Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 21.9.2006

Prestigious title Bio-food of the year was bestowed to Mléárna Valašské Meziříčí for Bio fermented beverage

A popular competition for Czech bio-food of the year, which is annually advertised by the Foundation Partnership and the Union of ecological farmers Pro-Bio, knows this year’s winners. The awards for the best product of Czech ecological agriculture was taken over at gala evening in Prague hotel Yasmin on the 20th September from hands of the Ministress of Agriculture Milena Vicenová a representative of Mlékárna Valašské Meziříčí for Bio fermented beverage. Besides the right to use the marketing-strong mark the winner obtained as well a check in value of 20 000 crowns. “Processing capacities in area of bio-foods develop meantime very slowly and therefore bio-foods from abroad prevail on the market. For this reason we try highlight quality domestic bio-production as an inspiration for other Czech entrepreneurs”, says Tomáš Růžička from the Foundation Partnershi.

Novák: Polish egg producers feed poultry with meat and bone meal

Polish egg producers feed poultry with meat and bone meal which is forbidden in the EU countries. František Novák, the chairman of the supervisory board of Czech-Moravian Poultry Breeders Union said it today in Brno. He props himself upon the analysis of feeding mixture originating from Poland which was made by a laboratory of the State Veterinary Institute in Olomouc at the beginning of February. The macrobiotic test of the feeding mixture proved presence of mammal tissues. “This analysis confirms preliminary oral information on breaking the EU laws in Poland and on the fact that poultry is fed with meat and bone meal there. We are not sure at all that they keep other regulations, e.g. concerning transport and storage”, Novák said to the ČTK today.

Ecologists warn against traces of chemicals in European food

Consumers throughout Europe face cheese, fish and many other foods which contain traces of potentially harmful industrial chemicals. The organization for nature conservation WWF announced it in today’s declaration which is cited by the agency AP. WWFš data are based on tests made in supermarkets in the Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Greece, Sweeden, Finland and Poland. “The test founded out potentially harmful synthetic chemicals in all analyzed examples”, WWF reported. For example it is dealt with phthalates in olive oil, cheeses and meat, or forbidden organochlorine pesticides in fish and reindeer meat. The organization announced that consumers do not have to fall ill necessarily owing to these agents, however, it expressed a fear of a possible long-term impact of even very small amount of chemicals on pregnant women and small children.

Commission will enable endowments for small and middle businesses

According to present Regulation on state aid “de minimis” allotted to firms a financial support, which does not exceed 100  000 Euros during three years, is not regarded as a support having a significant impact on competitive environment and trade among the member states. Therefore it is not considered as well as a state aid. In June 2005 the Commission introduced its five-year reform of rules for providing state aid intended to support the member states in their effort to contribute to fulfillment of Lisbon strategy aiming state contributions at improvement of economic efficiency, increasing of competitiveness of industry, and creation of sustainable jobs. The revision of rule “de minimis” is one of parts of this Operation plan.

Source: Agris, 22.09.2006