AnimalNet Dec. 1/03
FAO/WHO
expert consultation on safety assessment of foods derived from genetically
modified animals including fish (2003)
Australia
wants Kuwait assurance on tainted sheep
Hunters
helping in CWD fight
Animal
health/prevention and control of animal diseases: new section: pet passport
USPOULTRY’s
Research Advisory Committee makes research recommendations
Ministerial
task force to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing
Determination
of regulatory review period for purposes of patent extension; DERAMAXX
how to subscribe
FAO/WHO
expert consultation on safety assessment of foods derived from genetically
modified animals including fish (2003)
December 1, 2003
FAO – BiotechNews
http://www.fao.org/biotech/index.asp
This expert consultation is continuing the work of FAO and WHO on the safety
assessment of genetically modified foods and is focussing on GM animals, in
particular fish, and the foods derived therefrom. It will most likely take place
at FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy, 17 - 21 November 2003.
The main purpose of this expert consultation is to provide advice to FAO/WHO and
their Member countries on the safety assessment of foods derived from GM
animals, including fish, and to discuss other potential risks associated with
these foods. The Consultation is expected to give particular emphasis to the
food safety assessment of GM fish, including their toxicological and nutritional
evaluation and the application of the concept of substantial equivalence. It
will also address specific safety issues originating from GM fish. Environmental
and ethical issues related to the production of GM animals/fish will also be
discussed.
A report will be issued at the conclusion of the Consultation summarising the
main outcome and recommendations for future work in this field. The report and
the working papers will be made availabe on the web as soon as they are
available.
General background and information papers
General background document: Animal biotechnology: State of the Art, Risks and
Perspectives (English - French)
Working papers
Topic 1: Overview of the state of the art related to GM animals, excluding fish
Topic 2: Overview of the state of the art related to GM fish
Topic 3: Hazards associated with the transgenesis methods used in the production
of GM animals/fish
Topic 4: Food safety risk assessment of GM animals/fish, including nutritional
considerations.
Topic 5: Environmental issues surrounding the GM animals/Fish production.
Topic 6: Ethical issues surrounding the GM animals/Fish production.
Executive Summary
Australia
wants Kuwait assurance on tainted sheep
December 1, 2003
Reuters
CANBERRA - A spokesman for Agriculture Minister Warren Truss was cited as saying
Monday that Australia will not export 70,000 sheep fed illegal pork by animal
activists unless they clear veterinary checks and Kuwait provides a written
assurance it will allow the animals to be unloaded, in an effort to avoid a
repeat of the Cormo Express incident, when nearly 58,000 sheep were stranded at
sea for two months after Saudi Arabia rejected them on health grounds.
Truss's spokesman was further cited as saying the government was waiting for a
final report from Victoria's chief veterinarian, but indications were that
health and safety were not expected to be a problem and the fate of the sheep
would rest on cultural and religious issues, adding, "The key issue is
whether the Kuwaitis decide to offer a written assurance. We are not asking that
they just blindly accept the sheep, but we are asking that if they are sent,
then at the very least they are able to unload in Kuwait, even if they decide
they don't want them after the sheep have left Australia."
Hunters
helping in CWD fight
November 29, 2003
The Southwest Booster (Swift Current)
A24
Art Jones
Saskatchewan's hunters are, according to this story, turning in deer heads for
testing for chronic wasting disease earlier than expected, with close to 1,700
deer heads submitted for testing this year, well above the approximately 1,000
deer heads submitted by last year at this time.
Don Mckinnon of Saskatchewan Environment, was quoted as saying, "This is a
fantastic response. The greater the number of heads we have to test the better
we can determine how widespread chronic wasting disease is. The increased number
of samples being turned in is an indication that hunters are committed to the
health of our wild deer. We would like to thank them for their commitment and
ask them to continue their good work."
The story adds that Saskatchewan Environment would still like to get as many
wild deer head samples as possible. The samples will be tested for chronic
wasting disease.
McKinnon was further quoted as saying, "Since 1997 more than 13,000 heads
have been submitted for testing. So far 16 cases of chronic wasting disease have
been discovered in wild deer in Saskatchewan, four of them were animals
harvested this fall.. While elk samples will be accepted, we are focusing on
testing deer, especially those taken along the west side of the province where
all of the positive cases have been found."
Animal
health/prevention and control of animal diseases: new section: pet passport
November 28, 2003
The European Commission
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/index_en.html
To view the complete document see:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/ah_pcad/ah_pcad_index_en.html#Pet%20Passport
USPOULTRY’s
Research Advisory Committee makes research recommendations
December 1, 2003
Meatingplace.com
Joshua Lipsky
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?clickthrough=true&ID=11537
The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s Research Advisory Committee met to
review research proposals and submit recommendations to the USPOULTRY board of
directors for approval.
RAC meets semi-annually to review research proposals submitted to USPOULTRY for
funding and ranks them based on their likelihood of providing information that
will be beneficial in reducing or resolving problems of the poultry industry.
The following research proposals were approved for funding by the board of
directors on Sept. 11, 2003:
“Septicemia/Toxemia Disposition of Broilers: Increasing Accuracy Within
Current Regulations”—Tom P. Brown, University of Georgia
“Effect of Water Quality on Broiler Performance”—Amy B. Batal, University
of Georgia”
Alterations to Breast Meat from Heavy Broilers with Relief of Preslaughter
Stress and Delayed Deboning”—Edwin T. Moran Jr.-Auburn University
“Role of the House Fly, Musca domestica, in the Transmission of Newcastle
Disease Virus”—D. Wes Watson, North Carolina State University
“Persistence and Disinfection of Avian Respiratory Viruses on Fomites and
Human Hands”—Devi P. Patnayak, University of Minnesota
“Determining the Available Phosphorus Requirement of Growing Broiler Breeder
Pullets”—Michael S. Lilburn, Ohio State University
“Eggs: A Functional Food for the Prevention of Obesity?”—Allan
Higginbotham, Southern Illinois University
“Development of Anti-Peptide Monoclonal Antibodies for Rapid Detection and
Differentiation of Exotic Newcastle Disease Virus”—Darrell R Kapczynski,
USDA-ARS-SEPRL
“Evaluation of Associations Between Candidate Gene Polymorphisms and Bone
Mineral Density in Chickens”—Diane Moody, Purdue University
“The Influence of Age on Ileal Amino Acid Digestibility in Turkey Poults”—Michael
S. Lilburn, Ohio State University
“Lighting Requirement for Summer Egg Production by Turkey Breeder Hens”—T.D.
Siopes, North Carolina State University
“Eliminating Listeria monocytogenes in Packaged, Ready-to-Eat Poultry Products
by Combining Heat with Lysozme and/or Nisin and MAP”—Paul Dawson, Clemson
University
“Marination of Turkey Breast Fillets to Control the Growth of Listeria
monocytogenes and Improve Meat Quality”—Christine Z. Alvarado, Texas Tech
University
“Use of Bacteriophages in a Multifocused Strategy to Eliminate Salmonella from
Infected Chickens”—Haroldo Toro, Auburn University
“N-Immobilization and Nitrification as Strategies to Reduce N Losses from
Poultry Litter”—David E. Kissel, University of Georgia
Ministerial
task force to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing
November 30, 2003
OECD Media Release
Five maritime countries from around the world announced the launch of a
top-level task force to tackle the problems posed by illegal, unregulated and
unreported (IUU) fishing, as part of urgent efforts under the auspices of the
OECD's Round Table on Sustainable Development to safeguard dwindling world
fishery resources.
The Ministerial Task Force on IUU Fishing, the first initiative of its kind,
will be led by Britain's Minister of State for the Environment, Elliot Morley.
Other members include the Ministers of Fisheries of Australia, Chile, Namibia
and New Zealand. Scientists, legal experts and representatives of environmental
groups and business will shortly be invited to participate. It is hoped that
other Ministers will also join the initiative as it evolves.
Over 27% of global fish stocks are described by the U.N. Food and Agriculture
Organization as either over-exploited or depleted. Production levels from 12 of
FAO's 16 world 'fishing regions,' including areas of known IUU activity have
fallen to historically low levels, confirming that these fish stocks are in a
serous state.
Announcing the launch of the task force, OECD Round Table Chair Simon Upton
noted that the problem of IUU fishing is complicated by international
conventions concerning the sovereignty of nations and the rights of fishing
vessels on the high seas.
"The challenge," he said, "is to combine a top-down assertion of
rights with a bottom-up attempt at management for the collective good. This has
to happen before all international fish stocks are depleted. As long as the
world is not prepared to lift the veil of flag state sovereignty we will be
fighting IUU fishing with one hand tied firmly behind our backs."
The Task Force will be established for between eighteen months and two years.
The objective is to prepare recommendations on how to prevent and eliminate IUU
fishing that are analytically sound, politically realistic and financially
viable and to ensure their implementation at national, regional and
international levels.
For further information, journalists are invited to contact: Vangelis Vitalis,
Chief Adviser, OECD Round Table on Sustainable Development (tel. 33 1 45 24 14
57 or mailto:vangelis.vitalis@oecd.org).
Determination
of regulatory review period for purposes of patent extension; DERAMAXX
December 1, 2003
[Federal Register: (Volume 68, Number 230)]
[Page 67194-67195]
[DOCID:fr01de03-86]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the regulatory
review period for DERAMAXX and is publishing this notice of that determination
as required by law. FDA has made the determination because of the submission of
an application to the Director of Patents and Trademarks, Department of
Commerce, for the extension of a patent which claims that animal drug product.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and petitions to the Division of Dockets
Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061,
Rockville, MD 20852. Submit electronic comments to http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claudia Grillo, Office of Regulatory
Policy (HFD-013), Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 240-453-6699.
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