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food safety | SPS

food safety | sanitary and phytosanitary standards

Africa: Industry sees red over red line
19-Aug-2009 The Namibian
Various participants in a talk in Namibia on the economic partnership agreement with the European Union yesterday saw red when Finance Permanent Secretary Calle Schlettwein dared suggesting that the veterinary fence in the North be gradually moved further North to offer those farmers the same market access as those south of the fence.
Panama lifts beef ban ahead of Canada FTA
18-Aug-2009 Grainews.ca
Panama has lifted its six-year-old BSE-related ban on Canadian beef as it concludes talks on a new free trade agreement with Canada that will improve access for other ag commodities.
Korean move good news to US pork producers
14-Aug-2009 Western Farmer
It may be an understatement to say the national Pork Producers Council is happy with the decision of Korea to inspect only a sample of US pork exports rather than 100% of them and to lift a ban on live hog imports from the United States.
US-EU accord ends beef import rift
7-May-2009 FT
The European Union and the US on Thursday settled a long-running dispute over hormone-treated beef in a deal both sides said demonstrated their determination to reduce bilateral friction amid plunging world trade.
Removing the Korea-EU FTA beef imports provision
24-Apr-2009 Hankyoreh
As negotiations for the South Korea-European Union free trade agreement (Korea-EU FTA) race into their final stages, the inner workings are starting to come to light.
EU assist to improve exports to Europe
18-Apr-2009 Manila Bulletin
The Philippines will receive 6.5 million Euros to develop a strategic trade policy for both bilateral and multilateral negotiations, speed up customs procedures, cope with demanding EU regulations on technical standards and comply with the latest requirements on food safety.
EU-India FTA - trade in goods, IP and SPS chapters (draft Feb 2009)
17-Apr-2009
US to push back on SPS farm trade barriers -Kirk
13-Mar-2009 Reuters
The United States will make it a priority to get rid of barriers to US farm exports based on unjustified sanitary and phytosanitary concerns about human, animal and plant health — including the EU ban on GM crops — the designee for US Trade Representative said on Thursday.
Crisis may lead to more non-tariff barriers
15-Jan-2009 The Nation
Many of Thailand’s trading partners are expected to implement non-tariff barriers this year to shield their markets from a flood of imports as a looming global recession prompts governments to negotiate free-trade pacts.
US senators write to Taiwan President Ma over meat trade issue
29-Nov-2008 Taiwan News
Two influential American senators have written to Republic of China President Ma Ying-jeou expressing "deep concern" about what they describe as "continued Taiwanese barriers to US agricultural products." Taiwan allows only imports of US boneless beef from cattle under 30 months of age because of concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease.
Food safety, free trade and the election
8-Oct-2008 The Star
What does food safety have to do with free trade? A great deal, argues Common Frontiers, a Canadian group critical of the trend towards economic integration — harmonization, as it’s politely put — of standards under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Toxic food crisis outcome of free trade policies
25-Sep-2008 Scoop
The Fonterra scandal in China has evolved into a major food crisis. "We are seeing the reality of free trade in action, the negatives that have been concealed by the greed and arrogance of Government and private business interests," says the New Zealand Alliance Party
Fonterra caught in China milk powder scandal
15-Sep-2008 Epoch Times
New Zealand’s dairy giant Fonterra is caught up in the latest food scandal in China as the contaminated milk powder crisis reveals weeks of delay before the public was informed. NZ Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said “We signed up for a free trade agreement with no rules around environment or health, and so we are exposing ourselves and our companies to these types of scandals.”
S. Korean police arrest 157 at anti-US beef rally
18-Aug-2008 AP
South Korean police arrested nearly 160 people at a rally in Seoul Friday night opposing the resumption of US beef imports. It was Korean activists’ 100th major demonstration against the beef deal.
South Koreans fill streets of Seoul to continue protest sgainst US beef imports
9-Aug-2008 DN!
For the past two months, protesters have been filling the streets of Seoul condemning a decision to lift a ban on imported beef from the United States. We speak with Michael Hansen, senior scientist for Consumers Union.
Calling for solidarity - Lee Myung-bak government repression against the KCTU and Fundamental Trade Union Rights
7-Aug-2008 KCTU
When KCTU called for general strike on July 2nd, renegotiation of the April 18 Protocol on US beef import to reflect food safety concerns was declared as one of priorities of strike aims. The Ministry of Labor and prosecutor explained that this was the main reason that it was illegal. This is a repetition of the South Korean government’s very narrow interpretation that the only legal aims of strikes be related to wages and working conditions.
Thailand urged to be a standards leader
29-Jul-2008 TMCnet
Thailand is being urged to upgrade itself as the leader in determining safety standards and relevant laws on food and agricultural products in order to surmount business challenges arising from free trade area agreements.
SKorea health workers threaten strike over US beef, wages
21-Jul-2008 AFP
South Korean hospital workers on Monday threatened to strike this week to press demands including a ban on the use of US beef for patients’ meals.
Tomatoes or children?
19-Jul-2008 AFL-CIO Now blog
It is gratifying that our government will go to such lengths to stamp out a dangerous bacterium. It is less encouraging to know that the inspectors were not looking at massive labor rights violations, especially the systematic employment of young children in hazardous conditions, which have existed in the tomato industry for decades.
S. Korean activists petition UN over beef protest clampdown
15-Jul-2008 Korea Times
South Korean activists Monday sent a petition to the United Nations, asking the international organization to admonish their government for its hardline crackdown on street protests over US beef imports.