The current Japanese nutraceutical industry is like a sitting on a surfboard in the ocean and looking behind, waiting for the next big wave to arrive. government and industry organizations are putting pressure on the MHLW to open the drug gate and move the ingredients from drugs to the non-drug category. Camber of Commerce in Japan and other Japanese industry organizations filed petitions indicating that the lists are not reflecting their requests and asking them to include omitted...

Thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed in Montgomery County as a result of that span from record highs in the mid-80s in late March to record lows in the mid-20s in early April. Farmers are still calculating the damage, but George Marks thinks he's lost half or more of the 400 acres of wheat he planted in the fall. Back home, imudd's uncle lost 400 acres of wheat, lots of other farmers around there lost theirs as well, he is just glad that is all he planted this year. Under this...

Juvekar said Monsanto is likely to gain a 3-per-cent market share in corn, its largest gain in five years because of the improved genetics of its seeds. Monsanto has increased its market share in Brazil, where there is significant growth potential, and it continues to develop new products, making it "the company to catch up with," he said. Although a switch to corn from soybeans reduced Monsanto's profit margin in the latest quarter, "corn is where the opportunity lies for growth," Mr....

NEW YORK - Wal-Mart Stores inc. said Monday it has started tracking consumer habits, using a basket of eco-friendly products to measure environmental awareness as it aims to lure more upscale shoppers by selling items like organic food. Planet Ark : Wal-Mart to Track Sales of Eco-Friendly Products. The world's biggest retailer said its Live Better Index is a barometer of customer attitudes, based on sales of compact florescent light bulbs, organic milk and baby food, extended-life paper...

To decide the level of scrutiny a plant should get, the "risk-based" system will consider the type of product and the plant's record of food safety violations. Agriculture Department officials say the agency's 7,500 food safety inspectors conducted about 9.2 million inspections at about 6,000 plants last year. No timetable has been set for shifting to the new inspection system, although the Agriculture Department is expected to release one within the next few weeks. Recently, large batches...