Breaking News
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EU-15 decreasing beef self sufficiency3 Dec 2009 |
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Total EU-15 beef production in 2009 is forecast to fall 1.6% to 7.1 million tonnes cwt year-on-year, according to the latest Common Market Organisation Forecasting Working Group data (AHDB).
Given that overall consumption is expected to fall by a lower 0.8%, the EU-15’s beef production deficit will increase 23% to 295,000 tonnes cwt, reducing self sufficiency to 96%.
Production in this market is expected to fall by a further 1% in 2010, with a further 17% increase in its deficit, which will need to be replaced with larger imports, as consumption is expected to remain stable.
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Sir Paul McCartney to add negative pressure on meat production2 Dec 2009 |
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The European Parliament (EP) will host the "Global Warming and Food Policy: Less Meat = Less Heat" hearing on 3 December 2009. In the hearing, the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and environmental activist Sir Paul McCartney will urge legislators and experts to focus on what an individual can do to fight climate change, for example eating less meat.
The opening speech will be delivered by the Parliament's President and the hearing will be followed by a press conference. Sir Paul, IPCC Chairman and EP Vice-President will issue a joint declaration marking the event.
The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation produced a report in 2006 which demonstrated that meat production is very intensive in emissions of greenhouse gases and much less efficient in water use than equivalent vegetarian food production.
On the eve of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen the event reflects a perception that climate change needs to be addressed at all levels – especially individual but also at local, regional, national, European and worldwide levels.
This event will add more negative pressure on meat production in the European Union (EU), further constraining meat availability for EU consumers in the future.
On the day of the hearing, the European Parliament's restaurants will offer a menu on which 50% of the meals will be vegetarian, instead of just its usual one meat-free choice.
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EU sheepmeat imports stable with increasing prices22 Nov 2009 |
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EU sheepmeat imports remained stable during the fiscal year 2008-09 when compared to the previous year, increasing only 0.9% to 225,820 tonnes. However, average import prices increased at a higher rate, up 2% to €4,465/tonne.
The price increase comes as a result of tighter sheepmeat supplies from EU's main suppliers, such as New Zealand and Australia, despite the appreciation of the euro and other European currencies against the New Zealand dollar and the Australian dollar.
New Zealand and Australia remained as the EU's main sheepmeat suppliers. However, despite the higher prices paid in the EU for sheepmeat, shipments are limited to quota volumes as a result of the low profitability of over quota exports.
It is expected that sheepmeat supplies from New Zealand and Australia will remain limited in the medium term, with increasing import prices as suppliers' currencies appreciate against the euro and other European currencies.
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EU revised Animal Welfare Plan to increase regulatory burden to local producers16 Nov 2009 |
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The European Parliament is evaluating the Animal Welfare Action Plan 2006-2010 (due to expiry next year) in order to draft a new plan for forthcoming years. According to Members of the European Parliament (MEP’s), protection of farm animals should remain as the Plan’s focus, improving welfare standards, developing research and indicators and informing professionals and consumers.
The increase in regulatory burden to local producers is an important concern for some Members, with a suggestion that current rules should be first monitored, and compliance should verified, before drafting an excessively rigid framework.
Under the revision, it was suggested that animal products coming from non-EU countries, should comply with similar standards to avoid distortions in the competitiveness of local and overseas producers.
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Q&A Q: I own a Halal butcher shop and we have a large catering order, we sometimes wish to purchase lamb carcases from overseas?
A: Sheepmeat imports enter the EU via preferential quotas or by paying import duties. The following have country specific sheepmeat quotas with zero import duties: Argentina, Australia, Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway Turkey and Uruguay. If a buyer considers importing sheepmeat outside one of these quotas high tariffs apply. For example, bone-in lamb legs attract 12.8% customs duty on the CIF price, plus an import tariff of €2,227 per tonne.
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