State Regulatory Agencies Research Articles

Legal regulation of the powers of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine to exercise control in the field of banking activity

Control is explained as a systematic verification of the implementation of laws, directives, resolutions and decrees or as state or public measures for the supervision, inspection, accounting of the activities, behavior of natural and legal persons, i.e. control is an inspection in order to ensure the reliability and legality of the actions specified and the process of tracking the actual implementation of plans. Unfortunately, the legal reference literature and the current legislation of Ukraine do not contain a unified approach to the definition of the legal content of the term «control». The Encyclopedia of Law, for example, defines «control» (French controle – check, from Old French contre-role – a list with a duplicate for verification) – as verification of the implementation of laws, decisions, etc. The article examines the place of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine in the system of bodies exercising control in the sphere of banking activity. It is determined that state control is one of the main functions (forms, methods) of public administration. The degree of efficiency of state control, despite the sphere of its implementation, is mainly determined by the quality of legal support of control activities, a certain level of socio-economic and logistical support of state control bodies, the level of mobility and balance of the system of control bodies. It is the balanced construction of the system of state control bodies that is an important prerequisite for the successful functioning of the entire system of state bodies. Analyzing the variety of laws and by-laws, as well as scientific literature on the issue of subjects of control in the sphere of banking activity, it is determined that control over the activities of banking institutions is a complex system, which has two main directions: external control and internal control. Subjects of banking control can be represented both externally (by state and independent regulatory authorities) and internally. The subjects of banking control by the state include: the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, Control Departments under the Administration of the President of Ukraine, the State Financial Inspection of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine, the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, the State Treasury Service of Ukraine, the State Property Fund of Ukraine, state extra-budgetary funds (such as the Pension Fund of Ukraine), the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, law enforcement agencies and others in accordance with the current legislation. Independent audit firms act as subjects of independent control, and the subjects of internal control are the Supervisory Board, the Audit Commission, the Management Board (Board of Directors), functional divisions of the bank, and its internal audit service. The article thoroughly covers the functions of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine of control in the sphere of banking activity, its important role and importance. The article defines the main functions assigned to the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine by the current legislation of Ukraine. On the basis of the study, it is established that in case of violation of the current legislation, material and operational-economic liability is provided for business entities in general, and banks in particular. When writing the article, on the basis of the studied material, it is established that the common type of operational and economic sanctions applied by the authorities are: cancellation of licenses and termination of foreign economic operations. And in case of abuse of monopoly position in the market, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has the right to adopt a resolution on the forced division of monopoly formations.

Greenhouse study and interviews indicate glyphosate residue via feed-feces-fertilizer route is a risk for horticultural producers using manure-based fertilizer

BackgroundThe herbicide glyphosate is the most widely used active ingredient in pesticides globally. Residues have been found in people, livestock, food and animal feed, and in the environment, but little is known about glyphosate residue in manure-based fertilizer. We describe a feed-feces-fertilizer route of glyphosate contamination with negative impacts for horticultural production. This exposure can harm sensitive plants, such as tomato, and pose a risk to effective waste disposal and nutrient cycling along principles of the circular economy.We review the use and history of glyphosate and present a mixed methods research based on a real-world case from Finland where glyphosate residue in poultry manure fertilizer was suspected of inhibiting commercial organic tomato production. To test the fertilizer, we grew 72 ‘Encore’ variety tomato plants for 14 weeks in a climate-controlled greenhouse according to the practices of the commercial grower. To ascertain awareness and potential contamination mitigation measures, we contacted five fertilizer companies with sales of biogenic fertilizer in Finland, two farming organizations, a feed company, and two government organizations working on nutrient cycling and agricultural circular economy.ResultsThe total harvest of tomatoes grown with fertilizer with the higher content of glyphosate residue was 35% smaller and the yield of first-class tomatoes 37% lower than that of the control, with lower glyphosate concentration. Two of the five fertilizer companies identified poultry manure as a source of glyphosate contamination. Companies with awareness of pesticide residues reported interest in establishing parameters for pesticide residues.ConclusionsThe extent of glyphosate contamination of recycled fertilizers is unknown, but this study shows that such contamination occurs with negative impacts on crop production. Lack of testing and regulation to ensure that recycled fertilizers are free from harmful levels of glyphosate or other pesticides creates risks for agricultural producers. The issue is particularly acute for certified organic producers dependent on these products, but also for sustainable transitions away from mineral fertilizers in conventional farming. The example from Finland shows that a model of co-production between fertilizer producers and state regulatory agencies to establish safe limits can benefit both fertilizer producers and their customers.

Determining Need: Opportunities for Connecticut Invasive Plant Programming

The University of Connecticut Extension Sustainable Landscapes program seeks to develop an invasive plant training program to equip stakeholder groups of varied experiential backgrounds with the information needed to evaluate, manage, and mitigate populations of invasive species in Connecticut. A mixed methods needs assessment was conducted to explore diverse viewpoints about invasive plant education. Data were collected from 233 survey respondents and three focus group interviews. Landscape professional/contractors and municipal employees totaled 41.1% of respondents when combined, and home gardeners totaled 27.9%. The greatest programmatic need identified by survey respondents was invasive plant management options and strategies, with Japanese knotweed considered the most problematic invasive plant from a list of 16 species. Focus group participants expressed enthusiasm about targeted educational programming, such as efforts focused on land management principles, species identification, state regulatory agencies, and pesticide application. Many shared the need for enhanced public education efforts and resource availability. A hybrid approach, including virtual and in-person components, was recommended as the ideal delivery modality for an invasive plant training program.

An Approach to Describe Salmonella Serotypes of Concern for Outbreaks: Using Burden and Trajectory of Outbreak-related Illnesses Associated with Meat and Poultry

Over 40% of all U.S. Salmonella illnesses are attributed to consumption of contaminated meat and poultry products each year. Determining which serotypes cause the most outbreak illnesses associated with specific meat and poultry types can inform prevention measures. We developed an approach to categorize serotypes using outbreak illness burden (high, moderate, low) and trajectory (increased, stable, decreased). We used data from 192 foodborne Salmonella outbreaks resulting in 7,077 illnesses, 1,330 hospitalizations, and 9 deaths associated with chicken, turkey, beef, or pork during 2012–2021. We linked each meat and poultry type to 1–3 serotypes that we categorized as high outbreak illness burden and increased trajectory during 2021. Calculation and public display of outbreak illness burden and trajectory annually could facilitate the prioritization of serotypes for prevention by federal and state health and regulatory agencies and by the meat and poultry industry.

EUROPEAN APPROACHES AND REGULATORY MECHANISMS OF ECOLOGICAL AND HYGIENIC MONITORING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF POTENTIAL HARMONIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION INTO DOMESTIC LEGISLATION

Background. The usage of pesticides against pests is also accompanied by potential negative effects on non-target organisms. The risk of harm to biodiversity is quite significant. Implementation of ecological and hygienic monitoring strategies, which is quite effectively applied in the countries of the European Union, will allow to reduce potential threats, financial costs and unforeseen consequences for beneficial insects, birds, aquatic organisms, etc. Aim: analysis of European approaches and regulatory mechanisms of ecological and hygienic monitoring from the standpoint of potential harmonization and implementation in Ukrainian legislation field. Materials and methods. Data from the literature and regulatory documents of the European Union in the field of environmental assessment and ecological and hygienic monitoring were used for the analysis. An array of literary sources was analyzed, which included the most relevant, up-to-date articles over the past 5 years and valid regulatory documents that have the greatest potential for implementation into the national regulatory framework. Results. In the EU and the US, a strict risk assessment process is in place to obtain permission to use pesticides, taking into account the potential impact on non-target organisms. Risk assessment of the use of chemical plant protection on the ecosystem and monitoring of the condition of non-target kinds of objects in the territories of intensive agricultural management is carried out at the stage of pre-registration tests. State regulatory agencies primarily require data on average lethal doses and concentrations for some bird kinds (Colinus virginianus, Anas platrynchos, Perdix perdix, Coturnix japonica). However, there are studies that describe the effects on smaller songbirds that are more sensitive to acute poisoning, therefore, to consider the established standards only for large birds is rather imperfect and needs to be refined in Ukrainian practice in the future. The European rules of environmental risk assessment (ERA) have undergone significant changes in recent decades, which have caused many scientists to worry about insufficient plant protection, slow implementation of scientific developments, simplification of environmental relevance and priority. Also, in many normative documents on pesticides, a political trail is traced, which is sometimes difficult to define and measure. Conclusion. The adoption and implementation of new laws in the field of chemical plant protection in the EU countries are the basis for improving the legislation of Ukraine in this field and ensuring state regulation in the handling of pesticides and agrochemicals.

Holistic evaluation of inlet protection devices for sediment control on construction sites

To address the deleterious impacts of excess soil erosion from the construction sites, the United States Clean Water Act requires that erosion and sediment control measures (ESCs) be implemented on construction projects disturbing more than 0.4 ha. Inlet protection devices (IPDs) are a common ESC utilized on construction projects to reduce the amount of sediment entering storm sewers. In Ohio, regulatory agencies use approved, non-proprietary IPDs made from commonly available materials (e.g., silt fence, geotextile, lumber, and aggregate) to mitigate sediment on construction projects; however, these IPDs often rely on extended ponding to remove sediment and require frequent maintenance making these unsuitable for road construction projects. Commercially manufactured (i.e., proprietary) IPDs which rely on filtration to quickly dewater following rainfall may prove more practical for road construction projects. However, little research which quantitatively compares the holistic performance of these two types of IPDs in field settings has been performed to date. To address this knowledge gap, the performance of 24 proprietary IPDs was evaluated at field-scale using simulated construction site runoff and compared to three non-proprietary IPDs currently approved for use in Ohio. Bypass flows, which typically occurred due to poor IPD fit to standard drainage inlets used in Ohio transportation settings, significantly increased effluent total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity compared to tests of IPDs where bypass did not occur. Overflow, or intentional bypass around primary IPD flow pathways during high flows, did not significantly impact effluent water quality. Despite differences in treatment mechanisms (i.e., sedimentation versus filtration), the water quality performance of non-proprietary and proprietary IPDs were not statistically different, indicating comparable sediment removal was provided by both categories. Findings from this research can provide design engineers and state regulatory agencies the necessary tools to evaluate IPD performance in road construction settings and, ultimately, alleviate the impact of excess sediment discharged from construction sites.

Understanding the Complexity of Microbiology Method Validation to Meet State-Specific Requirements for Cannabis.

Federal legislation still prohibits the cultivation, sale, and consumption of cultivars of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol cannabis (>0.3%); however, as of November 2022, 39 states have legalized cannabis and cannabis derived products for medicinal consumption and 21 states have legalized for adult-use consumption. This state-by-state approach has produced a patch work of regulations that multi-state operators (MSOs) must learn to navigate. Furthermore, cannabis laboratories often lack the space and skill needed to perform method validations, adding another layer of complexity. While these barriers exist, it is paramount for MSOs to demonstrate the fitness of purpose of their methods. This review presents the complexity that an MSO navigated in developing microbiology method validation study designs for two proprietary real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assays to meet four state (California, Florida, Michigan, and Oklahoma) testing requirements. The testing in each state was conducted in addition to certification of the assays through the AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM (PTM) program. Matrix studies were conducted targeting three analytes (Aspergillus spp., Salmonella spp., and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli) as directed by the state regulatory authorities. For California, inclusivity and exclusivity studies were performed. The number of contamination levels, test portion replicates, and total target organisms evaluated varied by state. Culture confirmation was not performed outside of the AOAC PTM studies. Data from each study was collected, summarized, and provided to the state regulatory agencies. Review of the data consisted of identifying discrepant results and verification of controls. After review, each assay was certified for use in the respective state. Requirements from each of the states demonstrate the complexities MSOs face and emphasize the need for a more standardized approach to streamline acceptance of alternative methods. While varying state regulations can be complex, validation studies performed for the candidate methods have led to adoption across 31 states.

The Impact of Assisted Living Organizational Structure and Process Characteristics on Staff Absence During COVID-19

ABSTRACT Quality of care in assisted living communities (ALCs) is important to consumers. The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated emergency policies have posed major challenges on staff recruitment and retention. This study aimed to examine the relationship between organizational characteristics of ALCs in Florida and challenges with staff absence during COVID-19 (N = 129 ALCs). Results indicated that structures (provision of memory care services), processes of care (challenges hiring new staff, staff sent home to comply with precautions, and staff anxiety), and local COVID-19 positivity rate were significantly associated with staff absence due to fear of infection, sickness, or family responsibilities. ALC providers and state regulatory agencies should develop policies and procedures that take these issues into consideration to prepare for future emergencies and disasters. Infection control policies should reflect whether an ALC provides memory care services and inform ways to overcome potential challenges with protocols. Efforts to reduce staff anxiety and disaster-related concerns should also be considered to ensure quality of care during emergencies.

Strategic Qualitative Risk Assessment of Thousands of Legacy Wells within the Area of Review (AoR) of a Potential CO2 Storage Site

The subsurface confinement of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) demands robust risk assessment methodologies to identify potential leakage pathways. Legacy wells within the Area of Review (AoR) represent one potential leakage pathway. Robust methodologies require enormous amounts of data, which are not available for many old legacy wells. This study strategically categorizes 4386 legacy wells within the AoR of a potential CO2 storage site in the Illinois basin and identifies the high-risk wells by leveraging publicly available data—reports and well logs submitted to state regulatory agencies. Wells were categorized based on their proximity to the injection well location, depth, the mechanical integrity of well barriers, and the accessibility to these wells throughout the project lifecycle. Wells posing immediate risks were identified, guiding prioritized corrective actions and monitoring plans. Out of 4386 wells, 54 have high priority for corrective action, 10 have medium priority, and the remainder are of low priority. Case study results from the Illinois basin demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of this approach, to assess the risk associated with legacy wells within the AoR of potential CO2 storage site, strategically categorizing over 4000 such wells despite data limitations.

Рекомендации по развитию горного туризма с учетом особенностей региона

Introduction. Currently, one of the most popular destinations among tourists is mountain tourism. Moreover the territory of the North Caucasus is of particular interest due to its unique landscape, the presence of mineral springs and other natural resources, as well as cultural attractions. Considering the rich tourism potential of this region, ethno-cultural, rural, environmental and adventure tourism is successfully developing. As a separate relatively new direction, we will highlight geological tourism, in which travelers not only enjoy nature, but also gain new knowledge about the structure of the Earth, study the relief, rocks, soil and vegetation. The mountainous terrain promotes the active development of rock climbing and the hikes’ organization with various levels of difficulty. Thus, today the North Caucasus is open to the tourism’s development of various types and deservedly enjoys increased demand for tourism services. However its potential is not fully exploited. The issues of transport infrastructure and tourist awareness about attractions and constantly updated routes have not been sufficiently developed. This is especially true for spontaneous tourists who prefer to act independently. Materials and methods. When conducting the research, general logical methods, a systematic approach, and content analysis of scientific literature on the issues under study were used. In order to study individual issues in more detail, a survey was conducted. A total of 279 respondents were interviewed. The questionnaire was sent out through the digital tool “Yandex.Forms” and includes answers from respondents living in the Central, Northwestern, Southern, Volga and Ural federal districts. Results. The North Caucasus is considered one of the popular tourist regions, attracting a significant number of tourists for many decades, not only our compatriots, but also travelers from all over the world. Of particular interest is the tourism and recreational potential of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, which is rich in natural resources and cultural and historical heritage. The study revealed interest in solving the issue of further strengthening the tourism potential of the region on the part of not only the main participants, which are buyers and services’ sellers, but also representatives of the local administration and the state. For example, the Strategy for the development of tourism in the North Caucasus federal district until 2035 involves the formation of measures to ensure the tourists’ safety and the operation of tourist infrastructure, and improve the services’ quality. The results of the survey made it possible to determine that, in modern realities, many tourists prefer to organize their holidays on their own. It has also been established that a significant part of these tourists are young people under the age of 20. Discussion. Analysis of the data obtained by the authors during desk and field research allowed us to determine that one of the ways to increase the region’s attractiveness for tourists, especially spontaneous ones, is the task of timely informing them about new attractions and routes. This task must be solved comprehensively, through the interaction of state regulatory authorities, local authorities and travel companies. To do this, when assessing the natural and recreational resources of the region, it is recommended to calculate the integral indicator taking into account constantly updated operational data. Conclusions. The authors draw the following conclusion. In order to ensure the safety of tourists and increase the attractiveness of the region, it is necessary to develop an information resource that displays the maximum number of attractions in the North Caucasus, which will contribute to the construction of optimal and also the most interesting routes. It is proposed to create and place in the public domain an interactive map that will allow receiving constantly updated data, which will increase the interest of potential travelers and ensure the full disclosure of the potential for a particular region. Resume. In order to promote the region on the tourism services market in the era of the development of information technology and youth activity, we consider it advisable to provide access to tourist sites online, which will attract an additional flow of visitors. The interactive map must include the location of cultural and historical monuments, as well as types of tourism implemented in a certain area. Suggestions for practical applications and future research directions. The proposed recommendations will make it possible to regulate tourist flows, increasing the attractiveness of the region, and provide such services at a level that best satisfies the needs of modern society.

Public procurement policies of Nigeria and Ghana: an analysis of the administrative challenges in achieving value for money

PurposeThis study aims to focus on public policy concerning the implementation of public procurement policies in Nigeria and Ghana toward achieving value for money in the procurement of goods, services and works. It specifically analyzes some major administrative challenges Nigeria and Ghana are faced with in the administration/implementation of public procurement policies toward achieving value for money. It looks at the relationship between the state (regulatory authorities) and substate (procurement entities) in the public sectors of Nigeria and Ghana.Design/methodology/approachA comparative case study approach is adopted, where the two countries are compared in terms of achieving value for money. Data was collected from multiple sources, including in-depth interviews. The use of official documents and direct observations at the procurement regulatory authorities and entities’ premises.FindingsThis study found Nigeria often used the four Es – economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity while Ghana mainly used the traditional five rights (right quantity, right quality, right price, right place and right time) as their criteria for ensuring value for money. The major administrative challenges found include corruption, low capacity of procurement personnel and poor knowledge of the procurement laws.Social implicationsIt recommends effective collaboration between government and civil society groups in the fight against corruption in procurement-related activities, with the implication that there is a need for periodic training for public procurement officials.Originality/valueIt adds to the field of public procurement in terms of value for money in the procurement of goods, services and works in developing countries context.

A National Survey of Pediatric Post-Acute Care Facilities.

To identify and geolocate pediatric post-acute care (PAC) facilities in the United States. Cross-sectional survey using both online resources and telephone inquiry. All 50 U.S. states surveyed from June 2022 to May 2023. Care sites identified via state regulatory agencies and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. None. Number, size, and type of facility, scope of practice, and type of care provided. One thousand three hundred fifty-five facilities were surveyed; of these, 18.6% (252/1355) were pediatric-specific units or adult facilities accepting some pediatric patients. There were 109 pediatric-specific facilities identified within 39 U.S. states. Of these, 38 were freestanding with all accepting children with tracheostomies, 97.4% (37/38) accepting those requiring mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy, and 81.6% (31/38) accepting those requiring parenteral nutrition. The remaining 71 facilities were adult facilities with embedded pediatric units or children's hospitals with 88.7% (63/71), 54.9% (39/71), and 54.9% (39/71), accepting tracheostomies, mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy, and parenteral nutrition, respectively. Eleven states lacked any pediatric-specific PAC units or facilities. The distribution of pediatric PAC is sparse and uneven across the United States. We present an interactive map and database describing these facilities. These data offer a starting point for exploring the consequences of pediatric PAC supply.

Evaluation of the Capacity of State Regulatory Agency to Revive Farming, a Policy Perspective of the Sugar directorate and Sugar cane farming in Kenya

This study investigated the capacity of the Sugar directorate the regulatory agency of Kenya’s sugar subsector to revive sugarcane farming in the country. It was based on a cross sectional survey design and purposive sampling techniques that enabled engagement of the regulators in management positions as key informants. Key informant guides and questionnaires were used to collect data which was then analyzed descriptively using measures of central tendency and inferentially using t-test. On the bases of the attributes of strength and exploitable opportunities for the directorate, the study established that the directorate has statistically significant capacity to revive sugar cane farming in Kenya. The key attributes of its strength as identified by the study range from the authority to license private mills, authority to set and review sugarcane prices, provision for adoption of COMESA Standards down to the authority to control sugar importation. The key attributes of exploitable opportunities range from the chance to seek for the intervention of the presidency in line with Articles 113 and 115 of the Kenya Constitution 2010, chance to intensify border and market surveillance services in line with the Agriculture and Food Authority Act of 2012, the chance to enhance stakeholder linkages and networks down to the chance to upscale its strategic plan in line with the Public Finance Management Act of 2023. According to the study, to revive sugar cane farming in Kenya the directorate should enhance its adherence to the attributes of strengths and develop strategies for exploitation of the identified opportunities.

Training and Equipment for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Protection and Rescue System in Situations Involving CBRN Materials

Radiation and nuclear security and safety represent regulated and controlled area. First of all, because of the common importance for humanity. Bosnia and Herzegovina has an established legal, i.e. institutional framework, but due to the decentralized complex system, it is unclear whether CBRN teams have been formed, what tasks and roles they perform and whether the procedure is uniform. In this research, the main focus is on the analysis of the complexity of the system, and the role of the State Regulatory Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety as a central authority and the Federal Administration of Civil Protection as a lower entity body in training and equipping teams for incident situations related to CBRN materials. The research is of empirical character and qualitative design. With this research we will show the level of equipment of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina including measures and activities that are undertaken to prevent events and incidents in the broadest view, which will indicate recommendations for improving the preparedness and performance of institutions in preventing extraordinary events and incident situations.

Теневой денежный поток: практика ретроспективной методики мониторинга

Shadow money flows in the current international geopolitical situation cause enormous damage to the economies of developed countries. It is impossible not to take into account the negative aspect of the existence of money masses in shadow, including criminal structures. In this regard, the issue of methodological security of the economic system of our country remains relevant. In Russia, there is a generally accepted risk-based AML / CFT system implemented by Rosfinmonitoring services in cooperation with law enforcement agencies. But as law enforcement practice shows, causing significant damage when committing fraudulent actions continues to be the norm for the criminal community. As a result, for example, significant cash flows appear in the compositions of cybercrimes, which make it possible to extract illegal economic benefits, until the state regulatory authorities become aware of the facts of shadow enrichment of interest. In addition, there is a discrepancy between the methods of preliminary monitoring of possible cash flow, in order to prevent it, and the methods of retrospective monitoring, the main purpose of which is not to prevent, but to identify the entire chain of shadow business entities, in order to stop their illegal activities as a whole, and not for a separate transaction or a group of interrelated banking operations. The article presents a methodology for monitoring the shadow cash flow, based on the scientific provisions of the theoretical and methodological approach, the key task of which is to improve the quality of assessment of the state of economic security of Russia. By illustrating the sequential steps of monitoring on the example of a specific case, the author’s research results are systematized and the most pronounced aspects of monitoring the shadow cash flow are identified.

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE EAEU AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ON CUSTOMS REGULATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

The ever-growing volume of international e-commerce poses a number of challenges to national governments related to the assessment of the fiscal component of this category of goods, competition issues of national and foreign online sellers. Attempts are being made to form a separate category of e-commerce goods that does not relate to either trade or non-trade turnover, methods and principles of customs regulation of e-commerce goods are being formed. The draft amendments to the EAEU СС revealed significant differences in the customs regulation of goods transported within the international electronic commerce in trade and non-trade turnover. Customs regulation of e-commerce in trade is developing in the direction of finding new and improving existing technological solutions for customs operations, organizing the interaction of state regulatory authorities with participants in foreign economic activity, ensuring proper customs control and further speeding up customs operations. In non- trade turnover, the introduction of a separate category of e-commerce goods primarily raises the question of the differences between this new category and goods for personal use. The issues of customs regulation of e-commerce goods in the EAEU, primarily intended for the personal use of individuals, are considered in order to systematize the created methods of such regulation, analyze the principles of e-commerce goods movement across the customs border and the main directions of development of customs regulation of international e-commerce in the EAEU and in the Russian Federation, as well as develop recommendations for further formation the legal basis for the movement of electronic commerce goods.

Wild game processors’ perceptions of chronic wasting disease risks in Michigan

ABSTRACT Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a neurodegenerative disease that threatens deer population health and management. This qualitative study explored processors’ perception of CWD risks, and the solutions or barriers they experience regarding managing these risks. Processors can play a critical role preventing consumption of CWD-positive venison by keeping CWD-positive deer out of facilities and implementing practices that minimize the risk of cross-contamination should CWD-positive deer enter facilities. Our analysis of semi-structured interviews of wild game processors found that they are concerned about CWD but have not altered processing practices, believing that most of the responsibilities for preventing CWD spread lie with hunters. Processors suggested several practices that state regulatory agencies can implement to aid in efforts to ensure that no CWD-positive deer enter facilities. This research may inform state agencies’ CWD communication efforts and identify actionable policies that better ensure processors can help prevent the consumption of CWD-positive venison.

Assessment of the quality and effectiveness of the work of regulatory authorities in the field of drug circulation

Aim. To assess the quality and effectiveness of the work of regulatory authorities in the field of drug circulation.
 Materials and methods. The study was based on data from scientific publications, statistical reports, results of our own research, including a survey of representatives of senior management positions of business entities in the pharmaceutical sector of the healthcare sector. The methods used were a sociological survey, descriptive statistics, graphical analysis, and data generalization.
 Results. Based on the results of the analysis of international and domestic experience in assessing the activities of state regulatory authorities, a system of qualitative indicators for assessing the effectiveness of their work was proposed. According to the questionnaire developed, an anonymous survey was conducted among representatives of the management level with at least 5 years of experience in organizations and enterprises engaged in a certain area of pharmaceutical activity. It was found that according to the indicators of assessing the general principles of providing regulatory services in the field of circulation of medicines, quality and availability of regulatory services, the activities of public authorities were assessed at a satisfactory level. It was determined that the work of regulatory authorities with complaints from consumers of their services needed to be improved, and the level of performance of regulatory functions in controlling the promotion of medicines and their advertising was also necessary to be improved.
 Conclusions. Thus, based on the results obtained at this stage of the study, it can be stated that the level of activity of regulatory authorities in the field of circulation of medicinal products is satisfactory from the point of view of the recipients of their services. At the same time, taking into account the world experience of using approaches to assess state bodies in providing services to individuals and legal entities, we consider it necessary to develop a unified procedure for conducting a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of regulatory authorities by self-assessment and stakeholder assessment of regulatory services using the same performance indicators.

Investing in Retail Food Safety: Assessing the NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model Grant Program’s Distribution Through an SDOH Lens

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) have a major impact on community health and quality of life. Healthy People 2030 has an increased focus on SDOH, given their contribution to health disparities and inequalities as a social phenomenon. Despite advances in food hygiene and sanitation, structural disparities related to SDOH leave food systems vulnerable.The Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (VNRFRPS), otherwise known as the Retail Program Standards initiative is part of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s strategy for prevention-based food safety to reduce foodborne illness. The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work in partnership to administer the NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model (RFFM) Grant Program. The program provides funding to State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) retail food regulatory agencies as they achieve and advance conformance with the VNRFRPS. In its first year (Calendar Year 2022) of the 3-year cycle, the grant program awarded $6.87M in funding to over 200 jurisdictions nationwide.The research note shares preliminary findings of utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map the first-year SLTT grant program awardees, with a selection of their jurisdiction’s Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) metrics. Integration and analysis of program-specific grant funding and mapping with the relevant health determinants provide an opportunity to understand further the need for comprehensive program investments for greater impact and improvements in public health.

First Report of Cladosporium ramotenellum Causing Sooty Spot on Postharvest Clementines in the United States.

In 2022, post-harvest symptoms of black spots were observed at an incidence of 2-5% on easy peeling clementines (citrus × clementina) in a fresh fruit market in Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona. Black lesions on the fruit rind were superficial, circular, dry, and firm with gray sporulation. Gray or black aerial mycelium was also noticed on top of the black spots. Black spots were distributed over the entire fruit surface without any regular patterns. Maceration of rind and flesh was also noticed under refrigerated storage conditions. Two isolates were obtained (S13 and S14) and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25oC for 14 days. The colony color and texture of both isolates were identical on PDA: olivaceous black with abundant sporulation, margin entire edge to slightly undulate. Conidia were 0-1 septate and globose or ellipsoid with sizes ranging from 4-10 × 2-4 μm (n = 15). Ramoconida were also 0-1 septate and ellipsoid to cylindrical with sizes ranging from 15-30 × 2-5 μm (n = 15). Conidiophore had a width of 3-6 μm (n = 15). Isolates were identified as Cladosporium ramotenellum based on these morphological features (Bensch et al. 2012). The IDs of these two isolates were further confirmed by genomic DNA isolation, PCR amplification and sequencing of the ITS1-5S-ITS2-28S region of rDNA (V9G/LR5 de Hoog and Gerrits van den 1998, primers ITS4/ITS5 White et al.), actin gene (ACT-512F/ACT-783R, Carbone and Kohn 1999), and elongation factor 1α gene (EF1-1018F/EF1-1620R, Stielow 2015). Sequences of the two isolates were identical and thus only one sequence of each gene was deposited in the GenBank. A BLASTn search of actin sequence (233-bp, OQ185511) revealed 99.1% match with ex-type sequence EF 679538 (strain CBS:121628) of C. ramotenellum holotype (query coverage: 97%). BLASTn analysis of a portion of EF-1α gene (579-bp, OQ185512) revealed more than 99.7% similarity with sequences KU933429 (ATCC strain 16022) and MT881827 (strain 18EPLE003) of C. ramotenellum (query coverage: 100%). The ITS sequence (1519-bp, OQ236707) was identical to the ITS sequences of C. ramotenellum strains in easy peeler mandarins from Peru (Murciano et al. 2021). Pathogenicity tests were carried out twice on fresh easy-peeling clementine fruit. The inocula (1 x 105 spores/ml) were prepared in sterile distilled water containing 0.1% Tween 20 (TW) by mixing the conidial suspensions of two isolates from 7-day-old PDA cultures. Ten fruit were washed, surface sanitized with 70% ethanol, and wound-inoculated by immersing five fruit in spore suspension for 1 min. Five control fruit were wound-inoculated with TW. Inoculated and control fruit were stored in separate zip-lock bags for one week. Black spots resembling those observed on naturally infected fruit were present on inoculated fruit, while control fruit remained symptomless. C. ramotenellum was reisolated and was morphologically identical to the original isolates, thus completing Koch's postulates. C. ramotenellum has been reported as a fungal pathogen causing sooty spots on easy peeler mandarins from Peru (Murciano et al. 2021). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. ramotenellum causing postharvest sooty spot and decay on clementines in the United States. Results show that infected fruit is potentially a pathogen source for long-distance dispersal. This occurrence was communicated to the state regulatory agencies for regulatory actions on imports of citrus fruit from countries with the occurrence of C. ramotenellum.