What's New ? - 2016

EU-28 poultry broiler meat production is expected to increase slightly again in 2017 driven by domestic demand. Consumers have been switching to broiler meat from other types of meat because it is less expensive and because of ease in preparation. In spite of increases in production, EU-28 broiler meat imports are forecast to slightly grow in 2017.

Domestic sales and distribution of antimicrobials approved for use in food-producing animals increased by 24% from 2009 through 2015, and increased by 1% from 2014 through 2015. In 2015, domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials accounted for 62% of the domestic sales of all antimicrobials approved for use in food-producing animals. Tetracyclines accounted for 71% of these sales, penicillins for 10%, macrolides for 6%, sulfas for 4%, aminoglycosides for 4%, lincosamides for 2%, and amphenicols, cephalosporins,and fluoroquinolones each for less than 1%. Domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials approved for use in food producing animals increased by 26% from 2009 through 2015, and increased by 2% from 2014 through 2015.

Report for 2014 on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products.Traces (or residues) of authorised veterinary drugs, prohibited substances, as well ascontaminants are sometimes detected in live animals and in foods derived from animals, including meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.Monitoring of the levels of these residues in food-producing animals and animal-derived foods takes place annually across the EU.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to require a warning label on packages of bacon, ham, hot dogs, and other processed meat and poultry products to inform consumers that eating those foods is associated with an increased risk of cancer of the colon and rectum (colorectal cancer). A regulatory petition filed by the nonprofit watchdog group cites the findings of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which concluded in 2015 that processed meat is “carcinogenic to humans.” IARC, ACS, and the World Cancer Research Fund all cite research that found about an 18 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer for every 50 grams of processed meat consumed daily.

A new book edited by Dr David Swayne: Animal Influenza, Second Edition. It is a comprehensive text on animal influenza. Organized by species, coverage includes avian, swine, equine and mammals, with each section including data on influenza viruses, the infection and disease they cause, and strategies used in control.

Japan’s broiler market is on pace to set new record highs for domestic broiler meat production (projected up two percent to 1.44 million MT), total consumption (up two percent to 2.635 million MT), and imports (up one percent to 945,000 MT) in 2016, breaking record high levels set in 2015. Japan’s broiler meat supply and consumption have grown briskly through the first half of 2016.

Despite lower broiler prices at the beginning of 2016,EU poultry production expanded further during the first half of 2016 by 6%. Except for France, all other main producing Member States have reported an increase: Poland (+15%), Spain (+8%), Italy (+6%),the Netherlands (+5%) and the UK (+4%). Bird restocking in France after the outbreak of avian influenza is not yet showing up in the slaughterings,but will probably be noticeable in the second half of the year. At EU level, growth is expected to continue in the second half of 2016 as placings of chicks are staying at the same high level as previous months.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published today the sixth report on the sales of veterinary antibiotics in Europe, highlighting a continuing downward trend between 2011 and 2014. 28 countries from the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) plus Switzerland have reported data to the European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC) for the year 2014, three more than in the previous year. The report covers the period between 2011 and 2014. A total of 25 countries have provided data for the entire time span. A decrease of 2.4% in total sales (mg/ population correction unit – PCU, PCU meaning the estimated weight of livestock and slaughtered animals) of antimicrobial veterinary products was observed between those years, despite a considerable increase in one of the European countries in which the most sales were registered due to an improvement in data collection system.

Global Production: Global production is forecast to increase 1 percent to a record 90.4 million tons as expansion by the United States, Brazil, India, and the EU more than offset a significant decline by China. Robust foreign and domestic demand will bolster production for the United States and Brazil while increased domestic consumption will support gains by India and the EU. The 5-percent decline in Chinese production in 2016 on reduced supplies of imported breeding stock triggered by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)-related trade restrictions will accelerate to a 9 percent drop in 2017.

Europe's largest turkey producer, Bernard Matthews, has been acquired by the private investment vehicle of Ranjit Singh Boparan, the chief executive of the UK's 2 Sisters Food Group.

The USDA Agriculture Marketing Services (AMS) has updated the population of hens in the U.S. maintained in other than conventional cages. The following projections relate to 2016:- Total U.S. cage-free flock: 30 million (9.9% of U.S. hen population) USDA Certified Organic flocks: 13.5 million (4.5%) Conventional egg, cage-free: 16.6 million (5.5%).

Dr Ilaria Capua, DVM, PhD, trained as a veterinarian and has worked ever since graduation as a virologist. In June she became the director of the Center for Excellence in One Health Research at the University of Florida. Additionally, she is a professor at IFAS ( Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) and a member of the Emerging Pathogens Institute. In February 2013 she was elected as a member of the Italian Parliament, and previously she was the director of the Division of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (Padova, Italy).

Brazilian broiler meat production is forecast to rise by 3.0% in 2017, hitting an all-time high of 14.08m tonnes, as export demand increases. The US Department of Agriculture's bureau in Brasilia forecast record production and exports, as Brazil wins market share, particularly in China and the European Union. Brazilian broiler meat exports are forecast to hit a record 4.4m tonnes in 2017. The growth in exports will likely be driven by higher world demand for the Brazilian products, mostly from China, the European Union and new markets recently opened. In particular, Brazil has been rapidly winning market share in China.

Plasson has a preliminary agreement to buy 70% of Brazil’s Sangyo Equipamentos Avícolas for the equivalent of 19 million shekels ($5M).

Antibiotic Usage Sales of antimicrobial veterinary medicinal products (206 tonnes) decreased in 2015 by 0.65%,compared to 2014 (207 tonnes). In relation to 2009, the index year used by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, in 2015 total sales decreased by 58.4%. Compared to 2007, the year with highest sales (565 tonnes), the decrease in sales is 64%. Sales and use of antimicrobial drugs of critical importance for human healthcare (fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins of 3rd and 4th generation) were further reduced in 2015 in the monitored animal sectors. In three sectors (pigs, cattle and broilers) an overall reduction in use of antimicrobials was realized. In veal calves and turkeys increased use was noted.

In December 2013, the agency took a significant step forward in addressing antimicrobial resistance by publishing Guidance #213, which calls on animal drug sponsors of approved medically important antimicrobials administered to food-producing animals through medicated feed or water to remove from their product labels indications for use related to growth promotion, and to bring the remaining therapeutic uses of these products under the oversight of a veterinarian by the end of December 2016. All of the affected drug sponsors have committed in writing to making the changes described in the guidance by the end of 2016. The FDA fully expects this process to be completed by this deadline.

Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) has released an independent study conducted by Global Ecologic Environmental Consulting and Management Services which found that the environmental footprint of Canada’s egg production supply chain declined by almost 50 per cent during the period from 1962 to 2012. The study, conducted by Dr. Nathan Pelletier, is the most comprehensive study ever undertaken by a Canadian agricultural sector and examined the Canadian egg supply chain environmental footprint over the last 50 years. It found that the cradle-to-farm gate impacts for eggs produced in conventional housing systems were, on average, one-third of the estimated impacts of the industry in 1962. Among its findings, the study concluded that egg production supply chain’s acidifying emissions declined by 61 per cent; eutrophying emissions declined by 68 per cent; GHG emissions declined by 72 per cent; and, further, that life cycle energy, land and water use decreased by 41 per cent, 81 per cent and 69 per c

Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim announced the signing of contracts to secure the strategic transaction initiated in December 2015 which consists of an exchange of Sanofi’s animal health business (“Merial”) and Boehringer Ingelheim’s consumer healthcare (CHC) business. This step marks a major milestone before closing of the transaction which is expected by year-end 2016 and remains subject to approval by all regulatory authorities in different territories. The integration of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Consumer Healthcare (CHC) business into Sanofi and Merial into Boehringer Ingelheim would start after closing. Boehringer Ingelheim’s CHC business - with an enterprise value of €6.7 bn - would be transferred to Sanofi and Sanofi’s Merial – with an enterprise value of €11.4 bn - would be transferred to Boehringer Ingelheim.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a letter reminding retail establishments that sell medically important antimicrobials for use in feed or water for food animals that the marketing status of those products will change from over-the-counter (OTC) to prescription (Rx) or to veterinary feed directive (VFD) at the end of calendar year 2016. Once the changes are in place, distributors of those medically important antimicrobials will need to comply with appropriate requirements for Rx and VFD drugs when dispensing these products.

The Codes of Practice are nationally developed guidelines for the care and handling of farm animals. They serve as our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices. Codes promote sound management and welfare practices for housing, care, transportation, and other animal husbandry practices.

The meat and poultry industry is a dynamic part of the U.S. economy, accounting for about $1.02 trillion in total economic output, or roughly 5.6 percent of GDP. Meat and poultry manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers directly employed 1.87 million Americans in 2016. These workers earned over $71.63 billion in wages and benefits. When supplier and induced impacts are taken into account, the meat and poultry industry is responsible for 5.44 million jobs in the United States and $108.42 billion in direct federal, state and local taxes.

Ceva Santé Animale has purchased Biovac Laboratories, a leading French manufacturer of autogeneous (bacterial) vaccines. Biovac, like Ceva, has experienced double-digit growth for several years as veterinarians seek alternatives to control bacterial conditions often now difficult to treat with “classic” vaccines. The company has significant expertise in microbiology, allowing it to provide custom-made solutions for veterinarians and their customers.

Injury and illness rates in the meat and poultry slaughtering and processing industry declined from 2004 through 2013, similar to rates in all U.S.manufacturing, according to Department of Labor (DOL) data, yet hazardous conditions remain. The rates declined from an estimated 9.8 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004 to 5.7 in 2013. However, these rates continued to be higher than rates for manufacturing overall. Meat workers sustained a higher estimated rate of injuries and illnesses than poultry workers, according to DOL data.

The British Poultry Council (BPC) Antibiotic Stewardship Scheme has compiled this report to demonstrate its strategy for the responsible use of antibiotics in the UK poultry meat sector.The UK poultry meat sector, through the formation of the Antibiotic Stewardship Scheme in 2011, has taken decisive action to manage antibiotic usage across the sector. In 2012, it introduced a voluntary ban on the use of third and fourth generation cephalosporins, and a commitment to reduce the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. In 2016, the Scheme made a further commitment to not use colistin.

Prohibited: de-beaking and desnooding, caponization, dubbing, toe trimming of chickens, toe trimming of turkeys unless with infra-red at hatchery, beak trimming after 10 days of age. Administration of drugs other than vaccines: Current: not allowed in the absenceof illness; Proposed: Allowed in the presence of illness or to alleviate pain and suffering.

A clear, legal definition of "free range eggs". Australia's consumer affairs ministers will adopt a legally binding standard with a definition that states free range eggs must come from hens that have meaningful and regular access to an outdoor range, with a stocking density of up to 10,000 birds per hectare. The standard will be legally enforceable under Australian consumer law from next year.

The EU-28 broiler meat production forecast for 2016 has been increased 1.5 percent from 2015, with the biggest hikes taking place in France, Poland, and United Kingdom due to strong domestic demand and strong exports. Production is expected to remain stable in Germany, mainly because of stricter welfare rules, and to decline slightly in Spain, due to excessive pressure on producer margins. The local outbreaks of Avian Influenza (AI) in several EU-28 member States, notably France and Germany, are not expected to have any significant impact on the production levels.

A new state health rule that went into effect Jan. 14 forbids live poultry, including chickens and ducks, at licensed child care facilities. Health officials say it’s a common-sense effort to reduce the risk of salmonella.

The new implementation period for a law on poultry feeding which would impact the Turkish poultry sector was going to start on January 1, 2016, but it has now been postponed for one year. This law will now come into force on January 1, 2017.