Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 23.5.2008

Raisings of pigs in South-Moravian region decreased by fifth year-on-year

Pig numbers in South-Moravian regions decreased on the 1st of April by 86 392 pieces year-on-year to 344 014 pieces. In comparison with the first quarter of the last year the pig number diminished by fifth in the south of Moravia. Compared to other regions this one is the worse for it and shifted at a third place when Central-Bohemia region and the region Vysočina overtook it. It results from data published by the Czech Statistic Office today. In all-republic comparison pig numbers decreased from last year’s to this year’s April by 14 percent to 2,4 million pieces. Statistics report a year-on-year decrease in pig number in all regions, except the region Ústí where it increased by 2,3 percents year-on-year. The biggest fall happened in the Karlsbad region where pig numbers decreased by 37 percents and in Moravian-Silesian region where they decreased by 24 percents.

Standpoint of EFSA to oleoresin from tomatoes and to synthetic lycopene

Use of oleoresin from tomatoes or 10 % dispersion of lycopene corresponds in terms of safety to other lycopene resources. Nevertheless, within their application a value ADI could be exceeded. A group for dietary products, nutrition and allergies at the request of the Commission worked out a standpoint regarding safety of lycopene oleorezin from tomatoes which should be used as a part of a new type. Other standpoint was worked out in the affairs of synthetic (crystalline) lycopene.

Poor will pay for foods still more

The poorest states in the world, whose inhabitants battle with undernourishment and spend most of their low incomes for food, will face record expenditures for import of basic foods from abroad. A report of the United Nations Organization for nutrition and agriculture (FAO) estimates that the poor states will spend 169 billion dollars for import of foods in 2008 which is by 40 percents more than the last year. Worldwide price of foods in comparison with 2007 will increase by 53 percents.

The Czech Republic promotes nuclear power in Union

Topolánek challenges to build new electric power stations. The Green protest. The Czech Republic headed in efforts for restoration of nuclear energetics. The government introduced a call appeal for support of building of new nuclear power stations in the European Union countries at European Nuclear Forum in Prague. The Czech Republic suggests so that the European Union would declare nuclear energy as clear resource of electric energy which has a positive impact on the environment.