Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 19.6.2008

Rice with disallowed genetic modification was sold in CR

The State Agricultural and Food Inspection by means of the Fast-Warning System for Foods and Feeds received information last week from which it results that rice with disallowed genetic modification could occur on Czech market. Štátna veterinárna a potravinová správa SR (the State Veterinary Administration of the Slovak Republic) withhold 7660 kilograms of rice with a genetic modification LL RICE 601. The rice was packed in consumer’s packages by a Czech company Podravka – Lagris a.s. from Dolní Lhota near Luhačovice, however, a raw material had been bought from an Italian supplier.

Parliament passed law on protection of animals against torture

The Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic supported with one voice an amendment on protection of animals against torture today. The novel had been negotiated in shortened proceedings. So, a norm aims at the Senate in a form which was supported by the Senate several weeks ago. The original proposal of the novel put forward at the beginning of this year was by an amendment completed during negotiation in the Chamber of Deputies in spite of disagreement of the Ministry of Agriculture with a regulation enabling practice on another live animal in training of a hunting dog, so called contact den hunt.

Incomes of food businessmen still decreases

After a March decrease, incomes in retail increased year-on-year again by two percents in April. The growth of seasonally non-cleared incomes by 3,5 percents was higher than an average growth from the beginning of year. Month-on-month businessmen incomes increased in fact by 0,7 percents. The data were published by the Czech Statistic Office today. According to statistics only a sale of non-food goods contributed to the growth; the sale of food still decreased. The biggest share in the total accrual of incomes belonged to specialized shops, e.g. sellers of electronics, electric apparatuses, furniture and other goods for households.

Subsidies for quality air improvement

To switch to an ecological heating or to install an arrangement for catching pollutions or dust elements emitted in the air? Financial means of height more than 634 million Euros are prepared for these purposes in the Operational Program Environment (OPŽP). An aim of the support is improvement of maintenance of the air quality and a reduction of emissions of the basic polluting substances in the air with an emphasis on use of environmentally friendly ways of power production including energetic savings.