The regulatory governance conditions that support effective food policies for population nutrition: a qualitative comparative analysis

Objective: To identify the regulatory governance factors that lead to food policies achieving improvements in food environment, consumer behaviour and diet-related health outcomes. Design: Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) was used to investigate the relationship between regulatory governance conditions and population nutrition outcomes. The regulatory governance conditions examined entailed: high industry involvement in the policy process, regulatory design, policy instrument design, policy monitoring, and enforcement. Participants: N=29 policy cases in the policy areas of food reformulation, nutrition labelling, food taxation and food marketing. Setting: Policies implemented in 13 countries. Results: Comprehensive monitoring was identified as a necessary regulatory governance condition for food policies to have an impact and was present in 94% of policy cases that had a positive impact on nutrition outcomes. We identified two sufficient combinations of regulatory governance conditions. The first sufficient combination of conditions comprised an absence of high industry involvement in the policy process, combined with the presence of strict regulatory design, best-practice instrument design, and comprehensive monitoring and enforcement. Ninety-six percent of policy cases with positive impacts on nutrition outcomes displayed this combination. The second sufficient combination of conditions comprised an absensce of high industry involvement in the policy process, best practice instrument design and comprehensive monitoring. Eighty-two percent of policy cases with positive impacts on nutrition outcomes displayed this combination. Conclusion: These findings show the importance of regulatory governance on policy outcomes. They suggest a need for more government-led nutrition policy processes and transparent monitoring systems that are independent from industry.

The Credible Commitment Problem in the Third-Party Mediation of the Mindanao Peace Process, 1975–2014

Negotiated settlements of civil wars are challenging since incompatibilities take a long time to resolve. Many scholars have approached this puzzle by identifying information asymmetry and commitment problems as critical deterrents to resolution. Similarly, this article argues that third-party mediation could improve or worsen the parties’ credible commitment problems, as illustrated in the Mindanao peace process mediation that spanned almost four decades. Following a contingency framework in analyzing third-party mediation, this article analyzes existing reports, statements, and peace process agreements using a process tracing methodology. The article argues that the success of a peace process could be attributed to how mediation resolves the parties’ credible commitment problems, which are evident in three aspects of the peace process: getting the parties to negotiate, the use of mediator leverage, and the promise of third-party monitoring and enforcement.

Assessment of Timber Resource Exploitation in Shasha Forest Reserve, Osun State, Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Forestry

Records on rate of timber exploitation are very essential for sustainable forestry. They help in managing the forest sustainably. Therefore, the study collected and analysed data on rate of timber exploitation in Shasha forest reserve in Osun state. Logs arranged and set to be taken out of the forest were identified and measured every Monday between December, 2017 and June, 2018 for twenty-eight (28) weeks. The species and families of logs encountered were identified. A total of 13,944 logs were assessed. Fifteen (15) families belonging to twenty-one (21) species of logs were identified. Result revealed that Sterculiaceae family with five species was the most exploited. Ricinodendron heudelotti has the highest number of exploited logs with overall frequency of 27.71%. Ricinodendron heudelotti had the highest basal area and volume with values of 18018776.71cm² and 113289.36cm³ respectively. The study concludes that the population of Ricinodendron heudelotii tree was high in Shasha forest which made it available for extraction at high rate. The study recommends strict monitoring and enforcement of sustainable forestry laws with regular inventory and up-to-date inventory of timber exploitation rate from the reserve.

Analysing the Brazilian Sugarcane Agroecological Zoning: Is This Government Policy Capable of Avoiding Adverse Effects from Land-Use Change?

<p>There are doubts about the reliability of so-called biofuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and conserve biodiversity. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane ethanol in the world. This thesis analyses the extent to which the Brazilian Sugarcane Agroecological Zoning (ZAE Cana), a federal policy developed in 2009, can contribute to reducing, or avoiding, adverse environmental impacts in terms of GHG emissions and biodiversity degradation. It takes into account both direct and indirect effects of land-use change (LUC) caused by the expansion of sugarcane in Brazil. Because sugarcane expansion has primarily displaced areas of pasture, most of the literature reviewed, and information from the participants, are optimistic in regard to GHG emissions due to direct LUC. But the expansion of sugarcane has caused biodiversity impacts and it may be aggravated in the near future. Despite increase in agricultural productivity, studies contend that indirect LUC caused by the increase in sugarcane ethanol production in Brazil is expected to take place. Qualitative face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with experts representing private institutions, the Brazilian government, the sugarcane industry association and the NGO WWF-Brazil. The key stakeholders were chosen to elicit knowledge from a range of respondents with experience of the production of Brazilian sugarcane ethanol. The interviews were also used to investigate the importance of, and motivations to create, ZAE Cana. ZAE Cana has shortcomings and there is significant impact on LUC caused by other agricultural activities. Monitoring and enforcement of specific legal frameworks are important. Agroecological zonings for other activities such as pasture, soybeans and corn should also be developed to control detrimental indirect LUC.</p>

Analysing the Brazilian Sugarcane Agroecological Zoning: Is This Government Policy Capable of Avoiding Adverse Effects from Land-Use Change?

<p>There are doubts about the reliability of so-called biofuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and conserve biodiversity. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane ethanol in the world. This thesis analyses the extent to which the Brazilian Sugarcane Agroecological Zoning (ZAE Cana), a federal policy developed in 2009, can contribute to reducing, or avoiding, adverse environmental impacts in terms of GHG emissions and biodiversity degradation. It takes into account both direct and indirect effects of land-use change (LUC) caused by the expansion of sugarcane in Brazil. Because sugarcane expansion has primarily displaced areas of pasture, most of the literature reviewed, and information from the participants, are optimistic in regard to GHG emissions due to direct LUC. But the expansion of sugarcane has caused biodiversity impacts and it may be aggravated in the near future. Despite increase in agricultural productivity, studies contend that indirect LUC caused by the increase in sugarcane ethanol production in Brazil is expected to take place. Qualitative face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with experts representing private institutions, the Brazilian government, the sugarcane industry association and the NGO WWF-Brazil. The key stakeholders were chosen to elicit knowledge from a range of respondents with experience of the production of Brazilian sugarcane ethanol. The interviews were also used to investigate the importance of, and motivations to create, ZAE Cana. ZAE Cana has shortcomings and there is significant impact on LUC caused by other agricultural activities. Monitoring and enforcement of specific legal frameworks are important. Agroecological zonings for other activities such as pasture, soybeans and corn should also be developed to control detrimental indirect LUC.</p>

Promoting Quality of Life and Safety in Assisted Living: A Survey of State Monitoring and Enforcement Agents

Our goal was to learn about monitoring and enforcement of state assisted living (AL) regulations. Using survey responses provided in 2019 from administrative agents across 48 states, we described state agency structures, accounted for operational processes concerning monitoring and enforcement, and documented data collecting and public reporting efforts. In half of the states, oversight of AL was dispersed across three or more agencies, and administrative support varied in terms of staffing and budget allocations. Operations also varied. While most agents could deploy a range of monitoring and enforcement tools, less than half compiled data concerning inspections, violations, and penalties. Less than 10 states shared such information in a manner that was easily accessible to the public. Future research should determine how these varied administrative structures and processes deter or contribute to AL communities’ efforts to implement regulations designed to promote quality of life and provide for the safety of residents.

ANALYSIS OF HALAL ASSURANCE MANAGEMENT ON IMPORTED FOOD PRODUCTS IN MALAYSIA

The entry of imported food products into Malaysia is on an increasing trend. However, the halal monitoring and enforcement system's weakness has given room to irresponsible entrepreneurs not conforming to the manual procedure for Malaysia's halal certification. This weakness gives rise to various malpractices, including the smuggling activities, forgery of international halal logo and certificate, and attempts of contaminating with nonhalal ingredients in the food processor. The management of the halal assurance system on imported food products in Malaysia is carried out by JAKIM and other government agencies such as the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs (KPDNHEP), Ministry of Health (MOH), Food Safety Information System of Malaysia (FOSIM), Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS), Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and Local Authority. The monitoring and enforcement are based on Manual Procedure for Malaysian Halal Certification (MPPHM), Malaysian Standard (MS), Trade Descriptions Act 2011 (TDA 2011), and other related directives. Therefore, despite many agencies contributing to this matter, an analysis of Halal Assurance Management on Imported Food Products in Malaysia is crucially needed to manage halal monitoring and enforcement. This study may contribute to halal management in Malaysia to develop a systematic halal assurance management system, particularly for imported food products. This study can provide a guideline for imported food product entrepreneurs in conforming to the act, regulations, procedure, and standard specified by the authorities. The implication of this study also benefits the consumers. They will become more confident in the halal status of imported food products and entrust the Malaysian management of halal assurance in the monitoring and enforcement system.

APPRAISAL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAND-USE REGULATIONS ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

The implementation of land use regulations on commercial property development is extremely important because of benefits abound in it for the society. Ilorin the capital of Kwara state, Nigeria is experiencing influx of many residents which gave rise to series of urban challenges. This paper appraised the implementation of land use regulations on commercial property development in Ilorin, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design and census method was adopted for the commercial properties and Estate Surveying and Valuation firms in the study area. Questionnaires were distributed to 26 practicing Estate firms in Ilorin Kwara State, 110 and 39 selected landlords / occupiers of commercial properties in Gambari-Ipata-Emir’s road and Government Reserved Area in Ilorin, Nigeria. Out of which 24 questionnaires (92%) and 110 (100%), 36 (92 %) were returned and found useful for the study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of cross tabulation and inferential statistics of Independent Sample t – Test and test of hypothesis. The research revealed that the p-values were all greater than 0.01 which led to the acceptance of null hypothesis that the level of implementation of land use regulations on commercial property development does not vary in the study area. The study conclude that there were hindrances to effective implementations of land use regulations on commercial property development across the study areas, and if not corrected will continue to affect the welfare of the citizens, ease of commercial activities, will lead to falling in commercial property’s rental value, falling in urban aesthetic value, and an increase in externalities. The study recommended proper government intervention in providing better resources to improve the level of monitoring and enforcement of land use regulations on commercial property development.

Factors affecting the delivery of optimum health and safety on construction projects during the covid-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of construction professionals relative to factors that affect the delivery of optimum health and safety (H&S) on construction projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative design which entailed the distribution of a web-based questionnaire among construction professionals, namely, architects, construction/project managers, engineers, H&S managers and quantity surveyors working for contractors and construction consultants in Zimbabwe. The data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Factor analysis was used to reveal interrelated significant sets of factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S. Findings Factor analysis revealed nine components/factors: change and innovation-related, monitoring and enforcement-related, production-related, access to information and health service-related, on-site facilities and welfare-related, risk assessment and mitigation-related, job security and funding-related, cost-related and COVID-19 risk perception-related factors as the significant factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. Research limitations/implications The results highlighted the need for social dialogue among construction stakeholders to support initiatives that will enhance the delivery of H&S on construction projects. Construction stakeholders may find the results useful in highlighting the areas that need improvement to protect workers’ H&S during the pandemic. However, the small sample limits the generalisability of the results to construction sectors in other regions. Originality/value The study investigated factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S during the COVID-19 to inform interventions to enhance H&S.