+++ Germany cuts on value added tax +++
From 1 July, a lower VAT rate will apply in Germany for goods and services. The new regular rate is 16% (instead of 19%), the reduced VAT rate is 5% (previously 7%). The reduction, which will last until the end of 2020, is intended to provide economic relief for consumers and entrepreneurs in the corona crisis.
Link: Information and FAQ by German Federal Government (German)
+++ EU presents Farm to Fork Strategy for a sustainable food system +++
If the Covid-19 pandemic has shown feed and food producers one thing, it is that food systems have to be sustainable if they are to be resilient to crises. As part of the European Green Deal, the EU has put forward its Farm to Fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system.
Link: European Commission
+++ Germany: End of contact restriction not in sight yet +++
The Federal Government and the heads of the Länder have not yet reached a joint agreement. For the time being, the contact restrictions have been extended until July 3.
Link: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (German)
+++ RaboBank with new forecast +++
Which challenges will the Southeast Asian Food and Agriculture Industry face in the near future? RaboBank elaborates on the impact of coronavirus on business.
Link: RaboBank analysis
+++ Octoberfest is cancelled +++
Due to the SARS-CoV 19 pandemic, the world’s largest beer festival, the “Wiesn” in Munich, has been cancelled.
Link: Official statement
+++ Germany ‘s next steps to stem the virus +++
Federal and state governments agree on extension of c
Link: Official statement by German Federal Government
+++ Feed is of systemic importance, EU says +++
FEFAC states that the EU has classified feed as an “essential good” in their Green Lanes protocol.
Read the full article and more on allaboutfeed.net (unlimited for registered users).
Link: All About Feed
+++ Key strategies for pig farmers +++
PigProgress reports a checklist compiled by experts from the University of Minnesota, stating what pork and livestock farmers should—and should not—do these days.
Read the article and more on pigprogress.net (unlimited for registered users).
Link: Pig Progress
+++ Animal feed industry status. What is going on around the world? +++
Extensive roundup by FeedInfo editors Shannon Behary and Simon Duke in this video (17 min.)
Link: FeedInfo Talk
+++ Corona simulator: Why keeping your distance is the thing to do now +++
In many countries afflicted by the coronavirus, measures have been introduced by now to prevent further spread of the disease. Why this is exactly the right thing to do now becomes clear in this enlightening animation by US newspaper Washington Post.
Link: Washington Post
+++ German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture confirms systemic importance +++
In her speech during the governmental press conference on food industry and agriculture, Ms Klöckner stated that together with food producers, the feed industry is one of the sectors of the economy that is of systemic importance. The production of animal feed is therefore one of the most fundamental areas of public life and absolutely essential, especially in times of crisis.
Link: Federal Press Conference (17.3.2020, German)
+++ Comprehensive and reliable: WHO on coronavirus +++
On this special website, WHO gives information and situation updates.
Link: WHO official website
+++ Europe: Animal nutrition industry stands together +++
In these changeful days, feed and nutrition companies all over Europe are equally facing restrictions and insecurities connected with the battle against the virus. A recent survey by the industry’s leading news platform FeedInfo shows that they all are united in one thing: their measures and their mission to halt the spread of infection while securing the supply of needed goods for their customers.
Among the companies who gave a statement on the current situation was Dr. Eckel Animal Nutrition. The manufacturer and supplier of feed additives stated that, as a middle-sized, family-owned company, they had to think ahead and act accordingly. As early as Friday 13, measures had been taken to ensure that employees and their families, the company and society as a whole were protected from harm in the best possible way.
Among these were the separation of the logistics, production and administration areas in consultation with the public health department. Employees from the one area do no longer mix or even meet with the other, not even during breaks or in carpooling (Dr. Eckel’s has a car pool for employees to commute to work together). The reason for this is, of course, to ensure that these areas have no contact with each other and so to minimize the risk for every employee and to prevent the closure of one area in the event of an infection in the other. Under these conditions, both production and administration at Dr. Eckel are still up and running and will continue to do so.
In administration, only a third of staff is working at the office for now. In terms of mobile working structures, Dr. Eckel had already been practicing this for long in all departments and teams. Thus the step to let most employees stay at home and work from there was very easily made and the company is well prepared even if further restrictions of movements should become necessary.
Production is now running in two shifts which do not overlap and are operated by two separate teams. Since Dr. Eckel gets a large part of supplies from regional / European producers in any case, who so far had no supply difficulties, and thanks to a flexible warehouse management, the warehouse is well stocked. Thus the company will be able to continue producing and fulfilling their orders. Furthermore, all employees who had travelled (on business or private) during the last 14 days – no matter in what area or country – stay at and work from home for the next three weeks.
Dr. Eckel expressed the responsibility—just as many of its fellow companies around Europe—that we all have in these times: to join all forces and ensure that further spread is as slow as possible while at the same time keeping up the supply chains which are vital for humans and animals alike.
As Dr. Eckel’s Vice President, Dr Bernhard Eckel, stated: »In times like these, we see how vulnerable we are—our businesses, our nations, and especially our global networks. Yet, at the same time, we see the great possibilities that lie within the right actions and decisions, as well as opportunities: In future, we will, even without risks like Corona, travel less and use more IT solutions to relate and discuss with clients and suppliers virtually. This crisis is not the problem of one country alone. And it cannot be solved alone. We are all in it together. And together we will deal with it, and emerge stronger and wiser from it.«
Dr. Eckel has been planning the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system for the last months. So far, the company is positive that the hard work of the past will pay off and the company will be able to implement the new system, as planned on April 1st, the better to serve its clients’ needs in the future.
Read the full article on FeedInfo (subscribers only): https://www.feedinfo.com/pages/COVID_19_in_Europe_Latest_Updates_by_Animal_Nutrition_Companies/6500560