Sales of probiotic drinking yoghurts like Yakult and Danone Actimel are flatlining or dropping in most western European markets, and even in Japan where the concept was born, but BRIC markets are surging, and spoonables are shining brighter.
Chinese ingredients supplier Fenchem reports that sales of eye health carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin have doubled in a year to break the million-dollar mark for the first time – even as a marigold shortage sets in.
Amendments to 2009 laws that saw 27 health and nutrition claims approved in China will see the number reduced to 18, as momentum grows toward a European Union-style emphasis on human clinical data.
Flaws in administrative arrangements and the lack of legal basis for controls mean there is no guarantee that Indian basmati rice exports comply fully with European Union aflatoxin limits, said a report from Brussels.
Experts from a US food safety watchdog are training scientists from Bangladesh on techniques to help eliminate health hazards from the country’s burgeoning aquaculture industry.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has signed a co-operation agreement with its Japanese counterpart as part of a strategy to boost its knowledge pool and ability to track food across the globe.
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 European Commission has imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on the additive from China, stating that the impact on firms using the additive will not be great.
European producers of citric acid and monosodium glutamate have this week received long-term assurance that their prices will be supported against cheaper Chinese imports, but China is expected to remain a significant player in a more level field.
There is evidence that European potato starch suppliers are losing
out to Chinese competitors, as anti-dumping measures drive rampant
growth for leading Chinese starch maker.
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has backed calls for a joint
feasibility study, which will look at ways of achieving the
European Commission's desire for closer trading links with the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations...
Although new EU regulations could bring increasing opportunities
for Asian food companies, many European businesses see it as a
threat. But whilst Hungarian food canning companies say their
future existence could be threatened, manufacturers...
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.
Vietnam plans to earn at least $2 billion in revenue from agro-food
exports to the European Union by 2010. The pledge comes in the face
of tough trade, health and safety regulations imposed by the EU
authorities, which should make...
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.
Following the failure of the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Cancún, Mexico, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder issued an appeal to all parties concerned to resume talks as soon as possible.
The European Union is to reduce testing of imported Thai poultry for cancer-causing drugs, claiming that improved checks on chicken meat products have eased food safety fears.
Representatives of the Indian seafood industry have said that in
the light of the ban on five major Indian seafood units in the
European Union, seafood exporters in the country are likely to
focus their trade on the US market rather...
The Indian Export Inspection Agency (EIA) has issued directives to
five major seafood processing units across the country to cease
production, according to a report from Business Line.
China has warned Dutch authorities that it will not put up with the
destruction of its exported meat and seafood, found to contain
trace residues of antibiotics.