Summary of newsmakers of the previous days – 24.-25.2.2007

Bird flu recorded in Afghanistan

Two focuses of bird flu with highly pathogenic virus H5N1 which is dangerous also for people has been found out in Afghanistan. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) announced it on Friday. An analysis confirmed the infection in poultry from small breedings of domestic poultry including turkeys in provinces Nangarhár and Kunar. Last Sunday Afghan government forbade import of poultry from abroad just because of fears of the flu spread.

Foods with mark KLASA are successful also abroad

Foods with the mark KLASA get popularity not only in the Czech market. According to an inquiry of the State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF), which administrate the mark KLASA, 57 % of holders of the mark KLASA exports their production abroad. Among the mark KLASA holders, whose foods have founded their place also on foreign trade, especially large firms prevail with over 250 employees with a turnover over 50 million yearly. Producers of quality inland foods with the mark KLASA export their foods more than firms which haven’t achieved the mark for their foods – only a third of them export their foods abroad.

Vine-growers don’t want to pay loan for which they had planted out vineyards

The Viticultural Fund and the Vine-growers Union want to enforce a law according to which vine-growers would not have to pay for loans from the Fund for outplanting of new vineyards. On the eve of CR joining the European Union almost one thousand of vine-growers planted out two and half thousand hectares of vineyards. “The support of 446 million crowns would be changed in an irreversible dotation”, a director of the Viticultural Fund Jaroslav Machovec means. Vine-growers claim that they have also support of the Minister of Agriculture Petr Gangalovi˙ but he, in opinion of his spokeswoman, doesn’t believe too much to the proposal.

Switzerland will hold nuclear energy

Switzerland decided to hold nuclear energy. It was reported by the server Swissinfo. The Parliament passed that nuclear power stations are essential to prevent a lack of energy in 2020. The decision has been criticized by left-wind parties as well as by ecological organizations. On the contrary, representatives of right-wing and commercial sphere are satisfied. “It is necessary to replace of build new nuclear power station”, according to the server Moritz Leuenberger, the Minister for Energetics said. Swiss government supposes that due to growing consumption of energy there will not be enough of the existing facilities in middle-and long-term, perspective.Source: Agris, 25.02.2007