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The German veterinary authorities have informed the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of porcine brucellosis (Brucella suis). The report covers a case of brucellosis at Melz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It involved a farm with 4019 pigs, of which 22 died.

A piggery in NSW has been placed in quarantine after returning positive tests for Influenza A H1.

The OIE is aware that in many countries veterinary legislation became inadequate to address the challenges and new threats of today and of the future. At the request of its Members, the organisation has developed and published in the website guidelines on all the essential elements to be covered in veterinary legislation.

The European Commission has published its annual report on barriers to trade and investment in the United States. The report focuses on some key trade barriers and measures that prevent EU exporters from tapping into the full potential of the US market. It notes some continuing concerns and highlights a number of new barriers introduced in 2008.

Pork prices in the Philippines are likely to go up as backyard pig production continues to fall due to diseases and rising production costs.

Thailand’s food production fell 3.5% in the first six months of this year as the credit crunch lowered demand for food products.

Philippine meat processors will no longer need to secure a license from the Bureau of Food and Drugs, but need only to get accreditation from the National Meat Inspection Service once the administrative order to eliminate the functional overlap is signed.

The House on Thursday passed legislation to require more frequent inspections of food-processing plants and to give the government the authority to order the recall of tainted foods.

Analysts estimate that in 2009 the livestock production output in Russia may be reduced by 12% and the consumption may be down to 2,1 million tonnes.

An independent review commissioned by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) shows that there are no important differences in the nutrition content, or any additional health benefits, of organic food when compared with conventionally produced food. The focus of the review was the nutritional content of foodstuffs.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to pass sweeping food safety legislation by the two-thirds majority it needed under suspension rules that limited debate and banned amendments from being added on the floor.