The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said that South Korea will start genetically modified organism (GMO) labelling of corn, soybean and bean sprouts in March 2001. The state-run National Agricultural Product Quality Management Service would be in charge of assessing GMOs in the three products singled out for labelling. GMO levels of less than 5% in agricultural products would be considered GMO-free.

Associated Breweries and Distillers have introduced San Miguel Pale Pilsen in the market with sales in Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore. The beer is packaged in 650ml bottles and 500ml cans. The market for San Miguel Pale Pilsen is believed to be 50,000 dozen-cases. In Banagalore, Associated Breweries is initially targeting a sales volume of 15,000 cases.

The Warren Group, which has interests in tea gardens, has announced plans to diversify into the brewing and hospitality industries through its associate Darjeeling Plantation Industries Ltd. (DPIL). DPIL has applied for necessary licences in two states for the production of beer but the chairman Vinay K. Goenka would not disclose the names of the states.

Kirin Brewery Co. ended a 10-year contract with San Miguel Brewery Hong Kong at the end of last year under which San Miguel produced Kirin’s lager beer. Kirin concluded that the demand for its beer would not recover following the region’s economic slump and decline in the number of Japanese tourists. Kirin will continue to sell its beer in Hong Kong by exporting it from Japan.

In March, 80s tycoon Alan Bond (see Brauwelt International 1/2000) was released from prison.

When you think of Mexico, what picture immediately springs to mind? Are you thinking of men in ponchos and sombreros, perhaps Pancho Villa (steady now, this is political territory), or men with black moustaches in leather gear usually worn by Cowboys (or was that the members of the band Village People?). Anyway. One thing is certain: You are NOT thinking of Clint Eastwood.

That’s a shame. Wasn’t he the epitome of "cool" in the first Spaghetti Western "For a Fistful of Dollars" (1964) directed by Sergio Leone? A real hunk. You can bet that woman was thinking of him when she ordered a bottle of Corona Extra and slice of lime at lunchtime in the pub on the ground floor of New York’s Empire State Building where people usually go for a Bud.

All right, we confess. Oh no....

The government-owned Hanoi Beer Company (Habeco) in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi has placed an order with Ziemann for supply of a complete brewing plant, from malt receipt all the way to bottling and kegging plants. This plant will double the annual production capacity of Habeco‘s Hanoi brewery to 1 million hl of sales beer. The contract has been signed in Hanoi on October 22nd, 1999. The formal ceremony was attended by representatives of the Vietnamese government and the German embassy. This investment, in the double digit million range, will strengthen Habeco‘s market position in competition with national and international beer brands.

Switzerland’s major brewer, the Feldschlösschen-Hürlimann Holding, has announced plans to get out of brewing before the end of the year in an effort to focus on its more profitable real estate business. The president Robert A. Jeker has been quoted saying that although the brewing business was profitable, it did not generate enough profit to finance restructuring measures which would be necessary to become more competitive and to regain market share. Over the past ten years, beer consumption in Switzerland has declined 17% to 58 litres per capita.
Interestingly, last year only, the board of Feldschlösschen-Hürlimann had intended to sell the real estate side of the business. On 22 May at the annual meeting the shareholders gave their consent to the sale of the beverage business..

Had it not been for the contribution of its Chinese brewing operations which realised a turnover of more than US$131.6 million according to the latest annual report, the turnover of the Chocolate Products (Malaysia) Bhd would have been significantly lower than the US$179 million reported. The group ventured into China in 1995 where it has nine breweries. The Chinese operations are expected to contribute significantly to the group’s performance in the medium turn even as its chocolate operations are rationalised because the effect of the severe economic downturn in Malaysia will continue to dent earnings.

Coca-Cola’s and PepsiCo’s Indian officials have come together to protest against excise duties which are in excess of related goods and commodities. An Indian Soft Drink Manufacturers’ Association representative said that it was surprising that the government decided to tax the industry at 40% which is significantly higher than the 8% duty put on sugar confectionery and fruit juices and the 16% duty placed on mineral water, instant coffee and chewing gum. It is believed that together Coke and Pepsi have accumulated losses of US$138 million. Growth is at an all time low of 5% against last year’s growth of 25%.