Australia has announced it is to reopen its borders to beef imports from countries that have previously reported incidents of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
The signing of a free trade deal between the EU and Korea has been hailed by the food and beverage industry, as it will unlock new market access for the sector.
A $1bn food processing investment is being planned for Thailand by the Chinese venture management firm China Science and Merchants Investment Management Company.
Scoular has signed a distribution agreement with a Chinese manufacturer to secure a lower cost, non-GM supply of soy protein isolate for nutritional products and meats.
India urgently needs a national food processing policy which incorporates tax breaks for the sector, the nation’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a conference of state food processing ministers this week.
Danone’s troubled relationship with China’s Wahaha looks finally to be at an end; and rumours of a new deal with Mead Johnson over baby food are flatly denied.
French company BioMerieux has boosted the capacity of its customized manufacturing of culture media, used in microbiological control, with the opening of a new facility at its Crapone plant.
The New Zealand government has pledged to update what it describes as its “outdated” 28-year-old Food Act to make it more relevant to businesses and consumers while improving safety standards.
The importance of the Codex Alimentaria in developing regulatory harmony in a region like Asia where rules differ so greatly, has been emphasised at a recent event hosted by the Asian arm of Belgian consultancy, EAS.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has announced that as of Sunday, Australian bread makers must use folic acid-enriched flour to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in newborns.
Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), is considering a ban on high caffeine energy drinks in the Red Bull-led sector, after its Primary Industries minister, Ian McDonald, highlighted products loaded with up to 15 times recommended caffeine...
China is drafting a detailed new system of food safety standards in a bid to bring them line with international regulations and restore the country’s battered reputation on the issue.
The detection of a H1N1 virus in turkeys in Chile poses no threat to the food supply chain but does raise concerns that poultry farms elsewhere in the world could become infected with the pandemic, said the FAO.
The New Zealand baking industry has said it will move towards a voluntary fortification of some breads with folic acid as the government is expected to delay plans for mandatory fortification.
A shortfall of 10m tons of cold storage facilities for agriculture produce is holding back the nation’s food industry including its rapidly developing food processing sector, according to a new report from financial specialists KPMG and Assocham; the...
Formulation of a separate policy for food processing and a targeted R&D programme to boost processing and packaging technologies are two of the latest proposals unveiled by the Indian government for the sector.
US pharmaceutical firm Abbott has made a significant push in the Indian nutrition market, following its acquisition this week of some of the nation’s leading infant and adult nutrition brands.
Despite low levels of public awareness compared to western markets, functional foods and ingredients are finding growth in areas of India, as consumers switch on to the promise of healthier foods, beverages and supplements.
The different language, culture and regulatory set-up may make running an ingredients company in China a daunting proposition for Western executives. But Yossi Gohary, general manager of Solbar Ningbo, says it’s all about cultural compromise.
The mandatory fortification of bread with folic acid in New Zealand is likely to be delayed for another three years, following heated debate over the risks and benefits of adding the synthetic B vitamin to bread.
Extracts from the Asian plant Osmanthus fragrans may prevent browning of foods, and offer an alternative to formulators looking to tap the ‘natural’ wave.
New Zealand’s Food Safety Authority has received a dozen responses supporting a proposal to allow the manufacture, sale and import and export of unpasteurised dairy products, and which would open up a new global market.
Pure Circle, supplier of stevia-derived Reb A, is expecting to report a 420 per cent increase in profit in its full year results due to good reception for the first products launched in the US.
A New Zealand company has applied to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) for novel foods approval to market its honeybee venom to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
The Australian market for heart-healthy foods or supplements could be a tough one to crack, but consumer signs indicate that it holds potential for manufacturers willing to make the extra awareness-raising efforts.
Australian bakers have until October 9 to replace all regular salt with iodised salt when making bread products, as the Australian government attempts address an iodine deficiency that has been noticed among sections of the country’s 22 million inhabitants.
Niutang is preparing to introduce its Reb A sweetener from stevia next year and is starting discussions with existing customers and new ones that have a parallel product development timeline.
The Singapore Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has approved five nutrient and product-specific health claims that can now bear a ‘Healthier Choice’ symbol.
Neogen Corporation has announced it has signed a multi-million pound partnership agreement with the Chinese Government to research food safety issues specific to the country.
FSANZ says the majority of Australian adults are not exceeding its recommended maximum daily salt intake, following media reports that claim some Australians could be consuming 40g of salt a day – almost seven times the recommended max.
The European food and beverage industry could benefit from joint business opportunities in China, says Commissioner, especially for products that have already gained recognition on that market.
The first food-testing laboratory in China recognised to reach international standards for pesticide screenings, melamine and heavy metal testing and microbiological analyses, was opened last month by Eurofins in Suzhou.
While analyst suggests Asian food and drink companies are behind their Western counterparts in driving product innovation, manufacturers in the region may still be able to lead in way in meeting western demand for certain functional goods.
