ASIA: Food Crisis Adds to Women’s Burden

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Apr 29 (IPS) - As if the burdens they shoulder are not enough, Asia’s women are being compelled to bear the additional weight of rising food prices, say women’s rights activists from across the region.

‘’With increasing prices of rice, oil, fuel transport and all basic commodities, women workers in Asia are the worst hit,’’ declared the Committee for Asian Women (CAW), a regional non-governmental organisation (NGO), at the launch of a campaign here Monday to seek higher wages for female workers.

‘’Workers who produce society’s food, shelter and clothing are, themselves, in a perennially vulnerable hand to mouth existence,’’ added CAW in its statement to push for better incomes for women in the formal and informal sector. This ‘Wage Campaign 2008’ is being backed by women’s organisations in 14 Asian countries, among which are Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

‘’Women are definitely the worst affected when food prices go up. They will have to bear additional burdens for their families,’’ Lucia Jayaseelan, CAW’s executive coordinator, told IPS following the campaign’s launch. ‘’They also end up making huge sacrifices, such as being the last to eat in a family that is suddenly faced with limited food at home.’’

In addition, women are driven to seek additional jobs in the informal sector, often compelling them to work for longer hours, she added. ‘’They take on more work, like tailoring or packing things into small packages in their homes. Some women end up having to do three jobs.’’

Compounding the problem is the lack of a basic minimum wage for such female workers, Jayaseelan said. ‘’In many Asian countries there is no minimum wage. And where they do exist, they do not take into account the rise in inflation.’’

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), women make up 38.7 percent, or some 730 million, of the Asia-Pacific region’s total workforce, currently estimated at 1.9 billion people. But close to 65 percent of female workers earn a living in the ‘’vulnerable’’ and ‘’informal’’ sector, where there are no steady wages or social benefits.

Typical among those in the vulnerable and the informal sector are women who are self-employed, working in homes to produce goods for sale, or the millions who works as food vendors in the streets of Asia’s major and minor cities and towns. South Asian women account for the largest share of these vulnerable women across the continent, some 82 percent, ILO’s research reveals.

‘’The women who work as street vendors are being directly hit by the increase in food prices, because they have no social protection nor benefits in times of trouble,’’ says Steven Kapsos, a labour economist at the ILO’s Asia-Pacific regional office, based in Bangkok. ‘’Even women working in the region’s garment sector will be vulnerable despite getting a wage, because they do not enjoy benefits to deal with such a spike in food prices.’’

Asia is also home to a large body of the working poor, some 900 million people, who live on less than two US dollars a day. ‘’This food crisis will hit many of them, living in poor households in urban areas,’’ Kapsos said in an interview. ‘’The average poor family in Asia spends a minimum of 50 percent of the household budget on food.’’

The Geneva-based labour organisation is calling for governments to respond to the galloping rise in prices of staples such as rice through both short-term and long-term measures. ‘’In the short term, governments must provide cash transfers to poor households or subsidise the price of food for them,’’ says Kapsos. ‘’In the long term, governments must invest more in rural areas, including in labour productivity for agriculture.’’

The food crisis in the Philippines, one of the worst affected countries in the region, is drawing much attention. After all, it is the world’s largest importer of rice, depending on the paddy fields of South-east Asian neighbours like Vietnam and Thailand. It needs to import some 2.2 million tonnes of the grain this year. Consequently, it has been hit by the rapid rise in the price of rice being traded in the world market.

And to be a female worker in such times is to shoulder a larger burden, Jurgette Honculada of the National Federation of Labour in the Philippines, said at the conference in Bangkok. ‘’Nearly 40 percent of the Philippines labour force is either unemployed or under-employed. They are under constant assault.’’

Women make up the majority of those in the informal sector, some 27 million, in the Philippines. ‘’They have no social security, no protection and have to find small jobs that keep them afloat,’’ she added. ‘’Workers in this sector are eating less and less these days.’’

Female workers in Thailand, the world’s largest rice exporter, are not immune from the hike in food prices either. ‘’Women working in the informal sector are concerned about the rise in the cost of living. The cost of one meal with rice has almost doubled in some places,’’ said Wilaiwan Seta, chairperson of the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee. ‘’Some women say they cannot afford to give birth to a second child because they worry that milk powder will be beyond their reach.’’

Source

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HALAL FOOD: Kitchen of the World Goes Halal

Science and taste come together as Thailand eyes the lucrative Islamic food sector.
Dated: 1 May 2008
BY TANIDA DISYABUT

All across the world, populations of Muslim people can be found in almost every society and country. Comprising over a quarter of the world’s 6.4 billion population, or about 1.8 billion, the demographics and profile of Muslim consumers differ greatly from one market to another. The number who have migrated to developed countries and boosted their incomes with economic development is rapidly growing.

It is this segment of upwardly mobile Muslims that has attracted the attention of Thailand’s forward-moving food industry.

AFJ talks to Associate Professor Winai Dahlan, director of the world’s first Halal Science Center and dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences at Chulalongkorn University. He is also the committee chairman responsible for drafting the Thailand Halal Standards which came into effect last year.

AFJ: We have seen an increase in the export volume of halal foods in recent years. Where are these key markets?

Halal food defines all foods that are permitted for consumption under Islamic law. In 2007, global consumption of halal food in more than 148 countries reached as much as 18 to 20 percent of the US$1.323 trillion in global food value.

This is a huge market. Food manufacturers all over the world, including those in Thailand, recognise its value.

However, we have to analyze the main markets where this consumption comes from. Regions of dense Muslim populations, such as the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and South-east Asia, are not necessarily profitable markets because these countries import mostly food commodities, not premium products.

Certainly, we can’t just look at population size. Purchasing power is important. While food consumption is US$6 a day for American Muslims and US$5 for the six million Muslims in France, in Indonesia this is only 30 cents, or 20 times lower. This is even lower in Africa, where there are as many as 350 million people (excluding North Africa), or about half the total population.

AFJ: What issues does one have to bear in mind when developing a halal food product?

Each market has a different demand. We have to study and analyze the different markets to understand how best to tap on the potential of key importing countries.

In some countries and for some products such as commodities, semi-raw materials or animal feed, the importer needs only a guarantee from the exporter, and not the certification label on the package. Ironically, this makes products look inferior in some markets because consumers think the halal-certified label is only for products that are not genuinely halal. But in many countries and especially for niche products, the certification label is a must and lends a value-add to products.

To be competitive, pricing is also important and products need to be developed at the best possible cost. Getting certified is not the only way to add value to products. We also have to understand the nature of the markets and invest in good logistics that can enhance cost cutting.

AFJ: Thailand is still growing its share in the halal food market. What is in it for Thai food businesses and what are our competitive advantages?

At present, the value of halal foods worldwide is over US$265 billion. Considering that Thailand is a major exporter of halal food, we are holding only a minor market share of 0.65% of global halal food value.

In 2007, 1,200 Thai manufacturers exported halal products worth US$1,711 million. Twenty percent of this went to the Middle East and the rest were exported to Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries in South-east Asia. Some have to be halal-certified but many products are halal by their processes, such as rice, fl our, salt and sauce. Our main competitor for halal food exports is Brazil. Malaysia, our neighbouring country, has been hastily developing halal products for export. But I do not believe that they are our competitors for now although they have strengths in non-food products such as medicines.

There is still a lot of room for improvement for Thai exporters of halal food. What they need is market knowledge and to understand the sensitivities of consumer demands in importing countries. These are mainly countries with high export-market potential, such as the US, Canada, European countries, Australia and New Zealand. Consumers there have a much higher purchasing power compared with our existing buyers.

To enhance Thai halal food exports and achieve our goal of becoming the "Kitchen of the world", the government’s strategy is to build confidence among importers in the quality of Thai halal food products. To achieve this, the government has provided vigorous support to lifting its standardization procedures and embarked on greater consumer protection for Muslims in Thailand.

We strongly believe that the Halal Science Center (HSC) showcases this strength in Thai export products. This also adds to a better image of trust and credibility, as buyers make decisions based on the psychological factor that science stands for safety.

AFJ: Tell us more about the HSC and its recent activities to promote the export potential and credibility of Thai halal food products.

We are the first laboratory for halal food in the world, established in 2003 with support from the government. It’s managed under the Faculty of Allied Health Science at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s best-known state university. The priority is on standardisation and lifting the high quality standards of Thai halal foods in accordance with Islamic law and the Codex Alimentarius. In addition, all Thai halal products must be certified for nutrition and hygiene, and be export qualified.



HSC is also well-equipped with modern and advanced scientific devices including LC/MS/MS, GS/MS, HPLC, GC, ICP, AA, FTIR, UC and realtime-PCR among others. These specifically provide all analytical services and research for the detection of contamination detrimental to halal food manufacturing, such as trans-fatty acids, animal proteins/DNA, gelatin, alcohol and microbial contamination. The services include a full-cycle halal factory system called Hal-Q, and a halal kitchen system called NPB Halal Kitchen or non-pork buffer. We also provide laboratory services for monitoring, investigation and authentication. On the business front, we provide training on science-based concepts in the halal business to entrepreneurs, auditors and employees.

Together with 19 staff, we have developed a curriculum for other universities on halal processes, conducted research and development of products, organize exhibitions and meetings, and publish trilingual journals on halal food.

HSC, in cooperation with the Faculty of Allied Health Science, offers the Bachelor programme in Nutrition and Dietetics. Our graduates are well trained and equipped with specialized skills in halal food standards, food manufacturing and certification. We have been developing a traceability system called Halal ICI Superhighway and Halal logistics.

Recently, the Halal Science Center together with the South Borders Province Administrative Center Engagement (SBPAC) researched and developed 81 bio-halal and organic food products. The products are marketed as ‘Halal and Good’, which refers to food safety and Islamic law compliance. In the past, we have addresses these two issues differently, but here we have integrated both into one process.

Products such as gotu kola (Centella asiaica) chips, sweet dried garcinia, dried mushroom chips, coconuts chips and black mushroom pizza, were successfully launched at a food fair in France. They were well accepted by European buyers.

Such feedback from the market increases our confidence. Thai cuisine is often perceived as a luxurious food because of its rich use of herbs, modern technology used to produce ready-to-eat Thai meals, social responsibility and ethnic flavour.

AFJ: Share with us some of the challenges faced by the halal business in Thailand.

The market needs quality. We have to continue developing unique products that meet buyers’ demands. As this center is non-profit, it carries a public service approach. And as scientists, we are evidence-based. All our data and tests have to corroborate not just from the business point of view, but confirm quality standards.

Our newly developed Halal food products can be sold as raw materials for further processing, as a side dish or combined with other foods. Many buyers from big retailers in Europe have told us that our products are at the high-end and deserve higher margins.

However, the biggest challenge in this business is not only product development but also human resource capacity. Halal food production is unique in its processes, from management and auditors to workers. Each part of the organization needs specific and different knowledge to develop the business. Transparency and the participation of staff at every level are keys to its success.

=========================================================================

Mission of the Halal Science Center

• Establish halal laboratories fully equipped with modern analytical and preparative scientific devices.

• Provide analytical services for the detection of any contamination against Islamic law (haram and najis) in raw materials and finished products supplied for the halal food market.

• Conduct R&D on new methodologies, product innovation and reagent kits for halal food verification.

• Prepare lists of chemicals, raw materials and products that accommodate halal food manufacturers and consumers.

• Maintain and update a website to provide key scientific information and networks for halal food manufacturers and consumers.

• Provide scientific support where needed to the Institute for Halal Food Standards and Islamic organizations involved in the certification of halal foods.

• Advise halal food manufacturers and restaurants in the use of Halal-GMP/HACCP/ISO 22000/QHS.

• Provide training programmes in halal science for manufacturers, consumers and the public.

www.halalscience.org

Source

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New Rodent Discovered at Asian Food Market

James Owen

for National Geographic News

May 16, 2005

Scientists who went shopping recently at an Asian food market got more than they bargained for—a rodent unknown to science was being sold as meat.

Discovered in Laos, Southeast Asia, the animal is described as an "oddball rodent" with long whiskers, stubby legs, and a furry tail. But it isn't a squirrel, and it most certainly isn't a rat, says the researcher who first spotted the animal.

Although it's been called a rock rat, the name is misleading, says Robert Timmins, of the Wildlife Conservation Society, based in New York. "It's not at all closely related to typical rats and mice," he said, adding that the description "spineless porcupine" would be more apt.

The animal is believed to represent not only a new species of rodent but also the first mammal family to be discovered in 30 years.

"To find something so distinct in this day and age is just extraordinary," Timmins said. "For all we know, this could be the last remaining mammal family left to be discovered."

While the existence of this dark- colored rodent might be news to scientists, it seems people in the Khammouan region of Laos have long cherished the species—particularly when it's served on a skewer.

Timmins noticed the odd-looking mammal, known locally as the kha-nyou, for sale at an open-air food market. "Rural folks bring in freshly harvested vegetables, fruit, and wildlife," he said. "I knew immediately it was something I had never seen before." Colleagues subsequently found other dead specimens for sale.

Food Item

Timmins says mammals of this size—the kha-nyou measures 16 inches (40 centimeters) from nose to tail—are usually roasted whole. "You then eat them, crunching up the smaller bones and spitting out the larger ones," he added. "Rats, squirrels, and porcupines are an everyday food item, so the kha-nyou fits right in."

Collected specimens were sent to the Natural History Museum in London.

Paula Jenkins, the museum's zoological collections manager, examined the skull, teeth, bones, and other body features, comparing them with the remains of rodent species stored in the museum's collection.

DNA analysis was also done by C. William Kilpatrick at the University of Vermont in the U.S. Results of the combined research were published recently in the museum's journal Systematics and Biodiversity.

"The animal's characteristics are distinctly different from any mammal species yet known to science," Jenkins said. "As a new mammal, it provides us with an interesting insight into the evolution of this and other rodent families."

The research suggests the kha-nyou is a "living fossil" that split from other rodents many millions of years ago. The rodent also seems to be an ancestor of the hystricognaths, a group of rodents that is spread across the globe and includes porcupines, African mole rats, guinea pigs, and chinchillas.

Until now, the last mammal family to be discovered was that of the bumblebee bat—the world's smallest known mammal. It was found in Thailand in 1974.

The kha-nyou has been given the scientific name Laonastes aenigmamus (Laonastes means "inhabitant of stone" and aenigmamus means "enigmatic mouse"). It is presumed to be a nocturnal plant-eater, living on limestone outcrops in highland rain forests. But since the rodent has yet to be found alive by scientists, it remains largely mysterious.

Status Unknown

"There are still many questions over the kha-nyou's status," Timmins said. "Clearly it has a very small range globally, [but it is] probably widespread in the limestone areas of central Laos, so it's probably not going to vanish overnight."

He says that, unlike rats and mice, the rodents give birth to only one offspring at a time, so a precautionary approach should be taken toward their conservation.

"One of the problems with assessing their status is that we don't have any parallels to guide us, since there are no close relatives," Timmins said.

That the existence of such an animal should have remained a secret for so long might seem extraordinary, but mammals endemic to this part of Southeast Asia have a history of being elusive. For instance, the soala, a type of long- horned, rain forest cow, wasn't discovered until the early 1990s.

Likewise, the large-antlered muntjac and the dark Annamite muntjac, two kinds of deer, also remained unknown to the outside world until found in the Annam Cordillera, mountains along the Laos-Vietnam border, in the late 1990s.

"Interestingly, an expedition visited the [Khammouan] area of Laos in 1920 and discovered a new species of bird and a monkey which are also endemic to the limestone," Timmins said. "These were not seen again by scientists until the mid- 1990s."

Of the weird rodent he likens to a spineless porcupine, Timmins added, "Nobody could have predicted this new family."

Source

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ParkwayHealth says its ethics committee procedures comply with HOTA

ParkwayHealth says its ethics committee procedures comply with HOTA

SINGAPORE : ParkwayHealth, which runs Mount Elizabeth Hospital, has confirmed that its policies and procedures are in complete compliance with the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) following a review.

Investigations into the first two organ trading cases are still ongoing at Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

Waiting for a kidney from a deceased donor in Singapore can take as long as eight years, so to shorten to wait, some renal patients turn to live donors.

The ethics committee at Mount Elizabeth Hospital is made up of three persons as required under the HOTA. It comprises a doctor with an active practice at the hospital, a second doctor who is completely independent of the hospital, and a lay person. All candidates are drawn from a panel of Health Ministry (MOH)-approved doctors and lay persons.

As required under the Act, the curriculum vitae of every person on this panel is submitted to the MOH and approved by the Director of Medical Services before they can serve as a Transplant Ethics Committee member. Read More

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