Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are ubiquitous and can contaminate the food chain. A study monitoring PCD/Fs in imported meat was conducted at the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS, Republic of Korea) in order to maintain food safety from the bioaccumulative PCDD/Fs. Seventeen PCDD/Fs with toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) established by World Health Organization (WHO, 1998) were analyzed in imported beef, pork, and chicken by high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HR-GC/MS). Results of the monitoring for the last 5 years are presented. The levels of PCDD/Fs were similar to other studies except two unusually high concentrations in pork and beef. Excessive levels greater than the Korean provisional maximum residue limit of PCDD/Fs were found in a sample of pork imported from Chile and a sample of beef imported from U.S, and those products were rejected and returned. These was no obvious trend or differences with respect to time or origin of meat in this study.

Beef production in the Republic of Belarus could be competitive only in case of development of the specialized beef cattle breeding. Therefore, for the increasing of beef production and improvement of its quality in Belarus there was noted the necessity to use cattle beef breeds both in case of straightbred breeding, and in crossing with low income-earning Black-and-White cow stock. Research results showed that hybrid Gereford x Black-and-White breeds of the first and second filial generations showed higher reproductive abilities which were manifested in 105-120 days age reduction at the stage of the first insemination, 18-44 days reduction of service period, 0,07-0,1 times increasing of breeding efficiency index, 9,8-14,4% increasing of calf crop per 100 dams, and 14,4-16,4% increasing of young stock livability in comparison with the Black-and-White breeds calves. Research results showed that the non-heating season of the mongrel Gereford x Black-and-White heifer breeds of the first and second filial generations was 396-400 days, breeding efficiency index (rate of fertilization) - 1,29-1,32, breeding performance index - 85,4-90,0%, while for the at Black-and-White heifer breeds the same indices were 425 days, 1,29 and 75,6%, respectively