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Briefs<br />
Other issues involve defining<br />
‘gluten free', ‘low carb' and<br />
‘reduced carb' claims.<br />
The FDA is also due to issue<br />
guidance on the unintentional<br />
presence of allergens in food and<br />
beverage products, as well as to<br />
reconsider the regulatory<br />
framework for qualified health<br />
claims and permitted levels of lead<br />
in candy.<br />
Source: FOODUSA Navigator.com<br />
EU TO REVIEW<br />
BIO-DIESEL STANDARD<br />
BY 2009<br />
The quality standard for bio-diesel<br />
is expected to be changed by 2009,<br />
when a EU review is completed.<br />
At issue is whether the maximum<br />
iodine value (a measure of<br />
unsaturation of vegetable oils) for the<br />
feedstock blend should be increased<br />
above the current level of 120.<br />
because certain German auto<br />
manufacturers only provide an<br />
engine warranty when bio-diesel is<br />
made from rapeseed oil.<br />
The preference for rapeseed oil has<br />
resulted in prices of US$210/tonne<br />
premium over soybean oil.<br />
Source: Ag Perspectives<br />
GERMAN TAXES<br />
ON BIO-DIESEL<br />
Germany will phase in a<br />
€0.09/litre tax on bio-diesel from<br />
this year. This will rise to €0.06<br />
eurocents/litre per year from 2008<br />
to reach €0.45 eurocents/litre in<br />
2012.<br />
Vegetable oils used directly as fuel<br />
will be taxed at the same rates.<br />
About 2 million tonnes of biodiesel<br />
were sold last year, but the<br />
volume is expected to increase<br />
sharply this year.<br />
Zimbabwe is also facilitating the<br />
planting of the drought-resistant<br />
Jatropha curcas, a multi-purpose<br />
plant with high oil content in its<br />
seed.<br />
Bio-fuel made from this oil is<br />
targeted to supply about 10% of<br />
national requirements, thereby<br />
reducing the fuel import bill.<br />
Source: The Herald, June 30, 2006<br />
PETROBRAS LAUNCHES<br />
BIO-DIESEL<br />
Petrobras of Brazil has launched a<br />
bio-diesel product derived from a<br />
new refining process. H-Bio was<br />
created after investing US$38<br />
million in research.<br />
It is produced by mixing vegetable<br />
oil obtained from soybean and<br />
mamona or papaya, with mineral<br />
diesel.<br />
Source: Ag Perspectives<br />
The value currently limits the<br />
volume of soybean oil and<br />
sunflower oil used, and favours<br />
rapeseed oil instead.<br />
It is thought that the iodine value<br />
will be increased since the EU will<br />
need to use more soybean oil as a<br />
feedstock to meet its bio-fuel goals.<br />
EU bio-diesel manufacturers have<br />
already found a way to reduce the<br />
amount of rapeseed oil in biodiesel<br />
feedstock blends by adding a<br />
blend of soybean oil and palm oil.<br />
However, some hesitate to do so<br />
Source: Ag Perspectives<br />
BIO-DIESEL DEAL<br />
FOR ZIMBABWE<br />
Agro-industrial company Dutch<br />
Agricultural Development and<br />
Trading Company BV (Dadtco) has<br />
entered into a joint venture deal to set<br />
up a bio-diesel plant in Zimbabwe.<br />
Dadtco will bring in the required<br />
technology and expertise to build<br />
the plant, while South African firm<br />
Intshona Agriculture Products will<br />
provide the funds.<br />
CPO USE CAPPED<br />
FOR BIO-DIESEL<br />
Malaysia and Indonesia, the<br />
world’s largest palm oil producers,<br />
have agreed to limit the use of<br />
CPO for bio-fuel production.<br />
The ceiling has been set at 6<br />
million tonnes a year or 40% of<br />
their combined total production.<br />
This is designed to ensure<br />
sufficient supply of palm oil for the<br />
edible oil and oleochemical sectors.<br />
Source: Ag Perspectives<br />
GLOBAL OILS & FATS BUSINESS MAGAZINE •VOL.3 ISSUE 3, 2006 35
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