Tougher food safety legislation
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have sought tougher legislation and more inspections to prevent the food safety incidents reported internationally. The two United Nations’ bodies report that recent scares such as melamine in animal and fish feed, or the use of unauthorized veterinary drugs in aquaculture, prove the weaknesses in regulatory systems around the world. During the last 12 months, WHO and FAO looked into an average of about 200 food safety incidents per month. The incidents were reported through FAO’s International Food Safety Authorities Network, or Infosan, which serves as an alert system to regulators worldwide.


The two United Nations agencies have urged all countries to strengthen their food safety systems and to be more vigilant with producers and traders. FAO noted that developing countries face a set of particular issues that affect food safety, including changing dietary patterns, a high population growth and urbanization, intensification and industrialization of food production. “Such food safety incidents are often caused by lack of knowledge of food safety requirements and of their implications or by the illegal or fraudulent usage of ingredients, including unauthorized food additives or veterinary drugs,” the organizations stated in a joint release. World Trade Organization (WTO) rules stipulate that developed countries have to help exporting developing countries to achieve the necessary high level of regulation necessary for international trade.


Source: www.ap-foodtechnology.com
Food processing equipment: a US$43 billion market by 2010
A new study by Global Industry Analysts forecasts that the worldwide market for food processing equipment will reach US$43 billion by 2010. Key factors driving this growth include socio-economic structure, growing acceptance of processed food in non-traditional markets and changing dynamics. The study offers a comprehensive review of market trends, recent developments, competition, players, product profile, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic industry activities.


The global market place is shared among large multinationals with diversified businesses, narrowly focused specialists and a large number of small firms serving local markets. The study reveals that food processing in developing countries is becoming more scientific and research oriented as consumers switch to healthier and better quality products. Moreover, manufacturers are focusing on new technological innovations to stay competitive and to improve product quality, shelf-life and reduce use of preservatives in the manufacture of prepared foods.


Source: www.foodproductiondaily.com
Creating a modern food zone
As Thailand aims to become the “Kitchen of the World”, the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) master plan will have a willing market for its goal of turning Malaysia’s northern states into a premier food production centre for the Southeast Asian region. The master plan targets to increase agricultural exports for the northern region and the average farmers’ income, in line with its objectives of poverty eradication and economic growth.


According to statistics released by the National Productivity Council in the 2006 Productivity Report, the food processing sector accounted for just 3 per cent of Malaysia’s total manufacturing output last year. This pales in comparison with Thailand, which is the fifth largest exporter of food products worldwide, with its food exports expected to grow by 10.3 per cent this year. One reason identified for Malaysia’s poor performance is that it has not fully leveraged or capitalized on the fact that the nation has one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. This is poised to change once the initiatives targeted to boost the agriculture industry are set in motion.


Source: www.theedgedaily.com
China’s food safety supervision system under review
Mr. Li Changjiang, China’s Minister in charge of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), revealed that the current supervision mechanism will be reassessed to improve efficiency and new measures implemented to enhance supervision following sufficient investigations and studies. The existing food supervision system involves at least five central government departments – AQSIQ, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, and the State Food and Drug Administration – which are responsible for supervising farming, production and processing, and distribution and selling. The Vice Health Minister, Mr. Wang Longde, had earlier opined that new laws should be promulgated to facilitate cooperation among government agencies to change the overlapping food supervision system. According to Mr. Changjiang, “To ensure the quality of food exports, the Chinese government has set up a monitoring system that covers plantations, breeding farms and production bases.


Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn
RFID for shrimp exporters
In Thailand, a group of radio frequency identification (RFID) and software firms – IE Technology, Silicon Craft Technology and FXA Co. – has teamed up with a large shrimp exporter, Chanthaburi Frozen Food, for a pilot project that uses RFID in frozen-food production. This is the first attempt by the shrimp export industry to adopt RFID technology for food traceability purposes. It aims to build an advantage for local shrimp exporters, which have to compete globally, in food safety and traceability. The project is being subsidized by some funding from the National Innovation Agency. IE Technology is providing the RFID tags and terminals while Silicon Craft Technology will supply the RFID chips embedded inside the RFID tags and FXA Company provides the software for traceability.


Source: www.nationmultimedia.com
Korean foods receive global recognition
Codex Alimentarius Commission has recognized the Republic of Korea’s red pepper paste, called gochujang in Korean, and ginseng-based products as distinctly Korean foods. This latest decision by the international food safety body recognizes gochujang as fermented food of a unique flavour and classifies Korean ginseng as food. Some nations classify ginseng as a medicinal substance, which has made its exports more difficult.


Source: www.english.chosun.com
Pakistan’s strategy to boost seafood exports
In Pakistan, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock is working with provincial departments on a three-pronged strategy to increase seafood exports. According to the Fisheries Development Commissioner, the government plans to control post-harvest losses, focusing on value addition and development of aquaculture and shrimp farming to enhance exports. Adopting techniques that major fish exporters use would control post-harvest losses, which account for 30-40 per cent of the total catch. Furthermore, along with the provincial agencies and UNIDO, the Ministry is pursuing a programme to comply with the standard operating procedures of the European Commission.


The UNIDO team, engaged by the Ministry to address problems in seafood exports, is visiting fisheries and harbours to educate the community about the issues at the spot.


Source: www.thenews.com.pk
Viet Nam gets aid for safer produce
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide US$750,000 to Viet Nam on a US$950,000 project. The grant is intended to help the Vietnamese government come up with an action plan to improve agricultural safety standards and increase the number of small businesses in the agricultural sector. ADB’s funding comes at a time when international concern regarding food safety is growing.


According to ADB, Viet Nam has transformed into a major food exporter in recent years. However, concerns about meat hygiene and pesticide residue in particular are on the rise. Financial and personnel limitations have prevented the government from establishing an effective regulatory process to monitor food production and export.


Source: www.upi.com
Scope for growth in Malaysian food processing industry
Mr. Ng Lip Yong, Malaysia’s Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, has stated that there are opportunities for companies to explore in the food processing industry. The areas with growth potential in the industry include functional food, convenience food and food ingredients. Also, the halal food sub-sector is fast becoming one of the contributors for sources of growth within the food industry.


Source: www.bernama.com.my
India’s integrated strategy to promote agribusiness
In India, the cabinet has approved the Ministry of Food Processing Industries’ (MFPI) proposal on an integrated strategy for promotion of agribusiness – vision, strategy and action plan for the food processing sector. Earlier, the Ministry had adopted a vision document 2015, which aims to triple the size of food processing sector by increasing the level of processing from 6 to 20 per cent, value addition from 20 to 35 per cent and raising the share in the global food market from 1.5 to 3 per cent. The group of ministers constituted by the government under the chairmanship of the Minister of Agriculture had considered the proposals and recommended that the matter be placed before the cabinet. Strategies and thrust areas approved by the cabinet include:
 
  • Detailed mapping of the food clusters;
     
  • Strengthening backward and forward linkages and development of supply chain with cold chain mechanism;
     
  • Establishment of mega food parks in identified SSI/horticulture/meat/dairy/marine sectors;
     
  • Modernization of abattoirs;
     
  • Enhancing capacity building in HRD/R&D/quality control laboratories;
     
  • Developing infrastructure for organized food retail market;
     
  • Strengthening and restructuring of MFPI;
     
  • Need for larger public investment in rural infrastructure; and
     
  • Role of state/union territories to synergise their efforts with those of the central government.
     

Source: www.pib.nic.in

Vietnamese seafood exports touch US$2 billion
Viet Nam earned US$340 million from seafood exports in July alone, bringing the total seafood export value to approximately US$2 billion for the January-July period. The seafood export volume, especially shrimp to Japan, had reduced significantly as a result of strict requirements in quality, hygiene and safety. Thailand’s shrimp exports could decrease owing to increased materials cost and diseases. In such a scenario, Vietnamese seafood businesses can look forward to a boost in their exports. It is forecast that in the near future, exports to the European Union (EU) and the United States will increase, as some EU companies will shift their orders to Viet Nam. Notable achievements in the seafood sector gained in the first few months of this year are to remain at 51 export markets, including markets with high technical barriers such as the EU, the United States and Canada. However, four markets – Russia, Japan, Australia and Taiwan – have applied new technical barriers.


Source: www.vneconomy.com.vn
China places onus for food safety on local governments
According to a new regulation in China, the district and county governments of Beijing will be held responsible for any serious food safety violations. The Beijing Food Safety Administration states that if its attention is drawn to any incident, it would investigate the concerned government departments in addition to food manufacturers. Officials will be punished for improper management or dereliction of duty, and they will also be held accountable for failing to “plug food safety loopholes in time” or for “inflicting severe consequences” by not dealing with illegal activities.


Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn
Food quality up to standard
In China, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine reports that records of the past 22 years indicate a steady increase in the safety of food products, since 1998. It said tests on 3,384 different kinds of foodstuff showed about 86 per cent were up to standard. The products, from 2,777 processing companies, involved 35 categories, including beer, milk, jelly, fruit juice, milk powder, canned goods, and dried fruits and nuts. Tests showed that 89.3 per cent of beer products met required standards, 5.2 per cent higher than last year, and 80 per cent of fruit juices, up 4.1 per cent.


Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn