New BSE Case Makes 14 Animals Indigenous to Canada.

China, the world's biggest meat consumer, will extend subsidies to large-scale producers of hogs, chickens and milk this year as part of its measures to boost food supplies and control inflation.

The European Union declared Tuesday night a complete lifting of restrictions on British meat imports to EU countries, imposed in August following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Russia's veterinary watchdog has suspended imports of meat products from Britain as of August 6 due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the country, a news release said.

Thousands of pigs have died in recent months of African swine fever in Georgia so Russia has imports of farm animals and raw meat from the country, officials said Thursday.

The European Union's external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, has warned that Moscow's ban on Polish farm products could sour next month's EU-Russia summit. The EU-Russia summit is set for May 18 in the central Russian city of Samara.

Despite the fact that a Russian ban on Polish meat and plant products remained unresolved after weekend talks, the European Union remained optimistic Monday about negotiations for a comprehensive but delayed strategic partnership accord with Russia next month.

The European Union says Russia has acknowledged progress by Polish inspectors in a meat ban dispute that is holding up a Russian-EU economic partnership deal.

Poland has indicated that it is prepared to lift its veto on the start of talks on a partnership pact between the European Union and Russia.

Poland is going to lift its veto on talks on a new EU-Russia partnership agreement, stalled over Moscow's ban on Polish meat and plant products. Russia has barred meat imports from Poland since late 2005, citing health concerns. The unresolved dispute led Warsaw to veto the negotiations on a deal that aims to forge closer energy ties between Moscow and the 27-nation bloc.