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July 17,
2009
G8, Key
Trading Partners Pledge to Seek Doha Round Deal by 2010
Farm Credit Canada Learning
Tours
IEC Canada 2009
Conference In September
US Egg
Farmers Adopt Rules To Reduce Salmonella
US May
Lose Chinese Market For Chicken
US To
Upgrade Food Safety System
Omega-3 Makes Happier, Healthier, More Productive Hens
O&T Farms New VP Sales and
Marketing
Conferences, Courses and Workshops
The CFC summer meeting was held this year in sunny Saskatoon
Saskatchewan, the hometown of CPEPC president and CEO Robin Horel and
site of CPEPC's 2010 Convention, from July 13 through to July 16.
Just prior to these meetings, on July 10th the National Farm Products
Council advised CPEPC (as well as CRFA, FPPAC and CFC) that it had
decided to decline prior approval of the A-93 allocation. This followed
Complaints filed by CPEPC, CRFA and FPPAC with NFPC regarding CFC’s A-93
allocation decision and which included requests that NFPC withhold prior
approval of A-93. In effect this means that there is no allocation for
A-93 at this time.
Meanwhile, setting the allocation for A-94 (October 11 to December 5,
2009) was on the agenda and established at this meeting. The domestic
allocation was set at 1 percent below base or 142.0 mkg which was
significantly higher than the 4 percent below base that had been
requested by CPEPC. The CPEPC directors did not have a mandate to
support an allocation set at this level and therefore voted against the
motion to approve the allocation. The 10 producer directors and the
other 2 downstream directors from CRFA and FPPAC did support the motion.
Other areas of significance in what was a very full agenda included:
decisions on Exceptional Circumstance requests made by British Columbia
and Ontario relating to the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in British
Columbia (the B.C. request was approved the Ontario one was not) and
significant preliminary discussion on potential differential growth
options in furtherance of CFC’s objective of developing a policy to
incorporate differential growth mechanisms into the allocation system.
Attendees at the meeting also heard a presentation from Bill Smirle,
Chair of the NFPC where he provided an update of the work of the
Oversight Committee that is attempting to deal with certain systemic
allocation issues and who also reported on the decision of the NFPC with
respect to the withholding of prior approval of the A-93 allocation. New
Brunswick Egg Producers, supplemented by volunteer producers, are to
be commended for their work to put on a first rate conference. The
conference will be held in Winnipeg next year. Egg
Farmers of Canada (EFC) Board of Directors Meeting - The EFC Board
of Directors met in Fredericton in conjunction with the Egg Producer
Conference on July 7th. The Directors dealt with a light open meeting
agenda and managed to complete the in-camera session the same day. The
financial situation at EFC continues on solid ground with an
unrestricted balance in the Pooled Income Fund at $52.6 M at the end of
period 6. Continuing low prices in the US has resulted in that fund
being pulled down over the past few months. The year end projection for
this fund is $28.5 M. The Board
approved the Strategic Plan for 2010-2013 with the focus on: industry
relationships and a common vision, trade issues, corporate social
responsibility, market growth and business efficiencies. Also
discussed was a draft of the Risk Management Fund Policy which is
designed to protect producers from lost income in the event of having to
depopulate their flocks from disease related outbreaks, which was put
forward to the next meeting for further thought. Other issues included
the acceptance of an updated early flock removal program, an update by
the project management team on Salmonella enteritidis Insurance, Federal
Provincial Agreement renewal, marketing and nutrition update, processor
contract, organic standards and a trade update. Canadian
Egg Operations Advisory Group (CEOAG) Meeting - The CEOAG, which was formed
following the termination of the Industrial Products Committee, also
took the opportunity to meet on July 8th for a few hours in conjunction
with the meetings in New Brunswick. This was the second face to face
meeting of the group as it usually meets by conference call. Issues
discussed included: an update on the green albumen issue, supply and
fill rate of contract volumes, washing of conveyance materials, update
on the mould study, update on rolling out the transportation study to
the Western region, a review of the nest run weight tolerance project, a
briefing of the supply chain working group, claim issues, and the review
of the transportation section of the Procedures and Guidelines manual.
The next meeting of the group will be by conference call on October 5th.
G8, Key
Trading Partners Pledge to Seek Doha Round Deal by 2010 The members
of the G8 backed by India, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa
announced on July 9th their commitment to seek a Doha round deal in
2010, and instructed their Trade Ministers to explore all possible
avenues for direct engagement immediately. “We together with the leaders
of Australia, Indonesia and Republic of Korea and in the presence of the
Director General of the World Trade Organization are committed to seek
an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the Doha Development Round in
2010,” these countries said in a statement entitled Promoting the Global
Agenda. The
statement appears to be a compromise between countries that want to base
the final deal on the current draft modalities and the U.S. demands that
there be more clarity about the market access such a deal would entail.
It says that the deal needs to be “consistent” with the Doha round
mandate, and build on the progress already made, “including with regard
to modalities. We regard enhancing the transparency and understanding of
the negotiating results to date as a necessary means to facilitate the
conclusion of an agreement,” the statement said. In order to
close the remaining gaps, the Leaders asked their Trade Ministers to
meet prior to the Pittsburgh Summit of the G20 countries, an apparent
reference to the ministerial that India plans to host in New Delhi in
early September. But several
sources warned this week that it is entirely unclear if these upcoming
meetings would produce the necessary momentum for a deal that actually
translates into a change of positions in Geneva. They also said that the
U.S. position on Doha remains entirely unclear at this point. That may
not change until President Obama gives his economic policy speech, which
will provide the framework for U.S. trade policy. Informed sources
speculated that the White House recognizes that the speech is necessary
before the G20 meeting. WTO
Director-General Pascal Lamy holds the view that if members want to
conclude the Doha round by the end of 2010, it would require modalities
in the fall, a WTO source said. But other sources said it is more
realistic to think modalities could be completed by the end of the year
or the first quarter of 2010. from "Inside US Trade"
Farm Credit Canada Learning
Tours Free
sessions entitled
Let's Talk about International Trade Policy and Poultry will
be held throughout the country in the fall of 2009 beginning with
Watford, ON Aug. 24; Exeter & Atwood, ON Aug. 25; and Smithville & St.
Jacob, ON Aug. 26. WTO
negotiations are changing how business will be done with other
countries. How will this affect poultry operations? International trade
specialist Mike Gifford explains the implications so industry
stakeholders can prepare for the future. To register
or get locations and dates for other parts of the country, please see
FCC's
Learning Tours Page or call 1-888-332-3301 .
IEC Canada 2009
Conference In September The
International Egg Commission (IEC) is holding its September Conference
from 13–17 September at the Vancouver Pan Pacific Hotel. “The
conference provides the opportunity for senior people throughout the egg
industry to get together to discuss the global issues affecting our
businesses. People come from Australia, USA, Asia and Europe; this year
we are expecting about 500 attendees in Canada," said IEC Chairman,
Frank Pace. “We have
some excellent speakers scheduled to attend September’s conference in
Vancouver, including international marketing expert, Dr Jan-Benedict
Steenkamp, who will explain how we can apply his marketing expertise to
our egg industry. We have also arranged some fabulous social activities
including a trip to the amazing Grouse Mountain.” IEC
conferences bring together a vast geographical network of people, all
with one common objective, to succeed in the same industry. The
combination of social and business activities will provide delegates
with the ideal opportunity to forge valuable business contacts in a
relaxed, social environment.
www.poultex.com
Omega-3
Makes Happier, Healthier, More Productive Hens Most of us
are aware of the potential health benefits of omega-3 found in fish oil
and flax seed. Now researchers are looking at how omega-3 may help
laying hens avoid bone damage. A grant of
£1.7 million has been awarded to Dr John Tarlton of the University of
Bristol's Matrix Biology Research Group in the School of Clinical
Veterinary Sciences by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
Research Council (BBSRC) and industrial partner, Noble Foods, the UK's
leading egg production company. The three-year research project will
investigate the benefits of omega-3 supplemented diets in laying hens. Eighteen
million laying hens in the UK will need to be "re-housed" within the
next four years as a result of a EU ruling banning conventional cage
systems. Because of greater rates of bone breakage in free-range systems
this represents a serious welfare issue for the poultry and egg
production industry. Concern
about the welfare of laying hens housed in non-cage systems was
expressed in the 1990s, when the issue of broken bones within flocks was
reported. Latest evidence suggests this is getting worse, with many
birds from barn and free range flocks having sustained breaks or
fractures by the end of their lifetime. Constraints
on movement due to fractures may last for many weeks, resulting in
restricted access to food, water, and perches, compromising the welfare
benefits of free-range systems. The
research group has identified a high incidence of broken bones in hens
housed in free-range systems. However, preliminary studies suggest that
by providing a diet supplemented with omega-3, found in fish and flax
seed oils, breakages could be substantially reduced.
www.poultex.com
US Egg Farmers
Adopt Rules To Reduce Salmonella America's
egg farmers are committed to working with the Food and Drug
Administration to ensure the egg safety regulations are implemented and
the gains in food safety are maintained. "Egg
farmers have practiced the requirements of the new regulations for many
years now and have achieved significant success in food safety for our
customers," said Gene Gregory, president of United Egg Producers. As a result
of the industry's proactive efforts, consumers have benefited from
reduced rates of Salmonella Enteritidis and other food safety concerns,
reports Business Wire. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
have documented reductions in Salmonellosis in states where producers
have put egg production safety practices into effect. The programmes
currently used by egg farmers are designed around food safety and
consumer health much in the same way the FDA's new programme has been
developed. FDA started
in 1999 on egg production safety regulations to address concerns with
Salmonella Enteritidis in eggs. In the 10 years leading up to these
newly announced regulations, egg producers continued to improve egg
safety through preventative measures in housing and storage while they
waited for the final Federal rule, reports state. During the
FDA's development process, United Egg Producers made suggestions to
improve the original proposal for egg safety regulations and while many
guidelines were adapted, some suggestions that the industry still
considers important were not accepted. "Although
many important guidelines that we submitted to FDA were not considered,
we will carefully study the entire final rule and work with FDA to make
sure it is implemented in a way that is fair to producers and advances
food safety for consumers," said Gregory. Egg
producers are confident the programme will further reduce illness
associated from contaminated eggs and note that it is important to
understand the estimates of reduced illnesses published by FDA are based
on statistical extrapolations used to estimate the total number of
illnesses and not on a count of illnesses that have actually occurred in
the recent past.
Final Rule
in US Federal Register
www.poultex.com
US May
Lose Chinese Market For Chicken There is
currently much turmoil between China and the US as Beijing has
effectively given the boot to millions of dollars worth of US chicken,
about half of which is chicken feet, reports Reuters. This action
comes as Congress begins deliberating the 2010 federal budget for
agriculture, which could extend a US ban on imports of Chinese chicken
products sparked by food safety concerns. According
to US exporters, the ban has angered the Chinese, and it reported that
Beijing has halted imports of US chicken, although officially China is
saying imports are not blocked. China is a
huge market for US chicken feet, or paws, and bought 421,000 t (US$280
mln worth) in 2008, according to the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council. China also
buys some US chicken wings and dark meat leg quarters. In total, China
bought 754,000 t of US chicken in 2008 (US$676 mln worth), according to
trade statistics. Chinese
importers last week told U.S. chicken companies that Beijing was not
issuing import permits for U.S. chicken, effectively blocking the
poultry for the rest of 2009. It is
believed some U.S. chicken could still enter China via Hong Kong, but
industry sources said it is not known if the quantities would be
comparable.
www.worldpoultry.net
US To
Upgrade Food Safety System US Vice
President Biden was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to announce
the key findings of the Food Safety Working Group. Created by
President Obama in March to advise the Administration on how to upgrade
the food safety system for the 21st century, the Working Group is
recommending a new, public health-focused approach to food safety based
on 3 core principles: prioritising prevention; strengthening
surveillance and enforcement; and improving response and recovery. "There are
few responsibilities more basic or more important for the government
than making sure the food our families eat is safe," said Vice President
Biden. "Our food safety system must be updated… I applaud the
Secretaries of HHS and the USDA for tackling this problem head-on and
coming up with key recommendations to ensure the health and safety of
our food supply and, with it, the American people." The Working
Group announced specific steps designed to advance its core principles: • HHS and
USDA are targeting salmonella contamination by developing tougher
standards to protect the safety of eggs, poultry, and turkey. • To fight
the threat of E. coli, USDA is stepping up enforcement in beef
facilities and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is developing new
industry guidance improving protections for leafy greens, melons, and
tomatoes. • The Obama
Administration is building a new national traceback and response system
including clearer industry guidance, a new unified incident command
system, and improved use of technology to deliver individual food safety
alerts to consumers. • Finally,
the Administration announced a plan to strengthen the organization of
federal food safety functions, including the creation of new positions
at key food safety agencies and a continuing oversight role for the Food
Safety Working Group.
www.worldpoultry.net
O&T Farms
New VP Sales and Marketing
“With 25
years in the Canadian feed industry, Al will bring invaluable experience
and perspective to the O&T team,” said Wiens. “His achievements in
senior management, sales and marketing have cemented his reputation as a
trustworthy, knowledgeable resource in the livestock and poultry feed
sectors.” In this
role, he will help lead the company as it expands its position as an
innovator in Omega-rich animal feed components for the functional food
market. “It is
exciting to be part of the dynamic O&T team,” said McKim. “I am looking
forward to working for this innovative company that offers so much to
the feed and food industries.”
Conferences, Courses and Workshops
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O&T
Farms President & CEO Tim Wiens is pleased to announce that Al McKim has
joined O&T Farms in the role of Vice President, Sales and Marketing.
New Fields
Exhibitions'