International News Briefs

Japan’s agriculture ministry says it will chair a task force on genetically modified foods (GMO) in March to develop standards, guidelines and recommendations under the auspices of Codex Alimentarius. Jun Negishi, a food health official at the ministry, says Japan volunteered to chair because of its neutral position between the U.S. and European Union.

GeneticID, a Fairfield, IA-based food analysis group that markets licensed testing procedures for genetically modified foods, said it believes Australia has a potential market for exporting its nongenetically-modified foods worth $1 billion annually.

Novartis AG of Switzerland announced that it will launch a line of functional foods, including muesli designed to reduce cholesterol, bone-strengthening orange juice, and foods that will improve digestion. The Aviva line is aimed at consumers over 35 years old and will be available in Europe in early 2000.

China’s Xinhua News Agency is reporting that a large traditional Chinese herbal medicine cultivating and processing base will be built over the next decade in Ningxia Hui, an autonomous region in northwest China. The area is home to more than 1,100 species of traditional medicinal herbs.

In Ireland, the Health Producers’ Alliance is considering seeking a judicial review of a decision by the Irish Medicines Board to make St. John’s wort a prescription-only medication, the Irish Times says.

New York-based Quintiles Transnational Corp. (QTRN) has signed an agreement with Shanghai Xingling Scientific and Technology Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to conduct clinical studies of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for which it hopes to obtain FDA approval for treatment of stable angina. Shanghai Xingling currently markets its product Gingkonin in China and Southeast Asia.

Distriborg SA, a French maker and distributor of health food and dietary supplements, has agreed to buy three brands from Danone SA’s Bledina unit. Terms for the Gayelord Hauser, Bio Vivre and Attilon brands, which are weight-control and sports-nutrition products, were not disclosed.

CV Technologies, the University of Hong Kong, and Gainforce Ltd. executed an agreement in October defining the operation of a new company, ChemBioPrint Asia Ltd. The company will develop, manufacture and market proprietary natural pharmaceuticals using CVT’s ChemBioPrint technology.

National Foods Ltd., one of Australia’s top-three dairy companies, made its first push into the $76.8 million Australian soy beverage market, signing a joint-venture agreement with Hong Kong-based Vitasoy International Holdings Ltd. National Foods, which sells Yoplait yogurt, Pura Milk and YoGo dairy products, said the two companies will spend about $16 million to build a new factory in Australia at which to produce soy drinks.