Certification Marks Research Articles

Overview of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessels, U stamps Certification for Pressure Vessels

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code and Sections are important for the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems and components. This paper will present importance of ASME U stamp certification which is crucial for ensuring Boiler and Pressure Vessels quality, safety, and compliance with industry standards. ASME U stamp certification which is accepted across the more than 100 nations. This paper also covers ASME U stamp requirements, Certificate duration, Certification processes, and application of U stamp and importance of Single Certification Mark for U stamp

축산물 유통 및 제조사 대상 동물복지인증 축산물의 인증 표시 현황 분석

축산물 유통 및 제조사 대상 동물복지인증 축산물의 인증 표시 현황 분석

Innovative AI methods for monitoring front-of-package information: A case study on infant foods.

Front-of-package (FOP) is one of the most direct communication channels connecting manufacturers and consumers, as it displays crucial information such as certification, nutrition, and health. Traditional methods for obtaining information from FOPs often involved manual collection and analysis. To overcome these labor-intensive characteristics, new methods using two artificial intelligence (AI) approaches were applied for information monitoring of FOPs. In order to provide practical implementations, a case study was conducted on infant food products. First, FOP images were collected from Amazon.com. Then, from the FOP images, 1) the certification usage status of the infant food group was obtained by recognizing the certification marks using object detection. Moreover, 2) the nutrition and health-related texts written on the images were automatically extracted based on optical character recognition (OCR), and the associations between health-related texts were identified by network analysis. The model attained a 94.9% accuracy in identifying certification marks, unveiling prevalent certifications like Kosher. Frequency and network analysis revealed common nutrients and health associations, providing valuable insights into consumer perception. These methods enable fast and efficient monitoring capabilities, which can significantly benefit various food industries. Moreover, the AI-based approaches used in the study are believed to offer insights for related industries regarding the swift transformations in product information status.

Gas chromatography-stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry prior solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: development and optimization of analytical methods to analyse garlic (Allium sativum L.) volatile fraction

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is not only appreciated for its flavour and taste, but it is also recognized for various health properties. The European Commission, through the attribution of the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification mark, has officially recognized some specific varieties of garlic. To protect not only the commercial value but also the reputation of this appreciated product, effective tools are therefore required. For the first time, a new compound specific isotope analysis method based on carbon stable isotopic ratio measurement of the three major volatile garlic compounds allyl alcohol (AA), diallyl disulphide (DD) and diallyl trisulphide (DT) through head-space solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS) was developed. A within-day standard deviation (Srwithin-day) of 0.3 ‰, 0.4 ‰ and 0.2 ‰ for δ(13C) and a between-day standard deviation (Srbetween-day) of 0.8 ‰, 1.0 ‰ and 0.6 ‰ of AA, DT and DD was estimated. For the first time, the ranges of isotopic variability for the three volatile compounds of red garlic from two neighbouring Italian regions (Abruzzo and Lazio) were defined analysing 30 samples. The same dataset was also considered in analysing the percentage composition of the previously mentioned three volatile compounds through HS-SPME followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). The two analytical approaches were combined in this explorative study, aiming to provide potential parameters to discriminate garlic samples based on their geographical origin.

A Study on the Awareness and Utilization of Certification Marks among College Student Consumers

인증이란 공신력 있는 제3자 기관이 제품이나 시스템의 품질 보증 능력을 일정 기준으로 평가하여 적합성 또는 품질의 우수성을 증명하는 제도이며, 인증마크는 적합성에 부합하는 제품이나 서비스에 인증마크를 부여하고, 소비자가 능동적으로 품질 및 기능의 판단이 가능하도록 정보를 제공하고 보증할 수 있도록 하는 제도이다. 즉 인증마크는 표준의 전통적 기능 중 품질 보증 및 정보 제공의 기능을 동시에 제공하는 중요한 역할을 하는 것이다. 이러한 인증마크는 소비자로 하여금 자신이 구매하고자 하는 제품에 대한 인증을 확인할 수 있게 해주어 제품 선택을 더욱 수월하게 해준다. 인증마크의 특성에도 불구하고 인증마크에 대한 인지도 및 활용 수준은 다소 저조한 수준이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 향후 산업계를 주도할 대학생 소비자를 대상으로 인증마크에 대한 인지도와 활용 수준을 분석해 보았다. 연구 결과에 따르면 대학생 소비자의 인증마크에 대한 인지도는 표준 지식 수준에 비해 낮은 것으로 나타났으며, 제품 및 서비스 구입 시 인증마크를 활용하는 정도 역시 그리 높지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 인증마크를 확인하는 소비자와 그렇지 않은 소비자 간에 인증마크 신뢰도에 대한 유의미한 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이는 인증마크를 신뢰하기 때문에 제품 및 서비스 구입 시 인증마크를 확인하는 것으로 이해할 수 있다. 따라서 교육 및 홍보를 통해 인증마크에 대한 인지도를 높이는 방법이 우선되어야 하며, 효율적인 인증제도의
 운영을 통해 인증마크에 대한 신뢰도를 높이는 방안도 강구되어야 할 것이다.

장류의 경쟁력 강화를 위한 공동브랜드 개발 연구

The Yeongwol County is focusing on the development of the bean industry to create added value. However, Yeongwol County's beans are not adequately recognized for their value by consumers due to being overshadowed by large-scale brands and intense competition. Therefore, Yeongwol County aims to develop a joint brand to promote the excellence of its beans and enhance competitiveness. The naming concept for the joint brand focuses on attracting the attention of individuals ranging from 20s living alone to 60s housewives, considering Yeongwol County's regional history, natural resources, cultural heritage, and identity. The joint brand resulting from this study will serve as a certification mark indicating the origin of beans from local farms within Yeongwol County, establishing them as representative agricultural products of the region. Therefore, it is expected that naming reflecting such diversity will contribute to securing broad acceptance of the brand. Utilizing the longest-used 'Donggang愛' brand in Yeongwol County, the brand hierarchy is implemented, and a logo is created in the form of direct endorsement. Through the development of a joint brand, effective communication of the value of Yeongwol County beans to consumers is anticipated, contributing to the agricultural development of Yeongwol County.

부모와 중·고등학생의 어린이 기호식품 품질인증에 대한 인식 및 만족도 연구

This study aims to analyze the difference in perception and satisfaction between parents and middle and high school students about the quality certification of children's favorite foods through an online survey to derive measures to expand and revitalize the system. 46.7% of parents and 45.3% of middle-high school students have heard of the quality certification of children's favorite foods. The most important factors considered when purchasing children's favorite foods were raw materials and ingredients, nutrients, preferences, food period, and quality certification. Parents occasionally check the quality certification mark when purchasing or eating children's favorite foods, with 0.451 points, but middle and high school students do not check it often. It was found that parents showed significantly higher satisfaction than middle and high school students in all categories of utilization, necessity, effectiveness, influence, and delivery of children's favorite food satisfaction. In addition, neither group checks nor utilizes quality certification marks well when purchasing children's favorite foods, so policy supplementation such as promotion and education is needed. Based on this study's results, education and promotion of the system through more active and diverse channels are needed to manage children's dietary safety by expanding the quality certification of children's favorite foods in the future.

Knowledge of Consumers Regarding Certification Marks of Food Products and Awareness about Prevention of Food Adulteration Act

Knowledge of Consumers Regarding Certification Marks of Food Products and Awareness about Prevention of Food Adulteration Act

DEVELOPMENT AND STANDARDIZATION OF MEDIA PACKAGES ON CONSUMER RIGHTS AND CERTIFICATION MARK FOR RURAL CONSUMERS

Consumers are the largest economic group in country. The right to have information about the quality, potency, quantity, purity, price and standard of goods or services, as it may be the case, but the consumer is to be protected against any unfair practices of trade. The present study aims to the Development and Standardization of Media Package on Consumer Rights and Certification Mark for Rural Consumers of Deesa Taluka. A representative sample of 15 respondents from each village (total=60) was selected by following random sampling procedure. Descriptive statistics, paired t test, two sample t test and correlation analysis (SPSS-23) was used for analysis of data. The overall evaluation of different aspects of Visual Aid, Audio Aid and Audio-visual Aid by experts for each parameter was found to be between 2.50 to 2.95; 2.35 to 2.95 and 2.50 to 2.97 respectively. When Pair-t test was administered, the gain in awareness among the respondents was found to be statistically highly significant, Pair-t= (p≤0.01). The result revealed that there was significant difference between pre and post awareness regarding consumer rights and certification mark. Awareness about consumer rights, certification mark showed positive and highly significant association with caste category (r=0.457**) at 1 per cent level while age of respondents (r=0.294*) and education (r=0.275*) showed positive and significant association with awareness about consumer rights and certification mark at 5 per cent level.

Understanding Purchase Intention of Fair Trade Handicrafts through the Lens of Geographical Indication and Fair Trade Knowledge in a Brand Equity Model

This study aims to investigate the effects of geographical indication (GI) and fair trade knowledge (FTK) on U.S. female consumers’ perceived brand equity and the purchase intention of fair trade apparel handicrafts. Employing a web-based experiment and survey, the study divided participants into groups exposed to brands with and without GI certification marks. A total of 206 responses were collected. A perceived brand equity model was developed, featuring elements such as perceived quality (PQ), brand awareness (BA), brand association (BS), uniqueness (UQ), and willingness to pay a price premium (PP). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data and validate the hypotheses. The results revealed that consumers are willing to pay a price premium for products with GI and that FTK positively impacts brand equity. Furthermore, FTK had an interactive effect with GI, enhancing PQ and BS. Increased scores in BS, UQ, and PP were also found to positively affect purchase intention. This study fills a research gap by quantitatively examining the relationship between GI, FTK, brand equity, and purchase intention in the domain of fair trade apparel handicrafts. The findings offer strategic insights for enterprises and organizations in the fair trade handicrafts sector.

Caciocavallo Podolico Cheese, a Traditional Agri-Food Product of the Region of Basilicata, Italy: Comparison of the Cheese's Nutritional, Health and Organoleptic Properties at 6 and 12 Months of Ripening, and Its Digital Communication.

Traditional agri-food products (TAPs) are closely linked to the peculiarities of the territory of origin and are strategic tools for preserving culture and traditions; nutritional and organoleptic peculiarities also differentiate these products on the market. One such product is Caciocavallo Podolico Lucano (CPL), a stretched curd cheese made exclusively from raw milk from Podolian cows, reared under extensive conditions. The objective of this study was to characterise CPL and evaluate the effects of ripening (6 vs. 12 months) on the quality and organoleptic properties, using the technological "artificial senses" platform, of CPL produced and sold in the region of Basilicata, Italy. Additionally, this study represents the first analysis of cheese-related digital communication and trends online. The study found no significant differences between 6-month- and 12-month-ripened cheese, except for a slight increase in cholesterol levels in the latter. CPL aged for 6 and 12 months is naturally lactose-free, rich in bioactive components, and high in vitamin A and antioxidants and has a low PUFA-n6/n3 ratio. The "artificial sensory profile" was able to discriminate the organoleptic fingerprints of 6-month- and 12-month-ripened cheese. The application of a socio-semiotic methodology enabled us to identify the best drivers to create effective communication for this product. The researchers recommend focusing on creating a certification mark linked to the territory for future protection.

Europe’s GI Policy and New World Countries

Trade negotiations between the European Union (EU) and Australia and New Zealand (NZ) provide the opportunity to revisit the ongoing clash between EU and New World ( United States of America (USA), Canada, Australia, NZ etc.) countries over geographical indications (GIs). Since the EU-Canada negotiations, the EU has increased its GI demands and the Australia and NZ negotiations provide the first opportunity to assess these. NZ has agreed to privileges that exceed those in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and has fewer safeguards for NZ producers than were achieved in Canada. The EU’s GI demands to Australia are scrutinized in terms of competition, rule of law and consumer information criteria, providing a basis for considering how Australia should respond. A particular focus is the problematic issues raised in the demand that specific GI names be listed in the treaty without proper review and opposition procedures. Questions are also raised about the accuracy of EU GI labels and the relative merit of EU GI policy compared to certification mark GIs to promote regional development. On this basis it is suggested that Australia should reject a number of the EU’s GI demands as these lead to approving product labels which are deceptive for consumers Geographical indications, European Union, trade policy, regional development, consumer Information, food labelling, intellectual property

Improving eco-labels: are green certification marks up to the task?

Improving eco-labels: are green certification marks up to the task?

Overview of the milk and dairy products legislation in the European Union

European Union legislation laying down rules for the dairy sector. The legislation defines the conditions under which milk and milk products intended for human consumption can be imported into the EU. Milk and milk products must come only from third countries that appear on the list of authorized countries. Establishments, where milk and milk products are produced, must be approved for export. The TRACES system is used on imports and the consignment must be accompanied by a certificate. This system ensures product traceability and prevents the introduction of diseases. An important role is delegated to the designated border control posts (BCPs) where the appropriate customs and veterinary inspections are performed by government institutions of the country. The European Union has adopted legislation to ensure the safety of food placed on the market in EU member countries. This legislation sets general hygienic requirements for food production based on the good manufacturing practice and the HACCP system. The criteria for microorganisms, chemicals, and applicable food additives are set. Also, the legislation contains requirements for product labeling. Part of the legislation concerns the common organization of the market in milk and milk products. These regulations contain rules for direct payments, subsidies, define the school milk system, etc. Specific legislation creates rules for organic bio food production, for production and labeling of products with the Protected Geographical Indication, Protected Designation of Origin, and Traditional Specialty Guaranteed. There is also legislation that defines the labeling of products intended for specific populations, e.g. gluten-free foods, lactose-free foods, etc. Areas not regulated by the legislation include the labeling of products with certification marks designed to highlight the suitability of food for religious purposes or quality certification.

Is Kenya’s Coffee Certification Mark Destined To Fail? A Legal Discussion

Poor coffee prices, constant delays in payment, lack of government support and poor management of cooperatives have been the major challenges that have faced Kenya’s coffee sector for a while. Many Kenyan coffee farmers that had once reaped immense profits from the crop are no longer singing this tune. Although Kenyan coffee is considered among the best in the world, its farmers have been neglected despite it being Kenya’s major export. It was therefore a great feat when on 14th February, 2015 the Coffee Board of Kenya unveiled a certification mark of origin,‘Coffee Kenya So Rich, So Kenyan’, aimed at promoting consumer loyalty in the importing countries all while proving the distinctiveneness of Kenyan coffee in the international market. The move follows the use of intellectual property rights to be able to create a niche market for the possibility of raising profits for the communities that grow the crop especially seeing how European markets have successfully used intellectual property to create such niche markets with their agricultural products. African markets are slowly but surely catching up, especially with the use of geographical indications for Penja pepper, Oku Honey, Rooibos tea amongst others. However, such initiatives do not come without downfalls. This paper examines the legal state of Kenya’s coffee sector from the introduction of the Coffee Kenya certification mark. The aim of this research is to open a legal discussion around the already known problems plaguing the sector namely, the lack of transparency of the supply chain, failing cooperatives and the exclusion of smallholder farmers. It seeks to raise questions of whether the certification mark was a step too soon and whether these issues have been addressed since the introduction of the mark.

결과중심 유기인증제도의 개선방안 연구

Interest in eco-friendly agriculture, which began to spread after the pesticide egg incident in 2017, has developed into an essential question in the certification system in 2022. When the eco-friendly agriculture certification system was introduced in the early 2000s, the certification mark itself was the criterion for confidence in the safety of agricultural products, but now the certification system itself is being challenged.
 Certified farmers began to discuss the burden of the certification system, and consumers began to discuss that certification alone was not enough. The discussion has gradually grown to point out the problems of the certification system itself, and the consensus among producers, farmers and consumers to resolve them is being formed.
 The certification system has been implemented for the past 20 years in terms of labeling management for certified agricultural products. The emphasis was on which agricultural products to be labeled, so it was a material-based certification system that focused on whether or not the soil and water used in the cultivation process were contaminated based on the agricultural product, which is the final product. However, discussions began to shift to ‘process-based certification’ that focuses on who, in what environment, and how the agricultural products were grown from ‘result-based certification’ that relies on these test analysis results.
 However, what can be easily overlooked in ‘result-based certification’ or ‘process-based certification’ is the reason for doing ‘organic farming’. Organic farming has value as an alternative to overcome the current crisis, climate crisis, and food crisis in order for humans to continue to the next generation. Therefore, it is time to restore ‘organic agriculture’ in its true meaning through the method of restoring the relationship between humans and nature and cooperation between humans.

Embracing Medication Needs of Patients based on Ethical, Dietary, and Religious Preferences.

Purpose: Many patients seek medications without animal-derived ingredients for a multitude of reasons. The purpose of this comprehensive qualitative review is to assess current literature on the topic of animal-free medications and identify the roles that key stakeholders can play in addressing the needs of these patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar from inception to June 2022 to identify key articles surrounding the topic of animal-free ingredients and medications. Results: The need for animal-free medications impacts not just vegans and vegetarians, but also those with dietary restrictions due to other beliefs. Three key stakeholder initiatives can address the needs of these patients: 1) Healthcare professionals (HCPs) should strive to select appropriate medications considering their patients' religious and/or cultural background; 2) patients must be involved and notify their providers about their dietary requirements; 3) pharmaceutical industry and manufacturers need to consider animal-free product formulations and provide clear labeling. Conclusion: There is a rising interest in animal-free medications and several organizations and advocacy groups have raised concerns for easier access to these medications. However, more regulatory guidance or oversight is needed. For the nearly 25% animal-free medications available in the market, independent certification marks would facilitate informed consumer decision-making.

Some peculiarities of legal protection of trademarks in EU countries in the context of European integration processes in Ukraine

Keywords: trademark, EU countries, territorial marks, national brands, trademark protection
 The article notes that Ukraine's further preparation for EU membership involves the completion of a comprehensive transformation of all spheres. One of the vectors of such a transformation concerns trademarks as a necessary element of the free exchange of goods and services. Legal protection of trademarks in EU countries covers three levels: international,regional and national. It is noted that the formation of European standards for the protection and protection of trademarks in the EU was determined by the processes of globalization and integration. The legal model for the regulation of TM relations at the regional level contributed to the convergence of the national legislation of the EU countries.Instead, there are numerous provisions of a dispositive nature, according to which EU countries individually decide on the issue of their reflection in national legislation, which does not create contradictions, but gives peculiarities to the legal regime of TMprotection in each specific country. The article reveals some of these features. Attention is drawn to the possibility of registration of warranty and certification marks as TM, which was implemented by Germany, Italy, and France. The identical approach of the EU countries to the registration of «Sound” trademarks — in the form of an audio file — has been revealed. Based on judicial practice, the weaknesses of the registration of a smell as a trademark in the form of a graphic description are considered. Designations that cannot be registered as trademarks and features of registration as such of portraits of people and personal names are defined. The requirements for applicants when registering trademarks and the legal consequences of not using trademarks are determined, as well as the role of using a trademark in overcoming the refusal of registration. The article reveals the meaning and purpose of the «opposition period» and the specifics of its application in individual countries, using the example of Poland, Italy, France, and Germany. Special attention is paid to the protection of territorial brands, national brands and their correlation with well-known brands.

The Effect of Quality Certification Perception on Purchase Intention According to Consumer Involvement

코로나19 이후 안전 및 보건 등의 생명과 직결되는 특수한 상황은 소비자의 품질인증마크에 대한 관심을 더욱증가시켰다. 마스크 선택시, KF(Korea Filter) 품질인증마크는 기능 및 성능 등 품질 보증의 역할과 동시에 제품의 정보를 제공하며, 소비자들은 이러한 품질인증마크를 통해 필요 제품을 구분하여 구매를 하는 성향이 나타난다. 이에 본 연구에서는 소비자들의 관여도에 따라 품질인증마크에 대해 인지하는 정보는 다를 것이며, 인식이높을수록 품질인증마크의 효과는 향상될 수 있으며 결과적으로 소비자의 구매행동을 유발할 수 있다는 가정하에실증연구를 진행하였다. 선행연구를 기반으로 품질인증마크의 인지도와 함께 이와 관련된 기능적 이미지, 가격이태도 및 구매의도에 미치는 영향을 살펴보았다. 설문조사를 통해 총 194부의 응답을 분석하였으며, 연구 결과, 인증 인지도는 구매의도에 직접적 영향을 미치지만, 태도의 매개효과는 유의하지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 관여도에 있어 저관여 소비자는 인증에 따른 기능적 이미지와 가격에 있어 관여도에 따라 영향이 다름을 살펴보았다. 본 연구에서의 결과를 통해, 선행연구와의 차별성과 함께 품질인증마크의 이론적 및 실무적 시사점을 제공하며한계점과 함께 향후 연구 방안을 제안하였다.Since COVID-19, special situations that are directly related to life, such as safety and health, have further increased interest in the quality certification mark when consumers select masks. The KF (Korea Filter) quality certification mark plays a role of quality assurance such as function and performance and provides product information, and consumers tend to purchase necessary products separately through these quality certification marks. Therefore, in this study, we hypothesized that the information perceived about the quality certification mark would differ depending on the level of consumer involvement, and that the higher the level of awareness, the more effective the quality certification mark would be, and as a result, the more likely it would be to induce consumer purchasing behavior. Conduct empirical research under proceeded. Based on previous studies, we investigated the effects of the recognition of the quality certification mark, the related functional image, the price on attitudes and purchase intentions. A total of 194 responses were analyzed through the questionnaire survey, and the research results showed that recognition of authentication directly affected purchase intention, but the mediation effect of attitude was not significant. In the degree of involvement, lowinvolvement consumers have different influences on the functional image and price by authentication depending on the degree of involvement. Based on the results of this research, we provided theoretical and practical suggestions for quality certification marks as well as differences from previous research, and proposed future research plans as well as limitations.

Formation and Diffusion Analysis of Agricultural Product Brand Communication Influence Based on Big Data Fuzzy K-Means Clustering in Convergent Media Era

In today’s society, with the support of information technology, the media is constantly developing in the direction of integration, which has a profound impact on all aspects of people’s social life. The brand of agricultural products is derived from the definition of brand, based on the differences of production areas, varieties and quality of characteristic agricultural products, and conveyed the information of characteristic agricultural products in the form of trademarks, certification marks, and product packaging. In order to solve the problems existing in the running process of brand promotion system of characteristic agricultural products, the concept of Internet of Things was introduced. The Internet of Things is a network that shows that objects and objects are connected with each other. Customers who use the Internet of Things can communicate and exchange information between any kind of goods. This paper focuses on the content of the improved K-means clustering model based on multibrand communication of agricultural products, expounds the analysis model and scope of agricultural product brand communication, applies the Internet of Things and related technologies to the brand promotion system of characteristic agricultural products, and simulates agricultural product brand communication by using big data fuzzy K-means clustering algorithm. Finally, the calculation of coincidence rate proves that the maximum distance between agricultural product brand communication influence and K-means clustering algorithm is consistent with the JC value of nodes, and the correct rate is as high as 90%. A communication mode that is more in line with the law of brand influence communication of agricultural products.