China has announced a slew of initiatives to boost its agricultural
sector in the face of rising imports and domestic producers
struggling to meet demand, reports Anand Krishnamoorthy.
China, potentially one of the most promising markets for
genetically modified (GM) crops, is stalling the adoption of
transgenic plant cultivation as a cautious government ponders their
safety reports Anand Krishnamoorthy.
China is cracking down on government officials over alleged
misconduct that led to the deaths of at least 13 babies in China's
North-Eastern provinces following the illegal sale of fake milk
powder.
As retail regulations in China are set to undergo big changes, many
leading multinational retailers are queuing up in readiness to
capitalize on more liberal trading conditions. Simon Pitman
takes a closer look at the changes to find...
The All-China Federation of Trade Unions said that it will continue
to press foreign companies to unionise its operations in China. The
federation highlighted ongoing disputes with several foreign-owned
companies - including Wal-Mart...
Cambodia became the World Trade Organisation (WTO)'s 148th member
this month, a move that should help the poorest country in the A-P
region improve its food production sector, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
The EU, Vietnam's largest trading partner, is the first major
partner to conclude its bilateral deal with Vietnam, giving a boost
to Vietnam's accession to the WTO.
European Commission president Romano Prodi and commissioner Pascal
Lamy are attending this week's ASEM 5 Summit in Vietnam, which
represents a landmark in Asia-Europe relations.
Asian bird flu is back in the headlines again this week, after a
woman in Thailand died from the infection H5N1. Medical experts
believe that the death was caused by human contact, a fact that
could force a re-think over regulations...
The World Health Organisation met in Beijing this week to discuss
key threats to the safety of the world's food supply chain,
including a number of issues specific to the Asian Pacific region.
Analysts believe that the ban on Vietnamese rice exports is likely
to give Thailand an added edge, helping to increase demand and
prices, while extending its leading position on the world export
market.
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) says that it has come
across lead contamination in cornflour milled from imported corn
following routine food safety tests on a number of food products.
The organisation says that it has...
The EU has lifted a two year ban on honey, together with a number
of seafoods and products of animal origin. The move is expected to
give a particular boost to the country's position as the world
biggest honey producer.
Asian shrimp farmers have described a US ruling to increase tariffs
as 'regrettable' after increases of up to 112 per cent were slapped
on Chinese and Vietnamese producers' exports.
Foodborne diseases pose a serious threat to densely populated areas
of Asia and the Pacific - both to the health of the people living
there and to these regions' chances of exporting their products to
more developed markets in...
To counteract China's alleged abuse of patent protection the US
government is proposing legislation that would mean greater tariffs
on a variety of Chinese products including food and beverage items.
