Bertil Sylvander and Aude Le Floc’h-WadelINRA, France This paper delineates trends in European demand for organic products, particularly for poultry and livestock. Although, on average, the price of organic products is twice that of conventionally grown food, excess demand still exists within…

James MoynaghSCAHAW, Belgium There is already considerable legislation on the statute books in Europe dealing with animal welfare. Such legislation results from strong public pressure and interest. The legislation is always science based, usually on reports from the European Union (EU) Scientific…

Claude BérangerInstitut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), France In the future, animal production systems in the European Union (EU) are expected to confront increasingly competitive markets, increasing world demand for animal protein, higher quality and safer foods, and sustainable production systems….

Michael RobertsUniversity of Missouri-Columbia This paper documents the tremendous productivity gains that have been made in United States (US) animal agriculture over the past century. Productivity gains will continue to be necessary as global demand for animal protein outpaces world productive capacity….

Dennis DiPietreUniversity of Minnesota Relentless technological change and intermediate market failure are re-shaping the supply chain for fresh meat. Investment over the last twenty years has primarily been in fixed assets that lower the shutdown price point and lead to structuralized overproduction…

Bertrand CarsinEuropean Commission, Belgium This paper discusses the role of science in policy making in the European Union (EU). Lessons from past experiences are used to provide an outlook for the future. Key words: Food safety; risk assessment; European Union (EU).

Stephen SundlofUnited States Food and Drug Administration This paper discusses the problem of making decisions based on science, without taking into consideration societal values. Science is value-neutral which is problematic if it is used as a sole guide to decision-making, as is…

James CoffmanKansas State University This paper summarizes and discussed National Research Council, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources report (NRC, 1999) on the Use of Drugs in Food Animals: Benefits and Risks. In reflection of the report itself, it focuses on issues…

Ghislain FolletEuropean Federation of Animal Health Industries (FEDESA), Belgium A number of resistant bacterial pathogens have become the focus of recent concern in human medicine. Studies and facts on use of antibiotics in animals suggest that animal sources contribute little to the…

Robert CollierThe University of Arizona In the United States (US) and European Union (EU) the regulatory and commercialization process for recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) had widely differing outcomes. Although the regulatory process in both locations was completed in 1993 the commercialization of…