Who Does Bear the Costs of Compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in Poor Countries?

Abstract This article is a part of a twin study. Drawing on the available evidence, in this paper the author examines the cost of compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures for poor countries with reference to Africa. He shows that the burden of cost of compliance is entirely on the exporters despite the fact that their capacity for the compliance is limited. He further indicate that that, in fact, the literature often disregards the cost of loss of exports, or rejection of products at the border of an importing country, let alone the cost of reorganization of the supply chain; the existing organization of supply chain in poor countries would result in the lack of export expansion. The purpose of the paper is not to have an exhaustive literature survey, but to draw on the scanty evidence related to the main argument of the study. More specifically, it is shown that the main characteristics of the SPS Agreement and the related measures applied by main importing countries are such that they require a complex, difficult and high cost “SPS” system. Such a system involves regulatory measures, policy re-orientation, and development of the necessary infrastructure, re-organization of the supply chain, enhanced capacity building and a forward looking strategy, particularly for exports. The preparation for the compliance is also difficult for the poor countries as it is knowledge intensive, requires a learning period, training and a close cooperation between the public and private sector in various stages of the supply chain. Yet the socio-economic cost of the lack of compliance is enormous. Generally speaking, the operational cost, alone, of compliance is estimated to be between 2 to 11 percent of value of export in the case of Africa; in each case it depends, however, on the type of product, the destination of exports, the capacity of the country for the compliance and the size of farm holdings and exporting enterprises and the organization of the supply chain. Further, the investment cost can be colossal; in some cases (e.g Mozambique) exceeding the total food exports of the country. The available studies provide estimates for the administrative cost of control, inspection, testing and certification at the border; but disregard more important costs such as the costs of delays in exportation or rejection at the port of importing countries. Thus they downplay the need for taking preventive measures and the related cost of reorganization of the supply chain. In a separate paper the author proposes alternative organization of the supply chain for reducing the cost of compliance while increasing its benefits (Shafaeddin, 2007). 2SPS, Agricultural development, food policy, economic development, export expansion, trade, Ethiopia

Conflict Minerals Legislation: The SEC’s New Role as Diplomatic and Humanitarian Watchdog

Buried in the voluminous Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is an oft-overlooked provision requiring corporate disclosure of the use of “conflict minerals” in products manufactured by issuing corporations. This Article scrutinizes the legislative history and lobbying efforts behind the conflict minerals provision to establish that, unlike the majority of the bill, its goals are moral and political, rather than financial. Analyzing the history of disclosure requirements, the Article suggests that the presence of conflict minerals in an issuer’s product is not inherently material information and that the Dodd-Frank provision statutorily renders nonmaterial information material. The provision, therefore, forces the SEC to expand beyond its congressional mandate of protecting investors and ensuring capital formation by requiring issuers to engage in additional nonfinancial disclosures in order to meet the provision’s humanitarian and diplomatic aims. Further, the Article posits that the conflict minerals provision is a wholly ineffective means to accomplish its stated humanitarian goals and likely will cause more harm than good in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In conclusion, this Article proposes that a more efficient regulatory model for conflict minerals is the Clean Diamond Trade Act and the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme

Analysis Suppliers Selection of the Construction Raw Material in PT. Y Using VIKOR Method

Improving supply chain management is one way to excel in competition. The selection of suppliers is an important part because the lack of proper supplier selection can lead to losses for the company. In its practice, the supplier selection process is more frequently based on a supplier that can provide the lowest price. This happens because the supplier selection process is considered to be at the operational level and not at the strategic level. The number of raw material suppliers on the construction project makes the developers be careful in choosing the material that is according to the developers’ plans. All this time, the selection of suppliers involves many factors, sometimes a supplier has a good performance in terms of the delivery process, yet lacks in terms of quality compared to other suppliers and vice versa. Therefore, research must be done with a method that can take the factors, both the qualitative and quantitative, into consideration. This study is conducted to identify the factors of the selection of construction raw material suppliers and the support of alternative decision support in the selection of construction raw material suppliers. The purpose of this research is to identify the factors of the selection of raw material suppliers and the support of alternative decision in the selection of construction raw material suppliers. This research is expected to help the construction industry, especially in the city of Jember regarding the importance of knowing the factors of the selection of construction raw material suppliers and the decision of the selection of construction raw material suppliers especially if the selection of the construction raw material is in the power of the developer. The method used is the integration of AHP and Vikor using rough number. This research is expected to facilitate the process of selecting raw material suppliers and the selection of its alternatives.The results of this study gain the order of priority of 9 criteria and 23 sub-criteria. The recommended selection of suppliers based on its ranking on the sand suppliers is sand supplier P3, sand supplier P2, and sand supplier P1. Meanwhile, the ranking for the coral suppliers is coral supplier K3, then coral supplier K2, and lastly coral supplier K

Rough sleeping in Newham: policy into practice 2019-2022

The London Borough of Newham had one of the worst records for rough sleeping in 2018, and lacked an up to date Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy. Compiled over four years of engagement with the borough, this report tracks the steps taken to build a locally co-produced strategy and action plan, leading to a new set of pathways to assist people sleeping rough. This work included extensive additional data collection, monitoring of delivery and performance, and a new contractual structure aimed at bringing an integrated and client-focused set of services. These developments were in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and government's “Everyone In” programme. Consideration is given to the drivers of change, the current much improved outcomes, and continuing risks and opportunities for the borough

Elm Farm Organic Research Centre Bulletin 83 April 2006

Regular bulleting with technical updates from Organic Advisory Service Issue contains: Testing for Tolerance - a pragmatic view GM Debate Vaccination nation - to jab or not to jab Future shape of OCIS Evolutionary wheat makes the grade? NIAB tracks health of organic cereal seed Stopping erosion of soil quality - the organic way Care needed to halt butterfly collapse Aspects of poultry behaviour: How free range is free range? On choosing an organic wheat A local education challenge New Wakelyns Science Building Organic vegetable market growt

Circular 24

This is a preliminary issue. A letterpress publication is planned for 1961.Selecting a suitable homestead is not simply finding a good piece of land to farm. Personal and social needs must be met, as well as those of farm oper­ations. Since each family has different standards, goals and needs, the selection should be made by you and your family only after careful inspection and consideration