Editorial - International Trade, Veterinary Agreements in the News

On the day the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement was signed, 3 December, US Agriculture Secretary Vilsack commented: "Today, I received word that the United States and South Korea concluded negotiations on a historic US-Korea Trade Agreement that promises to provide American agriculture with improved access to more than 49 million Korean consumers. From day one, the Obama Administration has focused on taking the steps necessary to move the economy forward, get our family, friends and neighbours back to work and rebuild a strong economic foundation for future prosperity. The US-Korea Trade Agreement will help us do that. The agreement also puts agriculture in a key position to help achieve President Obama's goal of doubling US exports over the next five years.

"Agriculture has a great deal to gain from the trade agreement with Korea."

The move has also been warmly welcomed by industry organisations, including American Farm Bureau Federation, American Meat Institute and the US Meat Export Federation.

And in the animal health field, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has signed an agreement with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in support of the standard setting process and international capacity-building activities.

The terms of the agreement consider the strengthening of international standards and guidelines an essential prerequisite to the establishment and effective implementation of adequate and appropriate national legislations covering all aspects of veterinary medicines, including registration, quality control, distribution, monitoring of quantities and final use.

Dr Bernard Vallat, Director General of the OIE, said: "The goal is to promote harmonisation of registration requirements for veterinary drugs and the prudent distribution and use of these drugs, under the control of the veterinary services – at national, regional and global levels – in order to better preserve animal health and guarantee the safety and wholesomeness of food of animal origin."

And finally, representatives from all EU Member States and stakeholder groups were invited to a 'Reflection Day' on the EU pig industry in Brussels on 3 December with the view to seeking long-term solutions to its present difficulties.

The meeting was arranged by the Belgians who are keen to discuss the EU pig meat market situation before the country's EU presidency comes to an end. Their aim was to bring together experts across the pig sector from all Member States to explore good practices in this area with a view to extending these at EU level with a long-term perspective.

Jackie Linden

This Week's Feature Articles

Company News

ACMC Tip: Monitor Temperature During Cold Snaps
UK - The recent cold snap is a reminder that winter is coming! Already, our practice is seeing upsurges in coughs and respiratory disease in pigs, probably triggered by fluctuations in temperature, says Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company ACMC Ltd.

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George Nicolaou New Director for TOPIGS Hellas
GREECE, BULGARIA & MACEDONIA - TOPIGS is pleased to announce the appointment of George Nicolaou as Director of TOPIGS Hellas effective from 15 November 2010. He will be responsible for the business development of TOPIGS activities in Greece, Bulgaria and Macedonia.

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Global Pig Industry News

Korea, South

 » FMD NEWS: FMD Spreading Fast in South Korea

United States

 » CME: Hog and Steer By-Product (Drop) Values
 » Weekly Outlook: Crop Market Fundamentals
 » Market Preview: 'Cash is King'
 » CME: Saturday Hog and Cattle Slaughter
 » Weekly Roberts Report
 » CME: Total Hog and Cattle Slaughter Drop in October
 » NPPC Urges Congress to Fix Estate Tax Law
 » Cargill Defends Itself on Environmental Grounds
 » No Consensus Linking Red Meat and Breast Cancer
 » More Pork Being Pushed into Cold Storage
 » Industry Applauds US-Korea Free Trade Agreement

France

 » France Reports New Outbreak of Aujeszky's Disease

United Kingdom

 » Pig & Poultry Live 2011
 » Sustainability Key to Food Production Challenge
 » Mixed Blessings for British Pork Industry
 » 'Pig Academy' to Educate Future Pork Producers
 » Producers Resilient in Face of Winter Challenge

Canada

 » Benchmarking Pilot Project Slated for Early 2011
 » Environmental Regulations Concern Pork Producers
 » Needle-Free Injection Expected to Gain Popularity
 » Hog and Poultry Days 2010: Opportunity for Dialogue
 » Stimulation of Interest in Low Phytate Barley
 » Federal Govt Invests in Primary Pork Processing
 » Pork Commentary: Lean Hog Futures Reflecting Strong Prices in 2011

Serbia

 » More Classical Swine Fever Detected in Serbia

Spain

 » Granja Castellets Receives the Golden Pig Award

European Union

 » EU Pig Prices: Steady Situation Supported by Export
 » European Union Faces Pig Meat Shortfall
 » EU Reflects on Pig Industry Situation
 » Pig Meat Shortfall Forecast for EU

Australia

 » Aussie Consumers Choose to Purchase PorkMark

Russian Federation

 » Cherkizovo: Strong Performance So Far This Year

Armenia

 » Armenia Reports Lower Incidence of Swine Fever

New Zealand

 » Phasing Out of Gestation Stalls Gets Support
 » New Code of Welfare for NZ Pigs Released
 » Pork Prices Expected to Rise with Crate Ban

Thailand

 » PRRS: Unexpected Increase in Morbidity/Mortality

Philippines

 » DA Mulls Protection for Local Hog industry

General

 » Lallemand, Jebsen & Jessen Enter Strategic Alliance
 » OIE, FDA Sign Cooperation Agreement on Vet Meds
 » US Ag Secretary Welcomes Trade Deal with Korea

Switzerland

 » USGC Team Promotes Sorghum, DDGS at Conference

Brazil

 » Sharp Drop in Brazilian Pork Exports

Malta

 » Pork Fest Organised to Promote Local Pork Products

Barbados

 » Pig Farmers Treated to Enlightening Seminar

That's all for this week!

Ed.