Quality standardization and certification of traditional food products

The results presented in this study were obtained during the implementation of the Interreg-IPA CBC project Traditional and Standard Quality - TASQ (HUSRB/1602/41/0146). The main goal of this project was quality standardization and certification of traditional food products in order to expand their market presence within the Serbia and Hungary cross-border region, using innovative processing and marketing techniques. In order to achieve that, the TASQ quality assurance system was developed, and the common certification mark Q was registered by Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in both cooperating countries. Numerous traditional food products were collected and analysed for nutritional and sensory quality as well as for safety. In total, 158 products across nine groups of traditional foodstuffs (meat products, dairy products, honey, vegetable oils, processed fruits and vegetables, juices/beverages, pasta and baker’s wares, confectionery, spices and teas) were certified with gold, silver or green Q mark, representing the quality level. A new internet platform (www.tasq.rs) was developed with the purpose to help traditional food producers to promote and sell their products on a wider market. The assigned trademark is clearly indicated for each certified product within the producers’ profiles on TASQ internet platform, and represents a guarantee of product quality intended to raise customer confidence.

Certification marks for Australian native foods: A proposal for Indigenous ownership of intellectual property

Recently, interest in ‘bush tucker’ foods has surged. Indigenous Australians should be empowered to determine how their knowledge is used when these products are commercialised. To exercise control over the development of the native foods industry, Indigenous Australians could establish a certification regime to ensure that their knowledge is appropriately converted into commercial products. This could be done through the strategic use of intellectual property, specifically through certification trade marks. Creating a certification mark for native foods could represent an important part of a decolonial policy agenda aimed at reimagining the regulation of native biodiversity and cultural knowledge in Australia.

Halal certification mark, brand quality, and awareness

Purpose This paper aims to ascertain whether halal certification mark, halal brand quality and halal awareness influence Nigerian consumers when making buying decisions. Design/methodology/approach The researchers reflect on the newly collected data to shed light on the above issues from the perspective of Nigerian consumers. To this end, a questionnaire was developed and used to collect data from 282 respondents. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings This study found that halal certification mark and halal brand quality are the most influential factors that contributed to the consumers’ buying decisions in Nigeria. Originality/value Based on the findings of this study, the researchers have argued that more efforts are needed in the area of halal awareness in Nigeria. Similarly, the study argues that halal brand quality should always be held at the esteemed position. Based on the study’s findings, the authors have been able to fill the literature gap, particularly in the context of the Nigerian halal industry.

How to Make Sure My Cryptokitties Are Here Forever? The Complementary Roles of Blockchain and the Law to Bring Trust

Under the phrase “code is law” and based on its “trustless trust”, blockchain has emerged as a disrupting technology considered by some as an alternative to the law. Based on a study of real-life blockchain-based decentralised applications (Dapps), this article takes blockchain developers at their word and adopts the point of view of users: can blockchain live up to its promise and enable them to transact with each other without the need for the trust granted by the law? The article particularly highlights that users need to be able to ascertain that a self-advertised Dapp indeed qualifies as one. Blockchain technology may make it possible to do away with trust in third parties, but this is not enough. Users also need to trust that an alleged Dapp genuinely is one, and blockchain alone cannot provide this. Beyond Dapps, it is argued that blockchain needs the complementary role of the law to deliver its promises and especially to authenticate blockchain “virtues”. The EU certification mark is identified as a promising form of co-regulation for that purpose.

Voluntary certification of wheeled vehicle parts and equipment

The article describes the procedure of voluntary certification of spare parts and accessories for wheeled vehicles in certification system of State Enterprise “State Road Transport Research Institute”. Keywords: application, the applicant, voluntary certification, certificate of conformity, quality management certificate, voluntary certification mark, marking, testing