Summary of newspapers of the previous day – 31.10. 2011

Bio olives from Italy contained dangerous botulinum toxin

The State Agricultural and food Inspection (SZIP) ordered immediate withdrawal of filled bio olives of the mark Bio Gaudiano originating from Italy from the market. As a spokesman of SZPI Michal Spáčil stated, the reason is a finding of botulinum toxin, a substance which seriously damages human health. “The product was distributed also in the Czech Republic; however, a concrete contaminated batch found in Finland did not get in Czech market network”, Spáčil told. In total 594 packages of these olives were delivered in the Czech Republic. The batch marked „Best before 9/2012“, a volume 314 ml, in which botulinum toxin was found out in laboratory tests in Finland was not imported in the CR.

Antimonopoly Office allowed purchases of Penty in meat industry

The Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) allowed purchases of Penta in meat industry. It should reach a control over Schneider Group, P. S. TRANS, M.U.S.P. and PROPERTY - Jateční a.s. ÚOHS approved the fusion was without conditions in a simplified proceeding. The resolution is already effective, Petr Rafaj, a chairman of ÚOHS said to ČTK. According to information on the web of ÚOHS, Penta should get a possibility to “exclusively control” the mentioned companies. The Office judged mainly the area of processing, production and sale of products from pork and beef meat. Penta and Schneider carry on business in the area of production, distribution and sale of meat products on markets in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. “Our agreement is an important step in consolidation of meat producers in the central Europe.

Letter to premier

Dear Mr. Premier, the Association of Private Agriculture of the CR (ASZ ČR) as a professional non-governmental organization associating a decisive part of farmers and private agriculturists in the CR watches with apprehension legislative efforts of politicians to ease utilization of agricultural land for commercial purposes. Submitters of this proposal chose moreover a substandard and non-transparent way of enforcement by means of an addition to an amendment on supported energy resources although the problem touches the law on agricultural land fund.

EU milk quota has not been filled in

The quota year 2010/11 (the 1st April to the 31st March) in the EU was closed with a significant non-performance of milk deliveries. The final balance of the European Commission according to an announcement of LDK (Landvolk-Pressedienst) introduced the milk production in the EU-27 in amount 138 mil. t. Thereby non-performance of increased milk quotas happened (146 mil. t) by 8 mil. t or 6 %. Milk production did not keep the growth rate of milk quota. Only five member states exceeded with their deliveries a national milk quota, especially the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg and Cyprus overfilled their national milk quota. Therefore, producers in basic industry from these countries have to levy a penalisation sum exceeding 55 mil. € in the EU treasury.