31/08/2014

THE TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP


Anca MOT - Faculty of Public Administration - National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest, Romania [ancamot1@yahoo.fr]
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 Abstract:
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The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is a project of exceptional importance which opens a new stage in the globalization process. Given its historical significance, this construction causes numerous debates and controversies. This article attempts to draft a few reflections regarding the main elements, dimensions, orientations, the basis values, objectives and the relevant actors (economic, political, formal and informal) of this greatest bilateral trade agreement. We will attempt a decrypting, on the basis of press articles, of political discourse, and of different analyses and comments, what are the social and economic effects, what are the consequences on democracy of this market project.
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Keywords: transatlantic market project, significance, actors, content of the treaty, critical points
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LINK: http://www.jopafl.com/uploads/issue5/jopafl_issue_5.pdf#page=126

29/08/2014

Market valuation of health claims’ types and strength: the Italian yogurt

 
Francesco Bimbo, Alessandro Bonanno, Rosaria Viscecchia and Gianluca Nardone
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Abstract
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While consumer’s demand for foods delivering health benefits, or functional foods, increases, Reg.No.1924/2006, imposes to food manufacturers in the European market stringent criteria for health claims approval. Facing this trade-off, manufacturers need to assess which claim is more likely to lead to market success. We investigate the market value of different health claims, and their efficacy in Italy, using a large database of yogurt sales and a hedonic Price framework. Our results indicate large variation in the marginal price of a health claim depending upon the type of health benefits delivered and the claim’s strength.
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LINK: http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/182738/2/Bimbo-Market_valuation_of_health_claims%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99_types_and_strength-345_a.PDF

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28/08/2014

Consumers’ Valuation of Soft Drinks Labeled with Calorie and Sweetener Information: The Impact of Taste



Karen E. Lewis, Carola Grebitus and Rodolfo M. Nayga
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Abstract
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In the U.S., soft drink consumption has been considered one culprit for the obesity epidemic. Improved product labeling is considered a policy tool that can help consumers choose healthier products. This research uses an auction to determine consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for soft drinks labeled with sweetener and calorie information after consumers tasted the soft drinks. Soft drink taste is the primary driver of consumers’ WTP for soft drinks, while sweetener labeling also influences WTP. Calorie labeling has little impact on WTP. Consumers’ least preferred soft drink label was “sweetened with HFCS”; sugar was consumers’ most preferred sweetener ingredient.
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Coffee, Country-of-Origin and China

Coffee, Country-of-Origin and China – A closer look at Chinese consumption and perception of foreign and domestic coffee in Kunming
 

Author: Johan Wickström
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Abstract
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Being one of the most valuable commodities in the world, coffee is of great importance to the world economy, producing countries and the daily lives of millions of people. China is one of the largest and fastest growing consumer markets in the world and is experiencing an increasing demand for coffee.
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Very little research has been carried out concerning China’s growing appreciation for the commodity but also in its role as a producer of coffee. This thesis was intended to contribute to the existing knowledge by examining Chinese consumers’ coffee-buying behavior, and especially, how important the country-of-origin of coffee is for the perceived quality of a coffee product. This was done using an online-survey, a focus group discussion and two interviews where the interviewees both had their own company in the coffee business. The results showed, among other things, that Chinese coffee consumers do appear to be influenced by country-of-origin and that this influence differs between groups of people.
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ECONOMIC GROWTH AND NUTRITION TRANSITION: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS COMPARING DEMAND ELASTICITIES FOR FOODS IN CHINA AND RUSSIA



Christine Burggraf, Lena Kuhn, Qiran Zhao, Thomas Glauben and Ramona TeuberLeibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies

Paper prepared for presentation at the EAAE 2014 Congress ‘Agri-Food and Rural Innovations for Healthier Societies’ August 26 to 29, 2014 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract: Given the heterogeneity between Russia and China, we analyze the extent to which income growth as a major driver of nutrition transition has a significant effect on the consumption of different food aggregates. We estimate expenditure elasticities of nine different food aggregates for China and Russian, applying a Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand model. Our results indicate that future income growth in China and Russia will continue to increase meat consumption. Despite being a positive signal for problems of malnutrition in China, this trend might further increase the incidence of chronic diseases with negative cost effects on public health care systems.

Link: http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/182828/2/Economic_growth_and_nutrition_transition_20140606.pdf

EN EL BOE (ESPAÑA): MODIFICACIÓN DEL REGISTRO ALIMENTARIO Y OTRAS DISPOSICIONES


 

Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad
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Alimentación. Registro sanitario
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- Real Decreto 682/2014, de 1 de agosto, por el que se modifica el Real Decreto 191/2011, de 18 de febrero, sobre registro general sanitario de empresas alimentarias y alimentos, y otros cuatro reglamentos sobre esta materia: http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2014/08/27/pdfs/BOE-A-2014-8940.pdf
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Normalización
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Resolución de 31 de julio de 2014, de la Agencia Española de Consumo, Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición, por la que amplía el anexo de la Resolución de 21 de junio de 2004, por la que se acuerda la publicación de las referencias de las normas UNE EN armonizadas, en aplicación del Real Decreto 1801/2003, de 26 de diciembre, sobre seguridad general de los productos: http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2014/08/25/pdfs/BOE-A-2014-8924.pdf
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Comunidad Autónoma de Cataluña
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Seguridad industrial
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- Ley 9/2014, de 31 de julio, de la seguridad industrial de los establecimientos, las instalaciones y los productos: http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2014/08/25/pdfs/BOE-A-2014-8899.pdf

 


26/08/2014

European Parliament: Questions for written answer to the Commission: Appearance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteria in the EU


 
E-000042/14 - Sirpa Pietikäinen (6 January 2014)
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Subject: Appearance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteria in the EU
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Research has provided evidence of the possible threats posed by carbapenem-resistant nterobacteria (CRE) in humans and animals. If spread on a large scale, the mortality rate caused by CRE is expected to be much higher than that resulting from Escherichia coli, breakouts of which occurred in 2007 and 2011. The most dangerous associated pathogen to have been identified is NDM-1, which is resistant to all antibiotics.
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Does the Commission possess up-to-date data on the prevalence of the CRE — in particular that of NDM-1 — in the EU?
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Does the Commission believe that its current risk assessment mechanism for communicable diseases is sufficiently rapid and efficient to track potential epidemics caused by CRE? Does the Commission have any special measures in place to prevent an outbreak of CRE?
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Meat inspection rules are continually revised in order to meet the demands of the technical developments in inspection methods. Has the Commission taken into account the detection methods in place for CRE — which involves culture-based or molecular samples being taken in routine testing — when revising these rules?
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NDM-1 is prevalent in animals, especially in China, where the latest cases show evidence of Salmonella bearing NDM-1. How will the Commission ensure that CRE do not enter the food chain in the EU via products from third countries? Does the Commission plan to introduce mandatory inspections and a ban on carbapenem-producing substances for foodstuffs originating in third countries?.
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Answer given by Mr Borg on behalf of the Commission (5 March 2014):
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The Commission, though the ECDC(1), is aware of the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria in humans, including information about NDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae (2).
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The existing EU risk assessment mechanism for communicable diseases is sufficient to track potential epidemics caused by carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria. MS report outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria to the EWRS(3) and can use the Epidemic Intelligence Information System for antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections to exchange information. Risk assessments are prepared and published upon request by the Commission.(4) The prevention of outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria is the responsibility of each Member State.
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In a review of the rules on meat inspection, EFSA(5) identified public health hazards in meat. Current inspection methods do not enable the detection of biological hazards. The agency recommends to strengthen food chain information as part of the ante-mortem inspection and to improve slaughter hygiene. No validated data on the occurrence of carbapenem-resistance in food and food-producing animals exist(6). The harmonised monitoring programme for antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and commensal bacteria will include specific monitoring of carbapenemase-producing bacteria as of 2015(7),
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Current EU legislation covers food safety criteria for all Salmonella strains in relevant food, applying also to food imported from third countries.
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The EC action plan against antimicrobial resistance (8) prioritises international cooperation and takes into account measures for the control of the spread of resistant bacteria in the food chain linked to import from third countries.

 

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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
On 15 November 2013, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) released the latest data on carbapenemase-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Europe. http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/antimicrobial-resistance-carbapenemase-producing-bacteria-europe.pdf
Early Warning and Response System.
Decision 1082/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2013 on serious cross border threats to health and repealing Decision No 2119/98/EC (OJ L 293, 5.11.2013, p. 1).
The European Food Safety Authority.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/3501.htm
Commission Implementing Decision (2013/652/EU) of 12 November 2013 on the monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and commensal bacteria (OJ L 303, 14.11.2013, p26).
http://ec.europa.eu/health/antimicrobial_resistance/policy/index_en.htm

 

[Official Journal of the European Union C 279, 22 August 2014, p. 55]

 

 

24/08/2014

TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY: AMERICAN ECONOMY AND TRADE

 

 
ACCF CENTER FOR POLICY RESEARCH SPECIAL REPORT - AUGUST 2014
 
BY PINAR ÇEBI WILBER, PH.D. - SENIOR ECONOMIST AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR CAPITAL FORMATION CENTER FOR POLICY RESEARCH
 
The President’s 2014 Trade Policy Agenda stresses the critical role of trade and investment in the Administration’s strategy to create jobs, promote growth and strengthen the middle class. However, Congress has failed to grant Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to the Executive Branch since the last one expired on July 1, 2007. This special report discusses the importance of TPA in trade negotiations, as well as the positive impact of a system that promotes open markets on U.S. jobs and economic growth. The opening section provides an overview and brief history of TPA, followed by a list of current trade negotiations. The Special Report concludes with a discussion of the importance of free trade for the U.S. economy and how TPA could be helpful, especially with the recent boom in the U.S. energy industry.
LINK: http://www.accf.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ACCF-Special-Report-Trade-Promotion-Authority.pdf

12/08/2014

“LA BIOSEGURIDAD COMO ESTRATEGIA DE CONTROL DE 'CAMPYLOBACTER' EN AVICULTURA”


Marta Cerdà-Cuéllar y otros, “LA BIOSEGURIDAD COMO ESTRATEGIA DE CONTROL DE CAMPYLOBACTER EN AVICULTURA”. (2014) 5 págs.

 

07/08/2014

"CODEX ALIMENTARIUS" FAO/OMS


 


Normas recientemente modificadas o adoptadas*
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♦ CODEX STAN 13-1981 Norma para los Tomates en Conserva: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/standards/225/CXS_013s.pdf
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♦ CAC/GL 19-1995 Directrices para el Intercambio de Información en Situaciones de Urgencia con Respeto al Control de los Alimentos: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/standards/36/CXG_019s.pdf
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♦ CAC/GL 21-1997 Principios para el establecimiento y la aplicación de criterios microbiológicos a los alimentos: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/standards/394/CXG_021s.pdf
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♦ CAC/GL 23-1997 Directrices para el Uso de Declaraciones Nutricionales y Saludables: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/standards/351/CXG_023s.pdf
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♦ CAC/GL 32-1999 Directrices para la Producción, Elaboración, Etiquetado y Comercialización de Alimentos Producidos Orgánicamente: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/standards/360/cxg_032s.PDF
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♦ CAC/GL 36-1989 Nombres genéricos y Sistema internacional de numeración de aditivos alimentarios: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/download/standards/13341/CXG_036s.pdf
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* Lista no exhaustiva.
 
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01/08/2014

Handbook on European data protection law

 
 
The English version of the re-edition of this handbook is available:  https://app.box.com/s/00ddpbpbpzgzbqm1rfha or

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 Corporate author(s):
FRA — European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights]
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The rapid development of information and communication technologies underscores the growing need for the robust protection of personal data - a right safeguarded by both European Union (EU) and Council of Europe (CoE) instruments.
 
Technological advances expand the frontiers of, for example, surveillance, communication interception and data storage; all of these pose significant challenges to the right to data protection. This handbook is designed to familiarise legal practitioners who are not specialised in the field of data protection with this area of law. It provides an overview of the EU's and the CoE's applicable legal frameworks. It explains key jurisprudence, summarising major rulings of both the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Where no such case law exists, it presents practical illustrations with hypothetical scenarios.
 
In a nutshell, this handbook aims to help ensure that the right to data protection is upheld with vigour and determination.