NEWS

CANCUN, MEXICO — For the first time ever, the feed industry has developed an international Feed Manual that focuses on the issues of feed and food safety. Joining together to make this happen are the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

This Manual --- produced with the help of the IFIF and issued as part of FAO’s publications on Animal Production & Health --- will have its official launch at the III Global Feed & Food Congress that takes place in Cancun, Mexico, on April 20-23, 2010.
Called ‘Good Practices for the Feed Industry -- Implementing the Codex Alimentarius Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding’, it arises from work by a joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission that approved three important Codes affecting livestock production: the Code of Practice for Good Animal Feeding, the Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat and the Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products.

The Global Feed & Food Congress in April will hear that the Manual explains in detail the new requirements associated with the recent adoption of the Codex Alimentarius Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding. Its focus on the issues of feed and food safety includes both the Code itself and additional supporting information related to the manufacture of safe feed. Also covered are safe feeding practices for on-farm feed mixers.

The III Global Feed & Food Congress in Cancun (see http://www.globalfeed-food.com) will be the world feed industry's most significant event in 2010. Hosted by the Mexican Feed Manufacturers Association, CONAFAB, it is being organized by the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) with technical participation of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

FELIPE CALDERON PRESIDENT OF MEXICO AND ALBERTO CARDENAS SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE GUARANTEE THE SEAFTY OF PORK MEAT

Swine Industry

Pork meat, healthy and safe

• Human influenza A/H1N1, unrelated to swine

• Strong and wide measures have been undertaken to rescue the pork meat industry

Given the confusion and misunderstanding generated by the outbreak of the Human Influenza virus A/H1N1, the production and consumption of pork meat has been severely affected; consequently, authorities, organizations and pork producers have joined forces to reactivate the pork industry.

Animal Health Activities

Very thorough and deep inspections were made to detect the presence of diseases in pigs in the 8 regions of Mexico, which cover the entire country. A total of 426 technicians distributed in 25 labs verified 2,189 pork producers.

The result was 3,417,227 pigs checked, and no one of them was found contaminated with the A/H1N1 influenza virus.

Promotion Activities

As of May 1, the Pork Meat Promotion Committee launched a massive campaign to stress the innocuousness and safety of pork meat and to promote its consumption. The initiative was aired on TV and the radio, newspaper ads, 200,000 posters, 3.2 million flyers and boosted for consumption in Japan and South Korea.

Actions taken by Producers, Pork Meat Processors and the Meat Industry*

• Promote consumption of national production of pork meat
• Consumer guidance actions
• Adjust production to the temporary demand from market
• Measures for cold storage of carcasses
• Donate 10,000 pigs for tasting events

* Mexican Meat Council, National Association of Pork Meat Producers - Mexico, Mexican Chamber for Pork Meat Processors-CANACINTRA and the National Agricultural Council - CNA.

Actions for International Communication

• 250 press releases have been sent to ministers of agriculture, ambassadors, consulates and heads of international organizations.
• Press releases to Agriculture Ministers in Mexico, USA and Canada on the innocuousness of pork meat