China stuck to its position of imposing new requirements on pork imports from several European countries Wednesday, following a meeting between the European Union's health chief and Chinese food safety officials in the Chinese capital.
Last week, China announced new measures on imports of pork from four EU states -- Denmark, France, Italy and Spain -- as well as Canada, requiring certification that the animals used for the meat were free of the H1N1 influenza virus. Pork imports from Northern Ireland were earlier subject to restrictions.
The EU opposes the measures because they impose additional costs on exporters, and it says its pork products are safe.
"In the whole of the European Union, we only had a case in a particular farm in Northern Ireland of the H1N1 virus and we have taken very strict measures regarding the biosecurity of that farm," said EU health and food safety commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. She cited a May 2009 joint declaration by the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal health stating that H1N1 is not transmitted through the consumption of pork.
"What we are interested in is that the importation of pork will not be restricted, because there is no danger," said Ms. Vassiliou
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Parties trade shots over health-care bill
Democrats' primary concern with the Baucus bill is that it would not adequately subsidize working-class and middle-class households, who could be required to pay between 2 percent and 12 percent of their income toward insurance premiums. After Baucus' revisions, no individual who receives coverage through the insurance exchange would pay more than $3,987 a year for deductibles and co-payments; families' out-of-pocket costs would be capped at $7,973.
His changes also would make it easier for people whose employers offer unaffordable coverage to join the exchanges. And he would lower premium costs for older policyholders: While his original proposal would have permitted insurance companies to charge people in their early 60s as much as seven times more than younger customers, his modified bill would bar them from charging seniors more than four times the lowest policy cost.
Facing complaints about his primary source of revenue for the package — a tax on high-cost "Cadillac" insurance policies — Baucus also has proposed adjustments. He would increase the tax from 35 percent to 40 percent, but apply it to fewer policies, carving out exceptions for non-Medicare retirees, people with high-risk jobs and others who pay higher premiums because of their age or occupation, not because their benefits are particularly generous.
Source
His changes also would make it easier for people whose employers offer unaffordable coverage to join the exchanges. And he would lower premium costs for older policyholders: While his original proposal would have permitted insurance companies to charge people in their early 60s as much as seven times more than younger customers, his modified bill would bar them from charging seniors more than four times the lowest policy cost.
Facing complaints about his primary source of revenue for the package — a tax on high-cost "Cadillac" insurance policies — Baucus also has proposed adjustments. He would increase the tax from 35 percent to 40 percent, but apply it to fewer policies, carving out exceptions for non-Medicare retirees, people with high-risk jobs and others who pay higher premiums because of their age or occupation, not because their benefits are particularly generous.
Source
Monday, September 28, 2009
Parties trade shots over health-care bill
Some Democrats, meanwhile, said they would press to reduce costs further for millions of Americans who would be required to purchase health coverage.
Baucus revised his bill even before submitting it to the committee Tuesday, adding more aid for middle-class families and watering down a tax provision that could target a small number of union households.
His changes drew praise from some Democrats and from Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.
"This is a solid starting point, but we are far from the finish line," said Snowe.
Baucus' bill would help extend health insurance to an estimated 94 percent of Americans, including 29 million individuals who currently have none. An estimated 11 million people would join Medicaid under the legislation, and 25 million others would gain access to a new private-insurance exchange, including 7 million people who currently purchase their plans or pay for coverage through their employers.
Baucus revised his bill even before submitting it to the committee Tuesday, adding more aid for middle-class families and watering down a tax provision that could target a small number of union households.
His changes drew praise from some Democrats and from Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.
"This is a solid starting point, but we are far from the finish line," said Snowe.
Baucus' bill would help extend health insurance to an estimated 94 percent of Americans, including 29 million individuals who currently have none. An estimated 11 million people would join Medicaid under the legislation, and 25 million others would gain access to a new private-insurance exchange, including 7 million people who currently purchase their plans or pay for coverage through their employers.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Parties trade shots over health-care bill
Democrats and Republicans formed clear battle lines Tuesday as the Senate Finance Committee opened a high-stakes debate over health-care legislation proposed last week by the panel's chairman.
Both sides found plenty to criticize in Sen. Max Baucus' bill, particularly its requirement that all U.S. citizens must buy health insurance at potentially high costs.
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, a member of the committee and the Senate's No. 2 Republican, called the bill "a stunning assault on liberty" that would lead to higher taxes and less consumer choice.
But Baucus, D-Mont., defended his work and urged colleagues to "do our part to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans."
Republicans outlined a series of specific provisions that they would seek to change or eliminate as the panel debates 564 amendments, a discussion that could stretch into next week. One target-rich area: the more than $500 billion in Medicare changes that the bill proposes, to squeeze waste from the elderly insurance program. Another is the fine that the bill would impose on U.S. citizens who don't buy health insurance, which the GOP describes as a tax on the middle class. And they warn that the bill's hefty new industry fees would be passed on to consumers.
Both sides found plenty to criticize in Sen. Max Baucus' bill, particularly its requirement that all U.S. citizens must buy health insurance at potentially high costs.
Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl, a member of the committee and the Senate's No. 2 Republican, called the bill "a stunning assault on liberty" that would lead to higher taxes and less consumer choice.
But Baucus, D-Mont., defended his work and urged colleagues to "do our part to make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans."
Republicans outlined a series of specific provisions that they would seek to change or eliminate as the panel debates 564 amendments, a discussion that could stretch into next week. One target-rich area: the more than $500 billion in Medicare changes that the bill proposes, to squeeze waste from the elderly insurance program. Another is the fine that the bill would impose on U.S. citizens who don't buy health insurance, which the GOP describes as a tax on the middle class. And they warn that the bill's hefty new industry fees would be passed on to consumers.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
New Law Bans Flavored Cigarettes
Tobacco companies sweeten their cigarettes because "flavors make cigarettes and other tobacco products more appealing to youth," he added.
Deyton read what he called "a historic memo" from one tobacco manufacturer, outlining plans to directly target children by making "a cigarette that's obviously youth-oriented" and by featuring "flavor which would be candy-like but give the satisfaction of a cigarette."
Calling tobacco addiction a "public health catastrophe," one of the Obama administration's top officials, Assistant Secretary for Health Howard Koh, put the cigarette industry on notice that this is just the beginning of a "new chapter in public health efforts at tobacco control."
The law will require tobacco companies to register with the FDA. And Deyton said the agency will soon require those cigarette makers to turn over information about the "constituent components of tobacco products." The FDA will work with CDC scientists to investigate the safety of those ingredients.
Source
Deyton read what he called "a historic memo" from one tobacco manufacturer, outlining plans to directly target children by making "a cigarette that's obviously youth-oriented" and by featuring "flavor which would be candy-like but give the satisfaction of a cigarette."
Calling tobacco addiction a "public health catastrophe," one of the Obama administration's top officials, Assistant Secretary for Health Howard Koh, put the cigarette industry on notice that this is just the beginning of a "new chapter in public health efforts at tobacco control."
The law will require tobacco companies to register with the FDA. And Deyton said the agency will soon require those cigarette makers to turn over information about the "constituent components of tobacco products." The FDA will work with CDC scientists to investigate the safety of those ingredients.
Source
Friday, September 25, 2009
New Law Bans Flavored Cigarettes
Anyone selling cigarettes flavored with cloves, fruit – anything but menthol – is a criminal under a ban that marks the first assault in a new war on tobacco. The law, enacted this summer and kicking in today, directs the FDA to crack down on candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes that public health officials say turn children into life-long nicotine addicts.
"These flavored cigarettes are a gateway for many children and young adults to become regular smokers," FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg told reporters.
The FDA has sent a letter to tobacco companies warning the agency will take action against those who continue to make, distribute or sell flavored cigarettes in violation of the law. Border agents have been instructed to block imports of flavored cigarettes.
Federal officials and tobacco control advocates could not say exactly how many people use these products. But Dr. Lawrence Deyton, head of the FDA's new Center for Tobacco Products, said they are favored by teens.
"Studies show that 17-year-old smokers are three times as likely to use flavored cigarettes as smokers over the age of 25," Deyton said.
"I also agree with the banning of flavored cigarettes."
"These flavored cigarettes are a gateway for many children and young adults to become regular smokers," FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg told reporters.
The FDA has sent a letter to tobacco companies warning the agency will take action against those who continue to make, distribute or sell flavored cigarettes in violation of the law. Border agents have been instructed to block imports of flavored cigarettes.
Federal officials and tobacco control advocates could not say exactly how many people use these products. But Dr. Lawrence Deyton, head of the FDA's new Center for Tobacco Products, said they are favored by teens.
"Studies show that 17-year-old smokers are three times as likely to use flavored cigarettes as smokers over the age of 25," Deyton said.
"I also agree with the banning of flavored cigarettes."
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