Minister wants rethink over GM foods after rat death study

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Politics

Austria’s minister for agriculture and the environment has called on the European Commission to review its approval process for genetically modified (GM) food after a controversial French study linked a kind of GM corn to higher health risks in rats. French scientists said that rats fed on Monsanto’s GM corn or exposed to its top-selling […]

Vienna Greens want cars banned over fine dust

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Politics

Cars lacking eco-friendly engine systems should be kept out from Vienna form 2013, a Green Party official has suggested. Rüdiger Maresch said today (Fri) owners of cars with excessive carbon emissions could be blocked from entering the federal capital in less than two years by creating a new motorised traffic rules system. The Vienna Greens […]

Berlakovich rejects shale gas project

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Business

People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich has spoken out against plans to produce shale gas in Lower Austria. Large reserves of the substance may be located in rocks up to 6,000 metres below the surface in the north-eastern province of Lower Austria. Austrian oil and gas group OMV AG reportedly plans to carry out […]

Berlakovich under Green fire

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Politics

Greens chairwoman Eva Glawischnig has hit out at People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich.The Green Party head said Austria was likely to fail reducing its greenhouse gas emissions – and made the minister responsible for the development. Glawischnig also pointed out that the share of energy from renewable sources declined by two per cent […]

Geiger counters sold out

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General News

Geiger counters have sold out across Austria, according to radio reports.The detector, which establishes the amount of nuclear radiation, is not available anymore at the country’s leading electronic appliance stores. A spokesman for a firm said today (Tues) demand for the product has been “incredible” since last week’s earthquake in Japan.Several detonations occurred at a […]

Berlakovich wants nuclear power plant ‘stress tests’

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Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment and Agriculture Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich suggested nuclear power plants in Europe should undergo “stress tests” in the wake of occurrences in Japan.Detonations at several nuclear power stations in the Asian country, which was rattled by an immense earthquake last week, could lead to a meltdown and significant radiation.Now Berlakovich – who […]

Emissions to rise as lorry traffic volume soars

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Business

Austria is moving further away from meeting agreed greenhouse gas emission limits as lorry traffic is on the rise.New figures presented by the Austrian Traffic Club (VCÖ) today (Thurs) show that the volume of lorry traffic on Austria’s busiest motorways increased year on year in 2010.The organisation, which examined road authority Asfinag’s annual data, said […]

Austrian embassy in Paris ‘a pigsty’

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Politics

People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich has labelled the Austrian embassy in Paris a “pigsty”, according to reports.The federal minister was due to catch a connection flight in the French capital yesterday (Tues) to attend the United Nations’ (UN) 2010 Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico.The departure of the Air France jet the minister […]

Dead cow had BSE, test shows

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General News

Austria has been hit by the eighth case of mad-cow disease (BSE) this year.The federal health ministry announced today (Fri) post mortem tests have shown that a 15-year-old cow which died of old age on a farm in the Lower Austrian district of Wiener Neustadt had the disease.The ministry, headed by Social Democrat (SPÖ) Alois […]

Austrian database planned after cheap eggs scam

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Business

People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich has unveiled plans to set up a country-wide egg-farming database following a recent business scandal.Berlakovich’s initiative comes after it emerged that a Styrian company imported substandard eggs from Poland and Hungary to sell them as local products. Recent reports have it that Rohr an der Raab-based Goldmund sold […]