, the incident in Nakhon Ratchasima would not have happened," said one Livestock Development source.
Last Monday, abattoirs in the province were raided and about eight tonnes of decomposed chicken was seized. Police have laid charges against four of the 11 operators of the abattoirs.
"When you have 1,000 chickens die on average a day, that's a lot. So what farm owners may have possibly resorted to is getting rid of them quickly, but as we have learned several do not have standard disposal facilities," the source said.
Under the Disease Outbreaks Act, dead chickens commercially produced must be either buried or incinerated. However, the Animal Slaughter Control and Meat Sale Act allows farm owners to sell dead livestock if they are examined and approved by a veterinarian for sale.
Nirandorn Uangtrakoolsuk, who heads the Disease Control and Veterinary Bureau, said the department needed time to further investigate any farms' alleged involvement and a panel needed to be set up.
Any chicken farmer found to be still involved in the scandal would have their certificate revoked, he said.
Source: Bangkok Post
20 June 2011
Thai chicken demands prompts Saha Farms expansion
//16 Jun 2011
Saha Farms Group, a leading Thai poultry producer plans to invest Bt15 billion for expanding production capacity to serve higher import demand for Thai chicken.
Group president and chief executive Manoonsri Chotitawan said the investment aimed to increase chicken production to meet its export plans next year. Export volumes went up from 70,000 tonnes in 2009 to 110,000 tonnes last year according to a report in local paper The Nation.
Poultry exports
"Export volume is expected to grow continuously this year so we have to increase production to serve rising market demand," Chotitawan said, adding that the government should persuade importing countries to open more markets for Thai chicken. The share of Thai chicken exports in the world market can be doubled from 2% currently to 4%, or 800,000 tonnes, annually. In particular, Thailand has lost market share for frozen chicken in Japan to Brazil and China.
Thai frozen-chicken exports had been banned for five years after the bird-flu outbreak. Consequently, the country has exported only processed chicken, whose volume has dropped to 400,000 tonnes a year. The export price of the product has increased from US$3,800 a tonne to $5,000 (Bt152,000) now, thanks to high-quality production.
Export markets
Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the Department of Export Promotion, said such destinations as Australia, India and South Korea had high potential to be among Thailand's major export markets. The government will urgently tighten cooperation with importers from those nations to ensure smooth trade growth.
Source: The Nation
Saha Farms Group, a leading Thai poultry producer plans to invest Bt15 billion for expanding production capacity to serve higher import demand for Thai chicken.
Group president and chief executive Manoonsri Chotitawan said the investment aimed to increase chicken production to meet its export plans next year. Export volumes went up from 70,000 tonnes in 2009 to 110,000 tonnes last year according to a report in local paper The Nation.
Poultry exports
"Export volume is expected to grow continuously this year so we have to increase production to serve rising market demand," Chotitawan said, adding that the government should persuade importing countries to open more markets for Thai chicken. The share of Thai chicken exports in the world market can be doubled from 2% currently to 4%, or 800,000 tonnes, annually. In particular, Thailand has lost market share for frozen chicken in Japan to Brazil and China.
Thai frozen-chicken exports had been banned for five years after the bird-flu outbreak. Consequently, the country has exported only processed chicken, whose volume has dropped to 400,000 tonnes a year. The export price of the product has increased from US$3,800 a tonne to $5,000 (Bt152,000) now, thanks to high-quality production.
Export markets
Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the Department of Export Promotion, said such destinations as Australia, India and South Korea had high potential to be among Thailand's major export markets. The government will urgently tighten cooperation with importers from those nations to ensure smooth trade growth.
Source: The Nation
17 March 2011
USDA: New standards for foodborne pathogens in chickens and turkeys
//17 Mar 2011
The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) implements revised and new performance standards aimed at reducing the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens and turkeys.
The improved standards will become effective in July 2011. With the new standards, FSIS is encouraging establishments slaughtering chicken and turkey to make continued reductions in the occurrence of pathogens – namely Salmonella and Campylobacter – in the products they produce.
After two years of enforcing the new standards, FSIS estimates that approximately 5,000 illnesses will be prevented each year under the new Campylobacter standards, and approximately 20,000 illnesses will be prevented under the revised Salmonella standards each year.
"These improved standards are a stronger buffer between foodborne illnesses and our consumers, especially our most vulnerable consumers – children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
"There is no more important mission at USDA than ensuring the safety of our food, and we are working every day to lower the danger of foodborne illness. The new standards announced today mark an important step in our efforts to protect consumers by further reducing the incidence of Salmonella and opening a new front in the fight against Campylobacter."
FSIS developed stricter performance standards using recently completed nationwide studies that measure the baseline prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens and turkeys prepared for market. The studies indicated that, despite improvements, there was still a risk of consumers being exposed to these pathogens through poultry.
FSIS is announcing the new performance standards and inviting comment in the Federal Register Notice that will publish shortly.
Source: USDA
The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) implements revised and new performance standards aimed at reducing the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens and turkeys.
The improved standards will become effective in July 2011. With the new standards, FSIS is encouraging establishments slaughtering chicken and turkey to make continued reductions in the occurrence of pathogens – namely Salmonella and Campylobacter – in the products they produce.
After two years of enforcing the new standards, FSIS estimates that approximately 5,000 illnesses will be prevented each year under the new Campylobacter standards, and approximately 20,000 illnesses will be prevented under the revised Salmonella standards each year.
"These improved standards are a stronger buffer between foodborne illnesses and our consumers, especially our most vulnerable consumers – children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
"There is no more important mission at USDA than ensuring the safety of our food, and we are working every day to lower the danger of foodborne illness. The new standards announced today mark an important step in our efforts to protect consumers by further reducing the incidence of Salmonella and opening a new front in the fight against Campylobacter."
FSIS developed stricter performance standards using recently completed nationwide studies that measure the baseline prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens and turkeys prepared for market. The studies indicated that, despite improvements, there was still a risk of consumers being exposed to these pathogens through poultry.
FSIS is announcing the new performance standards and inviting comment in the Federal Register Notice that will publish shortly.
Source: USDA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)