Analysing the implication of the EU 20-10-20 targets for world vegetable oil production

The European Commission proposes a minimum of 10 % biofuels in the total transport fuel use by 2020. The new 10% minimum target in 2020 is combined with the existing regulation, which fixes the target at 5.75% in 2010. This paper will in particular investigates how a full implementation of the 20- 10-20 targets would affect production and trade of oil plants in the EU and its main trade partners on this commodity markets, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia. The global general equilibrium model GLOBE is used to carry out the policy scenarios and to assess the effects on oil palm plantation area in Malaysia and Indonesia. The results show that the increased EU bio-diesel target will not significantly influence the expansion of palm oil production in Indonesia and Malaysia.Crop Production/Industries, International Relations/Trade, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Regionalism vs. Multilateralism: Assessing the Impact of Free Trade Agreements between EU and Asian Countries

In 2006 the EU decided to abandon its moratorium on negotiating new free trade agreements. Since then, numerous negotiations have been started. In particular, the EU joined in the scramble for preferential market access in Asia, starting bilateral negotiations both with individual countries, as in the case of India and South Korea, and with regional sub-groupings, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In this paper, we use a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to assess the effects of the possible agreements between the EU and the Asian countries. We want to evaluate the impact of the free trade agreements by themselves, their mutual compatibility as well as their relations with the larger agenda of multilateral trade liberalization. As a matter of fact, regional trade agreements are controversial in economics, not simply because of the classic (so-called ¿Vinerian¿) view that they can sometimes reduce trade by diverting it, rather than creating it, but also because of the unresolved disagreements over when a regional trade agreement is likely to precede, rather than preclude, more global agreements.JRC.J.5-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

EU Agricultural Trade Relations with Asian Countries

This report investigates the possible effects of a Free Trade Area between the European Union and its three main trading partners: India, South Korea and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, focusing on the agricultural sector. The report includes an analysis of the ongoing bilateral negotiations and bilateral trade flows based on trade policy (at tariff line level), comparative advantages assessment and a modeling analysis of the implications of preferential liberalization in both, a CGE (LEITAP, modified version of the GTAP model) and a partial equilibrium context (PEATSim model). Results show that the overall level of agri-food production in Asian countries is driven by income and population growth, main determinants of increase in demand particularly in India. Different degrees of liberalization in bilateral agricultural and food trade do not significantly affect the total amount of agricultural production in Asian countries and the EU, however, it leads to trade creation and trade diversion effects. Bilateral trade between EU and the Asian countries tend to increase (trade creation) whilst Asian exports to third countries tend to diminish (trade diversion). The implementation of the different policy options (partial and full liberalization) determines a decline in EU overall imports due to the prevailing effect of trade diversion over trade creation. ASEAN imports and export from/to the EU grow considerably under the liberalization scenarios determining a positive net trade of 22 billion ¿ euro for the agri-food sector. Under full liberalization scenario Indian agri-food exports to the EU grow by 4 billion ¿ reaching almost 6.3 billion ¿. Indian agri-food imports grow even faster from 0.2 up to 19 billion ¿. The value of South Korean agri-food exports to the EU grows from 46 million ¿ in the baseline to 4.9 billion ¿ under the full liberalization. Total European agri-food exports expand by almost 11% from partial to the full liberalisation scenario.JRC.DG.J.5-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

Sudden Unexpected Deaths and Vaccinations during the First Two Years of Life in Italy: A Case Series Study

Background The signal of an association between vaccination in the second year of life with a hexavalent vaccine and sudden unexpected deaths (SUD) in the two days following vaccination was reported in Germany in 2003. A study to establish whether the immunisation with hexavalent vaccines increased the short term risk of SUD in infants was conducted in Italy. Methodology/Principal Findings The reference population comprises around 3 million infants vaccinated in Italy in the study period 1999–2004 (1.5 million received hexavalent vaccines). Events of SUD in infants aged 1–23 months were identified through the death certificates. Vaccination history was retrieved from immunisation registries. Association between immunisation and death was assessed adopting a case series design focusing on the risk periods 0–1, 0–7, and 0–14 days after immunisation. Among the 604 infants who died of SUD, 244 (40%) had received at least one vaccination. Four deaths occurred within two days from vaccination with the hexavalent vaccines (RR = 1.5; 95% CI 0.6 to 4.2). The RRs for the risk periods 0–7 and 0–14 were 2.0 (95% CI 1.2 to 3.5) and 1.5 (95% CI 0.9 to 2.4). The increased risk was limited to the first dose (RR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.1 to 4.4), whereas no increase was observed for the second and third doses combined. Conclusions The RRs of SUD for any vaccines and any risk periods, even when greater than 1, were almost an order of magnitude lower than the estimates in Germany. The limited increase in RRs found in Italy appears confined to the first dose and may be partly explained by a residual uncontrolled confounding effect of age

Regionalism versus Multilateralism: assessing the impact of free trade agreements between EU and Asian Countries

In 2006 the EU decided to abandon its moratorium on negotiating new free trade agreements. Since then, numerous negotiations have been started. In particular, the EU joined in the scramble for preferential market access in Asia, starting bilateral negotiations both with individual countries, as in the case of India and South Korea, and with regional subgroupings, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In this paper, we use a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to assess the effects of the possible agreements between the EU and the Asian countries. We want to evaluate the impact of the free trade agreements by themselves, their mutual compatibility as well as their relations with the larger agenda of multilateral trade liberalization. As a matter of fact, regional trade agreements are controversial in economics, not simply because of the classic (so-called ‘Vinerian’) view that they can sometimes reduce trade by diverting it, rather than creating it, but also because of the unresolved disagreements over when a regional trade agreement is likely to precede, rather than preclude, more global agreements

Analysing the implication of the EU 20-10-20 targets for world vegetable oil production

The European Commission proposes a minimum of 10 % biofuels in the total transport fuel use by 2020. The new 10% minimum target in 2020 is combined with the existing regulation, which fixes the target at 5.75% in 2010. This paper will in particular investigates how a full implementation of the 20- 10-20 targets would affect production and trade of oil plants in the EU and its main trade partners on this commodity markets, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia. The global general equilibrium model GLOBE is used to carry out the policy scenarios and to assess the effects on oil palm plantation area in Malaysia and Indonesia. The results show that the increased EU bio-diesel target will not significantly influence the expansion of palm oil production in Indonesia and Malaysia

Regionalism vs. Multilateralism: assessing the impact of free trade agreements between EU and Asian Countries

In 2006 the EU decided to abandon its moratorium on negotiating new free trade agreements. Since then, numerous negotiations have been started. In particular, the EU joined in the scramble for preferential market access in Asia, starting bilateral negotiations both with individual countries, as in the case of India and South Korea, and with regional subgroupings, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In this paper, we use a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to assess the effects of the possible agreements between the EU and the Asian countries. We want to evaluate the impact of the free trade agreements by themselves, their mutual compatibility as well as their relations with the larger agenda of multilateral trade liberalization. As a matter of fact, regional trade agreements are controversial in economics, not simply because of the classic (so-called ‘Vinerian’) view that they can sometimes reduce trade by diverting it, rather than creating it, but also because of the unresolved disagreements over when a regional trade agreement is likely to precede, rather than preclude, more global agreements

Comitato di redazione Spazio Ricerca

Il comitato di redazione ha operato in modo continuativo dal 2002 a 2007. Sono usciti 7 numeri, compreso il numero zero. Ciascun numero ha affrontato una tematica specifica, per la quale uno o più componenti del comitato di redazione hanno assunto il ruolo di curatori del numero. Per ciascun numero hanno collaborato esponenti importanti della cultura architettonica e di settori disciplinari affini

Hepatotoxicity from green tea: A review of the literature and two unpublished cases

Purpose: To review the current literature on suspected green tea-related hepatic reactions and to describe two new cases reported within the framework of the Italian surveillance system of natural health products. Results: A literature search of publication between 1999 and October 2008 retrieved 34 cases of hepatitis. Histological examination of the liver revealed inflammatory reactions, cholestasis, occasional steatosis, and necrosis. A positive dechallenge was reported in 29 cases. There was one reported death. A positive rechallenge occurred in seven cases (20%). In the two new cases, the causality assessment was judged as "possible" according to the RUCAM score. Conclusions: Our analysis of the published case reports suggests a causal association between green tea and liver damage. The hepatotoxicity is probably due to (-)-epigallocatechin gallate or its metabolites which, under particular conditions related to the patient's metabolism, can induce oxidative stress in the liver. In a few cases, toxicity related to concomitant medications could also be involved. © 2009 Springer-Verlag

Hepatitis from Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.): Review of literature and report of a new case

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Folk medicine is a rich source of useful therapeutic tools. Nevertheless, use of medicinal plants can have unwanted, negative effects. By means of the description of an adverse reaction to a herbal remedy, we highlight the need for better efficacy-toxicity studies on these products. Aim of the Study: To report a case of possible Chelidonium majus L. (Greater celandine)-induced hepatitis and evaluate the past published cases. Materials and methods: We outlined the main features of hepatitis associated with use of Chelidonium majus by providing a review of cases reported and analysing in detail a new one. Results: Several cases of acute hepatitis related to Greater celandine consumption were found in the literature. The assessment for causality using Naranjo probability scale showed a probable relationship between the liver injury and the consumption of Chelidonium majus in the case we described. Conclusions: Our case, along with the other ones reported in the literature, increases the concern about the safety of oral use of Chelidonium majus. Plants used in traditional medicine are not necessarily harmless. Customers and prescribers should be aware of this, especially when a herbal drug is used with therapeutic purposes in absence of reliable studies of clinical efficacy and benefit-risk assessment. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved