Summary of newsmakers from the previous day – 8.2.2006

Fine as much as fifty millions should be for spoiled foods in Slovakia

To date, checkers in Slovakia could levy a fine only up to one million. The highest sanction will threat to producers and businessmen if they produce or expose for sale deleterious or spoiled foods and introduce foods after the expiration in the market. “It would be possible to levy a fine up to the height of 50 million SK in case when someone sale re-packed meat with outdated expiration or trespass in any relevant way the food safety”, explained the Minister of Agriculture SR Zsolt Simon at the press conference.

Bird flu affected other continent, it is in Africa

The dangerous virus of bird flu H5N1 has spread in Africa. The malign disease, which is transmissible to people, was confirmed by tests in Nigeria. Local offices there have already ordered to kill thousands pieces of poultry. The virus appeared in the village Džadži in the north of the country. During several days thousands of pieces of poultry died. “The fact that it is dealt really with the dangerous variant H5N1 was proved by the laboratory tests in Italian town Padova”, informed a representative of the World organization for animal health (OIE).

Agriculture necessarily needs conceptual solution

Jiří Papež considers the investment in solution of short-term aims in agriculture as a waste of public financial means. As a shadow minister of agriculture on behalf of ODS he claims that in such a way problems of agriculture and countryside can not be solved, only consequences of previous incorrect policy. He said it during his Monday visit of the region Liberec when he saw several farms to make himself certain of the state of agriculture and countryside in the region. As a case of non-conception he showed the milk production. “At first the government negotiated in the EU a low quota for sale of milk, however, it further support indirectly its production, even if there is enough milk. Then farmers are in threat that they will pay a fine of 4 crowns per every liter of milk over the set limit,” adds the shadow minister and representative Papež.

Potato area will decrease this year by five to ten percent

The Central Potato-Growing Union estimates a decrease in potato area by five to ten percent this year. Last year as well as the year ago potatoes filled about 36 000 hectares in the farmers’ field. The harvest in 2005 grew significantly and buy-out prices were low in summer due to overproduction. Despite a gradual increase caused by export potato growers sold under costs till Christmas and some producers decided to give up this commodity, said the chairman of the Union František Novák to journalists.

Source: Agris, 09.02.2006