Archived News

4/7/2005 - The French Food Standards Agency (Agence Francaise de SecuriteSanitaire des Aliments) has produced a comprehensive report (in French) onthe risk and benefits of trans fatty acids. It considers both the isomersof conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which occur naturally, and those whichare the result of industrial processes such as the hydrogenation ofvegetable oils.

4/6/2005 - Canada’s trans fat task force held its first meeting on Fridayto decide what needs tackling and looked at the risks and benefits ofvarious alternatives to the much maligned oil.

05/04/05 - Europe’s Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health(CCFAC) endorsed a Commission proposal to add curcuma (turmeric) andvirgin palm oil to the list of food products which must be certified asfree of sudan dyes (sudan I, II, III and Scarlet Red/Sudan IV), in orderto gain entry into the EU.

DAVAO CITY, April 7 Asia Pulse - The Philippine Palm Oil DevelopmentCouncil, Inc. (PPDCI) painted a bleak picture of the Philippines palm oilindustry as "supply gap" is projected to increase.PPDCI Secretary Abdulla Pendatun said the supply gap scenario is expectedto continue following increases in domestic demand but a sharp reductionin local production.

06/04/05 The Jakarta Post, Jakarta - Indonesia exported 8.66 million tonsof crude palm oil last year, or up about a third from the previous year's6.39 million tons, thanks to better production, according to data from theCentral Statistic Agency (BPS) and Gapki.

The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) is setting up a RM25million biotechnology centre in Negri Sembilan to conduct research intotissue culture and develop commercially viable nutraceutical andpharmaceutical products.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 (Bernama) -- Pharmaceutical product manufacturerHovid Bhd is targeting to set up a production or research and development(R&D) centre in India and China by next year.

Wednesday 06 April 2005, 0:35 Makka Time, 21:35 GMT

April 2 2005 - GOLDEN Hope Plantations Bhd has opened its new plant in HoChi Minh City, Vietnam.

4/4/05 Oilmandi - The government has decided to promote oil palmcultivation in the country in a bid to reduce dependence on vegetable oilimports. A 500-million-rupee outlay has been earmarked for this projectunder the Tenth Plan (2002-07), a senior agriculture ministry officialsaid Monday.

4/4/05Oilworld Sees Sharp M'sia Palm Oil Stks Fall(Dow Jones)--Oilworld estimates sharp drop in Malaysian palm oil stocks to1.38 million tons at end-March, traders say. Stocks were 1.54 million tonsat end-February. Oilworld citing robust March exports, especially toEuropean Union for biofuels sector, as reason for lower stocks, traderssay. Official March stocks number due from MPOB early next week. Sharpdecline in stocks would be positive for palm oil prices, but unlikely totrigger significant upward move as already largely factored into market bynow, traders say.

KOTA KINABALU, April 4 (Bernama) -- The man who invented hollow blocksfrom oil palm shells has come up with a new invention which he says willsolve the problem affecting the drainage system in tropical countries --drains becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes because of stagnant water.