The implications for mandatory GM labelling under the Consumer Protection Act in South Africa

The South African Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 was passed into law, which among other things, mandates the labelling of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in packed goods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of mandatory GM food labelling in terms of the Consumer Protection Act by determining what products currently on the market would be implicated. A total of 46 food products from different companies was selected and sampled randomly with an emphasis on those containing canola, maize and soybean, since GM varieties for these crops have been approved in South Africa in terms of the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Act of 1997. The products were screened for the presence of genetic modification and, if positive, quantified. Genetic modification was detected in 50% of products tested, including seven out of 14 (50%) products labelled to indicate an absence of genetic modification. The results from this study indicate that at a 5% GM labelling threshold, 19 out of the 46 products tested would need to be labelled for their GM content. Of the 14 products labelled to indicate an absence of GM, five exceeded the 1% threshold for non-GM labelling. Many companies are concerned about the cost effectiveness of mandatory labelling. However, the Consumer Protection Act makes a provision for a “may contain” clause that if used relieves the producer of the financial considerations to verify the GM content of a product. Although the Consumer Protection Act does not make any provision for monitoring, consumers or consumer groups have recourse against companies in contravention of the Consumer Protection Act through the provision of the National Consumer Commissioner (NCC).     

Multiplex qualitative PCR assay for identification of genetically modified canola events and real-time event-specific PCR assay for quantification of the GT73 canola event

Genetically modified (GM) canola is the most widely grown oilseed crop in Canada. At this time, commercially produced GM canola cultivars in Canada have the events GT73/RT73 and Ms8xRf3. Commercial seed sale of canola cultivars containing the GM events such as OXY235 and T45 has been discontinued. Adventitious presence of GM seeds and grains in non-GM grains is a concern for international grain trade, and development of effective detection methods is important. A multiplex qualitative PCR procedure was established for the detection of the GM canola events OXY235, Ms8xRf3, T45 and GT73. The presence of the GM canola events was also successfully detected in ground spiked wheat and barley grain samples prepared at 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.0% levels (w/w). The GT73 real-time PCR assay was successfully used to quantify DNA extracted from spiked ground canola samples consisting of 5%, 1%, 0.5% and 0.1% GT73 (w/w).     

Energy Cost Savings Through Direct Purchase and Transportation

An end user can outperform its traditional supplier if the sum of (a) the price of gas paid to a producer or a marketer, (b) the rate paid for pipeline transportation, (c) the rate paid for distributor transportation (or in the alternative, the cost of bypassing the distributor), and (d) any other costs associated with the transaction, is less than the cost of gas currently paid to a distributor or a pipeline supplier. While an end user traditionally has relied on others to purchase, transport and deliver gas and to guarantee against interruption of supply, an end user in a direct purchase arrangement is sometimes responsible for assembling its own chain of supply and for protecting itself against interruption of supply. If an end user can reduce its purchased gas costs and if the risks inherent in arranging for its own supply are acceptable or can be mitigated suitably, a direct purchase arrangement is worth undertaking.     

进口LNG产业链下游环节对供气成本的影响

为了澄清“天然气终端用户价格会随国际市场价格上涨而成比例增长”的认识误区，分析了LNG产业链各环节的费用对最终供气成本的影响。结果表明，由于下游各个环节的费用相对稳定，使最终供气成本增加幅度小于国际贸易价格（即离岸价）上涨的幅度。从模拟计算结果看出：若离岸价上涨50%，最终供气成本只增加1/3；同时下游各个环节的成本占总成本的比率由35% 降低为26%。充分利用 LNG的冷能和尽可能分离出湿气中所含的轻烃，可使下游环节成本进一步降低。因此，应积极进口LNG，采取措施进一步降低成本，做好市场的开拓工作。     

采用高桥加氢基础油开发上海通用汽车装车机油

 采用高桥加氢基础油开发的上海通用汽车装车机油,通过OEM要求的全部发动机台架试验,取得API GF-4和GM9986231认可,表明高桥加氢基础油加剂后完全能够满足目前最高档次汽油机油的性能要求。台架和行车试验结果表明,研制产品具有较好的抗氧化能力、高温清净性和低温分散性、抗磨性能,与国外同类产品质量相当。     

SIGMO: A decision support System for Identification of genetically modified food or feed products

Since their introduction in 1994, more and more genetically modified (GM) crops are grown worldwide and introduced in food or feed products. In the European Union (EU), the production, trade and marketing of GM products is strictly regulated, but the situation is becoming more complex due to the increasing number and complexity of GM crops, and asynchronic approval procedures with the major GM crop producing countries. Importers and traders are obliged to assess their respective supply chains for the potential presence of authorised and unauthorised GM organisms (GMOs), where wrong decisions may lead to substantial economic losses. This article presents a decision support system SIGMO aimed at guiding producers and traders with the assessment of the likelihood that their products may comprise authorised or unauthorised GM materials. The assessment is based on traceability data about the product (nature and origin of the raw materials, transportation aspects), as well as analytical results of the presence of GMOs in the final product or its ingredients. The approach uses a combination of data-driven and model-driven decision support. SIGMO is composed of (1) a data base providing data about GMO crop species produced and approved in counties worldwide, (2) a multi-attribute model for the assessment of GMO presence in food/feed products, and (3) an on-line user interface. SIGMO helps producers and traders to better comply to valid EU GMO regulations and to better control their products and supply chains in terms of the unintended presence of (unauthorised) GMOs in a cost-effective way.     

Transboundary movement of genetically modified organisms in India: Current scenario and a decision support system

Genetically modified (GM) crops have benefited global agriculture by introduction of superior traits for better agronomic performance, ensuring nutritional security and mitigating climate change. In India, to meet the demand of burgeoning population and to withstand the changing climate, GM crops would play an important role. Since 1997, GM crops are being imported through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, the designated nodal organization for quarantine processing and import of GMOs (referred to GM planting material in present context) for research purposes. In the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze the trend of import of GMOs. Till the end of 2015, 205 consignments of fifteen GM crops have been imported from 19 countries by public and private sector. Detailed analysis of diversity in traits of imported GM events and imported stacked traits in cotton and maize has been made. In the recent past, four consignments of GMOs have been exported for research purposes. Involvement of public/private sector in transboundary movement of GMOs was evaluated. Along with quarantine processing of imported/exported GMOs, molecular testing for specific transgenic elements as claimed by the importer/exporter is also carried out employing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR based markers. Efficient detection strategies based on GMO matrix as a decision support system, loop-mediated isothermal amplification and multi-target real-time PCR-based systems have been developed. The data presented herein would provide a decision support system to check for authorized/unauthorized GMOs in food and supply chain.     

Optimizing chocolate production through traceability: A review of the influence of farming practices on cocoa bean quality

Due to recent developments in traceability systems, it is now possible to exchange significant amounts of data through food supply chains. Farming practices applied by cocoa farmers at the beginning of the chocolate supply chain strongly influence several quality parameters of the finished chocolate. However, information regarding these practices does not normally reach the chocolate manufacturer. As a consequence, many specifications of the raw material cannot be taken into consideration in the operational decision making processes related to chocolate production. In recent years many studies have been investigating the influence of certain farming practices on cocoa beans and the subsequent chocolate quality parameters. However, no comprehensive analysis of the process variables in the chain and their effects on the quality can be found. In this paper we review and classify the available literature on the topic in terms of process variables throughout the chain, and their effects on quality and flavour aspects of cocoa beans and the eventual chocolate product. After analyzing the literature, we are able to identify potential benefits of using data regarding the farming practices into the chocolate production process. These potential benefits especially concern product quality and production yield, giving directions for the future of chocolate production.     

Temperature management for the quality assurance of a perishable food supply chain

Compared to most product supply chains, food supply chains are often more complex and more difficult to manage because the food product is perishable and has a short shelf life. A cold chain or temperature-controlled supply chain provides the essential facilities and methods required to maintain the quality and quantity of foods. Since foods can be time and temperature sensitive in nature, they need to be properly taken care of in terms of harvesting, preparation, packaging, transportation and handling – in other words, throughout the entire chain. Temperature is the most important factor in prolonging or maintaining the shelf life of perishables. Refrigeration is one of most widely used methods to date to slow the bacteria growth that leads to food deterioration. The proper control and management of temperature is crucial in delivering perishables to consumers and ensuring that those perishables are in good condition and safe to eat. This paper addresses the methods used to improve the ability to define an optimal target temperature for multi-commodity refrigerated storage. Simulation results support the fact that the presented methods provide more accurate results compared to the conventional method. In addition, an experiment with a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) was conducted. As a result, the sensor-based methods for real time quality monitoring and assessment that consider product metabolism and Euclidean distance cost depending on temperature changes are found to be superior to the traditional visual assessment method.     

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification targeting insect resistant and herbicide tolerant transgenes: Monitoring for GM contamination in supply chain

Efficient detection strategies for genetically modified (GM) crops are required to effectively address some of the biosafety and post-release monitoring issues, as global adoption of GM crops has been unprecedently increased. Herbicide tolerance and insecticide resistance are the major traits in commercialized GM food crops. Visual as well as real-time detection system based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) targeting lepidopteron insect resistant cry1Ac, cry2Ab2 and glyphosate tolerant cp4-epsps genes has been reported. Specificity of LAMP assays were confirmed using fourteen GM events of four crops, namely, corn (MON810, NK603, Bt11, Bt176, MON89034), cotton (MON531, MON15985, GFM-cry1A, Event1, MLS9124, MON1445, MON15985 × MON88913), eggplant (EE1) and soybean (GTS40-3-2). Real-time LAMP was found sensitive enough to detect as low as 2 copies for cry1Ac and 4 copies for cry2Ab2 and cp4-epsps within 35 min using a calibration curve. The limit of detection (LOD) of visual LAMP assays was down to 0.01% (4 copies of GM content) which is lower than conventional PCR (detecting 40–400 copies depending on target). LAMP assays are faster and more user-friendly than conventional PCR and could be efficiently utilized for monitoring of GM contamination in food and feed supply chain, with high specificity and sensitivity. The developed assays, when combined with a fast DNA extraction method, will facilitate on-site detection to check the GM status of a sample or product at ports of entry and in farmers' fields.     

评价油井重复压裂前剩余可采储量的GM(1, 1)模型

应用灰色系统理论,由油井重复压裂前的递减产量,生成相应的一阶累加序列,由累加序列建立了灰色预测模型GM(1,1).据此模型研究油井由重复压裂前至废弃为止的生产动态。显然重复压裂前油井的日产油量在短期内可能波动较大,但经适当处理并从较长一段时间看,它有递减的趋势。经理论分析认为,生成的一阶累加序列有最大值,由此通过相关计算就可确定油井的剩余可采储量。此外,由于采用日产油量的累加序列建立模型,弱化了原始数据的随机波动性,强化了其规则有序性,而生成的一阶累加序列能更好地满足灰指数规律,适用于GM(1,1)模型计算。矿场实践表明,该模型所需原始数据少,但预测的精度高,可作为重复压裂选井选层的重要评判依据;也可与其它预测剩余可采储量的方法相互比较和确认,以便对重复压裂进行更加充分的论证。     

加油站便利店配送中心问题探讨

随着国内加油站竞争的加剧,加油站便利店逐渐成为吸引顾客,增加加油站收益的一种服务方式。因此,加油站便利店的经营管理与配送中心的问题日益显现出来。目前,国内加油站便利店的经营分为租赁经营、单店经营、代理经营等形式。随着加油站便利店销售量的增加,便利店的收益在加油站的经营收入的比重逐步提高,加油站便利店逐步成为一个新的经济增长点。一些地方石油公司发现经营便利店的毛利率比经营加油站还高,于是产生了自己建立便利店配送中心的想法,这种想法值得商榷。     

Assurance of compliance within the production chain of food contact materials by good manufacturing practice and documentation – Part 1: Legal background in Europe and compliance challenges

EU legislation requires that compliance of food contact materials with the legal requirements must be assured at each stage of the supply chain. The process has to respect good manufacturing practice (GMP), and for this purpose GMP is defined as the tool to ensure compliance. Communication through the production chain is an essential part, clarifying which work has been done and what is delegated to subsequent business stages.At early production stages it is often not possible to conclude on compliance of the final material or article. For instance, migration can only be measured from the final material and compliance of a non-regulated substance may be uncertain at an early stage. In fact, assuming responsibility either means concluding compliance with justification in the supporting documentation or specifying the work to be done at later stages in the documentation accompanying the product.This paper interprets existing legislation and indicates difficulties regarding the needs of food business operators and the role of the enforcement authorities.     

Monitoring the occurrence of genetically modified maize at a grain receiving port and along transportation routes in the Republic of Korea

The cultivation area of genetically modified (GM) crops is increasing all over the world. Though no land in the Republic of Korea is currently used for the cultivation of GM crops, GM crop imports for food and foraging purposes are continuously increasing. This may promote the unintentional escape of GM crops. This study was conducted to investigate whether imported GM maize is released into our environment during the transportation of grain in the Republic of Korea. Based on PCR analysis, most of the maize grains in the forage products were GM, and about 50% of the grains were germinated. Monitoring was conducted in two major grain receiving ports, 15 feed manufacturing plants, and 14 livestock barns in five provinces of the Republic of Korea from July to September 2007. We found many spilled maize grains around open storage areas of ports and along truck transportation routes near feed manufacturing plants. Established maize plants were not found at or around Incheon port. However, we found 18 established maize plants at the Gunsan port, 15 of which were GM. We also found eight GM maize plants around four feed manufacturing plants and in two livestock barns. Based on the event-specific PCR analysis, three maize events (NK603, Mon810, and TC1507) were identified. Though several GM maize plants were found around the port and feed manufacturing plants, most of these facilities were located inside the industrial park and were far from cultivated fields, likely rendering the impact of these GM maize on the natural environments negligible. However, most of the livestock barns were close to cultivated areas. Moreover, maize plants were cultivated for food or feed near some livestock barns. This practice may facilitate gene flow from GM maize to non-GM maize plants. Therefore, continuous monitoring is necessary to detect the occurrence of GM maize, and appropriate action should be taken to prevent genetic admixture in our environment.     

有效的天然气调峰储气技术——地下储气库

有效的天然气调峰技术可确保输气干线高效运行,实现安全平稳供气。为此,分析了国内天然气调峰储气技术的发展状况,指出地下储气库调峰具有库容大、安全性好、储转费低等优点,可从根本上解决城市季节性用气调峰问题,是最主要和经济的城市供气调峰方式;地下储气库应距离城市用户及输气干线较近,其中气藏建库是最经济的储气方式。同时介绍了地下储气库地面工艺技术,探讨了地下储气库新技术的发展趋势,提出了对中国地下储气库建设的建议：①继续增大国家整体储气系数,除满足常规调峰外,在条件许可的情况下,扩大应急供气和战略储备系数;②继续优选建库目标及库址,降低储转气成本,提高气库利用率;③尽快形成调峰供气定价机制,实现地下储气库商业化运作,建议研究天然气储气支持政策,按天然气“季节差价”收取调峰储气费;④利用干线气源的高压力,有条件的分输站利用压差设置LNG液化装置,实现液化调峰;⑤合理布局LNG接受站、LNG液化厂,增加LNG储存及气化设施,实现LNG与地下储气库调峰的相互配合,二者优化运行,最大限度地满足用户调峰需求。     

LIQUID PHASE OXIDATION OF THIOPHENOL AND INDENE BY t-BUTYL HYDROPEROXIDE AND OXYGEN

The tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) or oxygen initiated oxidation of thiophenol in the presence of the active olefin indene was examined in benzene at 120C. The reaction is kinetically complex, but it was possible to relate the product distribution to a few competing reactions. The product mix was determined for several reaction time periods. The product slate was similar for all time periods, but yields of the individual components varied significantly with increasing reaction time. Gaseous products included isobutylene and a trace of methane. The major product from tBHP was t-butanol. The major product observed from thiophenol was phenyl disulfide. Addition products included the major product 2-phenylthiyl indan. Oxidation products included: indanols, indanones, and the sulfoxide and sulfone of the major product 2-phenylthiyl indan. Solvent participtation was noted by trace amounts of toluene.     

GMO matrix: A cost-effective approach for screening unauthorized genetically modified events in India

Use of a pragmatic, affordable and reliable approach for screening and detection of a large number of genetically modified (GM) crops/events is the need of hour. A cost-effective matrix approach to check the GM status of food/feed products and for screening the presence of authorized and unauthorized GM events in India is being reported in the present study. A genetically modified organism (GMO) screening matrix, with the information on 106 genetic element targets for detection of 141 GM events of 21 crops, is being presented. These include commercially cultivated Bt cotton events and other GM events, under field trials during the past six years (2006–2012) in the country. The information on GM events, which were either indigenously developed or imported for research purposes, is also presented in brief. Ten most frequently present targets, viz., [P-35S] [T-nos] [Os-Msca1] [cry1Ab] [cry1Ac] [cry1C] [cry2Ab] [GA20 oxidase1] [nptII] [bar], were identified to screen these events using a GMOseek algorithm. This user-friendly screening tool is flexible for further updates with the new GM events and targets/elements. The data reported here related to the GM crops/events in India and the related GMO matrix are valuable tools to assist in the detection of accidental presence of unauthorized GM events in the food and supply chain globally, as well as in the context of the new labelling requirements for food commodities, as per the amendment to enforce GM food labelling from January 2013 in India. The reported GMO matrix approach would facilitate efficient, rapid and cost-effective preliminary screening by eliminating the need for development of specific testing methodologies for each GM event.     

企业采购管理探讨

介绍了供应链管理环境下采购的特点,着重就供应链集成下企业采购的管理进行了探讨。随着供应链管理的不断发展,应摒弃传统采购模式下的不足,而通过供应链集成下的企业采购模式,达到降低采购成本、提高效率、获取更多的外部资源、提高企业竞争力的目的。     

MIP装置回炼轻汽油馏分增产丙烯的实施方案及效果

为降低成品油产量、增产丙烯,可将高烯烃含量轻汽油馏分送回MIP装置进行回炼。轻汽油回炼方式有4种：轻汽油走单独增设的回炼提升管回炼,轻汽油走急冷油线进MIP反应器变径提升管回炼,轻汽油进MIP提升管预提升段底部回炼,轻汽油进单独增设的喷嘴(在重油喷嘴下方)回炼。经对比分析发现：在重油喷嘴下方单独增设轻汽油喷嘴回炼,可以调控反应时间和反应深度;在尽量多产丙烯的前提下,轻汽油回炼产物分布合理、对MIP产品性质负面影响小、装置经济效益好,是优选的轻汽油回炼方式。