Specific National Legislation Research Articles

Physicochemical and microbiological analyzes of Tetragonisca angustula, Melipona mondury and Scaptotrigona postica honey from the first public meliponary in Marília City (São Paulo – Brazil)

Native stingless bees (NSBs) are widely distributed in Brazilian territory. They are responsible for pollinating plants, maintaining biodiversity, and producing honey, a natural and therapeutic sweetener, used by different populations. This study aimed to identify physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of honey samples collected during the first harvesting of Tetragonisca angustula, Melipona mondury, and Scaptotrigona postica bees kept in the first public meliponary situated in Marília, São Paulo state, Brazil. Samples were collected directly from NSB’s hives in the meliponary and sequentially matured in plastic bottles with airlock valves, duringn 90 days, in the Physicochemical Analyzes Laboratory at Fatec Marília. Subsequently, analyzes were carried out to determine pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. In addition, analyzes to determine free acidity, reducing sugars, total soluble solids, apparent sucrose, humidity, insoluble solids, pH, water activity, and hydroxymethylfurfural were performed. Results showed the presence of molds and yeasts. Nevertheless, because the values agreed with the current legislation and the pathogenic and deteriorating contaminants were absent in the honey samples, one may suggest that they were brought to the hive by bees, since floral nectaries are their normal habitats. The physicochemical parameters, with the exception of reducing sugars, agreed with other scientific studies and reinforced the proposal for technical regulation, considering the absence of specific national legislation for NSB’s honey. Therefore, it is considered relevant to establish regulations for NSB’s honey to define identity and standard requirements to guarantee safe consumption and direction for scientific studies in the area.

Embassy of Foreign Country as Employer Subject to Severance Payment Obligations

This research examines the employment agreements between foreign state representatives and local workers that are not related to diplomatic functions and therefore do not enjoy diplomatic immunity. While industrial relations disputes typically arise between workers and company management, there have been instances of labor disputes between workers and foreign state representatives. This creates a connection between Indonesia's legal system and the principle of diplomatic immunity in international law. Despite Indonesia's ratification of the Vienna Conventions of 1961 and 1963 through Law No. 1 of 1982, there is currently no specific national legislation governing privileges and immunities. As a result, labor disputes involving diplomatic immunity are dependent on court judgments. The focus of this research is on the severance payment obligations stipulated in labor laws and the responsibility of foreign embassies as employers in Indonesia to make severance payments. The research methodology employed is normative research with a legislative approach. Through qualitative data analysis, the following conclusions were drawn: First, the existence of pension programs does not automatically negate the right to severance pay that workers should receive upon reaching retirement age. Second, the Employment Law is inconsistent in regulating severance payments and pension guarantees as they were initially regulated separately.

The Typology of Physicians According to Perspectives on Telemedicine During and Beyond the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The coronavirus (CoVid-19) pandemic brought about a massive impact to the healthcare system, including disruption of patient follow-ups and consultations. Subsequently, an increase in physicians’ use of telemedicine was seen. While this technology has been documented to improve delivery of care, it has encountered varied acceptance among physicians. Gaps in specific national legislation, lack of established rules and accreditation standards, and ethical/legal implications add to the concerns. Anchored on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model, this study aimed to segment physicians according to their perspectives regarding telemedicine during the pandemic. Methods: A mixed methods sequential explanatory design using Q-methodology was applied to identify distinct patterns and perceptions of physicians on the use of telemedicine during the pandemic. A Q-sample of 25 statements on perceptions of telemedicine was developed through literature review, and 24 physicians were purposively selected. Participants were instructed to sort statements into a distribution grid according to their degree of agreement/disagreement. Post-sorting interview was conducted to expound on their response. Data were analyzed using by-person factor analysis through the PQMethod software version 2.35. Result and Conclusion: The analysis identified four profiles which were classified under the following perspective typologies: the “Outcomes-focused Physician” focused on the importance of arriving at a correct diagnosis and lack of physical examination; the “Patient-focused Physician” considered patients’ convenience and safety during the pandemic; the “Empathy-focused Physician” gave importance to the emotional aspect of a consultation; and the “Technology-focused Physician” was concerned about the patient’s technology literacy. The results can generate insights into professional, ethical and legal implications of telemedicine in medical practice, and provide healthcare organizations, academic institutions, and policy makers information and guidance in the modification and improvement of telemedicine services in the 'new normal'. Key words: telemedicine, perceptions, physicians, pandemic, CoVid-19

Race, ethnicity, and discrimination at work: a new analysis of legal protections and gaps in all 193 UN countries

PurposeWhile only one aspect of fulfilling equal rights, effectively addressing workplace discrimination is integral to creating economies, and countries, that allow for everyone's full and equal participation.Design/methodology/approachLabor, anti-discrimination, and other relevant pieces of legislation were identified through the International Labor Organization's NATLEX database, supplemented with legislation identified through country websites. For each country, two researchers independently coded legislation and answered questions about key policy features. Systematic quality checks and outlier verifications were conducted.FindingsMore than 1 in 5 countries do not explicitly prohibit racial discrimination in employment. 54 countries fail to prohibit unequal pay based on race. 107 countries prohibit racial and/or ethnic discrimination but do not explicitly require employers to take preventive measures against discrimination. The gaps are even larger with respect to multiple and intersectional discrimination. 112 countries fail to prohibit discrimination based on both migration status and race and/or ethnicity; 103 fail to do so for foreign national origin and race and/or ethnicity.Practical implicationsBoth recent and decades-old international treaties and agreements require every country globally to uphold equal rights regardless of race. However, specific national legislation that operationalizes these commitments and prohibits discrimination in the workplace is essential to their impact. This research highlights progress and gaps that must be addressed.Originality/valueThis is the first study to measure legal protections against employment discrimination based on race and ethnicity in all 193 UN countries. This study also examines protection in all countries from discrimination on the basis of characteristics that have been used in a number of settings as a proxy for racial/ethnic discrimination and exclusion, including SES, migration status, and religion.

The impact of national legislation on psychosocial risks on organisational action plans, psychosocial working conditions, and employee work-related stress in Europe

Work-related psychosocial hazards are recognised as a key priority in the future of work. Even though European Union (EU) legislation requires employers to assess and manage all types of risks to workers’ health and safety associated with all types of hazards in the work environment, it does not include clear reference to psychosocial risks and work-related stress. In several EU member states, there is now more specific legislation on psychosocial risks that clarifies employer responsibilities. The aim of this study is to explore whether the introduction of specific legislation on psychosocial risks and/or work-related stress is related to organisations implementing action plans to prevent work-related stress, and in turn, better psychosocial working conditions (job demands and resources), and less reported work-related stress in the workforce. It does so by comparing EU member states and candidate countries that have introduced more specific legislation to those that have not, conducting multilevel modelling analysis by linking two representative European-level datasets, the 2014 employer European Survey of Enterprises on New & Emerging Risks and the 2015 employee European Working Conditions Survey. Findings indicate that the presence of specific national stress legislation is associated with more enterprises having a work-related stress action plan. The existence of action plans was found to be associated with increased job resources but not decreased job demands. Furthermore, only in those countries with specific national legislation on stress, job resources were found to be associated with less reported stress through the existence of organisational action plans. Findings lend support to the argument for more specific legislation on psychosocial risks/work-related stress in the EU. However, they also raise questions on whether current interventions implemented at organisational level to deal with work-related stress may be geared more towards the development of individual resources and less towards better work organisation and job design.

Non-potable water reuse: legal aspects, urban and agricultural use, and emerging technologies for the production of water for reuse Technical Note 1 – Interest topics

Sewage treatment plants (STPs) can be considered as factories for the production of water, nutrients, energy, among other resources, and the final effluent quality is determined by the technological route adopted and the operating practices. It is in these units that the standards for discharge of treated sewage into water bodies or reuse (urban, agricultural, industrial, among others) are achieved. Despite the enormous potential, there are few full-scale experiences. The absence of a more comprehensive and specific national legislation for reuse is one of the biggest obstacles to its dissemination. This technical note (TN), the first of the collection “Non-potable water reuse: legal aspects, urban and agricultural use, and emerging technologies for the production of water for reuse”, presents the topics of interest related to legal aspects, agricultural use, gray water treated in constructed wetlands, high rate algal ponds, aerobic granular sludge, dynamic membranes post UASB reactor and systems with support medium based on polyurethane foam post UASB reactor. With the information contained in this collection of TNs, it is expected to contribute to the dissemination of consolidated knowledge by experts and sanitation service providers, and technical-scientific production applied to the subject of sewage treatment and water reuse.

GIS as an Epidemiological Tool to Monitor the Spatial-Temporal Distribution of Tuberculosis in Large Game in a High-Risk Area in Portugal.

Simple SummaryHunting of large game is an activity of great social and economic importance. However, it can cause public health problems due to the zoonotic diseases of these animals, such as tuberculosis. Regular space–time monitoring of hunted animals’ health status allows both the hunters and competent authorities to understand the geographic location of the hunted animals, as well as the occurrence of possible diseases in these animals. This investigation presents the results of the assessment of the spatial–temporal distribution of tuberculosis in large game in a tuberculosis high-risk area in Portugal in the form of maps, which allow any interested party to quickly analyse the hunting situation regardless of their technical or scientific knowledge.Since April 2011, Portugal has implemented specific national legislation (Notice No. 1/2011), defining “Epidemiologic Risk Areas for Bovine Tuberculosis in Large Game” and mitigation measures in these areas, including Idanha-a-Nova county. A GIS project was created to record information that would allow us to analyse the spatial–temporal distribution, both for hunting bags and tuberculosis occurrence, in hunted wild boar and red deer in Idanha-a-Nova. Hunting bag and tuberculosis-like lesion data were recorded during post-mortem inspection across 11 hunting seasons, totalling 9844 animals. The difference in tuberculosis occurrence for these species was statistically significant in nearly all 11 seasons, with wild boars presenting approximately twice the occurrence of red deer. No significant difference was noted before and after the Notice No. 1/2011 implementation. These results, following GIS-based spatial analysis, enable us to state that both large game species displayed an irregular tuberculosis pattern for the 2006–2016 period, and we identified some specific areas of high risk for both species. Southern areas of the county may be considered the priority for intervention. This research demonstrates the potential of GIS tools to evaluate, in the field, the results and efficacy of legislation such as Notice No. 1/2011, and to ensure the correct implementation of cost-effective mitigation strategies for tuberculosis in large game species.

Trichinella britovi infection in wild boar in Portugal.

Trichinella spp. infection occurs when a host ingests muscle tissue containing infective larvae (L1 stage). Wild boar meat and its products represent the second largest source of human trichinellosis worldwide. For this reason, and since that in Portugal wild boar is the most hunted large game specie, the laboratory of Technology, Quality and Food Safety (TQFS) from the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro created a free service to test wild boar meat for Trichinella spp. From December 2015 to February 2020, and 857 samples were analysed. From those, the majority (719/857, 83.9%) were tested after October 2018 when a specific national legislation came into force, demanding that meat from wild boar hunted in a defined risk area should be tested for Trichinella spp. Under TQFS laboratory activity, in January 2020, a positive case was identified, being the first molecular confirmation of Trichinella britovi infection in wild boar in Portugal. Additionally to this activity, in 2019, a questionnaire was submitted to 100 hunters to acquire information about wild boar meat usage and consumption behaviours. From the total respondents, 86% declared they intended to use meat for private consumption. Of those, 93% also stated that have sold part of the meat and/or homemade sausages, the majority (80%) without prior testing for Trichinella spp., as required by EU Regulation. These results alert the hunters to a risk for human infection, which could be extended to outside the hunter's household. Given the actual epidemiological situation, it should be emphasized that testing for Trichinella spp. in wild boar meat should be maintained and reinforced, particularly in the risk area. The results presented in this report strongly support the importance of specific national legislation to mitigate the risk of trichinellosis due to consumption of non-tested wild boar meat.

Effectiveness, Risks and Prospects of Legal Regulation and Practical Functioning of Electronic Visas in Saudi Arabia and Ukraine

The Electronic visa legislative regulation is one of the highest priorities in the country's migration, security and visa policies. The purpose of this study is to compare the legal aspects of visa policy making in the process of issuing electronic visas in Ukraine and in Saudi Arabia, and to identify the distinctive and common features of this type of visa, legislative features, practical aspects, taking into account the specific national legislation of these countries; elicit the disadvantages and perspectives of e-visa. Over a period of 3 months, about 100 Saudi and 20 Ukrainian respondents were interviewed to identify the pros and cons of existing e-visa regulations in both countries. As a results of the research, the hypothesis put forward regarding the fact that in the next 5-10 years, e-visas will almost completely replace the visa application for obtaining short-term visas through diplomatic institutions. It was established that this required the creation of a more simplified and faster way to obtain an e-visa, while not losing ground in matters of state security and migration. As a result of comparison it has been established that service of electronic visas in Ukraine was launched one and a half years earlier than in Saudi Arabia, which enabled her to secure more completely the situation and take into account the nuances of the legislative level; the amount of the visa fee for applying for an electronic visa established by Ukraine and Saudi Arabia is acceptable for most applicants, although in comparison with a visa-free or one-time electronic authorization fee for several years, these amounts are large.

Limitations of the Ordinary-Crimes Approach to the International Crime of Rape: the Case of Uganda

Abstract Not many states have effective national laws on prosecution of international crimes. Presently, of the 124 states parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Rome Statute), less than half have specific national legislation incorporating international crimes. Some faith has been placed in the ordinary-crimes approach; the assumption being that states without effective laws on international crimes can prosecute on the basis of ordinary crimes. This article assesses the practicality of this approach with regard to the crime of rape in Uganda. Based on this assessment, the author draws a number of conclusions. First, that there are glaring gaps in the Ugandan definition of rape, making it impossible for it to be relied on. Secondly, although national courts have the option to interpret national laws with a view to aligning them with international law, the gaps salient in the definition of ordinary rape are too glaring; they cannot be remedied by way of interpretation without undermining the principle of legality. Thirdly, prosecuting the international crime of rape as an ordinary crime suggests that approaches applicable to the prosecution of ordinary rape will be invoked. Because these approaches were never intended to capture the reality of the international crime of rape, the ordinary-crimes approach remains illusory.

Rotulagem nutricional e informações obrigatórias em diferentes marcas de achocolatados em pó

<p>Achocolatado em pó é um alimento rico em sacarose e outros ingredientes como, por exemplo, o cacau em pó. Ele é comercializado em embalagens rotuladas que apresentam as informações nutricionais do produto, bem como outros itens obrigatórios, sob regras de legislações nacionais específicas. Os rótulos permitem o acesso dos consumidores às informações sobre a composição nutritiva do alimento, possibilitando escolhas mais saudáveis para o consumo. Desta forma, este trabalho objetiva avaliar rótulos de achocolatados em pó comercializados na cidade de Pau dos Ferros, Rio Grande do Norte, verificando suas conformidades frente às legislações em vigência. Foram analisadas 10 marcas de diferentes tipos de achocolatados em pó, comercializadas em diferentes pontos da referida cidade. Verificou-se as informações nutricionais e outras informações obrigatórias utilizando a lista de verificação, segundo dados obrigatórios estabelecidos pela legislação vigente. Observou-se que apenas 60% das amostras de achocolatados em pó estavam de acordo com as legislações brasileiras para as informações nutricionais e 100% para as informações obrigatórias. Conclui-se que a maioria das marcas atendem as legislações, no entanto, são necessárias intervenções nas empresas para reparação das não conformidades através dos órgãos fiscalizadores como a Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária e o Ministério da Agricultura, Abastecimento e Pecuária.</p>

Comparison of standard methods for evaluating the metal concentrations in bio ash

The current growth strategy and environmental legislation of the European Union both aim to increase the amount of renewable energy and to improve the use of waste streams. These policies mean there will be an increasing need to utilise bio ash. Currently, Finland and Denmark are the only European countries with specific national legislation concerning bio ash use. Sweden has recommendations concerning the use of bio ash fertilisers. Besides having different limit values for harmful elements and nutrients in ash fertilisers, all these countries have different digestion methods that are allowed for element content determinations. This study compared the results of the five digestion methods (aqua regia, nitric acid, nitric/hydrochloric acids, nitric/hydrochloric/hydrogen fluoride acids, and lithium tetraborate fusion) established by Nordic authorities. Two Finnish peat-wood fly ash samples were studied. Our results indicate that the choice of digestion methods produces a significant difference in the obtained heavy metal or nutrient concentration of bio ash, especially regarding the potassium concentration.

Comparison of standard methods for evaluating the metal concentrations in bio ash

The current growth strategy and environmental legislation of the European Union both aim to increase the amount of renewable energy and to improve the use of waste streams. These policies mean there will be an increasing need to utilise bio ash. Currently, Finland and Denmark are the only European countries with specific national legislation concerning bio ash use. Sweden has recommendations concerning the use of bio ash fertilisers. Besides having different limit values for harmful elements and nutrients in ash fertilisers, all these countries have different digestion methods that are allowed for element content determinations. This study compared the results of the five digestion methods (aqua regia, nitric acid, nitric/hydrochloric acids, nitric/hydrochloric/hydrogen fluoride acids, and lithium tetraborate fusion) established by Nordic authorities. Two Finnish peat-wood fly ash samples were studied. Our results indicate that the choice of digestion methods produces a significant difference in the obtained heavy metal or nutrient concentration of bio ash, especially regarding the potassium concentration.

Thermal Comfort in Industrial Environment: Conditions and Parameters

There are two groups sharing research on thermal comfort. The first is devoted to research in environmental chambers held within an environment controlled by the investigator. The second group is dedicated to the research field in which the researcher does not interfere with environmental variables, personal and subjective, does not determine the activities to be carried on clothing and not to be used, however, notes, notes, estimates, and table or calculates the values of variables, indices and parameters of thermal comfort. The research work is based on the series of International Organization for Standardization that provides the lack of specific national legislation on the subject: thermal comfort. This survey aimed to examine the existence of thermal comfort in the mechanical manufacturing company with employees performing their normal activities. The conditions and perceptions of the thermal environment of production sector by the employees were assessed for the main variables. Survey was made to assess the influence of variables (metabolic rate, thermal clothing, air temperature, mean radiant temperature, speed and relative humidity) and the comfort subjective parameters (thermal sensation and preference) in May, August and November 2010. Based on the measurements of environmental variables, tables of personal variables, the calculation of the index of Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD), a collection of subjective parameters, the main results show that: a) the analyzed sectors provide heat and discomfort for employees who like a more refreshed, b) the PMV confirms that employees feel heat in industrial environments, c) the PMV model adopted by ISO 7730 (2005) applies to employees the thermal sensation with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0.81 d) in situations full of comfort, i.e., PMV = 0 is I = 35.08% and there are a range of thermal acceptability (-0.5 < PMV < 0.5) with a maximum of 40.37% dissatisfied. Therefore, the outdoor environments have heat discomfort. There is a clear need for development of the Brazilian Code of thermal comfort, as well as conducting studies to determine the thermal insulation of work clothes and protective. The results of the survey points out to the possibility of large errors in the use of international values of metabolic rate and confirms the need for studies to determine the metabolic rate according to the characteristics of the Brazilian ethnical population. Furthermore, continuous survey on issue should be carried out as the significant agreement of the PMV with the sensation reported by employees is not characteristic of the field.

Status and conservation of euryhaline fish in Irish waters

1. Ireland's fish fauna comprises at least 31 species that could be classified as euryhaline. This group includes 12 diadromous species, 3 non-migratory species, and 16 essentially marine and/or estuarine species. Twenty-four species are regarded as indigenous, 6 as occasional vagrants from other biogeographical zones and one was introduced by man during the last century. Fourteen species are considered to be widespread, 11 local, and 6 rare. 2. The biology of euryhaline fish makes them particularly vulnerable to any degradation of the coastal and estuarine environments. However, relatively few studies have been carried out on the biology and distribution of most species of Irish euryhaline fish. This lack of basic information is of particular concern, considering that 35% (11) of our euryhaline species are considered to be threatened. 3. Although 8 of our euryhaline species are listed in the Red Data Book on Irish Vertebrates(Whilde, 1993) and in various annexes and appendices of the Bern Convention (Anon, 1982) and EU Habitats Directive(Anon, 1992), only one of these species (Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.) is currently afforded protection by any specific national legislation in Ireland. It is recommended that research should be directed at assessing the current status of our euryhaline fish and that appropriate national protection should be afforded to threatened species. ©1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enel experience in the environmental management of maintenance of hydroelectric reservoirs

Environmental concerns linked with extraordinary maintenance of hydroelectric reservoirs have been emphasized in ltaly in recent years. ENEL manages more than 240 hydroelectric plants fed by reservoirs mostly located in the Alps and in the Apennines (and so relatively unpolluted), for a power production of about 30 billions kWh/y. At present in ltaly there is not yet a specific national legislation that regulates these maintenance operations from the environmental standpoint, so the conditions for the grant of the permit for their execution are object of case by case negotiations with local competent Authorities. In the last years ENEL has been gathering experiences in monitoring the impact of emptying and cleaning reservoirs on the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of water downstream of the dams and in environmentally sound allocation of fine sediments, considering all available options (agricultural recycling, land filling, river bank and coastal reprofiling, downstream drifting, dumping). On the basis of the results of these surveys, combined with a review of other European and North-American works, guidelines for performing these operations in condition of environmental safeguard and for related monitoring have been defined with the aim to propose an uniform procedural scheme to all competent Authorities. In this paper the basic experiences and judgements for determining the relevant criteria of the guidelines are presented.

The conflict betweenshari'alaw, planning and land development in Saudi Arabia

Summary Contemporary urban planning in Saudi Arabia has been developed in an arbitrary fashion, relying on foreign consultancies, Western techniques, and operating without the backing of a specific national legislation. This has resulted in conflict with the shari'a, which remains the dominant law of the country. This conflict is exemplified. It is concluded that change is unlikely, owing to the importance of shari'a law in maintaining the existence of Saudi Arabia as a nation.

Reformismo borbónico y gobierno municipal (las regidurías compostelanas, siglo XVIII)

En el siglo XVIII el proceso de patrimonialización de los cargos municipales está plenamente consolidado, siendo así que la mayoría de las ciudades aparecen regidas por cabildos oligárquicos y nepotistas. La nueva dinastía necesita contar con ellos, lo cual no impidió su intervención (directa o indirecta) en este ámbito ni tampoco el acceso e incorporación al grupo de nuevos elementos. En este trabajo se abordan los retoques de composición y capítulos de gobierno tocantes al regimiento compostelano así como la dinámica de sus oficios durante la etapa borbónica. A partir del estudio de la legislación “específica” promulgada para su control, de las trasmisiones operadas en cada cargo, los pleitos a que dieron lugar y las controversias surgidas entre los grupos dirigentes locales, se analizan algunas de las claves de la evolución de su gobierno en esta etapa crucial de los municipios modernos.