Official Control Research Articles

Comprehensive Screening of Salinomycin in Feed and Its Residues in Poultry Tissues Using Microbial Inhibition Tests Coupled to Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

Salinomycin is a coccidiostat approved as a feed additive for the prevention of coccidiosis in poultry. Official control of its residues is set by the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1644. The aim of our study was to assess the suitability of three microbial inhibition tests (MITs), Premi®Test, Explorer 2.0, and the Screening Test for Antibiotic Residues (STAR) linked to the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for the screening of salinomycin residues in the tissues of broiler chickens (breast and thigh muscle, heart, liver, gizzard, kidneys, lungs, spleen, skin, and fat) fed commercially produced feed containing 70 mg.kg-1 of salinomycin in the complete feed. The first residue screening (Sampling A) was performed on the last day of administration of the salinomycin-medicated feed (day 30), and the second screening (Sampling B) was performed on the day of slaughter (day 37) after the expiry of the withdrawal period with the feeding of non-medicated feed. Based on the quantitative confirmation of salinomycin residues in the examined chicken tissues by the ELISA method (Sampling A from 0.025 to 0.241 mg.kg-1; Sampling B from 0.003 to 0.076 mg.kg-1), all the MITs with the preference of the bacterial strain Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis ATCC 10149 demonstrated the ability to detect the residues of salinomycin in the examined tissues of broiler chickens at the level of the maximum residue limits set from 0.015 to 0.150 mg.kg-1 by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1914 and confirmed the relevance of their sensitivity to the coccidiostat salinomycin.

Influence of Empirical and Dynamic Periods on the Seismic Responses of Reinforced Concrete Buildings Braced by L-Shaped Shear Walls

The Algerian Seismic Regulation of 1999, version 2003 (RPA99/v2003), presents ambiguities and a lack of thorough explanations in certain articles, which has led to a diversity of readings and interpretations among various stakeholders in the field, particularly the control offices. This situation has caused significant disagreements, especially during the approval of civil engineering files, thus resulting in a negative impact on project progress. To ensure adequate seismic protection of civil engineering structures, this work aims to unify the interpretations of certain passages of the regulation, with a particular emphasis on verifying the fundamental period of the structure, the shear forces at the base, and inter-story displacements using seismic calculation methods prescribed by the RPA. The comparative study demonstrates that no correlation between the period determined by the equivalent static method and that calculated by the spectral modal analysis method has been observed. This justifies the conclusion that adjusting between the empirical period and the dynamic period is not necessary.

Optimal Routing and Scheduling of Flag State Control Officers in Maritime Transportation

Maritime transportation plays a pivotal role in the global merchandise trade. To improve maritime safety and protect the environment, every state must effectively control ships flying its flag, which is called flag state control (FSC). However, the existing FSC system is so inefficient that it cannot perform its intended function. In this study, we adopt an optimization method to tackle this problem by constructing an integer programming (IP) model to solve the FSC officer routing and scheduling problem, which aims to maximize the total weight of inspected ships with limited budget and human resources. Then we prove that the IP model can be reformulated into a partially relaxed IP model with the guarantee of the result optimality. Finally, we perform a case study using the Hong Kong port as an example. The results show that our model can be solved to optimality within one second at different scales of the problem, with the ship number ranging from 20 to 1000. Furthermore, our study can be extended by considering the arrangement of working timetables with finer granularity and the fatigue level of personnel.

Green innovation: a key strategy for enterprises and countries to gain a competitive edge in the global market

ABSTRACT Green innovation (GI) is an essential part of enterprises and countries for gaining a prior position in the global market. This study aims to investigate the nexus between the Five-Year Plan command-and-control environmental regulation (ER), GI, and global competitiveness. This research investigates the Five-Year Plan command-and-control environmental regulation's impact on high-polluting firms, research and development investments, and environmental concerns, exploring how emission reduction promotes innovation for global competitiveness. The Resource-Based View theory is employed to analyze how unique resources, such as the environmental Five-Year Plan and strategic research and development investments, lead to sustainable competitive advantages. The study gathered data from China Stock Market & Accounting Research, China's statistical yearbook, and Inco Pat databases, employing a continuous Difference-in-Differences (DD) model to assess the Five-Year Plan command-and-control ER's impact on GI Quality. Instruments included GI Quality, Official Promotional Pressure, financial development, and control variables. The findings highlight positive correlations between the Five-Year Plan command-and-control ER and GI, increased research and development investments in high-polluting enterprises, and the beneficial impact of local government commitment to economic development (ED). The practical implications guide enterprises in leveraging the Five-Year Plan command-and-control ER and research and development investments for enhanced competitiveness, while the theoretical contribution lies in illustrating how environmental initiatives serve as valuable strategic resources within the Resource-Based View framework. Researchers, policymakers, and businesses interested in leveraging environmental initiatives for competitive advantages would benefit.

Strategy of local government in achieving the target of the long-term contraceptive method program in sukabumi City

Long-Term Contraceptive Method is a contraceptive that can be used for a long time, which is more than three years used to delay, minimize pregnancy, and stop fertility, which includes IUD, Implant and steady contraception, this study aims to determine the factors associated with the use of Long-Term Contraceptive Method in Sukabumi City. The purpose of this study is to determine the strategy of the Office of Population Control, Family Planning, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (DP2KBP3A) in achieving the target of the long-term contraceptive method program in Sukabumi City. This study used descriptive qualitative methods with observational data collection techniques, interviews and documentation. Data analysis was carried out by snowball sampling technique, namely by determining informants who were initially small in number and then enlarged. The results of this study measured by strategy indicators by Mintzberg et al (2003) show that the Agency in achieving the targets of the MKJP program begins with planning, implementing and evaluating. However, in the implementation there are still some obstacles. Existing programs have helped in the process of implementing long-term contraceptive method programs. But not yet fully optimized. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the range of strategies, so that the program of long-term contraceptive methods is maximized.

Forensic Accounting and Corporate Fraud in Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

This study examined forensic accounting and corporate fraud in Nigerian deposit money banks. The components of the study state that ten employees were randomly selected from ten banks, which represented all of the Deposit Money Banks in Ekiti State, Nigeria. As a result, a purposive sample technique was used to select the Head of Operations, Fund Transfer Officer, Resident Internal Control Officials, and Cash Officials. A self-structured questionnaire used to collect the required data from the respondents underwent a validity and reliability test. Using Cronbach Alpha, the study's dependability coefficient was 0.782, which was considered high. The collected data was examined using multiple regression. In deposit money banks, it was discovered that forensic observation, 0.339 (p=0.041<0.05), 0.530 (p=0.001<0.05), and 0.341 (p=0.013<0.05) respectively, benefited from forensic interview, forensic interrogation, and forensic observation. Furthermore, a positive and significant effect on fraud detection and prevention in deposit money institutions was observed for forensic review, forensic inspection, and forensic documentation, to the tune of 0.291 (p=0.036<0.05), 0.603 (p=0.000<0.05), and 0.611 (p=0.00<0.05), respectively. In terms of fraud detection and prevention, it has been shown that forensic litigation and investigation play a significant role in corporate fraud. Therefore, it was suggested that deposit money institutions use trained forensic accountants who are skilled in implementing the appropriate deterrent measures in order to stop fraud before it starts. This type of research could be expanded to include additional businesses from various industries.

Development of a highly sensitive method based on QuEChERS and GC-MS/MS for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in infant foods.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that can be found in various food products, including those intended for infants. Due to their potential health risks, it is crucial to develop sensitive analytical methods for the accurate determination of PAHs in infant foods. This study describes the development and validation of a highly sensitive method for the quantification of European PAH markers, namely benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene, using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), in baby food samples. The first step was the optimization of the sample preparation procedure, performed using different methods based on the QuEChERS approach, also testing different extraction solvents. Several factors such as extraction efficiency, selectivity, and recovery were evaluated to choose the most effective procedure for sample preparation. Furthermore, the GC-MS/MS method was optimized, evaluating parameters such as linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, and robustness using spiked infant food samples. The method demonstrated excellent linearities with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.999 over a wide concentration range, and limits of detection and limits of quantification in the range 0.019-0.036 μg/kg and 0.06-0.11 μg/kg, respectively. Extraction recoveries were between 73.1 and 110.7%, with relative standard deviations always lower than 8%. These findings are compliant with the indications of the European Commission (Reg. 836/2011). To assess the applicability of the method to official control activities, a survey was conducted on commercially available infant food products. Four markers were determined in commercial samples belonging to different food categories for infants and young children. The outcome of this monitoring showed that PAH contamination, in all samples, was below the quantification limits. In conclusion, the developed GC-MS/MS method provides a highly sensitive and reliable approach for the determination of PAHs in baby foods. The optimized sample preparation, instrumental parameters, and validation results ensure accurate quantification of 4 PAHs even at trace levels. This method could contribute to the assessment of PAH exposure in infants and it could support regulatory efforts to ensure the safety and quality of infant food products with regular monitoring.

Validation of a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification-Based Kit for the Detection of Legionella pneumophila in Environmental Samples According to ISO/TS 12869:2012.

Legionella pneumophila is a freshwater opportunistic pathogen and the leading cause of severe pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease. It can be found in all water systems and survives in biofilms, free-living amoebae, and a wide variety of facilities, such as air conditioning and showers in hospitals, hotels and spas. The reference cultural method allows for the isolation and identification in many days, and in addition, it does not detect viable but rather non-culturable bacteria, increasing the risk of infection. In this context, a new LAMP-based (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) kit was developed, allowing for the rapid, sensitive, and labor-saving detection of L. pneumophila. The kit, "Legionella pneumophila Glow", was validated according to ISO/TS 12869:2012, testing sensitivity, inclusivity and exclusivity, and kit robustness. Sensitivity showed that the "Legionella pneumophila Glow" kit can detect up to 28 plasmid copies/µL. Robustness tests showed consistent results, with both contamination levels and the matrices used giving reproducible results. Furthermore, real samples were evaluated to compare the performance of the two methods. The LAMP kit "Legionella pneumophila Glow" proved a useful option for the rapid, efficient, and labor-saving screening of different typologies of water samples, offering significant advantages over the traditional method, as it is characterized by a high sensitivity, ease of use for laboratory testing, and a large reduction in analysis time, making it an asset to official controls.

Technological advances in artistic gymnastics and the impact on its development

This paper looks at the history of technology development in Artistic Gymnastics (AG) by reviewing patent registrations, test procedures for the AG competition equipment by the official control laboratory of the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG), and major apparatus advances by manufacturers. Equipment became lighter and more resistant with synthetic materials, with a clear tendency to increase elastic (repulsive) capacity. It is noteworthy that the testing laboratory becomes an arbiter for the industry and the FIG when the technological developments and equipment of manufacturers are evaluated for official use. Only 23 companies have equipment approved by the FIG, 12 of them manufacturing AG apparatuses. Suppliers are located in nine different countries (2 in Asia; 4 in Europe; 2 in America; 1 in Oceania). There is still an unequal distribution of access to technologies, which are concentrated in the northern hemisphere. More access to the actual technology is clearly required when we consider that 156 national member federations are affiliated with the FIG as of this writing.

Determination of glyphosate, glufosinate, and metabolites in honey based on different detection approaches supporting food safety and official controls

Honey, a component of the European diet, faces contamination challenges that impact both consumer and bee health. Glyphosate and glufosinate-based herbicides are widely used in both agriculture and domestic settings, posing potential threats to humans and bees. This study addresses the need for robust analytical methods to detect glyphosate, glufosinate, and their metabolites in honey, considering the complexities of the matrices. Advanced techniques, such as Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and Ion Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (IC-HRMS) were employed for method validation and monitoring across 97 honey samples. The extraction procedure was optimized, and the validation procedure followed EU Regulation 808/2021 and SANTE 11312/2021 guidelines. LC-MS/MS and IC-HRMS demonstrated comparability and high sensitivity, with RSDr and RSDR values falling within the range of 3%–18% and 6%–22%, respectively, for all analytes considered except for AMPA. AMPA showed CV% values > 25% at the concentration of 5 and 10 ng/g in LC–MS/MS. For IC-HRMS RSDr and RSDR values for all analytes fall within the 3%–14% and 4%–14% range, respectively. Glyphosate was quantified in 12% of the samples, with one sample exceeding Maximum Residue Level (MRL). Glufosinate and its metabolites were not detected in any of the samples.

How processing affects marker peptide quantification – A comprehensive estimation on bovine material relevant for food and feed control

Processing food and feed challenges official control e.g. by modifying proteins, which leads to significant underestimation in targeted, MS-based protein quantification. Whereas numerous studies identified processing-induced changes on proteins in various combinations of matrices and processing conditions, studying their impact semi-quantitatively on specific protein sequences might unveil approaches to improve protein quantification accuracy. Thus, 335 post-translational modifications (e.g. oxidation, deamidation, carboxymethylation, Amadori, acrolein adduction) were identified by bottom-up proteomic analysis of 37 bovine materials relevant in food and feed (meat, bone, blood, milk) with varying processing degrees (raw, spray-dried, pressure-sterilized). To mimic protein recovery in a targeted analysis, peak areas of marker and reference peptides were compared to those of their modified versions, which revealed peptide-specific recoveries and variances across all samples. Detailed analysis suggests that incorporating two modified versions additionally to the unmodified marker may significantly improve quantification accuracy in targeted MS-based food and feed control in processed matrices.

Dobrostan zwierząt w rozumieniu urzędowej kontroli żywności

The aim of deliberations is to describe the concept of animal welfare in official food control in EU and national legislation. The author first describes the approach to welfare in relation to the development of agri-food chain regulation. Then she presents consumer expectations in this area and the concept of a new farm-to-table strategy. Consequently, she notes that official inspections are carried out in connection with verifying compliance with EU legislation in the area of animal welfare requirements, not in the area of welfare. This seemingly minor linguistic difference means that the legislation has as its primary objective the quality and safety of food of animal origin. In this context, animal welfare requirements are therefore rules verified by competent authorities to try to take into account the animals’ ability to feel in the food production process.

Koncept “Jedno zdravlje” u prevenciji pojave ostataka β-laktamskih antibiotika u mlijeku i okolišu

The One Health concept emerged with the aim of balancing the lives of humans, animals, and plants on Earth, while also preserving theenvironment. Its aim is to improve overall living conditions on Earth and one of these issues is the overuse of antibiotics for therapeutic purposes and the use of antibiotics to promote livestock breeding on farms, which has led to a rapid spread of antibiotic resistance among microorganisms. Additionally, residual antibiotics are found in food of animal origin, and in the environment where they pollute soil and water. The most widely used group of antimicrobial agents are the β-lactam antibiotics. Due to their powerful antimicrobial effect and low toxicity, they are used to treat bacterial infections in both human and animal medicine. β-lactam antibiotics are major antibiotics used for treating mastitis, the most common infection occurring in milk-producing cows. Across EU Member States, testing and identifying the residues of β-lactam antibiotics in milk samples is included in national antibiotic residue monitoring plans for food of animal origin. The development of sophisticated methods with high sensitivity and precision, based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, enables the simultaneous control of different antibiotic classes for the official control of residues in foods of animal origin. According to the literature, β-lactam antibiotics are frequently detected antibiotic residues in EU Member States, with penicillin G as the most common compound.

Aluminium Determination in Foodstuffs by ICP-MS: Influence of Microwave Digestion Parameters on the Recovery

Aluminium (Al) is the third most common element in the Earth’s crust and occurs naturally in drinking water and agricultural products, and humans are consequently exposed to the element from dietary sources. A tolerable weekly intake of 1 mg/kg has been established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA); however, no maximum levels for aluminium in foodstuffs have so far been established in the European Union (EU) legislation. Official food control requires validated methods for the determination of aluminium. Acid digestion assisted by microwaves is the main sample preparation technique used for the determination of aluminium, usually in combination with atomic spectrometry for quantification. In the present study, different parameters in the digestion step were investigated including test portion, digestion temperature, the reagent used and duration of the digestion to assess the aluminium extraction. The presented work is following up on an observation from a proficiency test (PT) on trace elements (including aluminium) in cocoa powder organised in 2020 by the European Union Reference Laboratory for metals and nitrogenous compounds in feed and food (EURL-MN), where the participant results for aluminium showed an unexpectedly large variation. In addition to the PT material, different certified reference materials were included in the present study, and the results highlighted that the temperature and reagent used are the most critical parameters to obtain a satisfactory sample digestion prior to aluminium determination. Based on the obtained results, it is recommended to digest food samples with a mix of ultrapure water and nitric acid for 25 min at a temperature of at least 240 °C with a mix of HNO3 and H2O to achieve satisfactory microwave-assisted digestion.

Official controls on the distance sale of dairy products in the territory of the Modena Local Competent Authority: an analysis of websites

Official controls on the distance sale of dairy products in the territory of the Modena Local Competent Authority: an analysis of websites

Analysis of the original notifications in the Tuscany region “Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed” in the seven-year period 2015-2021

The original notifications (n=1355) managed by the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the Tuscany region in the seven-year period 2015-2021 were analyzed. 68.9% of them were classified as alert notifications, and they mostly originated (56.3%) from official controls on the market, followed by the company's own checks (29.1%). Italy was the most represented notifying country (73.3%) and the most represented country of origin of the notified products (64.5%). Out of the 28 considered food categories, “fish and products thereof” (F), “cereals and bakery products” (C), “bivalve mollusks and products thereof” (B), and “meat and meat products (other than poultry)” (M) were the most notified. F were especially notified for the presence of heavy metals (45.7%), C for undeclared allergens (32.1%), B for microbial contaminants (Escherichia coli, 49.6%), and M for pathogenic microorganisms (55.9%), mostly Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. This study provides an updated framework for the main food safety issues at the regional level. The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed should be periodically analyzed to evaluate historical trends and emerging or poorly known hazards. This is especially important for the planning of official control activities and the prevention of risks through the food supply chain.

Nuestro desafío es consolidar el control fiscal

In the field of fiscal control, I have held various positions at all levels of the system: as municipal internal control chief, operational director at the General Comptroller's Office of Boyacá, Comptroller and director at the District Comptroller's Office of Bogotá, and at the General Comptroller's Office of the Republic, I provided my specialized professional services as an advisor and auditor in several delegate offices.I am a Certified Public Accountant, Specialist in Public Finance, and Master in Disciplinary Law, with over 23 years of professional experience. This career path has allowed me to understand the fiscal control system in its entirety, having served as a fiscal manager in various roles. Academically, I had the opportunity to materialize this experience and wrote the book titled Comments and Illustrative Guides to the Fiscal Responsibility Processes within the Competence of the Comptroller’s Offices.

Characteristics and treatment for severe postpartum haemorrhage in different midwifery hospitals in one district of Beijing in China: an institution-based, retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo identify the characteristics and treatment approaches for patients with severe postpartum haemorrhage (SPPH) in various midwifery institutions in one district in Beijing, especially those without identifiable antenatal PPH high-risk...

감염관리담당인력을 위한 감염관리교육프로그램 운영실태 및 교육요구에 관한 연구

This study was the basic data necessary to develop a training program for infection control personnel by understanding the present status and needs of infection control training programs. This is a mixed-method research using a mixture of descriptive surveys and focus interviews. A descriptive study was conducted in 9 institutions that satisfied the criteria as a training institution for those working in infection control office under the Enforcement Rules of the Medical Service Act. For the study, a survey was conducted from October 31 to November 7, 2022. Focus group interviews were conducted separately with six doctors and six nurses. Survey results showed that 31 training programs on infection control were conducted in 2022 at the nine institutions, with 5,179 participants and an average duration of 9.32 hours. About 64.5% of the cases were participants of the training program involved in two or more occupations, and there was no separate training program for other participants recognized by the heads of medical institutions. As for the training methods, face-to-face and online schemes showed similar results in the survey, but the subjects preferred face-to-face education. In this study, there was a lack of specialized training programs tailored to various types of medical institutions and training programs targeting some occupations. Therefore, cooperative efforts by each organization are needed to establish governance to set up a step-by-step infection control education system that can meet education demans and provide systematic education, such as integrating or developing new programs.

External audits and official controls – what’s the difference in their usefulness and credibility?

PurposeThe study aims to determine whether audited organizations experience differences between external audits and official controls.Design/methodology/approachA survey among 100 organic food producers was conducted to explore differences regarding the usability of external audits and official controls. The survey was conducted in 2020 using the computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) method supplemented by the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) method. Organizations processing organic farming products in Poland were chosen for the study.FindingsThree primary benefits associated with external audits and official controls were identified, i.e. (1) enabling and initiating activities related to the improvement of the organization, (2) improving the financial performance of the organization and (3) enhancing credibility. For most organizations, the assessment of these features was at the same level for both external audits and official control. However, if these assessments differed, commercial audits were assessed at a higher level than official controls.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to only one specific type of manufacturing organization and one European country.Originality/valueThe literature review shows some conceptual differences between audits and official controls, but the results of this study show that the business environment does not perceive these differences as significant. Thus, the value of the study is reflected in the conclusion that both external audits and official controls are considered useful and credible approaches to monitoring the quality within the organization, which allows us to state that external evaluation is generally seen as an opportunity to improve the performance of the organization.