Food safety

Democratic Priorities for Rural America -- Putting the Heartland First

Democrats' 5 Priorities for Rural America: Putting the Heartland First Family - Community - Patriotism - Opportunity - Prosperity - Strength

Kerry Says He'll Toughen Trade Deals

Democrat John Kerry said Sunday that President Bush has turned his back on the American worker by allowing other countries to break trade deals negotiated with the United States and that as president he would put in place a "common-sense" effort to strengthen the bargaining and enforcement of such agreements.

UN Food Agency Comes Out In Favor Of Biotech Crops, Despite Continued Public Skepticism In Some Countries

A United Nations food agency is coming out in favor of biotech crops, saying genetically modified organisms have already helped small farmers financially, have had some environmental benefits and no ill effects on health.

Wheat Board Won't Be Scrapped

International Trade Minister Jim Peterson said Thursday he won't agree to scrap the Canadian Wheat Board as part of trade liberalization negotiations. "We are prepared to subject our Canadian Wheat Board to all sorts of disciplines to ensure that it isn't trade distorting, but the institution itself is not on the table," Peterson told The Associated Press in an interview.

US Says Trade Talks Need Support Of Developping Countries To Succeed

US trade representive Robert Zoellick called Wednesday on big developing countries to play their part in getting stalled global trade liberalisation talks off the ground. "To take on the challenges of global trade, especially in the Doha negociations, we will need the support of the developing economies", Zoellick said at a press conference at the French senate.

EU Farm Ministers Stall On Genetically Modified Corn

Agence France Presse| April 26, 2004 EU farm ministers were unable to agree Monday on approval for the sale of BT-11 bio-engineered corn, and sent the issue back to the European Commission, a European source said. If approved, the measure would in effect lift a five-year European Union ban on genetically modified (GM) foods.

Bird Flu Eu Lifts Blanket Ban On US, Canadian Poultry Imports

AFX European Focus | March 30, 2004 The EU lifted a blanket ban on poultry imports from the US and Canada imposed over bird flu scares. EU health experts agreed to a proposal from the European Commission to limit the bans only to the areas affected by the outbreaks -- Texas for the United States and the western province of British Columbia for Canada.

Genetically Modified Organisms At Centre Of Major WTO Dispute

THE LAWYERS WEEKLY | By John W. Boscariol and Orlando E. Silva | March 26, 2004 Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the subject of a long-simmering quarrel between the United States and the European Union, are now at the centre of a major trade dispute at the World Trade Organization.

Tokyo Unyielding On Beef Import Stance

Japan Times | March 17, 2004 A U.S. plan to intensify mad cow disease surveillance has not affected U.S.-Japan beef talks or the ban on imports, a senior official at the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said Tuesday.