The Green New Deal and Evolution of Institutional Environments for Multifunctionality: the case of Certified Organic Agriculture in Brazil and China

The Global Green New Deal (GGND) aim to green the global economy across a range of sectors including agriculture, to pursue future prosperity and job creation, while at the same time addressing social and environmental challenges. Taking its point of departure in some of the institutional changes envisioned in GGND publications, the paper proceeds to present results of the authors’ current research, within a research programme on institutional dimensions of the current globalization of certified organic agriculture. Case study results from Brazil and China are used to illustrate how institutional environments for organic agriculture differ between nations and to provide a basis for discussing the potential of organic certification to transform global agriculture towards higher overall levels of sustainability. The paper concludes linking the institutional analysis of the GGND and the findings of the presented cases to a broader analysis and discussion on the state of art of institutional environments for multifunctional agriculture

Regional approaches to better standards systems

Developing countries face an increasing need to upgrade the standards of their domestic markets and of their exports. This paper examines different approaches available to them for upgrading their standards and conformity assessment procedures. It focuses particularly on those followed within the context of regional trade agreements (RTAs), as these are yielding promising results. Based on interviews performed in Latin America and on previous literature, the paper draws common features of a RTA standard and conformity assessment upgrading and harmonization process, identifies some of its main challenges, and suggests principles that developing countries could follow in such a process.Trade and Regional Integration,Environmental Economics&Policies,Public Sector Regulation,Standards and Technical Regulations,Administrative&Regulatory Law

Information Security Audit in e-business applications

Electronic business (e-business) are different than other business because it involves any commercial or business activity that takes place by means of electronic facilities (buy and selling online), including on the Internet, proprietary networks and home banking, instead of through direct physical exchange or contact. This system creates an environment that operates at a much greater speed than traditional methods and involves much less paper–based evidence of activities. These e-business related risks should not be considered in isolation but rather as part of the overall internal control framework of an entity. It is essential to identify and assess the risks associated with an e-business environment and management should develop an e-business strategy that identifies and addresses risks. The e-business Information Systems (IS) audit is a critical component of the e-business plan. This paper tries to present a risk analysis for e-business applications in order to establish the IS audit particularities in this field.e-business, risk analysis, IS audit, confidentiality, reliability, integrity, availability

EU Privacy seals project: Comparison with other EU certification schemes

This report identifies and analyses key EU certification schemes in select sectors such as: network and information security, general product compliance, the environment, financial auditing and accounting, entertainment, the food industry and the telecommunications sectors and analyses them according to a standard set of criteria in relation to their background, development, practical set-up, legislative mandate (e.g., relevant directives, rules, links to legal obligations), main concerns and challenges. This identification and analysis will clarify the key principles on which such EU certification schemes are awarded and operate, and will help us draw lessons for an EU-wide privacy certification scheme.JRC.G.6-Digital Citizen Securit