Summary of newspapers of the previous day – 1. – 3. 10. 2010

Czech Republic insists on traditional spread butter

The European Commission decided to bring action against the Czech Republic owing to usage of a mark “pomazánkové máslo” (spread butter). The dispute between the Czech Republic and the European Union about this mark lasts already for five year. However, the tradition of usage of this name of domestic food, whose popularity still grows, moreover, lasts several tens of years. The Czech Republic supports production of traditional products, therefore it considers as justified to use the traditional mark for the traditional milk product also from now on. The argument with the EU lasts already for more than five years. According to Brussels norms the mark “butter” can be used only for products with a share of milk fat higher than 39 %.

Every hectare of land should have clear owner. Minister Fuksa wants to stand up for it.

The present state of settlement of restitution claims blocks treatment of parcels for which a restitution claim has been made, therefore it prevent authorized persons to treat with their property. It also blocks reparcelling and flood-protection measures as well as a general development of municipalities. The all mentioned facts make from finishing of restitutions a clear priority of the Ministry of Agriculture Ivan Fuksa. “The overwhelming majority of restitution claims has been already solved, however, even the remaining fragment of unsolved restitutions is enormously burning for appropriate authorized persons, of course.

Russia will probably prolong cereals export ban till July 2011

Russia will probably prolong the cereal export ban till July next year. It was announced by the first vice-president of Russian government Viktor Zubkov today. However, his words are in contrast with the president Dmitrij Medvedev´s statement, according to which Russia can withdraw the export ban as soon as numbers about the harvest will be available. Zubov said to the agency RIA Novosti that renewal of export was not realizable. The country stopped the cereals export in August this year because the summer with the highest temperatures in Russian records brought droughts and unusually extensive fires. According to Zubov, this year´s harvest will not exceed 66 million tones of cereals.

FAO food price index highest in two last years; other growth is not expected

The food price index of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of UNO increased to the highest level since 2008 in September. However, the organization stated on Friday that any other more important increase in prices is not expected. The index measuring prices of cereals, milk products, meat and sugar, increased to 188.2 points last month from 176.9 points in August. The growth to highest levels since last year´s world food crisis was mostly caused by cereals and sugar. However, FAO point out that prices of wheat and corn have already decreased from recent maxim and even correction of price growth of the last four months can be expected.