Weekly Livestock-Equine News: March 24, 2025
20 countries plus EU present significant barriers to US pork exports
The National Pork Producers Council provided a list of 20 countries plus the European Union to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative detailing significant barriers to U.S. pork exports. Among them: Australia (unfounded fears of porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome), Taiwan (requires country-of-origin labeling for pork) and Panama (requires facility registration for establishments that store, display, distribute, or sell meat and meat products).
USDA announces funding to support fight against avian influenza
US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced USDA will invest up to $100 million to for-profit organizations, including manufacturers of vaccines, biologics, and therapeutics, states, universities and livestock producer organizations to support 1) the development of therapeutics and diagnostics to address HPAI in poultry, 2) research to understand risk pathways of avian influenza and to inform improved biosecurity and response strategies, and 3) development of vaccines to protect poultry from HPAI.
FEED Act would speed up regulation of feed additives
The Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act would ensure farmers have timely access to innovative feed additives, according to chief sponsor Congressman Nick Langworthy of New York. The Act calls for zootechnical animal food substances to receive market approval within FDA’s existing Food Additive Petition (FAP) process rather than the New Animal Drug Application process. Review times could be reduced by several years, according to Langworthy.
USDA allows pork and poultry producers to maintain higher line speeds
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service will extend waivers allowing pork and poultry facilities to maintain higher line speeds. Additionally, FSIS said it will no longer require plants to submit redundant worker safety data “as extensive research has confirmed no direct link between processing speeds and workplace injuries.”
Investors should explore methane-related risks, opportunities in food sector
Three areas investors in the dairy, beef and pork industries should explore with companies in their portfolios are methane accounting, disclosure and action plans to reduce emissions, Carolyn Ching, director of research, food and forests for Ceres tells FeedNavigator. A new report from the nonprofit highlights the degree to which companies in the sector are exposed to methane emissions and provides solutions, she says.
