World news round-up – April 9

CHINA

• Sheepmeat imports in Greater China (China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) increased 12 per cent year-on-year in 2009 to 95,446 tonnes. Increases of 22 per cent to 66,301 tonnes and 74 per cent to 13,235 tonnes were recorded in China and Hong Kong, respectively, while imports in Taiwan fell 32 per cent to 15,910 tonnes. In all markets, Australia and New Zealand were the dominant suppliers, accounting for 97 per cent of the Chinese import market.

CANADA

• A lawyer suing the Canadian Government on behalf of 135,000 cattle producers is urging his class action clients to pressure federal politicians to settle.Cameron Pallett is seeking damages for losses producers suffered as a result of the BSE crisis. In a statement of claim filed in 2005, he alleges Government officials were negligent in allowing the remains of infected cattle from Great Britain to enter Canada’s livestock feed system and are guilty of misfeasance of public office for not disclosing the danger.

NEW ZEALAND

• The ‘carbon footprint’ for New Zealand lamb eaten in Britain has been estimated as equivalent to 1.9kg of carbon dioxide, for each 100g serving of lamb - 80 per cent of that generated by farmers and their livestock on-farm, according to new research. Just 3 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions came from processing, and 5 per cent from transport, with the remaining 12 per cent down to retailers and consumers. Meat Industry Association chairman Bill Falconer said it would be hard to assess how carbon emissions for New Zealand lamb compared with overseas products, until there was a globally-agreed methodology for ‘footprinting’.
  NZ Herald

EUROPE

• The European Food Safety Authority’s panel on animal health and welfare is launching an online public consultation on its draft scientific report on the welfare aspects of genetic selection in broilers. The consultation will be open on EFSA’s website until April 12, 2010.

AUSTRALIA

• The Jersey breed is celebrating a big win in the dairy judging at Sydney Royal Show after snatching three of the four main inter-breed titles ahead of arch rivals the Holsteins.

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