Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 26. 6. 2007

Biofuels will start to be added in fuels from first September

Biofuels will start to be added in fuels in the Czech Republic from the 1st of Semptember. An amendment of act on air protection, which was signed today by the President Václav Klaus whereby he closed a legislative process, counts on it. A spokesman of the Prague Castle Petr Hájek informed ČTK on it. From September methylester of rape oil will start to be added in diesel oil. From January admixing of biospirit in petrol should start. According to the Minister og Environment Martin Bursík (Green Party) admixing of biofuels will reduce dependence of the CR on rock oil supplies and as well as it will increase a share of renewable resources. It also will help farmers to apply their production. The Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič (ODS) has already reported that he would consider admission of the amendment as a good result regarding estimated high harvest of rape. Farmers sewed more this plant this year because they expected the start of admixing of biofuels from a half of this year.

SOCR: Due to advance payments for PET bottles small shops would become extinct

Introduction of advance payments for PET bottles and cans which the Ministry of Environment considers would cause extinction of many small shops. The Union of Trade and Tourism of the CR (SOCR) according to which the advance payments for PET bottles would complicate life even of consumers claims it. Nor food industry firms agree with advance payments. They argue that they would have to invest billions crowns due to their introduction which would be reflected in higher prices of beverages.

Russia forbade import of Czech poultry

Russia is afraid of a spread of bird flu, there fore it forbade import of poultry from the Czech Republic from Monday. In this way it reacts to a case from last week when the first occurrence of bird flu was revealed in a turkey-hen farm in Tisová. Russian ban of import refers to live birds, eggs for sitting, poultry meat and all poultry products without heat treatment. Moscow will not allow import of poultry feeds and used facilities for breeding and killing of poultry. Because of the disease about 6000 turkey hens was liquidated last week in Tisová. About 2500 turkey hens had died before of the patogenous virus H5N1 which is dangerous also for people. Veterinarians also decided to kill about thousand pieces of local domestic poultry.

All about rural development

The Institute of Agricultural and Food Information (UZPI) has opened a new internet portal for public www.infovenkov.cz where information on programs of rural development and other interesting information from rural environment will be at disposal soon. The portal Infovenkov is one of items of pilot UZPI project “Information and Advisory Service for Area of Rural Development”. The project is a part of fulfillment of complex task for the year 2007 with security of educational and information campaigns of the EAFRD program - Program of Rural Development.