scholarly journals Breeding and Maintenance of Immunodeficient Mouse Lines under SPF Conditions—A Call for Individualized Severity Analyses and Approval Procedures

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1789
Author(s):  
Thomas Kammertoens ◽  
Sarah Jeuthe ◽  
Heike Baranzke ◽  
Antonina Klippert ◽  
Christa Thöne-Reineke
Keyword(s):  
Animal Experiment ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Severity Assessment ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Immunodeficient Mice ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Mouse Lines ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Experience Pain

In the EU, the breeding of genetically modified laboratory animals is, by definition, an animal experiment if the offspring may experience pain, suffering, or harm. In order to determine the actual burden of genetically modified mice, established methods are available. However, the breeding of immunodeficient mice is considered an experiment requiring a permit, even if no pain, suffering or harm is observed under scientifically required defined hygienic housing conditions, as determined by established methods of severity assessment. This seems contradictory and leads to uncertainty among scientists. With this commentary, we would like to shed light on this topic from different perspectives and propose a solution in terms of individualized severity assessment and approval procedures.

scholarly journals The European Committee of the Regions as a watchdog of the principle of subsidiarity

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-301
Author(s):  
Salvatore Fabio Nicolosi ◽  
Lisette Mustert
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Legislative Process ◽  
European Committee ◽  
Legislative Proposal ◽  
The Right ◽  
Committee Of The Regions ◽  
Regional Funds ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
The Eu

In a resolution adopted on 1 February 2018, the European Committee of the Regions noted that a legislative proposal of the European Commission concerning a Regulation that changes the rules governing the EU regional funds for 2014-2020 did not comply with the principle of subsidiarity. Accordingly, the Committee considered challenging the legislative proposal before the Court of Justice if the proposal was formally agreed upon. Although at a later stage the European Commission decided to take into account the Committee’s argument and amended the proposal accordingly, such a context offers the chance to investigate more in detail the role of the Committee of the Regions in the legislative process of the EU and, more in particular, its role as a watchdog of the principle of subsidiarity. This paper aims to shed light on a rather neglected aspect of the EU constitutional practice, such as the potential of the Committee of the Regions to contribute to the legislative process, and answer the question of whether this Committee is the right body to guarantee compliance with the principle of subsidiarity.

scholarly journals Self-employment as a stepping stone to better labor market matching: a comparison between immigrants and natives

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-501
Author(s):  
Magdalena Ulceluse
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Labour Force Survey ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Barriers To Employment ◽  
Labor Market Matching ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThe paper investigates the relation between overeducation and self-employment, in a comparative analysis between immigrants and natives. Using the EU Labour Force Survey for the year 2012 and controlling for a list of demographic characteristics and general characteristics of 30 destination countries, it finds that the likelihood of being overeducated decreases for self-employed immigrants, with inconclusive results for self-employed natives. The results shed light on the extent to which immigrants adjust to labor market imperfections and barriers to employment and might help explain the higher incidence of self-employment that immigrants exhibit, when compared to natives. This is the first study to systematically study the nexus between overeducation and self-employment in a comparative framework. Moreover, the paper tests the robustness of the results by employing two different measures of overeducation, contributing to the literature of the measurement of overeducation.

Assessment of the Culture of Care working with laboratory animals by using a comprehensive survey tool

2021 ◽  
pp. 002367722110144
Author(s):  
Thomas Bertelsen ◽  
Kirstine Øvlisen
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Culture Of Care ◽  
Eu Directive ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Eu

The term Culture of Care, within the scientific community using laboratory animals, is being used more and more frequently after it was introduced in the EU Directive 2010/63/EU, where it is phrased as a ‘climate of care’, which became effective in national legislation from January 2013. However, there is a risk that the term could become a meaningless phrase if no agreed local definition of the term exists at the animal facility (called establishment in the EU Directive). This paper presents a comprehensive survey tool that provides a means to describe what the Culture of Care in an establishment looks like. The tool is one of the elements that can contribute to the overall picture of the culture; however, it cannot stand alone. Together with an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Culture of Care (e.g. key performance indicators) and a description of the outcomes and achievements in terms of animal welfare and the 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine), the survey tool will constitute a comprehensive picture. The survey tool offers a multilevel and comprehensive view of different subcultures, presenting details on mindset and behaviour of the employees and the different relations within the culture, thus enabling the initiation of improvement projects if required. The tool addresses essential elements of a co-operative culture in terms of what we think, what we do and how we work together.

scholarly journals A Small Price to Pay: National Narcissism Predicts Readiness to Sacrifice In-group Members to Defend the In-group’s Image

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjarki Gronfeldt ◽  
Aleksandra Cichocka ◽  
Aleksandra Cislak ◽  
Anni Sternisko ◽  
Irem
Keyword(s):  
Medical Equipment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
National Image ◽  
National Group ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
The Eu

Collective narcissism is a belief in in-group’s greatness that is not appreciated by others. In three studies, conducted in the context of COVID-19, we found that collective narcissism measured with respect to the national group was related to support of policies that protect the national image at the expense of in-group members’ health. In Study 1, British national narcissism was related to opposing cooperation with the EU on medical equipment. In Study 2, American national narcissism predicted opposition to COVID-19 testing in order to downplay the number of cases. In Study 3, American national narcissism was related to support for releasing an untested COVID-19 vaccine, in order to beat other countries to the punch. These relationships were mediated by concern about the country’s reputation. Our studies shed light on collective narcissism as a group-based ego-enhancement strategy in which a strong image of the group is prioritised over its members’ well-being.

Transparency and timeliness: the monitoring of agricultural policies in the WTO using OECD data

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 533-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
TIM JOSLING ◽  
KLAUS MITTENZWEI
Keyword(s):  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Multilateral Trade ◽  
The Future ◽  
Domestic Support ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Oecd Data

AbstractTransparency in the multilateral trade system is fundamental. Monitoring the compliance of WTO members with their obligations is an important part of that transparency, and timeliness in the notification of compliance is crucial. In the case of domestic support to agriculture, the notifications of compliance with obligations has been slow and opaque. But another database exists that could both illuminate the extent to which policy instruments are correctly notified and provide a convenient way to ensure timely ‘pre-notifications’ in the event that delays occur in the future. This note shows how the OECD database can be used, for example, to shed light on the extent to which payments to producers that require production as a matter of eligibility are presently notified to the WTO as having no effect on production. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using OECD data to construct ‘pre-notifications’ by calculating the (as yet un-notified) domestic support notifications for the EU for the years 2009/10 and 2010/11.

Beyond Cost Minimisation: Farmers’ Perspectives on the Adoption of GM Fodder in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-100
Author(s):  
Klara Fischer ◽  
Sebastian Hess
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Farm Management ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
The Public ◽  
Cost Minimisation ◽  
Farm Business ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Free Animal

Swedish farmers were surveyed about their perceptions of genetically modified (GM) feed. Livestock in the EU are frequently given feed containing imported genetically modified (GM) crops, with GM fodder often being cheaper for farmers. However, there is also a growing market for ‘GM-free’ animal-based products. While public concerns about GMOs have been studied extensively, less is known about farmers’ views. The limited literature on farmers and GMOs tends to focus on the economic factors influencing their adoption. The present study contributes the perspective of farmers as members of the general public, thus including a broader set of factors known to be relevant for the public perception of GMOs. The results indicated that farmers were worried about: i) unforeseen consequences for the environment, ii) un­foreseen consequences for human and animal health, and iii) the dominance of multinational companies. Farmers who could expect their farm businesses to benefit from existing GMOs were more positive, whereas those who were unlikely to experience any benefits or who could expect their farm business to be adversely affected were more negative. Nevertheless, adherence to a broader set of positive or negative values suggests that Swedish farmers’ perspectives on GMOs go further than pure considerations of farm management.

Genetically Modified Crops

2021 ◽  
pp. 112-133
Author(s):  
Alasdair R. Young
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Member State ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Decision Rule ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Decision Rules ◽  
Genetically Modified Crops ◽  
The United States ◽  
State Governments ◽  
The Eu

This chapter presents the EU’s responses with respect to three closely related policies: the approval of genetically modified (GM) crops for sale and (separately) for cultivation and efforts to lift member state bans on EU-approved GM varieties. These most similar cases differ in outcome; with the EU resuming approvals for sale (a change sufficient to placate Argentina and Canada, but not the United States), but not for cultivation and failing to address member state bans despite very permissive decision rules. In these cases, no tariffs were threatened and there was no exporter mobilization. Commission trade officials did push to accelerate approvals. The Commission, which was more favorably disposed toward biotechnology than most of the member states, was able, with the help of very a permissive decision rule, to overcome opposition to approvals for sale, but not for cultivation, reflecting greater concern among regulators about the environmental impacts of GM cultivation than about the safety of GM varieties. The member state governments also balked at forcing their peers to change their policies. There is little evidence that the WTO’s adverse ruling affected any of the protagonists’ preferences.

2. Federalism and European Integration

2018 ◽  
pp. 27-42
Author(s):  
R. Daniel Kelemen
Keyword(s):  
European Integration ◽  
Comparative Politics ◽  
Political System ◽  
Eurozone Crisis ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Specific Policy ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
The Eu

Theories of federalism can provide a set of assumptions, concepts, and arguments that shed light on many aspects of European integration. Applying the federalism perspective opens up EU scholars to a range of relevant comparative cases that provide analytic leverage and insight on the EU. This perspective also enables EU scholars to draw on and contribute to a well-established literature in comparative politics, thus connecting their findings about the EU to broader academic debates. EU scholars have applied theories of federalism to help explain a wide range of questions about European integration, from general questions about why and how the EU came together as a political system to narrow questions about very specific policy areas, to the causes and consequences of the EU’s recent crises. This chapter discusses the main assumptions, concepts, and methodologies in federalism theories of the EU, and explores how this perspective can shed light on the eurozone crisis and the crisis of democratic backsliding among EU member states.

scholarly journals Dropping the Ball? The Welfare of Ball Pythons Traded in the EU and North America

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil D’Cruze ◽  
Suzi Paterson ◽  
Jennah Green ◽  
David Megson ◽  
Clifford Warwick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
North America ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Royal Society ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Commercial Enterprise ◽  
Youtube Videos ◽  
Water Provision ◽  
The Eu

Ball pythons (family Pythonidae) remain a commonly exploited species, readily available for purchase in North America and Europe. We assessed the housing conditions of more than 5000 Ball pythons across six exotic pet expositions and 113 YouTube videos. We scored provisions for hygiene, mobility, shelter, substrate and water provision, based on the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) minimum guidelines. We found most entities involved in this commercial enterprise are not providing housing conditions that meet the minimum welfare recommendations for Ball pythons, either publicly or privately. We found that breeders and vendors typically utilised small and highly restrictive enclosures, with dimensions that prevented occupants from extending their bodies to full and unrestricted natural length. Our study also highlights that most vendors are not providing adequate written husbandry guidance to potential consumers, either at exotic pet expositions, on their commercial website, or on associated social media pages. Furthermore, our study also indicates that most potential consumers may themselves be unable to recognise unsuitable housing conditions that do not meet minimum animal welfare standards for Ball pythons. We suggest that more consistent guidance, adherence to agree principles and more potent operating models that are formally incorporated into relevant legislation would greatly aid existing and future efforts to safeguard animal welfare in this regard.

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