[ { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "India's castor oil exports areprovisionally estimated at 30,000 tonnes in fiscal 1986/87,ending March 31, against 54,000 tonnes in 1985/86 due to ashortfall in the domestic castorseed crop, private traderssaid. Drought in parts of the country is expected to reduce thecastorseed crop to a provisionally estimated 350,000 tonnes in1986/87 from 550,000 tonnes in 1985/86, they told Reuters.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [ "reserves", "sugar" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The West German Cabinet approved a plan tomint a special 10-mark coin commemorating the 30th anniversaryof the European Community this year. The silver-copper alloy coin will be minted in an editionof 8.35 mln, a Finance Ministry statement said.", "answer groups": [ "silver" ], "distractor groups": [ "inventories", "tea", "veg-oil", "castor-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The European Community's cerealmanagement committee rejected all bids to export free marketsoft wheat at today's weekly tender, traders said. The committee awarded 123,000 tonnes of free market barleyexport licences at a maximum export refund of 138.75 Ecus pertonne.\u0003", "answer groups": [ "barley" ], "distractor groups": [ "soybean", "rubber", "can" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Agriculture Ministry officials said theyare not considering cuts in import duties on chocolate to helpease friction with the United States over agricultural trade. Japan has already lowered the duties sharply and we mustconsider domestic market conditions, an official said. Duties on chocolate were cut to 20 pct from 31.9 pct inApril 1983. Washington has been demanding a cut to seven pct,equivalent to its own duties, ministry sources said. Japanese chocolate imports rose to 8,285 tonnes in calendar1986 from 5,908 in 1985, official statistics show. However, the ministry sources added it is possible thegovernment may make further cuts in response to strong U.S. AndEuropean demand. \"Due to concern about the farm trade row with the U.S.,Top-level government officials may press the ministry to cutthe duties,\" one said. But he said it would be difficult for Japan to resolve itsoverall trade row with Washington and reduce its trade surplus,which reached 58.6 billion dlrs in 1986. Agricultural trade issues between Japan and the U.S.Include Japanese import restrictions on 12 farm products.", "answer groups": [ "trade" ], "distractor groups": [ "bfr", "hk", "palm-oil", "soybean" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "French Finance Minister Edouard Balladursaid the Group of Seven major industrial nations, G-7, canachieve stable currency values by adhering to accords reachedthis year in Paris and Washington. Balladur, asked at a news conference if coordinated marketintervention by central banks was sufficient to halt thedollar's recent slide, said \"each country has to fulfillcommitments\" outlined in the G-7 accords. Earlier this month in Washington, finance ministers of theU.S., Japan, West Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Canadareaffirmed an earlier Paris accord to arrest the dollar's fall. Balladur said the current nervousness in foreign exchangemarkets can be partly attributed to \"some operators in themarket only watching short term economic indicators. You haveto keep a cool head,\" he said, declining to elaborate further. In an earlier speech before the Milan Chamber of Commerce,the minister said European countries have to seek \"a betterconsensus of economic and monetary policies.\" On the European Monetary System, he said, \"The persistentvulnerability of the foreign currency mechanism, particularlyto the movements of the dollar, can be explained by the absenceof a common policy for currencies of other countries.\" Balladur said, \"I am profoundly convinced that the Europeancountries have to define together this position with respect tothe dollar and the yen.\" He said Italy eventually would have to abandon its highermargin of fluctuation within the European Montetary System. \"Ihope that the spectacular improvement of the economic situationand of the balance of payments will permit (Italy) to do itsoon.\" The lira is currently allowed a fluctuation margin eitherside of its agreed midpoints with other EMS currencies of sixpct, against 2.25 pct permitted for the other members.", "answer groups": [ "lit" ], "distractor groups": [ "dfl", "nickel", "gold" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Exports of French soft wheat for theperiod July 1, 1986, to March 1, 1987, fell 27.6 pct to 8.21mln tonnes from 11.34 mln tonnes in the same 1985/86 period,the national cereals office ONIC said quoting customs figures. Of this total, exports to non-EC countries totalled 3.76mln tonnes, 34 pct down on 5.70 mln, and exports to EC nations4.45 mln tonnes, 21.1 pct down on a previous 5.64 mln. Main EC destinations were Italy with two mln tonnes versus1.9 mln, Belgium 500,000 tonnes (one mln), Netherlands 500,000(600,000), West Germany 500,000 (800,000), Spain 300,000(zero), Britain 300,000 (700,000), Greece 200,000 (300,000),and Ireland 100,000 (200,000). In flour, exports totalled 980,000 tonnes, up 6.5 pct on aprevious 920,000 tonnes. Exports of maize totalled 4.11 mln tonnes, 37.4 pct up on aprevious 2.99 mln. Exports to non-EC countries were 190,000tonnes against 140,000 and to EC countries 3.92 mln tonnesagainst 2.84 mln. Main EC desinations were Netherlands 900,000 (600,000),Belgium 800,000 (one mln), Britain 700,000 (500,000), WestGermany 400,000 (same), Italy 300,000 (200,000) and Greece300,000 (zero).", "answer groups": [ "corn" ], "distractor groups": [ "nzdlr", "copper", "tin" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. grain planting intentions andstocks reports bear optimistic news for U.S agriculture, agrain analyst on a Chicago Board of Trade panel said. The decline in intended soybean acreage and lower stocksare \"the first report we've had for a long time that shows anyoptimism for anybody,\" said John \"Bud\" Frazier, grain analystand executive vice president for Balfour MacLaine, Inc. \"I'm really excited about it,\" Frazier said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said farmers intend toplant 67.6 mln acres of corn, down from 76.7 mln planted lastyear, and 56.8 mln acres of soybeans, down from 61.5 mln. The report showed March 1 stocks of 1.4 billion bushels ofsoybeans, 8.3 billion bushels of corn, and 2.3 billion bushelsof wheat, all below trade guesses. Frazier was joined by Susan Hackmann, senior grain analystwith AgriAnalysis, and Mark Meyer, a grain analyst withShearson Lehman Brothers, Inc., on a Chicago Board of Tradepanel to discuss the reports. Frazier said the stocks reports in particular were friendlyfor the market, and soybean prices would jump three to fivecents a bushel \"if the bell rang right now.\" \"We're getting our disappearance up. We have less (corn andsoybeans) than we thought we had,\" he said, noting that hog andpoultry production is up. \"We're seeing low prices generate some interest in demand,\"said Meyer, adding that feed use was up 13 pct last quarter and15 pct in the preceding quarter. However, Hackmann said production could continue to exceedconsumption. She noted that most of the reductions in soybean acres camein southeastern states, where yields are usually low. \"We have the potential for record breaking soybean yieldsthis year, (which) will temper the enthusiasm on tomorrow'sopening,\" she said. Hackmann said record corn yields also are possible, and thecrop could reach 7.1 billion bushels, which would be down fromlast year's 8.25 billion bushels. \"We'll need very good disappearance next year to reducestocks,\" she said. The USDA estimated disappearance last yearat 6.7 billion bushels. Hackmann said the stocks report was positive for the longterm, \"But we still have a long way to go to bring stocks downto where we could start rebuilding prices.\" Frazier also cautioned that the soybean acreage reportcould prompt farmers to change their plans and plant moresoybeans. The panelists agreed that the reports should discouragetalk of revising the 1985 farm bill. \"There seems to be no desire ... to change the farm lawwe're working under today, and this report should reinforcethat,\" Frazier said. \"We are seeing the program beginning to work,\" said Meyer.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "coffee", "rapeseed" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA)figures for highly-erodible land enrolled into the ConservationReserve Program were regarded by most grain analysts as neutralto bearish, although some said a full state-by-state breakdownwould be needed to assess the full price impact. \"Out of 10.5 mln acres only 1.9 mln acres were accepted incorn -- That's neutral at best and perhaps bearish to what thetrade was looking for,\" Dale Gustafson of Drexel BurnhamLambert said. The USDA said it had accepted 10,572,402 more acres intothe conservation program out of bids on a total of 11,254,837acres. Gustafson said he would not be changing his estimate ofplanted acreage for corn as a result of the latest figures, butsome other analysts said they would adjust their estimatesslightly. The USDA is due to release planting intentionsfigures March 31. Indications of a heavy sign-up in the conservation programrecently lowered most trade estimates of corn planted acreageto 63.0 to 67.0 mln acres from 67.0 to 69.0 mln. Richard Loewy, analyst with Prudential Bache Securities,said there was not enough information to completely assess theconservation figures. \"The 1.9 mln acres on corn is certainlydisappointing,\" he added. The USDA later released the state-by-state breakdown of theenrollment figures. Loewy said the initial figures appeared to be negative forboth new crop corn and soybeans, and might possibly mean anupward adjustment in planting intention figures. Asked about the impact on the flow of generic certificatesonto the market this spring, he said: \"The trade was definitelylooking higher, so certificates are going to be less thanexpected.\" The USDA offered a special corn \"bonus\" rental payment tothe farmers to be paid in generic certificates. The bonusamounts to two dlrs per bushel, based on the farm programpayment yield for corn, for each acre of corn accepted into thereserve. Katharina Zimmer, analyst for Merrill Lynch Futures, saidthe conservation sign-up was slightly higher than she hadexpected, although she noted that some trade expectations wereconsiderably higher than the actual figures. \"I think it is friendly for the market, at least in thelong run,\" she said. Susan Hackmann of AgriAnalysis said there was someconfusion over whether trade ideas of an enrollment figurebetween 15 and 18 mln acres referred to the total sign-up orthe latest addition. \"It seems the trade was looking for more acres to be bidinto the program,\" she said. Hackmann said she would not make much change to her ideasabout corn planting figures as a result of the conservationsign-up. She added that while some trade guesses were as low as61 mln acres, she was looking for corn plantings to be in thehigh 60's. Zimmer of Merrill Lynch said she would be making a slightreduction of about one mln acres in her planting estimate toaround 64 mln acres. New crop corn prices at the Chicago Board of Trade firmedearlier this week on ideas of a large sign-up in the program,despite the fact that acres enrolled are generally pooryielding and not likely to make a substantial difference tofinal production figures.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "oilseed", "gas", "earn", "castor-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Canadian government is expectedto announce later this week its final ruling whether U.S. cornexports to Canada have injured Ontario corn growers, U.S.government and farm group representatives said. The deadline for a final determination is March 7. U.S. officials said they are encouraged by the outcome in asimilar case covering European pasta imports. In that case,Canada decided pasta imports, which take about ten pct of theCanadian market, did not injure domestic producers. U.S. cornexports represent only about five pct of the Canadian market. Canada slapped a 1.05 dlrs per bushel duty on U.S. cornimports in November 1986, but reduced the duty to 85 cts lastmonth because the Canadian government said U.S. subsidies to corn producers were less than Canada earlier estimated.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "lead", "soy-oil", "sun-meal", "trade" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "With less than a week remaining toenroll in the 1987 feedgrains program, Agriculture Departmentofficials said that final signup will probably exceed lastyear's level of 85 pct. Enrollment in USDA's basic acreage reduction program willlikely total close to 90 pct, Agricultural Stabilization andConservation Service, ASCS, officials said, with 50 to 70 pctof the enrolling farmers also expected to sign up for the paidland diversion program. The signup period of the 1987 feedgrains program officiallyends at the close of the business day on March 30. USDA will release its official signup report around April15, an official said. USDA personnel in the corn belt states of Iowa, Illinois,and Indiana have been reporting heavy signup activity, an ASCSofficial told Reuters. A surge of acitivity is expected during this final week ofsignup, the official said. \"A lot of farmers have been dragging their feet becausethey were anticipating some changes in the program, but thatdoesn't look very likely now,\" he said. To enroll in the 1987 feedgrains program, farmers have toset aside 20 pct of the program acreage base, and have theoption to idle an additional 15 pct under a paid land diversionprogram.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "palm-oil", "yen", "plywood", "fishmeal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Australian markets are booming as foreignfund managers redirect capital away from the United States andother traditional markets, analysts said. High short-term interest rates, a bullish stock market andan increasingly stable currency reflect a massive inflow offresh funds in the last two months, largely from Japanese andU.S. Investors, analysts polled by Reuters said. Fund managers want quality markets to park their cash inand have settled on Australia, Britain and Canada as theydiversify from volatile U.S. Dollar instruments, they said. A one percentage point fall in key 10-year bonds rates inthe past month, record share prices and a 10-month high for thecurrency of 0.71 U.S. Dlrs all illustrated the inflow. Official figures on the latest inflow of investment capitalare not available, but brokers said they received almost dailyinquiries from Japan and the United States. \"These people have got trillions of dollars sloshing aboutand they don't know what to do with it. Some of that is endingup here with the attraction of high interest rates andreasonable currency stability,\" National Australia Bank Ltdeconomist Brian Hamley said. \"There is a 'flight to quality',\" Hamley said. \"Australia maynot be in the best (economic) position, but there aren't toomany other countries where you'd want to put your money.\" The stronger Australian dollar was also attractinginvestors taking advantage of an appreciating currency againstthe volatility of the U.S. Unit, analysts said. \"We're looking a more favoured market than perhaps the U.S.Where some people would be concerned about the value of theU.S. Dollar,\" Lloyds Bank NZA Ltd chief economist Will Buttrosesaid. \"Why not put the money in Australia where entry is cheapand the currency looks stable?\" But turning that capital into more permanent productiveinvestment depends on government economic policy, he said. \"It will only disappear if people lose confidence in thedirection in the economy,\" Buttrose said, adding that offshoreinvestors would carefully watch the government's promised tougheconomic statement on May 14. While happy to invest in bonds and other vehicles yieldinginterest unobtainable elsewhere, fund managers could just aseasily reverse the flow -- particularly the Japanese, who werebadly hurt in the past by rapid falls in the Australian dollarand hefty jumps in bond rates, analysts said. \"It will remain very edgy money. If something was not to bedelivered, if the statement wasn't considered tough enough, onemight see a substantial outflow,\" Buttrose said. Offshore investors are eager to see Australia take tougheconomic decisions to curb its 100 billion dlr foreign debt andstubborn current account deficit, analysts said. \"They are giving us the benefit of the doubt and I thinkthey would like to leave the money here,\" Buttrose said. Reserve Bank policy has also reflected the increasedinterest in investment in Australia and the need to shieldJapanese investors from rapid currency fluctuations. Reserve Governor Bob Johnston last week acknowledged anelement of targeting the rate against the yen in currencypolicy when he said authorities could not take their \"eyes offthe yen\" because of the crucial role of Japanese investors. Analysts said they believed the Reserve Bank had workedsuccessfully in recent months to keep the Australian dollarwithin the range of 100 to 103 yen. Apart from its recovery against a weak U.S. Dollar, theAustralian dollar has also risen almost three pct on atrade-weighted basis in the last three weeks. Offshore buying has also played a role in the boomingAustralian share market. It has followed Wall Street and othermarkets, but is also setting its own trend in response to theweight of both domestic and offshore funds pouring intoequities, particularly in the gold sector. The key all ordinaries index rose to a record 1,758.3today, nearly 20 pct above its level at the end of 1986, whilethe gold index has nearly doubled to a record 3,081.0 in thesame period. The property sector is also sought after, with Japanesecompanies that have invested heavily in the United States inrecent years turning their attention to undervalued realestate, particularly in the tourism field. Analysts pointed to the recent sale of Sydney's five-starRegent Hotel to Japanese interests for more than 145 mln dlrsas indicative of the type of property being sought. \"They think they find good value real estate here which,with long term and fixed capital investment, is the kind ofinvestment Australia needs,\" Buttrose added.", "answer groups": [ "interest" ], "distractor groups": [ "palmkernel", "lead", "reserves", "tapioca" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The European Commission is to considerproposed new higher minimum standards for sales of durum wheatinto intervention stores, European Community sources said. They said a document drawn up by Commission officialsproposes a reduction in the maximum humidity level to 13 pctfrom 14, an increase in the minimum weight to 78 kilos perhectolitre from 76, a tightening of other technical standardsand introduction of some new ones. Current public stocks of durum wheat in the EC are 1.15 mlntonnes, of which almost 1.12 mln are in Italy.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "coconut", "groundnut-oil", "palmkernel", "skr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "French operators have requested licencesto export 320,000 tonnes of free market barley, 225,000 tonnesof maize, 25,000 tonnes of free market bread-making wheat and20,000 tonnes of feed wheat at today's EC tender, trade sourcessaid. For the barley, rebates of between 138 and 141.25 Europeancurrency units (Ecus) per tonne were sought, for maize theywere between 129.65 and 139 Ecus, for bread-making wheat around145 Ecus and for feed wheat around 142.45 Ecus. Barley rebates of up to 138.50 Ecus were requested for atotal of 40,000 tonnes and at 139 Ecus for 85,000 tonnes. Rebates of up to 130 Ecus per tonne were requested for atotal of 55,000 tonnes maize and up to 131 Ecus for 105,000tonnes, the sources said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "money-supply", "trade" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Comalco Ltd said its return to profitreflected reduced costs, improved primary aluminium prices andits withdrawal from a Japanese smelter venture. It said the earlier reported 57.1 mln dlr profit for theyear ended December 31 against a 69.13 mln dlr loss in 1985 wasalso aided by lower interest rates on U.S. Dollar debt andgreater sales of bauxite and aluminium. Comalco said it expected to pay at least a four cents pershare final dividend, delayed until July 1 to take advantage ofproposed dividend imputation laws. This would make five cents for the year against a first andfinal of one cent in 1985. Comalco said the aluminium industry continues to sufferfrom low prices and excess capacity, though the weak Australiandollar had helped earnings. Comalco's Commonwealth Aluminium Corp unit said earlier ithas conditionally agreed to sell its Goldendale smelter inWashington, and port facilities at Portland, Oregon to ColumbiaAluminium Corp. Comalco said its extraordinary provision of27.3 mln dlrs costs for Goldendale losses and closure may bereduced if the sales agreement were completed.", "answer groups": [ "earn" ], "distractor groups": [ "trade", "nkr", "austdlr", "peseta" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The climate for precious metals isimproving with prices benefiting from renewed inflation fearsand the switching of funds from dollar and stock markets,brokers Samuel Montagu and Co Ltd said. Silver prices in March gained some 15 pct in dlr terms dueto a weak dollar and silver is felt to be fairly cheap relativeto gold, Montagu said in its monthly silver newsletter. InMarch the gold/silver ratio narrowed from 74 to less than 67. The supply/demand position has improved in the past year,and despite a silver market surplus, the quantity of silver ismodest enough to be absorbed by investors, it added. The report said the firmness in oil prices was likely tocontinue in the short term. A period of consolidation might be necessary before pricesattempted to move significantly higher,it said, but so long asthe dollar remains under pressure then the outlook for silverwas positive. However silver was less likely to continue to outpace theother metals by such a margin, Montagu said.", "answer groups": [ "gold" ], "distractor groups": [ "nkr", "retail", "soy-oil", "austdlr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Colombian exports other than coffee rose55 pct in January compared with the same period last year,figures from the government statistics institute show. Non-coffee exports amounted to 180.8 mln dlrs fob comparedwith 147.5 mln dlrs for coffee, a drop of 42 pct from lastyear. The trade balance registered a 35 mln dlr surplus, comparedwith a 56 mln dlr surplus in January 1986. The national planning department forecast that in 1987coffee, Colombia's traditional major export, will account foronly one third of total exports, or about 1.5 billion dlrs.", "answer groups": [ "trade" ], "distractor groups": [ "jet", "nickel", "barley", "peseta" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Indian State Trading Corporation(STC) bought 20,000 tonnes of optional origin soybean oil and6,000 tonnes of rbd palm olein at its import tender yesterday,traders said. Pakistan, however, rejected offers at its tender for 12,000tonnes of rbd palm oil, but is expected to reenter the marketnext week, they said. The STC soyoil purchase was for May 20/Jun 20 shipment at319 dlrs per tonne cif and the palm olein for Apr 25/May 25shipment at 355 dlrs per tonne.", "answer groups": [ "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [ "coconut-oil", "silver", "nickel", "inventories" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Thailand's main paddy crop is expectedto fall to 15.4 mln tonnes in the 1986/87 (Nov/Oct) season froma previous 15.68 mln estimate in November and an actual 17.35mln a year ago, the Thai Rice Mills Association said. It said a joint field survey late last month by theassociation, the Commerce Ministry and the Bank of Thailandindicated that paddy output in Thailand's northeast region islower than expected because of a drought in several provinces. The association said rice growing areas in NakhonRatchasima, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen and Mahasarakam wereespecially affected by low rainfalls in the second half of1986. It said last November that the drought reduced totalnational areas sown with paddy to some 8.25 mln hectares thisyear, down from 8.84 mln a year ago. The main crop represents about 85 pct of Thailand's paddyoutput.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "coconut", "orange", "lei", "livestock" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Japanese crushers bought 3,000 to4,000 tonnes of Canadian rapeseed in export business overnightfor last half May/first half June shipment, trade sources said.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [ "austdlr", "nat-gas", "alum", "instal-debt" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "About 800 members of the United Food andCommercial Workers Union, UFCWU, struck John Morrell's SiouxCity, Iowa, pork processing plant at midnight Sunday, aspokesman for the UFCWU national said. Meatpackers at the plant have been working without acontract since the old pact expired January 31, UFCWU spokesmanJohn Mancuso said. The plant can slaughter and process about13,000 to 14,000 hogs a day, he estimated. The UFCWU bargaining committee and full membership rejectedin late January a contract proposal by John Morrell, asubsidiary of United Brands Inc, he said.\u0003", "answer groups": [ "hog" ], "distractor groups": [ "austdlr", "bfr", "cpi" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it operated inthe money market this morning, buying 103 mln stg bank bills. The central bank bought in band one 60 mln stg at 9-7/8, inband two eight mln at 9-13/16, in band three 26 mln at 9-3/4and in band four nine mln stg at 9-11/16 pct. This compares with the bank's forecast of a 400 mln stgshortfall today.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "corn-oil", "gold", "coconut-oil", "gnp" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it had offeredborrowing facilities to those discount houses wishing to usethem at 1430 GMT. The Bank also said it provided the money market 456 mln stgassistance in the afternoon session bringing its total help sofar today to 493 mln stg. This compares with its forecast of ashortage in the system today of around 700 mln stg. The central bank purchased bank bills outright comprising41 mln stg in band one at 10-7/8 pct 361 mln stg in band two at10-13/16 pct and 54 mln stg in band three at 10-3/4 pct. Money market dealers said the Bank of England has recentlyused the offer of borrowing facilities to signal that it doesnot want to see an early reduction in U.K. Base lending rates. The Bank does this by lending to the discount houses atrates of interest higher than its prevailing money marketdealing rates.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "copra-cake", "rape-oil", "gnp", "crude" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Grain traders said they were stillawaiting results of yesterday's U.K. Intervention feed wheattender for the home market. The market sought to buy 340,000 tonnes, more than doublethe remaining 150,000 tonnes available under the currenttender. However, some of the tonnage included duplicate bidsfor supplies in the same stores. Since the tenders started last July 861,000 tonnes ofBritish feed wheat have been sold back to the home market.", "answer groups": [ "wheat" ], "distractor groups": [ "peseta", "f-cattle", "jobs", "silver" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Shifts from mild to very coldweather in East Germany damaged winter barley and late sownwinter wheat in central regions and barley north of Berlin, theU.S. agricultural officer in East Berlin said. In a field report, the officer said indications were thatwinter kill might well be more than 100,000 hectares comparedwith 38,000 last year. He said the damage was probably more limited in southernand central regions and most widespread in the north. Damage was most severe on plants above the ground wherelittle or no snow cover was present, he added. The officer said heavy frosts at night followed by sunshineduring the day led to some heaving, particularly for welldeveloped plants and for winter barley. Furthermore, as the ground surface thawed, some standingwater occurred in the fields. The officer said repairing damage will probably call forspecial measures this spring in fields with damaged plants andwhere stands are thin. Harrowing, as well as well-timedapplications of nitrogen, will be necessary, he added.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "wool", "livestock", "castor-oil", "lit" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "French operators have requested licencesto export 40,000 tonnes of free market feed wheat, 32,500tonnes of soft bread wheat, 375,000 tonnes of barley and465,000 tonnes of maize at today's European Community tender,trade sources here said. Rebates requested ranged between 134 and 136.50 Europeancurrency units (Ecus) a tonne for the feed wheat, 137.39 and141.50 Ecus a tonne for the bread wheat, 137.93 and 142.95 Ecusfor the barley and 133.75 and 140.25 Ecus for the maize.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "copper", "fuel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Resource Exploration Inc said it hasagreed to let drill 50 oil andnatural gas wells on its Clinton Sandstone formation within itsTuscarawas and Harrison County, Ohio area of operation. Resource said it would receive a cash payment and anoverriding royalty interest on oil and gas production fromwells drilled on the property. Resource said gas produced from the property will betransported through its existing pipeline. Also, Resource saidit will provide service work to complete the wells and it willoperate the wells after they are completed.", "answer groups": [ "crude" ], "distractor groups": [ "strategic-metal", "ringgit", "skr", "cpu" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Brazil rejected all offers attonight's wheat tender, a Brazilian Wheat Board spokesman said. He said no date had been set for the next tender.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "tapioca", "castorseed", "groundnut-oil", "yen" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Soviet Union featured prominently inU.K. Grain exports outside the EC for the period July 1/March13, taking a combined total of 1.10 mln tonnes of wheat andbarley out of all-destination U.K. Exports of 7.16 mln tonnes,the Home Grown Cereals Authority said, quoting provisionalCustoms and Excise figures. The Soviet total comprises 634,000 tonnes of wheat and472,000 tonnes of barley. Grain traders said the figuresunderstate shipments already made by several thousand tonnesand they expect total U.K. Grain exports to the USSR thisseason to reach 2.5 mln tonnes, comprising 1.5 mln wheat/1.0mln barley.", "answer groups": [ "barley" ], "distractor groups": [ "housing", "coconut", "cornglutenfeed" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "the council of ministers approvedpetroleos de venezuela's planned purchase of a half interest inthe champlin petroleum refinery at corpus christi, texas,government sources said. The cabinet authorized energy and mines minister arturohernandez grisanti to approve the purchase in the shareholdersassembly of the state oil company petroleos de venezuela(pdvsa). Pdvsa last april 14 signed a letter of intent to buy a halfinterest in champlin's corpus christi refinery for anundisclosed sum. Under the terms of the provisional agreement, venezuelawould supply up to 160,000 barrels a day to the plant through anew company which would be jointly owned by the pdvsa andchamplin, a subsidiary of the union pacific corp . The deal would also allow pdvsa a joint share in champlin'srefinery and distribution network. The purhcase is one of a series of overseas joint venturesby which venezuela has managed to assure markets for some400,000 barrels of its approximately 1.5 mln bpd exports. Hernandez grisanti told reporters after the cabinet meetingthat pdvsa will pay 93 mln dlrs for its half ownership in thechamplin refinery - 33 mln dlrs in cash and 60 mln dlrs crudeoil and products. Through the deal, he said, venezuela will be assured thesale of at least 140,000 bpd of crude and products. Hernandez said pdsva has entered similar joint ventureswith veba oel of west germany, nynas petroelum in sweden, andcitgo in the united states.", "answer groups": [ "acq" ], "distractor groups": [ "lin-meal", "nkr", "bop", "skr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. House and Senate budgetnegotiators agreed as part of an overall budget accord reachedyesterday, to cut 1.25 billion dlrs from fiscal 1988 spendingon agricultural programs, Congressional sources told Reuters. The agreed cut in farm programs is a compromise between 1.4billion sought by the Senate and one billion by the House. The negotiators also agreed to cut 1.6 billion from thefarm budget in fiscal 1989 and 2.45 billion in 1990, for atotal of 5.3 billion in saving over three years, sources said. The agreement presents the House and Senate Agriculturecommittees with difficult choices on how to make changes inagriculture programs that achieve the budget savings targetswithout jeopardizing popular support payments, seniorCongressional aides told Reuters. Some farm state lawmakers already are manuevering to findthe budget savings. Rep. Dan Glickman, D-Kan., Chairman of the House grainssubcommittee, has introduced a bill which would freeze wheatand corn loan rates for the 1988 crop at the current 2.28 dlrsand 1.92 dlrs respectively, saying it would save 500 mln dlrs. House Agriculture Committee chairman Kika De la Garza hassaid the committee will consider the Glickman proposal. But Congressional sources said the proposal is unlikely tobe approved because of opposition from Republican lawmakers anda strong stance by Agriculture Secretary Richard Lyng, who saidfreezing loan rates would send the wrong signal to other majorgrain export competitors and would not achieve the budgetsavings Glickman claims. Another area where Glickman and other have said budgetsavings might be made is to increase acreage reduction program,ARP, levels for wheat and corn. However, on this issue also Lyng has taken a strong standwithin the Reagan administration, arguing that the 1988 cropwheat acreage reduction should be left at 27.5 pct and not 30pct as sought by the Office of Management and Budget, OMB. Mostcommodity lobbyists expect Lyng to prevail. Congressional sources said the only way to achievesignificant budget cuts through ARP increases would be to boostthe 1988 corn ARP. But one informed Congressional source saidsingling-out corn for an ARP increase would would be seen asunfair to one commodity. Congressional sources said the areas where Congress is mostlikely to eventually look for budget savings are sometightening of the payment limitation rules, and possible adoption of a 0/92 program for the 1988 crops of major grains. Those changes would achieve a portion of the 1.25 billionbut not enough, they said. Ultimately, Congressional sources said the agriculturecommittees may be forced to apply an across-the-board cut onall Commodity Credit Corp. payments to farmers, including pricesupport loans and deficiency payments, similar to theGramm-Rudman-Hollings budget cut applied in fiscal 1986. This idea has been suggested by the American Farm BureauFederation, AFBF, as the fairest approach for all commodities.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "cotton", "retail", "ipi", "nkr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Turkey's Central Bank set a lira/dollarrate for April 6 of 781.95/785.86 to the dollar, up from782.50/786.41. It set a lira/D-mark rate of 430.15/432.30 tothe mark, down from 428.30/430.44.", "answer groups": [ "dmk" ], "distractor groups": [ "rand", "sun-oil", "propane" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Japanese Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawatold a press conference the basic solution to currencyinstability among major nations is economic policycoordination. He said that is a time-consuming process as coordinationdoes not always proceed in a way policy makers envisage. \"Thatis democracy,\" he said. Upon that foundation, Miyazawa said,there must be coordinated intervention. Major nations havesufficient funds to continue concerted intervention, he added. \"Without doubt this set-up of coordinated intervention willcontinue to operate,\" Miyazawa said. Miyazawa said Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone and U.S.President Ronald Reagan are likely to reaffirm the Louvre andWashington Group of Seven (G-7) agreements on currencystability when they meet later this week. Asked whether the dollar is declining against all majorcurrencies, not only the yen, Miyazawa declined to make anycomments. He reiterated that many major nations have undertakencoordinated intervention in recent weeks to prop up the dollar,including countries who are not members of the G-7.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "soybean", "silver", "meal-feed", "palladium" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "British Petroleum Co Plc does notintend to raise the price of its planned 70 dlr per share offerfor the publicly held 45 pct of Standard Oil Co, BP ManagingDirector David Simon said. \"We don't seen this as any progressive bidding game,\" hetold reporters at a news conference. BP now owns 55 pct ofStandard's stock. Simon said BP had carefully considered the amount of itsplanned bid and he quoted an oil analyst, whom he would notidentify, as saying BP's careful evaluation means the companyis not going to raise its offer. \"I think that (an increase) would be totally wrong. I thinkthe price is very fair and it is much to early to speculateabout ligigation,\" he said. \"Let's wait and see how the offerruns.\" Another official declined to speculate under whatcircumstances BP might raise its bid. The BP official said the 70 dlrs a share offer is 7.2 timesStandard's 1986 cash flow and 56 pct above an independentevaluation of the company's assets, including the value of itsoil, natural gas liquids and natural gas reserves. He said the price Royal Dutch/Shell Group paidfor publicly held Shell Oil Co shares in 1985 was 5.1 timescash flow. The BP official also said the 70 dlr bid is a 40 pctpremium over Standard's stock price over the past year. BP Group Treasurer Rodney Chase said more than half to asmuch as two-third's of the 7.4 billion dlrs BP needs for itsoffer will come from existing sources. The rest will befinanced by new debt. BP will draw in cash from its operating companies aroundthe world and is also arranging a five billion dlr line ofcredit, he explained. The company's debt to equity ratio will rise 11 or 12percentage points from the current 33 pct if the offer iscompleted, Chase said. But the ratio will be back below 40 pctwithin 12 months, he added. Chase also said 50 to 60 pct of Standard Oil's publiclyheld shares are held by financial institutions. Simon said Standard's board was informed of the offer onMarch nine and has been considering it since that time. He said BP does not expect any regulatory problems thatwould delay completion of the acquisition. \"We have informedWashington of our intentions and we've already been an integralpart of ownership of U.S. oil reserves,\" he pointed out. Simon said there is a good chance that current world oilprices of about 18 dlrs a barrel could be maintained, and thatthe more stable market is due mostly to changes in policy inSaudi Arabia and other OPEC members to control oil production. \"We think there are signals that current conditions aremore favorable than they have been for sometime,\" Simon said. \"We have hopes for greater stability, but we do not seeprices going much higher,\" he added.", "answer groups": [ "acq" ], "distractor groups": [ "dmk", "fishmeal", "housing", "hk" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Loans and advances from the DutchCentral Bank to the commercial banks fell 1.01 billion guildersto 9.5 billion guilders in the week ending March 30, the Bank'sweekly return showed. Dealers said payments by the Dutch state, partly in theform of civil service wages, had outweighed payments to theState, causing the money market deficit to ease. The Treasury's account with the Bank dropped 960 mlnguilders to 6.5 billion guilders. Liabilities in gold or foreign currency rose 200 mln to11.9 billion guilders. Dealers said it was more likely that the alteration in thisitem on the weekly return indicated normal commercial foreignexchange business rather than intervention by the Central Bank. The Bank itself does not disclose information onintervention. Seasonal variation brought bank notes in circulation up 190mln guilders to 29.7 billion guilders. Total gold and currency reserves rose 173 mln guilders to56.4 billion guilders. Call money and period rates were barely changed in theweek. Today all were traded at 5-3/8 to 5-1/2 pct.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "reserves", "income", "strategic-metal", "tapioca" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The relatively high level of real U.S.interest rates suggests that there is scope for furtherdeclines in money market rates, but the Federal Reserve isunlikely to promote such a drop as long as the dollar remainsvolatile, said J.P. Morgan and Co Inc chairman Lewis Preston. He said in response to a reporter's question after thebank's annual meeting that money market rates could declinefurther but, \"I don't think the Fed is going to encourage thatas long as the exchange markets are as volatile as they are.\" On the other hand, he said that, barring a collapse of thedollar, he did not see rates going much higher. He said that Morgan's recent rise in its prime lending ratewas \"purely a reflection of an increase in a whole spectrum ofrates.\" Preston reiterated earlier company forecasts that the U.S.economy should show roughly 2.5 to three pct real growth thisyear. He also said that as a consequence of the dollar's declineand oil price rises, inflation would rise \"moderately\" to a 3.5to four pct rate in 1987.", "answer groups": [ "interest" ], "distractor groups": [ "crude", "stg", "rye" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The French primary bond market is showingsigns of renewed effervescence after several weeks of lethargyand the trend is expected to continue if hopes of imminentinterest rate cuts are fulfilled, market operators said. The Bank of France is generally expected to give a signalto the market, possibly at the beginning of next week, byannouncing a quarter point cut in its intervention rate, whichhas stood at eight pct since January 2, or in its seven-dayrepurchase rate, set at 8-3/4 pct since January 5. The central bank's averaged-out day to day call money rate,the reference rate for interbank money market operators, whichreached 8-3/4 pct on February 18 has fallen to 7-3/4 pct thisweek, dealers noted. The Bank of France's \"open market\" policy to regulate themoney markets since December has been based on a floor andceiling of rates within the limits of its intervention andseven day repurchase rates. For the moment the sentiment is of \"wait and see\" on ratecuts, but there are now more optimists than pessimists amongmarket operators, a dealer for a major French bank said. Dealers said there is abundant liquidity on the bondmarket, noting that this week's monthly Treasury tap issue of11.87 billion francs had a good reception and was fairly easilyabsorbed. The Treasury had set an upper limit on the issue of 12billion francs and was likely to continue to try and sell asmuch paper as it could over coming months to meet its borrowingneeds for this year of around 150 billion, one banker said. Dealers said there was no difficulty in placing liquidityin the primary market at the moment despite competition fromthe surge in investments on the Paris stock exchange. There has been a flood of large bond issues, but withformulas well adapted to market conditions and investor demand- with warrants or a mix of fixed and floating-rates - whichhave been snapped up, and with generally broadly negative fees. Dealers pointed to the recent Caisse d'Aide a l'Equipementdes Collectivites Locales (CAECL) 8.90 pct two billion francbond with warrants exchangeable for floating-rate bonds issuedover 13 years and 80 days at 97.04 pct with payment date March9, which was today quoted at -0.90 to -1.10 pct. Even classic fixed-rate issues, after being neglected sincethe end of last year, are finding buyers, one banker said. Dealers said that now the question was to see how the termsof imminent operations would be set, with great market interestfocussed on the likely three next issues. These will include an expected four to five billion francissue for Electricite de France, to be followed by a bond ofaround one billion francs for Auxiliaire du Credit Foncier, asubsidiary of the banking group Credit Foncier de France, and anew issue by tender from the mortgage agency Caisse deRefinancement Hypothecaire.", "answer groups": [ "interest" ], "distractor groups": [ "fishmeal", "groundnut", "palm-oil", "sfr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Vietnam has ordered its army to growmore food to ease shortages and meet economic recovery goalsset for 1990. The army newspaper Quan Doi Nhan Dan, monitored here, saidsoldiers must work harder to care for rice, vegetables andother crops endangered by the present unusually hot weather. The paper said the 1.6-mln strong regular army contributedless than one pct to the nation's 18.2 mln tonne food output. North Vietnam has set a 1990 food target of 23 to 24 mlntonnes.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "red-bean", "tea", "orange", "sun-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The leaders of a U.S. Senate team probingAmerican defense strategy in the MidEast Gulf said they favoreda multinational force to keep oil flowing through the waterway. Sen. John Glenn and John Warner, in Kuwait as part of aGulf Arab tour, said at a news conference that top officials inthe area appeared ready to discuss extra facilities needed ifthe U.S. upgraded its defense role. The Senate team next heads for the United Arab Emirates,their last stop on a fact-finding mission prompted by Reaganadministration plans to let half of Kuwait's 22-tanker fleetfly the U.S. flag. Glenn and Warner said the U.S., Britain and France, shouldexplore the possibility of a unified Gulf force. \"The American ships, the British ships, the French ships nowtalk to each other and all we've got to do is formalize thisarrangement,\" Warner said. Glenn said a multinational force could be effectivelydeployed within 24 hours of a decision. Glenn voiced a preference for a United Nationsmultinational force, or failing that, an American, British,French force with cooperation from the Gulf Arab states. Warner voiced concern that the Soviet Union might use thesituation in the Gulf to raise its presence. \"And,unequivocally, all GCC states we have talked with, have saidthat would not be in the interests of the Arabian peninsula.\"", "answer groups": [ "ship" ], "distractor groups": [ "skr", "copra-cake", "sun-oil", "cotton" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Upcoming changes being considered inthe U.S. Agriculture Department's transportation and loanprograms were outlined by a USDA official today. Addressing the annual meeting of the National Grain andFeed Association, Tom VonGarlem, assistant deputy administratorfor USDA's state and county operations, said the followingchanges are under consideration by USDA. Termination of USDA's Transportation Assistance Program forwheat, barley and sorghum would be proposed this week. Changes in USDA's reserve rotation program are also underconsideration, VonGarlem said. While the department has notmade any final decision, banning the use of pik and roll grainin reserve rotation is under heavy consideration, he said. Changes in loan rates will definitely be looked at for nextyear's crop, he said, with the option of making soybean loanspartially in cash and in certificates under consideration. VanGarlem said he will definitely not extend the 1987 cropprogram signup, saying he sees no reason to do so at this time. He also said wheat will not be considered for a cash bonusunder the Conservation Reserve Program.", "answer groups": [ "soybean" ], "distractor groups": [ "gas", "sorghum", "fishmeal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Algeria is tendering tonight for225,000 tonnes of hard red winter wheat at 94.00 dlrs pertonne, c and f, the balance of its original tender under theexport bonus program, U.S. exporters said. Algeria bought 75,000 tonnes for November and earlyDecember shipmet at that bid, but USDA rejected the bid onwheat for later shipments, the sources said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "plywood", "nickel", "heat", "fishmeal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of Japan intervened in the marketin the early afternoon, buying dollars around 147.30 yen andcontinuing to buy them as high as 147.50 yen, dealers said. The Bank intervened just after the dollar started rising onbuying by securities houses at around 147.05 yen, and hoped toaccelerate the dollar's advance, they said. The dollar rose as high as 147.50 yen.", "answer groups": [ "dlr" ], "distractor groups": [ "copra-cake", "money-supply", "skr", "austdlr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Weekend rain over the Western Corn Beltbrought further relief to crop areas that had been dry earlierthis month, and developing weather patterns will bring welcomemoisture to central and eastern belt locations this week,according to Dale Mohler, senior meteorologist for Accu-WeatherInc. \"There is going to be more rain for the next two, threedays,\" he said. \"We're in a fairly wet pattern with normal toabove normal moisture this week.\" Mohler said rainfall averaged 1/2 inch across southernMinnesota, 3/4 inch over southwest Iowa, one inch in easternNebraska and 1-1/2 inches in south-central Nebraska. Illinois fields saw virtually no rain over the weekend butwere receiving scattered thundershower activity today, he said. Rain patterns will move across Indiana to Ohio withthudershower activity yielding to more general rains, he said. \"Tomorrow, that eastern area will get 1/4 to one inch, apretty good rain,\" Mohler said. Rain was heavier than expected over the weekend, sparkingan early selloff in soybean futures at the Chicago Board ofTrade. Prices were off 14 to 20-1/2 cents with November off19-1/2 cents at 5.43-1/2 dlrs. Mohler said the cold front now over the eastern belt isexpected to move over the central Midwest, then move northlater in the week. That could bring new rain patterns acrossthe Corn Belt and assure good crop conditions asearly-developed corn moves into the crucial pollination stagein early July, he said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "pet-chem", "austdlr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Bundesbank board member Claus Koehlercalled on central banks of major industrialised nations tocooperate closely on exchange and interest rate policies. In a lecture at the University of Surrey, pre-releasedhere, Koehler said that the only alternative to cooperation wasprotectionism and control on capital movements. \"Central banks have sufficient experience of exchange markettransactions to steer exchange rates where they want to havethem,\" he said. He added that West German growth forecasts wouldhave to be revised downward because of the recent dollar dropto 1.80 marks from above two marks at the start of 1987. Koehler said that transactions on foreign exchange marketshad parted company with transactions in goods, services andinvestments. It was the scale of speculative transactions thatdetermined market trends. Speculative inflows could cause monetary aggregates togrow. To reverse such a rise in the money stock, interest rateswould have to be lowered to allow funds to drain off. \"In other words, the monetary policy measures required aredifferent from -- and sometimes diametrically opposed to --those needed when the money stock is increasing as a result ofmounting economic activity,\" Koehler said. The dollar fall was one means of reducing the massive U.S.Current account deficit. But attempts to keep the depreciationgoing by talking the dollar down posed problems. The sharp drop of the dollar had led to an immediate steeprise in the cost of U.S. Imports and a sharp fall in the costof European imports. But the volume effect of falling importsto the U.S. And rising imports to Europe would take time tomake itself felt compared with the price effect. \"Hence the depreciation of the dollar may well be goingfurther than would be necessary to adjust the current accountover the medium term,\" Koehler said. A reduction in the U.S. Current account deficit would occuronly if the growth rate of GNP was higher than domestic demand.In Japan and West Germany by contrast, domestic demand shouldrise faster than GNP. \"In Germany this did indeed happen in 1986,\" Koehler said. If a further appreciation of the dollar was to beprevented, the U.S. Current account deficit could be offset byan inflow of foreign funds into the U.S.. But only if there was an appropriate interest ratedifferential would Europe and Japan look for financialinvestment in the U.S. When selecting monetary policy instruments, a central bankhad to pay greater heed than in the past to the impact itsmeasures might have on expectations and consequent decisions. Koehler said the Bundesbank was changing money market ratesby operating on the open market rather than adjusting leadinginterest rates because of the signal this gives to the marketand its substantial impact on exchange rates. It was not only important to achieve the domestic goals ofprice stability, economic growth and full employment but alsoto tackle international problems like the exchange rateproblem, the debt problem and the current account problem. A strategy had to be designed that helped \"the safeguardingof non-inflationary economic growth in an internationalmonetary system largely free of disruptions,\" Koehler said. Given the system of floating exchange rates, it wasnecessary for central banks to agree to intervene. It sufficedto tell the market where central banks saw exchange rates overthe next few years and intervention points should not be set,because they were only testing points for the market, he said. In order to keep the international monetary system free ofdisruptions central banks should not only intervene jointly butalso cooperate on interest rate policies, Koehler said.", "answer groups": [ "interest" ], "distractor groups": [ "rapeseed", "alum", "cornglutenfeed", "rye" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Department saidit has accepted a bid for an export bonus to cover the sale of50,000 tonnes of hard red winter wheat to Sri Lanka. A bonus of 37.44 dlrs per tonne was awarded to ContinentalGrain Co on the shipment scheduled for April 8-16, Melvin Sims,USDA general sales manager said. An additional 10,000 tonnes of wheat are still available toSri Lanka under the export enhancement program, Sims said.", "answer groups": [ "wheat" ], "distractor groups": [ "propane", "cruzado", "rand", "dlr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Agricultural Stabilization andConservation Service (ASCS) is seeking offers to process roughrice owned by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) anddeliver about 27.0 mln pounds of milled rice for exportshipment May 6-20 and May 21-June 5, an ASCS spokesman said. Offers must be received by 1300 CDT April 7, and successfulofferors will be notified April 10.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "pork-belly", "f-cattle", "trade", "corn-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Ministry of International Trade andIndustry (MITI) will revise its long-term energy supply/demandoutlook by August to meet a forecast downtrend in Japaneseenergy demand, ministry officials said. MITI is expected to lower the projection for primary energysupplies in the year 2000 to 550 mln kilolitres (kl) from 600mln, they said. The decision follows the emergence of structural changes inJapanese industry following the rise in the value of the yenand a decline in domestic electric power demand. MITI is planning to work out a revised energy supply/demandoutlook through deliberations of committee meetings of theAgency of Natural Resources and Energy, the officials said. They said MITI will also review the breakdown of energysupply sources, including oil, nuclear, coal and natural gas. Nuclear energy provided the bulk of Japan's electric powerin the fiscal year ended March 31, supplying an estimated 27pct on a kilowatt/hour basis, followed by oil (23 pct) andliquefied natural gas (21 pct), they noted.", "answer groups": [ "crude" ], "distractor groups": [ "cornglutenfeed", "money-fx", "nickel", "silver" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A trade bill before the United StatesHouse of Representatives \"is a very dangerous bill for Canadianindustry,\" Canadian Forest Industry Council chairman AdamZimmerman told reporters. By changing the definition of subsidy under U.S.countervailing duty law, House of Representatives Bill 3removes protection for companies that take advantage of widelyused government programs, Zimmerman told a media briefing. \"Clearly, any industry to which Canadian governments grantrights to fish, mine, cut timber, or produce power could bevulnerable to a finding of a subsidy under this language,\" hesaid. The Canadian forest lobby's Zimmerman also said the Houseof Representative Bill would adopt a new way of measuringsubsidies that would greatly increase the size of anycountervailing duties that might be imposed on Canadianresource exports to the U.S. Under the bill, any difference between Canadian prices andU.S. or world market prices would constitute a subsidy, hesaid. Such a method would make Canadian resource industriesvulnerable to similar penalties like a 15 pct export taximposed last January on shipments of Canadian softwood lumberto the U.S., Zimmerman added. Canadian negotiators agreed to levy the new tax if a U.S.forest industry lobby would drop its request for a countervailduty on imports of Canadian softwood lumber. \"We represent the first victim of the move to price othercountries' natural resources according to the U.S. system,\"Zimmerman said. \"If we're an example, than other resource industries hadbetter watch out,\" he added. Zimmerman said the Canadian Forest Industry Council plansto discuss concerns about the U.S. trade bill with lobby groupsfrom other Canadian resource industries.", "answer groups": [ "trade" ], "distractor groups": [ "nickel", "pet-chem", "coconut", "cocoa" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Changes by the USDA in its posted countyprices have successfully increased PIK-and-roll activity as away to pull corn out of government stockpiles, with theresulting jump in free supplies pressuring terminal corn basisvalues, cash grain dealers said. Processors dropped spot Chicago corn basis bids three centsafter covering most of the April needs this week, with rivercorn basis bids following CIF Gulf corn values lower. The surge in PIK-and-roll also pressured corn futures, withMay settling today down three cents per bushel at 1.58-1/2dlrs, near the contract low of 1.49-1/4 dlrs. But unlike in thepast when lower prices slowed country movement, now lowercounty prices widen the differentials with the corn loan andmake PIK-and-roll even more attractive, they noted.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "castorseed", "nkr", "skr", "carcass" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Africa may have to follow Brazil inhalting foreign debt payments unless industrialised nations areprepared to be more flexible in trade and economic policy,Ethiopian trade minister Tesfay Dinka said. Growing protectionism and declining commodity prices hadcaused a major deterioration in the export earnings of alldeveloping countries, he said in an opening speech to a meetingof African trade ministers in Addis Ababa. Unless there was an early improvement in developingcountries' terms of trade \"the only choice is to follow theroute that Brazil appears to have taken,\" Tesfay said. The two-day meeting of delegates from 50 African states wascalled to work out a consensus ahead of the Group of 77ministerial meeting in Havana next month, when the developingcountries will debate their strategy in economic negotiationswith the West. Tesfay accused the West of intransigence in the negotiationof recent commodity agreements. The failure of the International Coffee Organisation toagree on the reintroduction of export quotas would mean \"severalAfrican countries will not have the foreign exchange to importessential items,\" he said. Coffee accounts for 60 pct of Ethiopian exports and therecent fall in world coffee prices has sharply reduced thecountry's foreign exchange earnings. Adebayo Adedeji, the executive secretary of the U.N.Economic Commission for Africa, told the meeting that there wasan increasing net outflow of resources from Africa. He blamed this on high interest rates, debt servicing andthe repatriation of profits by foreign investors. Africa paid 13 billion dlrs to service its total foreigndebt last year and by 1990 annual service payments are expectedto rise to between 16 and 24 billion, Adedeji said. He accused industrialised countries of failing to providemore resources to implement the U.N. Program for Africa'seconomic recovery and development, despite Africa's willingnessto raise two thirds of the capital from domestic sources. The U.N. Program, approved last year, calls for 128 billiondlrs of economic investment in Africa over five years. Western donors were asked to contribute 46 billion dlrs,with the rest being raised from local resources, but Adedejisaid the donors had not responded as hoped. In view of this poor response, he said \"it is possible thatby the year 2,000 nearly all African countries, except a few,will be categorised as least developed countries.\" At present, 27 of Africa's 50-odd states are officiallylisted in this category.", "answer groups": [ "trade" ], "distractor groups": [ "tapioca", "peseta", "dlr", "oat" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve bought about 550mln dlrs of U.S. Treasury bills for a customer, a spokeswomansaid. She said the Fed bought bills maturing from May throughSeptember 24 for regular delivery tomorrow. Federal funds were trading at 6-3/16 pct when the Fedannounced the operation.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "tapioca", "ipi", "livestock", "sugar" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Saudi riyal interbank deposits weremainly steady at yesterday\"s higher levels in a market which sawlittle activity due to the European weekend, dealers said. They said banks in the kingdom offered two and three monthdeposits 1/16 of a percentage point lower, but there were fewtakers. Rates for short-dated and other fixed period funds werelittle changed following their sharp rise on Saturday broughton by higher eurodollar deposit rates. Spot-next and one-week deposits were relatively unchangedat 6-3/4, 1/2 pct. One-month deposits were steady at 6-3/4, 1/2 pct whilethree-month funds eased to 6-7/8, 5/8 pct from 6-15/16, 11/16. Six-month deposits also declined marginally to 7-5/16,7-1/8 pct from quotes of 7-3/8, 1/8 at the close of trade onSaturday. The spot riyal was steady at 3.7499/7504 to the dollar.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "bfr", "reserves", "wheat", "f-cattle" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Japan appears to be relying less oncorn from China, Argentina and South Africa and more onsupplies from the United States, the U.S. AgricultureDepartment said. In its World Production and Trade report, the departmentsaid in the past seven weeks reported U.S. corn sales of nearlythree mln tonnes to Japan are about three times the levelduring this period last year. Reports of short Argentine supplies and the apparentunwillingness of the Chinese to sell at current world pricesmay have caused Japanese buyers to turn to the United Statesfor corn supplies, the department said.", "answer groups": [ "corn" ], "distractor groups": [ "peseta", "coffee", "coconut-oil", "zinc" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Department saidprivate U.S. exporters reported sales of 104,000 tonnes of cornto unknown destinations for shipment in the 1986/87 marketingyear. The marketing year for corn began September 1, it said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "naphtha", "skr", "lin-oil", "cottonseed" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Leaks of a major Dutch officialeconomic forecast due to be published on Monday indicatereduced economic growth and a renewed rise in unemployment thisyear, political and market sources say. Concern over an anticipated fall in Dutch competitivenessthis year against a background of an average 2-1/2 pct wageincrease, zero inflation and a firm guilder has triggered somecalls for a change in monetary policy to help boost growth. But whatever the government's response, the central bankwill stick to its policy of keeping the guilder firm, they say. The official forecasting agency Centraal Planbureau (CPB)publishes its 1987 outlook at the start of a week which willalso see a key parliamentary debate on government finances andthe economy. Merchant bank Pierson, Heldring en Pierson - in an estimatereflecting general sentiment - said last month that Dutcheconomic growth was now seen around one pct. Domestic consumer spending is not expected to offset thedecline in export growth caused by slowing growth in WestGermany, the main Dutch trading partner, and the lower dollar,Pierson said in its February economic outlook. The latest growth forecasts are well below a 1.5 to two pctgrowth figure seen by the CPB early last month and forecasts of2.5 pct economic growth in 1987 made last September. The fall in unemployment is bottoming out and thegovernment has already admitted it will not meet its goal ofreducing unemployment by an annual 50,000 from 1986 to 1990. Some analysts and industry leaders have questioned centralbank policy of pegging the guilder firmly to the mark and ifnecessary keeping interest rates up to support the guilder. Employers federation NCW chairman Fred Lempers criticisedthe guilder's revaluation in line with the West German mark inlast January's European Monetary System (EMS) realignment andexpressed concern over its effect on competitiveness. But the employers federation VNO noted the Dutch economyhad become more competitive since 1980 and the fall of thedollar was affecting this gain more than the EMS realignment. Some analysts also question the central bank's decision notto copy the latest Bundesbank discount rate cut and insteadlower money market rates and abolish a credit quota surcharge. Central bank president Wim Duisenberg has defended the movesaying the bank had adjusted the rates with the most impact onthe money market, noting \"the (4.5 pct) discount rate is at themoment not the most important Dutch rate because it is alreadyfar below the market rates.\" Central bank officials say the heavy dependence on trade ofthe Dutch economy requires a stable exchange rate, and interestrate policies serve that goal. Analysts noted a large capital outflow from the Netherlandsrecently as foreign investments in Dutch stock are being soldto take profits. Loosening the tie between the guilder and the mark wouldreduce international confidence in the guilder and make it moredificult to attract foreign capital, they said, noting Dutchinterest rates rose sharply when the guilder was not revaluedcompletely in line with the mark in a 1983 EMS realignment. Many Dutch banks have reacted favourably to the decisionnot to copy the last German discount rate cut, but Piersonwarned it could actually add to uncertainty over the guilder. Some analysts noted friction between the Finance Ministryand the central bank, with Finance Minister Onno Ruding havingsaid before the Bundesbank discount rate cut he favoured lowerDutch rates but that the Germans should move first. One analyst said Ruding wanted to bring interest rates downto reduce the government debt burden. A Finance Ministry spokesman said lower interest rates wereneeded but denied any suggestion of conflicting views betweenthe ministry and the central bank. \"The cabinet's policy issteady, the guilder has to stay with the mark,\" he said.", "answer groups": [ "gnp" ], "distractor groups": [ "rapeseed", "bfr", "pork-belly", "earn" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. Agriculture Secretary RichardLyng said a marketing loan for soybeans would serve no presentpurpose because the U.S. price is not above the world price. Asked in an interview if it was time to consider amarketing loan for soybeans, Lyng said, \"I don't think so. Idon't think the world price is lower than our price anyway.\" However, the USDA secretary said that if current conditionsof surplus production persisted, it might be appropriate toconsider a marketing loan. \"I suppose that under that condition there is a danger ourexports will continue to drop and that the government willcontinue to accumulate large stocks of soybeans,\" he said. \"Itmight be (worth contemplating a marketing loan), if there werea world market that was lower than our market.\"", "answer groups": [ "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [ "propane", "silver", "castor-oil", "dkr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Effective extraction of the toxicmetal cadmium from soil may at last be feasible using soybeanplants, research in the Netherlands by a Belgian-basedenvironment group shows. Cadmium, naturally drawn up by plants and passed on toconsumers, has been shown to produce kidney damage andresulting calcium loss as well as causing high blood pressureand cancers, a spokesman for the Ecological Life andCultivation (VELT) said. Three years of experiments by the organization showedsoybean plants extracted up to 16 pct of soil-borne cadmium,which went into the leaves and not into the beans themselves. Cadmium is present in the soil because of emissions in thepast by factories producing non-ferrous metals, the spokesmansaid. \"Although many of these factories are now using far safermethods of manufacture, the cadmium is already in the soil anduntil now there has been no way to get rid of it,\" he said.", "answer groups": [ "strategic-metal" ], "distractor groups": [ "trade", "copper", "crude" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Commodity Credit Corporation(CCC) accepted a bid for an export bonus to cover a sale of12,500 tonnes of U.S. wheat flour to Iraq, the U.S. AgricultureDepartment said. The department said the bonus awarded was 105.82 dlrs pertonne and the wheat flour is for shipment July 1-10, 1987. The bonus was awarded to The Pillsbury Company and will bepaid in the form of commodities from CCC stocks. An additional 150,000 tonnes of wheat flour is stillavailable to Iraq under the Export Enhancement Programinitiative announced January 7, 1987, the department said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "tapioca", "bfr", "austdlr", "palladium" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "French operators have requested licencesto export 422,000 tonnes of free market maize, 212,000 tonnesof barley and 20,000 tonnes of feed wheat at today's EC tender,trade sources said. For the maize, rebates requested range between 129.25 and138.74 European currency units per tonne, for the barleybetween 138.94 and 145 Ecus and for feed wheat 141.75 Ecus.", "answer groups": [ "corn" ], "distractor groups": [ "cornglutenfeed", "zinc", "acq" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. farmers who in the past havegrown oats for their own use but failed to certify to thegovernment that they had done so probably will be allowed tocontinue planting that crop and be eligible for corn programbenefits, an aide to Agriculture Secretary Richard Lyng said. Currently a farmer, to be eligible for corn programbenefits, must restrict his plantings of other program crops tothe acreage base for that crop. Several members of Congress from Iowa have complained thatfarmers who inadvertantly failed to certify that they had grownoats for their own use in the past now are being asked to haltoats production or lose corn program benefits. USDA likely will allow historic oats farmers to plant oatsbut not extend the exemption to all farmers, Lyng's aide said.", "answer groups": [ "oat" ], "distractor groups": [ "rand", "rubber", "alum" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Technigen Platinum corp said itinitial results of a 13-hole drilling program on its R.M. Nicelplatinum property in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, indicate\"extensive\" near-surface zones \"highly\" enriched in gold,platinum and palladium were found in rocks on the periphery ofa sulphide deposit. It said values of up to 0.073 ounce of platinum, 0.206ounce palladium, three pct copper and 4.5 pct nickel were foundover a drill section of 13 feet. More\u0003", "answer groups": [ "gold" ], "distractor groups": [ "sorghum" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Honduras has been authorized to buyabout 75,000 tonnes of U.S. wheat, about 15,000 tonnes of U.S.corn, and about 6,000 tonnes of U.S. tallow under an existingPL 480 agreement, the U.S. Agriculture Department said. The department said it may buy the wheat, valued at 8.5 mlndlrs, the corn, valued at 1.5 mln, and the tallow, valued at2.0 mln dlrs, between March 24 and August 31, 1987, and ship itfrom U.S. ports and/or Canadian transshipment points by thisSeptember 30. The purchase authorizations cover the entire quantityprovided under the agreement, signed March 11.", "answer groups": [ "corn" ], "distractor groups": [ "l-cattle", "orange", "strategic-metal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A prolonged dry spell has damaged111,350 hectares of rice and corn plantations in 10 provincesin the central and southern Philippines, agriculture officialssaid. They said some 71,070 tonnes of agricultural produceestimated at about 250 mln pesos was lost to the lack ofrainfall. They warned of a severe drought if the prevailingconditions continued until next month. Agriculture Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he hoped thelosses would be offset by the expected increase in output inother, normally more productive areas not affected by the dryspell. Affected were 14,030 hectares of palay (unmilled rice),representing a production loss of 22,250 tonnes valued at 77.8mln pesos, Department of Agriculture reports said. About 48,820 tonnes of corn from 97,320 hectares valued at170.8 mln pesos have also been lost, they said. Officials said the hectarage planted to palay that has beenhit by the drought accounted for only one pct of national totalthus the damage is considered negligible. In the case of corn, they said the loss can be filled byproduction from non-traditional corn farms which diversifiedinto the cash crop from sugar two years ago. The Philippine Coconut Authority said coconut productionin the major producing region of Bicol might drop by 25 pct to320,000 tonnes if the dry spell continued. There were noreports of actual damage.", "answer groups": [ "rice" ], "distractor groups": [ "nkr", "ringgit", "sugar" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Taiwan Flour Mills Association willimport 81,000 tonnes of wheat from Canada in calendar 1987,unchanged from the 1986 level, an association spokesman toldReuters. He said the total will be delivered in three shipments. Thefirst will be shipped to Taiwan between March 20 and April 20and the other two will be made later this year, he said. The total wheat import target this year has been set at700,000 tonnes, down from actual imports of 758,770 last year. Most of Taiwan's wheat imports come from the U.S., Thespokesman said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "rice", "heat", "propane", "hog" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "French sugar group Beghin-Say, which is49.6 pct owned by Italy's Gruppo Ferruzzi, is to raise itscapital to 703 mln francs from 527 mln through a three-for-oneissue of shares and investment certificates to financeexpansion, president Jean-Marc Vernes told analysts. For the first stage Beghin-Say will issue some 2.05 mln new65 franc shares at 500 francs to increase capital to 660 mlnfrancs. The share currently trades at 734 francs. Then 658,000new 65 franc investment certificates will be issued at 400francs, raising capital to 703 mln francs. The capital increase will bring the group around 1.2billion francs in new funds to finance its expansion plans.These include the possible acquisition of the Corn Productsmaize starch plant at Haubourdin in northern France, Vernessaid. Ferruzzi is one of several groups bidding to buy all ofCorn Products' installations in Europe. Apart from the Frenchplant, these include three factories in each of Italy and WestGermany, two in Britain and Spain and one in the Netherlandsand Denmark. Corn Products has put a 650 mln dlr price tag on theinstallations, and Beghin-Say estimates that acquisition of theHaubourdin plant would cost between 80 and 100 mln dlrs, Vernessaid. If this bid fails, Beghin-Say would consider acquiring anddeveloping two other French plants, either in the maize orwheat starch sector. Beghin-Say is also planning to finance European expansionfor its Kaysersberg subsidiary, another major reason for itscapital increase. Kaysersberg, which was transformed from a division ofBeghin-Say into a fully-fledged chemical subsidiary last year,has been holding talks with other European companies onpossible accords, Vernes said. He added the company could beintroduced onto the Paris Bourse in the near future.", "answer groups": [ "corn" ], "distractor groups": [ "jet", "money-supply", "soy-meal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. February reports reflecting slimgains in industrial output and moderating inflation pressuresreinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will continueto follow a stable course of monetary policy, economists said. \"If you're the Fed, there's no reason to do anything,\" saidSteve Slifer of Lehman Government Securities Inc. \"There are hints that GNP is picking up. On the inflationfront, all is well,\" he said. \"Money supply is well undercontrol. It's an absolutely ideal situation.\" February U.S. industrial production rose 0.5 pct, slightlyless than the 0.7 pct gain the financial markets had expected.This compared with a slim 0.1 pct rise in January's productionnumber, previously reported as a 0.4 pct increase. The February U.S. producer price index gained only 0.1 pct,less than a 0.3-0.4 pct expected rise. This followed a 0.6 pctrise in the PPI in January. \"The Fed is going to look at this positively,\" said AllanLeslie of Discount Corporation. \"Certainly inflation is not asbad as what Volcker (Fed Chairman) has said lately. Industrialproduction growth is along the lines of what the Fed wants.\" The energy products component of PPI rose 4.0 pct inFebruary, after a 9.8 pct increase in January. \"This shows that the impact of energy prices on inflationis behind us in terms of the move from 15 dlrs to 18 dlrs perbarrel,\" said Maria Ramirez of Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. \"Thetrend is still 3.5 pct in the first half of the year.\" In 1986, declining energy prices contributed to a 2.5 pctdecline in the PPI. Economists said that a rise in energy prices was expected,but a sharp drop in auto prices was not. Passenger car pricesfell 3.4 pct and light truck prices dropped 1.3 pct. Yesterday, Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker said thata possibility of renewed inflation remains a concern in boththe financial markets and the Federal Reserve. \"The Fed may be lowering its own inflation expectationstoday,\" said Robert Brusca of Nikko Securities International. While low inflation permits the Fed to maintain an easiermonetary policy, Brusca said if import prices do not rise thiscould necessitate a weaker dollar. \"The outlook for the dollar is still up in the air,\" hesaid. \"We need inflation for U.S. producers to compete withforeign producers.\" Brusca said prices of electronic equipment dropped 0.8 pctin February's PPI. With many electronic goods producedoverseas, this may show that foreign producers are not raisingprices which bodes ill for U.S. competitiveness, he said. If further dollar declines are needed, this could diminishoverseas investment in U.S. debt, Brusca added, which mightnecessitate higher interest rates and lower bond prices. By contrast, Slifer said imported goods prices rose 11.8pct from first quarter 1985 to first quarter 1986 reflecting toa large degree a 22 pct drop in the trade-weighted real valueof the dollar from February 1985 to February 1987. Slifer said import prices may rise further asmanufacturers' contracts put in place before the dollar droppedto current levels expire, and new contracts are made thatreflect a weaker dollar. David Wyss of Data Resources Inc noted that importedmanufactured goods prices rose 8.5 pct at an annual rate in thesecond half of 1986, which has contributed to rising U.S.industrial output. \"It's the other side of the lower dollar,\" Wyss said.\"Producers are beginning to find themselves more competitiveand they are increasing output.\" Wyss said that the latest data point to an averageindustrial production gain of 0.3-0.4 pct in the first quarter.\"It's an encouraging sign that the manufacturing sector isbeginning to revive.\" But Stephen Roach of Morgan Stanley and Co Inc was not convinced that the February reports portend economic gains. Hesaid much of the strength came from factors that do not pointto a sustained rise in industrial output. Roach pointed out that stikers returning to work in farmequipment industries helped account for a one pct rise inFebruary business equipment production. Utilities output rose 0.7 pct in February after gaining 1.2pct in January, but Roach said it shows mostly that more energywas produced, not that manufacturing activity gained. Finally, he pointed out that auto production accounted forhalf of the industrial production gain as production of autoassemblies rose to 8.3 million units at an annual rate from 7.5million units. \"In the first quarter, it looks like automakers areproducing at an 8.5 mln unit annual rate, but selling atroughly a seven mln unit rate,\" Roach said. \"The disparitybetween output and sales is showing up in inventories.\" Economists pointed to sharp rise in January U.S. businessinventories as a sign that production may be outstrippingdemand in the first quarter of 1987. January business inventories rose 0.9 pct, the largest gainsince July 1979 when inventories rose 1.7 pct, the CommerceDepartment said. Business sales dropped 4.5 pct in January, thelargest monthly sales drop on record. Nonetheless, economists do not expect the Fed to react tomonth-to-month changes. \"The Fed has been standing pat for thelast seven months,\" Ramirez said. \"They will continue to standpat for at least the next couple of months.\"", "answer groups": [ "interest" ], "distractor groups": [ "lin-oil", "cpu" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Today's U.K. Economic data have pushedthe chances of another base lending rate cut from the currentnine pct further into the distance, analysts said. A record fall in unemployment and good manufacturingproduction data showed that the economy is still strong anddoes not need a fillip from lower rates. News that underlying earnings are rising 7.75 pct annually,taken together with higher than expected bank lending and moneysupply growth, revived inflation worries and monetaristarguments against easier credit, they said. \"The timetable on lower interest rates is being pushed backall the while. The strength of the economy and broad moneygrowth are making it more difficult to see one in the nearterm,\" said Chase Manhattan Securities economist Robin Marshall. Analysts have reached this conclusion despite yesterday'smortgage rate cuts for new borrowers, which building societiessaid were a sign of the expected near term trend for U.K.Rates. It also counters the optimistic forecasts of last week thata post-general election cut was imminent, supported by suchoptimistic economic news as May's record reserves rise whichmirrored the Bank of England efforts to cap sterling'sstrength. The gilt market lost nearly half a point as enthusiasmabout May's 64,300 fall in the seasonally adjusted unemploymentrate, to 2.95 mln or 10.6 pct of the workforce, was rapidlyreplaced by dismay at the continued high level of underlyingaverage earnings in April, dealers said. The upset was compounded by news that sterling bank lendingrose 2.7 billion stg in May, above forecast, and that the Bankof England looks likely to have to sell more gilts to offsetthe impact on domestic money supply of its currentintervention. \"The gilt market reaction was correct,\" said Bill Martin,chief U.K. Economist at brokers Phillips and Drew. \"That's very important ... It shows the economy in a verygood state indeed,\" Skeoch said. \"There's no reason to get worries about inflationarypressures because they're very subdued.\" Unit wage cost riseswere better than expected, just one pct higher in the year toApril, and it was these costs rather than average earningswhich were potentially inflationary, he added. \"I don't think these average earnings numbers are a majorproblem,\" agreed Chase Manhattan's Marshall. But he said the gilts market was likely to remain worriedabout the funding implications of recent intervention. He said the inflow of foreign money into sterling assetsearlier this year, attracted by growth prospects and hopes thatthe ruling Conservatives would win last week's election, nowlooks likely to prevent a base rate cut as the authorities tryto prevent these funds swelling the domestic money system. However, David Owen, U.K. Economist at Kleinwort GrievesonSecurities, said any fresh sterling strength would stilltrigger a base rate cut and that today's figures did not signalhigher inflation this year. \"Wage increases are being offset by productivity growth. Aslong as that continues we're okay,\" he added.", "answer groups": [ "interest" ], "distractor groups": [ "cocoa", "soy-meal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Egypt has cancelled its Export Bonustender for 200,000 tonnes of soft red winter wheat for May-Juneshipment after failing to bid a price acceptable to USDA,private export sources said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "bop", "cotton", "gas", "carcass" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. Agriculture Secretary RichardLyng said he is pleased the European Community plans to offer aglobal farm reform plan at GATT later this month, although theUnited States opposes key parts of the proposal. \"We're pleased that they have moved in tabling a proposal.It will help us in getting the negotiations underway,\" Lyngtold Reuters in an interview Tuesday. Lyng's comment came after EC ministers in Luxembourgendorsed a farm reform package drafted by the EC Commission.The EC plan will be presented at the next meeting of Uruguayround agriculture negotiators in Geneva on October 26. Lyng said the United States would oppose parts of the planseeking a market sharing agreement for grains, and proposingcurbs on U.S. soybean and cereal substitute exports to Europe. The U.S. in July proposed to GATT the elimination of allfarm subsidies affecting trade within ten years, and haspressed the EC to make a counter-offer with the aim of reachinga global farm subsidy agreement by the end of 1988. However, the EC and some U.S. domestic groups have said theReagan administration plan to end all farm trade subsidies isunrealistic. Asked about such criticism, Lyng said \"The alternative todoing that is to say that we preserve them and maintain them. Ithink that is the unrealistic position.\" \"I would suggest that they (EC) listen to what we aretrying to say.\" Lyng also rejected suggestions the U.S. and EC agree afreeze in export subsidies to get the GATT negotiations started. \"All that some countries would like to have would be awheat agreement where we would stop export subsidies on wheat.That doesn't do a thing for us,\" Lyng said. The United States wants an end to subsidies in a range ofagricultural products from dairy products to vegetable oils, hesaid. At the GATT negotiators meeting next week Canada isexpected to offer a proposal as well as the EC. The United States will be represented at the meeting byformer agriculture undersecretary Daniel Amstutz, recentlyappointed special U.S. negotiator on agriculture.", "answer groups": [ "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [ "lin-oil", "jobs", "interest" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve is unlikely tooperate in the U.S. government securities market during itsusual intervention period this morning, economists said. Fed funds opened comfortably at 5-15/16 pct and remained atthat level. Yesterday Fed funds averaged 5.99 pct.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "wheat", "castor-oil", "cpu", "fuel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Soviet Union's winter graincrop is likely to have suffered losses due to dry plantingconditions last fall and severe cold this winter, an analyst ofworld weather and crop conditions said. Grain analyst and meteorologist Gail Martell, author of theEF Hutton publication \"Global Crop News,\" said in her latestreport that the Soviets may import more grain, possibly wheat,from the U.S. due to potential crop damage. \"Compared with last year, the outlook (for the Sovietwinter grain crop) is far more pessimistic,\" she said. \"Butit's still too early to talk about disastrous losses. A lotwill depend on spring weather, not only for the outcome of thetroubled winter grain crop, but also for spring planting.\" Martell said the dry weather conditions last fall probablyprevented optimal seed germination for winter grains. Key wheatgrowing areas of the southern Ukraine and North Caucasusreceived on 25-35 pct of autumn precipitation, she said. The bitter winter cold temperatures -- which broke recordlows that had stood for four decades -- also may have taken itstoll on Soviet winter crops, she said. However, she noted that most of the southern grain belt hadample snow cover, which should have well-insulated the majorityof crop areas from severe frost damage. The USSR has already bought 20 to 21 mln tonnes of grainsin the July 1986/June 1987 marketing year, primarily fromCanada, the European Community, Argentina and Australia,Martell said. She cited a number of reasons besides possible cropproblems that might point to additional Soviet import demand. Last fall's dry weather may limit livestock grazing onmoisture-depleted pastures, while the cold winter weathernecessitated supplemental feeding to keep livestock healthy. Martell was also skeptical of a Soviet claim for a 1986grain harvest of 210 mln tonnes, and said the Chernobylaccident may have contaminated more grain than originallythought and have to be made up with imports. However, she said the U.S. remains a supplier of lastresort for the Soviet Union, noting that the Soviets have onlyjust recently begun their first U.S. grain purchases of the1986/87 season by buying 2.25 mln tonnes of corn. Martell cited USDA statistics showing that since the 1980grain embargo the U.S. is only a major supplier of grain to theUSSR during years of heavy Soviet demand. In 1984/85, the U.S. supplied 41 pct of record Soviet grainimports of 55.5 mln tonnes. But in 1985/86, the Soviet Unionbought 29.9 mln tonnes of grain and turned to the U.S. for only24 pct of that total. While the USDA Soviet import target for grain for 1986/87was 22 mln tonnes, many U.S. grain analysts have revised theirestimates of Soviet imports up to 25-28 mln tonnes, she said.", "answer groups": [ "corn" ], "distractor groups": [ "cocoa", "crude", "copra-cake" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Henley Group Inc's M.W. Kellogg Cosubsidiary said it in consortium with received acontract from Corpoven S.A., a Venezuelan-owned domestic oilcompany, to revamp and expand its El Palito Refinery. Kellogg said the installed cost of the work to be performedis estimated to be 130 mln dlrs. Inelectra, Kellogg said, is amajor Venezuelan engineering firm. Kellog said the project will enable the refinery to produceBTX products -- benzene, toluene, and orthoxylene -- byprocessing naphtha feed from an expanded reformer-hydrotreater. Kellogg said the refinery's reformer-hydrotreater will beupgraded to 9,500 barrels a day capacity from 7,500. It said the new BTX process units include aromaticextraction, xylene fractionation, xylene isomerization andthermal hydrodealkylation. Kellogg pointed out that Venezuela now imports all of itsBTX aromatics.", "answer groups": [ "pet-chem" ], "distractor groups": [ "meal-feed", "dkr", "peseta" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Commodity Credit Corporation,CCC, has reallocated 15.0 mln dlrs in credit guarantees toTurkey previously earmarked for sales of U.S. oilseeds toprovide coverage for sales of U.S. protein meals in fiscal year1987, the U.S. Agriculture Department said. The department said the action reduces the guarantee lineauthorized for sales of oilseeds to 5.0 mln dlrs from 20.0 mlndlrs and creates the new line for protein meals. All sales under the credit lines must be registered andexports completed by September 30, 1987, it said.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [ "linseed", "sun-meal", "dlr", "wheat" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "N-D Resources Inc said itagreed in principle to issue an undetermined number of sharesto Recovery Resources Corp, Bahrain, in order to acquireRecovery's Atoka Gas Gathering Systems Inc. Atoka currently operates a 20-mile natural gas pipeline of46 miles in length in southeastern Oklahoma.", "answer groups": [ "acq" ], "distractor groups": [ "rupiah", "soy-meal", "retail", "hk" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Alcoa of Australia Ltd , owned51 pct by the Aluminum Co of America , said net profit roseto 20.2 mln dlrs in the first quarter of 1987 from 0.8 mln inthe same 1986 period. Sales revenue climbed to 300.9 mln from 233.0 mln. Thecompany paid 36.5 mln income tax compared with 4.8 mln. Capital expenditure was 24.0 mln, against 33.4 mln. Alcoaspent 15.7 mln on its new Portland aluminium smelter comparedwith 25.8 mln the year before. Over 65 pct of the smelter'sfirst potline is on stream and by the second quarter it will beproducing at the full annual rate of 150,000 tonnes a year.", "answer groups": [ "earn" ], "distractor groups": [ "propane", "f-cattle", "yen", "instal-debt" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, R-Minn., said heintended to offer legislation that would allow 1987 producersof wheat, feedgrains, cotton and rice to receive at least 92pct of their deficiency payments, regardless of how much theyplanted. Boschwitz told the Senate Agriculture Committee thatapplying the so-called 0/92 provision to 1987 crops wassupported by the Reagan administration and would saveapproximately 500 mln dlrs, including 266 mln dlrs in cornpayments, 90 mln dlrs in wheat and 30 mln dlrs in cotton. The Minnesota senator said he might offer the bill on theSenate floor or in a conference committee with the House ofRepresentatives in the event a similar bill before the HouseAgriculture Committee is approved by that body. Boschwitz told Reuters that neither he nor the U.S.Agriculture Department had decided whether or how deficiencypayments should be guaranteed to farmers who might choose notto plant under the decoupling scheme. If payments are not set in advance under decoupling, marketprices conceivably could rise, thereby leading to diminisheddeficiency payments. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.,said he wanted to go to conference with the House as soon aspossible on the issue, but would have to study the matterfurther before deciding how he would vote on it.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "trade", "potato" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A Swiss National Bank spokesman said thebank had not intervened in currency markets today and dealerssaid they had seen no evidence of Bundesbank action outsideWest Germany. Frankfurt dealers reported that the Bundesbank boughtdollars for yen in the open market there. Zurich dealers said the absence of the Swiss National Banksuggested that no concerted intervention was under way. Asked earlier today if the Swiss National Bank hadintervened, the spokesman said \"not yet.\"", "answer groups": [ "yen" ], "distractor groups": [ "tapioca", "sugar", "nzdlr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Mount Isa Mines Holding Ltd plans toacquire a 30 pct stake in Europe's largest primary copperproducer, Norddeutsche Affinerie AG, a spokesman forMetallgesellschaft AG said. MIM intends to take Preussag AG's total 20 pct share in thecopper producer in exchange for some three pct of MIM's sharecapital. MIM will also take another 10 pct now held by DegussaAG, reducing Degussa's share to 30 pct from 40.Metallgesellschaft's share will remain at 40 pct. The move is subject to approval of the federal carteloffice and supervisory boards of the companies involved.", "answer groups": [ "acq" ], "distractor groups": [ "barley", "orange", "bop", "palm-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Graham-McCormick Oil and GasPartnership said it completed the sale of interests in twomajor oil and gas fields to for 21 mln dlrs. The company said it sold about one-half of its 50 pctinterest in the Oak Hill and North Rucias fields, its twolargest producing properties. It said it used about 20 mln dlrs of the proceeds to prepayprincipal on its senior secured notes. Semi-annual principalpayments on the remaining 40 mln dlrs of notes have beensatisfied until December 1988 as a result, it said. The company said the note agreements were amended toreflect an easing of some financial covenants, and an increaseof interest to 13.5 pct from 13.0 pct until December 1990. It said the noteholders exercise price for 1,125,000warrants was also reduced to 50 cts from 1.50 dlrs. The company said Energy Assets agreed to share the costs ofincreasing production at the Oak Hill field.", "answer groups": [ "nat-gas" ], "distractor groups": [ "skr", "cruzado", "cpu" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Soviet Union's recent cornpurchases from the United States could total as much as 3.5 mlntonnes, U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary Daniel Amstutz said. \"We are not sure how much (Soviets have bought) but we thinkit could be as high as 3.5 mln tonnes,\" Amstutz told a HouseAgriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. He added that China also will need to import more corn thisyear than earlier anticipated, but he gave no figures.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "peseta", "l-cattle", "f-cattle", "stg" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Yugoslavia's top oil and natural gasproducer has started to implement a cooperationcontract signed last year with the French petrochemical concern, the official Tanjug news agency said. Under the deal Petro Chemie supplies oil to Ina refineriesin Sisak and Rijeka and ships parts to 12 Yugoslav firms in thepetrochemical, chemical, textile and plastics industries. TheYugoslav firms, in turn, will export oil products to France. Tanjug said this year's exchange will value 530 mln dlrs. Ina signed a similar deal with West Germany's Hoechst AG two years ago. Ina also has joint ventures and co-production projects,involving Yugoslavia's other main producer of NoviSad, with partners in Angola, Algeria and Tunisia, exploringfor and exploiting oil and natural gas. An estimated 300,000 tonnes of oil will thus be obtainedfrom fields in Angola over the next 15 years, Tanjug said. Ina accounts for some 75 pct of Yugoslavia's total oilproduction, which amounts to 4.2 mln tonnes a year. Ina earned more than 154 mln dlrs from exports of goods andservices to 39 countries last year and ranks among Yugoslavia'sleading export enterprises. In a separate statement issued through Tanjug, Ina said ithas successfully completed the first drill at the depth of over3,000 meters in the Bay of Baes, in Tunisia. Ina is jointlyprospecting with the U.S. Firm Conoco for oil and gas there. Work on a second drill, below 4,000 meters, would startsoon in the Bay of Gabes, the statement said. Ina would investabout 8.5 mln dlrs in prospecting in the Gabes area. Conoco, which has completed geological prospecting for theTunisian government, has transferred one third of its optionrights in the region to Ina, it said.", "answer groups": [ "pet-chem" ], "distractor groups": [ "platinum", "yen", "cpu", "palmkernel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve may intervene inthe government securities market to supply temporary reservesindirectly via customer repurchase agreements, economists said. They said that while the Fed faces no great urgency to addreserves at the start of the two-week maintenance period todayit would probably do so in order to offset a relatively highfederal funds rate. Fed funds opened at 6-3/16 pct and remained there in earlytrading. Yesterday, they averaged 6.45 pct, after rising ashigh as seven pct at the close.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "yen", "carcass", "sfr", "income" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Commodity Credit Corporation,CCC, has accepted bids for export bonuses to cover sales of25,000 tonnes of wheat flour to Iraq, the U.S. AgricultureDepartment said. The department said the bonuses awarded averaged 116.84dlrs per tonne. The shipment periods are March 15-April 20 (12,500 tonnes)and April 1-May 5 (12,500 tonnes). The bonus awards were made to Peavey Company and will bepaid in the form of commodities from CCC stocks, it said. An additional 175,000 tonnes of wheat flour are stillavailable to Iraq under the Export Enhancement Programinitative announced January 7, 1987, the department said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "copra-cake", "acq", "carcass", "gas" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. drilling rig count fell by fourlast week to a total of 758, against 723 working rigs at thistime last year, Baker Hughes Inc said. In Canada, the weekly rig count rose 19 to 100, compared to46 working rigs last year. Among individual states, the steepest declines were inOklahoma and Louisiana which lost eight and seven,respectively. Drilling increases were reported by Michigan, upby five rigs, and Ohio and Pennsylvania which each rose bythree. Baker Hughes said the total of 758 working rigs in theUnited States included 84 rigs working in offshore waters.", "answer groups": [ "crude" ], "distractor groups": [ "dlr", "palladium", "inventories", "rubber" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bundesbank bought large amountsof dollars for yen in an apparent attempt to hold the dollarabove 149 yen, dealers said. The dollar intervention was in concert with some othercentral banks, they said. Dealers said the Bank of Japan and Bank of Englandsupported the dollar against the yen earlier today and thatthese two banks and the U.S. Federal Reserve were also activeyesterday. The Bundesbank declined to comment on the dealers' remarks. Dealers said the intervention underlined the determinationof central banks to keep currencies within recent rangesfollowing last month's agreement in Paris by six leadingcountries to foster currency stability. One dealer said he had been repeatedly in contact with theBundesbank during the morning to see if it wanted to buydollars after the Japanese and U.K. Central bank moves. He said the Bundesbank told him it was observing thesituation to see if it should intervene in consultation withother central banks. Since the Paris agreement on February 22 the dollar haduntil yesterday traded in a 1.8150-1.8700 mark range, and above150 yen, with traders reluctant to push the dollar down to testcentral banks' resolve to defend currency stability. But the test came this week with the dollar falling below1.81 marks and 150 yen. Dealers said a reviving trade disputebetween Washington and Tokyo and growing sentiment that thedollar would have to fall further to narrow the obstinate U.S.Trade deficit were behind the weakness. This week's intervention showed central banks were preparedto cooperate to defend the Paris pact, dealers said. Dealers said it was significant the West German and Britishcentral banks were supporting the dollar against the yen. That showed the pact involved multilateral cooperation bycentral banks to foster currency stability, they said. But it was unclear how such cooperation was being arrangedand how frequent consultations between central banks were.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "dmk", "trade", "castorseed", "crude" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Swiss National Bank bought dollarsagainst yen today, a spokesman for the bank said. He declined to say how many dollars the bank bought or whenprecisely it intervened. Swiss foreign exchange dealers described the NationalBank's purchases as modest, perhaps amounting to no more than20 or 30 mln dlrs. The Bank of France, which was reported buying dollarsagainst the yen in Paris, had made inquiries with Swiss banksas well, and the Bundesbank had also intervened. Bank of Japandollar purchases today were perhaps 1.2 to 1.5 billion dlrs. Dealers said this tended to confirm the market's impressionthat major industrial countries had agreed at the Paris meetingon an effective floor for the dollar of 148 yen, and the marketseemed ready to test it. Commercial clients were also selling dollars against theyen as the end of the Japanese fiscal year on March 31 drewcloser. Today's dealings in spot currencies are booked forMarch 31. One dealer said he had the feeling Japanese companies hadbeen asked by the Bank of Japan not to sell dollars at thispoint, but some, while sticking to the letter of that request,were offering dollars forward today, rather than lose out ifthe dollar fell further. The run on the dollar against the yen came in a marketthinned by the absence of many dealers for a Forex Club meetingin Hamburg. Trading was, in fact, rather light against currencies otherthan the yen, the dollar holding little changed through theday. The market now expected the U.S. Federal Reserve tointervene in support of the dollar. \"But they will probably doit only half-heartedly, so I don't think it will matter toomuch on rates,\" one dealer said.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "earn", "rapeseed", "jobs", "cottonseed" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "South Korea's purchase of about 2.4mln tonnes of U.S. corn in the past six months -- close todouble last year's total -- indicates that imports from theUnited States, as well as total imports are set for a dramaticjump, the U.S. Agriculture Department said. In its World Production and Trade Report, the departmentsaid total South Korea corn imports for the 1986/87 season(Oct-Sept) are estimated at 4.3 mln tonnes, with about 3.4 mlntonnes from the United States. During the 1985/86 season, imports totaled only 1.3 mlntonnes of U.S. corn out of a total of 3.6 mln tonnes. Ite appears the Koreans are shifting back to U.S. corn inlight of competitive U.S. prices and uncertain supplies fromChina, Argentina and South Africa, it said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "dfl", "castorseed", "oilseed", "fishmeal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Bangladesh passed on its weekend tenderfor 100,000 tonnes of optional origin soft wheat, privateexport sources said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "barley", "retail", "money-supply", "can" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A Portuguese court has made apreliminary ruling that the state grain buying agency EPACshould not be allowed to take part in public import tendersopen to private importers, grain traders and officials said. Under the terms of Portugal's January 1986 accession to theEuropean Community, EC, a grain import monopoly held by EPAC(Empresa Publica de Abastecimento de Cereais) is being reducedby 20 pct annually until all imports are liberalised in 1990. Private traders protested last year that EPAC was beingpermitted to take part in tenders open to them for the firstliberalised 20 pct share of the country's annual import needs.The grain and oilseed importers association ACICO opened legalproceedings to stop EPAC participating in the public tenders. Miguel Ascensao of ACICO told Reuters that Lisbon's civilcourt, in a preliminary ruling, had decided EPAC should not beallowed to take part in tenders open to private traders. Trade sources said the ruling, though effectiveimmediately, was subject to appeal and would have to beconfirmed in further proceedings. A member of the government Cereals Market Commission saidthat, as a result of the court's decision, the Commission wouldnot be able to accept offers from EPAC in a public tender beingheld today for the import of 80,000 tonnes of corn. Ascensao said the court ruling stated that EPAC'sparticipation in the public tenders violated the clauses ofPortugal's EC accession treaty dealing with the gradualdismantling of the state agency's import monopoly. It also said the participation of EPAC, which stillcontrols the national grain storage and distribution network,was unfair competition to the private traders. Traders said they believed the EC's Executive Commissionwas unlikely to get involved in the dispute, preferring toleave the case to be resolved as an internal Portuguese issue. \"They (the EC Commission) will be keeping a low profile,\" onetrader said. ACICO says it is ready to take its case to Brussels ifnecessary.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "palladium", "dfl", "coconut-oil", "nkr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": ", earlierreporting an initial six month loss, said it agreed to sellwholly owned Multi-Step Manufacturing Inc for 100,000 dlrscash, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval. Multi-Step also said it will pay 900,000 dlrs to cancel711,192 of its own shares, which will be acquired from MichaelPenhale and his benficiaries. Penhale will control and manageMulti-Step Manufacturing, following the transactions. Multi-Step had a 739,146 dlr loss for the six months endedDecember 31. The company received its initial public listing inDecember. The company said its ladder-making unit has been losing300,000 dlrs quarterly. The sale, expected to close in April, also calls forretirement of the unit's 400,000 dlr bank debt, Multi-Stepsaid. The unit also has agreed to pay a debt of 400,000 dlrs toTarxien Company Ltd, which is 40 pct owned by Multi-Step. Multi-Step previously said it agreed to acquire theremaining 60 pct of Tarxien it does not already own.", "answer groups": [ "earn" ], "distractor groups": [ "lei", "rape-oil", "citruspulp", "veg-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Unidentified jets attacked three Iranianoil rigs in the southern Gulf early on Monday, setting at leastone of them ablaze, regional shipping sources said. Earlier today in Washington, U.S. Television networks hadreported that American forces launched a retaliatory strikeagainst Iran late Sunday, attacking two Iranian offshore oildrilling platforms and setting them ablaze. The shipping sources said Iran's Sassan, Rostam and Rakhshoffshore oilfields were attacked at 0700 local (0300 GMT) by awave of jet fighter bombers. Smoke was seen spiralling up fromthe Rostam field soon after. At least one of the other two targets was also believed tobe ablaze, the sources said. The Sassan and Rostam fields have been targets for Iraqiair strikes in the past, but Baghdad had not reported anysouthern Gulf missions prior to news of the latest attack. Shipping and military sources in the region have said Iranused its southern Gulf rigs as bases to launch helicopter andlater speedboat attacks on neutral ships in the waterway. U.S. Officials had been meeting on a response since Fridaywhen an attack on a Kuwaiti port severely damaged aU.S.-flagged ship. President Reagan said on Sunday he hadalready made a decision on the U.S. Response to Friday's Iranattack but would not say what the decision was.", "answer groups": [ "ship" ], "distractor groups": [ "copra-cake", "saudriyal", "fishmeal", "hk" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "There was no evidence of winterkillin Yugoslavian winter wheat during field travel along a linerunning northwest from Belgrade to near Maribor, the U.S.Agriculture Department's counselor in Belgrade said in a fieldreport. The report, dated February 26, said there is evidence ofdelayed germination in most areas due to late seeding last fallbecause of dry conditions. However warm temperatures over the past three weeks havepromoted some early growth and will help the crop catch up onlast fall's late seeding, it said. Some Yugoslav agriculture officials are concerned about thesituation because warm temperatures have brought the grain outof dormancy and taken away snow protection a little early, thereport said. Cold temperatures over the next month could cause damageunder these conditions, they said. The report said all wheat farmers contacted during thefield trip were optimistic about the crop and the way itemerged from winter.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "linseed", "strategic-metal", "plywood", "fishmeal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Secretary of State George Shultz hasdecided not to oppose any U.S. wheat subsidy offer to theSoviet Union and has left the final decision on whether to sellsubsidized wheat to Moscow up to President Reagan and theAgriculture Department, a State Department official said. \"Shultz feels like he fought the battle against a subsidylast summer, and he's not going to the mat again. It's nowbasically the USDA who has to make their decisions as to whatthey want to do,\" the official said. If USDA decides to go ahead with a subsidy offer to theSoviet Union, he said, \"Shultz will not wage a vigorouscampaign against it. He might not come out in favor of it, buthe won't go to the President and voice his objections.\" In an official statement clarifying Shultz's remarksyesterday to leaders of the National Association of WheatGrowers, the State Department said, \"Secretary Shultz expressedhis belief that whenever possible, U.S. grain should becompetitive on world markets, including the Soviet Union. The Agriculture Department is in the best position todetermine whether consideration should be given at this time toextending to the Soviets a subsidy under the Export EnhancementProgram.\" Although Shultz will not oppose a wheat subsidy to theSoviets, there remain obstacles to another subsidy offer toMoscow, the State Department official said. \"Everyone in the government agrees that if there is asubsidy to be offered, we would not offer it unless we had afirm commitment from the Soviets that they would buy.\" USDA does not want a repetition of last summer when theUSSR baulked at its offer of four mln tonnes of subsidizedwheat, the official, who asked not to be identified, said. The Soviets rejected the U.S. offer then on the groundsthat the 13 dlr per tonne subsidy was insufficient to bringU.S. prices down to competitive levels. The Soviets want a higher subsidy offer this time, theState Department source said. \"What the Soviets want is something equivalent to thelowest price being paid by anyone in the world,\" he said. The Soviets argue that they are the best customer of theU.S. and that they are entitled to the best price, he said. Government and commodity sources also said there areelements in the USDA, most notably undersecretary DanielAmstutz, who remain opposed to a wheat subsidy to the Soviets. \"Subsidized wheat to the Soviet Union is still not aforegone conclusion,\" the State Department official said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "pet-chem", "cotton", "cruzado", "palm-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The joint committee of Taiwan's maizeimporters awarded contracts to two U.S. Firms to supply twoshipments totalling 81,000 tonnes, a committee spokesman said. Continental Grain Co of New York won a contract for thesupply of 54,000 tonnes, priced at 96.17 U.S. Dlrs a tonne cand f Taiwan for delivery between May 21 and June 5. Gulf Coast Grain Inc of Memphis, Tennessee, won a contractfor 27,000 tonnes at 100.75 dlrs a tonne also c and f Taiwan,for May 21-June 5 delivery.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "dlr", "fuel", "cornglutenfeed", "inventories" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. scientists said some tropicalvegetable oils can be hazardous to consumers whose health is atrisk because of high levels of saturated fat, lending weight toa campaign by the American Soybean Association (ASA) forlabelling changes. The scientists appeared to support an ASA charge, denied byMalaysian palm growers, that imported coconut, palm and palmkernel oils contain high levels of saturated fat and thus raiseblood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. In a petition filed in January, the ASA asked the U.S. Foodand Drug Administration (FDA) to require palm, palm kernel andcoconut oils to be identified as saturated fats on foodmanufacturers' labels. The FDA responded to the ASA in a letter saying it wouldconsider the petition as a comment to a proposed rule dealingwith cholesterol and fatty acid labelling of foods. Malaysian oil palm growers have said the charges by the ASAthat palm oil consumption increases blood cholesterol andcontributes to heart disease are untrue. But Steve Chang, Professor of Food Science at RutgersUniversity, said, \"Palm oil is definitely not good for humanhealth because it has a high content of saturated fatty acid.\" He added that the higher the fatty acid, the greater theblood cholesterol level. \"It has been well established thathigh cholesterol levels will have a higher level of heartdisease,\" he said. A Malaysian Oil Palm Growers Council official, BorgeBek-Nielsen, has said studies have shown that palm oil ischolesterol-free, low in saturated fats, has anti-cancerproperties and prevents blood clotting and blocking of arteriesin humans. Bek-Nielsen said Americans consume more saturated fatsdaily through food like butter, bacon, ham and beef than frompalm oil, which, he added is rich in vitamins A and E. David Kritchevsky, Associate Director of the WistarInstitute in Philadelphia, appeared to take the ASA view onlabelling. \"What people really have to learn is to read labels,\"said Kritchevsky. \"The more a consumer knows, the more likely hewill make an intelligent choice.\" The U.S. scientists said they had no doubt imported palm,palm kernel and coconut oils contain high saturated fat levels. Kritchevsky, a specialist in nutrition, said, \"Moresaturated fat would raise cholesterol levels...So, from thatpoint of view it's a health risk. High cholesterol levels inthe blood are a risk factor for heart disease.\" Susanne Harris, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S.Agriculture Department's Food and Consumer Services Division,said the health risk among consumers of vegetable oils withhigh saturated fat levels was highest among those who haveheart disease. The scientists said more than 50 pct of the fatty acidcontent of the tropical oils was saturated, whereas less than20 pct of the fatty acid content of soybean oil was saturated. David Ericksen, director of ASA's technical services, saidU.S. soybean producers could regain about one-half of the 273mln dlrs in sales lost to imported tropical oils if consumerswere aware the vegetable oils were high in saturated fat. Imported tropical oils displace 171 mln bushels of U.S.soybean sales in the U.S. market, ASA estimates. U.S. imports of coconut oil during January totaled 82.9 mlnlbs compared with 48.0 mln lbs in December and 106.5 mln a yearearlier, according to Commerce Department figures. Imports of palm oil totaled 44.0 mln lbs compared with 51.3mln lbs in December and 85.2 mln a year earlier.", "answer groups": [ "coconut-oil" ], "distractor groups": [ "castor-oil", "sun-meal", "bfr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "International Trade and Industry MinisterHajime Tamura told a parliamentary session Japan's small- andmedium-sized enterprises are seriously suffering from the yen'srise and can only stand levels around 170 yen. He also said he still believes a dollar exchange rate levelplus or minus 10 yen from 170 yen would be within levels agreedupon last month in Paris by six major industrial nations.Finance ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Japan, the U.S.And West Germany agreed on February 22 to cooperate instabilizing exchange rates around the current levels. Thedollar had closed here at 153.77 yen on February 20.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "nzdlr", "grain", "barley", "rape-meal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Brazil will export 6,000 tonnesof poultry and 10,000 tonnes of frozen meat to Iraq in exchangefor oil, Petrobras Commercial Director Carlos Sant'Anna said. Brazil has a barter deal with Iraq and currently imports215,000 barrels per day of oil, of which 170,000 bpd are paidfor with exports of Brazilian goods to that country.", "answer groups": [ "carcass" ], "distractor groups": [ "dmk", "lead", "alum" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Ten grain ships were loading and 18were waiting to load at New Orleans elevators, trade sourcessaid. ELEVATOR LOADING WAITING Continental Grain, Westwego 1 3 Mississippi River, Myrtle Grove 2 0 ADM Growmark 1 4 Bunge Grain, Destrehan 1 0 ELEVATOR LOADING WAITING ST CHARLES DESTREHAN 1 3 RESERVE ELEVATOR CORP 0 1 PEAVEY CO, ST ELMO 1 2 CARGILL GRAIN, TERRE HAUTE 1 4 CARGILL GRAIN, PORT ALLEN 1 0 ZEN-NOH 1 1 reuter\u0003", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "palm-oil", "rubber", "nickel", "castor-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Philippine coconut oil exports to Europewould be virtually wiped out if the European Community (EC)implements a new tax on vegetable oils, Philippine CoconutAuthority (PCA) chairman Jose Romero said. But he told reporters he did not think the EC would imposethe tax because of objections from the U.S. \"There's just so much flak coming from many countries,spearheaded by the United States, whose soybean exports wouldbe adversely affected. This would spark a trade war,\" he said. The tax, to be imposed from July, would add about 375 dlrsa tonne to vegetable oils entering the EC. The Philippines exported 43,540 tonnes of coconut oil worth11.7 mln dlrs to Europe in January, against total exports of86,959 tonnes worth 23.8 mln. It also exports copra and coprameal. Agriculture Secretary Carlos Dominguez has also raisedobjections to the proposed EC tax. He said it could cause the collapse of world demand andprices and destroy the domestic industry.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [ "jet", "skr", "sfr", "veg-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Patrick Petroleum Co said itsigned a definitive agreement to buy Bayou Resources Inc. As previously announced, the transaction is valued at about8.8 mln dlrs, including 2.8 mln dlrs in debt. Under the agreement, Patrick will pay six dlrs per sharefor each Bayou share, with additional value being given forBayou's preferred and options. Bayou has 827,000 shares out. Depending upon the results of the re-evaluation of asignificant Bayou well as of Jan. 1, 1988, Bayou stockholdersmay receive up to an additional two mln dlrs in stock and cash,which has not been included in the 8.8 mln dlrs.", "answer groups": [ "crude" ], "distractor groups": [ "groundnut", "rape-oil", "ship", "f-cattle" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "There were no shipments of U.S.grain or soybeans to the Soviet Union in the week ended March12, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department's latestExport Sales report. The USSR has purchased 1.0 mln tonnes of U.S. corn fordelivery in the fourth year of the U.S.-USSR grain agreement. Total shipments in the third year of the U.S.-USSR grainsagreement, which ended September 30, amounted to 152,600 tonnesof wheat, 6,808,100 tonnes of corn and 1,518,700 tonnes ofsoybeans. Shipments to the USSR in the second year of the agreeementamounted to 2,887,200 tonnes of wheat and 15,750,100 tonnes ofcorn.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "sun-meal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bundesbank intervened in the Tokyoforeign exchange market to buy a small amount of dollarsagainst marks through the Bank of Japan, dealers said. The West German central bank bought dollars when the dollarwas at about 1.7770-80 marks. Dealers' estimates of theintervention amount varied from 100 mln to one billion dlrs. Some dealers said the Bank of Japan appeared to haveundertaken small-lot mark-selling intervention on its ownaccount.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "cotton-oil", "acq", "groundnut-oil", "corn" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Unfavorable late winter weatherconditions in the main wheat growing areas of Yugoslaviaindicate dimmed prospects for the emerging winter wheat crop,the U.S. embassy's agricultural officer in Belgrade said. The officer, who travelled through an area from Belgrade toSubotica, said in a field report dated March 27 the wheat crophad been set back at least three weeks because of a cold spellthat followed a period of warm weather. He said unseasonably warm weather in late February thatbrought the wheat crop out of winter dormancy early wasfollowed by three weeks of unusually cold weather. Damaging effects were seen in the fields, most of whichshow stands with a yellow-brown cast indicating extensive leafand possible root damage from repeated freezings, he said. The report said that since much of the early growth inFebruary was from late seeding rather than from normaldevelopment, his view was that the damage may be more extensivethan some local observers say. The most seriously affected fields were late-seeded fieldson normal maize soils. Stands in these fields were thin andchances of recovery appeared less favorable, he said. However, he said soil moisture conditions were favorableand many of the fields had already been top-dressed, whichwould aid recovery.", "answer groups": [ "corn" ], "distractor groups": [ "tapioca", "groundnut", "reserves" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it provided themoney market with a further 195 mln stg assistance during theafternoon. This brings total help today to 841 mln stg compared with aliquidity shortage it has estimated at a revised one billionstg. The Bank bought 176 mln stg of band two bank bills outrightat 10-5/16 pct and 13 mln stg of band one bank bills at 10-3/8pct. In addition, it bought four mln stg of bills for resale tothe market on March 30 and two mln stg for resale on April 8,at a common interest rate of 10-7/16 pct.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "linseed", "groundnut-oil", "corn", "coconut" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Commodity Credit Corporation(CCC) switched five mln dlrs in credit guarantees to Ecuador toprovide for more sales of U.S. vegetable oil, the U.S.Agriculture Department said. The credit guarantees were previously earmarked for salesof U.S. cotton, feedgrains and wheat. The action reduces the guarantee lines previouslyauthorized for sales of cotton from 1.5 mln dlrs to 500,000dlrs, for feedgrains from four mln to two mln and for wheatfrom 45 mln dlrs to 43 mln dlrs and increases coverage forvegetable oil sales from two mln to seven mln dlrs, thedepartment said.", "answer groups": [ "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [ "tapioca", "l-cattle" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "High labour costs and slower corporateinvestment could hinder Sweden's economic growth after 1987,the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development,OECD, said. The Swedish economy grew at a slower rate in 1986 than inprevious years. GDP rose about 1.7 pct in 1986 compared with2.2 pct in 1985. But this growth depended largely on externalfactors, particularly lower oil prices, the OECD secretariatsaid in its latest annual report on Sweden. It warned that labour costs had risen more rapidly inSweden than in other OECD countries. Because of high labour costs Swedish industry, whichlargely relies upon export markets, was losing market share.Wages in the manufacturing sector grew by seven pct in 1986, inline with 1985 increases, while public sector wages rose anestimated 9.2 pct in 1986, up from six pct in 1985. This was significantly higher than average wage increasesof 3.75 pct for the seven largest members of the OECD in 1986. The report said wage moderation was central to maintainingeconomic growth in Sweden. It suggested that wage negotiationsshould be at least partly centralised to control the totalwages bill and hold down inflation and unemployment levels. Helped by low oil prices and the government's tight fiscalpolicy, inflation fell to just over three pct in 1986 fromalmost six pct in 1985 but remained higher than in most otherOECD countries, the report said. Unemployment, a principal policy target, was at 2.7 pct in1986, in line with 1985's 2.8 pct and well below the OECDaverage of 8.6 pct. The report said Sweden's employmentpolicies accounted for the high levels of wage inflation. It also said that economic growth in 1986 reliedincreasingly on private consumption because corporateinvestment in machinery and equipment had shrunk. The total volume of industrial investments dropped by twopct in 1986, with sharp declines in spending by the wood, pulpand paper industries. This compared to a 19 pct rise in 1985when there was heavy investment in these industries. The OECD said Sweden should now make an effort to boostcorporate investments and reduce its dependence on domesticconsumption for economic growth. It suggested there was roomfor reform in the tax system. Sweden should continue to cut public sector spending,especially in local government, to keep in line with itstighter fiscal policy, the report said.", "answer groups": [ "jobs" ], "distractor groups": [ "jet", "copper", "palm-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of Spain raised overnight callmoney rates by 1/4 to 14 pct on demand for 746 billion pesetasin today's auction, which a bank spokesman termed \"heavy.\" Rates stood at 12.1 pct at the start of the year and havebeen increased to drain liquidity on rising demands for funds,the spokesman said. He said in reply to Reuters inquiries that rates could risefurther if money supply growth rose above this year's eight pcttarget for M-4, defined as liquid assets in public hands. Money supply rose at an annualised rate of 16.7 pct lastmonth against 8.1 pct in January. Growth was 11.4 pct in 1986. A leading Spanish broker said the central bank was applyinga more restrictive policy to keep the lid on inflation. The consumer price index rose 8.3 pct last year. \"Money supply control is the government's chief weaponagainst inflation,\" he said. \"The problem is higher rates areattracting liquidity from abroad.\" He said this was why the central bank enacted specificmeasures to control the inflow of foreign capital. The Bank ofSpain earlier this month imposed a 19 pct reserve requirementon new convertible peseta funds held by banks to curbshort-term speculative capital from abroad.", "answer groups": [ "money-supply" ], "distractor groups": [ "wpi", "rye", "potato" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Swiss Finance Ministry is invitingtenders for a new series of three-month money marketcertificates to raise about 150 mln Swiss francs, the SwissNational Bank said. Bids would be due on March 10 and payment on March 12. The last issue of three-month paper conducted on February12 yielded 2.969 pct.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "hk", "corn", "housing", "gnp" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. trade representative ClaytonYeutter said Canada's finding announced today that U.S. cornimports injure Canadian farmers is \"totally unjustified.\" \"U.S. corn exports to Canada are so small that it isinconceivable that they injure Canadian corn farmers by anyreasonable measure,\" Yeutter said in a statement. He said if other countries follow Canada's lead it couldresult in \"a rash of protectionist actions throughout theworld.\" French corn growers have recently indicated they willchallenge U.S. corn gluten feed shipments to Europe. Yeutter said the U.S. will examine the Canadian decisionclosely and if the U.S. believes the decision was not based onfacts, \"will carefully evaluate appropriate responses.\" Yeutterdid not say what steps the U.S. may take in response.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "lei", "castorseed", "cottonseed", "strategic-metal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Swiss Federal Government's new seriesof six-month money market certificates raised 177.5 mln Swissfrancs at an issue price of 98.401 pct to give an averageannual yield of 3.286 pct, the National Bank said. Payment date is March 5. The last series of six-month paper issued in January raised159.6 mln francs at 98.392 pct to give an average yield of3.251 pct.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "castor-oil", "rye", "nkr", "wpi" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it provided themoney market with a further 168 mln stg of assistance to helpoffset a shortage it now estimated at 1.05 billion stg, reviseddown from 1.10 billion. It bought 21 mln stg of bank bills outright, 20 mln in bandone at 10-3/8 pct and one mln in band two at 10-5/16 pct. Inaddition, it bought 98 mln stg of bills for resale on March 30and 49 mln stg for resale April 8 at an interest rate of10-7/16 pct. All these rates are the same as for today'searlier help. So far today, the bank has provided the market withassistance worth 646 mln stg. The bank also announced the rates applicable to temporarylending facilities rolled over today. The average mid-market rate for lending rolled over for oneweek is 10-15/16 pct and for two weeks 10-5/8 pct.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "inventories", "veg-oil", "rapeseed", "jet" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Senate AgricultureCommittee approved a bill that would establish farm trade andaid missions to promote the use of U.S. food aid, donation,credit and export subsidy programs by overseas customers. The bill, approved by voice vote, would establish trademissions made up of representatives of the Departments ofAgriculture and State, the Agency for InternationalDevelopment, the Overseas Private Investment Corp, marketdevelopment cooperatives and private voluntary organizations. At least 16 missions would have to be sent within one yearafter enactment of the bill. The missions would promote U.S.programs, including PL480, Section 416 donations, ExportEnhancement Program, the dairy export incentive program, andexport credit guarantee programs (GSM-102, GSM-103). The panel agreed to drop a provision in the original bill,offered by Sen. John Melcher (D-Mont.), that would haverequired the U.S. Agriculture Department to donate at least onemln tonnes of surplus commodities to developing countries. Current law requires USDA to donate at least 750,000 tonnesof surplus grains and dairy products under the Section 416 fooddonation program. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the proposedincrease in the minimum tonnage requirement would have cost upto 50 mln dlrs per year, Senate staff said. The committee also dropped a provision identifying whichcountries would be the focus of the trade missions' activities. Under the bill adopted by the committee, countries \"friendlyto the United States\" would be eligible to host the trademissions. Melcher originally had proposed sending missions to Mexico,the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Senegal, Nigeria, Peru,Kenya, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Venezuela,Tunisia and Morocco. The bill also would require the Foreign AgriculturalService, FAS, to have at least 850 full-time employees duringfiscal years 1987-89. As of February 28, FAS had 790 full-timeemployees, a FAS spokesman said.", "answer groups": [ "trade" ], "distractor groups": [ "hog", "acq", "carcass", "copper" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Higher oil prices and stronger thanexpected U.S. employment growth led to sharp losses in U.S.interest rate futures and diminished what had been a positivechart outlook, financial analysts said. The increase of 319,000 in non-farm payroll employmentduring February was above market expectations for a rise of170,000 to 200,000 jobs and sparked selling in Treasury bondfutures that drove the June contract through key technicalsupport at 101-2/32 at the opening Friday, they noted. \"I don't like that fact that we had a close below 101,\"said Prudential Bache analyst Fred Leiner. The 101-2/32 levelin the June bond contract had been the top of a three-monthtrading range, which when penetrated during the rally Wednesdayled to bullish forecasts by chartists. But analysts called it a false breakout on the weeklycharts when the June bond closed at 100-10/32 Friday. Some also forecast that the high of the week at 101-19/32may signal a bearish double top formation portending steeplosses. \"I tend to go along with the double top scenario,\" saidNorthern Futures analyst Eileen Rico. Rico noted that the possible formation, along with the factthat the rally of the last two weeks in bond futures hasoccurred on relatively low volume, were negative signals. Despite what could be a negative chart outlook, Leinerremains cautiously optimistic, and June bonds should findsupport between 100 and 99-16/32 next week. The optimistic outlook, as well as Leiner's expectationthat the yield curve will flatten in the near term, is based onan improving inflation outlook. With the dollar stable and economic data giving the FederalReserve little room to ease monetary policy, \"the inflationoutlook is improving,\" Leiner said, and that should lead torelatively stronger bond prices than bill and Eurodollarprices. Still, Leiner noted that the recent rise in oil pricesremains a concern for the inflation outlook. Oil rose during the week on reports that OPEC nations weremaintaining production quotas and official prices, and got anextra boost Friday due to the suspension of oil exports fromEcuador after an earthquake Thursday. \"The runup in crude oil will be a short-lived phenomenon,\"said Carroll McEntee and McGinley analyst Brian Singer. The rise in oil prices over the past week has been largely\"media induced,\" Singer said. He noted that even though OPECproduction may be within quotas, \"oil stocks are attremendously high levels.\" Although the Ecuador situation could cause a delay, oilprices will eventually decline to the lows of late February, hesaid, and that will be a supportive influence for bond prices.", "answer groups": [ "interest" ], "distractor groups": [ "plywood", "saudriyal", "nickel", "corn-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Switzerland's economy, combining lowunemployment, financial stability and a large external paymentssurplus, is in excellent condition and faces a satisfactoryfuture, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment, OECD, said. This reflected the success of stable and relatively tightfiscal and monetary policies followed by the government, itsaid. The OECD, in its annual report on Switzerland, picked outsome signs of a slowdown in activity and a slight pick-up ininflation this year, but said these gave no cause for concern. The study forecast a decline in Gross Domestic Productgrowth to 1.75 pct this year from an estimated two pct in 1986and a small rise in consumer price inflation to 1.25 pct afterlast year's sharp fall to 0.75 pct from 3.6 pct in 1985. But it said job creation should continue to absorb a modestincrease in the workforce, leaving the unemployment rateunchanged at around one pct, the lowest in the 24-industrialnation OECD area. Assuming an average exchange rate of 1.71 Swiss francs tothe dollar this year, against 1.69 in the second half of 1986,the report forecast a 2.75 pct rise in exports and a 3.5 pctrise in imports this year after rises of 3.25 pct and 6.5 pctrespectively in 1986. The faster growth of imports compared with exports thisyear and last, reflecting buoyant private consumption, meantthat the contribution of the foreign payments balance to GDPwould shrink in both years. But \"given Switzerland's large external surplus, thereshould be no concern if domestic demand grows faster thanGDP...Which, if only in a small way, would contribute toimproving international balances,\" the OECD said. Real private consumption appeared to have been unusuallybuoyant last year, with a 3.25 pct growth rate, after severalyears of relative weakness, it noted. In 1987 private consumption was expected to slow somewhatto a 2.25 pct growth rate, but should still outstrip overallGDP, it added. The outlook for investment in plant and machinery remainedbright into 1987, and with capacity use at near record levelslast year there was scope for rationalisation and modernisationin both the industry and service sectors, it said. As a consequence, growth in machinery and equipmentinvestment is likely to decelerate only slightly this yearafter vigorous growth in 1986. But the report raised a questionmark over the prospects fortourism and the banking industry, two major service sectorearners of foreign exchange. The long-term appreciation of the Swiss Franc, and theaccelerating deregulation of foreign banking markets, couldlead to a loss of international market share for both, it said. Particularly for the banks, \"recent developments ininternational financial markets give rise to the questionwhether the Swiss financial system, which has shown substantialflexibility in the past, is adapting itself at the speedrequired ... To preserve its competitive position,\" it said.", "answer groups": [ "cpi" ], "distractor groups": [ "sun-meal", "rye", "housing", "cocoa" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The 350 mln Ecu three-year package ofsocial and structural measures agreed early today by EuropeanCommunity farm ministers features a plan to compensate farmersfor reducing output of certain surplus products, EC Commissionsources said. The ministers agreed that under this \"extensification\"scheme, farmers would qualify for compensation if they cutoutput of specific products by at least 20 pct. The plan would initially apply to cereals, beef, veal andwine, they added. Cereals farmers would have to achieve their output cuts byreducing acreage, while cattle farmers would reduce theirnumber of head and vinegrowers would cut yield. In each case,farmers would have to undertake not to step up their capacityfor output of other products which are in surplus in the EC. The sources said payment levels have not yet been fixed butwill be designed to compensate farmers for loss of profit onthe production they forego. The sources said the package also contains provisions forpayments to farmers who embark on a program aimed at protectingor improving the environment. It would also mean compensatory allowances in less favouredfarming areas would be extended to crops. At present suchallowances are available only for livestock. The package would provide 20 mln Ecus for research intoalternative farming techniques, the sources added. At a news conference EC Farm Commissioner Frans Andriessensaid the Commission is also working on proposals to enable theEC and member states to provide direct income supports forrelatively poor farmers. Andriessen did not give full details, but said member stateaid would be subject to \"strict criteria to avoid distortion ofcompetition.\" EC payments would aim to help farmers to survive adifficult period while the EC tackles the problems of surplusproduction. The Commission withdrew from the package agreed last nightproposals to pay \"early retirement\" pensions to farmers aged 55or over who gave up production. Those who took their landcompletely out of farm production, rather than passing it on totheir heirs, would have received more generous payments. Andriessen said the Commission plans to present revisedproposals along these lines in an effort to get a schemeagreed.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "citruspulp", "zinc", "nkr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it gave themoney market another 31 mln stg in assistance in the morningsession. This brings the Bank's total help today to 759 mln stg andcompares with its estimate of a 1.05 billion stg money marketshortage which it earlier revised up from 950 mln stg. The central bank bought 31 mln stg of bank bills outrightin band two at 9-13/16 pct.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "l-cattle", "corn", "gold", "tin" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Palm Oil Registration andLicensing Authority (PORLA) reports trade in crude palm oil(cpo) on April 2 as follows in ringgit per tonne deliveredunless stated. April 752.50 south and central 751 north average 752.50down 6.50. May 750 south down 11. Refined palm oil traded in bulk US dlrs per tonne fob. RBDpalm oil May 320. RBD palm olein April 336 May 337.50 June 337.RBD palm stearin May 275. The cpo market was lower in light trading, with Apriltraded between 747.50 and 755 ringgit per tonne. The refined palm oil market was slightly easier and Aprildelivery of RBD palm olein to Singapore traded at 856.50ringgit per tonne.", "answer groups": [ "palm-oil" ], "distractor groups": [ "plywood", "dfl", "corn-oil", "groundnut" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Taiwan said its foreign reserves sufferedabout 3.4 billion U.S. Dlrs in exchange rate losses from July1986 to February 1987 as a result of the rise of the Taiwandollar against the U.S. Currency. Yu Chien-ming, head of the government statisticsdepartment, told parliament yesterday he expected the losses toincrease as the Taiwan dollar continues to strengthen. The Taiwan dollar, which opened at 34.24 to the U.S. Dollartoday, has risen about 16 pct against the U.S. Unit sinceSeptember 1985. Some bankers expect it to rise to 33 by Juneand to 32 by the end of this year. Taiwan's foreign exchange reserves now total 53 billiondlrs. At end-February they were 52.1 billion dlrs, the world'sthird largest after West Germany and Japan. Yu said the interest earned from the reserves totalledabout 1.68 billion U.S. Dlrs from July 1986 to February 1987.The reserves are managed by the central bank and deposited atabout 170 leading banks in the U.S., Japan, Britain, Canada andSingapore. About 75 pct of the reserves are in the form of cash,mostly in U.S. Dollars. The rest are in government treasurybills, certificates of deposit and bonds.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "housing", "coconut-oil", "gold", "silver" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Commodity Credit Corporation,CCC, has accepted a bid for an export bonus to cover a sale of6,000 tonnes of semolina to Egypt, the U.S. AgricultureDepartment said. The department said the semolina is for shipmentApril-October, 1987, and the bonus awarded was 224.87 dlrs pertonne. The bonus was made to International Multifoods Corp andwill paid to the exporter in the form of commodities from CCCstocks, the department said. An additional 7,000 tonnes of semolina are still availableto Egypt under the Export Enhancement Program initiativeannounced August 1, 1986, it said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "palladium", "red-bean", "coffee", "propane" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The European Community Commission hasdecided to abolish a special tax of eight Ecus per tonneimposed on exports of Spanish maize, Commission sources said. They said the tax, which applies to Spanish sales to EC andnon-EC countries alike, would no longer be required on exportsfrom Spanish ports south of Valencia. The decision was taken at a meeting of the authority'scereals management committee today. The tax had been introduced last September at the same timeas a subsidy of eight Ecus per tonne was brought in for exportsof maize to Spain from other EC member countries. The aim of the tax was to prevent the maize imported intoSpain from the other EC states with the help of subsidies frombeing reexported back to them. The sources added that Spain had received no answer fromthe committee to its request that tenders be opened for thesale to third countries of 450,000 tonnes of maize. The request will be considered at the committee's nextmeeting, the commission sources said. Madrid estimates that it needs to import 1.7 mln tonnes ofmaize this year, while an EC-U.S. accord guarantees non-ECproducer sales to Spain of two mln tonnes of maize and 300,000tonnes of sorghum annually for the next four years.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "skr", "copper", "soy-meal", "cotton-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "An Iowa State University study showedpork contains considerably less fat than indicated bylong-established U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, theNational Pork Producers Council (NPPC) said. Six of the seven muscle cuts evaluated in the studyaveraged 4.3 pct fat or less, well below American HeartAssociation guidelines for recommended foods. Eighty pct of allthe raw boneless rib chops evaluated in the study containedless than six pct fat, the NPPC said. Meanwhile, USDA Handbook 8-10 - long used as theestablished authority on nutrient composition, indicates a fatcontent for center loin pork of 7.3 pct, the NPPC said. Robin Kline, a dietitian and Director of Consumer Affairsfor the NPPC said he was not surprised at the wide discrepancybetween the study and the USDA handbook. \"Handbook 8-10 is based to a certain extent on informationthat has been accumulated over the past 30 years. Thestatistics in it about pork do not reflect the hog of todaywhich is about 50 pct leaner than it was 20 or 30 years ago,thanks to genetic improvements and better feeding practices,\"Kline said. The study, funded by NPPC with producer checkoff money,evaluated pork carcasses from 47 Iowa producers in categoriesfrom 0.7 to 1.3 inches of backfat. Researchers measured the fatcontent of the seven muscles before cooking, and the fat,moisture and tenderness of cooked boneless rib chops.", "answer groups": [ "hog" ], "distractor groups": [ "nzdlr", "skr", "fuel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve is expected toenter the U.S. Government securities market to add temporaryreserves indirectly via 1.5 billion dlrs or more of customerrepurchase agreements, economists said. They said the below-six pct Federal funds rate suggests theFed does not have a large reserve adding need. However, somedealers reportedly backed out of the three-day Systemrepurchase agreements set on Monday, leaving the Fed with asomewhat increased need to supply reserves. Federal funds, which averaged 6.05 pct yesterday, opened at5-15/16 pct and remained there in early trading.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "rice", "instal-debt", "rupiah", "rand" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Newly-installed Philippine CoconutAuthority Chairman Jose Romero has announced the appointment oflawyer Leandro Garcia as administrator, replacing Colonel FelixDuenas who is returning to military duty. The new constitution does not allow military men to holdpositions in civilian agencies. Duenas and four other military men who were assigned to theauthority in 1978, will return to the ministry of defence wherethey worked prior to their appointments at the coconut agency.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [ "orange", "bop", "silver", "heat" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "China's wheat imports in January were218,000 tonnes, down from 393,000 in January 1986, the ChinaDaily Business Weekly said, quoting customs figures. It said imports of sugar were 25,165 tonnes, down from54,000, but exports of rice rose to 71,144 tonnes from 20,000.It gave no more details.", "answer groups": [ "sugar" ], "distractor groups": [ "nat-gas", "oilseed", "tea" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "France's National Statistics Institute(INSEE) said French 1986 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by1.9 pct, after Finance Minister Edouard Balladur reported a1986 rise of just two pct in February. France's balance of payments surplus in goods and servicesrose to 53 billion francs in 1986 against 28 billion in 1985. The annual average monthly rise in retail prices was 2.7pct in 1986 from 1985, INSEE added.", "answer groups": [ "gnp" ], "distractor groups": [ "acq", "rape-meal", "dfl", "pet-chem" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Senate Agriculture committee votedto limit changes in county loan rate differentials startingwith the 1988 crop as part of a budget deficit reductionpackage. The panel also approved measures that could trigger largercorn and wheat acreage reduction requirements, increasefarmer-held reserve storage payments, reduce a potential milksupport price cut, and require advance deficiency payments forproducers of major crops. A proposal to require imported tropical oils be labeled onU.S. food products failed by a 10-8 vote.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "cocoa", "sunseed", "rye", "iron-steel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": " said itagreed to issue 7.8 mln treasury shares to acquire interests inthree gold mining companies in Brazil and an option to increasethe company's interest in a platinum property. The company said the transactions will bring immediateproduction and earnings to Consolidated TVX, enhance itsprecious metal potential and is expected to improve cash flowand earnings on a per share basis. The company did not givespecific figures. Consolidated TVX said it will acquire 29 pct of CMP, apublic gold mining company in which TVX already holds a 15 pctinterest, making TVX the largest single shareholder. The company also agreed to acquire a 19 pct stake in NovoAstro, a private company, and a 16 pct interest in Teles PiresMining, increasing the TVX's ownership to 51 pct. In addition, Consolidated TVX said it will acquire theright to add a 10 pct interest to a platinum property in whichit already owns a 29.4 pct stake. CMP earned 11 mln Canadian dlrs in 1986 and expects toproduce 42,000 ounces of gold in 1987 at a cost of 160 U.S.dlrs an ounce, Consolidated TVX said. Novo Astro operates Brazil's richest gold mine located inAmapa State, with an average grade of 0.8 ounces of gold a tonin a hardrock quartz vein, Consolidated TVX said. Mining ofeluvial surface material produced 25,000 ounces in 1986 and isexpected to produce 60,000 ounces in 1987. It also said Teles Pires Mining controls rights to a 350kilometer section of the Teles Pires River, where one dredge isexpected to produce 10,000 ounces of gold in 1987.", "answer groups": [ "platinum" ], "distractor groups": [ "castor-oil", "bfr", "lin-meal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Members of local 174 of the United Foodand Commercial Workers (UFCW) union, representing 1,900 meatcutters in New York city, yesterday rejected the latestmanagement offer on a new contract. \"Members rejected the latest offer by a 2 to 1 margin,\" BobWilson, executive officer of local 174 said. But workers havebeen asked to remain on the job while negotiations continue. The union has been in negotiations with the Greater NewYork Association of Meat and Poultry Dealers, a group of meatwholesalers and distributors. The contract expired April 26 andthe latest management offer sought \"give backs\" in holiday andsick leave which the membership rejected, Wilson said.", "answer groups": [ "carcass" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipi", "nkr", "stg", "coffee" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Hamilton Oil Corp said reserves at theend of 1986 were 59.8 mln barrels of oil and 905.5 billioncubic feet of natural gas, or 211 mln barrels equivalent, up 10mln equivalent barrels from a year before.", "answer groups": [ "crude" ], "distractor groups": [ "linseed", "castor-oil", "citruspulp", "acq" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Today's liberalised financial markets aremaking it extremely difficult for Japan's monetary authoritiesto prevent the yen's rise against the dollar, but they haveseveral options other than normal intervention, Bank of Japansources said. A senior central bank official said that such methods ascontrolling foreign exchange deals and invoking currency swapagreements with other central banks, which have not beeninvoked since 1978, are all being considered. \"But the time may not be ripe,\" he said. \"In this era of financial liberalisation, it's almostimpossible to control the flow of capital in and out of Japan,\"said another senior bank official. But the first official said: \"From a technical viewpoint,the Bank of Japan could activate swap agreements immediatelyafter other central banks involved agreed to do so.\" A swap agreement, an exchange of currency between twonations, allows both sides to acquire a ready source of theother's currency in case of need. \"If the Bank invokes such swaps, both parties would announcethe decision jointly,\" said the first official. The sources said they believed the limit of currency marketintervention may be being reached after they saw recentconcerted market action by central banks of major industrialnations was increasingly ineffective in propping up thebattered dollar. But intervention is at least an option, they said. Furthereasing of monetary policy will be very difficult with anofficial discount rate already at a record low of 2.5 pct, theysaid. Bank of Japan Governor Satoshi Sumita has repeatedly ruledout another rate cut due to fears it could revive inflation. One bank official said he could not deny the possibilty ofthe Bank of Japan activating currency swap agreements with theU.S. And other central banks, if these banks continueintervening to sell the yen in support of the dollar and runout of their yen cash positions. \"But we don't think they have become short of yen quite yet,\"he said. The bank has established a five billion dlr swap limit withthe U.S. Federal Reserve and another 2.5 billion mark and 200billion yen limit with the West German and Swiss central banks,according to the sources. Foreign exchange dealers estimate the Fed had sold twobillion dlrs worth of yen from its own account to support thedollar in New York last week. The central bank sources also said Japan may arrange othercurrency swap agreements with Britain and France if they findit necessary, but added they are not actually talking with eachother towards that end.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "coffee", "potato", "rice", "palmkernel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "President Reagan said he would discussthe Mideast Gulf situation with allied leaders at next week'sVenice economic summit and hinted he would seek their help inpreserving free navigation. In a speech prepared for delivery as the United States madeplans to protect 11 Kuwaiti oil tankers from Iranian attack,Reagan said the American people were aware that \"it is not ourinterests alone that are being protected.\" Saying that allied dependence on gulf oil was no secret,Reagan declared, \"During the upcoming summit in Venice, we willbe discussing the common security interests shared by thewestern democracies in the MIDEAST Gulf. \"The future belongs to the brave. Free men should not cowerbefore such challenges, and they should not expect to standalone.\" Reagan will meet the leaders of Britain, France, WestGermany, Italy, Canada and Japan at the economic summit, whichwill take place in Venice June 8-10. The 13th annual top-level meeting of the major industrialdemocracies will take place against a backdrop of risingcongressional concern over Reagan's plan to protect gulfshipping and demands that the allies do more. These concerns were heightened by the May 17 Iraqi missileattack on the U.S. frigate Stark which killed 37 seamen. \"They died while guarding a chokepoint of freedom, deterringaggression and reaffirming America's willingness to protect itsvital interests,\" Reagan said. In a pre-summit speech celebrating the 40th anniversary ofthe Marshall Plan, Reagan, who spoke to an audience of foreignaffairs experts, also pledged to push for economic expansion byWest Germany and Japan to bolster the world trading system. \"While the vibrancy of the U.S. economy has contributedenormously to the world expansion, preserving a growing worldeconomy is the business of every member of the world tradingcommunity,\" he said. \"It will be made clear, especially to our friends in Japanand the Federal Republic of Germany, that growth-orienteddomestic policies are needed to bolster the world tradingsystem on which they depend.\" Reagan coupled this appeal with a call for compliance withallied accords on exchange rate stability. \"Economic policy decisions made last year in Tokyo and atthis year's meetings of Group of Seven finance ministers inParis and in Washington cannot be ignored or forgotten,\" hesaid. \"The commitments made at these meetings need to betranslated into action.\"", "answer groups": [ "ship" ], "distractor groups": [ "naphtha", "propane", "nickel", "fuel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Kelley Oil and Gas Partners Ltd said ithas agreed to purchase all of CF Industries Inc's oil andnatural gas properties for about 5,500,000 dlrs, effective July1. It said the Louisiana properties had proven reserves atyear-end of 11 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 85,000barrels of oil, condensate and natural gas liquids. Kelley said it currently owns working interests in some ofthe properties.", "answer groups": [ "nat-gas" ], "distractor groups": [ "interest", "rape-meal", "cruzado" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The State Department says many U.S.diplomatic missions overseas are on high alert for possibleretaliation from Iran for Monday's attack on two Iranian oilplatforms by American forces in the Gulf. At the same time, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday thatU.S. forces have begun escorting another Kuwaiti tanker convoysouthward through the Gulf from Kuwait. The State Department renewed its warning to Americans notto travel to Iran because of what spokeswoman Phyllis Oakleycalled, \"its virulent anti-American policies and support forterrorism.\" \"The threat to Americans has increased significantly,\" shesaid in announcing that the department was reiterating adviceit last made in January. The department said about 2,600American citizens live in Iran, the overwhelming majority dualnationalities. Oakley said no specific warning has been issued to U.S.diplomats and Americans living abroad in the aftermath of theU.S. attack on the oil drilling platforms, but \"many of ourmissions are on a high state of alert.\"", "answer groups": [ "crude" ], "distractor groups": [ "trade", "cotton-oil", "lumber", "housing" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Bally Manufacturing Corp's proposedpublic offering of 24 pct of its Health and Tennis Corp unit isseen as the first step towards the sale of the entire unit,analysts said. \"In the longer-term horizon, Bally wants to concentrate onits gaming businesses,\" said analyst Dennis Forst of SeidlerAmdec Securities Inc. Last week, Bally said it was considering the sale ofanother non-casino unit, its Six Flags amusement park unit,which analysts said could fetch about 300 mln dlrs. Bally spokesman Bill Peltier said \"the company currentlyhas no hard plans to the sell any more of the health clubcompany, but in the long term we'll wait and see how theoffering goes.\" Once Bally's biggest revenue producer, the health club unithad 1986 operating income of 60 mln dlrs on revenues of 456.2mln dlrs, 28 pct of Bally's revenues. Analysts estimate theunit could be sold for for 300-500 mln dlrs. Analysts said Bally's decision to offer shares in the unitcould be the first step to selling it. \"It would seem obvious that an offering would decrease thehealth club unit's debt, increase its cash flow and operatingincome, making it an attractive buy to a third party,\" StevenEisenberg of Bear Stearns said. On Monday, Bally said it filed with the Securities andExchange Commission for an initial offering of 24 pct, or 5.8mln shares, of the unit's common stock at 13-15 dlrs a share. About half the proceeds, 40 mln dlrs, will be used to reduceparent Bally Manufacturing's debt which has swelled to 1.6billion dlrs due to recent hotel acquisitions and the purchaseof shares from Donald Trump who had threatened a hostiletakeover, according to Bally treasurer Paul Johnson. Remaining proceeds from the stock offering and from aseparate offering of 50 mln dlrs of 20-year convertiblesubordinated debt would be used to repay about 75 mln dlrs ofshort term senior bank debt of the health chain unit, a Ballyspokesperson said. Analysts said Bally's health club unit's profits haveremained strong, but are skeptical about the industry's longrange prospects. \"The fitness club industry, over the last 10 years, hasgrown tremendously, but the question is whether its a fad or apermanent part of our lifestyle,\" said Eisenberg of BearStearns. Analysts said fitness clubs will likely flourish if thepublic stays at its peak of health consciousness, but thatovercapacity is likely to occur as consumer enthusiasm wanes. In addition, \"the returns in the fitness club industry arejust not as high as they are in the gaming industry,\" said oneanalyst. There are about 6,500 fitness clubs in the U.S., excludingclubs run by not-for-profit organizations, according to theAssociation of Physical Fitness Centers who estimates it to bean 8.0-billion-dlr-a-year industry. Asked if anyone has offered to buy the unit, which is thenation's largest health club chain, Peltier said, \"no one hasthe money to offer to buy it.\" \"The fitness industry is a fragmented industry with noleader and there is a great opportunity for growth throughacquisition and then standardization,\" said Wayne LaChapelle,chief financial officer of Livingwell INc , the nation'ssecond largest fitness chain operator whih LaChapelle said Livingwell is always interested inacquisition opportunities but \"could not afford an acquisitionthe size of Bally at this time.\"", "answer groups": [ "earn" ], "distractor groups": [ "soybean", "l-cattle", "cocoa", "palladium" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Spot volume in the Australian foreignexchange market jumped to a record 22.63 billion dlrs a day inJanuary from 16.18 billion in December and 8.27 billion a yearearlier, the Reserve Bank said in its monthly bulletin. The previous record was 17.51 billion dlrs last August. The peak broke a steady trading trend of 15 to 17 billiondlrs a day seen in the second half of 1986. Including forward deals, total deliverable volume was 27.01billion dlrs a day (13.43 billion against the Australiandollar) against 19.56 billion (8.48 billion) in December and9.92 billion (5.88 billion) a year earlier, the bank said.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "soybean", "orange", "hog", "citruspulp" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Pacific Resources Inc said it hasinstalled a CALM (Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring) single-pointmooring terminal off the southwest coast of Oahu at itsHawaiian Independent Refinery at a cost of 3.5 mln dlrs. The system transfers crude and fuel oils from tankers tothe refinery's tank farm and carries refined products to shipsfor export, PRI said. Company chairman Robert G. Reed said the new mooring systemwill permit 24-hour service in most kinds of weather and willreduce ship turnaround time. He said the mooring is the firstof its kind in the U.S. The new system can accomodate vessels up to 150,000deadweight tons, or one mln barrels of cargo, PRI said.", "answer groups": [ "fuel" ], "distractor groups": [ "castor-oil", "carcass", "jobs" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Thai traders plan to establish a companyto regulate maize forward trading, in what could be a firststep towards a commodities futures exchange, maize dealerssaid. Traders and Internal Trade Department officials agreed lastweek to commission a study on a structure to regulate maizeforward trading and to set up a company, Thailand CommodityExchange Co Ltd, with 30 businesses as shareholders who willact as brokers in the futures market. Chanthong Pattamapong, a commodities trader asked to todraw up the study, said if the maize futures market succeeds itmay be extended to other commodities, perhaps sugar and rubber.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "gnp", "pet-chem" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Swift Independent Packing Co said itagreed in principle to sell its Huron, South Dakota, pork plantto Huron Dressed Beef, for undisclosed terms. Completion of the proposed transaction is subject toHuron's ability to hire an experienced work force atcompetitive rates, and receive government approval of thepurchase and operation of the plant, Swift said.", "answer groups": [ "carcass" ], "distractor groups": [ "soy-oil", "rand", "fishmeal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Tokyo's foreign exchange market is watchingnervously to see if the U.S. Dollar will drop below thesignificant 140.00 yen level, dealers said. \"The 140 yen level is key for the dollar because it isconsidered to be the lower end of the reference range. If thecurrency breaks through this level, it may decline sharply,\"said Hirozumi Tanaka, assistant general manager at Dai-ichiKangyo Bank Ltd's international treasury division. The dollar was at 141.10 yen at midday against Fridaycloses of 142.35/45 in New York and 141.35 here. The dollar opened at 140.95 yen and fell to a low of140.40. It was 1.7733/38 marks against 1.7975/85 in New Yorkand 1.8008/13 here on Friday, after an opening 1.7700/10. The currency's decline was due to remarks on Sunday by U.S.Treasury Secretary James Baker, dealers said. \"The dollar fell over the weekend on increased bearishsentiment after Baker's comments,\" said Dai-ichi's Tanaka. Hesaid this stemmed from mounting concern that cooperation amongthe group of seven (G-7) industrial nations to implement theLouvre accord to stabilise currencies might be fraying. The dollar's fall was also prompted by a record one-daydrop in the Dow Jones industrial average on Friday and weaknessin U.S. Bond prices, dealers said. Baker said the Louvre accord was still operative but hestrongly criticised West German moves to raise key interestrates. Operators took Baker's comment to indicate impatiencewith some G-7 members for failing to stick to the Louvre accorddue to their fears of increasing inflation. Rises in interest rates aimed at dampening inflationarypressures also slow domestic demand. West Germany and Japan had both pledged at G-7 meetings toboost domestic demand to help narrow the huge U.S. Tradedeficit, Tanaka said. U.S. August trade data showed the U.S. Deficit at a stillmassive 15.68 billion dlrs. But if West Germany raises interestrates, this would run counter to the pledge, he said. \"Operators are now waiting to see if the G-7 nationscoordinate dollar buying intervention,\" said Soichi Hirabayashi,deputy general manager of Fuju Bank Ltd's foreign exchangedepartment. The target range set by the Louvre accord is generallyconsidered to be 140.00 to 160.00 yen, dealers said. \"The market is likely to try the 140 yen level in the nearfuture and at that time, if operators see the G-7 nationsfailing to coordinate intervention, they would see the Louvreaccord as abandoned and push the dollar down aggressively,\"Hirabayashi said. He said the U.S. Currency could fall as lowas 135 yen soon.", "answer groups": [ "yen" ], "distractor groups": [ "coconut", "hog", "fuel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "AMAX Incx said it has identifiedadditional gold and silver ore reserves at its AMAX SleeperMine near Winnemucca, Nev.. It said as a result of recent drilling, reserves at thhemine are now estimated at 2,470,000 short tons of ore grading0.24 ounce of gold and 0.50 ounce of silver per ton that istreatable by conventional milling techniques. AMAX said additional reserves amenable to heap leaching areestimated at 38.3 mln tons averaging 0.025 ounce gold and 0.24ounce silver per ton. Further drilling is being conducted, itsaid.", "answer groups": [ "gold" ], "distractor groups": [ "skr", "sugar", "pork-belly", "cpi" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cominco Ltd has nocontract negotiations scheduled this week with any of the fivestriking locals at the Trail smelter and Kimberley lead-zincmine, union spokesmen said. However, leaders of the negotiating teams are trying to setup an informal meeting to discuss the stalemate, said JohnOwens, spokesman for United Steelworkers of America local 480,which is one of three locals that represents 2,600 productionand maintenance workers. Owens also said Cominco has said the strike is costing itfive mln Canadian dlrs a day in debt service costs that are notcovered by revenue. He said the company has not estimated totallost revenue and Cominco spokesmen were not immediatelyavailable for comment. The strike, which began May nine, also involves two localsthat represent 600 office and technical workers. The production and maintenance workers three weeks agorejected a tentative three-year agreement that provided cost ofliving adjustments but no basic wage increase. Each of the five locals has a separate contract thatexpired April 30, but the main issues are similar. The Trail smelter produced 240,000 long tons of zinc and110,000 long tons of lead last year. The Sullivan mine atKimberley produced 2.2 mln long tons of ore last year, most forprocessing at the Trail smelter.", "answer groups": [ "lead" ], "distractor groups": [ "iron-steel", "wpi", "austdlr", "alum" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "West Germany takes \"very seriously\" therecent undertaking by major industrial countries to promoteexchange rate stability around current levels, Finance MinistryState Secretary Hans Tietmeyer said. Talking to journalists before a meeting of EuropeanCommunity Economy and Finance Ministers here, Tietmeyerdeclined to say whether the February 22 Paris accord by theGroup of Five countries plus Canada included secret agreementsfor stabilising currencies. But he noted the official communique said the participantsagreed to cooperate closely to foster stability of exchangerates around current levels. \"We're taking this sentence veryseriously,\" he said. Tietmeyer remarked that the dollar had hardly moved againstthe mark since the meeting. He said a slowdown in West German economic growth had beencaused by sharp exchange rate swings and that the Parisagreement should help in this respect. Economics Ministry State Secretary Otto Schlecht said theBonn government saw no current need for measures to bolster theeconomy but was paying close attention to the slower growth andhad not ruled out \"appropriate and timely\" action if necessary. Schlecht and Tietmeyer were speaking ahead of a discussionby the EC ministers of the latest EC Commission report on theeconomic situation in the 12-nation bloc. The Commission has sharply revised down expected Germangross national product growth this year to two pct from 3.2 pctpredicted last autumn and says Bonn has the most room of any ECcountry to stimulate economic activity. Schlecht said the upturn in West Germany's economy slowedin the fourth quarter of last year and the first quarter of1987. But he said there was no cumulative downwards trend inview that would make quick remedial action necessary. He said a number of favourable indicators such as highlevel of investment and a good climate for consumption meant arecovery could be expected, while exports would pick upslightly during the course of the year.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "inventories", "cocoa", "groundnut-oil", "iron-steel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Japanese crushers bought 8,000 tonnesof Canadian rapeseed in export business overnight for Aprilshipment, trade sources said.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [ "nzdlr", "copper", "can", "lei" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of France said it has invitedoffers of first category paper today for a money marketintervention tender. Money market operators were divided over whether the Bankof France will use to occasion to cut its intervention rate,which has stood at 7-3/4 pct since March 9. Some thought a price cut unlikely while others said therewas room for a further 1/4 point cut by the bank.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "iron-steel", "sorghum", "rapeseed", "cocoa" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "South Korea's current account surplusnarrowed to 419 mln dlrs in February from 679 mln in Januarycompared with a deficit of 112 mln dlrs in February last year,provisional Bank of Korea figures show. The current account in the two months of January andFebruary swung to a surplus of 1.1 billion dlrs from a deficitof 494 mln dlrs in the same 1986 period. The February trade surplus narrowed to 235 mln dlrs from582 mln in January compared with a deficit of 98 mln dlrs ayear ago. The overall balance of payments surplus rose to 840 mlndlrs in February from 716 mln in January and 76 mln in February1986. Exports were 2.86 billion dlrs in February against 2.83billion in January and 2.23 billion in February last year.Imports were 2.63 billion against 2.25 billion and 2.32billion. The February invisible trade surplus rose to 109 mln dlrsfrom 24 mln in January and compared with a deficit of 74 mln ayear ago. The transfer payments surplus widened to 75 mln dlrs inFebruary from 73 mln in January and 60 mln a year ago. The long-term capital account surplus was 198 mln dlrs inFebruary against 211 mln in January and 55 mln in February lastyear. The short-term capital account surplus was 87 mln dlrsagainst 46 mln and 158 mln. The errors and omissions account left a surplus of 840 mlndlrs in February against deficits of 220 mln in January and 25mln in February 1986.", "answer groups": [ "bop" ], "distractor groups": [ "rupiah", "sugar", "groundnut", "hog" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Manitoba Agriculture Departmentweekly crop report said no measurable precipitation wasreported across the province in the past week, allowing smallgrain seedings to progress rapidly across the south, with fieldpreparation under way in the northern growing regions. Small grains should be seeded across the Province in one totwo weeks, assuming weather remains dry. Planting progress was most advanced in the southeast, with30 pct of the spring wheat acres and 40 pct of the barley acresseeded. Cereals plantings were well under way in the southcentral part of the province, with seedings spotty so far inthe southwest. Summer fallow acres should be in line with the latestStatistics Canada projections, the report said.", "answer groups": [ "barley" ], "distractor groups": [ "soy-oil", "lin-meal", "tin" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Grain analysts surveyed by the AmericanSoybean Association, ASA, projected acreage this year at 59.1mln acres of soybeans and 64.7 mln acres of corn. In 1986, farmers planted 61.5 mln acres of soybeans and76.7 mln acres of corn, according to the February 9 USDAsupply/demand report. The USDA is to release its 1987 plantingintentions report March 31. The survey included 15 soybean estimates and 13 cornestimates and was released in the March 16 Soybean Updatenewsletter sent to members. Estimates ranged from 56.0 mln to 63.0 mln acres ofsoybeans and 59.5 mln to 68.0 mln acres of corn. An ASA spokesman said the association plans no survey offarmers' planting intentions this year.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "coffee", "cottonseed" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Iran attacked the Saudi Arabiansupertanker Arabian Sea off the United Arab Emirates last nightbut the vessel was able to proceed after the incident, LloydsShipping Intelligence reported. The 315,695-dwt Arabian Sea had set sail on Tuesday afterloading oil at the Saudi port of Ras Tannurah. Lloyds said theattack occurred at about 2200 hrs local time (1800 GMT).", "answer groups": [ "ship" ], "distractor groups": [ "jet", "rand", "lei", "lit" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Bank of Spain governor Mariano Rubio saidthe central bank was worried that money supply was growing toofast, reflecting excessive internal demand in the Spanisheconomy, but added that he was confident recent measures wouldsucceed in restricting money growth. In testimony to the economic commission of Congress, Rubiosaid the main measure of money supply, the broad-based LiquidAssets in Public Hands, grew at an estimated annualised rate of17 pct in March, the same as in February. The bank's target range for growth in this measure in 1987is 6.5 to 9.5 pct, compared with 11.4 pct last year. Rubio said he was aiming for the lower end of the range. He added that real GDP growth of three pct in 1986 was dueto a six pct increase in real internal demand and a three pctreal drop in the contribution of the external sector. The aim for 1987 was for the same real growth in GDP but adrop in the internal contribution to 4.5 pct with the negativecomponent of the external sector trimmed to 1.5 pct, he said.", "answer groups": [ "money-supply" ], "distractor groups": [ "sugar", "livestock", "cpu", "inventories" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Thyssen AG expects a fall ofbetween 15 and 20 pct in consolidated turnover in 1986/87,chief executive Dieter Spethmann said. He told journalists the exact decline would depend ondollar developments. The Thyssen group did over 50 pct of itsbusiness outside West Germany. Spethmann made no comment on 1986/87 group earnings. Worldgroup net profit fell to 370.1 mln marks in the year endedSeptember 1986 from 472.4 mln a year earlier on group saleswhich fell to 40.00 billion marks from a previous 44.32billion. Last week Spethmann told the annual meeting Thyssenexpected to post a good profit in 1986/87 despite expectedlosses in the mass steel-making operations this year. Spethmann said engineering turnover would not be lower thisyear, but lower steel prices would result in a drop in steelturnover and sales volume. This would also affect Thyssen'strading operations, he said. Spethmann also categorically denied a magazine articlepublished this week which spoke of a dispute between him andHeinz Kriwet, management board chairman of Thyssen Stahl AG,over planned job cuts in steel plants in the Ruhr area.", "answer groups": [ "earn" ], "distractor groups": [ "rubber", "jet", "oat", "palmkernel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. officials said they held outlittle hope the European Community, EC, would withdraw acontroversial meat inspection requirement, due to go intoeffect April 30 and which U.S. meat producers claim will cutoff their exports. But the officials said they expect the EC to allow U.S.plants to continue shipping meat through the end of the yearprovided they submit a plant improvement program with the U.S.Agriculture Department. The EC's so-called Third Country Meat Directive willrequire foreign meat processing plants to comply fully with ECinspection standards beginning April 30. The U.S. meat industry has prepared a petition requestingthe Reagan administration to retaliate against the EC rule. At issue are U.S. meat exports to the EC valued at 132 mlndlrs in 1985. The EC rule would require all U.S. plants to make changesin their inspection methods, ranging from veterinary staffingto use of wood. Last December, the EC determined that only one U.S. cattle,one hog and one sheep slaughtering facility could be approvedwithout further review. USDA would have to certify that theplants had corrected the deficiencies. All remaining plants with a history or potential ofshipping to the EC -- totaling nearly 400 -- would require moresignificant changes in plant constructions or procedures beforefurther EC review. Robert Hibbert, general counsel for the American MeatInstitute, said the meat industry expected to submit a formaltrade retaliation petition by April 30. An interagency committee is reviewing the industry's draftpetition. An official at the U.S. Trade Representative's Office saidU.S. officials continued to press the EC to withdraw the rule,but that \"the chances of that are not too good at this time.\" However, there is the \"expectation\" in U.S. government andmeat industry circles that the EC will continue to allowshipments, at least through the end of the calendar year, fromU.S. plants that submit to USDA a plan on how they will bringtheir operations into conformity with the EC regulation, theUSTR official said.", "answer groups": [ "carcass" ], "distractor groups": [ "tea", "trade", "bop", "castorseed" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Corning Glass Works' subsidiaryCorning International Corp said it agreed to transfer 55 pct ofits capital stock of an Argentine glass manufacturer to aEuropean group. It said it will transfer the capital stock of Rigolleau,S.A., to the group controlled by Camillo Gancia, an Argentineindustrialist. The company said the transaction would reduce Corning'sownership in Rigolleau to approximately 20 pct. The companysaid the change will not impact on its net income for th year.", "answer groups": [ "acq" ], "distractor groups": [ "sorghum", "palm-oil", "can", "rand" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Far Eastern sugar market is being hitby a tightening in available nearby freight space needed tomove raw sugar to various destinations, notably from Thailand,traders said. This has resulted in a hardening of freight rates in thoseareas. These are now being quoted between 12.5 and 17.5 dlrs atonne per day, depending on shipment and destination, againstrecent fixings below 12 dlrs a tonne. Charterers are considering combining contracted shipmentsbecause of inadequate space, shipping sources said, noting 13raws cargoes are awaiting shipment from various ports. A cargo of Thai raw sugar was reported traded at basis JulyNew York futures less 25 points for June/July 15 shipment,traders said. But others said this was old business.", "answer groups": [ "ship" ], "distractor groups": [ "peseta", "fishmeal", "dmk", "reserves" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Chicago Mercantile Exchange floortraders and commission house representatives are guesstimatingtoday's hog slaughter at about 295,000 to 308,000 head versus305,000 week ago and 308,000 a year ago. Cattle slaughter is guesstimated at about 128,000 to132,000 head versus 130,000 week ago and 126,000 a year ago.", "answer groups": [ "hog" ], "distractor groups": [ "rape-oil", "soybean", "retail", "acq" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it forecast ashortage of around 800 mln stg in the money market today. Among the main factors affecting liquidity, bills maturingin official hands and the take-up of treasury bills will drainsome 1.61 billion stg. Partly offsetting this outflow, exchequer transactions anda fall in note circulation will add around 425 mln stg and 360mln stg respectively. In addition, bankers' balances abovetarget will add some 20 mln stg to the system today.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "sun-meal", "skr", "sorghum", "saudriyal" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Japanese short-term interest rates,buoyed recently by seasonal factors, are likely to fall fromthe beginning of April when the new financial year begins,money traders said. The Bank of Japan is expected to encourage the trendfollowing its attempts to pressure rates to enhance itsdiscount rate cut on February 23, they said. The Bank cut the rate to 2.5 pct from three, and beganactively injecting funds into the money market to offset raterises resulting from the end-of-fiscal-year surge in demand forfunds from financial institutions. Despite its attempts to dampen rates with measures such asaggressive commercial bill purchases, the central bank hasfailed to remove all upward pressure, money traders said. Attractive interest rates offered by domestic banks tocompete for time deposits of more than 600 mln yen hasunderpinned short-term rates, they said. Interest rates on time deposits of more than 600 mln yenwere decontrolled by the Finance Ministry last September. This resulted in such deposits with domestic banks risingto 17,830 billion yen by the end-December, a three-foldincrease on end-December 1985 levels, bankers said. On March 31, the money market expects to see a 2,000billion yen surplus resulting from government payment of fiscalfunds, money traders said. From April 1, they predict the unconditional call rate willfall to 3.5000 pct from 3.7500 pct today and the one-monthcommercial bill discount rate to drop to 3.7500 pct from 4.0635pct. They predict the three-month bill discount rate to slip to3.875 pct from 4.0000 today and the three-month certificate ofdeposit rate to slide to 4.10/4.15 from 4.35/25.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "castor-oil", "gnp", "castorseed", "iron-steel" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The United Nations Food and AgricultureOrganization, FAO, said it approved emergency food aid worthmore than 14.3 mln dlrs for drought victims in Ethiopia. The aid will include 30,000 tonnes of wheat and 1,200tonnes of vegetable oil for farmers in the Wollo and Illubaborregions. FAO said it has also approved more than 1.4 mln dlrs offood aid for 8,000 families in Sri Lanka. In addition, 583,225dlrs of aid will be made available to Malawi to feed 96,700people displaced from Mozambique and a further 340,200 dlrs forcyclone victims in Vanuatu in the South Pacific.", "answer groups": [ "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [ "bop", "cottonseed", "sugar" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The release of U.K. February trade datashowing that the current account surplus was a provisional 376mln stg, up from a 73 mln surplus in January, has boosted hopesof an early cut in interest rates, analysts said. Market forecasts had been for a worse outcome, withexpectations of a deficit in visible trade averaging about 750mln stg, against the official figure of 224 mln stg, sharplynarrower than January's 527 mln deficit. \"The figures are unreservedly good,\" Chase ManhattanSecurities economist Andrew Wroblewski said. Sterling rebounded on the trade figures, reversing a weakermorning trend, to stand at 72.1 pct of its trade weighted indexagainst a basket of currencies at midday, unchanged fromyesterday's close but 0.3 points above the 1100 GMT level. The market had feared that a deteriorating non-oil tradepattern would undermine international support for sterling,which has been the motor behind the recent fall in U.K.Interest rates. Money market sources said the market had begunto doubt that a widely expected drop in bank base lending ratesto 9.5 pct from the present 10.0 pct was really on the cards. But sentiment now looks to have turned about again. There now looks to be no danger that the Chancellor of theExchequer Nigel Lawson's forecast of a 1987 current accountdeficit of 2.5 billion stg will be exceeded, Wroblewski said. Seasonally adjusted figures showed imports rose in Februaryto 7.16 billion stg from 6.73 billion in January. Exports rose to a record 6.93 billion from 6.20 billion. However, Chris Tinker, U.K. Analyst at brokers Phillips andDrew said the faster rise in exports than imports would provepartly aberrational in coming months. He forecast theChancellor's Budget tax cuts would increase consumerexpenditure on imported goods. However, Warburg Securities economist Ian Harwood said hisfirm was sharply revising its 1987 current account deficitforecast in the light of the latest data, cutting one billionstg off the expected full year total to about 1.75 billion stg. He said news of strong growth in exports of non-oil goodsconfirmed recent bullish surveys among members of theConfederation of British Industry. The growth in imports appears to be flattening, even ifJanuary's bad weather had curbed consumer spending on overseasgoods and import-intensive stock building among manufacturers,Harwood said. U.K. Government bonds, or gilts, surged by more than 1/2point on the better-than-expected news, as earlier worriesabout the figures evaporated. Sterling peaked at a high of 1.6075 dlrs, before settlingto a steady 1.6050 about 1300 GMT, nearly a cent higher thanthe European low of 1.5960. However, analysts noted that the turnabout in marketsentiment still looks highly vulnerable to political news. Morning weakness in sterling and the gilt market waslargely attributed to a newspaper opinion poll showing that theConservative government's support was slipping. LONDON, March 26 - The Bank of England said it provided 15mln stg in assistance to the money market this morning, buyingbank bills in band two at 9-13/16 pct. Earlier the Bank revised its money market liquidityforecast from a flat position to a deficit of around 350 mlnstg.", "answer groups": [ "trade" ], "distractor groups": [ "livestock", "tapioca" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Standard Oil Co said a contract hasbeen awarded to for a drilling andproduction platform to be installed in Ewing Bank Block 826 inthe Gulf of Mexico where Standard and Mobil Corp each own a 40pct interest. Standard said its Standard Oil Production Co subsidiarywill operate the platform which is being designed to produce15,000 barrels of oil and 50 mln cubic feet of gas daily. Theplatform is now expected to be installed in the summer of 1988.Other owners are Kerr-McGee Corp with 16.66 pct and with 3.34 pct.", "answer groups": [ "crude" ], "distractor groups": [ "corn-oil", "lin-meal", "coconut-oil", "housing" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Commodity Credit Corporation(CCC) accepted a bid for an export bonus to cover the sale of30,000 long tons of barley to Israel, the U.S. AgricultureDepartment said. The department said the barley is for delivery April 15/May15 and the bonus awarded was 41.24 dlrs per ton. The bonus was made to Cargill, Inc and will be paid in theform of commodities from CCC stocks. An additional 133,800 tons of U.S. barley are stillavailable to Israel under the Export Enhancement Programannounced June 17, 1986, it said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "soybean", "income", "earn", "lead" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. Agriculture SecretaryRichard Lyng will ask the Japanese Government to remove allbeef import restrictions when he visits there next month. Lyng's remarks came in a speech at Oklahoma StateUniversity today. \"We think Japanese consumers should have the same freedomof choice as our consumers. Look at all the Japanese camerasand tape recorders in this room. We know they'd buy more beefif they had the opportunity,\" Lyng said.", "answer groups": [ "livestock" ], "distractor groups": [ "barley", "rupiah", "cottonseed", "wheat" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. economic data this week could bethe key in determining whether U.S. interest rate futures breakout of a 3-1/2 month trading range, financial analysts said. Although market expectations are for February U.S. retailsales Thursday and industrial production Friday to show healthygains, figures within or slightly below expectations would bepositive for the market, the analysts said. \"You have to be impressed with the resiliency of bondsright now,\" said Smith Barney Harris Upham analyst CraigSloane. Treasury bond futures came under pressure today whichtraders linked to a persistently firm federal funds rate and arise in oil prices. However, when sufficient selling interestto break below chart support in the June contract failed tomaterialize, participants who had sold bond futures earlyquickly covered short positions, they said. \"Everyone is expecting strong numbers, and if they come inas expected it won't be that bad for the market,\" Sloane said. Sloane said the consensus estimate for the non-auto sectorof retail sales is for a rise of 0.6 to 0.7 pct. Dean Witter analyst Karen Gibbs said a retail sales figurebelow market forecasts would give a boost to debt futures, andshe put the range for the non-auto sector of retail sales at up0.8 to 1.2 pct. Industrial production and the producer price index Fridayboth are expected to show increases of about 0.5 pct, sheadded. Retail sales \"will tell us whether or not we will be ableto fill the gap,\" Gibbs said, referring to a chart gap in Junebonds between 100-26/32 and 101-3/32 created Friday. June bondsclosed at 100-4/32 today. Also key to debt futures direction, in addition to thefederal funds rate, is the direction of crude oil prices, saidCarroll McEntee and McGinley Futures analyst Brian Singer. \"A higher fed funds rate and firm oil prices precluded themarket from breaking out of the trading range the last time themarket approached the top of the range,\" Singer said. In order for bonds to break above the top of the range,which is just below 102 in the June contract, \"the crude oilrally needs to run its course and pull back a little bit,\"Singer said. \"Fed funds are already easing back down toward thesix pct level.\" The recent surge in oil prices has also been a concern toManufacturers Hanover Futures analyst Jim Rozich, but the rallymay be nearing a top around 18.50 dlrs per barrel, he said. Rozich said he is looking for the June bond contract toease to 99-6/32 and find support. \"I'm not quite ready to jump on the bullish bandwagon yet.The jury is still out this week,\" Rozich said.", "answer groups": [ "ipi" ], "distractor groups": [ "rape-meal", "linseed", "cruzado" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Philippines Trade andIndustry Secretary Jose Concepcion told world trade ministershe wondered if their agreement was of any real value after theEuropean Community (EC) imposed a levy on vegetable oils. Concepcion, speaking at an informal meeting of the GeneralAgreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) here, said ministersdeclared in Uruguay last September that the trade ofless-developed nations should not be disrupted. He said the EC not only ignored Manila's request for lowertariffs on coconut oil but introduced a levy on vegetable oilsand fats that are vital exports for Southeast Asian countries. Concepcion said while the levy might be rejected by the ECCouncil of Ministers, he noted that \"I cannot help but wonderwhether the agreements we produce in meetings like this are ofany real value.\" He also said industrialised nations saved about 65 billionU.S. Dlrs in 1985 through low commodity prices, but this hadaffected the ability of developing nations to import goods andservices. \"The health and the growth of world trade requires that thenew development of developing countries losing their share ofworld trade be arrested and reversed,\" he said.", "answer groups": [ "trade" ], "distractor groups": [ "fuel", "sunseed", "l-cattle", "grain" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Speculation abroad that theBundesbank will steer money market rates lower, opening thefor interest rate cuts around Europe, is not shared by manyeconomists and money market dealers within Germany. Speculation has developed that the Bundesbank wouldengineer lower rates to take pressure off the dollar/mark. A strong rise in U.S. Market rates this month, promptingspeculation the Fed would raise its 5-1/2 pct discount rate,has raised the question whether Germany and Japan would alsobroaden interest rate differentials to support the dollar. The U.S.-Japanese trade dispute is the key to the interestrate outlook, money market dealers in Paris said. Talks this week between Japanese Prime Minister YasuhiroNakasone and President Reagan, if successful, could takepressure off the dollar, dealers and economists said. Short term interest rates would be likely to ease if thetrade dispute is solved and the dollar steadies, they said. But if no solution is found, the Paris dealers said, arenewed dollar fall would put strains on the mark/French francrate and force the Bank of France to raise short-term rates. The three-month U.S. Treasury bill rate rose to six pctthis week from 5.6 pct at the start of April, and the yield onthe 30-year benchmark treasury bonds rose this week in Tokyo toa 14-month high of 8.86 pct from 7.66 pct in late March. The dollar stabilized today just below 1.80 marks and above140 yen, underpinned by higher U.S. Rates and the Fed discountrate speculation. But most dealers expect it to weaken further, which wouldput pressure on the Bundesbank to ease interest rates. Japanese Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa said yesterdaythe U.S. Had requested Japan to cut short-term interest rates. The Bank of Japan was making efforts to do this, he said,adding the U.S. Had not asked for a cut in Japan's 2.5 pctdiscount rate, a move which Bank of Japan Governor SatoshiSumita said was not under consideration. A call for a German move came yesterday from Dutch centralbank president Wim Duisenberg, who said the Dutch central bankfavoured a cut in West German interest rates and would followsuit if it happened. Citibank AG said in its April report that another expectedphase of dollar weakness would prompt the Bundesbank to cut keymoney market rates in the next three to six months. The Bundesbank has set a fixed rate of 3.80 pct onrepurchase pacts since February, with call money trading around3.70 pct for much of April. Phillips and Drew senior European economist Richard Reidsaid the Bundesbank would allow interest rates to ease further,either with a lower fixed rate tender, or a tender by interestrate, allowing the market to set the rate. \"I'm fairly confident we'll see lower rates,\" he said. Reid said taking 30 basis points off the repurchase ratewould have little impact on the German economy or fundamentalexchange rates, but could change market currency perceptions. \"A cut in German rates wouldn't be bad for the dollar, but Ithink its effect would be limited in duration unless it wasaccompanied by other measures elsewhere,\" he said. Money market dealers here noted the speculation abroad thatthe Bundesbank would push down repurchase rates, but said theBundesbank had little reason to cut rates further at themoment, despite the liquid market seen for most of this month. The dealers said the Bundesbank was likely to move to aninterest rate tender for its repurchase pacts next month. Thatshould not be seen as a sign of easing monetary policy however,they said. The Bundesbank would merely be experimenting with interestrate tenders, following the introduction of a new system tospeed up the tender process at the start of April, they said. Reinhard Pohl, head of the monetary policy section at theDIW economic research institute in West Berlin, said theBundesbank would probably not cut rates on repurchase pacts. \"I don't think that if they cut the repurchase rate a littleit would stop a wave of (currency) speculation,\" he said. But asharp and sudden deterioration in the dollar could force theBundesbank to take some action, he said. Pohl said the Bundesbank was concerned that a cut ininterest rates would accelerate excessive monetary growth. Some Bundesbank officials have argued recently that themonetary overshoot was due to strong currency inflows ratherthan credit growth, and therefore a more appropriate responseto excessive money supply growth would be to cut rates, to makethe mark and mark investments less attractive. Pohl said the Bundesbank was hoping that domestic investorswould switch funds parked in liquid short-term accounts, whichhave swollen central bank money stock, into securities, whichwould take them out of the Bundesbank's key monetary measure. A cut in interest rates at this stage however would leadinvestors to assume that rates had bottomed out and the nextmove would be upwards. They would therefore hold off buyingbonds, leaving central bank money stock swollen. There are so far no signs that German investors areswitching funds into long term securities as the Bundesbankhopes they will, Berliner Handels- und Frankfurter Bankeconomist Hermann Remsperger said. But Phillips and Drew's Reid said prospects of lower ratesand a strong currency would attract foreign investors intoGerman bonds, which would in turn attract domestic investors. Werner Rein, chief economist at Union Bank of Switzerlandin Zurich, said he thought it likely that interest rates wouldcontinue to drift lower in many European countries. \"The scope for lower rates is probably greatest in Britainbut more limited in West Germany, where we could see someconsolidation,\" he said. Switzerland could be forced to matchany cut in German rates to prevent the franc rising furtheragainst the mark, he said. Currency dealers in London said another half-point cut inU.K. Bank base rates was likely in the next few weeks as thepound had shrugged off yesterday's cuts and was still rising.", "answer groups": [ "interest" ], "distractor groups": [ "rubber", "cornglutenfeed", "nat-gas" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Call money rates fell to 3.85/95 pctfrom five pct yesterday in moderate trading as month endtightness disappeared and operators took positions for April. Dealers said they expected rates to remain within a 3.70 tofour pct range this month. A minor tax payment period on behalfof customers mid-month, the long Easter weekend and pensionpayments were unlikely to tighten rates significantly. Next Wednesday, 14.9 billion marks are leaving the systemon the expiry of a securities repurchase pact. But dealers saidthey expected the Bundesbank to fully replace the outflow witha new tender at a fixed rate of 3.80 pct. Commerzbank AG's management board chairman Walter Seippcalled on the Bundesbank to reduce interest rates to protectthe mark through bringing the allocation rate for securitiesrepurchase agreements down. But dealers said the Bundesbank was unlikely to ease creditpolicies at the moment. There was little domestic and foreignpressure for lower rates and no signs of a change. Yesterday one or two large West German banks effectivelydrained the domestic money market of liquidity in order toachieve higher rates from their overnight deposits, dealerssaid. Bundesbank figures showed banks held an average daily 50.7billion marks in minimum reserves at the central bank over thefirst 30 days of March, the exact requirement needed just oneday before the end of the month. Actual holdings on Monday were 42.0 billion marks. Because rates soared to the level of the Lombard emergencyfunding rate yesterday, banks fell back on the loan facility todraw down a high 5.3 billion marks in an attempt to meetBundesbank needs, the data showed.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipi", "skr", "sfr", "nzdlr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Chicago Mercantile Exchange floortraders and commission house representatives are guesstimatingtoday's hog slaughter at about 290,000 to 310,000 head versus309,000 week ago and 328,000 a year ago. Cattle slaughter is guesstimated at about 128,000 to131,000 head versus 129,000 week ago and 127,000 a year ago.", "answer groups": [ "hog" ], "distractor groups": [ "nkr", "soy-meal", "rice", "austdlr" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The 24 nations of the Organisation forEconomic Cooperation and Development (OECD), hampered bysluggish industrial output and trade, face slower economicgrowth, and their joint balance of payments will swing intodeficit in 1987, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU ) said. The EIU said in its World Trade Forecast it revised OECDeconomic growth downwards to 2.5 pct this year, compared with a2.8 pct growth forecast in December. It said the new areas of weakness are West Germany and thesmaller European countries it influences, and Japan, hardesthit by currency appreciation this year. The independent research organisation cut its 1987 growthrate forecasts for West Germany to 2.2 pct from 3.2 pct inDecember and to 2.3 pct from three pct for Japan. It said it expected the OECD to post a current accountdeficit of some 13 billion dlrs in both 1987 and 1988, due inlarge part to a 1.50 dlrs a barrel rise in 1987 oil prices. It said the U.S. Current account deficit looked likely tofall even more slowly than forecast, to 125 billion dlrs in1987 and 115 billion in 1988 from 130 billion in 1986. It said it expected West Germany to post a 31 billion dlrpayments surplus and Japan a 76 billion dlr surplus this year. The EIU said it saw oil prices dropping to around 16.50dlrs a barrel by end-1987 and 15.50 dlrs in 1988 from about 18dlrs last year, as adherence to OPEC output policy becomesincreasingly ragged. It said the dollar is poised to resume its decline inforeign exchange markets, and will lose a further 13 pct on itstrade-weighted index this year and five pct in 1988 after lastyear's 18.4 pct drop. The average mark/dollar rate is put at1.80 marks this year and 1.70 in 1988 while the yen/dollar rateis expected to break through the 150 yen barrier with anaverage value of 150 yen in 1987 and 146 yen in 1988, it said. \"This is not a crash scenario but the dollar's steeperangle of descent increases the risk of ending with a fireballrather than a three-point landing,\" the EIU said. \"Talking will not stop the dollar's slide for long and theFebruary meeting (of finance ministers of the Group of Five andCanada) produced scant promise of either a decisive shift tomore expansive policies in West Germany and Japan, or a tighterU.S. Fsical policy,\" it said. It said the key to the dollar's fortunes was thewillingness of Japanese institutions to buy U.S. Governmentassets despite prospects of sustaining a currency loss. \"Thus far they have been willing,\" the EIC said, addingthat if Japan was deterred from buying U.S. bonds the dollarwould collapse. To contain such a currency crisis, dollar interest rateswould have to soar, bringing recession and a Third World debtcrisis, it said. On trade, the EIU said prospects for 1987 look\"increasingly sick.\" Import growth, forecast in December at 4.5 pct, is now seenslowing down to around 3.8 pct in 1987 with a recovery only to4.2 pct in 1988, it said. The weakness of the West German economy is the biggestsingle factor, with import growth there expected to feature asluggish 3.5 pct growth in 1987 against the 6.5 pct forecast inDecember, the EIU said. On the export side, it said it saw weak demand in WestGermany affecting export prospects elsewhere in Europe, whileJapan's exports in 1987 would remain flat and sales by U.S.Exporters would respond only marginally to a lower, morecompetitively-priced dollar. It said in most of Europe and in Japan, raw materials andoil will cost less in domestic currency in 1987 than in 1986.", "answer groups": [ "trade" ], "distractor groups": [ "plywood", "rupiah" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of Japan intervened to stemstrong yen rises against the dollar during London trading thismorning, dealers said. The Bank of Japan here declined comment. The Bank of England was also rumored to be buying dollarsagainst the yen this morning but it also declined comment. Dealers said the intervention halted a sudden late morningdrop to a low of 148.65 yen, holding the dollar steady untilmidsession at about 148.80. The Bank of England was strongly rumored to have intervenedon behalf of the dollar against the yen yesterday, but it gaveno confirmation. Overnight reports from Tokyo said that the Bank of Japanwas aggressively supporting the dollar, but failed to push itback to the perceived target level of 150 yen. Selling during the London trading morning was largelyattributed to Japanese institutions. Dealers here were loath to quantify the scale of Bank ofJapan action this morning. One U.S. Bank trader said it couldhave been up to 500 mln dlrs, but said this was largely aguess.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "nickel", "corn-oil", "ringgit", "cotton" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Dutch economic growth is slowing as afirming guilder cuts competitiveness abroad and industriesreduce the pace of investment, the Dutch official planningagency CPB said. The Centraal Planbureau, publishing its 1987 economicoutlook, said Dutch Net National Income (NNI) was expected togrow by one pct this year, down from two pct growth recorded in1986 and 2.5 pct in 1985 and 1984. Dutch Gross National Product is expected to rise to 432.20billion guilders in 1987 in constant prices, a two pct increasefrom last year's 423.95 billion. The CPB, forecasting an 8.5 pct increase in the value ofthe guilder on a trade-weighted basis compared with 10.0 pctlast year, said the dollar was expected to trade at an averageof 2.0 guilders in 1987 compared with 2.45 guilders in 1986. \"The higher guilder is causing a substantial fall in unitlabour costs abroad, when measured in guilder terms, whilethese are rising slightly in the Netherlands,\" the CPB said. More of economic growth now depended on domesticconsumption, the CPB said, but noting that higher margins setby domestic producers and importers mitigated the effect onpurchasing power of lower import costs and deflation. Consumer prices were set to fall by 1.5 pct this year, theCPB said. Inflation was zero last year. Gross investment in industry was expected to grow by fivepct this year, a slowdown compared with 11.5 pct growth lastyear, the CPB said. Exchange rate and oil price fluctuations will continue tocondition the Dutch economy in the future as it has in recentyears, the CPB said, noting a continued depressing impact ofthese factors on Dutch competitiveness. In addition, it noted a slight rise in taxation and socialsecurity costs to employers. The CPB, forecasting a rise in the budget deficit to 7.2pct of Net National Income in 1987 from 6.3 pct last year,urged the government to cut expenditure further to bring downthe deficit and reduce tax and social security payments infuture. Dutch government revenue is being depressed further byfalling income from natural gas sales in 1987, the CPB said. It said unemployment was expected to fall to 675,000 thisyear from 710,000 last year. While the two pct GDP growth forecast set by the CPB iswithin its latest forecast, issued last month, of 1.5 to twopct growth, the figure is well above recent market estimates. Dutch merchant bank Pierson, Heldring en Pierson said inits February economic outlook that GDP growth at constantprices was expected to be 1.1 pct this year and market analystshad expected the CPB's final forecast to be below its ownlatest estimate. \"It is too early to comment because I haven't seen the wholedocument yet, but it would seem we are more pessimistic in someof our estimates,\" a Pierson economist said. The CPB forecast 2.5 pct export growth in volume terms in1987, after four pct growth last year. Excluding energyexports, the 1987 figure would be two pct, it said. Imports were set to rise by 4.5 pct this year compared withfour pct in 1986 in volume terms, the CPB said. The balance of payments would see a sharp decline in thesurplus, to six billion guilders in 1987 compared with 12.1billion last year, the CPB forecast.", "answer groups": [ "gnp" ], "distractor groups": [ "cottonseed" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Canadian Import Tribunal ruled todaysubsidized U.S. corn imports were injurious to Canadian growersand upheld a countervailing duty of 84.9 U.S. cts a bushel setearlier this year. The ruling is the result of trade action launched in 1985by the Ontario Corn Producers Association that contended U.S.subsidies were driving American corn prices below Canadianproduction costs. A spokesman for the Department of Revenue said a study ofthe level of the duty will be undertaken in the next six monthsto determine if it should be adjusted.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "barley", "dlr", "ringgit", "potato" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Honeywell Inc said its total debtrose by more than 85 pct in 1986, mainly due to its 1.02billion dlr acquisition of the Sperry Aerospace Group. At yearend, according to the company's 1986 annual report,Honeywell's total debt stood at 1.44 billion dlrs, comparedwith 776.6 mln dlrs in 1985. Honeywell said that if it had acquired the Sperry unit atthe beginning of 1986, its loss for the full year would havebeen 9.88 dlrs a share. Honeywell's actual loss in 1986 was 8.33 dlrs a share.", "answer groups": [ "acq" ], "distractor groups": [ "linseed", "tin", "ship", "sun-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Economic growth will remain sluggish inthe Netherlands and Belgium next year and unemployment mayrise, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Developmentforecast. Belgium's GDP growth may slow down to 1.5 pct this year andnext year, bringing a rise in the number of jobless, the OECDsaid in its semi-annual survey. Belgian inflation couldstabilise at 1.5 to 2.0 pct, while the current account surpluswill probably remain large at about three pct of GDP. While the Belgian government has made progress in trimmingits borrowing requirement, \"it will probably be insufficient tocheck the self-sustaining nature of the deficit,\" the OECD said. In the Netherlands real GDP growth will also slip to 1.5pct this year and one pct in 1988, with Dutch exports becomingless competitive and imports rising. \"Employment is forecast todecelerate as well, reflecting more sluggish growth in theprivate sector and budgetary cuts,\" the report said. Dutch consumer prices are set to fall by 0.5 pct in 1987and stay stable in 1988, partly as a result of decliningdomestic gas prices. Luxembourg's economy, by contrast, will see slightly fastergrowth in GDP this year as a result of an upward movement inwages. But real growth in consumption will ease next year.", "answer groups": [ "cpi" ], "distractor groups": [ "f-cattle", "tea", "rapeseed" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Lured by the weakening dollar and theconviction that oil prices are poised for a rebound, Europeanenergy companies are buying up cheap U.S. oil and gas reservesto replenish their supplies, oil industry analysts said. They said owning oil reserves in a politically stableUnited States is good insurance against future shortages.However, the quick pace of foreign investment has heated upcompetition among European firms, well-heeled U.S.institutional investors and major oil companies to snare choicedomestic oil properties. Strevig and Associates, a Houston firm that tracks oil andgas reserve sales, said growing interest among foreign buyershad helped push reserve prices in recent months higher. Allbuyers of U.S. reserves paid a median price of 6.45 dlrs abarrel of oil during the fourth quarter of 1986 foracquisitions, up from 5.33 dlrs in the third quarter and fivedlrs in the second quarter, according to the firm's research. \"Foreign investors have been here nibbling a long time, butwe're seeing new names and smaller companies coming in,\" saidArthur Smith, an oil property appraisal specialist andpresident of John S. Herold Inc in Greenwich, Conn. \"Europeans, especially, do not have much indigenous oil andgas and realize the tide will eventually turn in favor of theOrganization of Petroleum Exporting Countries,\" he added. Smith and other oil industry analyst and economists believethe trend in foreign investments will continue in 1987 becauseof the fall in value of the U.S. dollar, the perception thatoil prices have hit bottom and the fact that it is cheaper tobuy new reserves than to explore for them. Plenty of properties are available on the market, thanks tothe need of many companies to raise cash for debt payments andgeneral restructuring throughout the oilpatch. In two of the biggest transactions of recent months,French-owned Minatome Corp., a unit of , spent more than 230 mln dlrs toseparately acquire oil assets of Texas International and Lear Petroleum Partners . A spokesman for Minatomesaid the company is searching for additional acquisitions. A partnership of two Belgian-owned firms, and paid 150 mln dlrs late last year to buyvirtually all the exploration assets of the Williams Cos ,the Oklahoma pipeline firm. But Japanese investors prefer entering into joint ventureswith experienced U.S. companies to explore for new oil. Japan's is a partner of Texaco Inc's Texaco USA in a100 mln dlrs U.S. drilling program, and has joined withDupont's
Conoco Inc in a similar 135 dlrs mln deal. Most buyers said the pay-back period of a property, itsgeographic location and the lifting cost of the crude oil aremore important factors in evaluating potential acquisitionsthan relying on a simple price-per-barrel formula. Rich Hodges, a Houston-based land manager representingInternational Oil and Gas Corp, a partnership of and of West Germany, said the firm hadearmarked at least 50 mln dlrs to spend on oil reserves inTexas, Oklahoma or Louisiana in the coming months. But he called that a small amount compared to the amountother investors have for acquisitions. PaineWebber's GeodyneEnergy Income Fund, for example, has said it plans to spend upto 300 mln dlrs on oil and gas properties. \"The competition is stiff, not only from other foreigninvestors but from the brokerage houses and U.S. oilcompanies,\" he said. \"Our company is shopping around because wefeel it's substantially less risky than pure exploration. Ifyou're going to take the risk inherent in exploration, you needprices higher than the current market,\" he added. In addition to the foreign investors and U.S. brokeragehouses, analysts said many of the major oil companies were alsocompeting for prime properties. Houston-based Shell Oil Co, a unit of Royal Dutch/Shell Group, has been one of the most active companies in buying andselling reserves, Smith said. Since 1982, Shell has acquiredtwo billion dlrs in new reserves, including 470 mln barrels ofoil equivalent at a net cost of 2.80 dlrs a barrel, he said. \"Buying reserves is a good strategy for most of thesecompanies,\" Smith said. \"Domestic production has dropped by onemln barrels a day because of cutbacks in drilling and it maydrop by another one mln barrels a day in 1988.\"", "answer groups": [ "crude" ], "distractor groups": [ "hog", "ship", "corn", "cornglutenfeed" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Prospects for world economic growth remainvery sluggish, and coordinated action by western governments isurgently needed to restore business confidence, stabilizecurrencies and encourage investment, the Organization forEconomic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said here. \"The economic situation has deteriorated in recent months,and ... Slow growth, high unemployment and large paymentsimbalances are likely to persist,\" it said in one of itsgloomiest reviews of the world economy in recent years. The gross national product (GNP) of the 24-nation bloc ofwestern industrialised countries is forecast to grow by only2.25 pct both this year and next, even slower than last year's2.5 pct growth rate. \"We would like to see the aggregate for the OECD areacomfortably exceeding three pct,\" David Henderson, head of theOECD's economics and statistics department, said. The OECD said that the dollar fall had led to risinginflation expectations and higher interest rates in the U.S.,Combining with world trade imbalances and the huge third worlddebt problem to increase the risks of a world economicdownturn. \"At the same time, many of the conditions for faster growthremain favorable,\" it said, citing low inflation in most majorcountries, healthy corporate finances, generally lower interestrates, improvements in state budget positions and more flexiblelabor markets. But private sector confidence had been undermined byuncertainties over exchange rates, it said, and warned that \"forconfidence to be restored, it is important for governmentsswiftly to implement internationally-agreed commitments.\" This was a clear reference to last February's Louvre accordof the Group of Five nations plus Canada, analysts said. The OECD said that apparent disagreements among majorcountries on implementation of the Louvre accord had helped toundermine business confidence, and called on more active fiscalpolicies from the U.S., West Germany and Japan to slow demandin the U.S. And raise it in the other two countries. Henderson said the 6,000 billion yen package announcedrecently by the Japanese government to encourage public worksand cut taxes would make a significant contribution to thisprocess, though it was too early to estimate its preciseimpact. He said the measures will help strengthen Japan's domesticdemand significantly, quite possibly exceeding one pct of GNP. The inflation outlook, while broadly satisfactory, hasworsened in recent months, with OECD consumer prices forecastto rise 3.5 pct this year and 3.75 pct in 1988 after a 2.8 pctincrease in 1986. There is no prospect for any significant improvement in theunemployment situation over the next 18 months, with theaverage rate expected to stabilize at 8.25 pct, similar to lastyear. The OECD called for efforts to liberalize worldagricultural markets through switching farm subsidies away fromprice guarantees and other measures linked to productiontowards direct income support for farmers.", "answer groups": [ "cpi" ], "distractor groups": [ "bfr", "livestock", "pet-chem" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "USX Corp said proved reserves of oiland natural gas liquids fell 28 pct to 802.8 mln barrels at theend of 1986 from 1.12 billion barrels at year-end 1985. The figures, in USX's just-released 1986 annual report,indicate much of the drop resulted from the exclusion of 293.7mln barrels of Libyan reserves, after the U.S. government lastJune directed U.S. oil companies to end Libyan operations. USX, which owns Marathon Oil Co and Texas Oil and Gas Corp,had 60 pct of its 1986 sales of 14.94 billion dlrs from its oiland gas operations. About 24 pct of total sales came from USX's USS steel unitand 16 pct from diversified businesses, which include oilfieldservices, raw materials, minerals, chemicals and real estate. According to the report, domestic liquids reserves fellslightly to 628.5 mln barrels from 628.9 mln and foreignreserves fell to 174.3 mln from 486.4 mln barrels. The largedrop in foreign reserves was in the Middle East and Africa,where they fell to about 9.3 mln barrels from 316.7 mln,reflecting the exclusion of Libya. Total natural gas reserves fell to 4.82 trillion cubic feetat year-end 1986 from 5.18 trillion at the end of 1985. Again, most of the drop came from the Middle East andAfrica, where reserves fell to zero from 71.9 billion cubicfeet, excluding Libyan reserves. U.S. natural gas reserves fell to 3.44 trillion cubic feetfrom 3.65 trillion and foreign reserves fell to 1.38 trillionfrom 1.53 trillion. In other areas, USX said total capital spending fell to 962mln dlrs in 1986 from 1.78 billion dlrs in 1985. The 1986audited figure is eight mln dlrs higher than the unauditedfigure the company reported on Jan 27. USX also said it expects to record a gain of 150 mln dlrsin 1988, representing 50 pct of previously existing investmenttax credits allowable under the new tax law. The loss of theother half of the credits was reflected in the fourth quarter. In a discussion of steel results, USX said plants that wereshut down last month and some previously idled plants may bepermanently closed. USX took a fourth quarter charge of 1.03billion dlrs to restructure its steel operations. The chargeincluded the \"indefinite idling\" last month of four plants inUtah, Pennsylvania and Texas. Other plants or parts of plants in Pennsylvania, Indiana,Alabama, Ohio and Chicago had been previously idled. \"These operations are not permanently shut down. Improvedmarket conditions for the products from these plants may makeit feasible to reopen some of them,\" USX said in the report. \"On the other hand, a lack of any future market improvementmay necessitate their permanent closing,\" it added.", "answer groups": [ "iron-steel" ], "distractor groups": [ "soy-oil", "bop", "gnp" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Department haslowered its ASCS terminal prices for low protein hard redwinter and hard red spring wheat at a number of locations, asenior USDA official said. USDA reduced the price of hard red winter wheat at KansasCity and Texas by six cents, at Minneapolis and Duluth by 32cents and at St Louis by nine cents, Ralph Klopfenstein, deputyadministrator of commodity operations at the AgriculturalStabilization and Conservation Service, said. The department also lowered the terminal price of hard redspring wheat at Minneapolis and Duluth by 32 cents, he said. In addition, USDA cut the Pacific Northwest price of hardred spring wheat by 31 cents, USDA officials who asked not tobe identified said. The officials said hard red spring wheat prices at Chicago,Denver and Toledo were adjusted by about the same amount as atPacific Northwest, Duluth and Minneapolis. The price changes should lead to a pickup of PIK and rollactivity, Klopfenstein said. The price change was decided uponlast week and will be effective today, he said. Klopfenstein also said the department raised the premiumson high protein wheat to offset the drop in low protein wheatprices, meaning the net price on any wheat commanding a proteinpremium would remain unchanged.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "plywood", "stg", "pork-belly", "potato" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Norway's central bank sold crowns in theopen market in a bid to ease strong upward pressure on thecurrency, which threatens to rise above set levels in a basketof currencies, dealers said. The central bank declined comment, but dealers noted thebank had also intervened and sold small amounts of crowns onFriday. The bank is committed to defending the crown at certainlevels in a basket of 14 trade-weighted currencies. \"They've been in again this morning, selling piecemealwhenever they think necessary,\" a senior dealer at an Oslo bank,who declined to be identified, told Reuters. The crown's index is currently around 109.60 in the basket-- close to its upper limit of 109.50 which the central bank iscommitted to defending. A low index figure indicates a high value for the crown.The limit at the other end of the scale is set at 114.50. The crown has been bolstered by high Norwegian interestrates, currently around 16 pct in the money market, and betterthan expected economic indicators which showed a sharplyreduced foreign trade deficit in May and inflation stabilisingaround the current annual rate of 10 pct.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [ "earn", "heat", "soy-meal", "soybean" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Indonesia rejected World Bankrecommendations for sweeping reforms to its farm economy, asthe country's foreign aid donors met to consider giving it 2.5billion dlrs in grants and soft loans. Agriculture Minister Achmad Affandi, in written remarksdistributed today as Indonesia's 14 foreign donor nations metat The Hague, said, \"The general argument presented by the Bankfor this free trade, open economy view is weak.\" The Bank called for overhauls in how Indonesia manages thelargest farm area in South-east Asia, and said agriculturalgrowth was stagnating under subsisides for rice farming. The Bank report said Indonesia's rice production had peakedand the subsidies are a waste of money. Affandi replied that rice is the main staple and providesan income for 17 pct of the workforce. The subsidies wereneeded to support the fertilizer industry, including importers,exporters, producers and distributors, he said, as well asassisting in small part the majority of Indonesian farmers. Affandi agreed with a bank recommendation that farmersshould be free to choose their own crops, but he said thegovernment would continue to maintain production targets for\"strategic commodities\" such as rice and sugar. The Bank report was especially critical of Indonesia'sdrive to plant sugar, saying domestic sugar prices are doublethe world average because of inefficiencies, and the countrywould save money by importing the commodity. However, Affandi said volatile world sugar prices, the needto save foreign exchange and an already up-and-running sugarindustry were good arguments for continuing the sugar drive. He also said import barriers and trade monopolies in theagricultural sector were needed to help domestic industrydevelop and because of \"over-production and price interventionin the developed nations.\"", "answer groups": [ "sugar" ], "distractor groups": [ "coconut-oil", "copra-cake", "can" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cash in circulation in West Germanyrose by 2.8 billion marks in the last week of February to 121.5billion, a gain of 8.3 pct over the same month last year, theBundesbank said. Cash in circulation is one of two components of the WestGerman money supply which the German central bank is targetingto grow between three and six pct this year. Gross currency reserves in the week rose by 200 mln marksto 109.5 billion. Foreign liabilities fell 100 mln to 22.9billion, giving a net currency reserves increase of 300 mln to86.6 billion. Commercial bank minimum reserve holdings at the Bundesbankfell 300 mln marks to 51.9 billion marks at the end ofFebruary, averaging 51.2 billion over the month. The rediscount debt of the banking system fell 800 mlnmarks to 55.2 billion marks, the Bundesbank said. Banks made heavy use of the Lombard emergency fundingfacility to meet month-end payments and borrowed 3.1 billionmarks, a rise of 2.9 billion over the week before. The net position of public authorities at the Bundesbankdeclined 6.7 billion marks in the last week of February. The federal government drew down 3.8 billion marks of itsBundesbank cash deposits, which had stood at 4.1 billion in thethird week of February, and also borrowed a 1.8 billion incredit from the central bank. Federal states' deposits fell 1.5 billion marks to 1.3billion and their cash credits dropped 400 mln to 300 mln. The Bundesbank balance sheet total rose around 5.44 billionto 222.22 billion marks.", "answer groups": [ "money-supply" ], "distractor groups": [ "castor-oil", "grain", "cotton", "coffee" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Any European Community decision toliberalise farm trade policy would hurt Thailand's tapiocaindustry, said Ammar Siamwalla, an agro-economist at theThailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). He told a weekend trade seminar here that any EC move tocut tariff protection for EC grains would make many crops morecompetitive than tapioca in the European market. The EC is the largest buyer of Thai tapioca, absorbing morethan two thirds of the 5.8 mln tonnes of pellets exported byThailand last year. Thailand has an EC quota of an average 5.25mln tonnes a year until 1990. Ammar said Thailand had benefited from an EC tariffloophole that subjects Thai tapioca to a preferential six pctimport duty. Ammar, head of the agricultural research group of the TDRI,suggested tapioca farmers diversify to other crops. He said: \"If cereal prices in Europe fall so that they areclose to world prices, the tapioca market there will disappearcompletely.\" He said the issue may put Thailand in a dilemma because ithad recently joined other major commodity producers in callingon the EC to cut its farm product export subsidies.", "answer groups": [ "tapioca" ], "distractor groups": [ "plywood", "austdlr", "l-cattle", "gnp" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Senate this week might take upproposed legislation that could serve as a lightning rod toexpose broad initiatives to change U.S. farm policy. The Senate could consider a House-passed bill that wouldallow wheat and feedgrains farmers to receive at least 92 pctof their income support payments if flooding last yearprevented, or will prevent, them from planting their 1987crops, Senate staff members told Reuters. Also pending is a bill extend the life of the NationalCommission on Dairy Policy. Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, R-Minn., intends to offer an amendmentto one of the bills that would suspend the minimum plantingrequirement for all 1987 wheat, feedgrain, cotton and riceproducers, an aide said. Under current law, producers must plant at least 50 pct oftheir base acreage to be eligible for 92 pct of theirdeficiency payments. Most major U.S. farm groups have lobbied hard againstmaking any fundamental changes in the 1985 farm bill out offear a full-scale debate could expose agricultural problems tobudget-cutting pressures. Representatives of these farm groups have said they alsofear efforts by Midwestern Democrats to force a floor vote on abill that would require large acreage set-asides in return forsharply higher support prices. However, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, sponsor of the bill, toldReuters he did not intend to offer his measure as a flooramendment but to bring it through the committee.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "rape-meal", "inventories" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Saudi Arabia bought 5,000 tonnes ofrefined bleached deodorised palm olein at its import tenderyesterday for April 16/25 shipment at 353 dlrs per tonne costand freight Jeddah, traders said.", "answer groups": [ "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [ "money-fx", "heat", "ship", "inventories" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Ninety-six pct of Alberta andnortheastern British Columbia crops have been seeded, about aweek ahead of the 10 year average, according to the Albertawheat pool report. Hard red spring wheat accounts for most acreage with 6.0mln estimated for this year, little changed from last year.Oats acreage of 1.95 mln is unchanged on last year and barleyarea of 5.9 mln is also similar to last year. Rapeseed plantingof an estimated 3.24 mln is expected five pct up on 1986. Thesouth and south central areas of Alberta lacked moisture withgermination patchy at best. Growth prospects in northern areasare generally in the good to very good range. Soil moisture is better in the north central and Peaceareas, the wheat pool said.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "corn", "gnp" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "World grain trade could be turningthe corner and heading toward recovery in the 1986-87 season, aCargill, Inc. analyst said. Writing in the March issue of the Cargill Bulletin, DavidRogers of Cargill's Commodity Marketing Division cited agradual rise in world wheat trade in recent months, with a slowrise in wheat prices after recent historic lows. He said the wheat trade, because wheat can be produced inmany nations, is a good barometer of world grain trade andcould lead to more activity in other grain markets. Rogers said that with world grain prices at their lowestlevel in over a quarter of a century in real terms, demand hasbegun to rise while producing nations are re-examining theirexpensive price-support policies and reducing planted acres.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "sorghum", "dlr", "groundnut-oil", "l-cattle" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Malaysia is to urge fellow tinproducing countries to contribute more money towards researchinto new uses for the metal, Malaysian primary industriesminister Lim Keng Yaik told Reuters in an interview. Lim, in Brussels on a tour of Europe and America, said hehad instructed Malaysia's representatives on the executivecommittee of the Association of Tin Producing Countries, ATPC,to draw up a paper on the matter. Lim earlier met European Community farm commissioner FransAndriessen and industry commissioner Karl-Heinz Narjes. He said though it now appeared likely Commission proposalsfor a tax on vegetable and marine oils and fats would bedefeated, he feared the Commission would revive the idea. Lim noted Andriessen this week promised that if the tax wasadopted and third countries suffered export losses as a result,they would be compensated through access to the EC foralternative exports. \"Since most of our products are commodity based, I cannotsee how this would work out in our case,\" Lim said. Malaysian palm oil exports to the EC are worth about 250mln dlrs a year. The tin research proposal would be presented at an ATPCmeeting to be held in Kuala Lumpur in September. \"Not enough research and development effort has been put inby tin producers and we have been pushed out by substitutessuch as aluminium, paper and plastics,\" Lim said. He mentioned the use of inorganic tin in pesticides as anexciting possible new application. Lim said he could not estimate the amount of extra moneywhich needed to be spent on research into new uses before thenew paper was produced. He said Narjes told him there appeared no fundamentalbarriers to EC states quickly ratifying the new InternationalRubber Agreement, INRA, although translations of the accordinto some EC languages are still being awaited. Lim, who will sign and ratify the agreement on Malaysia'sbehalf when he visits New York during his current tour, said itwas important there should not be a long \"interregnum\" betweenthe old agreement lapsing in October and the new one cominginto force. He described the present accord as a model for commodityagreements due to its being signed by nearly all producing andconsuming countries and by virtue of its review systems andcontrol over buffer stock management.", "answer groups": [ "tin" ], "distractor groups": [ "lei", "rice" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "After a highly favorable reception ofa trial batch of bread baked from 300 lbs of U.S. wheat flourlast February, the Senegalese appear ready to take delivery ofa first tranche of 10,500 tonnes of mixed U.S. wheat, the U.S.Agriculture Department said. In its report on U.S. Export Markets for U.S. Grain, thedepartment noted Senegal had bought 100,000 tonnes of wheatunder the Export Enhancement Program last November, but localopposition from millers, accustomed to French wheat, has beendelaying deliveries. As a result there were a series of baking seminars as wellas the trial batch, in an effort to satisfy local flour millersand convince key officials of the qualities of U.S. wheat. The department said if deliveries of U.S. wheat to Senegalremain on track, the U.S. could dominate a wheat market thathad been expected to import 140,000 tonnes of mostly Frenchwheat during the 1987/88 (July-June) season.", "answer groups": [ "grain" ], "distractor groups": [ "housing", "sugar", "yen", "palm-oil" ] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Agriculture Ministry declined commenton a local newspaper report that Japan had agreed to hold talkson its closed rice market in the new GATT round. \"We have no idea about the report and cannot comment,\" aspokesman told Reuters. Nihon Keizai Shinbun, quoting unnamed government sources,said Japan would tell U.S. Agriculture Secretary Richard Lyngand U.S. Trade Representative Clayton Yeutter of itsintentions. The two are due to visit Japan later this month forfarm talks. The U.S. Has been pressing Japan to discuss the rice issueat the new round of General Agreement on Tariffs and Tradetalks. But Japan has said GATT is not the right forum. Imports of rice to Japan are banned under the FoodstuffControl Act. Nihon Keizai said Japan's plan resulted from worries aboutmounting trade tension with the U.S. At the GATT talks, Japanwill try to persuade the U.S. That its rice policy isjustified, it said. The 93-nation world trade body began the Uruguay traderound last September. It will take four years to negotiate.", "answer groups": [ "rice", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Mexican Secretariat of Commercehas told the U.S. that recent implementation of a 10 pct advalorem tariff for fixed vegetable oils, fluid or solid, crude,refined or purified, was not targeted at sunflower oil, theU.S. Agriculture Department said. In its World Production and Trade Report, the departmentsaid the increase in tariffs on this category which includessunflower, corn and rapeseed oils, was a reaction to importersusing basket categories to avoid paying tariffs on specifichigh-tariff products.", "answer groups": [ "corn-oil", "sun-oil", "rape-oil", "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Philippines Trade andIndustry Secretary Jose Concepcion told world trade ministershe wondered if their agreement was of any real value after theEuropean Community (EC) imposed a levy on vegetable oils. Concepcion, speaking at an informal meeting of the GeneralAgreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) here, said ministersdeclared in Uruguay last September that the trade ofless-developed nations should not be disrupted. He said the EC not only ignored Manila's request for lowertariffs on coconut oil but introduced a levy on vegetable oilsand fats that are vital exports for Southeast Asian countries. Concepcion said while the levy might be rejected by the ECCouncil of Ministers, he noted that \"I cannot help but wonderwhether the agreements we produce in meetings like this are ofany real value.\" He also said industrialised nations saved about 65 billionU.S. Dlrs in 1985 through low commodity prices, but this hadaffected the ability of developing nations to import goods andservices. \"The health and the growth of world trade requires that thenew development of developing countries losing their share ofworld trade be arrested and reversed,\" he said.", "answer groups": [ "veg-oil", "trade" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A majority of the Senate AgricultureCommittee urged President Reagan to reverse his opposition toexport subsidies to the Soviet Union as a way to get itsnegotiators to purchase some 500 mln dlrs in American wheat. The group, led by committee chairman Patrick Leahy, aVermont Democrat, urged Reagan to step up negotiations with theSoviet Union by providing export subsidies to help U.S.farmers.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bundesbank is unlikely to changecredit policies when its central bank council meets on Thursdayfor its last session before the Venice summit, bankingeconomists and money market dealers said. The Bundesbank steered money market rates lower last monthby cutting the rate on its security repurchase pacts, and isunlikely to cap this move with a cut in leading interest ratesin the near future, they said. The council will meet in Saarbruecken, and the meeting willbe followed by a news conference at around 1030 GMT. But Bundesbank officials noted that a news conference wasusually called when the council meets outside Frankfurt, anddid not necessarily herald any policy moves. Bundesbank Vice-President Helmut Schlesinger said todaythere was no reason to cut interest rates because money supplygrowth had shown no signs of slowing in May and the dollar wasstable against the mark. Schlesinger told Reuters in Tokyo, where the Bundesbank hasopened a representative office, that the West German economywas now picking up after contracting by a seasonally adjusted1/2 to one pct in the first quarter. Money market dealers said call money was likely to hold ina 3.50/70 pct range for most of this month, after theBundesbank switched last month to tenders by interest rate at aminimum bid rate of 3.50 pct, allocating funds at 3.55 pct. \"They have set this signal and indicated they could maybelower market rates even further, but not with the discount orLombard,\" Winfried Hutmann, chief economist of Schroeder,Munchmeyer, Hengst Investment GmbH said. Werner Chrobok, managing partner at Bethmann Bank, saidGerman rates were among the lowest in industrial countries andaround historical lows for West Germany. A further cut in rates would have little impact on theeconomy as banks are in any case reporting slack credit demand,with companies swimming in liquidity, Chrobok said. The Bundesbank would therefore be reluctant to make a moveon interest rates, when this would be better held in reserve.\"The Bundesbank is frightened of using up its powder,\" he said. A cut in the discount or Lombard rates, to bring them inline with the new structure of money market rates since lastmonth, would have little practical significance, dealers said. The Bundesbank could therefore act on these if it wanted adiplomatic gesture before next week's Venice summit. But Bundesbank President Karl Otto Poehl has often made itclear in the past he opposes such gestures as mere \"eyewash.\" Economists said it was really up to the Bonn government tocut taxes, rather than for the Bundesbank to ease monetarypolicy, to meet pressure on West Germany at the Venice summit. But with Bonn struggling to finance already announced taxcuts and falling tax revenue widening the federal budgetdeficit, it is hard to see how Bonn could cut taxes further. \"The Bonn government will be in a very weak position inVenice because they can't risk increasing the deficit further,\"said Schroeder, Muenchmeyer, Hengst's Hutmann. Bethmann's Chrobok said if anything is to happen beforeVenice, it must be in fiscal rather than monetary policy. \"But Idon't expect any convincing measures,\" he said. Money market dealers noted that call money continued tonormalize today, falling to 3.60/70 pct from 3.75/85 yesterdayand as much as five pct on Friday when it was pushed up bymonth-end distortions. Call money could come under upwards pressure later thismonth because of a major round of tax payments by banks onbehalf of customers, starting in the week beginning June 15.Two public holidays that week could also distort the market. Dealers said they expected the Bundesbank to allocate fundstomorrow in the latest repurchase pact at an unchanged 3.55pct, after setting an unchanged minimum bid rate of 3.50 pct,and to fully replace the 5.5 billion marks in an outgoing pact. But dealers said it was possible the Bundesbank wouldallocate funds at 3.6 pct rather than 3.55. That would notrepresent a tightening of policy, however. Because the Bundesbank scales down bids which it allocatesat the minimum accepted rate, some banks may try to get a fullallocation by bidding heavily at 3.6 pct, dealers said. On another issue, Poehl has said the Bundesbank is likelyto lift restrictions on private use of the European CurrencyUnit (ECU) at one of its meetings soon. Saarbruecken would be a suitable place for an announcementon this gesture to European unity, as it is the capital of theSaarland bordering France, and was twice under Frenchoccupation this century. But dealers said an ECU announcement was unlikely to comethis week, as a number of technical and legal matters had stillto be resolved, for instance how German ECU accounts would betreated for minimum reserve purposes.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "interest" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Italy is to modify restrictions limitingthe amount of lira cash that can be brought in and out of thecountry, the Foreign Trade Ministry said. A statement said Foreign Trade Minister Rino Formica hassigned a measure lifting currency regulations that currentlyimpose a 400,000 lire limit on the value of lira bank notesthat can be brought into Italy. It did not say when the newmeasure would come into force. In future, there will be no limit to the amount of lirabank notes both residents and non-residents can bring intoItaly. The statement said the 400,000 lire limit would remain forItalian residents wishing to take cash out of the country, butnon-residents could re-export lira cash if they madeappropriate declarations at customs points. It said the lifting of the restrictions \"reinforces theinternational status of the lira and meets the requirementsexpressed several times by foreign exchange dealers.\"", "answer groups": [ "lit", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The agreement between the U.S. And theEuropean Community (EC) on special imports of maize and sorghumprovides an equal chance for all non-EC countries to supply theSpanish market, an EC Commission spokeswoman said. She denied that any unpublished clause of the agreementguaranteed the bulk of the maize export business would go tothe U.S., As one EC official told Reuters yesterday. Under the agreement, the EC will import two mln tonnes ofmaize and 300,000 tonnes of sorghum a year into Spain atspecially reduced levy rates for the next four years. The Commission has yet to decide whether the maize willcome in through direct purchases by the Spanish interventionboard or by a tender system.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain", "sorghum" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The United Food and Commercial Workersunion, Local 222 said its members voted Sunday to strike theIowa Beef Processors Inc Dakota City, Neb., plant, effectiveTuesday. The company said it submitted its latest offer to the unionat the same time announcing that on Tuesday it would end alockout that started December 14. Union members unanimously rejected the latest company offerthat was submitted to the union late last week, UFCW unionspokesman Allen Zack said.", "answer groups": [ "livestock", "carcass" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Borden Inc said it is acquiring and three companies producing grocery products for 180mln dlrs. Borden said the four companies are expected to have 1987sales totaling 230 mln dlrs. It said Prince, a Lowell, Mass., producer of pasta andItalian food sauces, is expected to account for 210 mln dlrs ofthis total. This year's sales of Borden pasta -- by the 13regional brands and the premium Creamette brand distributed ona nearly national basis -- are expected to toal 285 mln dlrs,it said. Borden said the other three companies being acquired areSteero Bouillon of Jersey City, N.J., Blue Channel Inc, aBeaufort, S.C., producer of canned crabmeat, and the cannedshrimp products line of DeJean Packing Inc of Biloxi, Miss. Borden also said the divestment of three operations withabout 50 mln dlrs a year in sales is expected to produce nearly45 mln dlrs in cash for use toward the purchase of newbusinesses. It said the sale of Polyco of Cincinnati, Ohio, which makespolyvinyl acetate emulsions, to Rohm and Haas Co wasannounced by the buyer last month. Borden said the divestment of two producers of toy modelsand hobby items -- Heller in France and Humbrol in England --is in process.", "answer groups": [ "pet-chem", "acq" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Australia's current account deficit forFebruary is expected to narrow to a range of between 700 mlnand one billion dlrs, from the unrevised January level of 1.29billion, market economists polled by Reuters said. Statistics Bureau February figures are out tomorrow. The economists said a key element in the narrowing would bea reversal of the drop in exports which took place in January,after a sharp rise in December when the deficit was only 598mln dlrs. As an example they quoted wheat export volume, which roseabout 30 pct in February after dropping as much in January. A lack of aircraft imports in February should alsocontribute on the trade account although it is still likely toremain in deficit, the economists said. Other positive influences on the current account balanceshould be a decline in the invisibles deficit following aseasonal fall in interest payments and the dropping out ofcertain official aid payments, they said. They said the Australian dollar, which last week touched aneight-month high of 0.6900 U.S. Dlrs but is now around the0.6800 level, should not react adversely to the figures unlessthe current account shortfall tops one billion dlrs.", "answer groups": [ "trade", "bop" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Kuwait, a major oil producer hit by lastyear's price slump, is leaning towards a more creative monetarypolicy to help spur its economy, banking sources said. \"There is a clear emphasis on encouraging the use of moneyin productive ventures, rather than having it all tied up ininterest bearing investments which have no direct productiveoutlet,\" one banker said. Kuwait's Central Bank yesterday cut one key money marketrate and abandoned another which had been used since February1986 to direct inter-bank borrowing and lending costs. The bank reduced to six pct from 6-1/2 pct the rate atwhich it will offer funds of one month to one year in theinter-bank market. This, in turn, affected retail rates. The cut, the third this year, followed a major overhaul ofinterest rate policy last month which Central Bank GovernorSheikh Salem Abdul-Aziz al-Sabah said was designed to revivethe economy. One banker said \"There is growing flexibility, creativity,in interest rate policy, amid an awareness of the need todiversify the economy by stimulating the non-oil sector.\" For the first time in nearly three years domestic interestrates are now significantly below those for the U.S. Dollar, afavourite haven for Gulf speculative and investor funds in thepast, banking sources said. Despite uncertainties generated by the 6-1/2 year old Iran-Iraq war on Kuwait's northern doorstep, bankers play down theprospect of any significant capital flight. The Kuwaiti dinar, whose value is set by the Central Bankand was fixed today at 0.27095/129 to the dollar, is strongernow than for several years. Fears that the dollar may fall further will prompt secondthoughts among Kuwaiti investors prepared to consider switchingfunds into the U.S. Currency, the sources said. \"There is a distinct exchange rate risk,\" they added. Bankers said the dollar slump hurt many investors behindthe last major capital outflow in 1984, encouraged then by 18pct U.S. Interest rates and the start of Iranian attacks onneutral shipping in the Gulf. The Central Bank calculates its dinar exchange rate againsta basket of currencies. Bankers do not know the basket's exactmake-up but say it is weighted heavily in favour of the dollar. Some bankers believe any strengthening of the dinar beyond0.27000 to the dollar might provoke investors into shiftingfunds into the U.S. Currency. \"They may ask:When will the dollarbe so cheap again?\" one said. And with dinar interest rates now roughly one pct belowthose for the dollar, they say the Central Bank faces adelicate balancing role requiring further flexibility. Bankers said the current, expansionary interest rate policyis only part of a broader attempt to encourage local investmentand strengthen the backbone of the economy. They estimate the economy, measured in terms of GDP andallowing for inflation, shrank 19 pct in 1986 after an 8.1 pctcontraction the previous year. Bankers also noted recent measures to stimulate stockmarket activity, capped today by sharp cuts in brokerage feesto make it cheaper for investors to trade.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "interest", "gnp" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The premiers of Canada'seastern provinces and the governors of America's New Englandstates urged development of Canada's offshore oil and gasfields and construction of a pipeline from Nova Scotia to NewEngland. Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford, speaking to the annualconference of New England and eastern Canadian leaders, saiddevelopment would prevent a repetition of the energy crisis ofthe early 1970s. The group also agreed to discuss energy and security ofsupply next spring. Drilling off Canada's Atlantic coast has stalled sinceworld oil prices began tumbling two years ago. The resolutionsupporting a natural gas pipeline from Nova Scotia to NewEngland has been on the agenda for six years, and this is thesixth year it has been approved. The two-day conference ends tomorrow.", "answer groups": [ "nat-gas", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. Trade Representative ClaytonYeutter said that whether the exchange rate of the dollar wouldfall or rise in the coming decade would depend on nations'financial, monetary and tax policies. But, he said, in a speech and remarks to the HeritageFoundation, that in the end \"the marketplace will ultimatelyrule the day.\" Asked about the future of the dollar, he said that whetheror not it would rise or fall depended on economic policies andcoooperation among trading nations. Yeutter said \"if nations do the right kinds of things infinancial, monetary and tax policies, then a lesser burden ofadjustment is placed on exchange rates, and one could envisiona situation of the major trading nations moving back far closerto what most of us would consider equilibrium and exchangerates becoming relatively stable.\" But he said, on the other hand, that if nations did notexhibit greater self discipline and international cooperation,\"It is simply inevitable that the exchange rates will make thatadjustment.\"", "answer groups": [ "dlr", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Chicago Mercantile Exchange floortraders and commission house representatives are guesstimatingtoday's hog slaughter at about 295,000 to 305,000 head versus307,000 week ago and 311,000 a year ago. Cattle slaughter is guesstimated at about 124,000 to128,000 head versus 127,000 week ago and 126,000 a year ago.", "answer groups": [ "livestock", "hog" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A Treasury Department spokesmanrefused comment on statements by Robert Ortner, undersecretaryof economic affairs for the Commerce Department, that theJapanese yen was undervalued. Ortner, senior economist at the Commerce Department, toldan Export-Import Bank conference \"the yen is still a little bitundervalued,\" and \"could go up another 10 or 15 pct.\" Asked for reaction, a Treasury spokesman said officialswere aware of Ortner's comments but had no intention of makingany comment on them. Ortner, who stressed he was expressing personal views, saidhe thought the U.S. dollar was \"fairly priced\"against most European currencies and added \"I do not regard thedollar as undervalued at this point against the yen,\" he said. But the yen should go up 10 or 15 pct in value, Ortnersaid, because it is undervalued against the dollar. The United States and major trade allies West Germany,France, Britain, Japan and Canada met recently in Paris todiscuss maintaining stability in international currency values.", "answer groups": [ "yen", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Patrick Petroleum Co said itsigned a definitive agreement to buy Bayou Resources Inc. As previously announced, the transaction is valued at about8.8 mln dlrs, including 2.8 mln dlrs in debt. Under the agreement, Patrick will pay six dlrs per sharefor each Bayou share, with additional value being given forBayou's preferred and options. Bayou has 827,000 shares out. Depending upon the results of the re-evaluation of asignificant Bayou well as of Jan. 1, 1988, Bayou stockholdersmay receive up to an additional two mln dlrs in stock and cash,which has not been included in the 8.8 mln dlrs.", "answer groups": [ "acq", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Thyssen AG expects a fall ofbetween 15 and 20 pct in consolidated turnover in 1986/87,chief executive Dieter Spethmann said. He told journalists the exact decline would depend ondollar developments. The Thyssen group did over 50 pct of itsbusiness outside West Germany. Spethmann made no comment on 1986/87 group earnings. Worldgroup net profit fell to 370.1 mln marks in the year endedSeptember 1986 from 472.4 mln a year earlier on group saleswhich fell to 40.00 billion marks from a previous 44.32billion. Last week Spethmann told the annual meeting Thyssenexpected to post a good profit in 1986/87 despite expectedlosses in the mass steel-making operations this year. Spethmann said engineering turnover would not be lower thisyear, but lower steel prices would result in a drop in steelturnover and sales volume. This would also affect Thyssen'strading operations, he said. Spethmann also categorically denied a magazine articlepublished this week which spoke of a dispute between him andHeinz Kriwet, management board chairman of Thyssen Stahl AG,over planned job cuts in steel plants in the Ruhr area.", "answer groups": [ "iron-steel", "earn" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Departmentforecast the European Community's 1986/87 wheat crop at 71.60mln tonnes, vs 71.50 mln tonnes last month. It estimated1985/86 output at 71.70 mln tonnes, vs 71.71 mln last month. E.C. 1986/87 coarse grain production is projected at 81.22mln tonnes, vs 81.19 mln tonnes last month. The 1985/86 crop isestimated at 88.21 mln tonnes, vs 88.28 mln last month. E.C. wheat exports in 1986/87 are forecast at 28.22 mlntonnes, vs 28.31 mln tonnes last month. Exports in 1985/86 areestimated at 27.77 mln tonnes, vs 27.62 last month.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Japan has no plans to liberalise its farmmarkets, but will try to narrow the gap between the price offarm products at home and overseas, Agriculture MinisterMutsuki Kato said. He told reporters the move is aimed at deflecting criticismof Japanese protectionism on its agricultural goods. But Kato said he has no plans to start bilateral tradetalks with the United States over rice, Japan's staple food. Washington has called Tokyo's rice policy an extremeexample of protectionism and has demanded access for U.S.Growers to the Japanese market. This is closed to importsexcept in emergency. Kato said Japanese farmers should however \"shed some blood,\"to relieve the dangerous state of international farm trade. His comments precede a meeting on July 1 and 2 of the RicePrice Council at which the government advisory body willdiscuss the 1987 crop producer rice price. Kato said he welcomed the outcome of last week's recentsummit of leaders of leading industrialised democracies inVenice and of farm trade talks at the Organisation for EconomicCooperation and Development (OECD) in May. Ministers at both conferences agreed on the long-term needto cut subsidies worldwide, Kato said. Kato said that Japan is not the only country to protectproducers. He said the United States spends some 25.8 billiondlrs a year to support producer prices and on its exportenhancement program and the EC 21.7 billion, while Japan spendsonly 2.9 billion. He said that although Japan provides theworld's highest level of subsidies per acre, its subsidy perfarm family was several times lower than in the United States. Expressing concern about growing protectionist moves inU.S. Congress, he said Japan should make efforts to preventfarm trade issues between the two countries from becoming afactor increasing protectionism in the United States. Japan and the United States are holding panel discussionsat the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade over Japan'simport restrictions on 12 farm items. Bilateral talks on beef and citrus trade in the period fromnext April are due to start this autumn.", "answer groups": [ "rice", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Gross domestic product is expected togrow by 4.4 pct in the year ending June 30, Finance MinisterMohammad Syeduzzaman told reporters. Inflation fell to an estimated 12 pct this fiscal year from17 pct in 1981/82, he said last night. The World Bank and other independent sources have saidinflation would be around 15 pct in 1986/87. Syeduzzaman said remittances from expatriates would rise to600 mln dlrs this year from 425 mln in 1981/82. Foreign exchange reserves at end-June are projected at 680mln dlrs compared with 105 mln in 1981/82, he said. Syeduzzaman said the export target has been set at 900 mlndlrs this year against 626 mln in 1981/82. Commitments forforeign loans and grants total more than five billion dlrs in1986/87, against 3.54 billion five years previously, he said. The government's liberal industrial policy has attractedinvestment commitments totalling 250 mln dlrs, he said Foodgrain output is estimated at 16.4 mln tonnes this year,up from 16.12 mln in 1985/86 and 14.4 mln in 1981/82. Government officials have said Bangladesh must importnearly two mln tonnes of grain annually up to 1990, when thegovernment expects to attain self-sufficiency in food.", "answer groups": [ "reserves", "cpi", "grain", "gnp" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The following deliveries are scheduledfor April 6 against Chicago Baord of Trade Futures - Silver - 392 lots at Chicago, Illinois. Kilo Gold - 21 lots. 16 at Chicago, Illinois, 5 at NewYork, New York.", "answer groups": [ "silver", "gold" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Britain can look forward to fairlystrong economic growth, falling interest rates and firmSterling, Barclays Bank Plc chairman-elect John Quinton said. \"We should see a reasonable decline in interest rates inthe next few months, but not a great one and not a rapid one,\"Quinton told a press luncheon. He said that whereas the British economy is growing atabout three pct, he expects only \"minor\" growth for the westernindustrialized world as a whole. But, unless there is a majormove toward protectionism, there should be no need to worryabout a recession in the next two or three years. Quinton said much will depend on the resolution of tradedisputed between the United States and Japan. He said Tokyo, in resisting the appreciation of the yen,had been \"holding back the laws of economics.\" But if thedollar has to fall further to reduce Japan's trade surplus, hesaid he hoped the fall would be slow rather than rapid. Quinton said it will be difficult for the City of London tostave off the creation of a powerful securities industryregulatory body along the lines of the Securities and ExchangeCommission in the U.S., especially if there are more insidertrading scandals and if the Labour Party wins the next U.K.election.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "gnp" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A greater than anticipated need,competitive prices and political motivations could be sparkingSoviet interest in U.S. corn, industry and government officialssaid. As rumors circulated through grain markets today that theSoviet Union has purchased an additional 1.5 mln tonnes of U.S.corn, industry and government sources noted a number of factorsthat make Soviet buying of U.S. corn likely. First, there are supply concerns. Some trade sources saidrecent speculation has been that last year's Soviet grain cropbe revised to only 190 mln tonnes, rather than the 210 mlnannounced, therby increasing the Soviet need for grain. A drop in Argentine corn crop prospects could also affectSoviet corn buying, an Agriculture Department source said. Dry weather in Argentina -- a major corn supplier to theUSSR -- and reported crop problems prompted USDA to lower itsArgentine 1986/87 corn crop estimate this week to 11.0 mlntonnes, down from 11.5 mln. Argentina corn exports were alsocut by 500,000 tonnes to 6.8 mln tonnes. Argentina has already committed four mln tonnes of thisyear's corn for export, a USDA official said, with two mlntonnes of that booked for April-June delivery to the USSR. \"Significant downside potential\" still exists for theArgentine crop, the official said, which will decrease theamount of additional corn that country can sell to Moscow. \"If the Soviet needs are greater than we have beenthinking, then they might need more than what Argentina canprovide during the April to June period,\" he said. Current competitive prices for U.S. corn have also sparkedSoviet buying. U.S. corn was reported to be selling on the world marketearlier this week for around 71 dlrs per tonne, Argentine cornfor 67 dlrs -- a very competitive price spread, U.S. and Sovietsources said. \"This price difference makes American corn competitive,\"Albert Melnikov, commercial counselor for the Soviet Union,told Reuters. Impending crop problems in Argentina will likely causethose prices to rise, and with the recently strong U.S. cornfutures prices, the Soviets might feel corn prices havebottomed and that this is a good time to buy, sources said. Finally, some industry sources said that by buying theminimum amount of corn guaranteed under the U.S./USSR grainsagreement (four mln tonnes), the Soviet Union may be hoping toconvince the USDA to offer Moscow a subsidy on wheat. In an inteview with Reuters this week, USDA secretaryRichard Lyng said that no decision had been made on a wheatsubsidy offer, but that such an offer had not been ruled out.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The record 4.9 billion dlrs rise in U.K.Reserves in May to a total 34.7 billion has lifted hopes for afurther cut in bank base lending rates after the June 11general election, market analysts said. Sterling would have risen on the much better than expectednumber but for market nerves about the poll outcome, they said. But the weight of foreign currency and gold reserves nowavailable to the authorities to support the pound should curbany market tendency to panic if U.K. Opinion polls show theruling Conservative Party's lead slipping, they added. \"We have been intervening to a very much greater extent thanwe have done hitherto,\" Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawsonsaid at a news conference today, commenting on the news of therecord reserves rise. He put the U.K. Intervention in the context of the Louvreaccord between leading industrial nations to stabilise thedollar, partly through direct intervention on foreignexchanges. \"We have been playing a very full part ourselves,\" hesaid. But market analysts see the recent upward pressure onsterling, and consequent need for official sales to damp downits rise, more in the light of local factors. Steven Bell, chief economist at Morgan Grenfell Securities,said that corporate money has been flowing back into Britainamid hopes of another Conservative government, after fears lastautumn of a Labour election victory sent it flooding out. U.K. Portfolio investment is also returning, while foreignbuyers see U.K. Growth propects and high bond yields asattractive. They will be strong buyers of U.K. Assets, notablyequities, once the election is out of the way, Bell said. Analysts see this pressure as the main hope for lowerinterest rates, as the government is expected to try to reversethe loss of export competitiveness caused by a strong pound. Today, however, the pound hardly moved on the reservesnews, dipping on its trade-weighted index against a basket ofcurrencies from 73.1 pct of its 1975 value at 1000 GMT to 73.0pct at 1100 GMT, half an hour after the figures were released. \"The market doesn't want to do anything because of theelection,\" commented an economist at a big U.S. Investment bank. Several dealers and analysts added that market forecasts ofa rise in reserves of between one and three billion dlrs hadoverestimated the amount of pound sales that were likely tohave been disguised by swap arrangements or transactions on theforward market. The market also seemed to have overestimated the amount ofsterling the Bank of England bought at the end of May to smooththe pound's sudden downturn, while some of the interventionreported in May probably occurred in April, they said. The key three months interbank money market rates easedabout 1/8 point, reflecting cautious hopes that the downtrendin U.K. Interest rates will be revived following the reservesnews, analysts said. Government bond prices initially firmed, but the market wasmuted as traders worried about the funding implications ofanother huge rise in reserves, they added. Morgan Grenfell's Bell forecast a half point base rate cutfrom the current nine pct level soon after the election, solong as poll projections of another Conservative victory proveaccurate, with another half point later. Justin Silverton, equity economist at Credit SuisseBuckmaster and Moore, said a full point reduction might bepossible. \"Sterling will be held down by interest rate cuts infuture, rather than this active intervention,\" he predicted. Kevin Boakes of Greenwell Montagu Gilt-Edged cautionedagainst over-optimistic forecasts, but agreed a half point cutlooked likely. A cut before the election has been virtually ruled out. \"The Bank (of England) is both worried about the politicalproblem of cutting rates during an election campaign ... Andhas signalled some worry about broad money (growth),\" said RobinMarshall, chief U.K. Economist at Chase Manhattan Securities. He said the 10 billion dlrs increase in total reserves inthe past seven months may foreshadow full U.K. Entry into theEuropean Monetary System. But Bell said the authorities would like to see another 10or 15 billion dlrs in the reserves before joining, if they didso. But, unlike many analysts, he doubted the U.K. Will go in.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "reserves" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Huge oil platforms dot the Gulf likebeacons -- usually lit up like Christmas trees at night. One of them, sitting astride the Rostam offshore oilfield,was all but blown out of the water by U.S. Warships on Monday. The Iranian platform, an unsightly mass of steel andconcrete, was a three-tier structure rising 200 feet (60metres) above the warm waters of the Gulf until four U.S.Destroyers pumped some 1,000 shells into it. The U.S. Defense Department said just 10 pct of one sectionof the structure remained. U.S. helicopters destroyed three Iranian gunboats after anAmerican helicopter came under fire earlier this month and U.S.forces attacked, seized, and sank an Iranian ship they said hadbeen caught laying mines. But Iran was not deterred, according to U.S. defenseofficials, who said Iranian forces used Chinese-made Silkwormmissiles to hit a U.S.-owned Liberian-flagged ship on Thursdayand the Sea Isle City on Friday. Both ships were hit in the territorial waters of Kuwait, akey backer of Iraq in its war with Iran. Henry Schuler, a former U.S. diplomat in the Middle Eastnow with CSIS said Washington had agreed to escort Kuwaititankers in order to deter Iranian attacks on shipping. But he said the deterrence policy had failed and the levelof violence and threats to shipping had increased as a resultof U.S. intervention and Iran's response. The attack on the oil platform was the latest example of aU.S. \"tit-for-tat\" policy that gave Iran the initiative, saidHarlan Ullman, an ex-career naval officer now with CSIS. He said with this appraoch America would suffer \"the deathof one thousand cuts.\" But for the United States to grab the initiativemilitarily, it must take warlike steps such as mining Iran'sharbors or blockading the mouth of the Gulf through which itsshipping must pass, Schuler said. He was among those advocating mining as a means of bringingIran to the neogtiating table. If vital supplies were cut off,Tehran could not continue the war with Iraq. Ullman said Washington should join Moscow in a diplomaticinitiative to end the war and the superpowers should impose anarms embargo against Tehran if it refused to negotiate. He said the United States should also threaten to mine andblockade Iran if it continued fighting and must press Iraq toacknowledge responsibility for starting the war as part of asettlement. Iranian and Western diplomats say Iraq started the war byinvading Iran's territory in 1980. Iraq blames Iran for theoutbreak of hostilities, which have entailed World War I-styleinfantry attacks resulting in horrific casualties. Each side has attacked the others' shipping.", "answer groups": [ "ship", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Dutch Central Bank intervenedmodestly to support the dollar with spot market transactions,dealers said. They said the bank bought dollars against guilders as theU.S. Currency dipped to a low of 2.0013 guilders from 2.0130-40on opening, the lowest since the end of January. There was no intervention at the fix, however, which putthe dollar at 2.0045 guilders after 2.0280 last Friday, anddealers said the Bank's buying was limited. \"I'd be surprised if the Bank had bought as much as 100 mlndlrs,\" one dealer said.", "answer groups": [ "dlr", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Agriculture Department'swidening of Louisiana gulf differentials will affect countyposted prices for number two yellow corn in ten states, a USDAofficial said. All counties in Iowa will be affected, as will countieswhich use the gulf to price corn in Illinois, Indiana,Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabamaand Louisiana, said Ron Burgess, Deputy Director of CommodityOperations Division for the USDA. USDA last night notified the grain industry that effectiveimmediately, all gulf differentials used to price interior cornwould be widened on a sliding scale basis of four to eight cts,depending on what the differential is. USDA's action was taken to lower excessively high postedcounty prices for corn caused by high gulf prices. \"We've been following this Louisiana gulf situation for amonth, and we don't think it's going to get back in line in anynearby time,\" Burgess said. Burgess said USDA will probably narrow back the gulfdifferentials when and if Gulf prices recede. \"If we're off themark now because we're too high, wouldn't we be as much off themark if we're too low?\" he said. While forecasting more adjustments if Gulf prices fall,Burgess said no other changes in USDA's price system are beingplanned right now. \"We don't tinker. We don't make changes lightly, and wedon't make changes often,\" he said.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The American Soybean Association (ASA)denounced European Community (EC) oilseed policies as illegalunder the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, andthreatened to make an unfair trade complaint if the EC does notremedy the situation. ASA Vice President James Adams told an ASA-sponsoredOutlook 87 conference: \"It will be filed unless the EC takesdrastic and immediate steps.\" \"These subsidies are blatantly unfair and are GATT illegal,since they were established after the zero soybean duty wasestablished in 1962,\" he said. The ASA's unfair trade petition against the EC would askfor an investigation and modification of EC oilseed policies tomake the regime non-discriminatory. The EC in 1962 ruled all EC oilseed imports duty-free, inan effort to fill its oilseed needs. But EC oilseeds productionhas risen dramatically since then. The EC now guarantees oilseed prices to farmers above worldmarket levels and is considering implementing a controversialoils and fats tax. The subsidies \"are obvious attempts to circumvent the zeroduty binding and that makes U.S. Farmers mad as hell,\" Adamssaid. The ASA is confident the U.S. Congress will support itstrade complaint, Adams said. The ASA also strongly opposes anEC proposal to tax vegetable and marine oils consumed in theEC, which will be considered by the EC Commission in December. U.S. Soybean world market share has declined 35 pct involume and 40 pct in value since 1982, primarily as a result ofEC policies, Adams added. Lord Plumb, European Parliament President and a speaker atthe conference, said the EC expanded oilseed production in 1973when the U.S. Halted overseas sales of soy products.", "answer groups": [ "veg-oil", "soybean", "trade", "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Brazil has suspended the importationof 500,000 tonnes of maize ordered last year because of theexcellent domestic maize harvest expected this year,Agriculture Minister Iris Resende said. The Agriculture Ministry expects a record maize crop of27.7 mln tonnes, a 36 pct increase on last year's crop of 20.3mln tonnes. Brazil's total grain crop is expected to be 65.3 mlntonnes. \"This is a record in the history of Brazilianagriculture,\" a ministry spokesman said. Resende announced suspension of the maize imports at a newsconference in Brasilia yesterday. The ministry spokesman said he had no other details on themaize transaction.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Swiss Finance Ministry is invitingtenders for a new series of three-month money marketcertificates to raise about 150 mln Swiss francs, the SwissNational Bank said. Bids would be due on March 10 and payment on March 12. The last issue of three-month paper conducted on February12 yielded 2.969 pct.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "One offer but no bid was posted for SRWwheat on the call session at the St Louis Merchants Exchangetoday. There were no bids or offers for milo. June 15-July 15 bill of lading for wheat was offered at 17over July, no comparison, no bid.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Pakistan's consumer price index (base1975/76) fell to 231.93 in January 1987 from 233.26 in December1986, and compared with 223.66 a year ago, the federal Bureauof Statistics said. The wholesale price index (same base) rose to 229.83 inJanuary from 229.06 in December and compared with 217.97 inJanuary 1986.", "answer groups": [ "wpi", "cpi" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "American lawmakers rallied behindPresident Reagan for the U.S. strike against Iranian targets inthe Gulf but the attack fueled a sharp new White House-Congressdebate over limits on his powers to make war. The Pentagon announced on Monday that U.S. warshipsdestroyed a non-producing oil platform used for monitoring Gulfship traffic and military operations, and also raided a secondIranian oil rig in retaliation for an earlier Iranian attack ona Kuwaiti ship flying the American flag. Many Democrats, who control Congress, and Republicansexpressed support for the attack and praised it as anappropriate \"measured response.\" But Democrats and liberal Republicans voiced new fears thatthe growing confrontation between Tehran and the United Statescould erupt into a major war, and demanded that Reagan complywith the 1973 War Powers Act, which could lead to a pullout ofAmerican forces from the waterway. \"Those who contend the strike was necessary must realizetheir words are easily construed as a tacit endorsement of warwith Iran,\" said Sen Mark Hatfield of Oregon, a Republican.", "answer groups": [ "crude", "ship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bundesbank accepted bids for 6.1billion marks at today's tender for a 28-day securitiesrepurchase pact at a fixed rate of 3.80 pct, a central bankspokesman said. Banks, which bid for a total 12.2 billion marks liquidity,will be credited with the funds allocated today and must buyback securities pledged on May 6. Some 14.9 billion marks will drain from the market today asan earlier pact expires, so the Bundesbank is effectivelywithdrawing a net 8.1 billion marks from the market withtoday's allocation. A Bundesbank spokesman said in answer to enquiries that thewithdrawal of funds did not reflect a tightening of creditpolicy, but was to be seen in the context of plentifulliquidity in the banking system. Banks held an average 59.3 billion marks at the Bundesbankover the first six days of the month, well clear of the likelyApril minimum reserve requirement of 51 billion marks. The Bundesbank spokesman noted that by bidding only 12.2billion marks, below the outgoing 14.9 billion, banksthemselves had shown they felt they had plenty of liquidity. Dealers said the Bundesbank is keen to prevent too muchliquidity accruing in the market, as that would blunt theeffectiveness of the security repurchase agreement, its mainopen-market instrument for steering market interest rates. Twofurther pacts are likely this month over the next two weeks. The Bundesbank is currently steering call money between 3.6and 3.8 pct, although short-term fluctuations outside thatrange are possible, dealers said.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Commodity Futures TradingCommission has approved the Minneapolis Grain Exchange'sapplication to trade high fructose corn syrup-55, HFCS-55,futures contracts, the commission said. The contract provides for the delivery of 48,000 lbs, plusor minus two pct, of bulk HFCS-55 meeting specified standardsregarding its physical and chemical properties. CFTC said the exchange plans to begin trading a July 1987HFCS-55 contract on April 6. CFTC said the soft drink industry currently buys at least95 pct of all U.S.-produced HFCS-55, a liquid food and beveragesweetener produced through the processing of corn starch bycorn refiners.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Calumet Industries Inc said it expectsto report a loss from operations for its second quarter endingMarch 31, despite a strong unit sales increase. In the same year-ago period the company reported net incomeof 366,953 dlrs, or 18 cts a share. Chairman S. Mark Salvino said the expected loss isprimarily due to depressed product prices not recovering theincreasing cost of crude oil. Salvino also said steadier crude prices and the reducedrate of refinery production should increase product prices andlead to a return to more normal profit margins. He reported that the 23 mln dlr HydroCal II system underconstruction at the company's refinery in Princeton, La., is onschedule and production will begin early in fiscal 1988.", "answer groups": [ "crude", "earn" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Thai rice exports rose to 72,987 tonnesin the week ended October 13 from 54,075 the previous week, theCommerce Ministry said. It said the government and private exporters shipped 26,272and 46,715 tonnes respectively. Private exporters concludedadvance weekly sales for 106,640 tonnes against 98,152 theprevious week. The said it ministry expects at least 65,000tonnes in exports next week. Thailand has shipped 3.43 mln tonnes of rice in the year todate, down from 3.68 mln a year ago. It has commitments toexport another 388,390 tonnes this year.", "answer groups": [ "rice", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Pakistan will retender for 6,000 tonnesof refined bleached deodorised palm oil for second half Marchshipment tomorrow, after failing to take up offers today, palmoil traders said.", "answer groups": [ "palm-oil", "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Total Erickson Resources Ltd andConsolidated Silver Standard Mines Ltd said that TotalErickson has purchased all Consolidated's interests in its DomeMountain property for 60,000 Total Erickson shares and 70,000dlrs in cash. The companies said the property has several gold-bearingveins and has considerable exploration potential.", "answer groups": [ "gold", "acq" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Thailand will this week seekclarification from the U.S. About its decision to freeze riceexport prices from January to early April, Commerce MinisterMontri Pongpanich said. Montri told reporters he will seek a meeting with U.S.Ambassador William Brown to determine why the U.S. Failed toset its weekly rice prices in accordance with rising worldprices during the period. He said the U.S. Has followed a policy of weakening worldrice prices by announcing highly subsidised export prices lowerthan those quoted by Thai traders. Thai officials said weekly rice prices as announced by theU.S. Agriculture Department were unchanged for 11 weeks up toApril 8. Thailand, a major rice exporter, has criticised the U.S.Farm Act which provides heavy subsidies to U.S. Exportersenabling them to compete with Thai exporters. Thai officials said average export prices of Thai rice fell19 pct last year and another 5.8 pct during the first quarterthis year. The Board of Trade said Thailand exported 1.23 mln tonnesin January/March, down from 1.29 mln a year ago. It said the export decline was partly due to the reluctanceof Thai traders to accept all foreign orders as world pricesdid not rise in line with firming domestic prices. The board said, however, that Thailand may export more ricelater this year, especially to Africa, the Middle East andAsia, due to lower production in many drought affected Africancountries and to expected small exportable surpluses in Burmaand Pakistan. It said Thai rice exports to nine major African buyers roseto 351,889 tonnes during the first quarter from 93,038 a yearearlier.", "answer groups": [ "rice", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The joint committee of Taiwan's maizeimporters has awarded contracts to two U.S. Companies to supplytwo shipments of maize, totalling 60,000 tonnes, a committeespokesman told Reuters. Continental Grain Co of New York received the first 30,000tonne cargo contract, priced at 93.86 U.S. Dlrs per tonne,while Peavey Co of Minneapolis won the second shipment, also30,000 tonnes, at 93.36 dlrs per tonne. Both shipments are c and f Taiwan and are set before March16, the spokesman said.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Taiwan's shipbreaking industry isexpected to decline sharply this year despite the boom in 1986because of keener competition from South Korea and China, therising Taiwan dollar and U.S. Import curbs on steel products,industry sources said. Last year, Taiwanese breakers demolished a record 344vessels totalling 3.69 million light displacement tons (ldt),up on 165 of 2.97 million ldt in 1985, Lin Chung-jung, a TaiwanShipbreaking Industry Association (TSIA) spokesman, toldReuters. China scrapped vessels of some 1.1 mln ldt last year whileSouth Korea demolished ships of 910,000 ldt, he said. Yao Liu, president of Chi Shun Hwa Steel Co, a leadingshipbreaker and steel producer in Kaohsiung, told Reuters, \"Weexpect to scrap fewer ships this year because of an expecteddecline in our steel product exports.\" Lin said many breakers predicted a 20 pct decline inscrapping operations this year due to falling demand from theU.S., Japan and Southeast Asia for Taiwanese steel. Taiwan agreed last year to voluntarily limit its steelproduct exports to the U.S. To 120,000 tonnes in the first halfof 1987 from about 260,000 tonnes in the first half of 1986, aTaiwan Steel and Iron Association official said. Yao said the rising Taiwan dollar means Taiwan's steelexports are more expensive than South Korea's and China's. The Taiwan dollar has strengthened by some 16 pct againstthe U.S. Unit since September 1985 and some bankers andeconomists said it could appreciate to 32 to the U.S. Dollar bythe end of the year from 34.23 today, Yao said. In comparison, the won rose by about five pct and yuanremained stable during the same period, he added. \"We have lost some orders to South Korea and mainland Chinabecause foreign importers have switched their purchases,\" hesaid. Taiwan's steel exports to the U.S., Japan and SoutheastAsia slipped to 148,000 tonnes in the first two months of 1987from about 220,000 tonnes a year earlier, the Taiwan Steel andIron Association official said. He said he expected further declines in later months butdid not give figures.", "answer groups": [ "iron-steel", "ship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Newly-installed Philippine CoconutAuthority Chairman Jose Romero has announced the appointment oflawyer Leandro Garcia as administrator, replacing Colonel FelixDuenas who is returning to military duty. The new constitution does not allow military men to holdpositions in civilian agencies. Duenas and four other military men who were assigned to theauthority in 1978, will return to the ministry of defence wherethey worked prior to their appointments at the coconut agency.", "answer groups": [ "coconut", "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The European Community authorised theexport of 25,000 tonnes of barley yesterday, bringing thecumulative total at weekly tenders since the series startedlast June to 3.33 mln tonnes, close to the 3.37 mln underlicence in the same year ago period, traders said. All bids for wheat were rejected. However, the total todate of 5.06 mln tonnes is still substantially more than the3.03 mln under licence a year ago. The 80,000 tonnes of Frenchmaize granted for export moved the total to 135,000 tonnessince the tender opened in February this year. There were nofacilities for maize in the previous weekly grain exportseries.", "answer groups": [ "barley", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Honduras will tender March 26 underPL480 for U.S. and non-U.S. flag vessels to import 1,500 tonnesof tallow in bulk, an agent for the country said. The agent said delivery includes laydays of April 5-15. Offers are due by 1200 hrs EST, March 26, and will remainvalid until the close of business the following day, the agentsaid.", "answer groups": [ "livestock", "ship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "From April through December 1986,the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) issued 3.85 billion dlrsworth of generic certificates and about 1.8 billion had notbeen exchanged by January 1, 1987, the U.S. AgricultureDepartment said. The department said an additional 4.3 billion dlrs incertificates has been authorized for issuance duringJanuary-August, 1987. These certificates will provide ample free supplies of cornand wheat for the remainder of the crop year, the departmentsaid in a summary of its Agricultural Outlook report. Freeing of stocks through certificates is making U.S. grainmore competitive on world markets, it said. The department said last summer, for example, certificateswere exchanged for 215 mln bushels of corn. This helpedincrease marketable supplies, so farm-level corn pricesaveraged about two dlrs per bushel -- somewhat lower than theywould have otherwise. The lower prices probably led to an increase in usage of 40to 50 mln bushels, it said. The department said government spending on farm programs infiscal year 1987 is projected to fall half a billion dlrs from1986's 25.8 billion dlrs. During 1988 and 1989, the cost escalation of the first halfof the 1980's will reverse. If current policy remains in force,annual farm program spending by 1992 will be down from lastyear's record by more than eight billion dlrs, it said. The department said the President's budget proposals for1988-1992 would cut farm program spending an additional 24billion dlrs. In 1987, foreign economic growth is expected to remainclose to 2.6 pct, the same as in 1986, but above the 2.4 pctaverage of 1980-86, it said. Partially because of this improvement, U.S. export volumeis expected to rise in fiscal 1987 for the frist time in sevenyears, the department said.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain", "corn" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)has reallocated 50.0 mln dlrs in credit guarantees from thepreviously announced undesignated line to provide additionalguarantees for sales of feedgrains, oilseeds, and wheat toSouth Korea, the U.S. Agriculture Department said. The department said the action increases the feed grainsline by 23 mln dlrs to 63 mln, the oilseed line by seven mlndlrs to 52 mln, and the wheat guarantee line by 20 mln to 165mln dlrs. The undesignated line is reduced to zero. The commodities are for delivery during the current fiscalyear ending this September 30, it said.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain", "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Argentina's total oil and gasproduction fell 9.4 pct in February to 2.78 mln cubic metresfrom January's total of 3.11 mln cubic metres, the state oilcompany Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (YPF) reported. A YPF statement blamed the drop on momentary problems owingto the summer season but gave no further details. February's production figure fell slightly short of YPF'starget figure of 2.90 mln cubic metres. Oil production totalled 1.76 mln cubic metres last monthand natural gas production 1.02 mln cubic metres, down from1.95 and 1.15 mln cubic metres in January, respectively.", "answer groups": [ "nat-gas", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Finance Ministry has asked Japanesecommercial banks to moderate their dollar sales, bank dealerssaid. They said the Ministry had telephoned city and long-termbanks earlier this week to make the request. One dealer said this was the first time the Ministry hadmade such a request to commercial banks. Finance Ministry officials were unavailable for immediatecomment. Dealers said the Ministry has already askedinstitutional investors to reduce their sales of the dollar.", "answer groups": [ "dlr", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Tokyo's foreign exchange market is watchingnervously to see if the U.S. Dollar will drop below thesignificant 140.00 yen level, dealers said. \"The 140 yen level is key for the dollar because it isconsidered to be the lower end of the reference range. If thecurrency breaks through this level, it may decline sharply,\"said Hirozumi Tanaka, assistant general manager at Dai-ichiKangyo Bank Ltd's international treasury division. The dollar was at 141.10 yen at midday against Fridaycloses of 142.35/45 in New York and 141.35 here. The dollar opened at 140.95 yen and fell to a low of140.40. It was 1.7733/38 marks against 1.7975/85 in New Yorkand 1.8008/13 here on Friday, after an opening 1.7700/10. The currency's decline was due to remarks on Sunday by U.S.Treasury Secretary James Baker, dealers said. \"The dollar fell over the weekend on increased bearishsentiment after Baker's comments,\" said Dai-ichi's Tanaka. Hesaid this stemmed from mounting concern that cooperation amongthe group of seven (G-7) industrial nations to implement theLouvre accord to stabilise currencies might be fraying. The dollar's fall was also prompted by a record one-daydrop in the Dow Jones industrial average on Friday and weaknessin U.S. Bond prices, dealers said. Baker said the Louvre accord was still operative but hestrongly criticised West German moves to raise key interestrates. Operators took Baker's comment to indicate impatiencewith some G-7 members for failing to stick to the Louvre accorddue to their fears of increasing inflation. Rises in interest rates aimed at dampening inflationarypressures also slow domestic demand. West Germany and Japan had both pledged at G-7 meetings toboost domestic demand to help narrow the huge U.S. Tradedeficit, Tanaka said. U.S. August trade data showed the U.S. Deficit at a stillmassive 15.68 billion dlrs. But if West Germany raises interestrates, this would run counter to the pledge, he said. \"Operators are now waiting to see if the G-7 nationscoordinate dollar buying intervention,\" said Soichi Hirabayashi,deputy general manager of Fuju Bank Ltd's foreign exchangedepartment. The target range set by the Louvre accord is generallyconsidered to be 140.00 to 160.00 yen, dealers said. \"The market is likely to try the 140 yen level in the nearfuture and at that time, if operators see the G-7 nationsfailing to coordinate intervention, they would see the Louvreaccord as abandoned and push the dollar down aggressively,\"Hirabayashi said. He said the U.S. Currency could fall as lowas 135 yen soon.", "answer groups": [ "dlr", "money-fx", "yen" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The upcoming five-month deficiencypayments to corn and sorghum farmers will be made half in cashand half in generic commodity certificates, a seniorAgriculture Department official told Reuters. Around 300 mln dlrs of the in-kind certificates, or\"certs,\" will be mailed out to farmers around March 15 or 16,Tom von Garlem, Assistant Deputy Administrator for USDA's stateand county operations, said. The decision to make the payments in a 50/50 cash/certsratio was made Monday, but payments to producers will bedelayed until mid-month due to a problem with USDA's computerprogram, von Garlem said.get 11.5 cts per bushel in this next payment -- 5.75 cts incerts and around 5.5 cts cash (5.75 cts minus Gramm-Rudman). Farmers who did not receive advance deficiency payments atsignup will receive 63 cts per bushel. Slightly more than halfof this payment will be in cash, von Garlem said, but he saidthis will not markedly upset the 50/50 ratio, since mostfarmers got advance payments. \"The final certificate payments will be very close to 300mln dlrs,\" he said. When asked if the Office of Management and Budget hadresisted the cash/certs ratio, the USDA official said that \"weproposed 50/50 and OMB accepted it.\"", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain", "sorghum" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Department saidit has extended until April 17 the date by which AgriculturalStabilization and Conservation county offices must determineeligibility of individuals or other entities for payments under1987 farm programs. Jerome Sitter, director of ASCS's Cotton, Grain and RicePrice Support Division, said the decision meant farmers haveuntil April 17 to file a farm operating plan indicating howmany persons would be involved in their farming operations. Earlier this year USDA extended the deadline to April 1from March 1, Sitter said. ASCA Administrator Milton Hertz said in a statement thatthe extension was necessary because of heavy workloads atcounty ASCS offices. Hertz said ASCS county officials \"have had to make a largenumber of eligibility determinations for individuals and otherentities, such as corporations and partnerships, in preparationfor imposing the 50,000-dlr-per-entity cap.\" \"These offices already had a very heavy workload due to thelarge number of applications for both the 1987 farm programsand the Conservation Reserve Program,\" Hertz said.", "answer groups": [ "rice", "grain", "cotton" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Commodity Credit Corporation,CCC, has accepted bids for export bonuses to cover sales of25,000 tonnes of wheat flour to Iraq, the U.S. AgricultureDepartment said. The department said the bonuses awarded averaged 116.84dlrs per tonne. The shipment periods are March 15-April 20 (12,500 tonnes)and April 1-May 5 (12,500 tonnes). The bonus awards were made to Peavey Company and will bepaid in the form of commodities from CCC stocks, it said. An additional 175,000 tonnes of wheat flour are stillavailable to Iraq under the Export Enhancement Programinitative announced January 7, 1987, the department said.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.K. Will ship 39,250 tonnes of feedwheat to China this month as food aid at a cost to the Britishaid program of 3.4 mln stg, the Overseas DevelopmentAdministration (ODA) said. The wheat will be supplied by grain exporter Ceres UK Ltd. As part of the European Community's obligation under theFood Aid Convention, the U.K. Is pledged to supply 110,700tonnes of cereals each year. From this commitment the U.K.Makes allocations to the World Food Programme.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Department gavethe following breakdown of grain remaining in the farmer-ownedgrain reserve as of April 1, in mln bushels, by reserve number-- I II III IV V VI Wheat nil nil 0.1 0.3 10.5 479.7 Corn -- -- -- 4.1 1,231.9 -- Sorghum-x -- -- -- 0.1 38.8 -- Barley -- -- -- 0.1 73.9 -- x - mln cwts. Note - USDA says above totals may not matchtotal in reserve numbers.", "answer groups": [ "sorghum", "wheat", "corn", "barley", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Lured by the weakening dollar and theconviction that oil prices are poised for a rebound, Europeanenergy companies are buying up cheap U.S. oil and gas reservesto replenish their supplies, oil industry analysts said. They said owning oil reserves in a politically stableUnited States is good insurance against future shortages.However, the quick pace of foreign investment has heated upcompetition among European firms, well-heeled U.S.institutional investors and major oil companies to snare choicedomestic oil properties. Strevig and Associates, a Houston firm that tracks oil andgas reserve sales, said growing interest among foreign buyershad helped push reserve prices in recent months higher. Allbuyers of U.S. reserves paid a median price of 6.45 dlrs abarrel of oil during the fourth quarter of 1986 foracquisitions, up from 5.33 dlrs in the third quarter and fivedlrs in the second quarter, according to the firm's research. \"Foreign investors have been here nibbling a long time, butwe're seeing new names and smaller companies coming in,\" saidArthur Smith, an oil property appraisal specialist andpresident of John S. Herold Inc in Greenwich, Conn. \"Europeans, especially, do not have much indigenous oil andgas and realize the tide will eventually turn in favor of theOrganization of Petroleum Exporting Countries,\" he added. Smith and other oil industry analyst and economists believethe trend in foreign investments will continue in 1987 becauseof the fall in value of the U.S. dollar, the perception thatoil prices have hit bottom and the fact that it is cheaper tobuy new reserves than to explore for them. Plenty of properties are available on the market, thanks tothe need of many companies to raise cash for debt payments andgeneral restructuring throughout the oilpatch. In two of the biggest transactions of recent months,French-owned Minatome Corp., a unit of , spent more than 230 mln dlrs toseparately acquire oil assets of Texas International and Lear Petroleum Partners . A spokesman for Minatomesaid the company is searching for additional acquisitions. A partnership of two Belgian-owned firms, and paid 150 mln dlrs late last year to buyvirtually all the exploration assets of the Williams Cos ,the Oklahoma pipeline firm. But Japanese investors prefer entering into joint ventureswith experienced U.S. companies to explore for new oil. Japan's is a partner of Texaco Inc's Texaco USA in a100 mln dlrs U.S. drilling program, and has joined withDupont's
Conoco Inc in a similar 135 dlrs mln deal. Most buyers said the pay-back period of a property, itsgeographic location and the lifting cost of the crude oil aremore important factors in evaluating potential acquisitionsthan relying on a simple price-per-barrel formula. Rich Hodges, a Houston-based land manager representingInternational Oil and Gas Corp, a partnership of and of West Germany, said the firm hadearmarked at least 50 mln dlrs to spend on oil reserves inTexas, Oklahoma or Louisiana in the coming months. But he called that a small amount compared to the amountother investors have for acquisitions. PaineWebber's GeodyneEnergy Income Fund, for example, has said it plans to spend upto 300 mln dlrs on oil and gas properties. \"The competition is stiff, not only from other foreigninvestors but from the brokerage houses and U.S. oilcompanies,\" he said. \"Our company is shopping around because wefeel it's substantially less risky than pure exploration. Ifyou're going to take the risk inherent in exploration, you needprices higher than the current market,\" he added. In addition to the foreign investors and U.S. brokeragehouses, analysts said many of the major oil companies were alsocompeting for prime properties. Houston-based Shell Oil Co, a unit of Royal Dutch/Shell Group, has been one of the most active companies in buying andselling reserves, Smith said. Since 1982, Shell has acquiredtwo billion dlrs in new reserves, including 470 mln barrels ofoil equivalent at a net cost of 2.80 dlrs a barrel, he said. \"Buying reserves is a good strategy for most of thesecompanies,\" Smith said. \"Domestic production has dropped by onemln barrels a day because of cutbacks in drilling and it maydrop by another one mln barrels a day in 1988.\"", "answer groups": [ "nat-gas", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "World seaborne iron ore imports willfall sharply by the year 2000 with declining imports to the ECand Japan only partially offset by increased demand from SouthEast Asia, a report by Ocean Shipping Consultants said. The report predicts annual world seaborne iron ore importsof 267.7 mln tonnes by 2000 versus 312.4 mln tonnes in 1985. It estimates that total bulk shipping demand from the ironore sector will fall by almost 10 pct, or 200 billion tonnemiles, with shipping demand associated with the coking tradedown about 17 pct or 130 billion tonne miles. The report sees EC imports falling to 91.7 mln tonnes in2000 from 123.6 mln in 1985 with Japanese imports falling to 89mln from 124.6 mln tonnes. Imports to South East Asia are seenrising to 58.6 mln from 32.6 mln tonnes in 1985. It predicts that EC steel production will fall to 109 mlntonnes in 2000 from 135.7 mln in 1985 with Japanese productionfalling to 92 mln from 105.3 mln. South Korea and Taiwan are expected to double their outputto 40 mln tonnes with Chinese production increasing by 25 mlntonnes to 80 mln, it added.", "answer groups": [ "ship", "iron-steel" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A panel of four leading economiststold a congressional hearing today that foreign economies willneed to expand to avoid recession as the U.S. trade deficitdeclines. C. Fred Bergsten, a former senior Treasury Departmentofficial, and Robert Solomon of the Brookings Institution toldthe Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the major exportingcountries risk recession if they do not expand because U.S.demand for imports is expected to fall. \"They need to beef up domestic demand as their tradesurplus falls,\" or unemployment will keep growing, Bergstensaid. Bergsten predicted the U.S. trade deficit, which hit 169billion dlrs last year, will fall 30-40 billion dlrs a year forthe next two years as a result of the dollar's 35-40 pctdecline since September 1985. The government should intervene to push the dollar downfurther if the previous declines do not lead to an improvementin the trade picture, if the U.S. budget deficit is not reducedand if foreign expansion does not occur, he added. Solomon said the dollar must fall further to compensate forthe huge interest payments required on U.S. foreign debt. TheParis agreement between the major industrialized countriesprovided only for a pause in its decline, he said. Rimmer de Vries, senior vice president of Morgan GuarantyTrust Co., said the U.S. trade deficit problem is a problem oflagging growth in industrial economies, prolonged currencymisalignment, debt problems of the developing countries, andunbalanced growth in the Asian industrializing countries. John Makin of the American Enterprise Institute, suggestedforeign tax cuts to increase demand and pick up the slack fromthe U.S. trade deficit fall.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "trade" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Zambia's talks with the World Bank andInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) on a financial rescue packagehave run into difficulties on the issue of food subsidies, anofficial newspaper said. The Times of Zambia, which is run by the ruling UnitedNational Independence Party (UNIP), quoted official sources assaying the IMF and World Bank had refused to continue financingfood subsidies and were pressing the government to explain howit proposes to pay for them. President Kenneth Kaunda tried to abolish maize subsidieslast December, in line with IMF recommendations, but the movecaused maize meal prices to double overnight and led to riots. The subsidies were immediately restored as part of moves toquell the disturbances. The Times of Zambia said another major issue in thegovernment's current talks with the IMF and World Bank was theremodelling of Zambia's foreign exchange auction. The central bank's weekly auction of foreign exchange tothe private sector has been suspended since the end of January,pending modifications to slow down the rate of devaluation anddampen fluctuations in the exchange rate. The kwacha slid to around 15 per dollar under the auction,losing 85 pct of its value in 16 months, but since the end ofJanuary has been revalued to a fixed rate of nine per dollar. Banking sources said Zambia was persuaded by the World Bankand IMF to lift its proposed ceiling of 12.50 kwacha per dollaron the currency's devaluation once the auctions restart.", "answer groups": [ "grain", "money-fx", "corn" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Chicago Mercantile Exchange floortraders and commission house representatives are guesstimatingtoday's hog slaughter at about 280,000 to 300,000 head versus294,000 week ago and 303,000 a year ago. Cattle slaughter is guesstimated at about 120,000 to126,000 head versus 120,000 week ago and 124,000 a year ago.", "answer groups": [ "livestock", "hog" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Occidental Petroleum Corp said ithas completed the acquisition of Shell Oil Co's vinyl chloridemonomer business for undisclosed terms. Shell is a subsidiary of Royal Dutch/Shell Group . The company said the transaction will allow it to sourceover half its vinyl chloride monomer requirements internally,making it fully integrated in polyvinyl chloride production. Ithas been buying all of its requirements.", "answer groups": [ "pet-chem", "acq" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The State Department says many U.S.diplomatic missions overseas are on high alert for possibleretaliation from Iran for Monday's attack on two Iranian oilplatforms by American forces in the Gulf. At the same time, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday thatU.S. forces have begun escorting another Kuwaiti tanker convoysouthward through the Gulf from Kuwait. The State Department renewed its warning to Americans notto travel to Iran because of what spokeswoman Phyllis Oakleycalled, \"its virulent anti-American policies and support forterrorism.\" \"The threat to Americans has increased significantly,\" shesaid in announcing that the department was reiterating adviceit last made in January. The department said about 2,600American citizens live in Iran, the overwhelming majority dualnationalities. Oakley said no specific warning has been issued to U.S.diplomats and Americans living abroad in the aftermath of theU.S. attack on the oil drilling platforms, but \"many of ourmissions are on a high state of alert.\"", "answer groups": [ "ship", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve is not expected tointervene in the government securities market to add or drainreserves at its usual intervention time this morning,economists said. With the Federal funds rate trading comfortably at 6-9/16pct, down from yesterday's 6.74 pct average, economists saidthe Fed did not need to take reserve management action today.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. Agriculture Secretary RichardLyng said he was not sure a long-term U.S.-Soviet grainagreement would be worth extending when it expires next year. \"It hasn't been worth much in the last two years....Theyhaven't lived up to the agreement as I see it,\" Lyng said in aninterview with Reuters. \"It would be my thought that it's not worth any effort towork out an agreement with someone who wants the agreement tobe a one-sided thing,\" he said. However, Lyng said he did not want to make a \"definitivecommitment one way or another at this point.\" Under the accord covering 1983-88, the Soviets agreed tobuy at least nine mln tonnes of U.S. grain, including four mlntonnes each of corn and wheat. Moscow bought 6.8 mln tonnes of corn and 153,000 tonnes ofwheat during the third agreement year, which ended lastSeptember, and this year has bought one mln tonnes of corn. Lyng said he had no knowledge of how much U.S. grain Moscowwould buy this year. \"I've seen people making comments on that and I don't knowhow they know, unless they talk to the Soviets,\" he said. \"I haveno knowledge, and I really don't think anyone other than theSoviets have any knowledge.\" Lyng said he thought the Soviets bought U.S. corn lastmonth because \"they needed it and because the price was right.\" \"Our corn has been pretty reasonably priced. And I thinkthey've always found that our corn was good,\" he said.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain", "wheat" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "France voiced its comprehension for a U.S.Attack on an Iranian target while calling for a swift halt tothe Gulf War to avoid further escalation. \"The French authorities reaffirm their attachment to thefreedom and security of navigation and to the right of allstates to take action under international law and the UnitedNations charter to halt attacks such as that of October 16,\" theForeign Ministry spokesman said in a statement. The United States said its forces destroyed an Iranian oilplatform in the Gulf and struck at a second on Monday inretaliation for a recent Iranian missile attack on aU.S.-flagged Kuwaiti ship. Washington said the platforms were used to monitor shippingand to launch small-boat attacks on shipping. The Frenchstatement described the target as \"an Iranian military platform.\" But the French statement added that \"everything must be donenow to avoid that these military developments lead to a newescalation of the conflict.\"", "answer groups": [ "ship", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Portugal may have purchased a 30,000tonne cargo at its tender today for up to 43,000 tonnes ofnumber two yellow corn (14.5 pct maximum moisture) for arrivalby April 30, shipment via Gulf ports, U.S. exporters said.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Shifts from mild to very coldweather in East Germany damaged winter barley and late sownwinter wheat in central regions and barley north of Berlin, theU.S. agricultural officer in East Berlin said. In a field report, the officer said indications were thatwinter kill might well be more than 100,000 hectares comparedwith 38,000 last year. He said the damage was probably more limited in southernand central regions and most widespread in the north. Damage was most severe on plants above the ground wherelittle or no snow cover was present, he added. The officer said heavy frosts at night followed by sunshineduring the day led to some heaving, particularly for welldeveloped plants and for winter barley. Furthermore, as the ground surface thawed, some standingwater occurred in the fields. The officer said repairing damage will probably call forspecial measures this spring in fields with damaged plants andwhere stands are thin. Harrowing, as well as well-timedapplications of nitrogen, will be necessary, he added.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. authorities intervened in theforeign exchange market to support the dollar on one occasionduring the period between the start of November 1986 and theend of January, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in areport. The Fed's quarterly review of foreign exchange operationssaid that the U.S. bought 50 mln dlrs through the sale of yenon January 28. This operation was coordinated with the Japanesemonetary authorities and was funded equally by the Fed and theU.S. Treasury. The Fed's intervention was on the morning after presidentReagan's State of the Union message and was \"in a mannerconsistent with the joint statement\" made by U.S. Treasurysecretary James Baker and Japanese finance minister KiichiMiyazawa after their January 21 consultations. At that meeting, the two reaffirmed their willingness tocooperate on exchange rate issues. The Fed's report did not say at what level the interventionoccurred. But on January 28, the dollar closed at 151.50/60 yenafter dipping as low as 150.40 yen earlier in the session. Ithad closed at 151.05/15 yen the previous day. The dollar had plumbed a post-World War II low of 149.98yen on January 19 and reached a seven-year low of 1.7675 markson January 28. It ended that day at 1.7820/30 marks. The Fed noted that, after trading steadily throughoutNovember and the first half of December, the dollar movedsharply lower until the end of January. It closed the three-month review period down more than 11pct against the mark and most other Continental currencies andseven pct lower against the yen and sterling. It had fallenfour pct against the Canadian dollar. During the final days of January, pressure on the dollarsubsided. Reports of the U.S.-Japanese intervention operationand talk of an upcoming meeting of the major industrialcountries encouraged expectations for broader cooperation onexchange rate and economic policy matters, the Fed said. Moreover, doubts had developed about the course of U.S.interest rates. The dollar's swift fall had raised questionsabout whether the Fed would let short-term rates ease. Thus the dollar firmed to close the period at 1.8320 marksand 153.70 yen. According to the Fed's trade-weighted index, ithad declined nine pct since the beginning of the period. The dollar had risen as high as 2.08 marks and 165 yen inearly November. The Fed last intervened in the foreign exchange market onNovember 7, 1985 when it bought a total of 102.2 mln dlrs worthof marks and yen. The Fed's action followed the September 1985 Plazaagreement between the five major industrial nations under whichthey agreed to promote an orderly decline of the dollar.", "answer groups": [ "dlr", "money-fx", "yen" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. Agriculture SecretaryRichard Lyng will ask the Japanese Government to remove allbeef import restrictions when he visits there next month. Lyng's remarks came in a speech at Oklahoma StateUniversity today. \"We think Japanese consumers should have the same freedomof choice as our consumers. Look at all the Japanese camerasand tape recorders in this room. We know they'd buy more beefif they had the opportunity,\" Lyng said.", "answer groups": [ "carcass", "livestock" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Asked what the U.S. StateDepartment's policy is on offering subsidized wheat to Moscow,Secretary of State George Shultz told a group of farm leadersthat U.S. products must be competitive in the world market. \"If we are going to sell our products, whatever they maybe, wheat or anything else, then we have to meet the market,\"Shultz told the board of directors for the National Associationof Wheat Growers. \"We have to be competitive. It's ridiculous to say thatsomebody is going to buy your product if they can get the samething at a lower price somewhere else. They just aren't,\" hesaid. \"That is our approach in the negotiations with the Soviets,and it must be our approach as we look at the American farmprogram and try to figure out what we should do to make itbetter,\" Shultz told the Wheat Growers. Schultz said that while he does not favor a situation thatwould allow the Soviet housewife to buy food cheaper than theAmerican housewife, he realizes the importance of Americanagricultural products being competitively priced. Speculation has been in the market for some time that theUnited States is considering offering wheat to the Soviet Unionat subsidized prices. Soviet officials have said they would buy U.S. wheat if itwere competitively priced. Agriculture Department officialshave declined to take any official position on the issue.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Departmentannounced the following prevailing world market prices of riceon a loan-rate basis, with previous prices -- -- Long grain whole kernels 5.87 cts per lb vs 5.70 -- Medium grain whole kernels 5.28 cts per lb vs 5.12 -- Short grain whole kernels 5.22 cts per lb vs 5.06 -- Broken kernels 2.94 cts per lb vs 2.85 The repayment rate for 1986-crop warehouse or farm-storedrice loans are the higher of the world price or 50 pct of theloan rate of 7.20 dlrs per cwt. The prices will remain in effect for a week, but new pricescould be announced earlier if warranted, USDA said.", "answer groups": [ "rice", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of Japan intervened in the marketin the early afternoon, buying dollars around 147.30 yen andcontinuing to buy them as high as 147.50 yen, dealers said. The Bank intervened just after the dollar started rising onbuying by securities houses at around 147.05 yen, and hoped toaccelerate the dollar's advance, they said. The dollar rose as high as 147.50 yen.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "dlr" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Soviet Union featured prominently inU.K. Grain exports outside the EC for the period July 1/March13, taking a combined total of 1.10 mln tonnes of wheat andbarley out of all-destination U.K. Exports of 7.16 mln tonnes,the Home Grown Cereals Authority said, quoting provisionalCustoms and Excise figures. The Soviet total comprises 634,000 tonnes of wheat and472,000 tonnes of barley. Grain traders said the figuresunderstate shipments already made by several thousand tonnesand they expect total U.K. Grain exports to the USSR thisseason to reach 2.5 mln tonnes, comprising 1.5 mln wheat/1.0mln barley.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain", "barley" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Pressure is growing in the financialmarkets for the U.S. to take overt action to stabilize thedollar even though doubts linger that it has fallen far enoughto help redress world trade imbalances, economists and dealerssaid. Some experts believe that a half-point increase in the U.S.discount rate, preferably in conjunction with rate cuts inTokyo and Bonn, would be enough to discourage sellers. But many fear that more drastic action, such as a U.S.issue of yen-denominated Treasury bonds, may be needed. Despite official warnings about the dangers of a furtherdollar decline and concerted central bank intervention, thedollar extended its recent sharp depreciation, touching a40-year low of 137.25 yen in Tokyo earlier today after closinghere on Friday at 139.30/40. The impact on other financial markets was devastating. In Tokyo, the stock market suffered its largest single daydecline; in London, gold bullion prices rose to four-year highsand in the U.S., long Treasury bond yields surged above 8.80pct and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 40points in hectic early trading. \"The problem now is linkage. This is not just a currencyproblem. It is affecting all the markets,\" said one seniortrader at a major U.S. bank. Up until September of last year, international efforts toredress world trade imbalances appeared to working like adream; the dollar was falling in an orderly manner, worldinterest rates were tumbling and inflation was kept in check. In recent months, however, this strategy has begun to showsigns of severe stress, with the U.S. imposition of punitivetariffs on Japan threatening to unravel this spirit ofcooperating and condemn the world to a damaging trade war. \"The markets fear that we have built up a momentum that isreally difficult to stop. A U.S. rate hike has become aninevitability,\" one currency dealer said. \"At this point, nothing short of a Fed discount rateincrease, ideally combined with further discount rate cuts byJapan and Germany, would seem capable of stabilizing thedollar,\" said David Jones of Aubrey G. Lanston and Co Inc. Allen Sinai of Shearson Lehman Brothers Inc predicted a 1/4to 1/2 point U.S. rate increase before May 19 and a rise inU.S. bank prime lending rates to eight pct from 7-3/4 pct inthe near future. But many economists feared that any moderate U.S. rateincreases, which appear unlikely to be matched by rate cutsoverseas, would be too little, too late. \"They should have done this 10 days ago. It would have donethe trick then,\" said one currency analyst. \"If they do it now, it would be seen as a defensive measurenot an offensive one. It would show policy weakness notstrength,\" added one trader. In addition, economists fear that a discount rate risemight place additional strain on a sluggish U.S. economy andtempt embattled debtor nations to retaliate. A U.S. discount rate increase would also fuel theprotectionist fires in Washington, where the House is expectedto pass a protectionist trade bill, whatever compromisesPresident Reagan and Prime Minister Nakasone can come up withduring their summit later in the week. \"Politically, they can't really do it this week,\" said onecurrency analyst, pointing out that if it failed to stabilizethe dollar, it would only weaken the U.S. negotiating stance. Even if the U.S. retains the upper hand, economists andtraders do not hold out high hopes for any major newinitiatives from this week's talks. At best, the experts see some sort of accord whereby Japanwill agree to stimulate growth and open its domestic markets tooutsiders while the U.S. promises to lift its tariffs andsupport the Group of Seven dollar stabilization agreement. But many fear that this may not be enough to assuage themarket's speculative selling fervor, which has now raised fearsof weak overseas interest at next week's quarterly U.S.Treasury refunding program. Japanese and European investors have traditionally playedan active role in these auctions, which are expected to total28 to 29 billion dlrs. Consequently, thoughts are turning to the possibility thatPresident Reagan may try to remove foreign investors' worriesabout currency risk by financing part of the U.S. budgetdeficit in yen or mark bonds, rather than dollars. While similar action by former President Carter helped tostabilize the dollar in 1978, the White House is clearlyreluctant to take such a step, economists said. This hesitance was amply shown last Friday when U.S.Treasury Secretary James Baker said, \"there might well be somewho would view (yen-denominated bonds) as a lack of confidenceby the U.S. in its own currency.\" Baker added, \"therefore we don't think it's an appropriatething to do.\" A foreign exchange analyst at a major Japanese bank hereshared Baker's doubts. \"Dollar defending measures are veryunlikely. They will confirm the dollar's weak undertone andlead to further speculative dollar selling,\" he said. Thus, it may be less destabilizing for the authorities tostop trying to fight the market's bearish sentiment. In a recent lengthy report, economists at Morgan GuarantyTrust Co concluded, \"the dollar should be left free to trade atwhatever level market forces produce.\"", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "dlr", "interest" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Floating-rate notes denominated in aforeign currency, a relatively new wrinkle on Wall Street, willprobably be issued infrequently because the so-called \"windowof opportunity\" opens and closes quickly, traders say. \"In just two days we had as many issues. As a result, themarket became glutted,\" said one trader. He said the window depends more on supply than on foreignexchange or interest rate risk, at least for the moment.\"Obviously, currency risk is important. But there is a limitednumber of investors right now for the paper,\" he said. On Thursday, Bear, Stearns and Co sole-managed a 100 mlnNew Zealand dlr offering of three-year floating-rate notesissued by Ford Motor Credit Co, a unit of Ford Motor Co . The initial rate for the notes will be set on April 15, andquarterly after that, at 200 basis points below the 90-day NewZealand bank bill rate. They are non-callable for life. This followed by a week another Bear Stearns-led offeringof the same amount of New Zealand dollar notes for Dow ChemicalCo . The initial rate was also to be initially set onApril 15, and quarterly after that, at 340 basis points belowthe same 90-day New Zealand rate. Because the Dow Chemical notes carried an interest ratefloor of 17 pct, the issue saw strong investor demand,underwriters said. But the Ford Credit notes and Friday's offering of 130 mlnNew Zealand dlrs of floating-rate notes due 1990 issued byGeneral Electric Co's General Electric Credit Corp viaPrudential-Bache Securities Inc, did not have such a floor. \"Obviously, the two firms did not want to issue floatersand face the risk of New Zealand rates falling sharply,\" anunderwriter away from the syndicates said. He and others notedthat the New Zealand 90-day rate was 27 pct late last week. An underwriter familiar with the Dow Chemical deal pointedout that because of the interest rate and currency swaps Dowdid, the issuer felt comfortable setting a rate floor. Domestic offerings of foreign currency denominated datefirst surfaced in Fall 1985. By using currency and rate swaps,companies can sell debt that pays a high interest rate in aforeign currency like Australian or New Zealand dollars. Butthe issuers actually realize savings on borrowing costs. \"I would say that every company which issued foreigncurrency debt saved some basis points when compared tosame-maturity plain vanilla U.S. issues,\" an analyst said. Investors, mainly institutions, were attracted to the earlyissues because of the high interest rates. They were willing toabsorb foreign currency risk until mid-1986, when sharp slidesposted by the Australian and New Zealand dollars brought suchissuance to a quick halt. It was not until late last year, after the currenciesstabilized, that companies again started issuing debtdenominated in Australian and New Zealand dollars. But many investors have still shied away from the debt,remembering the mid-1986 downturn of the Australian and NewZealand dollars, analysts noted. To attract some of those investors back to the fold,underwriters like Bear Stearns decided to structure the foreigncurrency issues as floating rate debt, sources said. This occurred against a backdrop of uncertainty over thecourse of U.S. interest rates for the intermediate term, andpredictions by a number of economists that Treasury yieldswould rise in the second half of the year, the sources noted. A Bear Stearns officer said more than half of the FordCredit notes were sold by late Friday afternoon, the second dayof offering. \"That is quicker than some recent fixed-rate NewZealand dollar note issues,\" he said. However, underwriters away from the Bear Stearns syndicatesaid the issue may have sold even faster if Prudential-Bachedid not offer the General Electric Credit notes on Friday. They pointed out that the Ford notes were rated A-1 byMoody's Investors and AA-minus by Standard and Poor's, whilethe General Electric notes, which had the same interest rateterms and were also non-callable to maturity, carriedtop-flight AAA ratings by both agencies. \"We have sold 20 to 25 pct of the GE notes. For first-daysales on a Friday afternoon, I'm happy with the results,\" anofficer on Prudential-Bache's syndicate desk said. Investors pay the U.S. dollar equivalent of the foreigncurrency-denominated notes, underwriters said. Investment bankers said the next floating-rate issue of NewZealand or Australian dollar-denominated debt is probably a fewweeks away. \"I would like to underwrite a deal a day. But with the Dow,Ford and GE offerings, the marketplace has had enough for thetime being,\" the Prudential-Bache officer admitted. Meanwhile, IDD Information Services said the 30-daycorporate visible supply fell to 3.29 billion dlrs last weekfrom 3.98 billion dlrs in the previous week.", "answer groups": [ "austdlr", "nzdlr" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Dutch central bank announced neweleven-day special advances at an unchanged 5.3 pct to aidmoney market liquidity, covering the period March 9 to 20. The amount will be set at tender on Monday March 9 between0800 and 0830 GMT. The new facility will replace the current4.8 billion guilders of seven-day advances expiring Monday. Money dealers estimated today's money market shortage at 11to 11.25 billion guilders, barely changed from yesterday. They said call money was still relatively high at 6-1/8 to6-1/4 pct as a result of the tight set of bids accepted by theBank for the previous seven-day facility.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Department of Agriculture'sforecast that French end-of-season soft wheat stocks willalmost double in 1987/88 is premature but would not besurprising, according to French cereal organisation officials. The Cereals Intervention Board, ONIC, Wheat Producers'Association and the National Union of Agricultural and CerealCooperatives have not yet forecast 1987/88 exports orend-of-season stocks. However, the officials said the USDA's figure of end1987/88 stocks at 5.03 mln tonnes against 1986/87's 2.87 mlnwas not surprising given a record high yield forecast in April. The French Feed Cereals Research Institute, ITCF, forecastin mid-April an average yield of 6.58 tonnes per hectare forsoft wheat in 1987/88 compared with 5.6 tonnes in 1986/87 andthe record high yield of 6.5/6.6 tonnes in 1984. This would result in a French soft wheat harvest of around31 mln tonnes against 25.5 mln in 1986/87, given a Ministry ofAgriculture estimate of area planted of 4.66 mln hectaresagainst 4.61 mln in 1986/87. ONIC's first preliminary forecast of the 1987/88 campaignwill be released at the beginning of September, an ONICofficial said. Soft wheat exports in 1987/88 were extremely difficult toestimate at this stage, both within the European Community andto non-EC countries, an ONIC official said. He said, however, that among countries to which Francecould increase its wheat exports were Egypt and the Maghrebcountries (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), he said. The USDA's forecast of an 11.65 mln tonne maize crop in1987/88 against 11.48 mln in 1986/87, while again premature,was not out of line with estimates of the French MaizeProducers Association, AGPM, an AGPM official said. Maize plantings would be down in 1987/88 but yields wereexpected to be higher, the AGPM official said. It estimated 1987/88 maize plantings of 1.73 mln hectares,down seven pct from the 1.87 mln hectares planted in 1986/87.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain", "corn" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it gave themoney market late, unspecified assistance of around 185 mlnstg. This takes the total liquidity injected into the system bythe bank today to 1.026 billion stg compared with a shortage itestimated at around one billion stg. Overnight interbank sterling dipped to 10 nine pct afterthe bank's announcement compared with levels around 10-1/2 pctshortly before and 11-1/4 11 pct initially today, dealers said.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.S. Trade Representative ClaytonYeutter suggested the U.S. could file a formal complaint withthe General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) challengingCanada's decision to impose duties on U.S. corn imports. Asked about the Canadian government decision to apply aduty of 84.9 cents per bushel on U.S. corn shipments, Yeuttersaid the U.S. could file a formal complaint with GATT under thedispute settlement procedures of the subsidies code. Other U.S. options would be to appeal the decision inCanadian courts, or to retaliate against Canadian goods, alower-level U.S. trade official said. However, retaliation isan unlikely step, at least initially, that official said. Nodecision on U.S. action is expected at least until afterdocuments on the ruling are received here later this week.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The National Pork Board announced at theAmerican Pork Congress convention in Indianapolis that refundsunder the legislative checkoff program are running less thanexpected. The Board oversees collection and distribution of fundsfrom the checkoff program that was mandated by the 1985 farmbill. Virgil Rosendale, a pork producer from Illinois andchairman of the National Pork Board, said over 2.2 mln dlrs wascollected in January and refunds are running almost nine pct,considerably less than expected. \"We believe that this indicates good producer support forthe new checkoff. We're getting good compliance from markets,from packers and from dealers,\" Rosendale said.", "answer groups": [ "carcass", "livestock" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Central bankers said theywere generally satisfied with the response to the Paris accordtwo weeks ago to stabilize currencies at around current levels. Speaking after a meeting at the Bank for InternationalSettlements (BIS), which reviewed the agreement, they alsowelcomed interest rates cuts in France and today's drop inBritish rates. One top official said the rate cuts would helpto stimulate growth generally in Europe and welcomed thatcountries other than West Germany were seen to be helpingsustain the economy. The central bankers, who spoke on the condition they not benamed, said the meeting of governors from the Group of 10countries also heard a report from Michel Camdessus, the newmanaging director of the International Monetary Fund, on theIMF's latest assessment of the debt crisis. In particular, theydiscussed Brazil's debt moratorium. But there was no sense of urgency, they said, and Brazilhad made no appeal for bridging loans from the BIS or centralbanks.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Panamanian bulk carrier Juvena isstill aground outside Tartous, Syria, despite discharging 6,400tons of its 39,000-ton cargo of wheat, and water has enteredthe engine-room due to a crack in the vessel bottom, LloydsShipping Intelligence Service said. The Juvena, 53,351 tonnes dw, ran aground outside Tartousport basin breakwater on February 25 in heavy weather and roughseas.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain", "ship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Grain analysts surveyed by the AmericanSoybean Association, ASA, projected acreage this year at 59.1mln acres of soybeans and 64.7 mln acres of corn. In 1986, farmers planted 61.5 mln acres of soybeans and76.7 mln acres of corn, according to the February 9 USDAsupply/demand report. The USDA is to release its 1987 plantingintentions report March 31. The survey included 15 soybean estimates and 13 cornestimates and was released in the March 16 Soybean Updatenewsletter sent to members. Estimates ranged from 56.0 mln to 63.0 mln acres ofsoybeans and 59.5 mln to 68.0 mln acres of corn. An ASA spokesman said the association plans no survey offarmers' planting intentions this year.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed", "corn", "soybean", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Total corn sales by Argentina to theSoviet Union are only 1.5 to 1.8 mln tonnes, with deliveryspread out from March to June, the U.S. AgricultureDepartment's Counselor in Buenos Aires said in a field report. The report, dated March 27, said many sources have statedthat the Soviet Union was initially interested in purchasing2.3 mln tonnes lof corn from Argentina. However, Soviet purchases from the United States havetended to displace additional Argentine purchases, the reportsaid. The USDA has to date reported USSR purchases of 2.6 mlntonnes of U.S. corn for delivery in the current U.S.-USSR grainagreement year, which ends this September 30, it said.", "answer groups": [ "grain", "corn" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Iran's top war spokesman Ali AkbarHashemi Rafsanjani on Tuesday called the U.S. Attacks on two ofits Gulf oil platforms an escalation and promised retaliation. \"God willing, we will carry out our duty in the coming daysand make them sorry,\" said Rafsanjani in a speech to Parliamentlater broadcast by Tehran Radio. The Tehran leadership have been quick to threaten vengeanceafter the U.S. Raids on the rigs, one of which was destroyed. President Ali Khamenei, Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousaviand now Rafsanjani within 24 hours of the U.S. Action have allvowed retaliation. Rafsanjani, the parliamentary speaker, said, \"It is not athreat or an attempt at intimidation when we say we willrespond to aggression -- it is a reality and we have proved itin practice.\" He added that the American attack \"squares neitherwith its superpower image nor its claim of concern withsecurity, nor reason and wisdom.\" U.S. Warships shelled an Iranian offshore oil platform andAmerican special forces boarded another, destroying equipment. The U.S. Government said the attack was a measured responseto an Iranian missile attack on the American-flagged Kuwaititanker Sea Isle City in Kuwaiti waters last Friday.", "answer groups": [ "ship", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Senate Agriculture committee votedto limit changes in county loan rate differentials startingwith the 1988 crop as part of a budget deficit reductionpackage. The panel also approved measures that could trigger largercorn and wheat acreage reduction requirements, increasefarmer-held reserve storage payments, reduce a potential milksupport price cut, and require advance deficiency payments forproducers of major crops. A proposal to require imported tropical oils be labeled onU.S. food products failed by a 10-8 vote.", "answer groups": [ "veg-oil", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Australia is risking wheat exportsales by not providing enough specific quality grades to meetbuyer requirements, the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) said. \"Many AWB customers are becoming increasingly qualityconscious, demanding strict adherence to contractual qualityspecifications,\" the board said in a submission to the RoyalCommission into Grain Storage, Handling and Transport. \"Many of the specifications are more specific than thecurrent categories used in Australia,\" it said. The commission is trying to identify ways of saving costsand boosting efficiency of the grain handling system. Australia must rely on quality to retain its wheat marketshare because its competitors are supplying cheaper butlower-quality grades, the AWB submission said. It stressed the need to segregate wheat categories at everystage from receival to shipping. Better industrial relations at grain terminals, moreuniform transport systems across the states and extensive stockcontrol were vital to improved marketing, it said. The submission also said Australia's federal system impededthe AWB's role of coordinating and managing the marketing ofwheat. The AWB called for an end to physical and legislativeconstraints at state borders that prevent the efficienttransport of grains to other states for shipment. \"It is essential that wheat moves by the most economic modeto the nearest efficient port, irrespective of the state inwhich the wheat is grown or stored,\" it said. For example, wheat grown in northern New South Wales (NSW)might move more efficiently to Brisbane, in Queensland, than toSydney or Newcastle in New South Wales, it said. Similarly,southern NSW wheat might better be shipped to Portland orGeelong, in Victoria. Legislation giving state rail authorities a monopoly overgrain shipments was one notable impediment, it said. The AWB said the current approach of state-based bulkhandling authorities is not essential, although it said itfavoured the authorities maintaining at least their currentlevel of control of storage and transport as long as qualitywas maintained. An appendix on port loading costs showed it cost between26,500 and 34,700 U.S. Dlrs to load a 50,000-tonne vessel atvarious Australian ports compared with 21,200 dlrs at Houstonand 16,300 at Port Cartier, Quebec, for a 60,000-tonner.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bundesbank did not intervene asthe dollar was fixed lower at 1.8218 marks after 1.8243yesterday, dealers said. Dealers said dollar trading was very quiet over theEuropean morning, with operators made wary by today's meetingof the Group of Five finance ministers and central bank chiefsahead of the full IMF/World Bank session in Washington. It was undermined by remarks from U.S. Council of EconomicAdvisers Chairman Beryl Sprinkel who told Iowa bankers the U.S.Had no objective regarding the value of the dollar. Sprinkel also called the reference to stabilizing exchangerates at about current levels, made at the Paris meeting onFebruary 22, a \"vague statement,\" casting doubt on operators'assumptions that a secret target level had been set. Sprinkel added that if West Germany and Japan made progressto stimulate their economies as the Paris agreement envisaged,\"there would not be the necessity of significant declines in thedollar.\" One dealer for a U.S.-based bank noted the dollar tendedeasier after the remarks. \"They were obviously regarded as beingnegative. And if the market starts regarding anything thatcomes out negatively then it means that the underlyingsentiment is negative,\" he said. Some early selling pressure softened the dollar'sundertone. Most operators overlooked intervention by the Bank of Japanto support the dollar against selling in favour of the yen byinstitutional investors and overseas operators, dealers said. After the strong focus on the dollar/yen rate in recentweeks up to the end of the Japanese financial year on March 31,interest and activity was likely to switch, dealers said. \"We can start to look at a point in time where the interestshifts away from dollar/yen and more into dollar/mark and theother European currencies,\" the U.S. Bank dealer said. Despite the softer undertone, traders would remain wary oftaking significant new positions during the Washingtonmeetings, dealers said. Aside from the G-5 session today,Bundesbank President Karl Otto Poehl is due to meet the GermanAffairs group on international monetary issues later. The mark gained some strength from news the Bundesbank seta new securities repurchase tender to add money marketliquidity at a fixed 3.80 pct, unchanged from those over thelast several weeks. Some expectation had been growing that itmight cut the rate or move to a minimum interest rate tender,signalling a desire for a slight easing in credit policy. Bundesbank central bank council member Lothar Mueller saidthe Bundesbank had not given up its focus on money supply. Amonetary policy which took into account exchange rates andcapital flows could not be confused with an exchange-rateoriented policy, he said, contradicting some growing sentiment. Sterling eased a touch to 2.950 marks at the fixing from2.957. The yen's unabated strength, despite the intervention,brought it up to 1.2555 marks per 100 from yesterday's 1.2480. The Swiss franc rose to a fix of 120.515 marks per 100 from120.180. The French franc eased to 30.055 marks per 100 after30.060, Belgian franc was little changed at 4.829 marks per100.", "answer groups": [ "dlr", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Kenya's coffee and tea growing areasremained generally dry for the second consecutive week, in theperiod to April 28, weather and farming sources said. All areas east and west of the Rift Valley recorded below25 mm of rain with western Kericho town having only 21 mm, theysaid. Kericho, which last year received 387 mm in April lastyear, has so far recorded only 176 mm and little rain isforecast throughout the country in the next two days. Tea and coffee crops are doing well but farmers fear thatoutput will be low if the unusually dry spell continues. Aprilis normally the wettest month in Kenya.", "answer groups": [ "coffee", "tea" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Turkish Central Bank set aLira/Dollar rate for April 8 of 784.50/788.42 to the Dollar,down from the previous 784.35/788.27. The Bank also set a Lira/Mark rate of 430.60/432.75 to theMark, down from the previous 429.35/431.50.\u0003", "answer groups": [ "dmk", "dlr", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Department saidprivate U.S. exporters reported new sales of 900,000 tonnes ofcorn to the Soviet Union and 350,000 tonnes of corn switchedfrom previously announced unknown destinations to the USSR. The corn is for delivery during the 1986/87 marketing yearand under the fourth year of the U.S.-USSR Long Term GrainSupply Agreement, the USDA said. The department said exporters also reported corn sales of143,000 tonnes for delivery to Taiwan, with 56,000 tonnes forshipment in the 1986/87 season and the balance for shipment inthe 1987/88 year. The marketing year for corn began September 1. Sales of corn to the USSR for delivery during the fourthyear of the agreement, which ends this September 30, now total2.25 mln tonnes.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Fritz Leutwiler, chairman ofBBC AG Brown Boveri und Cie and a former Swiss National Bankpresident, urged the National Bank to declare its intent ofachieving a rising rate for the mark against the Swiss franc. In a speech to shareholders, Leutwiler said, \"A graduallyrising rate for the mark in relation to the franc would bedesirable from the standpoint of industrial exports and withregard to sustaining Swiss industry.\" \"Simply an appropriate declaration of intent by our bank ofissue (Swiss National Bank) could have a positive effect,\" hesaid. Leutwiler, who served 10 years as head of the Swiss centralbank, said such a step would not contradict the National Bank'starget of monetary stability. \"Bringing the franc close to the mark would, of course, haveto be done step by step under the watchful eye of monetarypolicy,\" he told shareholders. \"Realistically there is in fact nopersuasive reason why the German currency is quoted almost 20pct lower than the Swiss.\" A National Bank spokesman said the relation of the mark andSwiss franc was an example of stable currency parities over along period of time. The spokesman said exchange rates were made by the market,not the central bank, and it would be impossible to influenceindividual parities separately. Leutwiler said the Swiss National Bank could not supportthe value of the dollar, even in conjunction with other centralbanks, without putting monetary stability in jeopardy. \"I would be the last to recommend that. The key to astronger dollar lies in the United States itself,\" Leutwilersaid.", "answer groups": [ "sfr", "money-fx", "dmk" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Canadian government is expectedto announce later this week its final ruling whether U.S. cornexports to Canada have injured Ontario corn growers, U.S.government and farm group representatives said. The deadline for a final determination is March 7. U.S. officials said they are encouraged by the outcome in asimilar case covering European pasta imports. In that case,Canada decided pasta imports, which take about ten pct of theCanadian market, did not injure domestic producers. U.S. cornexports represent only about five pct of the Canadian market. Canada slapped a 1.05 dlrs per bushel duty on U.S. cornimports in November 1986, but reduced the duty to 85 cts lastmonth because the Canadian government said U.S. subsidies to corn producers were less than Canada earlier estimated.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Bank of Japan governor Satoshi Sumitasaid the central bank has no intention of cutting its discountrate again as a way of preventing the yen's rise. He told a press conference that the growth of Japanesemoney supply remains high. The bank will have to watch closely various developmentsresulting from its already eased monetary stance, such as thesharp rise in real estate and stock prices, he said. Although the yen's rise will have a greater deflationaryimpact on the economy, the economy is not likely to slow downmuch further, Sumita said. \"I don't think we should change our economic outlook at themoment,\" Sumita said. Sumita has said in the past that he expects the economy toshow a gradual upturn in the second half of the year. The governor said the six major industrial nations areexpected to review last month's pact on currency stability whenthey meet next in April. Dealers said they expect the six - Britain, Canada, France,Japan, the U.S. Amd West Germany - to meet just before theIMF/World Bank interim committee meeting in Washington startingon April 9.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "interest" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Two days of talks between management andunions to try to end the 3-1/2 month labour dispute at CargillU.K. Ltd's oilseed crushing plant at Seaforth ended yesterdaywithout resolving the situation, a company spokesman said. Fresh talks are expected to be held early next week but theactual date has not yet been fixed, he added. Oilseed processing at the mill has been at a standstillsince December 19 and the company has declared force majeurefor deliveries of soymeal and soyoil ahead to May.", "answer groups": [ "veg-oil", "soybean", "soy-meal", "soy-oil", "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Indonesia's exports of tea and cocoawill continue to rise in calendar 1987 but coffee exports areforecast to dip slightly in 1987/88 (April-March) as thegovernment tries to improve quality, the U.S. Embassy said. The embassy's annual report on Indonesian agricultureforecast coffee output in 1986/87 would be 5.77 mln bags of 60kilograms each. That is slightly less than the 5.8 mln bagsproduced in 1985/86. In 1987/88 coffee production is forecast to rise again to5.8 mln bags, but exports to dip to 4.8 mln from around 5.0 mlnin 1986/87. Exports in 1985/86 were 4.67 mln bags. The embassy report says coffee stocks will rise to 1.3 mlntonnes in 1987/88 from 1.15 mln in 1986/87. It bases this on afall in exports as a result of the \"probable\" re-introduction ofquotas by the International Coffee Organisation. Cocoa production and exports are forecast to rise steadilyas the government develops cocoa plantations. Production ofcocoa in Indonesia increased to 32,378 tonnes in calendar 1985from 10,284 tonnes in 1980. It is projected by the governmentto rise to more than 50,000 tonnes by 1988. Production in 1986 is estimated by the embassy at 35,000tonnes, as against 38,000 tonnes in 1987. The report forecasts cocoa exports to rise to 35,000 tonnesthis year, from 33,000 tonnes in 1986 and 31,000 in 1985. The Netherlands is at present the biggest importer ofIndonesian cocoa beans. The report forecasts that in calendar 1987, Indonesia's CTC(crushed, torn and curled) tea exports will increasesignificantly with the coming on stream of at least eight newCTC processing plants. Indonesia plans to diversify its tea products by producingmore CTC tea, the main component of tea bags. Production of black and green teas is forecast in theembassy report to rise to 125,000 tonnes in calendar 1987 from123,000 tonnes in 1986. Exports of these teas are likely to rise to 95,000 tonnesin 1987 from 85,000 in 1986 and around 90,000 in 1985. The embassy noted the ministry of trade tightened qualitycontrols on tea in October 1986 in an effort to become morecompetititve in the world market.", "answer groups": [ "cocoa", "tea", "coffee" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Contract terms for trade in coconutoil are to be changed from long tons to tonnes with effect fromthe Aug/Sep contract onwards, Dutch vegetable oil traders said. Operators have already started to take account of theexpected change and reported at least one trade in tonnes forAug/Sept shipment yesterday. The Federation of Oils Seeds and Fats Associations, FOSFA,in London said it had previously advised traders to adopt themetric system for coconut oil transactions to bring thecommodity into line with other vegetable oils.", "answer groups": [ "coconut-oil", "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Weekend rain over the Western Corn Beltbrought further relief to crop areas that had been dry earlierthis month, and developing weather patterns will bring welcomemoisture to central and eastern belt locations this week,according to Dale Mohler, senior meteorologist for Accu-WeatherInc. \"There is going to be more rain for the next two, threedays,\" he said. \"We're in a fairly wet pattern with normal toabove normal moisture this week.\" Mohler said rainfall averaged 1/2 inch across southernMinnesota, 3/4 inch over southwest Iowa, one inch in easternNebraska and 1-1/2 inches in south-central Nebraska. Illinois fields saw virtually no rain over the weekend butwere receiving scattered thundershower activity today, he said. Rain patterns will move across Indiana to Ohio withthudershower activity yielding to more general rains, he said. \"Tomorrow, that eastern area will get 1/4 to one inch, apretty good rain,\" Mohler said. Rain was heavier than expected over the weekend, sparkingan early selloff in soybean futures at the Chicago Board ofTrade. Prices were off 14 to 20-1/2 cents with November off19-1/2 cents at 5.43-1/2 dlrs. Mohler said the cold front now over the eastern belt isexpected to move over the central Midwest, then move northlater in the week. That could bring new rain patterns acrossthe Corn Belt and assure good crop conditions asearly-developed corn moves into the crucial pollination stagein early July, he said.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed", "corn", "soybean", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Zambia's marketed maize production willprobably fall to less than 630,000 tonnes in 1986/87 (May-Apr),from 918,000 last year, because of poor rainfall in majorproducing areas, Agriculture Minister Kingsley Chinkuli said. He told Parliament that in the southern provinces theharvest would be over 50 pct down on the level in the previousmarketing year. \"The nation would be lucky to produce over seven mln bags(630,000 tonnes) of maize this year,\" he stated. Chinkuli added that Zambia was setting up an irrigationfund with Canadian aid to lessen the effects of poor rainfall.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Major U.S. banks may lift primelending rates again within days due to recent increases intheir borrowing costs and speculation the Federal Reserve isnudging up interest rates to help the dollar, economists said. In what was the first prime rate boost since mid-1984, mostbanks in early April lifted their rates a quarter point to7-3/4 pct, citing a reduced gap between the prime and their owncost of money. That spread has narrowed again. \"A prime rate increase could happen as soon as tonight,\"said Robert Brusca of Nikko Securities Co International Inc. Brusca said a quarter-point prime rate rise to eight pct isjustified because the spread between banks' cost of funds andthe prime rate has narrowed to less than three quarters of apercentage point. He said that spread had averaged around 1.4 percentagepoints since last October until it fell below one point andtriggered the April prime rate rise at most banks. \"We could easily have another prime rate increase as soonas this week,\" said David Jones of Aubrey G. Lanston and Co. \"We've got a fairly good chance of a prime rate rise in thenear future,\" said Allan Leslie of Discount Corp. \"Based on the spread between the prime rate and fundingcosts, you would ordinarily see a prime rate increase now,\"said Harold Nathan, economist at Wells Fargo Bank. However, he said banks may be reluctant to lift the primebecause that would dampen already fairly weak business loandemand and because some are not sure the Fed will maintainrecent upward pressure on money market interest rates. Nathan believes the Fed has let market pressures liftshort-term rates in recent days to help the ailing dollar. Hesaid \"if there is widespread belief money market rates willstay high, a prime rate rise could occur at any time.\" Fed officials have long expressed concern that too steep adollar drop could help rekindle U.S. inflation. As the dollarfell to a 40-year low against the yen Friday, currency traderssaid the Fed and other central banks supported the dollar. In addition to buying dollars outright, another way tostabilize the U.S. currency would be for the Fed to push U.S.interest rates higher relative to overseas rates. Based particularly on the Fed's reserve management actionson Friday and today, Nathan of Wells Fargo said \"it has becomeclear that the Fed is not fully resisting upward rate pressurein the market. It is supplying fewer reserves than are needed.\" Bank funding costs and other short and long-term interestrates rose sharply Friday and today on heightened speculationthat the Fed is gently firming monetary policy. That was because the Fed supplied far fewer reserves in themarket than most economists had expected. On Friday, the Fed added reserves indirectly and in smallamounts via one billion dlrs of customer repurchase agreementswith the Federal funds rate at which banks lend to one anotherhigh at 6-5/16 pct. With funds trading even higher at 6-1/2 pcttoday, the Fed arranged only a slightly larger 1.5 billion dlrround of customer repurchase agreements. \"The Fed's actions on Friday and today show that it isoffering only token resistance to upward funds rate pressures,\"said Jones of Lanston. \"The Fed is focusing its policy attention mainly on theneed to defend the dollar,\" Jones said. He believes it ismerely shading policy toward restraint now, \"but to have amajor impact on the dollar, the Fed will have to tighten policyovertly at some point.\" Jones expects the Fed to foster higher market rates bybecoming more restrictive in supplying reserves and, withinfour to six weeks, to raise its discount rate from 5-1/2 pct. Jones said a U.S. discount rate increase to six pct mightwell be accompanied by West German and Japanese rate cuts tofurther aid the dollar. Given likely Fed policy firming, he said both the yield on30-year Treasury bonds (about 8.30 pct now) and the prime ratemay be at 8-1/2 pct at end-June and nine pct by year's end. \"The jury is still out on whether the Fed is tighteningpolicy to defend the dollar,\" said Leslie of Discount Corp. Hesaid tax-date pressures have been pushing up Fed funds lately.Leslie said Fed actions and reserve data once these pressuresabate will show whether or not it is firming policy.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "interest" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Standard Oil Co said a contract hasbeen awarded to for a drilling andproduction platform to be installed in Ewing Bank Block 826 inthe Gulf of Mexico where Standard and Mobil Corp each own a 40pct interest. Standard said its Standard Oil Production Co subsidiarywill operate the platform which is being designed to produce15,000 barrels of oil and 50 mln cubic feet of gas daily. Theplatform is now expected to be installed in the summer of 1988.Other owners are Kerr-McGee Corp with 16.66 pct and with 3.34 pct.", "answer groups": [ "nat-gas", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Departmentannounced it accepted three bids from two exporters for exportbonuses to cover sales of 54,000 tonnes of durum wheat toAlgeria. USDA said the bonuses awarded were 42.45 dlrs per tonne, tobe paid in the form of commodities from CCC inventory. The bonus awards were made to Cam USA Inc (36,000 tonnes)and Corprostate Inc (18,000 tonnes). Shipment is scheduled for June 1-30, 1987. An additional 64,000 tonnes of durum wheat are stillavailable to Algeria under the export enhancement program.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "French gross domestic product should growby 2.3 pct in 1988 after two pct growth this year and 2.1 pctin 1986, the Finance Ministry said. The latest forecast, prepared by the National Accounts andBudget Commission, assumed an exchange rate of 6.20 francs tothe dollar this year and next and an average oil import pricerising to 18.9 dlrs a barrel next year from 17.4 dlrs this yearand 14.7 in 1986. The Commission, headed by Finance minister EdouardBalladur, forecast a fall in consumer price inflation to twopct year-on-year at end-1988 from 2.4 pct at end 1987 and 2.1pct last year. In annual average terms inflation would fall to two pct in1988 from 2.5 pct this year and 2.7 pct last year, it said. Trade should show a one billion franc annual surplus thisyear and next after last year's 0.5 billion surplus, it added. Employment should rise by 0.1 pct a year over the next twoyears while the state budget deficit should be cut to 2.2 pctof GDP in 1988 from 2.6 pct this year and 2.9 pct in 1986. Other forecasts prepared by the Commission indicated a 1.8pct 1988 rise in household purchasing power, up from 1.1 pctthis year but less than last year's 2.9 pct, and a 1.6 pct risein household consumption, compared with this year's 1.5 pct andlast year's 2.9 pct. Business investment is forecast to rise four pct a yearthis year and next after 3.7 pct last year, with private sectorproductive investment rising 4.9 pct in 1988 after a six pctrise this year and 5.5 pct in 1986. The Ministry said updated forecasts would be preparedbefore the autumn to serve as the basis for the 1988 budget,which the government is now preparing for presentation inSeptember.", "answer groups": [ "jobs", "trade", "retail", "gnp" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Kelley Oil and Gas Partners Ltd said ithas agreed to purchase all of CF Industries Inc's oil andnatural gas properties for about 5,500,000 dlrs, effective July1. It said the Louisiana properties had proven reserves atyear-end of 11 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 85,000barrels of oil, condensate and natural gas liquids. Kelley said it currently owns working interests in some ofthe properties.", "answer groups": [ "crude", "acq", "nat-gas" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Turkey's Central Bank set a lira/dollarrate for April 3 of 782.50/786.41 to the dollar, down from780.00/783.90. It set a lira/D-mark rate of 428.30/430.44 tothe mark, up from 429.15/431.30.", "answer groups": [ "dlr", "money-fx", "dmk" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Portugal's economy, which has beenenjoying one of its most buoyant periods in more than a decade,may now be strong enough to shrug off the country's latestgovernment crisis, analysts said. But the April 3 ousting of Prime Minister Anibal CavacoSilva's government could slow economic reforms and investmentas Portugal continues to adapt to membership in the EuropeanCommunity, which it joined in January last year, they said. Cavaco Silva's minority Social Democratic Party, PSD, wastoppled in a parliamentary censure vote by left-wing parties. The centre-right administration had made economic growthreform a priority in its 17 months in office. In 1986, Portugal's economy grew four pct, its currentaccount surplus swelled to more than one billion dlrs andinflation fell to 10 pct, from 20 pct in 1985. Analysts and businessmen said the prospects of instabilitywere worrying but they felt the foundations for continuedgrowth had not been badly shaken. \"The economy has developed a certain self-confidence that isnow less dependent on the political situation,\" said FritzHaser, economics professor at Universidade Livre, Lisbon. \"The market doesn't see this as a real crisis yet,\" economistJorge Braga de Macedo told Reuters. Businessmen have identified political instability over thelast 13 years as one of the biggest obstacles to lastingeconomic progress. The PSD administration was the 16th formed since the 1974revolution. Portugal's developing stock markets, however, remainbuoyant. Brokers and unit trust managers said the recent surgein economic confidence under the PSD rule was still largelyunderpinned by continuing optimistic forecasts. Investment grew nearly 10 pct in 1986 and a Bank ofPortugal forecast, released on the day the PSD government fell,predicted the pace of investment and overall economic growthwould remain at similar levels this year. But analysts said the crisis interrupted current policiesand could slow economic development. Soares, who is expected to announce a decision by the endof the month, can either call early elections or form a newgovernment from parties in the existing left wing-dominatedparliament. Many businessmen said they strongly favoured quickelections as the best solution. \"There is a good chance that amajority government could result from early elections,\"Confederation of Portuguese Industry (CIP) president PedroFerraz da Costa said. He said they were optimistic this could mean thecontinuation in the near future of liberalisation policiesintroduced over the last year. The left-wing parties favour a parliamentary solution, butthe PSD said it wants an early election in which opinion pollssay they could win an overall majority. A PSD majority would also open the way for morewide-ranging reforms, such as relaxation of labour laws andpossible denationalisation of industry, the analysts said. Cavaco Silva has accused the left-wing opposition partiesof blocking key economic reforms. The left-wingers said Portugal's positive economic resultswere more the product of favourable international conditionssuch as cheaper oil and raw material imports, than of PSDpolicies.", "answer groups": [ "bop", "gnp", "cpi" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Grain traders said they were stillawaiting results of yesterday's U.K. Intervention feed wheattender for the home market. The market sought to buy 340,000 tonnes, more than doublethe remaining 150,000 tonnes available under the currenttender. However, some of the tonnage included duplicate bidsfor supplies in the same stores. Since the tenders started last July 861,000 tonnes ofBritish feed wheat have been sold back to the home market.", "answer groups": [ "grain", "wheat" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The joint committee of Taiwan's soybeanimporters awarded a contract to Cargill Inc of Minneapolis,Minnesota, for supply of one 32,000 tonne cargo of U.S.Soybeans, a committee spokesman told Reuters. The cargo, priced at 249.10 U.S. Dlrs per tonne c and fTaiwan, is set for delivery before July 7, he said. The committee cancelled a tender for another cargo becausethe prices offered by U.S. Suppliers were too high, he added.", "answer groups": [ "soybean", "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it has forecasta shortage of around 700 mln stg in the system today. Among the main factors, maturing assistance and take-up oftreasury bills will drain 546 mln stg, bills for repurchase bythe market 76 mln, a rise in note circulation 310 mln andbankers balances below target 105 mln. The outflow will be partly offset by 340 mln stg exchequertransactions.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Trade between Argentina and Braziljumped 90 pct in 1986 versus 1985, Foreign Minister DanteCaputo said. Speaking to reporters, Caputo said the near doubling intrade showed the \"tangible and immediate results\" of a wide-ranging economic integration accord signed by the presidents ofboth countries last July. He said trade last year totalled 1.3 billion dlrs versus700 mln dlrs in 1985. The accord provided for capital goods trade between the twocountries to rise to 2.0 billion dlrs over four years. Argentine wheat exports to Brazil will increase from1,375,000 tonnes in 1987 to 2.0 mln tonnes in 1991, the accordsaid.", "answer groups": [ "grain", "trade", "wheat" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "New Zealand may need about 100,000tonnes of wheat this year, which would normally come fromAustralia, but may be from the United States, the U.S.Agriculture Department said. In its report on Export Markets for U.S. Grains, thedepartment said with the deregulation of the New Zealand WheatBoard, which normally imports wheat from Australia, there isthe possibility of wheat purchases from the united states sincethe shipping cost between New Zealand and the Eastern Coast ofAustralia and the West Coast of the United States are aboutequal.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Congress should give the U.S.Agriculture Secretary the authority to keep the 1987 soybeanloan rate at the current effective rate of 4.56 dlrs per bushelin order to help resolve the problem of soybean exportcompetitiveness, USDA undersecretary Dan Amstutz said. Speaking to reporters following a Senate AgricultureAppropriations hearing, Amstutz suggested that one way out ofthe current soybean program \"dilemma\" would be for Congress toallow the loan rate to remain at 4.56 dlrs. He indicated if theloan rate were 4.56 dlrs, USDA could then consider ways to makeU.S. soybeans more competitive such as using certificates tofurther buydown the loan rate. Under current law, the 1987 soybean loan rate cannot beless than 4.77 dlrs per bu. Amstutz' suggestion would be for Congress to change thefarm bill to allow USDA to leave the soybean loan rate at 4.56dlrs in crop year 1987 rather than increase it to 4.77 dlrs. The 1986 effective loan rate is 4.56 dlrs because of the4.3 pct Gramm-Rudman budget cut. Amstutz stressed that a major factor in any decision onsoybean program changes will be the budget costs. He told the hearing that the problem in soybeans is thatthe U.S. loan rate provides an \"umbrella\" to foreign productionand causes competitive problems for U.S. soybeans. Asked about the American Soybean Association's request forsome form of income support, Amstutz said \"the competitiveproblem is the most severe.\" He said USDA is still studying thesituation and \"no resolution\" has yet been found.", "answer groups": [ "soybean", "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Mint said it is seekingoffers on 3,701,000 lbs of electrolytic copper and 629,000 lbsof electrolytic cut nickel cathodes or briquettes that itintends to purchase. It said both metals are for delivery in the week of May 11to Olin Corp, East Alton, Ill. Offers for the copper are due by 1100 hrs EDT, April 21,while offers on the nickel are due at 1100 hrs EDT on April 14. The Mint said that firms, in submitting their offers,select to receive payment by standard check or be wiretransfer. Awards are determined by whichever of the two methodsis most cost advantageous, based on the cost of money at thattime. The minimum acceptance periods for each solicitation isthree calendar days for the copper and 10 calendar days for thenickel, the Mint said.", "answer groups": [ "nickel", "copper" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Consolidated Natural Gas Co said itsCNG Producing Co subsidiary, bidding alone or with partners,was the apparent high bidder on six of seven tracts it south atWednesday's sale of federal oil and gas leases in the Gulf ofMexico. The company said it share of the six bids totaled 6.2 mlndlrs. Its 100 pct interest bids were on three offshore tracts-- West Cameron 209, 302 and 303. Consolidated has a 50 pctinterest in the bid for Eugene Island 375 and Ship Shoal 128and 129. The remaining interest in 139 is held by Sun EnergyPartners , which is 96.3 pct owned by Sun Co Inc ., which is 49.7 pct owned byAllied-Signal Inc , is Consolidated's partner on the othertwo tracts.", "answer groups": [ "nat-gas", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Japanese feed and starch makers activelybought U.S. Corn last week, C and F basis, for July/Septembershipment in view of bullish freight rates following activeinquiries by the Soviet Union, trade sources said. Some said the makers were seen buying some 30 pct of theirrequirements, estimated at about three mln tonnes for thethree-month shipment period. \"Belief is growing that freight rates will not declinesharply from current high levels even in the usually sluggishsummer season because the Soviet Union's chartering is seencontinuing five to seven months from April,\" one source said. The sources said Japanese trading houses were seen coveringa total of 500,000 tonnes of Chinese corn for shipment in Mayto October. But they are believed to have not yet sold most ofthe corn to end-users in anticipation of further corn pricerises in the world market. Supply from Argentina and South Africa for July/Septemberis still uncertain. But the sources forecast supplies fromArgentina may fall to 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes from ananticipated 800,000 in calendar 1987 and from South Africa to700,000 to 800,000 tonnes from an estimated one mln in light oftighter export availability.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve may intervene inthe government securities market to supply temporary reservesindirectly via customer repurchase agreements, economists said. They said that while the Fed faces no great urgency to addreserves at the start of the two-week maintenance period todayit would probably do so in order to offset a relatively highfederal funds rate. Fed funds opened at 6-3/16 pct and remained there in earlytrading. Yesterday, they averaged 6.45 pct, after rising ashigh as seven pct at the close.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Ninety-six pct of Alberta andnortheastern British Columbia crops have been seeded, about aweek ahead of the 10 year average, according to the Albertawheat pool report. Hard red spring wheat accounts for most acreage with 6.0mln estimated for this year, little changed from last year.Oats acreage of 1.95 mln is unchanged on last year and barleyarea of 5.9 mln is also similar to last year. Rapeseed plantingof an estimated 3.24 mln is expected five pct up on 1986. Thesouth and south central areas of Alberta lacked moisture withgermination patchy at best. Growth prospects in northern areasare generally in the good to very good range. Soil moisture is better in the north central and Peaceareas, the wheat pool said.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed", "wheat", "rapeseed", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve's move to easiermonetary policy, begun with four quick half-point discount ratecuts in 1986, will likely end with a final rate drop in thesecond quarter, analysts said. A poll of 10 economists shows most expect interest rates toedge lower, with the Fed likely to drop its basic lending ratefrom 5-1/2 pct late next quarter to help the economy. \"The Fed is not likely to ease policy much further withouta full-blown recession,\" said Raymond Stone, chief financialeconomist at Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. Stone said economic data available by late June may be justweak enough to prompt one more discount rate cut. But he saidit may only be a quarter-point drop instead of the usual halfpoint, to avoid hurting the dollar further. All of the economists agreed that the Federal Open MarketCommittee tomorrow will leave Fed policy unchanged. The average forecast of those surveyed projects roughlyquarter-point drops by the end of June in both the Treasurybond yield, to 7-1/2 pct, and the Federal funds rate at whichbanks lend to one another, to 5-7/8 pct. Most expect the primelending rate at major banks to remain at 7-1/2 pct. Other broad predictions of the survey, relating mainly tothe April-June quarter, follow: - The dollar is likely to decline five to 10 pct furtheragainst other major currencies because of a large U.S. budgetdeficit and a wide, but narrowing, trade gap. Contacted afterthe dollar's steep drop in the last two business days, theeconomists reaffirmed this view but stressed the risk is thatthe dollar will fall more, rather than less, than they expect. - Oil prices in the second quarter are likely to continuetrading roughly between 16 and 19 dlrs a barrel and could welltest the lower end of that range. - Stocks will continue to outperform bonds next quarter andprobably for all of 1987. Stocks should gain on strongforeign demand and a modest second-half economic rise. Theoutlook for bonds also is less favorable later in the yearsince both inflation and interest rates may be edging up. - Inflation as measured by the GNP implicit price deflatorwill rise to around 3.3 pct this year from 2.7 pct in 1986. Thesharp fall in the dollar to date will add to inflation, as willa mild economic pickup in the second half of this year. - U.S. real gross national product, which grew at a two pctannual rate in the 1986 second half, should expand atrespective rates of about 2.3 pct and 2.5 pct in the 1987 firstand second halves. First-quarter growth is put at a 2.4 pctannualrate, slowing to 2.1 pct next quarter. Robert Brusca of Nikko Securities Co International seesboth the strongest economy and the highest interest rates amongthose surveyed. He expects real GNP, which grew at a 1.1 pctrate in fourth-quarter 1986, to expand at a 3.3 pct rate thisquarter and 3.5 pct next quarter. \"The economy will bounce back more strongly than manyexpect,\" Brusca said. He said an involuntary buildup ininventories, largely in autos, will add to first-quartereconomic growth, with consumer spending helping later. \"We're running out of special factors to keep the economyafloat,\" said Philip Braverman of Irving Securities Corp. Hisinterest rate and economic forecasts were among the lowest. Braverman said tax law changes and inventory accumulationhelped lift fourth and first quarter GNP growth, respectively.He expects 2.5 pct first quarter growth but said that secondquarter growth could be zero or negative. Braverman said economic activity next quarter will sufferfrom a paring of inventories, lower capital investment, slow government spending and less construction. Only a marginallynarrower trade deficit will add to growth. He sees a 7.10 pct end-of-June yield on Treasury bonds,with Federal funds and prime rates at 5.50 and seven pct,respectively. Nikko's Brusca projects rates of 8.25 pct forbonds, 6.15 pct for funds and 7.75 pct for the prime rate. Two of the 10 economists revised rate forecasts up mildlyafter the dollar's fall to 40-year lows versus the yen in pastdays and news of pending U.S. trade sanctions against Japan. David Resler of Nomura Securities Co International Incraised his end-June bond yield forecast to 7.50 pct from 7.20pct and a Fed funds rate estimate to six pct from 5.80 pct. Raul Nicho, president of Money Market Services Inc, liftedhis forecast of bond and Fed funds rates an eighth of a pointto eight pct for bonds and 6-1/4 pct for funds. Both Nicho andResler left their end-June prime rate forecast at 7-1/2 pct. The higher rate forecasts reflected a belief that Japaneseinvestors will be less eager to buy U.S. bonds because of fearabout further dollar erosion and perhaps in response to U.S.trade sanctions. Yields may have to rise to lure other buyers.......END-JUNE U.S. INTEREST RATE FORECASTS........................T-bonds..Fed funds..Prime..Nikko Securities.....8.25......6.15......7.75..Money Mkt Services...8.00......6.25......7.50..Discount Corp........7.75......6.25......7.50..Merrill Lynch........7.30......5.75......7.50..Bankers Trust........7.25......5.50......7.50..Wells Fargo Bank.....7.30......5.60......7.00..Irving Securities....7.10......5.50......7.00..Dean Witter..........7.00......5.50......7.00...FORECAST AVERAGE....7.50......5.875.....7.50...CURRENT LEVELS......7.80......6.125.....7.50..", "answer groups": [ "gnp", "interest" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Congress, eager to find budgetsavings, launches a review of the U.S. Agriculture Department'sgeneric commodity certificate program tomorrow, amid signs USDAand the General Accounting Office, GAO, are at odds over howmuch the program has cost U.S. taxpayers. The GAO concluded in a preliminary report last week thatpayment-in-kind, or PIK, certificates cost between five and 20pct more than cash outlays, administration officials who askednot to be identified said. USDA officials, however, took issue with the report, sayingit did not take into account storage, handling and transportsavings that accrue to the government. The GAO then decided tore-examine the costs, sources said. The issue is an important one, because congressional budgetcommittees are known to be considering limiting the use ofcertificates as a means of cutting spending. Agriculture Under Secretary Daniel Amstutz and GAO SeniorAssociate Director Brian Crowley are set to testify before theSenate Agriculture Committee tomorrow. Amstutz is expected to tell the committee that there areuncertainties in determining the cost of certificates comparedto cash outlays, and that savings to the Commodity Credit Corp,CCC, almost equal costs, department sources said. USDA estimates that it costs the government about 75 centsto store, handle and transport each bushel of commodity put ingovernment storage. It was unclear whether the GAO, Congress' investigativearm, would stick by its original analysis that it costs thegovernment more to use certificates instead of cash in farmprice and income support programs, Reagan administrationsources said. The GAO is expected to point out that use ofpayment-in-kind, PIK, certificates has helped relieve tightstorage by moving grain that otherwise might not have beensold. The testimony by Amstutz and GAO Senior Associate DirectorBrian Crowley comes as congressional budget committeesintensify their efforts to pinpoint ways to cut the federalbudget deficit -- including considering limits on the use ofPIK certificates. The CCC issues dollar-denominated PIK certificates, orcerts, as a partial substitute for direct cash outlays tofarmers or cash subsidies to exporters. Certs can be used torepay nonrecourse loans or exchanged for CCC commodities orcash. Between April and December 1986, CCC issued 3.8 billiondlrs worth of certificates, according to USDA. Up to another6.7 billion dlrs worth could be issued between January andAugust 1987, according to USDA. Certs can cost the government more than cash primarilybecause recipients can use the certificates to pay backgovernment loans at levels below the loan rate. Eliminating this practice, called \"PIK and roll,\" would savethe government 1.4 billion dlrs between 1988-92, according tothe Congressional Budget Office, CBO. That estimate, accordingto a CBO official, was based on an assumption that certificatescost the government about 15 pct more than cash payments. The Senate and House Budget Committees are known to beconsidering curbs on PIK-and-roll transactions among othersavings alternatives. The GAO last week reached the tentative conclusion that theestimated three billion dlrs of certificates redeemed to datehave cost the federal government between 150 mln and 600 mlndlrs, or between five and 20 pct, more than cash outlays, oneadministration official said. However, the GAO has decided to reassess those estimatesbased in part on USDA criticism, department officials said. The broad range of the cost estimate is partly attributableto the different effect certificates can have on market pricesover the course of a crop year. USDA's Economic Research Service, for example, has foundthat between June and August last year, the 215 mln bushels ofcorn exchanged for certificates lowered the price of corn bybetween 35 and 45 cents per bushel. Between September and November, however, certificates hadonly a marginal impact on corn prices, according to the ERSstudy, obtained by Reuters.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigeltoday repeated that he was satisfied with the current level ofsterling, both against the dollar and the West German mark. Lawson said in a television interview that he did notregard the pound's present exchange rate was uncomfortablyhigh. \"I think it is round about right,\" he said. \"I think there was a time that they (British manufacturers)thought the (exchange) rate was uncomfortably high. But I thinkthey are very satisfied with the present level.\" \"But I have made it absolutely clear that I don't want tosee the pound go through the roof,\" he added.", "answer groups": [ "stg", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Australian Treasurer Paul Keating saidhe expects the country's 1986/87 current account deficit to beone billion dlrs lower than the 14.7 billion forecast in theAugust budget. Keating told a financiers' dinner thatFebruary's 750 mln dlr deficit, against January's 1.23 billion,was \"in the groove\" of the government's expectations. \"We will probably bring the current account this year under14 billion, I think, which will probably be about a billiondollars less than we forecast in the budget,\" Keating said. \"I amsure we will see a lower current account deficit for next year... And a fall as proportion of GDP.\" Australia posted a 13.82 billion dlr current accountdeficit in 1985/86 and Keating said the latest monthly figuresshowed an encouraging trend. Keating said the government would maintain responsibleeconomic management regardless of whether it was drawn into anelection, because it would take time to stabilise Australia's80 billion dlr foreign debt. \"We have to build the import competing sector back,\" he said.\"We are now trying to rebuild our capital structure. We aretrying to rebuild the culture of productivity andmanufacturing.\" Keating said the foundation for a transition of the economyhad been laid with the floating of the Australian dollar andcontinued with wage restraint and deregulation. The Government would follow with spending cuts in itseconomic statement on May 14, he said.", "answer groups": [ "bop", "trade" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Panamanian liquified gas carrierNyhammer, 48,772 dwt, was attacked by an Iranian gunboat on May24, Lloyds Shipping Intelligence said. One rocket was fired but missed. The vessel subsequently arrived at its destination of RasTanura on May 25 and left this morning.", "answer groups": [ "ship", "nat-gas" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "said it successfully drilled and completed a significantdevelopment well 65 miles southwest of Houston, Texas. The well has a choke of 11/64 of an inch and is 10,097 feetdeep. The well initially tested at a maximum daily flow rate oftwo mln cubic feet of gas and 304 barrels of condensate. Participants in the new well, along with Sterling, areTrafalgar House Ltd of the U.K. and ", "answer groups": [ "crude", "nat-gas" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The DIW economic research institutesaid West German economic growth in 1987 is unlikely to reachthe 1.5 pct rate it had forecast earlier this year. The institute, whose forecasts are more pessimistic thanthose of the other four leading German institutes, said theeconomy had passed its peak in the summer of 1986, and itsprospects had dimmed significantly since the autumn. The DIW repeated earlier predictions that gross nationalproduct (GNP) in the first quarter of 1987 would contract inreal, seasonally adjusted terms against the weak final quarterof last year. The DIW said that even if the economy recovers in theremaining three quarters, it was unlikely that demand andproduction would rise strongly enough to bring GNP growth up to1.5 pct. Other institutes and economists have recently revised theirforecasts for German 1987 growth to around two pct. In a report DIW disputed arguments by other economists thatthe economy was showing mixed development, with domestic demandhealthy but foreign demand weak. DIW said the crucial split was between weak demand forcapital goods, and strong demand for buildings and consumergoods, not between foreign and domestic demand. It noted that domestic demand for capital goods had beenhit in recent months by the weakness of exports, which hadcaused West German firms to scale back investment plans. Service industries, unlike manufacturing industry, werecontinuing to do well because they relied on consumer demand,it said. In a separate report the HWWA economic research institutein Hamburg said West Germany's real trade surplus would fallmarkedly this year. However, the nominal trade surplus would show little changefrom 1986's record 112.2 billion marks because of a furtherimprovement in the terms of trade on average in 1987 comparedwith 1986, it said.", "answer groups": [ "trade", "gnp" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Today's modest half-point cut in U.K.Bank base lending rates to 10 pct signals the Bank of England'sdetermination to maintain a cautious monetary stance, butfinancial markets appear set to force its hand, analysts said. They said a further half-point cut in base rates to 9-1/2pct was bound to occur within the next week and rates may sheda further half point soon if markets remain buoyant. Earlier, markets were bracing for a one-point cut in ratesafter yesterday's budget set a sharp three billion stgreduction in 1987 government borrowing targets to four billionstg. Sterling money market rates moved lower again, with the keythree-month interbank rate down to 9-5/8 1/2 pct at the startof business from 9-11/16 9/16 yesterday, and sterling ralliedto four-year highs against the dollar in very active trading. Government bond prices also surged on the budget, withgains in excess of one point pushing yields on long-term paperbelow nine pct for the first time in nearly a year. But today's smaller than expected rate cut appeared to haveplacated markets for now, analysts said. Money market ratesrecovered up to 1/4 point from earlier lows while both sterlingand gilts came off highs as trading ground to a near halt. Analysts said the slowdown was likely to be temporary, andthe reappraisal of sterling assets by international investorswas set to resume as early as tomorrow, leading to higher giltprices, exchange rate advances and lower money market rates. \"Today's cut was slightly disappointing,\" said Bill Martin,chief U.K. Economist at stockbrokers Phillips and Drew. \"TheBank of England is taking a very cautious line ... To temperthe markets' first rush of blood to the head after the budget.\" Analysts said the bank's move today to lend two-week cashto U.K. Discount houses at a lower 10 pct suggested it hoped tomaintain the new rates for about that period of time. The analysts agreed success would depend largely on howsterling performs in the near term. Sharp rises in the pound's value could be checked initiallythrough Bank of England intervention but eventually the gainswould force the bank to cut interest rates rates again. \"The market seems to have accepted the modest cut for thetime being,\" said Midland Bank treasury economist DavidSimmonds. \"But I am sceptical that the bank will be able to holdup rates for long.\" Simmonds said he saw sterling rising another two U.S. Centsthis week from around 1.60 dlrs, forcing a rate cut by Friday. Robin Marshall, chief economist at Chase ManhattanSecurities, said \"There is another half point to come in thenear term, this week or next week at the latest...We see awhole point off base rates in the next two or three weeks.\" Analysts stressed that apart from prestige, Britain hadvery little to gain from a sharp rise in sterling's exchangerate. Martin, of Phillips and Drew, said the dampening effect ofa sterling rise on consumer price inflation would notmaterialise for at least nine months while its hampering impacton manufactured exports would show almost immediately. Analysts said the budget, featuring income tax cuts as wellas cautious plans for public finances, had improved the chancesof re-election for the Conservative government and probablyadvanced the election date. One must be held before June, 1988.Combined with overall good prospects for the U.K. Economy, thiswas likely to fuel a foreign rush on sterling-denominatedassets, pushing the pound's value well above unofficialtargets. With mark-denominated investments largely out of favourbecause of low yields and a dull economic outlook, Chase'sMarshall said \"Sterling is simply the best game in town,especially after the budget, and demand will remain strong.\"", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "interest" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Department saidprivate U.S. exporters reported 200,000 tonnes of cornpreviously to unknown destinations have been switched to theSoviet Union. The corn is for delivery during the 1986/87 marketing yearand under the fourth year of the U.S.-USSR Long Term GrainSupply Agreement. The marketing year for began September 1. Sales of corn to the USSR for delivery during the fourthyear of the agreement -- which began October 1, 1986 -- nowtotal 2,600,000 tonnes, it said. In the third agreement year sales totaled 6,960,700 tonnes-- 152,600 tonnes of wheat and 6,808,100 tonnes of corn.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain", "wheat" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "International Trade and Industry MinisterHajime Tamura told a parliamentary session Japan's small- andmedium-sized enterprises are seriously suffering from the yen'srise and can only stand levels around 170 yen. He also said he still believes a dollar exchange rate levelplus or minus 10 yen from 170 yen would be within levels agreedupon last month in Paris by six major industrial nations.Finance ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Japan, the U.S.And West Germany agreed on February 22 to cooperate instabilizing exchange rates around the current levels. Thedollar had closed here at 153.77 yen on February 20.", "answer groups": [ "yen", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Tunisia has launched a fresh buying tenderfor 200,000 tonnes of French soft wheat for tomorrow forshipping between July and September, trade sources said. Tunisia has in recent weeks cancelled several tenders,which are covered by the French government's COFACE exportcredits.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Agriculture Department must makea decision soon on how to change the current U.S. soybean loanor more soybeans will continue to be forfeited to thegovernment and foreign soybean production will increase, thepresident of the American Soybean Association, ASA, said. \"The USDA will have to bite the bullet one way or another... USDA can dodge and dart around it (the soybean loan) asmuch as they want, but they have to eventually address thisproblem,\" David Haggard, ASA president, told Reuters. USDA is not offering any new soybean loan options, andAgriculture Secretary Richard Lyng has not consulted ASA on thesoybean loan, Haggard said. \"I don't know if USDA is really very serious aboutaddressing the soybean loan problem,\" he said. At ASA's annual winter board of directors meeting here, ASAleaders refused to change their official position on the loan-- still calling for income support at 5.02 dlrs. The association backs current bills of Rep. Bill Emerson,R-Mo. and Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., which call for either a5.02 marketing loan or a producer option payment. Haggard said he does not know what chances the ASA-backedproposals have but said, \"in all honesty, we do not want to seethe farm bill be torn apart.\" He said if USDA feels it cannot withdraw its opposition toa market loan, there are still numerous ways the USDA couldchange the loan without new legislation. Making the loan partially in certificates which would nothave to be paid back would be one option, he said.", "answer groups": [ "soybean", "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Norway's parliament has approved anextensive trade ban against South Africa but left shipowners akey loophole through which controversial oil shipments onNorwegian tankers may continue, government officials said. The unilateral boycott, proposed by Norway's minorityLabour government, gives domestic companies until lateSeptember to cut remaining trade ties with South Africa andNamibia. \"The legislation discussed today must not be seen as anisolated measure, but as a step in an international process,\"Norway's foreign minister Thorvald Stoltenberg told parliament. Government officials said they hope the move will intensifyinternational pressure against the Pretoria regime's apartheidpolicies. Sweden, in a similar move last week, promised to haltall trade with South Africa by October. Norway's boycott, although forbidding crude oil shipmentsto South Africa on Norwegian-owned tankers, makes an importantexception for ships whose final destination is decided whilethey are at sea. Oil cargoes are often resold by trades after loading,making it difficult for shipowners to know their ships' finalport at the start of a voyage. Critics said the bill leaves the door open for continuedoil shipments to South Africa. They called for strictersanctions to stop all Norwegian shipping to South Africa. Norwegian tankers supplied South Africa with about 30 pctof its crude imports during the early 1980s, but the trade hasdropped sharply to just one cargo in the last three months,trade ministry officials said. The latest trade figures show Norwegian imports from SouthAfrica dropped 36 pct to 160 mln crowns during the first eightmonths of 1986, while exports plunged 52 pct to 265 mln crownsfrom the year-ago figure. \"Many would say that the law has already had its effectbecause of the dramatic drop in trade between South African andNorway,\" Foreign Ministry spokesman Per Paust told Reuters. \"Norwegian business at an early stage started restructuringits relations with South Africa in anticipation of the law. \"No one has said the boycott will have a profound effect oninternational trade with South Africa, but it is an importantpolitical statement by the Norwegian government,\" he said. The Oslo government said it will review the effects of theban on Norwegian industry after two years and may proposeamendments if industry can show it is hurt by the law. Norwegian imports from South Africa are limited mainly tohigh-grade manganese and coppernickle ores used in itferro-alloys and light metals industries. Metals manufacturers estimate some 2,000 jobs could beaffected by the boycott is suitable replacements for these oresare not found. The legislation now goes on to the upper house for formalratification later this week, parliamentarians said.", "answer groups": [ "ship", "trade", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve is expected toenter the U.S. Government securities market to add temporaryreserves, economists said. They expect it to supply the reserves indirectly byarranging a fairly large round, two billion dlrs or more, ofcustomer repurchase agreements. The Fed may add the reservesdirectly instead via System repurchases. Federal funds, which averaged 6.02 pct on Friday, opened at6-1/8 pct and traded between there and 6-1/16 pct. Funds areunder upward pressure from settlement of recently sold two-yearnotes and from a Treasury tax and loan call on banks.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Japanese traders have apparentlysharply reduced commitments to buy Chinese corn over the nextsix months due to high prices, the U.S. Agriculture Departmentsaid. In its World Production and Trade Report, the departmentsaid traders indicated China may lack supplies or be unwillingto sell at current low world prices. If the reports are confirmed, China's major exportdestinations such as USSR, Japan, and South Korea, couldincrease purchases of U.S. corn, it said. China is currently forecast to export 5.5 mln tonnes ofcorn during 1986/87 (Oct-Sept), it said.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "wheat" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Dutch central bank said it hasaccepted bids totalling 6.5 billion guilders at tender for neweleven-day special advances at 5.3 pct covering the periodMarch 9 to 20 aimed at relieving money market tightness. Subscriptions to 500 mln guilders were met in full, amountsabove 500 mln at 35 pct. The new facility replaces old seven-day advances worth 4.8billion guilders at the same rate.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Ohio Mattress Co said its firstquarter, ending February 28, profits may be below the 2.4 mlndlrs, or 15 cts a share, earned in the first quarter of fiscal1986. The company said any decline would be due to expensesrelated to the acquisitions in the middle of the currentquarter of seven licensees of Sealy Inc, as well as 82 pct ofthe outstanding capital stock of Sealy. Because of these acquisitions, it said, first quarter saleswill be substantially higher than last year's 67.1 mln dlrs. Noting that it typically reports first quarter results inlate march, said the report is likely to be issued in earlyApril this year. It said the delay is due to administrative considerations,including conducting appraisals, in connection with theacquisitions.", "answer groups": [ "acq", "earn" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher saidthe U.K. Was growing more impatient with Japanese tradebarriers and warned that it would soon have new powers againstcountries not offering reciprocal access to their markets. She told Parliament that the bid by the U.K.'s Cable andWireless Plc to enter the Japanese telecommunicationsmarket was being regarded by her government as a test case. \"I wrote to the prime minister of Japan, Mr Nakasone, on thefourth of March to express our interest on the Cable andWireless bid. I have not yet had a reply. We see this as a teston how open the Japanese market really is,\" Thatcher said. Thatcher told Parliament that \"shortly ... We shall havemore powers than we have now, when, for example the powersunder the Financial Services Act and the Banking Act becomeavailable, then we shall be able to take action in cases whereother countries do not offer the same full access to financialservices as we do.\" Cable and Wireless is seeking a stake in the proposedJapanese telecommunications rival to Kokusai Denshin Denwa. But the Japanese minister for post and telecommunicationswas reported as saying that he opposed Cable and Wirelesshaving a managerial role in the new company.", "answer groups": [ "acq", "trade" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The speaker of the Iranian Parliament,Hojatoleslam Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, warned the U.S. Not tointervene in the Gulf, a day after Washington said its warshipswere available to escort Kuwaiti tankers through the waterway. \"If U.S. Intervention occurs, the entire world will becomeinsecure for the Americans and the events of Lebanon could berepeated for the Americans everywhere,\" he said. U.S. Defence officials disclosed in Washington yesterdaythat the U.S. Navy, which has about 24 warships in or near theGulf, was prepared to escort Kuwaiti tankers, regular targetsfor Iranian attacks in an offshoot of its war with Iraq. Rafsanjani, in an interview reported by the Iranian newsagency IRNA, also commented on earlier U.S. Disclosures thatIran had erected sites for new Chinese-made Silkwormanti-shipping missiles at the Strait of Hormuz. The agency, received in London, quoted him as saying thatIran did not need missiles to close the strait, 24 miles wideat its narrowest, because \"we can close it with artillery only.\" He added \"We have the longest coasts and the highestinterest here and the small southern (Gulf) states have alesser interest compared with us and therefore it is naturalfor us to protect the security of the Strait of Hormuz morethan others.\"", "answer groups": [ "crude", "ship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A Turkish research ship, escorted bywarships and air force planes, left for the Aegean to pressAnkara's case in an escalating row with Greece over oil rights,the semi-official Anatolian News Agency said. The ship set off this morning from the Dardanelles port ofCanakkale with flags flying and watched by sightseers, theagency said. Prime Minister Turgut Ozal said last night the ship wouldnot go into international waters unless Greece did the same. \"We are waiting for the first move from them,\" he toldTurkish Radio in London.", "answer groups": [ "crude", "ship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Graham-McCormick Oil and GasPartnership said it completed the sale of interests in twomajor oil and gas fields to for 21 mln dlrs. The company said it sold about one-half of its 50 pctinterest in the Oak Hill and North Rucias fields, its twolargest producing properties. It said it used about 20 mln dlrs of the proceeds to prepayprincipal on its senior secured notes. Semi-annual principalpayments on the remaining 40 mln dlrs of notes have beensatisfied until December 1988 as a result, it said. The company said the note agreements were amended toreflect an easing of some financial covenants, and an increaseof interest to 13.5 pct from 13.0 pct until December 1990. It said the noteholders exercise price for 1,125,000warrants was also reduced to 50 cts from 1.50 dlrs. The company said Energy Assets agreed to share the costs ofincreasing production at the Oak Hill field.", "answer groups": [ "crude", "acq", "nat-gas" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Washington Post said the U.S.Commerce Department yesterday issued a new report showing thatthe U.S. Merchandise trade deficit was 13.65 billion dollars inFebruary, a reduction of 1.4 billion dlrs from the 15.06billion figure the department reported only two days earlier. The newspaper said: \"News of the unexpectedly large 15billion deficit helped batter the dollar's value on foreignexchange markets and boosted U.S. Interest rates. \"However, the new report went largely unnoticed by financialmarkets since such a downward revision in the deficit is amonthly occurrence.\" The Washington Post said: \"By law, the department must firstpublish what a top commerce official agreed are misleadingtrade figures and then wait 48 hours before putting out themore accurate ones.\" No one was immediately available at the Commerce Departmentfor comment on the Washington Post report.", "answer groups": [ "trade", "bop" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "President Reagan said he would discussthe Mideast Gulf situation with allied leaders at next week'sVenice economic summit and hinted he would seek their help inpreserving free navigation. In a speech prepared for delivery as the United States madeplans to protect 11 Kuwaiti oil tankers from Iranian attack,Reagan said the American people were aware that \"it is not ourinterests alone that are being protected.\" Saying that allied dependence on gulf oil was no secret,Reagan declared, \"During the upcoming summit in Venice, we willbe discussing the common security interests shared by thewestern democracies in the MIDEAST Gulf. \"The future belongs to the brave. Free men should not cowerbefore such challenges, and they should not expect to standalone.\" Reagan will meet the leaders of Britain, France, WestGermany, Italy, Canada and Japan at the economic summit, whichwill take place in Venice June 8-10. The 13th annual top-level meeting of the major industrialdemocracies will take place against a backdrop of risingcongressional concern over Reagan's plan to protect gulfshipping and demands that the allies do more. These concerns were heightened by the May 17 Iraqi missileattack on the U.S. frigate Stark which killed 37 seamen. \"They died while guarding a chokepoint of freedom, deterringaggression and reaffirming America's willingness to protect itsvital interests,\" Reagan said. In a pre-summit speech celebrating the 40th anniversary ofthe Marshall Plan, Reagan, who spoke to an audience of foreignaffairs experts, also pledged to push for economic expansion byWest Germany and Japan to bolster the world trading system. \"While the vibrancy of the U.S. economy has contributedenormously to the world expansion, preserving a growing worldeconomy is the business of every member of the world tradingcommunity,\" he said. \"It will be made clear, especially to our friends in Japanand the Federal Republic of Germany, that growth-orienteddomestic policies are needed to bolster the world tradingsystem on which they depend.\" Reagan coupled this appeal with a call for compliance withallied accords on exchange rate stability. \"Economic policy decisions made last year in Tokyo and atthis year's meetings of Group of Seven finance ministers inParis and in Washington cannot be ignored or forgotten,\" hesaid. \"The commitments made at these meetings need to betranslated into action.\"", "answer groups": [ "crude", "ship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The United States wants Taiwan'scurrency to appreciate faster to reduce Taiwan's trade surpluswith the U.S., A senior trade official said. Board of Foreign Trade director Vincent Siew told reporterson Saturday U.S. Officials told him in Washington last weekthat unless Taiwan allowed its dollar to rise faster it wouldface retaliation. Siew returned from Washington on Friday after the U.Sresponded to Taiwan's request to increase its textile exportquotas by promising further talks in May. Taiwan's surplus withthe U.S. Hit a record 13.6 billion U.S. Dlrs in 1986. Washington signed a three-year accord with Taipei last yearlimiting textile export growth to 0.5 pct a year. Siew said the Taiwan dollar had risen by about 15 pctagainst the U.S. Dollar since September 1985. It surged last week amid indications Washington was seekinga major rise in its value. It rose four cents against the U.S.Dollar on Saturday to close at 34.59. Western trade sources told Reuters Taiwan and the U.S. Havebeen holding talks on the currency issue but added it is notclear how far Washington wants to see the Taiwan dollar rise.", "answer groups": [ "trade", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "USX Corp chairman David Roderick calledfor a lower value for the U.S. dollar against other currenciesto help speed a correction in the U.S. trade deficit, whichlast year reached 170 billion dlrs. In remarks prepared for a speech before the Economic Clubof Detroit, Roderick said, \"There should be total resolve thatthe dollar versus other major currencies, as well as thecurrencies of other nations having a substantial trade surpluswith us, must continue to decline so that the correction in ourtrade deficit starts on the road to recovery.\" Roderick said the U.S. should be understanding of the\"economic pain\" our trading partners experience as a result ofa falling dollar. But, he added, \"As painful as the correction may be to ourtrading partners, it is less painful than leaving the problemuncorrected because that would lead us into an inevitable,lengthy and steep world recession.\" Roderick said between February 1985 and December 1986 thedollar fell by more than 40 pct in real terms against majorindustrial currencies and by 30 to 35 pct against a broadergroup of currencies of nearly all developing nations. At the end of 1986, he said, the value of foreign assets inthe U.S. exceeded the value of U.S. assets abroad by 240billion dlrs, compared to five years ago when the U.S. had asurplus in assets of 141 billion. A company spokesman said thedata were provided by economic consultants to USX. The primary reason for the trade imbalance was the 70 pctrise of the dollar between 1980 and 1985, although otherfactors were involved, Roderick said. But it is wrong, he said,\"to attribute the massive trade deficit to a fundmentaldeterioration of U.S. productivity or of American productquality.\" These areas need to be improved but they are not the rootcause of the trade gap problem, Roderick said. He urgedAmerican manufacturers to become more competitive so they cancompete in global markets. In the speech, the USX chairman also called for changes insecurities laws to curb what he called abuses by corporateraiders and speculators. Among his proposals, which he presented to the SenateBanking Committee in testimony last week, were a requirementthat raiders give 24-hour notice for every one pct of stockthey acquire in a company. Roderick proposed that tender offers must be made for allcash to all stockholders on equal terms and that raiders berequired to have financing in place before a tender is made. Further, raiders should be required to make an all-cashtender offer once they acquire 10 pct of a target company'sstock, he said. And payment of greenmail, or a preferentialprice by a target company to buy back a raider's stake, shouldbe prohibited under the revised laws. Roderick said changes were necessary to curb abuses butthat he did not want laws that would hurt the financial marketsor discourage \"fair price to all\" takeovers.", "answer groups": [ "trade", "dlr", "acq", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The joint committee of Taiwan's soybeanimporters awarded a contract to Richco Grain Ltd of New York tosupply a 27,000-tonne cargo of U.S. Soybeans, a committeespokesman told Reuters. The shipment, priced at 210.34 U.S. Dlrs per tonne c and fTaiwan, is set for delivery between March 20 and April 5, hesaid. Taiwan's soybeans imports in calendar 1987 are targetted at1.81 mln tonnes, against an actual 1.74 mln tonnes imported in1986, he said. All the imports come from the U.S., He added.", "answer groups": [ "soybean", "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Mountain States Resources Corpsaid it acquired two properties to its strategic mineralsholdings. The acquisitions bring to its land position a total of5,100 acres of titanium, zirconium and rare earth resources,the company said. Both properties, located in southern Utah, consist ofapproximately 1,430 acres of unpatented mining claims and onestate lease, it said. The company also announced the formation of Rare TechMinerals Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary.", "answer groups": [ "strategic-metal", "acq" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Department saidit will update its estimate of winter wheat seeded acreage inthe prospective planting report, scheduled for release at 1500est (2100 gmt) tomorrow, March 31. The original estimate of seedings of winter wheat waspublished in January. It said the new survey is possible because of the newintegrated nationwide survey program that uses probabilitysampling procedures that combine information from farmersoperating in selected areas and farmers identified on speciallists.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.S. Agriculture Department iscurrently discussing an amendment to a PL 480 agreement signedwith Morocco on January 22, but the mix of commodities underthe amendment has not been determined, a U.S. AgricultureDepartment official said. The official noted the agreement signed in January providedfor the supply of about 55,000 tonnes of vegetable oil, 55,000tonnes of corn and 126,000 tonnes of wheat, all for deliveryduring the current fiscal year, ending this September 30. No purchase authorizations for the commodities provided inthe January agreement have been announced by the department.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain", "wheat", "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Honduras will tender April 2 forU.S. and non-U.S. flag vessels to import 19,369 tonnes of wheatin bulk, an agent for the country said. The agent said Honduras is seeking vessels to deliver 7,369 tonnes during a period that includes laydays of April15-30, and 12,000 tonnes with laydays of May 15-30. Offers are due no later than 1200 hrs EST, April 2, andwill remain valid through the close of business the followingday, the agent said.", "answer groups": [ "grain", "ship", "wheat" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Australian Wheat Board (AWB)expects to sell about 900,000 tonnes of wheat to the JapaneseFood Agency this year after renewing its annual supplyagreement, AWB general manager Ron Paice said. Under the agreement, the AWB makes the wheat available andsells into the Food Agency's regular tenders, he said in astatement. He noted that the Board has sold more than three mln tonnesto Japan in the past three years.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Shifts in domestic economic policy,not a further fall in the dollar or trade restrictions, are thekey to reducing imbalances in trade and payments, Dutch FinanceMiniister H. Onno Ruding said. Ruding told a meeting of the World Trade Forum here thatprotectionism would naturally lead to retaliation and aggravatethe problems of heavily indebted developing countries. \"The main contribution towards resolving the still enourmousU.S. trade deficit is not repeat not a further fall in thedollar, is not still more protectionism in your country.\" \"No, it is - like in other countries - changes in domesticeconomic and financial policies,\" Ruding said. Ruding said he was less worried about a crisis of theweakening dollar than he was in January before the Paris accordto stabilize foreign exchange rates. He said the highest priority should be given to policychanges in the United States, especially reducing the budgetdeficit and encouraging domestic savings. But he said other countries, such as Japan and WestGermany, also needed to take greater steps toward reducingtheir trade surpluses.", "answer groups": [ "dlr", "money-fx", "trade" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "National Bank economic data for 1986shows that Yugoslavia's trade deficit grew, the inflation raterose, wages were sharply higher, the money supply expanded andthe value of the dinar fell. The trade deficit for 1986 was 2.012 billion dlrs, 25.7 pcthigher than in 1985. The trend continued in the first threemonths of this year as exports dropped by 17.8 pct, in hardcurrency terms, to 2.124 billion dlrs. Yugoslavia this year started quoting trade figures indinars based on current exchange rates, instead of dollarsbased on a fixed exchange rate of 264.53 dinars per dollar. Yugoslavia's balance of payments surplus with theconvertible currency area fell to 245 mln dlrs in 1986 from 344mln in 1985. The National Bank said the drop was due to adeterioration in trade. Exports to the convertible currencyarea rose 11.6 pct from 1985, while imports rose 17.8 pct. Retail prices rose an average of 88.1 pct in 1986 whileindustrial producer prices rose by 70.6 pct, the bank's datashowed. The cost of living rose by 89.1 pct. Personal incomes rose by 109 pct in 1986. Prime Minister Branko Mikulic warned in February that wageswere too high given the level of productivity. Mikulic introduced a law cutting wages to the level of thelast quarter of 1986 and tying future rises to productivity. Bank statistics show the overall 1986 rise in M-1 moneysupply was 109.1 pct with a year-end position of 3,895.9billion dinars. Yugoslavs have 9.8 billion dlrs worth offoreign currency savings in the country and 20 billion dlrsabroad, mostly owned by workers employed in western Europe. The dinar fell by 73.1 pct against a basket of hardcurrencies in 1986. The highest depreciation was against theSwiss franc, 85.3 pct, and the lowest against the U.S. Dollar,46.2 pct.", "answer groups": [ "income", "wpi", "cpi", "retail", "trade" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Authorizations to purchase 50 mlndlrs worth of U.S. wheat and wheat flour under Public Law 480were issued to Sudan today, the Agriculture Department said. The authorization provides for 34 mln dlrs -- about 309,000tonnes -- worth of wheat, grade U.S. number two or better(except durum which shall be number three or better). It also provides for 16 mln dlrs -- about 73,000 tonnes --worth of wheat flour. The contracting period for both commodities is March 20through August 31, 1987. The delivery period for wheat is March20 through September 30, 1987 and for wheat flour is April 10through SEptember 30, 1987, USDA said.", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it operated inthe money market this afternoon, buying 226 mln stg in bills. In band one, the central bank bought 37 mln stg treasurybills and 72 mln stg bank bills at 9-7/8 pct together with 117mln stg band two bank bills at 9-13/16 pct. This brings total money market help so far today to 241 mlnstg and compares with the Bank's revised estimate of a 350 mlnstg shortfall.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Exports of French soft wheat for theperiod July 1, 1986, to March 1, 1987, fell 27.6 pct to 8.21mln tonnes from 11.34 mln tonnes in the same 1985/86 period,the national cereals office ONIC said quoting customs figures. Of this total, exports to non-EC countries totalled 3.76mln tonnes, 34 pct down on 5.70 mln, and exports to EC nations4.45 mln tonnes, 21.1 pct down on a previous 5.64 mln. Main EC destinations were Italy with two mln tonnes versus1.9 mln, Belgium 500,000 tonnes (one mln), Netherlands 500,000(600,000), West Germany 500,000 (800,000), Spain 300,000(zero), Britain 300,000 (700,000), Greece 200,000 (300,000),and Ireland 100,000 (200,000). In flour, exports totalled 980,000 tonnes, up 6.5 pct on aprevious 920,000 tonnes. Exports of maize totalled 4.11 mln tonnes, 37.4 pct up on aprevious 2.99 mln. Exports to non-EC countries were 190,000tonnes against 140,000 and to EC countries 3.92 mln tonnesagainst 2.84 mln. Main EC desinations were Netherlands 900,000 (600,000),Belgium 800,000 (one mln), Britain 700,000 (500,000), WestGermany 400,000 (same), Italy 300,000 (200,000) and Greece300,000 (zero).", "answer groups": [ "wheat", "grain", "corn" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Iran said U.S. Naval forces attacked twoof its oil platforms in the southern Gulf on Monday afternoon,the Iranian news agency IRNA reported. IRNA, received in Nicosia, said an informed source at theIranian oil ministry identified the two platforms as Resalatand Reshadat, about 60 miles from Iran's Lavan island oilstorage site. Regional shipping sources earlier said three Iranianoffshore oil sites at Sassan, Rostam and Rakhsh had beenattacked at 7.00 A.M. (0300 GMT) on Monday by unidentifiedaircraft. In Washington, U.S. Defence Secretary Caspar Weinbergersaid four U.S. Destroyers attacked and destroyed an Iranian oilplatform about 120 miles east of Bahrain.", "answer groups": [ "crude", "ship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve is expected toenter the U.S. Government securities market to add temporaryreserves indirectly via 1.5 billion dlrs or more of customerrepurchase agreements, economists said. They said the below-six pct Federal funds rate suggests theFed does not have a large reserve adding need. However, somedealers reportedly backed out of the three-day Systemrepurchase agreements set on Monday, leaving the Fed with asomewhat increased need to supply reserves. Federal funds, which averaged 6.05 pct yesterday, opened at5-15/16 pct and remained there in early trading.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Thailand exported 84,960 tonnes of ricein the week ended February 24, up from 80,498 the previousweek, the Commerce Ministry said. It said government and private exporters shipped 27,510 and57,450 tonnes respectively. Private exporters concluded advance weekly sales for 79,448tonnes against 79,014 the previous week. Thailand exported 689,038 tonnes of rice between thebeginning of January and February 24, up from 556,874 tonnesduring the same period last year. It has commitments to exportanother 658,999 tonnes this year.", "answer groups": [ "rice", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Ministry of International Trade andIndustry (MITI) has asked about 30 Japanese trading houses andexporters to refrain from excessive dollar selling, tradinghouse officials said. The officials told Reuters MITI asked them to moderatetheir foreign exchange trading because the excessive rise inthe yen will have unfavourable effects on the economy. It madethe request by telephone. A MITI official said the ministry has conducted a survey offoreign exchange trading by trade houses and exporters. But hesaid it was not aimed at moderating dollar selling. The trading house officials said MITI had asked them toundertake foreign exchange transactions with due considerationto the adverse effects excessive exchange rate movements wouldhave on the economy. The MITI official said MITI undertakes such surveys whenexchange rates fluctuate widely. A similiar survey was madewhen the currency fell to the previous record low of 149.98 onJanuary 19. It hit a new record low of 148.20 yen yesterday. He said the survey showed currency transactions by tradehouses and exporters contributed little to the dollar fall.", "answer groups": [ "dlr", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Ten grain ships were loading and 18were waiting to load at New Orleans elevators, trade sourcessaid. ELEVATOR LOADING WAITING Continental Grain, Westwego 1 3 Mississippi River, Myrtle Grove 2 0 ADM Growmark 1 4 Bunge Grain, Destrehan 1 0 ELEVATOR LOADING WAITING ST CHARLES DESTREHAN 1 3 RESERVE ELEVATOR CORP 0 1 PEAVEY CO, ST ELMO 1 2 CARGILL GRAIN, TERRE HAUTE 1 4 CARGILL GRAIN, PORT ALLEN 1 0 ZEN-NOH 1 1 reuter\u0003", "answer groups": [ "ship", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "West Germany takes \"very seriously\" therecent undertaking by major industrial countries to promoteexchange rate stability around current levels, Finance MinistryState Secretary Hans Tietmeyer said. Talking to journalists before a meeting of EuropeanCommunity Economy and Finance Ministers here, Tietmeyerdeclined to say whether the February 22 Paris accord by theGroup of Five countries plus Canada included secret agreementsfor stabilising currencies. But he noted the official communique said the participantsagreed to cooperate closely to foster stability of exchangerates around current levels. \"We're taking this sentence veryseriously,\" he said. Tietmeyer remarked that the dollar had hardly moved againstthe mark since the meeting. He said a slowdown in West German economic growth had beencaused by sharp exchange rate swings and that the Parisagreement should help in this respect. Economics Ministry State Secretary Otto Schlecht said theBonn government saw no current need for measures to bolster theeconomy but was paying close attention to the slower growth andhad not ruled out \"appropriate and timely\" action if necessary. Schlecht and Tietmeyer were speaking ahead of a discussionby the EC ministers of the latest EC Commission report on theeconomic situation in the 12-nation bloc. The Commission has sharply revised down expected Germangross national product growth this year to two pct from 3.2 pctpredicted last autumn and says Bonn has the most room of any ECcountry to stimulate economic activity. Schlecht said the upturn in West Germany's economy slowedin the fourth quarter of last year and the first quarter of1987. But he said there was no cumulative downwards trend inview that would make quick remedial action necessary. He said a number of favourable indicators such as highlevel of investment and a good climate for consumption meant arecovery could be expected, while exports would pick upslightly during the course of the year.", "answer groups": [ "gnp", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. said itwill sign a contract March 17 to buy a half interest in aCorpus Christi, Texas refinery and related operations. The contract, to be signed by PDVSA and ChamplinPetroleum's parent company, the Union Pacific Corp, will createa new joint venture called Champlin Refining. The state oil company said PDVSA will pay on the order of30 mln dlrs for the half interest in Champlin. Energy minister Arturo Hernandez Grisanti said Wednesdaythe cost would be 33 mln dlrs in cash, plus an additional 60mln in crude and refined oil shipments. PDVSA and Union Pacific have sought a line of credit from agroup of North American and Japanese banks to finance the newcompany's working capital, the Venezuelan company said. Under the deal, PDVSA will supply up to 140,000 barrels aday to the refinery with the option to place 50,000 bpd more -mostly gasoline and distillates - through Champlin'sdistribution system in 10 U.S. states. The new company will be directed by a six-member board,with three representatives each from PDVSA and Union Pacific. According to PDVSA, Venezuelans will occupy such keypositions such as treasurer and vice-president formanufacturing. The total capacity of the Champlin refinery is 160,000 bpdof crudes and another 40,000 bpd of intermediates. The plantwill be able to handle 110,000 bpd of Venezuelan heavy crudes,which make up more than half of the country's crude oilexports.", "answer groups": [ "crude", "acq" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The U.K. Produced 820,400 tonnes ofoilcake and meal and 431,000 tonnes of crude vegetable oil incalendar 1986, Ministry of Agriculture figures show. They compare with 785,800 tonnes of oilcake and meal and407,400 tonnes of crude vegetable oil produced in 1985. Total oilseeds crushed rose to 1.27 mln tonnes from 1.21mln in 1985.", "answer groups": [ "meal-feed", "veg-oil", "oilseed" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Saudi Arabia bought 4,000 tonnes ofMalaysian refined bleached deodorised palm olein for June 1/10shipment at around 356 dlrs per tonne cost and freight Jeddah,traders said.", "answer groups": [ "palm-oil", "veg-oil" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Dutch soymeal imports fellto 75,500 tonnes in January from 97,070 in December and 120,228in January 1986, Central Bureau of Statistics figures show. The U.S. Was the largest supplier in January with 38,760tonnes, down from 46,899 in December and 63,111 in January1986. Brazil supplied 1,263 tonnes in January, down from 7,411 inDecember and 27,088 in January 1986. Dutch imports of Argentine soymeal in January were 34,663tonnes, down from 41,365 tonnes in December but above the13,375 tonnes in the year ago month. Total Dutch exports of soymeal in January were 128,015tonnes, down from 133,559 tonnes in December and 155,050exported in January 1986. European Community countries were the main destinations forDutch soymeal exports with 102,355 tonnes compared with 124,026in December and 116,080 in January 1986. Among third country destinations, the Soviet Union was thelargest costumer in January, taking 11,985 tonnes compared withnil in December and 26,074 tonnes in January 1986.", "answer groups": [ "meal-feed", "soy-meal" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Venezuela Guayana Corporation, CVG,which oversees the state steel, iron, aluminum and otherindustries, will invest 75 billion bolivars in new projectsduring 1987-89, CVG president Leopoldo Sucre Figarellaannounced. The investments will go to plant expansion, infrastructureand the extension of hydroelectric facilities in themineral-rich Guayana region, south of the Orinoco river. Sucre Figarella told a news conference the CVG's 12companies showed an overall increase of 120 pct in profits,which rose from 1.732 billion bolivars in 1985 to 3.926 billionbolivars last year. Among the best performers was steel company Sidor whichearned 1.019 billion bolivars, the first time since 1978 Sidorturned a profit. The gain was made possible in part by the refinancing of1.619 mln dollars of foreign debt. CVG's three aluminum companies also showed substantialgains. Interalumina, which makes the intermediate materialalumina, had an increase in profits from 116 to 217 mlnbolivars, Alcasa earned 487 mln bolivars, as compared to 1985's412 mln and Venalum's profits rose by around half, from 1.042to 1.504 bln bolivars. Meanwhile, the state iron company Ferrominera saw itsprofits rise from 156 mln bolivars in 1985 to 204 mln bolivarslast year.", "answer groups": [ "alum", "iron-steel", "earn" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Australia expects meat and livestockexports to the Middle East to maintain an upward trend thisyear, managing director of the Australian Meat and LivestockCorp, Peter Frawley, said. He told Reuters an improvement in the economic climate andless competition from the European Community should lead in theGulf area to higher beef sales, which dropped from 33,000tonnes in 1980 to just 2,300 tonnes last year. \"In the last three to four months there has been aresurgence of inquiries,\" he said. Frawley is on a Gulf tour which will also take him to SaudiArabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to assess marketpotential. On beef exports, he said a 50 pct drop in EuropeanCommunity intervention stock in the past 12 months would helpAustralian sales. The fall meant the EC was not as aggressive in thesemarkets, where the Australian trade was the natural source ofsupply, and Australia was \"now back in,\" Frawley said. He said there was a debate in Australia as to whether theMiddle East market for livestock, which accounts for two-thirdsof meat export value to the area, would be maintained. He believed the trade would remain with a continuing demandfor fresh meat. The number of live sheep shipped last year to Saudi Arabia,the biggest single market, was 3,214,159 compared with2,939,226 in 1985. The numbers shipped to the United ArabEmirates and Bahrain fell, however. Frawley said the slackening in demand in the Gulf had beenoffset by other Arab countries around the Mediterranean. Other than livestock, Australia's overall meat sales to theMiddle East rose to 72,374 tonnes in 1986 from 52,403 tonnesthe previous year, largely due to the sale of 25,790 tonnes ofmutton and lamb to Iran. Australia sold 9,824 tonnes to Iran in 1985 after beingvirtually excluded by New Zealand competition for severalyears. Frawley said the 1986 sale contract had included abarter provision, but Iran had paid in full in cash. Negotiations with the Iranians for 1987 shipments werecurrently under way, with Iran again seeking credit and barterprovisions, he said. Frawley said there had been a tremendous growth in demandfor chilled lamb in the last four to five years and hepredicted this would continue. \"The Middle East, and the Gulf in particular, is nowAustralia's largest market for lamb, chilled and flown in.Australia is in an ideal position to provide the supplies ifthe market is willing to pay a premium for a fresh, youngproduct,\" he said.", "answer groups": [ "livestock", "carcass" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Turkey\"s standoff with Greece over Aegeanoil rights appeared at an end after the government said it hadbeen assured Athens would not start prospecting in disputedwaters. A Foreign Ministry statement last night hinted Turkey wasclaiming victory. A Greek-based international consortium, NorthAegean Petroleum Co., Had given up plans to start searching foroil in international waters east of Thasos island, it said. \"In the same way it has been understood that Greece willalso not undertake oil activities outside its territorialwaters,\" the statement added. An Ankara Radio report monitored in London said ForeignMinister Vahit Halefolu had called on Greece to engage indialogue over the dispute. It was impossible to resolve thedispute by crises, he was quoted as saying. \"We call on Greece to come and engage in a dialogue with us- let us find a solution as two neighbours and allies should,\"he said. The radio said Halefoglu had briefed the leaders of anumber of the country\"s political parties on the latestdevelopments. Turkey sent the survey ship Sismik 1 into the Aegeanyesterday, flanked by warships, to press its case but havingearlier said it would go into disputed waters, declared thevessel would stay in Turkish areas. Prime Minister Turgut Ozal, in London on his way home afterheart surgery in the United States, is expected to receive anecstatic welcome from thousands of Turks when he returns today. He was in defiant mood last night, telling Turkish radio:\"We can never accept that Greece should confine us to theAnatolian continent. If there are riches under the sea, theyare for mankind.\" Despite the end of the crisis, Turkish officialsacknowledged that the underlying dispute over delimiting thecontinental shelf in the Aegean remained unsolved. Turkey alleged that the consortium\"s plans would haveinfringed the 1976 Berne agreement between the two countries,which called for a moratorium on any activities until thedelimitation was agreed. Greece earlier this month declared itconsiders the accord inoperative.", "answer groups": [ "crude", "ship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Reserve Board votedunanimously to propose a formula for calculating the risk ofinterest rate and currency swaps as part of its ongoing effortto come up with a new capital standard for U.S. banks thattakes into account the riskiness of a bank's loans and otherassets. Fed officials said an identical proposal was being issuestoday by the Bank of England. The Fed set a 60-day period for public comment on the plan. The proposal adopted today addresses only the credit risksassociated with interest rate swaps, forward foreign exchangecontracts and similar financial instruments. Previously, the Fed Jan. 8 proposed a series of guidelinesfor calculating the risk of other off-balance-sheet activitiesthat banks would be required to take into account incalculating the minimum financial cushion they would need tomaintain. Both guidelines set five broad categories of risk for loansand other bank assets and assigned to each a level of risk thatwould establish a bank's minimum capital needs. The additional guidelines proposed today would determinethe amount of capital support required for a bank's currentexposure for a given asset and the potential future exposure. The current exposure would be measured by themark-to-market value of the asset, which would reflect thereplacement cost. Potential future increases in the replacement cost would becalculated using credit conversion factors based on statisticalanalyses by the staffs of the Bank of England and U.S. bankingregulators. Future exposure would rise over the life of theasset. The Fed staff said the risk gauge attempted to balanceconflicting needs for precision and simplicity. They ignore, for example, the relative volatility of theparticular currencies involved in exchange rate contracts. Board officials said the new gauge could increase thecapital required of the largest money center banks, which arethe principal participants in these types of activities. They cautioned the Fed board to take account of thepotential impact of the plan on the ability of U.S. banks tocompete in world financial markets. However, the staff concluded, \"The credit risks inherent insuch contracts now constitute a significant element of the riskprofiles of some banking organizations.\" The Fed proposal would exempt all but the 20-25 largestparticipants in this market, on grounds the benefits ofincluding the smaller banks would be outweighed by costs. Also excluded would be interest rate and foreign exchangecontracts traded on organized exchanges. Governor Martha Seger said she was concerned that Japan wasnot involved in the U.K.-U.S. effort to draft new capitalrules.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "interest" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Brazilian President Jose Sarneyannounced a move which temporarily legalises the purchase ofU.S. dollars in the parallel currency market, aimed atpromoting imports of foreign goods. In a speech, Sarney justified his measure as a need to face\"current well known difficulties to obtain foreign loans for thepurchase of goods.\" The parallel market, although officially tolerated, istechnically illegal in Brazil. For the past year, the dollar inthe parallel market has sold at between 25 and 100 pct abovethe official rate. Sarney's decision means Brazilian importers of machineryand industrial equipment can buy dollar currency in theparallel market without having to wait for an official orderfrom the Banco do Brasil's Foreign Trade Department (Cacex). Sarney also announced measures to boost exports in aneffort to strengthen the country's trade balance and alleviatethe risk of a reduction of foreign loans for this sector of theeconomy. The president authorised the National Foreign Trade Council(CONEX) to resume operating as the ruling body of Brazil'strade policy, with participation of the private sector. The Council had been closed three years ago by the militarygovernment of former President Joao Figueiredo.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "dlr" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Federal Reserve Board Governor WayneAngell said the Reagan appointed majority on the board was notat odds with Chairman Paul Volcker on whether interest ratesshould rise to support the dollar. \"I would anticipate very little difference between thechairman's position on price-level stability - and on the viewof the dollar in foreign exchange markets - and my own,\" Angellsaid in an interview with the New York Times. \"And I would also see very little difference in (Governor)Manley Johnson's position and my own,\" he added. The newspaper said Angell was speaking in response toinquiries concerning a report by syndicated columnists RowlandEvans and Robert Novak that Volcker was ready to raise rates todefend the dollar but that he was being thwarted by the fourReagan appointed members on the board. Angell told the newspaper that there was no evidence ofdisagreement on the board and that \"anyone who should suggest\"there is one \"might be reaching pretty far.\"", "answer groups": [ "interest", "dlr", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Sri Lankan cabinet approvedrecommendations to upgrade the quality of coconut fibreproducts, the government said. It said the recommendations also suggested thatencouragement be given for the manufacture of value-addedproducts from coconut fibre and a market development programmebe launched for traditional and value-added products. It also suggested the setting up of a marketing mission oncoconut fibre to be sent this month to principal targetmarkets. Sri Lanka is the world's second largest exporter ofdessicated coconut after the Philippines.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed", "coconut" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Brooklyn Union Gas Co's BrooklynUnion Exploration Co Inc unit said it entered a 200 mln dlrthree-year gas and oil exploration and development venture withSmith Offshore Exploration Co. The agreement calls for drilling of 10 to 12 offshore wellsper year, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico area off the Texasand Louisiana coasts and 30 to 40 onshore Texas and LouisianaGulf Coast wells.", "answer groups": [ "nat-gas", "crude" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bank of England said it forecast ashortage of around 350 mln stg in the money market today. Among the main factors affecting liquidity, bills maturingin official hands and the take-up of treasury bills will drainsome 525 mln stg while bankers' balnces below target will takeout around 175 mln stg. Partly offsetting these outflows, exchequer transactionsand a fall in note circulation will add some 300 mln stg and 40mln stg to the system respectively.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Federal Statistics Office willtoday publish trade and current account figures for February, aspokeswoman said in reply to queries. In January the current account surplus provisionallynarrowed to 4.9 billion marks from 8.5 billion in December. Theprovisional January trade surplus narrowed to 7.2 billion marksfrom a record 11.6 billion marks the month before. In February 1986 the current account had shown a 6.85billion mark surplus and the trade account a 6.84 billionsurplus.", "answer groups": [ "bop", "trade" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Dutch shipping and transport groupPHS Van Ommeren NV said it has taken over a smallDutch gas container firm as a first step in establishing aworld-wide gas container organisation. The firm, Liquid and Gas Transport BV (LGT), employs 10people and has a fleet of 200 gas containers. Van Ommeren will shortly open an office in Singapore andexpand its facilities in Houston to establish the gas containernetwork.", "answer groups": [ "ship", "acq" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The European Commission authorised theexport of 65,000 tonnes of free market barley at today's tenderat a maximum rebate of 138.75 European currency units and55,000 tonnes of French maize at 130 Ecus, grain traders heresaid. It rejected bids for breadmaking and feed wheat, they said.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "barley", "wheat", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Chancellor of the Exchequer NigelLawson's Budget speech was described as sound and well balancedby analysts, if slightly lacking in excitement. A cut in bank base lending rates is now widely expectedtomorrow, with most forecasts predicting a half-point fall. Afollow-up half-point cut is anticipated next week. \"Worthy but boring would probably sum it up,\" Peter Fellner,U.K. Economist at stockbrokers James Capel and Co, said. \"It wasa very, very prudent fiscal budget.\" Richard Jeffrey of brokers Hoare Govett said it was awell-balanced budget within the confines of the government'sphilosophy of keeping expenditure levels flat. Most analysts said the Budget was very sound on the fiscalside, but offered nothing new on monetary policy. As was widely expected, Lawson split his \"fiscal adjustment\"between trimming the 1987/88 PSBR target to 4.0 billion stgfrom 7.1 billion and cutting basic rate income tax from 29 to27 pct. The target for the narrow measure of money supply, M0, waskept unchangd at two to six pct, while the target for the broadSterling M3 aggregate was dropped. Both Jeffrey and Fellner said the budget clears the way fora half-point fall in U.K. Base rates tomorrow, but theauthorities are unlikely to sanction a larger cut immediately.Many analysts and currency dealers have forecast a fullone-point cut tomorrow. \"The Bank of England will be loathe to take any action whichit will have to reverse later,\" Jeffrey said, though he added afurther half-point cut was quite possible in the near future. The main worry from today's speech is the outlook forinflation, given the signs of relaxed monetary policy containedin it, Scrimgeour Vickers economist Richard Holt said. Holt noted the \"rather loose\" inflation forecast of 4.0 pctat end-1987, and said the lower interest rates likely to resultfrom the tough fiscal stance could cause longer term concern. \"A higher PSBR target could be preferable in the long term,\"he said, although lower mortgage interest rates on the back offalling base rates would have an offsetting impact oninflation. The Budget will inspire a lot of short-term confidence butit was \"not a good budget for inflation,\" he said Jeffrey said he would have liked Lawson to say more aboutthe dangers of excessive liquidity build-up but overall was nottoo concerned about a revival of inflation. Fellner noted that the exchange rate was to remain the\"leading edge\" of monetary policy, but said the authorities werelikely to be extremely cautious on this front. He said they were unlikely to hesitate in holding interestrates steady or even raising them again if sterling showed anysigns of excessive weakness. Most analysts agreed Lawson had bolstered the credibilityof the Budget by adopting realistic forecasts. Raising the forecast for the current account deficit from1.5 to 2.5 billion stg for 1987 would not unsettle the markets,which are already discounting that amount, Jeffrey said.that the 4.0 billion stg PSBR target was given credibility bythe favourable outturn for 1986/87, which is now also forecastto be 4.0 billion stg. But analysts said the Budget speech did not give anyclear-cut indication about the timing of the general election,which has to be held before June, 1988. Some believe it signals a poll this June, noting that thebenefits, such as income tax cuts and the decision not to raiseduties on alcohol and tobacco, become available immediately. But others said it kept several options open and it was notpossible to deduce too much from it. James Capel's Fellner noted that by being fiscally prudent,Lawson had kept open the possibility of an autumn election inthat there would be no \"chickens coming home to roost.\" Richard Jeffrey, who favours the likelihood of a Juneelection, said it was important the Chancellor had not gone fora Budget aimed overtly at buying an election victory. Nevertheless, he said, it was likely to result in a boostto the Conservative Party's pre-election popularity.", "answer groups": [ "bop", "interest", "money-supply" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Citicorp said that on behalf of itsCitibank N.A. Subsidiary, it is issuing 100,000 naked currencywarrants priced at 67-1/2 marks each to purchase Australiandlrs for marks at a rate of 1.1825 marks per Australian dlr. The current rate is 1.2850 marks per Australian dlr. Eachwarrant is for a nominal amount of 1,000 marks and the minimumpurchase will be for 100 warrants. The warrants expire on January 8, 1988. Payment is due onApril 8 and the warrants will be listed on the Luxembourg StockExchange.", "answer groups": [ "dmk", "austdlr" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Soviet farmers had sown spring cropson only 15.8 mln hectares or 11 pct of cultivated land by April27, compared with 26.2 mln ha by April 21, 1986, Izvestia said. Grains and pulses (except maize) were sown on 6.7 mln ha,compared with 13.1 mln at the same time last year, it added. Spring sowing is off to a slow start, with planting two tofour weeks behind schedule in many areas of the Ukraine,Byelorussia and Russia, because the winter was unusually cold. Western agricultural experts believe the crop could stillbe good but heavy winterkill will make it difficult to reachthe 1987 grain target of 232 mln tonnes. The 1986 crop was 210mln.", "answer groups": [ "corn", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Yugoslavia will tender April 14 for100,000 tonnes of wheat, the U.S. Agriculture Department'sCounselor in Belgrade said in a field report. The report, dated April 7, said the wheat must be from 1986and 1987 harvest, and imports of soft wheat from Europe andfrom other suppliers will not be considered. It said the imports will be used to rebuild the federalreserves and as a result will not be subject to importsurcharges.", "answer groups": [ "grain", "wheat" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Sharp cuts this year in U.S. plantedacreage may not make a big dent in the U.S. grain stockpile butwill at least keep grain surpluses from increasing, AgricultureDepartment and industry commodity analysts said. \"The scenario is turning around on stocks. The wholesupply/demand picture could finally be getting more inbalance,\" a USDA analyst said. The USDA prospective plantings report this week indicatedthat U.S. farmers will idle 52 to 55 mln acres in annualacreage reduction programs this year. An additional 20 mlnacres have been enrolled in the conservation reserve program,bringing total idled acreage in the U.S. to 72-75 mln acres,almost a third of the nation's total 235 mln acre crop base. Production of wheat, corn and soybeans in 1986/87 willprobably closely match annual usage, limiting any buildup instocks, analysts said. \"It's a substantially different story from last year whenwe added 1.5 billion bushels of corn to the stockpile,\" VernonMcMinimy, director of commodity research for Staley Co. said. Interviewed at an agribusiness education conference here,McMinimy said that 67.6 mln planted acres of corn will likelytranslate into 60 mln harvested acres, and with normal yields,final production of 6.9 to 7.0 billion bushels. McMinimy estimated that total U.S. corn disappearance in1986/87 could end up at 7.1 billion bushels, possibly resultingin a 200-million bushel reduction in the current corn stockpileof 5.45 billion bushels. \"To say this represents a turn-around is wrong, but we'reat least in a holding pattern,\" George Hoffman, director ofcommodity analysis for Pillsbury said. Hoffman said wheat stocks could rise slightly by the end of1986/87 to 1.9 billion bushels due to \"significantly less\"domestic feed use for wheat because of lower corn prices. USDA analysts, however, project slightly higher usage andsaid wheat stocks will either decrease slightly or at least notincrease. With yearly use at around two billion bushels, nextyear's projected crop could be used up, an analyst said. \"We won't be adding to stocks. Stocks are at a record now,so if we can begin to touch them even minutely through acreagereductions, that would be an improvement,\" an AgricultureDepartment wheat analyst said. Soybean planted acreage, at 56.9 mln acres, would be thesmallest planted soybean acreage since 1976 and could lowerfinal production by 150 mln bushels and ending stocks by 50 to100 mln bushels, analysts said. As more marginal, erodable acreage is enrolled in theconservation reserve program, annual acreage reduction programswill be more effective because they will force more highproducing land out of production, a USDA analyst said. \"We can now maybe see the light at the end of a very longtunnel,\" the analyst said.", "answer groups": [ "oilseed", "wheat", "corn", "soybean", "grain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Bundesbank is likely to steer asteady monetary course over the next few weeks and a change incredit policies is not expected at tomorrow's regular centralbank council meeting, bank economists and dealers said. \"There is no need for action,\" Hermann Remsperger, chiefeconomist of Berliner Handels- and Frankfurter Bank (BHF) said. Others noted that exchange rates are stable after lastmonth's Group of Six agreement in Paris and central bank moneystock growth is still well above the three to six pct targetzone, so a change in credit policies could be ruled out. One money market dealer said comments by BundesbankPresident Karl Otto Poehl at a private seminar in Duesseldorftwo weeks ago hinting at another interest rate cut onlyindicated the Bundesbank might act if conditions changed. Bank economists said U.S. Pressure on West Germany tofurther ease credit policies had receded since the Paris pact. But such demands could re-emerge if West Germany failed tostimulate its economy enough to affect the massive U.S. Tradedeficit. Remsperger said continued strong money supply growth alsoprecluded a further cut in official interest rates. Central bank money stock was growing at an annualized 7.5pct in February, unchanged from the 7.5 pct in January. Economists said some of the 18 members of the central bankcouncil were worried about the continued overshoot in the moneysupply target and were bound to resist any moves to cut rates.But Poehl played down the risk of inflation. Economists said the fact that money stock growth remainedstable last month was a success. Some said it was likely toreturn to within the target range later this year. \"The special factors which boosted money supply growth lastyear are disappearing,\" one economist said. He said some 75 pct of the money supply increase in 1986was caused by a sharp rise in the inflow of foreign funds. This trend had been reversed recently and with domesticcredit demand likely to remain at steady levels, money stockgrowth was expected to narrow in the medium-term. These developments were increasing the Bundesbank's scopefor a rate cut in the medium-term, economists said. Money market dealers said period rates remained littlechanged, indicating no change in credit policy was expected. Call money rates declined to 3.75/80 pct from 3.90/95yesterday, with the market well stocked with liquidity. Dealers said call money was soft because tax payments onbehalf of customers had been less than expected so far. Butrates were likely to tighten again as soon as the full effectof this month's major tax payment period is felt. Payments forthe federal railways bond are also likely to burden the market. The Bundesbank did not inject liquidity via a securitiesrepurchase agreement this week, but countered a tightening inrates on Monday by injecting funds through government-ownedbanks. Dealers said recent securities repurchase pacts had shownthe Bundesbank clearly wanted call money rates stable at 3.80. One dealer said, \"If the central bank wanted lower interestrates, it would first of all drive call money rates down.\" Banks remained relatively well stocked with minimum reserveassets. They held 52.9 billion marks in minimum reserves onMonday, averaging 53.7 billion marks over the first 16 days ofMarch. A requirement of around 51 billion is expected.", "answer groups": [ "interest", "money-fx" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cash in circulation in West Germanyrose by 2.8 billion marks in the last week of February to 121.5billion, a gain of 8.3 pct over the same month last year, theBundesbank said. Cash in circulation is one of two components of the WestGerman money supply which the German central bank is targetingto grow between three and six pct this year. Gross currency reserves in the week rose by 200 mln marksto 109.5 billion. Foreign liabilities fell 100 mln to 22.9billion, giving a net currency reserves increase of 300 mln to86.6 billion. Commercial bank minimum reserve holdings at the Bundesbankfell 300 mln marks to 51.9 billion marks at the end ofFebruary, averaging 51.2 billion over the month. The rediscount debt of the banking system fell 800 mlnmarks to 55.2 billion marks, the Bundesbank said. Banks made heavy use of the Lombard emergency fundingfacility to meet month-end payments and borrowed 3.1 billionmarks, a rise of 2.9 billion over the week before. The net position of public authorities at the Bundesbankdeclined 6.7 billion marks in the last week of February. The federal government drew down 3.8 billion marks of itsBundesbank cash deposits, which had stood at 4.1 billion in thethird week of February, and also borrowed a 1.8 billion incredit from the central bank. Federal states' deposits fell 1.5 billion marks to 1.3billion and their cash credits dropped 400 mln to 300 mln. The Bundesbank balance sheet total rose around 5.44 billionto 222.22 billion marks.", "answer groups": [ "reserves", "money-supply" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "New U.S. Banking data suggest theFederal Reserve is guiding monetary policy along a steady pathand is not signalling any imminent change of course, economistssaid. But they also said that if money supply growth remainsweak, as this week's unexpected eight billion dlr M-1 declinesuggests it may, this could influence the Fed to loosen itscredit reins and move toward a more accommodative monetarypolicy. A Reuter survey of 17 money market economists produced aforecast of a 600 mln dlr M-1 decline for the week ended June8, with estimates ranging from a gain of one billion dlrs to adecline of four billion. Instead, M-1 fell eight billion dlrsto 745.7 billion dlrs at a seasonally adjusted annual rate. Coming on the heels of a 4.3 billion decrease in M-1 forthe week ended June 1, this means the nation's money supply hasfallen more than 12 billion dlrs in the past two weeks,economists said. \"M-1 has hit an air pocket of weakness,\" said Bill Sullivanof Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. While M-1 may have lost its significance as an indicator ofeconomic growth, Sullivan said Fed officials might be concernedthe latest drop in M-1 means another month of sluggish growthin the broader monetary aggregates, M-2 and M-3, which are seenas better gauges of economic growth. Latest monthly M-2 and M-3 data showed that as of May, bothmeasures were growing at rates below the bottom of the Fed's5-1/2 to 8-1/2 pct target ranges. If money growth does not accelerate, Fed officials,concerned that this indicates economic growth is flagging,could turn toward easier monetary policy, economists said. \"Does this mean that the Fed abandons its current openmarket position? No,\" Sullivan said. \"But does this mean the endof tightening for the time being? Definitely yes.\" Economists said average adjusted discount window borrowingsof 385 mln dlrs for the latest two-week bank statement periodwere lower than they had expected. Most believed the Fed hadtargetted a two-week borrowings average of around 500 mln dlrs. But they said that if it had not been for a large one-daynet miss in the Fed's reserve projections, the higherborrowings target would probably have been reached. A drop in May U.S. Housing starts and continued weakness inauto sales show key sectors of the U.S. Economy are lagging,while a recent modest 0.3 pct gain in May producer prices hashelped dispel inflation fears, Slifer said. \"If this continues, we can entertain the notion of Fedeasing at some point,\" he said. Other economists said the Fed would probably pay littleattention to weak money supply growth. \"It has been a number ofyears since M-1 has given good signs of what's going on in theeconomy,\" one said. \"I don't think M-1 shows that the economy isfalling apart and the Fed should ease.\" Economists agreed a stable dollar will continue to be aprerequisite for any move by the Fed toward easier monetarypolicy. They said the Fed is reluctant to lower short-term ratesfor fear this would spur expectations of a weaker dollar andhigher inflation which would push up long-term yields and chokeoff econmomic growth. But Sullivan said the dollar has been steady since lateApril. \"The Fed has to determine if this represents afundamental change for the dollar. If it does, then this givesthem more room to ease,\" he said.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "money-supply", "dlr" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A limited Belgian issue of silver Ecucoins with a face value of five Ecus will go on sale from March23 at a price of 500 Belgian francs each, a Finance Ministryspokesman said. Gold Ecu coins with a face value of 50 Ecus will be soldfrom the same day. The spokesman told Reuters the price forthese would be fixed just before they go on sale but was likelyto be between 8,500 and 9,000 francs. At least two mln silver coins and several hundreds ofthousands of the gold coins will be minted, he said. They willbe sold both in Belgium and abroad. The coins will be the first ever denominated in the Ecu,the \"basket\" comprised of the 12-nation European Community'scurrencies except the Spanish peseta and the Portuguese escudo. The issue is being made to mark the 30th anniversary of theEC's founding Treaty of Rome this month. Finance Minister MarkEyskens, who currently presides over the EC's council ofeconomic and finance ministers, has called the issue apolitical act of symbolic value which aimed to make theCommunity's goal of monetary integration more concrete. The coins will be legal tender in Belgium but most demandis expected to come from coin collectors.", "answer groups": [ "gold", "silver" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What topics are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Treasury Secretary James Baker saidthere has been no change in U.S. policy on the value of thedollar. Baker, when asked if the policy was changed in view ofcomments yesterday by a senior Commerce Department official whosaid he thought the Japanese yen was undervalued against thedollar by 10 to 15 pct, replied, \"No.\" Yesterday Robert Ortner, Undersecretary of Commerce forEconomic Affairs, said he thought the yen was undervalued butsaid that was his personal view. This remark caused the dollar to drop as it appeared toconflict with a recent agreement in Paris by the United Statesand five other industrial nations that currency rates were atabout the right level to reflect underlying economicconditions. Baker, who spoke earlier to the National NewspaperAssociation, declined to elaborate on his statement about U.S.policy.", "answer groups": [ "money-fx", "dlr" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Prevalence of abnormal hemoglobins in newborns in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil].Hemoglobinopathies are among the most prevalent hereditary diseases in humans. Studies in different areas of Brazil have identified the prevalence of S and C abnormal hemoglobins. The study analyzed 1,940 cord blood samples of newborns from maternity hospitals in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State, to investigate the prevalence of abnormal hemoglobins. All samples were submitted to cellulose acetate electrophoresis using a Tris-EDTA-borate buffer at pH 8.5. Electrophoresis in agar gel pH 6.2 was performed on samples presenting abnormal hemoglobin. Some 37 (1.91%) of the newborns presented hemoglobinopathies, as follows: 29 (1.50%) sickle cell trait (Hb FAS), 6 (0.31%) heterozygous Hb C (Hb FAC), one (0.05%) homozygous Hb S (Hb FS), and one (0.05%) Hb Barts suggestive of alpha thalassemia. The results show the need to implement screening for hemoglobinopathies in the neonatal population.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Capsaicin, a component of red peppers, stimulates protein kinase CKII activity.Protein kinase CKII (CKII), a heterotetramer composed of two catalytic (alpha or alpha') subunits and two regulatory (beta) subunits, plays a critical role in cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis. Recently, capsaicin was shown to trigger apoptosis. Therefore, we examined the effect of capsaicin on CKII activity. Although capsaicin induced apoptotic death in HeLa cells, CKII activity was increased in the cytosolic fraction of HeLa cells after treatment. Capsaicin did not change the expression of the CKIIalpha and CKIIbeta proteins. Capsaicin stimulated the catalytic activity of recombinant CKII tetramer, but not the CKIIalpha subunit. Moreover, capsaicin enhanced the autophosphorylation of CKIIalpha and CKIIbeta. Taken together, our data suggest that capsaicin stimulates the phosphotransferase activity of CKII holoenzyme by interacting with the CKIIbeta subunit.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effect of fluconazole on pharmacokinetics of 2',3'-dideoxyinosine in persons seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus.Fluconazole inhibits cytochrome P-450-mediated enzymatic metabolism of several drugs. Since hepatic metabolism is partially responsible for 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (didanosine or ddI) elimination, fluconazole therapy may lead to increased ddI concentrations in serum and subsequent concentration-dependent adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to determine if ddI pharmacokinetics are influenced by a 7-day course of oral fluconazole. Twelve adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who had received a constant dosage of ddI for at least 2 weeks were investigated. On study day 1, multiple serum samples for determination of ddI concentrations were obtained over 12 h. Then subjects received a 7-day course of oral fluconazole (200 mg every 12 h for two doses and then 200 mg once daily for 6 days) while ddI therapy continued. Following the last dose of fluconazole, serum samples for determination of ddI concentrations were again obtained over 12 h. ddI concentrations in serum were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. In contrast to previously published data, there was marked between-subject variability in ddI areas under the concentration-time curve, even when the dose was normalized for weight. No significant differences were found between mean ddI areas under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h on study day 1 (1,528 +/- 902 ngx.hr/ml) and following fluconazole treatment (1,486 +/- 649 ngx.hr/ml) . There were no significant differences in other pharmacokinetic parameters, such as ddI peak concentrations in serum (971 +/- 509 and 942 +/- 442 ng/ml) or half-lives (80 +/- 32 and 85 +/- 21 min.) before and after fluconazole treatment, respectively. We conclude that a 7-day course of oral fluconazole does not significantly alter ddI pharmacokinetics in adults that are infected with human immunodeficiency virus.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Iodixanol versus Iopromide at Coronary CT Angiography: Lumen Opacification and Effect on Heart Rhythm-the Randomized IsoCOR Trial.Purpose To show that equal coronary lumen opacification can be achieved with iso- and low-osmolar contrast media when it is injected at the same iodine delivery rate with contemporary cardiac computed tomographic (CT) protocols and to investigate the cardiovascular effect of iso-osmolar contrast media and the image quality achieved. Materials and Methods Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were obtained for the Effect of Iso-osmolar Contrast Medium on Coronary Opacification and Heart Rhythm in Coronary CT Angiography, or IsoCOR, trial. Between November 2015 and August 2016, 306 patients (167 [55%] women) at least 18 years old (weight range, 50-125 kg), were prospectively randomized to receive iso-osmolar iodixanol 270 or low-osmolar iopromide 300 contrast media. All coronary segments were assessed for intraluminal opacification and image quality and were compared by using the Student t test. Heart rate, arrhythmia, patient discomfort, and adverse events also were monitored. Results Mean measured coronary attenuation values \u00b1 standard deviation were comparable between the iodixanol 270 and iopromide 300 contrast media groups (469 HU \u00b1 167 vs 447 HU \u00b1 166, respectively [P = .241]; 95% confidence interval: -15.1, 60.0), including those from subanalyses. Adjusted for the lower iodine concentration, the mean iodixanol 270 bolus was larger compared with that of iopromide 300 (76.8 mL \u00b1 11.6 vs 69.7 mL \u00b1 10.8, respectively; P < .001). The higher injection rate was associated with higher pressure (777 kPa \u00b1 308 vs 630 kPa \u00b1 252, respectively; P < .001). Although in the iodixanol 270 group patients experienced less heat discomfort (72% vs 86%, respectively; P < .001), no differences in heart rate or rhythm were observed. Conclusion If injected at comparable iodine delivery rates, the iso-osmolar contrast medium iodixanol 270 is not inferior to low-osmolar contrast medium iopromide 300 for assessment of coronary opacification. Iodixanol 270 was associated with less heat discomfort, but did not affect heart rate differently compared with iopromide 300. \u00a9 RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Non-ulcer and Non-variceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Prospective Multicenter Study of Risk Prediction Using a Scoring System.BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Compared with ulcer bleeding (UB) in non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB), non-ulcer bleeding (NUB) is often considered to have a low risk of poor outcomes and is treated less intensively without any risk stratification. We conducted this study to assess the predictability of scoring systems for NUB and compare the outcomes of NUB and UB.METHODS: A total of 1831 UGIB patients were registered in the database during the period from February 2011 to December 2013. Among them, 1424 patients with NVUGIB were divided into two groups: Group UB (1101 patients with peptic ulcer bleeding) and Group NUB (323 patients with non-peptic ulcer-related bleeding).RESULTS: The most common cause of bleeding in Group NUB was Mallory-Weiss tears (51.1%), followed by Dieulafoy lesions (18.9%). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the pre-Rockall score [area under the ROC (AUROC)\u2009=\u20090.798; 95% CI 0.707-0.890] and full Rockall score (AUROC\u2009=\u20090.794; 95% CI 0.693-0.895) were relatively good at predicting overall mortality in NUB. Glasgow-Blatchford score (AUROC\u2009=\u20090.783; 95% CI 0.730-0.836) was the most closely correlated with the need for clinical intervention in NUB. Those who had Glasgow-Blatchford score of 0 did not require any interventions, including blood transfusions. There were no statistical differences in overall mortality (p\u2009=\u20090.387), bleeding-related mortality (p\u2009=\u20090.447), or the incidence of re-bleeding (p\u2009=\u20090.117) between the two groups.CONCLUSIONS: Scoring systems are useful to predict mortality and the need for clinical intervention in patients with NUB.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Access to bone marrow transplantation for leukemia and lymphoma: the role of sociodemographic factors.PURPOSE: Use of bone marrow transplantation (BMT), a complex, costly treatment for many forms of cancers, has increased significantly in recent years. The increasingly competitive health care marketplace raises concerns about patient access to costly medical procedures such as BMT. We attempted to evaluate patient access to BMT for the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas.METHODS: We analyzed inpatient hospital discharge data from four states (California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York) for 2 years (1988 and 1991) to examine whether the use of BMT for patients with either leukemia or lymphoma varies by sociodemographic characteristics and insurance coverage. We developed a sorting algorithm to collapse the discharge data into patient level records. We used logistic regression to analyze the odds of receiving a BMT stratified by disease type (leukemia or lymphoma).RESULTS: After controlling for other factors, black patients with leukemia are 51% to 53% as likely as whites, while black patients with lymphoma are 34% to 45% as likely as white patients to undergo a BMT (P < .05). Medicaid, self-pay patients, and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) enrollees with either leukemia or lymphoma are significantly less likely to undergo a BMT compared with patients with private insurance. Younger patients are significantly more predisposed to undergo a BMT than older patients. The odds of receiving a BMT have increased over time, but the rates of increase vary by state. Consistent with clinical expectations, the relative odds of BMT vary significantly by type of leukemia or lymphoma.CONCLUSION: Substantial variation exists in access to BMT for patients with either leukemia or lymphoma. Black patients, those enrolled in HMOs, those covered by Medicaid, and self-pay patients were less likely to receive a BMT when admitted for either leukemia or lymphoma. These findings raise concerns about access to cancer treatments for patients in the current health care system.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Increased myofiber remodelling and NFATc1-myonuclear translocation in rat postural skeletal muscle after experimental vestibular deafferentation.BACKGROUND: The vestibular system undergoes considerable modification during spaceflight [5]. This is paralleled by microgravity-induced muscle atrophy [6]. However, the possibility of vestibulo-autonomic regulatory mechanisms affecting skeletal muscle structure and function have not yet been addressed.OBJECTIVE: We hypothesise that the vestibular system affects anti-gravitational skeletal muscle phenotype composition, size and the transcriptional factor called nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATc1).METHODS: In a laboratory study, we examined the morphological and histochemical properties including intramyocellular NFATc1 changes in slow-type soleus muscle of chemically labyrinthectomized rats (VLx; n=8) compared to a control group (Sham; n=6) after a period of one month.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Neurochemical vestibular deafferentation resulted in smaller myofibre sizes, altered myofibre phenotype composition, high yields of hybrid fibre formation, and reduced myonuclear NFATc1 accumulation as signs of slow-type myofibre atrophy, myofibre type remodelling, and altered nuclear transcriptional activity in the postural soleus muscle of rats. We propose that vestibulo-autonomic modification of skeletal muscles occurs during prolonged microgravity. Our findings are likely to have implications for vestibular rehabilitation in clinical settings.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Cement as a risk factor for deep-vein thrombosis. Comparison of cemented TKR, uncemented TKR and cemented THR.A total of 110 total knee replacements (TKRs) was randomised to receive either a cemented or an uncemented prosthesis. Postoperative venography at five to seven days was used to compare the prevalence, site and size of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). We also compared the findings with those of postoperative venography in a group of patients with cemented total hip replacements (THRs). The total prevalence of DVT was significantly greater after uncemented (81%) than after cemented TKR (55%). Both knee groups had a significantly higher prevalence of DVT than in cemented hip replacements (32%). We found no difference in the proportion with proximal DVT in the three groups (14%, 15% and 16%). The median length of the thrombi was significantly greater after cemented (26.5 cm) than after uncemented TKR (11 cm) or after cemented THR (7 cm). This difference was mainly due to greater lengths of distal rather than proximal thrombi. We conclude that the use of cement may affect the formation of DVT after joint replacement, but does not appear to lead to an increased incidence.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "X monosomy in a virilized female cat.An infertile Siamese female cat was subjected for clinical, histological, cytogenetic and molecular studies due to ambiguous external genitalia (vulva, vagina, rudimentary penis and scrotum-like structure) and masculine behaviour. An elevated oestrogen activity and a detectable level of testosterone were found. The cat underwent laparotomy. The gonads and the uterus were removed and subjected for histological studies, which showed ovaries with corpora lutea and a some primordial follicles. Chromosome studies of lymphocyte and fibroblast cultures, with the use of Giemsa staining, G-banding and whole X chromosome painting by fluorescence in situ hybridization, revealed pure X monosomy. Molecular analysis showed the absence of the SRY gene. Our study revealed for the first time that X monosomy in cats may be associated with virilization, in spite of the lack of the SRY gene.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin in transurethral surgery].The purpose of the study was to compare in a prospective randomized study the effect of three doses of prophylactic administration of ciprofloxacin in 25 patients and a control group of 26 patients without prophylactic antibiotic treatment in conjunction with transurethral surgery. In the group of patients with prophylaxis there is a significantly lower incidence of clinical manifestations of infection, as compared with the group of patients without prophylaxis which reduces the necessity to administer antibacterial drugs during the postoperative period.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The perceptions of people with multiple sclerosis about the NHS provision of physiotherapy services.PURPOSE: In 2008, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and MS Trust conducted a second audit of NHS services for people with MS (PwMS). Using the free text comments obtained from the RCP and MS Trust audit, this study aimed to perform content analysis on the views of PwMS about MS services, focussing on physiotherapy provision.METHOD: A total of 757 PwMS included a free text comment on MS services and an additional 41 commented separately about physiotherapy services. The data were analysed using content analysis, which identified three main themes, positive, negative and neutral and subsequent categories and sub-categories. Intra- and inter-rater reliability were assessed and the data were manipulated to address the research aim.RESULTS: This study found that the majority of the free text comments on MS services were negative (55%). Physiotherapy provision was rated the most negative of NHS services (38%), with the primary complaints being lack of information about services and excessive waiting times for appointments.CONCLUSION: This study has revealed that NHS physiotherapy provision is not meeting the needs of PwMS.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Altered white matter connectivity in young people exposed to childhood abuse: a tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and tractography studyBackground: Childhood abuse is associated with structural brain abnormalities. Few studies have investigated white matter tract abnormalities in medication-naive, drug-free individuals who experienced childhood abuse. We examined the association between childhood abuse and abnormalities in white matter tracts in that population, controlling for psychiatric comorbidities.Methods: We collected diffusion tensor imaging data for age- and sex-matched youth with childhood abuse, psychiatric controls (matched for psychiatric diagnoses) and healthy controls. Tract-specific analysis was conducted using tractography. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to assess group differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) at the whole-brain level.Results: We included 20 youth who experienced childhood abuse, 18 psychiatric controls and 25 healthy controls in our analysis. Tractography analysis showed abuse-specific reduced tract volume in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF) and inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus (IFoF) in the abuse group relative to both healthy and psychiatric controls. Furthermore, abnormalities in the left IFoF were associated with greater abuse severity. The TBSS analysis showed significantly reduced FA in a left-hemispheric cluster comprising the ILF, IFoF and corpus callosum splenium in the abuse group relative to healthy and psychiatric controls.Limitations: It is unclear to what extent pubertal development, malnutrition and prenatal drug exposure may have influenced the findings.Conclusion: Childhood abuse is associated with altered structure of neural pathways connecting the frontal, temporal and occipital cortices that are known to mediate affect and cognitive control. The abuse-specific deficits in the ILF and IFoF suggest that fibre tracts presumably involved in conveying and processing the adverse abusive experience are specifically compromised in this population.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Securing the future of drug discovery for central nervous system disorders.Innovative partnerships among researchers, patients, regulators, payors and industry are needed to reinvigorate drug discovery for central nervous system disorders. Here, we summarize plans of the Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum (CINP) to achieve this goal.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Named Groups", "Humanities", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Blood drop size in passive dripping from weapons.Passive dripping, the slow dripping of blood under gravity, is responsible for some bloodstains found at crime scenes, particularly drip trails left by a person moving through the scene. Previous work by other authors has established relationships, under ideal conditions, between the size of the stain, the number of spines and satellite stains, the roughness of the surface, the size of the blood droplet and the height from which it falls. To apply these relationships to infer the height of fall requires independent knowledge of the size of the droplet. This work aims to measure the size of droplets falling from objects representative of hand-held weapons. Pig blood was used, with density, surface tension and viscosity controlled to fall within the normal range for human blood. Distilled water was also tested as a reference. Drips were formed from stainless steel objects with different roughnesses including cylinders of diameter between 10 and 100 mm, and flat plates. Small radius objects including a knife and a wrench were also tested. High speed images of the falling drops were captured. The primary blood drop size ranged from 4.15\u00b10.11 mm up to 6.15\u00b10.15 mm (depending on the object), with the smaller values from sharper objects. The primary drop size correlated only weakly with surface roughness, over the roughness range studied. The number of accompanying droplets increased with the object size, but no significant correlation with surface texture was observed. Dripping of blood produced slightly smaller drops, with more accompanying droplets, than dripping water.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Health Care", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Atypical infantile spinomuscular atrophy presenting as acute diaphragmatic paralysis.Two infants with progressive spinomuscular atrophy presented with severe diaphragmatic dysfunction, increasing to 9 the number of cases with this clinically distinctive variant of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease. The anterior horn cell lesion was generalized but was exceptionally severe in the cervical spinal cord of our cases. Fiber size disproportion in serial thigh muscle samples indicated that qualitative neuronal dysfunction preceded appearance of typical denervation. Shoulder girdle muscle biopsy may be more appropriate in these infants, whose prognosis appears to be universally poor.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Genomic Analysis of ShewanellaShewanella sp. O23S is a dissimilatory arsenate reducing bacterial strain involved in arsenic transformations within the abandoned gold mine in Zloty Stok (SW Poland). Previous physiological studies revealed that O23S may not only release arsenic from minerals, but also facilitate its immobilization through co-precipitation with reduced sulfur species. Given these uncommon, complementary characteristics and the application potential of the strain in arsenic-removal technologies, its genome (~5.3 Mbp), consisting of a single chromosome, two large plasmids (pSheA and pSheB) and three small plasmid-like phages (pSheC-E) was sequenced and annotated. Genes encoding putative proteins involved in heavy metal transformations, antibiotic resistance and other phenotypic traits were identified. An in-depth comparative analysis of arsenic respiration (arr) and resistance (ars) genes and their genetic context was also performed, revealing that pSheB carries the only copy of the arr genes, and a complete ars operon. The plasmid pSheB is therefore a unique natural vector of these genes, providing the host cells arsenic respiration and resistance abilities. The functionality of the identified genes was determined based on the results of the previous and additional physiological studies, including: the assessment of heavy metal and antibiotic resistance under various conditions, adhesion-biofilm formation assay and BiologTM metabolic preferences test. This combined genetic and physiological approach shed a new light on the capabilities of O23S and their molecular basis, and helped to confirm the biosafety of the strain in relation to its application in bioremediation technologies.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Health Care", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Obstructing cancers of the right and left colon: critical analysis of perioperative risk factors, morbidity, and mortality.Significant hospital mortality has been observed in right-sided obstructing colonic cancer patients but remains unexplained. The medical records of 52 patients with obstructing colonic cancer seen between 1980-88 were reviewed to identify prognostic factors influencing mortality when carcinoma involved either the right or the left segments of the colon. The mean age, sex, incidence, and distribution of perioperative risk factors and rate of postoperative complications were comparable between the two groups. Right colonic cancer patients had a higher incidence of advanced disease (16 of 19 had Dukes C and D tumors). Their mortality was higher than that of their counterparts (21% vs 9%), correlating primarily with advanced cancer stage rather than with preoperative risk factors or technical (operative) complications. Though the difference in mortality rates is not statistically significant, patients with obstructing cancers of the right colon, compared to their left counterparts, are hospitalized in more advanced stages of disease and have a worse prognosis.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Interactions of membrane-active peptides with thick, neutral, nonzwitterionic bilayers.Alamethicin is a well-studied channel-forming peptide that has a prototypical amphipathic helix structure. It permeabilizes both microbial and mammalian cell membranes, causing loss of membrane polarization and leakage of endogenous contents. Antimicrobial peptide-lipid systems have been studied quite extensively and have led to significant advancements in membrane biophysics. These studies have been performed on lipid bilayers that are generally charged or zwitterionic and restricted to a thickness range of 3-5 nm. Bilayers of amphiphilic diblock copolymers are a relatively new class of membranes that can have significantly different physicochemical properties compared with those of lipid membranes. In particular, they can be made uncharged, nonzwitterionic, and much thicker than their lipid counterparts. In an effort to extend studies of membrane-protein interactions to these synthetic membranes, we have characterized the interactions of alamethicin and several other membrane-active peptides with diblock copolymer bilayers. We find that although alamethicin is too small to span the bilayer, the peptide interacts with, and ruptures, thick polymer membranes.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Diseases", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Autologous transfusion. A safe alternative for the 1990s.Autologous transfusion is a safe and affordable alternative to the traditional use of homologous blood. Many persons who would not ordinarily meet the criteria for homologous or directed donation can be autologous donors. The use of autologous blood ensures that the patient will not contract AIDS or hepatitis from transfused blood products. Many community hospitals have autologous blood programs, which allow them to draw, store, and reinfuse blood all under one roof.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Geographicals", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The influence of motor vehicle legislation on injury claim incidence.BACKGROUND: Although there have been numerous strategies to prevent motor vehicle collisions and their subsequent injuries, few have been effective in preventing motor vehicle injury claims. In this paper, we examine the role of legislation and compensation system in altering injury claim incidence.METHODS: The population base for our natural experiment was all Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and Quebec residents who submitted personal injury claims to their respective motor vehicle insurance provider from 1990 to 1999. The provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba switched from Tort to pure No-Fault insurance on January 1, 1995 and on March 1, 1994 respectively. British Columbia maintained tort insurance and Quebec maintained pure no-fault insurance throughout the entire 10-year period.RESULTS: The conversion from tort insurance to pure no-fault motor vehicle insurance resulted in a five-year 31% (RR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.68-0.70) reduction in total injury claims per 100,000 residents in Saskatchewan and a five-year 43% (RR = 0.57; 95% CI 0.56-0.58) reduction in Manitoba. At the same time, the province of British Columbia retained tort insurance and had a five-year 5% reduction (RR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.94-0.99). Quebec, which retained pure no-fault throughout the entire 10-year period, had less than one third of the injury claims per 100,000 residents than the tort province of British Columbia.INTERPRETATION: The conversion from tort to pure no-fault legislation has a large influence in reducing motor vehicle injury claim incidence in Canada. Legislative system and injury compensation scheme have an observable impact on injury claim incidence and can therefore have significant impact on the health care system.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Oral health in German children, adolescents, adults and senior citizens in 2005.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this field study (the \"Fourth German Oral Health Study\") was to obtain representative data on caries (DMFT index), periodontitis (CPI) and prosthetic status in the German population and to evaluate changes in the oral health of the German people as compared with the findings of the Third German Oral Health Study conducted eight years previously.BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: The study took the form of a population-representative cross-sectional survey with random samples, and was complemented by a questionnaire to reveal sociological as well as behavioural data.PARTICIPANTS: The age cohorts in the present study were 12-year-olds (children), 15-year-olds (adolescents), 35- to 44-year-olds (adults) and 65- to 74-year-olds (senior citizens).RESULTS: All age groups showed considerable improvements in oral health with respect to caries. Of the children, 70.1% were free of dentine caries and the mean DMFT value was 0.7. In adults and senior citizens both the DMFT value and the number of missing teeth and edentulousness declined. With regard to periodontal conditions, increasing prevalence of moderate and severe findings was recorded in adults and senior citizens, owing probably to the larger number of natural teeth remaining in the oral cavity.CONCLUSION: The study documents a distinct improvement in oral health in the German population. Interrelated with the higher numbers of remaining natural teeth a higher prevalence of moderate and severe periodontal conditions in German adults and senior citizens was observed.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Preparation and analysis of pure type II collagen from porcine articular cartilage].This investigation was aimed at the preparation of pure type II collagen from porcine articular cartilage and the feasible method for producing type II collagen in bulk. After dispersal of the porcine articular cartilage, the proteoglycans were extracted by guanidinium hydrochloride and dissolved by pepsin in acid solvent. The contaminants including denatured and degraded protein and other collagen was removed via the repeated procedure of purification. For obtaining the purer type II collagen, the chromatography with sepharose H. P. Column was also used. The purity of the sample was compared with the type II collagen produced by Sigma Company. Both type II collagens were characterized by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, amino acid analysis and maximal violet chromatography, and all of the results accorded with the standard photograph in the references. The purity of the sample was higher than that of the product of Sigma Company. This prepared collagen of type II is a product of high purity. The raw materials are the common porcine articular cartilage, which is rich in resource and low in cost. Therefore, it is suitable to produce type II collagen in batches.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The complex co-translational processing of glycoprotein GP5 of type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.GP5 and M, the major membrane proteins of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), are the driving force for virus budding and a target for antibodies. We studied co-translational processing of GP5 from an European PRRSV-1 strain. Using mass spectrometry, we show that in virus particles of a Lelystad variant, the signal peptide of GP5 was absent due to cleavage between glycine-34 and asparagine-35. This cleavage site removes an epitope for a neutralizing monoclonal antibody, but leaves intact another epitope recognized by neutralizing pig sera. Upon ectopic expression of this GP5 in cells, signal peptide cleavage was however inefficient. Complete cleavage occurred when cysteine-24 was changed to proline or an unused glycosylation site involving asparagine-35 was mutated. Insertion of proline at position 24 also caused carbohydrate attachment to asparagine-35. Glycosylation sites introduced downstream of residue 35 were used, but did not inhibit signal peptide processing. Co-expression of the M protein rescued this processing defect in GP5, suggesting a novel function of M towards GP5. We speculate that a complex interplay of the co-translational modifications of GP5 affect the N-terminal structure of the mature proteins and hence its antigenicity.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Anatomy", "Health Care", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Management of hemangioma in the infant].Foster child hemangioma management depends on its usual spontaneously regressive evolution as it is a transient and benign vascular tumor like lesion. Most of the time clinical follow up is the only management. Investigations are indicated if treatment is needed (for decision and follow up) concerning only hemangiomas with a bad functional or esthetic prognosis (peri-orificial lesions and large locations of the face) or complicated hemangiomas with life-risk as sub glottic hemangioma, Kasabach and Merritt Syndrome, diffuse and liver hemangiomatosis possibly associated to cardiac failure. Basic treatment remains systemic corticosteroids with indications for early surgery or intralesional corticosteroids.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Inhibition of HIV Fusion by Small Molecule Agonists through Efficacy-Engineering of CXCR4.CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes, notably as a coreceptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cell entry. Its broad expression pattern and vital biological importance make CXCR4 a troublesome drug target, as disruption of the interaction with its endogenous ligand, CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), has severe consequences. In fact, only one CXCR4 drug, the bicyclam antagonist and HIV entry inhibitor AMD3100 (Plerixafor/Mozobil), has been approved for clinical use, however only for stem cell mobilization-a consequence of CXCR4 antagonism. Here, we report the engineering of an efficacy switch mutation in CXCR4-F292A7.43 in the middle of transmembrane helix 7-that converted the antagonists AMD3100 and AMD11070 into partial agonists. As agonists on F292A CXCR4, AMD3100 and AMD11070 were less disruptive to CXCR4 signaling while they remained efficient inhibitors of HIV fusion. This demonstrates that small molecule CXCR4 agonists can have a therapeutic potential as HIV entry inhibitors.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Weakness and 'tiredness': when to suspect myasthenia gravis.Initial complaints of bulbar paresis may be problems with chewing and swallowing. Patients often choose to eat soft puddings and cereals rather than meats or hard fruits because of the fatigue associated with chewing. Immunosuppressive therapy with prednisone can result in a long-lasting remission, and is recommended especially for those patients who are older or are medically unable to tolerate surgical treatment.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "O-GlcNAcylation promotes colorectal cancer metastasis via the miR-101-O-GlcNAc/EZH2 regulatory feedback circuit.Advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest cancers, and the 5-year survival rate of patients with metastasis is extremely low. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is considered essential for metastatic CRC, but the fundamental molecular basis underlying this effect remains unknown. Here, we identified that O-GlcNAcylation, a unique posttranslational modification (PTM) involved in cancer metabolic reprogramming, increased the metastatic capability of CRC. The levels of O-GlcNAcylation were increased in the metastatic CRC tissues and cell lines, which likely promoted the EMT by enhancing EZH2 protein stability and function. The CRC patients with higher levels of O-GlcNAcylation exhibited greater lymph node metastasis potential and lower overall survival. Bioinformatic analysis and luciferase reporter assays revealed that both O-GlcNAcylation transferase (OGT) and EZH2 are posttranscriptionally inhibited by microRNA-101. In addition, O-GlcNAcylation and H3K27me3 modification in the miR-101 promoter region further inhibited the transcription of miR-101, resulting in the upregulation of OGT and EZH2 in metastatic CRC, thus forming a vicious cycle. In this study, we demonstrated that O-GlcNAcylation, which is negatively regulated by microRNA-101, likely promotes CRC metastasis by enhancing EZH2 protein stability and function. Reducing O-GlcNAcylation may be a potential therapeutic strategy for metastatic CRC.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The effect of rainfall measurement uncertainties on rainfall-runoff processes modelling.Rainfall data are a crucial input for various tasks concerning the wet weather period. Nevertheless, their measurement is affected by random and systematic errors that cause an underestimation of the rainfall volume. Therefore, the general objective of the presented work was to assess the credibility of measured rainfall data and to evaluate the effect of measurement errors on urban drainage modelling tasks. Within the project, the methodology of the tipping bucket rain gauge (TBR) was defined and assessed in terms of uncertainty analysis. A set of 18 TBRs was calibrated and the results were compared to the previous calibration. This enables us to evaluate the ageing of TBRs. A propagation of calibration and other systematic errors through the rainfall-runoff model was performed on experimental catchment. It was found that the TBR calibration is important mainly for tasks connected with the assessment of peak values and high flow durations. The omission of calibration leads to up to 30% underestimation and the effect of other systematic errors can add a further 15%. The TBR calibration should be done every two years in order to catch up the ageing of TBR mechanics. Further, the authors recommend to adjust the dynamic test duration proportionally to generated rainfall intensity.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Organisms" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Transplacental immunity and waning of maternal antibody in measles.Since transplacental immunity and waning of maternally derived measles specific antibodies play an important role in determining the optimum age for vaccination of infants against measles, a study was carried out in which 150 paired samples and 581 infant serum samples were tested for measles specific antibodies. Out of these paired samples, 132 pairs showed measles antibodies in both mother and cord. HAI antibody was absent in 3 paired samples whereas, 5 mothers could not pass on the antibodies in the cord samples. In the remaining 10 serum samples only cord blood showed the presence of antibodies without the detectable level of antibodies in mother. Statistically no significant difference between the mother and cord blood titers was observed by applying the student 't' test for comparison of the mean (t = 0.01). Analysis of 581 infant serum samples for prevalence of maternal antibodies indicated that 83% of the samples at the age of 3 months or below had measles antibodies but with the increase in age there was tremendous loss with only 19-20% at the age of 6-7 months. After 7 months the percentage of infants which had antibody varied from 11-13%. There was negative correlation between age and seropositivity (r = -0.72) which was highly significant (p < 0.05).", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Hepatitis B carriers in large vehicle drivers of Iran.Hepatitis B is a serious cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in Iran is about 1.7% but little is known about the high-risk occupations. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of HBsAg and assess risk factors of infection in Iran's large vehicle drivers as a high-risk group. The population studied included 1113 large vehicle drivers. Study was carried out in 51 police stations in roads of 17 provinces around the country. From each of the sites 20-30 large vehicle drivers were randomly selected. An interview with each of the subjects was performed and a blood sample was taken. The prevalence of HBsAg was 5.9% (confidence interval (CI) 95%: 4.5-7.3%) which was significantly different from the prevalence in general population in the same age group (P<0.0001). Cost-effectiveness studies regarding immunization programs for this high-risk group is suggested.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Microplate-based screening for small molecule inhibitors of neuropilin-2/vascular endothelial growth factor-C interactions.Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is a secreted growth factor essential for lymphangiogenesis. VEGF-C functions in both physiological and pathological lymphangiogenesis, particularly in tumor metastasis, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Members of two families of cell surface receptors transduce VEGF-C signals: neuropilin-2 (Nrp2) and VEGF-receptor (VEGFR)-2/3. Nrp2 is a promising target for inhibition because it is highly expressed in lymphatic vessels. Here we describe a microplate-based assay for discovery of VEGF-C/Nrp2 inhibitors. We optimize this assay for use in screening an inhibitor library and identify three novel Nrp2/VEGF-C binding inhibitors from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Collection small molecule library.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Alveolar macrophages fat stain in early diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome.The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome (FES). The presence of fat droplets in alveolar macrophages was addressed in 13 trauma patients with bone fractures and 10 non-trauma patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The control group was composed of 5 anesthesized patients with ischemic heart disease, immediately prior to cardiac surgery. Two patients with suggestive clinical and laboratory signs of FES had 40% and 24% fat-containing alveolar cells, respectively. The trauma patients without signs of FES displayed a wide variation in the percentage of fat-containing macrophages (from 3% to 95%). Most of the patients with ARDS who were receiving lipid emulsion as part of their parenteral nutrition, had a high percentage (> 85%) of fat-containing macrophages. Patients with normal lungs had no fat-containing macrophages. Our findings suggest that BAL Oil Red O-positive macrophages are frequently observed in trauma patients irrespective of the presence of FES. Therefore, estimation of the percentage of fat-containing macrophages from BAL is an unreliable marker of FES.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Strengthening adoption practice, listening to adoptive families.In-depth interviews with 500 adoptive families who received postadoption services through Virginia's Adoptive Family Preservation (AFP) program paint a richly detailed picture of the challenges adoptive families face and what they need to sustain adoption for many years after finalization. Findings document the need for support in a variety of forms, including respite, counseling, and information. Numerous implications for strengthening adoption practice through effective training and technical assistance are discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Diseases" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "6-OHDA sympathectomy and exercise performance in the rat.6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was utilised for the study of the sympathetic nervous system in the resting rats and rats submitted to prolonged exercise. In order to reduce the acute physiological stress associated with an injection of 6-OHDA, beta-1 and alpha-1 adrenoceptors were blocked before the treatment leading to sympathectomy. Sympathectomised rats were divided in two groups: one sacrificed at rest, 24 hours after the treatment. The other group was sacrificed after a treadmill exercise to exhaustion. Running time to exhaustion was 36.0 +/- 4.5 min (mean +/- S.E.M.). This group ran significantly less than a control group brought to exhaustion in 73.7 +/- 10.0 min of exercise (P < 0.05). In order to make appropriate comparisons, another control group was run for 36 min. Some differences were observed between corresponding control and sympathectomized groups. At rest: 1) a lower plasma level of insulin, and 2) a higher plasma free fatty acid concentration were observed in sympathectomized rats. After 36 min of exercise: 1) a lower plasma concentration of norepinephrine, 2) no decrease of the plasma level of insulin, 3) no increase in the plasma glucagon concentration, and 4) a higher plasma glucose level were observed in sympathectomised rats when compared to control rats running for the same time. The lower plasma norepinephrine concentration in exercised sympathectomised rats suggests a lower sympathetic nervous activity in these animals than in control rats. The absence of a decrease of plasma insulin concentration and of an increase in glucagon can be attributed to this lower sympathetic activity in sympathectomised rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Modelling the sulfoxygenation activity of vanadate-dependent peroxidases.Vanadate-dependent peroxidases contain, in their active center, vanadate covalently attached to histidine in an overall trigonal-bipyramidal array. We describe here the synthesis and characterization of optically active amino alcohols and their vanadium(V) complexes, and we show that the structural models of the active center thus obtained are also functional models for the sulfide-peroxidase activity of the enzyme in heterogeneous catalysis. The heterogeneous systems were obtained by immobilizing the complexes on silica gel and mesoporous silicas, and by aggregation. The following ligands, ligand precursors, and V compounds have been structurally characterized: (R)-(2-phenylethanol)-(R)-1-phenylethylamine (HL(A)), (R,R)-bis[2-phenyl(ethylmethylether)]ammonium chloride ([L(D)]+Cl(-)), the carbasilatranes (R,R)-methoxy{N,N',N''-2,2',3-[bis(1-phenylethanolato)propyl]amino}silane ((R,R)-Si(OMe)L(E)), (R,R)-methoxy-{N,N',N''-1,2',3-[(1-phenylethanolato)-(2-phenylethanolato)propyl]amino}silane ((R,R)-Si(OMe)L(E')), and [VO(L(F))(OSiMe2(t)Bu)], where H2L(F)=ethylbis(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)amine.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Organisms", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Populations of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) are modulated by drought at a Lyme disease focus in Illinois.From 1990 through 1997, Ixodes scapularis Say larvae and nymphs were sampled between May and October along a 400-m segment of a nature trail in a Lyme disease endemic site in northern Illinois. Ticks were removed from Peromyscus leucopus mice and collected via tick drags at approximately 3-wk intervals. Mouse population estimates along the trail varied from 2, in the spring of 1996 following a year of drought, to > 200 in 1993, the wettest year on record. During the 8-yr period, there were major droughts during the summers of 1991 and 1995. Cumulative degree-days were positively correlated with the number of ticks collected on drags in the same year and negatively correlated with larval tick populations for the following year (P < 0.05). Cumulative rainfall was positively correlated with larval tick abundance for the following year. This was most readily apparent by examination of the larval density on captured mice. In the year following each of two drought years, larval densities were significantly depressed compared with the 8-yr average at the site.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with COVID-19 disease severity in patients with cancer in Wuhan, China: a multicentre, retrospective, cohort study.BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has spread globally. Epidemiological susceptibility to COVID-19 has been reported in patients with cancer. We aimed to systematically characterise clinical features and determine risk factors of COVID-19 disease severity for patients with cancer and COVID-19.METHODS: In this multicentre, retrospective, cohort study, we included all adult patients (aged ?18 years) with any type of malignant solid tumours and haematological malignancy who were admitted to nine hospitals in Wuhan, China, with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between Jan 13 and March 18, 2020. Enrolled patients were statistically matched (2:1) with patients admitted with COVID-19 who did not have cancer with propensity score on the basis of age, sex, and comorbidities. Demographic characteristics, laboratory examinations, illness severity, and clinical interventions were compared between patients with COVID-19 with or without cancer as well as between patients with cancer with non-severe or severe COVID-19. COVID-19 disease severity was defined on admission on the basis of the WHO guidelines. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, cancer type, tumour stage, and antitumour treatments, were used to explore risk factors associated with COVID-19 disease severity. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR2000030807.FINDINGS: Between Jan 13 and March 18, 2020, 13\u2008077 patients with COVID-19 were admitted to the nine hospitals in Wuhan and 232 patients with cancer and 519 statistically matched patients without cancer were enrolled. Median follow-up was 29 days (IQR 22-38) in patients with cancer and 27 days (20-35) in patients without cancer. Patients with cancer were more likely to have severe COVID-19 than patients without cancer (148 [64%] of 232 vs 166 [32%] of 519; odds ratio [OR] 3\u00b761 [95% CI 2\u00b759-5\u00b704]; p<0\u00b70001). Risk factors previously reported in patients without cancer, such as older age; elevated interleukin 6, procalcitonin, and D-dimer; and reduced lymphocytes were validated in patients with cancer. We also identified advanced tumour stage (OR 2\u00b760, 95% CI 1\u00b705-6\u00b743; p=0\u00b7039), elevated tumour necrosis factor \u00e1 (1\u00b722, 1\u00b701-1\u00b747; p=0\u00b7037), elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (1\u00b765, 1\u00b703-2\u00b778; p=0\u00b7032), reduced CD4+ T cells (0\u00b784, 0\u00b771-0\u00b798; p=0\u00b7031), and reduced albumin-globulin ratio (0\u00b712, 0\u00b702-0\u00b777; p=0\u00b7024) as risk factors of COVID-19 severity in patients with cancer.INTERPRETATION: Patients with cancer and COVID-19 were more likely to deteriorate into severe illness than those without cancer. The risk factors identified here could be helpful for early clinical surveillance of disease progression in patients with cancer who present with COVID-19.FUNDING: China National Natural Science Foundation.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Histopathological study on experimental endophthalmitis induced by bloodstream infection with Candida albicans.To investigate the details of the pathophysiology of endogenous fungal endophthalmitis (EFE), we performed sequential histological and ophthalmoscopic examination on a rabbit model comparing immunocompromised EFE developed using a steroid with an immunocompetent one intravenously inoculated with Candida albicans. The ophthalmoscopic examination and histological analysis of the retina in both groups demonstrated that lesions appear on the equator of the eyeball and then spread toward the posterior pole. It has been speculated that, because of the unique innate vasculature system of the equator, there is a sudden, decrease of shear stress in rheologically, resulting in adhesion of yeast cells to the endothelial cells. Histological examination revealed that the degree of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration was equivalent in the two groups. However, the appearance of PMN was delayed and the number of fungi was higher in the state of hyphae and/or pseudohyphae in the steroid-treated group. Furthermore, the eyeball was found to be the second earliest organ involved in candidemia. Our results indicate that ophthalmic examination is useful to monitor the development and systemic involvement of endophthalmitis in patients with candidemia.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Consolidation anti-CD22 fractionated radioimmunotherapy with 90BACKGROUND: Radioimmunotherapy represents a potential option as consolidation after chemoimmunotherapy in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are not candidates for transplantation. We aimed to assess activity and toxicity of fractionated radioimmunotherapy using anti-CD22 90Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan as consolidation after front-line induction chemoimmunotherapy in untreated elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.METHODS: We did a prospective, single-group, phase 2 trial at 28 hospitals in France, with patients recruited from 17 hospitals. Eligible patients were aged 60-80 years with bulky stage 2-3 or stage 3-4 CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, previously untreated, and not eligible for transplantation. Patients received six cycles of R-CHOP (rituximab [375 mg/m2], cyclophosphamide [750 mg/m2], doxorubicin [50 mg/m2], and vincristine [1\u00b74 mg/m2, up to 2 mg] all on day 1, and prednisone [40 mg/m2] daily for 5 days), administered every 14 days. 6-8 weeks after R-CHOP, responders received two doses of 15 mCi/m2 (555 MBq/m2) 90Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan administered 1 week apart. The primary endpoint was 2 year event-free survival in all registered eligible patients who received at least 1 day of study treatment; the safety analysis was done in the same population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00906841.FINDINGS: Between Oct 22, 2008, and Dec 16, 2010, we recruited 75 patients, of whom four (5%) were excluded after central pathology review; hence, 71 (95%) patients were included in the analysis. All patients started induction treatment; 57 (80%) received radioimmunotherapy. With a median follow-up of 37 months (IQR 30-44), the estimated 2 year event-free survival was 75% (95% CI 63-84). Radioimmunotherapy toxicity consisted of grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia in 48 (84%) of 57 patients and neutropenia in 45 (79%) of 57 patients. One patient developed myelodysplastic syndrome 28 months after receiving radioimmunotherapy and one patient developed acute myeloid leukaemia 5 months after receiving radioimmunotherapy.INTERPRETATION: Fractionated radioimmunotherapy with 90Y-epratuzumab tetraxetan might be appropriate for response consolidation after induction chemotherapy in older patients with advanced diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, but further comparative studies are needed.FUNDING: Immunomedics, Amgen, Cancerop?le Grand Ouest, the GOELAMS/LYSA group and the French National Agency for Research (Investissements d'Avenir).", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The Src family of tyrosine kinases is important for embryonic stem cell self-renewal.cYes, a member of the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases, is highly expressed in mouse and human embryonic stem (ES) cells. We demonstrate that cYes kinase activity is regulated by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and serum and is down-regulated when cells differentiate. Moreover, selective chemical inhibition of Src family kinases decreases growth and expression of stem cell genes that mark the undifferentiated state, including Oct3/4, alkaline phosphatase, fibroblast growth factor 4, and Nanog. A synergistic effect on differentiation is observed when ES cells are cultured with an Src family inhibitor and low levels of retinoic acid. Src family kinase inhibition does not interfere with LIF-induced JAK/STAT3 (Janus-associated tyrosine kinases/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) or p42/p44 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) phosphorylation. Together the results suggest that the activation of the Src family is important for maintaining mouse and human ES in an undifferentiated state and may represent a third, independent pathway, downstream of LIF in mouse ES cells.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A 12-lead ECG-method for quantifying ischemia-induced QRS prolongation to estimate the severity of the acute myocardial event.INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown terminal QRS distortion and resultant QRS prolongation during ischemia to be a sign of low cardiac protection and thus a faster rate of myocardial cell death. A recent study introduced a single lead method to quantify the severity of ischemia by estimating QRS prolongation. This paper introduces a 12-lead method that, in contrast to the previous method, does not require access to a prior ECG.METHODS: QRS duration was estimated in the lead that showed the maximal ST deviation according to a novel method. The degree of prolongation was determined by subtracting the measured QRS duration in the lead that showed the least ST deviation.RESULTS: The method is demonstrated in examples of acute occlusion in two of the major coronary arteries.CONCLUSION: This paper presents a 12-lead method to quantify the severity of ischemia, by measuring QRS prolongation, without requiring comparison with a previous ECG.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "No increase in the prevalence of COPD in two decades.Relevant information on the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its trends is scarce. In the present study, we compare the prevalence rates and potential determinants of COPD in two national population samples that were surveyed 20 yrs apart. In 1978-1980, a sample of 8,000 people was surveyed; subjects were representative of the Finnish population and were aged ?30 yrs. Among those aged 30-74 yrs, acceptable spirometry was obtained from 6,364 (87%) subjects. In a similar survey conducted in 2000-2001, comparable spirometry was obtained from 5,495 (80%) participants. Airway obstruction was defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1))/forced vital capacity below the lower limit of normal and staged for severity on the basis of FEV(1) % predicted. The age-adjusted prevalence rates of obstruction (stages I-IV) were rather similar in both surveys in males (4.7 versus 4.3%; p = 0.25), but were almost significantly higher in females in the later survey (2.2 versus 3.1%; p = 0.06). The rates of COPD stage II or higher were 3.9% in 1978-1980, and 3.6% in 2000-2001 (p = 0.36) for males, and 1.4 and 1.5% (p = 0.93), respectively, for females. In conclusion, no significant difference was found in the prevalence of COPD stages II-IV between similar population based surveys performed 20 yrs apart. Since COPD is mostly mild or moderate there is a strong case for early prevention.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Association of MTHFR 677T variant allele with risk of intracerebral haemorrhage: a meta-analysis.BACKGROUND: Previous studies concerning the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and risk of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) reported conflicting results. A meta-analysis of published studies was performed to allow a more reliable estimate of this association.METHODS: Relevant studies concerning the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and risk of ICH were included into this meta-analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined for this gene-disease association using fixed or random effect models.RESULTS: Finally, 16 studies with a total of 1828 cases and 4067 controls were included. Meta-analyses of a total of 16 studies showed that there was an obvious association of MTHFR 677T allele with risk of ICH under all four comparison models (OR(T vs. C)=1.38, 95% CI 1.17-1.62, P<0.001; OR(TT vs. CC)=1.90 95% CI 1.42-2.55, P<0.001; OR(TT vs. TC/CC)=1.38 95% CI 1.20-1.59, P<0.001; OR(TT/TC vs. CC)=1.41 95% CI 1.12-1.78, P=0.003). Besides, both subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis further identified the association above.CONCLUSION: The MTHFR 677T allele is associated with risk of ICH, and individuals with TT genotype have an obviously higher risk of ICH than those with the CC genotype.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Algal extracellular products suppress Anabaena flos-aquae heterocyst spacing.Intra- and interspecific chemical signals allow bacteria to respond to environmental conditions by regulating gene transcription. In cyanobacteria, gene products and the presence of fixed nitrogen regulate heterocyst frequency. In this paper, we describe a chemical made by a green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, that suppresses heterocyst formation in the co-occurring cyanobacterium, Anabaena flos-aquae. Cyanobacterial heterocyst frequencies were reduced in the presence of water-soluble, proteinase- and heat-resistant molecules greater than 15 kDa in molecular size. Green algal cells in all phases of growth made the suppressor. Ammonium and nitrate concentrations in the medium did not correlate with this change in phenotype. In addition, growth rate was not enhanced by the extracellular products. Therefore, C. reinhardtii extracellular products acted as a heterocyst inhibitor, not as a fixed nitrogen source. Chemical interactions between green algae and cyanobacteria influence heterocyst formation, an important consideration in understanding the outcome of competition between these organisms and the dynamics of phytoplankton communities.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Long-term depression of NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission is dependent on activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors and is altered to long-term potentiation by low intracellular calcium buffering.Synaptic plasticity of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-mediated transmission was investigated in the rat dentate gyrus in vitro. Isolated NMDAR EPSCs were recorded from granule cells of the dentate gyrus in response to stimulation of the medial perforant path. Long-term potentiation (LTP) or long-term depression (LTD) of NMDAR EPSCs was observed in response to brief high-frequency stimulation (HFS), with the direction and extent of plasticity dependent on the concentration and type (EGTA vs BAPTA) of the intracellular Ca2+ buffer. LTD was induced in higher concentrations of EGTA and BAPTA than LTP, and BAPTA was approximately 100-fold more potent than EGTA. Although LTD was induced in a high concentration of EGTA (10 mM), a high concentration of BAPTA (10 mM) blocked both LTP and LTD. LTP of AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-EPSCs exhibited a lower dependency on Ca2+ buffering than LTP of NMDAR EPSCs, because LTP of AMPAR EPSCs was induced by HFS in high EGTA (10 mM). We also identified a role for metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in NMDAR plasticity. HFS LTD was blocked by the group I/II mGluR antagonist LY341495 ((2S)-2-amino-2-[(1S, 2S)-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl]-3(xanth-9-yl)propanoic acid) and by the mGluR5-selective antagonist 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine hydrochloride (MPEP). Similarly, low-frequency stimulation-induced LTD of NMDAR EPSCs was also blocked by MPEP. These findings suggest that the direction of plasticity of NMDARs is determined by the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration and is dependent on activation of mGluR5.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Underlying pathology of women with \"atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion\" smears, in a region with a high incidence of cervical cancer.AIM: To evaluate the histopathology of women who had \"atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions\" (ASC-H) on cervical cytology in a region with high incidence of cervical cancer.METHODS: This study was conducted at Chiang Mai University Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand. All women with ASC-H, who had undergone colposcopic and histolopathologic evaluation between October 2004 and January 2007, were recruited. Similar cohorts with other squamous cell abnormalities on a Pap-smear, who had undergone colposcopy during the same period, were included as comparative groups.RESULTS: During the study period, 85 women who had ASC-H smears underwent colposcopic and histopathologic evaluation. The mean age was 45.3 years (range, 20-64 years). The histopathologic results of these 85 women were as follows: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II-III, 52 (61.2%); invasive cancer, 7 (8.2%); CIN I, 6 (7.1%); and no lesions, 20 (23.5%). The incidence of underlying CIN II or higher in an ASC-H smear (69.4%) was intermediate between atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (22.7%), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (44.7%) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (90.5%) smears. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of CIN II or higher between women who were 40 years old or more and those who were younger (68.7% and 71.4%, respectively, P=0.81), or between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women (71.4% and 63.6%, respectively, P=0.49).CONCLUSION: Reporting ASC-H cytology in our population is strongly associated with significant cervical pathology, particularly invasive cancer that is possibly at a rate higher than previously reported. Women who have ASC-H smears should therefore be referred for immediate colposcopy regardless of age and menopausal status.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Genotyping Leishmania promastigotes isolated from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in south-eastern Turkey.Objective Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a significant disease in south-eastern Anatolia because it is prevalent among Syrian refugees. We identified the causative Leishmania species in CL patients using molecular methods. Methods Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle medium was inoculated with aspirated fluid from suspected CL lesions and tested for amastigotes with Giemsa staining. PCR amplified the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of the Leishmania genome in cultures containing Leishmania promastigotes from 100 patients, which were genotyped with a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. A phylogenetic tree was constructed from ITS1 sequences of 95 culture fluid samples from these patients. Results Leishmania amastigotes were detected in 92% of cultures with growth. Leishmania promastigotes were typed as Leishmania tropica with both PCR-RFLP and sequencing. Conclusions Identification of L. tropica as the causative agent of CL in our region allows the clinical course to be predicted, and guides treatment decisions and preventive measures.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "miR-146b level and variants is associated with endometriosis related macrophages phenotype and plays a pivotal role in the endometriotic pain symptom.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of miR-146b expression and variants on endometriosis and its associated pain symptom.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genotyping and expression of miR-146b was performed on 74 endometriosis patients and 23 healthy controls. ESCs were subsequently co-cultured with peripheral blood (PB)-derived monocytes (PBMC)-driven macrophages. After overexpression and inhibition of miR-146b, cytokine production from the macrophages were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot were done to measure the regulation of IRF5 by miR-146b.RESULTS: We found that miR-146b expression was increased in PF supernatant and PF CD14\u00a0+\u00a0monocytes/Macrophages of endometriosis patients, with endometriosis patients with pain (EPWP) showing higher miR-146b expression compared with the endometriosis patients without pain (EPNP). CT/CC genotype of miR-146b rs1536309 was associated with the risk of pain symptom of endometriosis. For the function studies, we found that miR-146b was involved in the negative regulation of inflammation through attenuating IRF5 expression. Macrophages from patients who carries CT/CC genotype of miR-146b rs1536309 showed decreasing miR-146b expression and enhancement of the ability of pro-inflammation.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an important role of miR-146b level and variants in endometriosis that helps to regulate the process of endometriosis and its associated pain.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "An implicit measure of olfactory performance for non-human primates reveals aversive and pleasant odor conditioning.We have little understanding of how odorants are processed in neural networks of the primate brain. Because chemo-stimuli are harder to control than physical stimuli (e.g. vision, audition), such research was limited by the temporal resolution, accuracy, and reliability of olfactometers (odor producing machines). Recent advances were able to create olfactometers that overcome these limitations, allowing their use together with neuroimaging techniques in humans. From the behavioral point of view, olfaction research requires a behavioral measure that can be used to quantify olfactory performance. This becomes a real problem when working with animals, where, unlike humans, explicit measures are harder to obtain. Furthermore, because odorants are powerful primitive reinforcers, such implicit measures can be beneficial to use in learning paradigms. Here we describe an olfactometer suitable for use in non-human primates, and an end-port design that allows the accurate measure of real-time respiratory modulations that are elicited in response to odor presentation. We demonstrate that this implicit measure is differentially modulated when experiencing pleasant or aversive odors. We then present an experimental paradigm in which monkeys learn to associate tones with odors, and show that the time delay from the conditioned stimuli to the next breath can be used to measure learning and memory expression in this paradigm. Using this construct, we reveal olfactory performance during acquisition and extinction of odor conditioning. These techniques can be used in electrophysiological recordings from relevant brain areas to shed light on neural networks involved in odor processing and reinforcement-learning.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Mutation of N-linked glycosylation in EpCAM affected cell adhesion in breast cancer cells.Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression is elevated in breast cancer tissue, and correlates with the cancer metastasis and cell adhesion. Although EpCAM glycosylation is supposed to be associated with its function, the contribution of N-glycosylation to its function remains unclear. Here we analyzed cell adhesion ability of EpCAM in breast cancer cells. The results showed that EpCAM expression was associated with cell adhesion and N-glycosylation mutation of EpCAM decreased adhesion capacity. N-glycosylation mutation of EpCAM was correlated with lower levels of integrin \u00e21 and fibronectin. We also found that effect of N-glycosylation of EpCAM on cell adhesion was regulated via FAK/Akt/Gsk-3\u00e2/\u00e2-catenin signaling pathway, which further adjusted MMP2/9 expression and activities. Our studies identified the characteristics and function of EpCAM glycosylation sites on breast cancer cell adhesion. These data could potentially clarify molecular regulation of EpCAM by N-glycosylation and intensify our understanding of the utility of glycosylated EpCAM as a target for breast cancer therapy.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Health Care", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Enzootic aspergillosis in wild red vented cockatoos in the Philippines.Philippine Red Vented Cockatoos were being trapped in the wild and dispersed directly to private homes, aviaries, pet stores and for export to the United States of America. Except for non-aggressive behaviour and tiring easily the subjects showed clinically nothing peculiar. Numerous cases of Aspergillosis with no clinical signs prior to death were being reported at the United States Air Force Base, Clark Field, Angeles City, Philippines. In all cases stress was a predisposing factor to death; such as enclosure in a small bird cage. Those birds in aviaries that were kept free-flying remained clinically normal, with no deaths recorded. Systematic examination to determine the causative source of infection was carried out and revealed natural infection in the wild state as the cause of disease in caged Red Vented Cockatoos in the Philippines. Examination on three other species of Philippine Pstitticine birds revealed only the Red Vented Cockatoo to be infected or a latent carrier in the wild state.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Humanities", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Reactivity against complementary proteinase-3 is not increased in patients with PR3-ANCA-associated vasculitis.The etiology of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitides (AAV) is unknown, but the association between infections and autoimmunity has been studied extensively. In 2004, a novel theory was proposed that could link infection and autoimmunity. This 'theory of autoantigen complementarity' was based on the serendipitous finding of antibodies against complementary-PR3 (cPR3) in patients with PR3-ANCA-associated vasculitis. cPR3 demonstrated homology to several bacterial proteins, and it was hypothesized that PR3-ANCA develop in response to anti-cPR3 antibodies, as a consequence of the anti-idiotypic network. These data have not been confirmed in other patient cohorts. We investigated the presence of anti-cPR3 antibodies in a Dutch cohort of PR3-ANCA-associated vasculitis patients. Anti-cPR3 reactivity was determined in serum using ELISA. Two separate batches of cPR3 were used to determine reactivity in two separate cohorts of PR3-ANCA-associated vasculitis patients. We found that anti-cPR3-reactivity was not increased in our PR3-ANCA-associated vasculitis patients, in comparison to control groups. Further research will be necessary to prove the concept of autoantigen complementarity in autoimmune diseases.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "When authorship fails. A proposal to make contributors accountable.A published article is the primary means whereby new work is communicated, priority is established, and academic promotion is determined. Publication depends on trust and requires that authors be held to standards of honesty, completeness, and fairness in their reporting, and to accountability for their statements. The system of authorship, while appropriate for articles with only 1 author, has become inappropriate as the average number of authors of an article has increased; as the work of coauthors has become more specialized and relationships between them have become more complex; and as both credit and, even more, responsibility have become obscured and diluted. Credit and accountability cannot be assessed unless the contributions of those named as authors are disclosed to readers, so the system is flawed. We argue for a radical conceptual and systematic change, to reflect the realities of multiple authorship and to buttress accountability. We propose dropping the outmoded notion of author in favor of the more useful and realistic one of contributor. This requires disclosure to readers of the contributions made to the research and to the manuscript by the contributors, so that they can accept both credit and responsibility. In addition, certain named contributors take on the role of guarantor for the integrity of the entire work. The requirement that all participants be named as contributors will eliminate the artificial distinction between authors and acknowledgees and will enhance the integrity of publication.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science" ], "distractor groups": [ "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Chemicals and Drugs" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Platelet hyperactivation, apoptosis and hypercoagulability in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.Changes in systemic redox balance can alter platelet activation and aggregation. Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a systematic inflammatory disease associated with mechanical shear stress, increased thrombin, catecholamines, serotonin and hemolysis, which cumulatively can hyperactivate platelets and accelerate their turnover. We tested the hypothesis that platelets from patients with moderately severe PE will show hyperstimulation and a pre-apoptotic phenotype associated with microparticles (MPs) in plasma. Blood for platelet respiration and thromboelastography (TEG) was obtained at diagnosis and 24h later from patients (n=76) with image-proven PE, SBP>90mmHg and right ventricular dysfunction demonstrated by echocardiogram or elevated biomarkers. Controls (n=12) were healthy volunteers. At diagnosis, platelets from PE patients had significantly elevated baseline oxygen consumption compared with controls, explained primarily by accelerated electron transport and oxygen wasting with no measurable extramitochondrial oxygen consumption. On thromboelastography, unstimulated thrombin-independent maximum amplitude was increased with PE, 19\u00b114.1 vs.10.5\u00b17.8mm in controls (p=0.002). Compared with controls, platelets from PE patients showed elevated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species with decreased mitochondrial Bcl-2 protein content and increased cytosolic cytochrome C, coincident with strong annexin V binding, P selectin release from lysed platelets and in plasma MPs compared to controls (p<0.05). These results show evidence of platelet hyperactivation and apoptosis in patients with acute PE, and provide preliminary theoretical basis for further exploration of platelet inhibition in patients with more severe PE.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Structural heart interventions training in Europe.BACKGROUND: Structural heart interventions have made major strides over the last years with the introduction of TAVR, percutaneous mitral valve repair and adult congenital heart disease procedures.METHODS: As part of the SCAI SHD Early Career Task Force committee, we complied a survey of 17 questions using a Survey Monkey website. We sent invitations twice by email to 183 European program directors of interventional cardiology fellowship programs in Europe.RESULTS: The most commonly performed procedures performed by the fellows were transseptal punctures, TAVR, BAV, PFO and BMV. For the rest of the structural procedures, each fellow performed <10 procedures during their training.CONCLUSION: Structural heart interventions training will keep expanding over the next years with the introduction of newer devices and techniques and accumulation of experience. Given the small number of the more rare structural procedures, it becomes apparent that we need to design national or international training networks to provide adequate training experience to all trainees.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Chemicals and Drugs" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Early functional improvement after a modified ligament reconstruction tendon interposition arthroplasty for thumb basal joint arthritis.Many modifications to trapeziectomy have been proposed for the treatment of thumb basal joint arthritis. Their final outcomes have been discussed intensively, whereas functional changes in the early post-operative period have not been fully documented. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate an early functional change following our modified ligament reconstruction with tendon interposition (LRTI) arthroplasty. Nine patients (ten thumbs) were included in this study. Pain levels, strength, and mobility were assessed before and after surgery at intervals of two months. Pain level significantly improved at two months after surgery. Grip and pinch strengths had increased gradually after a temporal decrease at two-month follow-up, and were significantly stronger at six months after surgery. Palmar abduction improved significantly at six months after surgery, whereas opposition did not change significantly. A modified LRTI is an effective procedure in terms of early functional improvement of pain, strength, and mobility.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Selecting appropriate recall intervals for patients in general dental practice--an audit project to categorize patients according to risk.UNLABELLED: In 2004, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) was asked to prepare guidance for the NHS in England and Wales on the clinical need and cost-effectiveness of a dental recall examination for all patients at an interval based upon their risk from oral disease. (Dental Recall: recall interval between routine dental examinations). Unlike other NICE guidelines, this potentially applies to the whole population. The Department of Health wishes to reduce the number of'routine' six-monthly check-ups. Best practice now recommends that all patients undertake an oral health assessment prior to categorizing them into a recall programme. The article describes how an audit project was undertaken to establish compliance within General Dental Practice to the guidelines.CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dentists and patients now have the opportunity to discuss appropriate recall intervals together and prescribe reviews at time periods appropriate to each patient's disease process and risk.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Characterization of plasma membrane respiratory chain and ATPase in the actinomycete Nonomuraea sp. ATCC 39727.We have characterized the respiratory system of the aerobic actinomycete Nonomuraea sp. ATCC 39727. The plasma membrane of the microorganism is shown to contain a protonmotive respiratory chain and H+-ATPase. The respiratory chain is made up of a rotenone-sensitive NADH-quinone oxidoreductase, a four subunits aa3-type cytochrome c oxidase and a bc1 complex. The H+-ATPase is characterized as an F0F1-type on the basis of its sensitivity to specific inhibitors; the enzyme is also inhibited by mM concentrations of Ca2+. The activity of the respiratory chain increases during the exponential growth phase, but is depressed in the stationary phase. The H+-ATPase activity reaches, as the respiratory chain, a maximal activity at the end of the exponential growth phase and then remains constant in the stationary phase.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Simulated environmental risk estimation of engineered nanomaterials: a case of cosmetics in Johannesburg City.This paper attempts to quantify the potential risks posed by engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) to the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems from cosmetic-based nanoproducts. The predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) were modelled for the silver (nAg) and titanium dioxide (nTiO(2)) nanoparticles embedded in cosmetic nanoproducts. The Johannesburg Metropolitan City (JHB City), in South Africa, was used as the reference study area. A mathematical model was applied to compute the quantities of ENMs flows from the cosmetic nanoproducts into the JHB City aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The risk quotient (RQ) of the nanoscale materials were evaluated as a ratio of PEC to the predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC). RQ values showed wide variance due to factors like; the quantities of ENMs, the fate and pathways of ENMs in the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, efficiency of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) as well as the economic and demographic data for South Africa and Switzerland. For the aquatic environment, the PEC values of nAg ranged from 2.80 ? 10(-3) to 6.19 ? 10(-1) \u00ecg L(-1) whereas for nTiO(2) the values ranged from 2.7 0 ? 10(-3) to 2.70 ? 10(-1) \u00ecg L(-1) under the realistic dilution factor of 1 with the WWTP functioning at high removal efficiency regime. The RQ values in the aquatic ecosystems were mostly >1, indicating the potential risk of both nAg and nTiO(2) but <<<1 in the terrestrial ecosystems. Our results provide the first quantification of ENMs potential risk into the environment Johannesburg City in a developing country's natural and technical settings.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Anatomy", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Inhaled drugs as risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia.The effect of inhaled drugs in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is unclear. This case-control study was designed to determine whether inhaled drugs were risk factors for CAP. All incident cases of confirmed CAP that occurred over 1 yr in patients with chronic bronchitis (CB), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma were included, as well as CB, COPD and asthma controls. Risk factors for CAP and inhaled treatment were recorded during a personal interview. An effect of inhaled drugs on the risk of CAP was observed in COPD and asthma patients after adjusting for the effect of other respiratory diseases and their concomitant treatments. In COPD patients, inhaled steroids had a risk OR of 3.26 (95% CI 1.07-9.98) and in asthma patients inhaled anticholinergics had a risk OR of 8.80 (95% CI 1.02-75.7). In CB patients, no association with CAP was observed for any inhaler. These effects were independent of adjusting variables related to severity and other respiratory and non-respiratory risk factors for CAP, including vaccines. Inhaled \u00e2(2)-adrenergic agonists did not show a significant effect on the risk of CAP in any of the respiratory diseases. Inhaled steroids may favour CAP in COPD patients, whereas anticholinergics may favour CAP in asthma patients. It is difficult to differentiate the effect of inhaled therapy from the effect of COPD or asthma severity on the risk of CAP, and these relationships may not be causal, but could call attention to inhaled therapy in COPD and asthma patients.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Humanities", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Preventive services in a health maintenance organization: how well do pediatricians screen and educate adolescent patients?OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pediatricians in managed care settings adhere to national guidelines concerning the provision of clinical preventive services.DESIGN: Surveys were mailed between September 1996 and April 1997 to all pediatricians practicing in a California group-model health maintenance organization. The survey asked pediatricians about their screening and education practices on 34 recommended services and the actions taken with adolescent patients who have engaged in risk behavior.RESULTS: The response rate was 66.2% (N = 366). Pediatricians, on average, screened 92% of their adolescent patients for immunization status and blood pressure; 85% for school performance; 60% to 80% for obesity, sexual intercourse, cigarette use, alcohol use, drug use, and seat belt and helmet use; 30% to 47% for access to handguns, suicide, eating disorders, depression, and driving after drinking alcohol; fewer than 20% for use of smokeless tobacco, sexual orientation, sexual and physical abuse, and riding a bike or swimming after drinking alcohol; and 26% to 41% for close friends' engagement in risk behavior. Pediatricians' assessment and education with adolescent patients who screened positive for risk behavior was particularly low. Female physicians, physicians who saw a greater proportion of older adolescents, and recent medical school graduates were more likely to provide preventive services.CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians in this health maintenance organization provide preventive services to adolescent patients at rates below recommendations but at rates greater than physicians in other practice settings. Improvement is especially needed in the areas that contribute most to adolescent mortality and for patients who screen positive for a risk behavior.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Levels of small molecules and enzymes in the mother cell compartment and the forespore of sporulating Bacillus megaterium.We have determined the amounts of a number of small molecules and enzymes in the mother cell compartment and the developing forespore during sporulation of Bacillus megaterium. Significant amounts of adenosine 5'-triphosphate and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide were present in the forespore compartment before accumulation of dipicolinic acid (DPA), but these compounds disappeared as DPA was accumulated. 3-Phosphoglyceric acid (3-PGA) accumulated only within the developing forespore, beginning 1 to 2 h before DPA accumulation. Throughout its development the forespore contained constant levels of enzymes of both 3-PGA synthesis (phosphoglycerate kinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and 3-PGA utilization (phosphoglycerate mutase, enolase, and pyruvate kinase) at levels similar to those in the mother cell and the dormant spore. Despite the presence of enzymes for 3-PGA utilization, this compound was stable within isolated forespores. Two acid-soluble proteins (A and B proteins) also accumulated only in the forespore, beginning 1 to 2 h before DPA accumulation. At this time the specific protease involved in degradation of the A and B proteins during germination also appeared, but only in the forespore compartment. Nevertheless, the A and B proteins were stable within isolated forespores. Arginine and glutamic acid accumulated within the forespore in parallel with DPA accumulation. The forespore also contained the enzyme arginase at a level similar to that in the mother cell and a level of glutamic acid decarboxylase 2- to 25-fold higher than that in the mother cell, depending on when in sporulation the forespores were isolated. The specific activities of several other enzymes (protease active on hemoglobin, ornithine transcarbamylase, malate dehydrogenase, aconitase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase) in forespores were about 10% or less of the values in the mother cell. Aminopeptidase was present at similar levels in both compartments; threonine deaminase was not found in either compartment.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of gel volume on pharmacokinetics for vaginal and rectal applications of combination DuoGel-IQB4012, a dual chamber-dual drug HIV microbicide gel, in pigtailed macaques.This study evaluated effects of differing gel volumes on pharmacokinetics (PK). IQB4012, a gel containing the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor IQP-0528 and tenofovir (TFV), was applied to the pigtailed macaque vagina and rectum. Vaginal gel volumes (1% loading of both drugs) were 0.5 or 1.5\u00a0ml; following wash-out, 1 or 4\u00a0ml of gel were then applied rectally. Blood, vaginal, and rectal fluids were collected at 0, 2, 4, and 24\u00a0h. Vaginal and rectal tissue biopsies were collected at 4 and 24\u00a0h. There were no statistically significant differences in concentrations for either drug between gel volumes within compartments at matched time points. After vaginal gel application, median IQP-0528 concentrations were ~\u2009104-105\u00a0ng/g, 105-106\u00a0ng/ml, and 103-105\u00a0ng/ml in vaginal tissues, vaginal fluids, and rectal fluids, respectively (over 24\u00a0h). Median vaginal TFV concentrations were 1-2 logs lower than IQP-0528 levels at matched time points. After rectal gel application, median IQP-0528 and TFV concentrations in rectal fluids were ~\u2009103-105\u00a0ng/ml and ~\u2009102-103\u00a0ng/ml, respectively. Concentrations of both drugs sampled in rectal tissues were low (~\u2009101-103\u00a0ng/g). For 1\u00a0ml gel, half of sampled rectal tissues had undetectable concentrations of either drug, and over half of sampled rectal fluids had undetectable TFV concentrations. These results indicate differences in drug delivery between the vaginal and rectal compartments, and that smaller vaginal gel volumes may not significantly compromise microbicide PK and prophylactic potential. However, effects of rectal gel volume on PK for both drugs were less definitive.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Diseases", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Anatomy", "Health Care", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Mechanism of endothelial cell shape change and cytoskeletal remodeling in response to fluid shear stress.Endothelium exposed to fluid shear stress (FSS) undergoes cell shape change, alignment and microfilament network remodeling in the direction of flow by an unknown mechanism. In this study we explore the role of tyrosine kinase (TK) activity, intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), mechanosensitive channels and cytoskeleton in the mechanism of cell shape change and actin stress fiber induction in bovine aortic endothelium (BAE). We report that FSS induces beta-actin mRNA in a time- and magnitude-dependent fashion. Treatment with quin2-AM to chelate intracellular calcium release and herbimycin A to inhibit TK activity abolished BAE shape change and actin stress fiber induction by FSS, while inhibition of protein kinase C with chelerythrine had no effect. Altering intermediate filament structure with acrylamide did not affect alignment or F-actin induction by FSS. Examining the role of the BAE cytoskeleton revealed a critical role for microtubules (MT). MT disruption with nocodazole blocked both FSS-induced morphological change and actin stress fiber induction. In contrast, MT hyperpolymerization with taxol attenuated the cell shape change but did not prevent actin stress fiber induction under flow. Mechanosensitive channels were found not to be involved in the FSS-induced shape change. Blocking the shear-activated current (IK.S) with barium and the stretch-activated cation channels (ISA) with gadolinium had no effect on the shear-induced changes in morphology and cytoskeleton. In summary, FSS has a profound effect on endothelial shape and F-actin network by a mechanism which depends on TK activity, intracellular calcium, and an intact microtubule network, but is independent of protein kinase C, intermediate filaments and shear- and stretch-activated mechanosensitive channels.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Signaling survival: how axons rescue their glia.The trophic theory of cell survival hypothesizes that cell number is regulated by survival signals generated by other cells. Work published in this issue of Developmental Cell confirms that neurons can provide trophic support for glia in Drosophila, and fills in important molecular details of this interaction.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Diseases" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A Distinct Endocytic Mechanism of Functionalized-Silica Nanoparticles in Breast Cancer Stem Cells.Nanoparticles provide new fields for life medical science application, including targeted-drug delivery and cancer treatment. To maximize the delivery efficiency of nanoparticle, one must understand the uptake mechanism of nanoparticle in cells, which may determine their ultimate fate and localization in cells. Recently, the proposed-cancer stem cell (CSC) theory has been attracted great attention and regarded as new targets for the new nanodrug developmet and cancer therapies. The interaction between nanoparticles and cancer cells has been extensively studied, but the uptake mechanism of nanoparticles in CSCs has received little attention. Here, we use the pharmacological inhibitors of major endocytic pathways to study the silica nanoparticle (SiNP) uptake mechanisms in the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) and MCF-7-derived breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). The results demonstrate that the uptake of SiNPs, particularly amino-functionalized SiNPs, in MCF-7 cells is strongly affected by the actin depolymerization, whereas BCSCs more strongly inhibit the amino-functionalized SiNP uptake after the scavenger receptor disruption. These findings indicate a distinct endocytic mechanism of functionalized SiNPs in BCSCs, which is significant for designing ideal nanosized drug delivery systems and improving the selectivity for CSC-targeted therapy.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Papillon-Lef?vre syndrome: neutrophil function in 15 cases fron 4 families in Egypt.OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the periodontal pathologic cause of Papillon-Lef?vre syndrome by comparing, with respect to neutrophil function, probands with Papillon-Lef?vre syndrome from 4 families in Egypt, unaffected siblings of the probands, and age-matched and gender-matched control subjects.STUDY DESIGN: Family histories and clinical dermal and oral manifestations of Papillon-Lef?vre syndrome were evaluated for 15 affected members of 4 families with the syndrome, 10 siblings of the probands, and 7 age-matched and gender-matched controls. Phagocytic and intracellular killing (lytic activity) of polymorphonuclear neutrophils was evaluated for all subjects according to a modification of the method of Wilkinson; opsonization was evaluated according to a modification of the methods of Cutler et al. Data were analyzed by means of analysis of variance.RESULTS: Family pedigrees were plotted, and consanguinity was noted in 3 of the 4 families with Papillon-Lef?vre syndrome. The means and SDs for phagocytic killing, lytic activity, and opsonization indices were as follows: probands, 4.76+/-1.99, 0.42+/-0.20, and 0.84+/-0.07; unaffected siblings, 10.4+/-1.3, 3.3+/-0.3, and 0.84+/-0.07; controls, 10.8+/-0.8, 3.5+/-0.6, and 0.85+/-0.05. The phagocytic killing and lytic activity indices demonstrated significance between the probands and both siblings and controls (P<.0005), whereas the opsonization index did not demonstrate significance between groups.CONCLUSIONS: Significantly decreased neutrophil function in probands with Papillon-Lef?vre syndrome was demonstrated with respect to neutrophil phagocytotic and lytic activity but not with respect to opsonization. Therefore, specific neutrophil dysfunction appears to be etiologically involved in this disorder.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Modes of embodiment in breast cancer patients using complementary and alternative medicine.Breast cancer patients are frequent users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). They often have complex reasons for, and experiences from, their use of CAM. Bodily experiences are important and almost unexplored elements in CAM use. Our aim was to explore the meaning and importance of bodily experiences among breast cancer patients who were using CAM as a supplement or an alternative to conventional treatment (CT). Our findings based on qualitative interviews with 13 women suggest that bodily experiences were particularly important when positioned outside conventional health care prior to medical diagnosis and as users of CAM as alternative to CT. We introduce three central modes of embodiment related to CAM use: the right to one's body, the body used as a gauge, and the body used as a guide. Patients' positioning between treatment systems should be further explored from a bodily perspective to safeguard and optimize their treatment choices.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Incident Hearing Loss and Comorbidity: A Longitudinal Administrative Claims Study.Importance: Because hearing loss is highly prevalent and treatable, determining its association with morbidity has major public health implications for disease prevention and the maintenance of health in adults with hearing loss.Objective: To investigate the association between the diagnosis of incident hearing loss and medical comorbidities in adults 50 years or older.Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective, propensity-matched cohort study using administrative claims data from commercially insured and Medicare Advantage members in a geographically diverse US health plan. Adults 50 years or older with claims for services rendered from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2016, were observed for 2 (n\u2009=\u2009154\u202f414), 5 (n\u2009=\u200944\u202f852), and 10 (n\u2009=\u20094728) years. This research was conceptualized and data were analyzed between September 2016 and November 2017.Exposures: A claim for incident hearing loss is defined as 2 claims for hearing loss within 2 consecutive years without evidence of hearing device use, excluding claims for sudden hearing loss or hearing loss secondary to medical conditions.Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident claims for dementia, depression, accidental falls, nonvertebral fractures, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke.Results: After cohort matching, 48% of participants were women (n\u2009=\u200974\u202f464), 61% were white (n\u2009=\u200993\u202f442), and 31% (n\u2009=\u200948\u202f056) were Medicare Advantage insured, with a mean (SD) age of 64 (10) years. In a multivariate-adjusted modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors, relative associations were strongest for dementia (relative risk at 5 years, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.38-1.64) and depression (relative risk at 5 years, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.26-1.58). The absolute risk of all outcomes was greater in persons with hearing loss than in those without hearing loss at all times, with the greatest risk difference observed at 10 years for all outcomes. The 10-year risk attributable to hearing loss was 3.20 per 100 persons (95% CI, 1.76-4.63) for dementia, 3.57 per 100 persons (95% CI, 1.67-5.47) for falls, and 6.88 per 100 persons (95% CI, 4.62-9.14) for depression.Conclusions and Relevance: In this large observational study using administrative claims data, incident untreated hearing loss was associated with greater incident morbidity than no hearing loss across a range of health conditions. Future studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these associations and to determine if treatment for hearing loss could reduce the risk of comorbidity.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Evaluation of candidemia in epidemiology and risk factors among cancer patients in a cancer center of China: an 8-year case-control study.BACKGROUND: Candidemia is the worldwide life-threaten disease, especially in cancer patients. This study was aimed to identify and evaluate the risk factors of candidemia in cancer patients, which will prompt the improvement on current therapeutic strategies and prognosis.METHODS: A retrospective, case-control study was conducted from inpatients of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, during 2006 to 2013. Analyses were performed between cancer patients with candidemia as study case, and patients with bacterial bloodstream infections as control. Each case was matched up with two controls, for gender and inpatient duration. Candida species, clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcomes were reviewed in details.RESULTS: Total number of 80 cases and 160 controls were enrolled and analyzed in this study. Candida albicans was identified as the most prevalent species and account for 55.0% candidemia, followed by Candida parapsilosis complex (21.3%), Candida tropicalis (8.8%), Candida glabrata complex (7.5%), Candida lusitaniae (3.8%), and Candida famata (3.8%). The crude mortality at 30-days of candidemia was up to 30.0%, which is significantly higher than bacterial bloodstream infections (p\u00a0=\u00a00.006). Logistical analysis demonstrated that total parenteral nutrition >5\u00a0days (p\u00a0=\u00a00.036), urinary catheter >2\u00a0days (p\u00a0=\u00a00.001), distant organ metastasis of cancer (p\u00a0=\u00a00.002) and gastrointestinal cancer (p\u00a0=\u00a00.042) were the independent risk factors for candidemia.CONCLUSIONS: Candidemia showed significant higher mortality than bacterial bloodstream infections, C. albicans was cited as the primary pathogen. Total parenteral nutrition, urinary catheter, distant organ metastasis of cancer and gastrointestinal cancer are independent predictors for candidemia, this findings provides potential therapeutic targets for improving the outcome.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Phenomena and Processes", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Chemicals and Drugs" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The effect of hospice on Medicare and informal care costs: the U.S. Experience.The effect of hospice on third-party payer costs has long been of great interest in the United States and other nations. The choice of hospice could also influence the costs experienced by patients and family members as compared with when Medicare beneficiaries choose to use normal care. This article considers both types of cost in the context of the United States. Hospice provides a rare example of a medical or multiprofessional intervention that improves quality of life for patients while reducing the costs of third-party insurers. Out-of-pocket costs do not differ by hospice use, but families experience higher informal costs when a loved one who is dying uses hospice. There are likely benefits of such interactions that would offset any costs, but these are hard to quantify. The Medicare program is supposed to provide necessary and reasonable care to beneficiaries, and hospice would easily pass any such assessment.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Evaluation of the lacrimal recess of the maxillary sinus: an anatomical study.UNLABELLED: The anatomical relation between the maxillary sinus and the nasolacrimal duct has gained greater importance with the advent of microsurgeries and endoscopic-assisted sinonasal procedures, and the growing use of endonasal surgery to perform middle meatus procedures and transnasal dacryocystorhinostomy. We did not find reports on maxillary sinus classification concerning its lacrimal recess, nor how often it is found.OBJECTIVE: To assess how frequent the lacrimal recess can be found in the maxillary sinuses of dissected anatomical specimens.METHOD: We assessed 31 half-heads from cadavers. We dissected the area corresponding to the middle third of the face, by lateral access so as to be able to observe the most lateral portion of the nasolacrimal duct vis-?-vis the maxillary sinus.The maxillary sinuses were assessed by two examiners simultaneously, getting to a consensus in relation to the type of nasolacrimal duct.RESULTS: We assessed 18 maxillary sinuses of the lateral type (58.1%) and 13 anterior sinuses (41.9%). The difference in frequency of the anterior type of maxillary type of the right side (35.7%) and left (47.1%) did not have statistical significance (p = 0.524).CONCLUSION: We found a frequency of 41.9% of lacrimal recesses in the maxillary sinuses.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Unexpected divergence of enzyme function and sequence: \"N-acylamino acid racemase\" is o-succinylbenzoate synthase.A protein identified as \"N-acylamino acid racemase\" from Amycolaptosis sp. is an inefficient enzyme (kcat/Km = 3.7 x 10(2) M-1 s-1). Its sequence is 43% identical to that of an unidentified protein encoded by the Bacillus subtilis genome. Both proteins efficiently catalyze the o-succinylbenzoate synthase reaction in menaquinone biosynthesis (kcat/Km = 2.5 x 10(5) and 7.5 x 10(5) M-1 s-1, respectively), suggesting that this is their \"correct\" metabolic function. Their membership in the mechanistically diverse enolase superfamily provides an explanation for the catalytic promiscuity of the protein from Amycolaptosis. The adventitious promiscuity may provide an example of a protein poised for evolution of a new enzymatic function in the enolase superfamily. This study demonstrates that the correct assignment of function to new proteins in functional and structural genomics may require an understanding of the metabolism of the organism.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "National health insurance reconsidered: dilemmas and opportunities.Changing social and economic constraints are precipitating a reformulation of the role of government in the provision of social welfare services. The authors conclude that government intervention in the health sector is bound to expand rather than contract because centralization is the key to reconciling otherwise divergent political demands for spending controls and greater equality of access to quality care for the increasing number of uninsured or underinsured persons. In the past eight years, the federal government has unleashed competitive market principles that have had negative side effects on the nation's health services. Payers, providers, and consumers will likely seek to protect themselves by forming coalitions, as happened recently in Massachusetts where the law now requires employers to provide minimum health insurance benefits to their employees. Escalating pressures to correct the damages from short-term piecemeal solutions to problems of health finance and delivery will provide the chief dynamic for universal health insurance in the United States. New economic, social, and political realities suggest, however, an eclectic strategy for attaining this goal that bears little resemblance to the conventional wisdom that guided health policy throughout the postwar period.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "JNK phosphorylation of Bim-related members of the Bcl2 family induces Bax-dependent apoptosis.The c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) is activated when cells are exposed to environmental stress, including UV radiation. Gene disruption studies demonstrate that JNK is essential for UV-stimulated apoptosis mediated by the mitochondrial pathway by a Bax/Bak-dependent mechanism. Here, we demonstrate that JNK phosphorylates two members of the BH3-only subgroup of Bcl2-related proteins (Bim and Bmf) that are normally sequestered by binding to dynein and myosin V motor complexes. Phosphorylation by JNK causes release from the motor complexes. These proapoptotic BH3-only proteins therefore provide a molecular link between the JNK signal transduction pathway and the Bax/Bak-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic machinery.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Diseases", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Ab initio and DFT studies of the molecular structures and vibrational spectra of succinonitrile.The Molecular structure, conformational stability and vibrational frequencies of succinonitrile NCCH2CH2CN have been investigated with ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) methods implementing the standard 6-311++G* basis set. The potential energy surfaces (PES) have been explored at DFT-B3LYP, HF and MP2 levels of theory. In agreements with previous experimental results, the molecule was predicted to exist in equilibrium mixture of trans and gauche conforms with the trans form being slightly lower in energy. The vibrational frequencies and the corresponding vibrational assignments of succinonitrile in both C2h and C2 symmetry were examined theoretically and the calculated Infrared and Raman spectra of the molecule were plotted. Observed frequencies for normal modes were compared with those calculated from normal mode coordinate analysis carried out on the basis of ab initio and DFT force fields using the standard 6-311++G* basis set of the theoretical optimized geometry. Theoretical IR intensities and Raman activities are reported.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The 13C chemical-shift index: a simple method for the identification of protein secondary structure using 13C chemical-shift data.A simple technique for identifying protein secondary structures through the analysis of backbone 13C chemical shifts is described. It is based on the Chemical-Shift Index [Wishart et al. (1992) Biochemistry, 31, 1647-1651] which was originally developed for the analysis of 1H(alpha) chemical shifts. By extending the Chemical-Shift Index to include 13C(alpha), 13C(beta) and carbonyl 13C chemical shifts, it is now possible to use four independent chemical-shift measurements to identify and locate protein secondary structures. It is shown that by combining both 1H and 13C chemical-shift indices to produce a 'consensus' estimate of secondary structure, it is possible to achieve a predictive accuracy in excess of 92%. This suggests that the secondary structure of peptides and proteins can be accurately obtained from 1H and 13C chemical shifts, without recourse to NOE measurements.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Overexpression of a chloroplast-localized small heat shock protein OsHSP26 confers enhanced tolerance against oxidative and heat stresses in tall fescue.Small heat shock proteins are involved in stress tolerance. We previously isolated and characterized a rice cDNA clone, Oshsp26, encoding a chloroplast-localized small heat shock protein that is expressed following oxidative or heat stress. In this study, we transferred this gene to tall fescue plants by an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. The integration and expression of the transgene was confirmed by PCR, Southern, northern, and immunoblot analyzes. Compared to the control plants, the transgenic plants had significantly lower electrolyte leakage and accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances when exposed to heat or methyl viologen. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (Fv/Fm) in the transgenic tall fescue plants was higher than that in the control plants during heat stress (42\u00b0C). These results suggest that the OsHSP26 protein plays an important role in the protection of PSII during heat and oxidative stress in vivo.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Ascaris haemoglobin is a nitric oxide-activated 'deoxygenase'.The parasitic nematode Ascaris lumbricoides infects one billion people worldwide. Its perienteric fluid contains an octameric haemoglobin that binds oxygen nearly 25,000 times more tightly than does human haemoglobin. Despite numerous investigations, the biological function of this molecule has remained elusive. The distal haem pocket contains a metal, oxygen and thiol, all of which are known to be reactive with nitric oxide. Here we show that Ascaris haemoglobin enzymatically consumes oxygen in a reaction driven by nitric oxide, thus keeping the perienteric fluid hypoxic. The mechanism of this reaction involves unprecedented chemistry of a haem group, a thiol and nitric oxide. We propose that Ascaris haemoglobin functions as a 'deoxygenase', using nitric oxide to detoxify oxygen. The structural and functional adaptations of Ascaris haemoglobin suggest that the molecular evolution of haemoglobin can be rationalized by its nitric oxide related functions.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Diseases" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Study of structural changes in chromatin in the presence of mono- and divalent cations by means of flow linear dichroism].The chromatin structure in solution was studied by the flow linear dichroism method (LD) in a wide range of ionic strengths. It was found that the increasing of the ionic strength from 0.25 mM EDTA, pH 7.0 to 100 mM NaCl leads to a manifold decrease of the LD amplitude of chromatin and inversion of the LD sign from negative to positive at 2 mM NaCl. Chromatin exhibits a positive LD maximum value at 10-20 mM NaCl. These data enable us to conclude that in very low ionic strength (0.25 mM EDTA-2mM NaCl) the nucleosome discs are oriented with their flat faces parallel to the chromatin filament axis. Increasing ionic strength up to 20 mM NaCl leads to reorientation of the nucleosome discs and to formation of chromatin structure with nucleosome flat faces more or less perpendicular to the fibril axis. A conformational transition of that kind is not revealed in H1-depleted chromatin. This testifies to the fact that the histone H1 is responsible for the higher order structure of chromatin. It was found that divalent cations do not induce the inversion of the LD sign of chromatin.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Changes in energy metabolism in relation to physical activity due to fermentable carbohydrates in group-housed growing pigs.Fermentable nonstarch polysaccharides (dietary fiber) affect energy retention in group-housed growing pigs by reducing physical activity. This study assessed the effects of fermentation and bulkiness of dietary carbohydrates on physical activity in relation to energy metabolism. Eight clusters of 14 pigs were fed one of four diets in a 2x2 factorial arrangement. Factors included 1) gastrointestinal fermentation and 2) dietary bulkiness. Contrasts in fermentation were created by exchanging gelatinized maize starch with raw potato starch on a volume basis. Bulkiness was altered by adding 15% milled wheat straw to the diets. Apart from these differences, amounts of other dietary ingredients fed to the pigs were similar. Pigs were housed in groups. Nitrogen and energy balances were measured per cluster during a 14-d period. Dietary bulkiness did not affect ME intake, heat production, or energy retention. Metabolizability decreased when maize starch was replaced with raw potato starch (P< .01), resulting in a lower energy retention on the potato starch diets (P<.01). However, the lower ME intake on the potato diets was partially compensated by a reduced energy expenditure on physical activity (P< .01), which was 17.6% lower than that of pigs fed the maize starch diets. Dietary bulkiness did not affect physical activity. The effect of fiber-rich diets (nonstarch polysaccharides) on activity in growing group-housed pigs seems to be related to fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract, and not to bulkiness (volume).", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Recognition of carboxylate anions and carboxylic acids by selenium-based new chromogenic fluorescent sensor: a remarkable fluorescence enhancement of hindered carboxylates.A selenium metal-based new fluorescence sensor 5-pivaloylamino-1,2,5-selenodiazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-7-(6H)-one (receptor 1) has been reported for the recognition of monocarboxylic acids and carboxylate anions both by UV-vis and fluorescence methods. Receptor 1 recognizes carboxylate anions more than monocarboxylic acids and it is a selective sensor for carboxylates with specially hindered carboxylate anions. The changes of fluorescence intensity are remarkably enhanced with red shift in presence of bulky carboxylate anions. The X-ray crystal structure of receptor 1 with pivalic acid has been reported.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "House-dust mite nasal provocation: a diagnostic tool in perennial rhinitis.BACKGROUND: In perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), the skin-prick test (SPT) is a good diagnostic tool to identify the specific allergens. A nasal provocation test (NPT) is used to identify allergens and to confirm the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal cutoff values of symptom and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) changes after dust-mite NPT for predicting PAR. We also studied the relationship of the changes of symptoms in NPT and the wheal size of SPT.METHODS: One hundred five patients with perennial rhinitis underwent the NPT to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and the SPT. The NPT was assessed by changes in symptoms and PNIF. The optimal cutoff values of the symptoms score and PNIF changes after the NPT for predicting the SPT were determined using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The relationship of the wheal sizes of SPT and the changes from the NPT were analyzed.RESULTS: Forty-eight patients had a positive SPT to D. pteronyssinus, of whom 33 patients had a positive NPT by increases of the symptom score. Twenty patients had a positive NPT by decreases of PNIF. The area under the ROC curve was 0.85 for symptom score changes and it was 0.612 for PNIF changes. There was a significant correlation between the wheal size of the SPT and symptom changes in the NPT.CONCLUSION: Nasal provocation is a valuable test to confirm the diagnosis of D. pteronyssinus allergy, especially when the wheal from the SPT is small. The symptom change after the house-dust mite NPT is better than the PNIF change for predicting the PAR.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Proteolysis of fibrinogen in healthy volunteers following major and minor vivo plasminogen activation.Changes in immunoreactive fibrinopeptide A, fragment B beta 1-42 and fragment E were followed after major and minor in vivo plasminogen activation, after infusion of streptokinase and acylated streptokinase-plasminogen complex respectively, in healthy male volunteers. Major activation resulted in a dramatic rise in all three peptides, fragment E persisting in the circulation longest. Fragment B beta 1-42 was also markedly increased after minor systemic plasminogen activation despite apparently adequate levels of immediate antiplasmin.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Genetic Alterations and Their Clinical Implications in High-Recurrence Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer.PURPOSE: Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) frequently involve genetic alterations. The objective of this study was to investigate genetic alterations and further explore the relationships between these genetic alterations and clinicopathological characteristics in a high-recurrence risk (node positive, N1) PTC group.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumor tissue blocks were obtained from 240 surgically resected patients with histologically confirmed stage III/IV (pT3/4 or N1) PTCs. We screened gene fusions using NanoString's nCounter technology and mutational analysis was performed by direct DNA sequencing. Data describing the clinicopathological characteristics and clinical courses were retrospectively collected.RESULTS: Of the 240 PTC patients, 207 (86.3%) had at least one genetic alteration, including BRAF mutation in 190 patients (79.2%), PIK3CA mutation in 25 patients (10.4%), NTRK1/3 fusion in six patients (2.5%), and RET fusion in 24 patients (10.0%). Concomitant presence of more than two genetic alterations was seen in 36 patients (15%). PTCs harboring BRAF mutation were associated with RET wild-type expression (p=0.001). RET fusion genes have been found to occur with significantly higher frequency in N1b stage patients (p=0.003) or groups of patients aged 45 years or older (p=0.031); however, no significant correlation was found between other genetic alterations. There was no trend toward favorable recurrence-free survival or overall survival among patients lacking genetic alterations.CONCLUSION: In the selected high-recurrence risk PTC group, most patients had more than one genetic alteration. However, these known alterations could not entirely account for clinicopathological features of high-recurrence risk PTC.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Electric shock-like sensations in 42 cancer patients: clinical characteristics and distinct etiologies.We retrospectively evaluated 42 consecutive cancer patients manifesting electric shock-like sensations. Fourty three percent presented with Lhermitte's sign (LS), 24% with the previously described outstretching ir. abduction maneuver (OAM) of the arms, and 33% had both phenomena. Twenty nine patients had underlying polyneuropathy related to cisplatin-based chemotherapy in 27 and to thiamine deficiency in 2. Thirtreen patients had myelopathy which was induced by radiotherapy in 11. Patients with polyneuropathy manifested both LS and OAM, while patients with myelopathy more often presented with LS. Neurologic signs suggestive of spinal cord involvement were present in 3 patients with polyneuropathy and in 7 of 11 irradiated patients. MRI disclosed cervical spinal cord swelling in 3 patients with LS. Prolonged cervical latencies on SSER were noted in 5 of 15 patients. All had LS and 3 also had OAM associated with abnormal latencies in the brachial plexi. We conclude that LS and OAM are positive sensory manifestations of increased mechanosensitivity of the damaged central or peripheral sensory axons in the cervico-brachial area. In cancer patients, these phenomena largely manifest treatment-induced myelopathy or polyneuropathy. Auxillary studies help to confirm diagnosis and to depict the uncommon but treatable causes.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Manipulation of two \u00e1-endo-\u00e2-1,4-glucanase genes, AtCel6 and GmCel7, reduces susceptibility to Heterodera glycines in soybean roots.Plant endo-\u00e2-1,4-glucanases (EGases) include cell wall-modifying enzymes that are involved in nematode-induced growth of syncytia (feeding structures) in nematode-infected roots. EGases in the \u00e1- and \u00e2-subfamilies contain signal peptides and are secreted, whereas those in the \u00e3-subfamily have a membrane-anchoring domain and are not secreted. The Arabidopsis \u00e1-EGase At1g48930, designated as AtCel6, is known to be down-regulated by beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii) in Arabidopsis roots, whereas another \u00e1-EGase, AtCel2, is up-regulated. Here, we report that the ectopic expression of AtCel6 in soybean roots reduces susceptibility to both soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) and root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). Suppression of GmCel7, the soybean homologue of AtCel2, in soybean roots also reduces the susceptibility to SCN. In contrast, in studies on two \u00e3-EGases, both ectopic expression of AtKOR2 in soybean roots and suppression of the soybean homologue of AtKOR3 had no significant effect on SCN parasitism. Our results suggest that secreted \u00e1-EGases are likely to be more useful than membrane-bound \u00e3-EGases in the development of an SCN-resistant soybean through gene manipulation. Furthermore, this study provides evidence that Arabidopsis shares molecular events of cyst nematode parasitism with soybean, and confirms the suitability of the Arabidopsis-H.\u2009schachtii interaction as a model for the soybean-H.\u2009glycines pathosystem.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A chloroquine resistance locus in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi.We have located a possible chloroquine resistance locus in the genome of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi. Two genetically distinct clones of the parasite were grown in vivo and allowed to undergo genetic crossing. The clones differed from each other in their susceptibility to chloroquine; AS(3CQ) had been selected for a low level of resistance to the drug whereas AJ is chloroquine-sensitive. Independent recombinant progeny (20) were cloned from the products of two crosses, phenotyped for their susceptibility to chloroquine, and genotyped for their inheritance of 46 chromosome-specific markers. No association was found between chloroquine susceptibility and the inheritance of pcmdr1, the P. chabaudi homologue of the pfmdr1 multi-drug resistance gene of P. falciparum. Also, there was no association between chloroquine susceptibility and the inheritance of a marker linked to a putative chloroquine resistance locus in a P. falciparum cross. However, 16 of the progeny clones showed co-segregation of four linked markers on chromosome 11 with their resistance phenotype. This result suggests that a locus for chloroquine resistance exists on this chromosome in P. chabaudi.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Expression of transcription factor SOX4 and its clinical significance in female lung cancer patients in Xuanwei area, Yunnan Province].OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of transcription factor SOX4 in lung cancer tissues of female patients in Xuanwei area, Yunnan Province, and explore its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of the female patients.METHODS: Real-time PCR was applied on lung cancer specimens and their corresponding normal lung tissues from 96 female cases of Xuanwei area to assess the expression of SOX4 mRNA. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to investigate the SOX4 protein expression, and further to elucidate its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.RESULTS: The expression level of SOX4 mRNA in the cancer tissues (2.53 \u00b1 1.65) was significantly higher than that of matched normal tissues (1.43 \u00b1 1.14, P = 0.003). Immunohistochemical staining showed that there were 53.1% (51/96) positive expression of SOX4 protein in the cancer tissue and only 26.0% (25/96) in matched normal tissue (P < 0.001). The expression of SOX4 protein had a significant correlation with clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and differentiation of tumor (P < 0.05). The survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier method showed that patients with positive expression of SOX4 protein, lymph node metastasis and advanced tumor stage had a significantly shorter median survival time (P < 0.05). Cox regression survival analysis showed that pathological grade was a significant independent factor affecting prognosis.CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of SOX4 mRNA and protein are significantly up-regulated in Xuanwei female lung cancer patients. Patients with positive SOX4 expression have a shorter median survival time. SOX4 protein expression level combined with pathological grade can be used as a prognostic indicator of female lung cancer patients in Xuanwei area, Yunnan Province.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Direct determination of vibrational density of states change on ligand binding to a protein.The change in the vibrational density of states of a protein (dihydrofolate reductase) on binding a ligand (methotrexate) is determined using inelastic neutron scattering. The vibrations of the complex soften significantly relative to the unbound protein. The resulting free-energy change, which is directly determined by the density of states change, is found to contribute significantly to the binding equilibrium.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Sonography of Palpable Breast Lumps in a Tertiary Health Care Centre in Nepal.BACKGROUND: With a palpable lesion in the breast, the goal is to diagnose malignancy at the earliest. Ultrasonography is used for evaluating symptomatic patients especially those with dense breasts where mammography gives limited information. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sonographic pattern of the palpable breast lumps and correlate with the final pathological diagnosis.METHODS: This was a retrospective study done at our tertiary health care center, from July 2016 to March 2017, including 121 patients presenting to the ultrasound department with complaint of palpable breast lump and whose pathological reports could be followed up. Various sonographic features were studied, sonography and final diagnosis compared.RESULTS: On sonography, about 46% of the cases were benign, 35 % malignant and 18 % indeterminate while tissue diagnosis revealed 63% to be benign, 34% malignant. The most common lesions in each group and sonographic characteristics were evaluated. Of the benign lesions, fibroadenoma was the most common. Most of the indeterminate lesions on sonography were histologically mastitis. We found nearly 58% of the malignant lesions had microlobulated margins. The sensitivity of sonography was 92.9% and specificity 97.5% with diagnostic accuracy 94.8%.CONCLUSIONS: Most of the palpable lumps were benign in our study, most common being fibroadenoma. We had a relatively higher percentage of malignancy which may be due to patients with obviously benign lesions not undergoing tissue diagnosis in our setting. The sonographic features and diagnosis correlated well with the histological diagnosis.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Migration of endophytic diazotroph Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 inside wheat (Triticum aestivum L) and its effect on microRNAs.Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, a novel rhizobium, forms endosymbionts with its nature host Sesbania rostrata, a semi-aquatic leguminous tree. Recent studies showed that A. caulinodans ORS571, as endophytic rhizobium, disseminated and colonized inside of cereal plants. However, how this rhizobium infects monocot plants and the regulatory mechanism remains unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional levels. In this study, we employed laser scanning confocal microscope to monitor the pathway that rhizobium invade wheat; we also investigated the potential role of miRNAs during A. caulinodans ORS571 infecting wheat. Our results showed that gfp-labeled A. caulinodans ORS571 infected wheat root hairs and emerged lateral roots, then disseminated and colonized within roots and migrated to other plant tissues, such as stems and leaves. Endophytic rhizobium induced the aberrant expression of miRNAs in wheat with a tissue- and time-dependent manner with a peak at 12-24\u00a0h after rhizobium infection. Some miRNAs, such as miR167 and miR393 responded more in roots than that in shoots. In contrast, miR171 responded higher in shoots than that in roots. These results suggested that miRNAs could be responsive to A. caulinodans ORS571 infection and played important role in plant growth, nutrient metabolisms, and wheat-rhizobium interactions.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Diseases", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Clinical observation on effect of compound E-bei ointment in treating plaque psoriasis].OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy oand safety of Compound E-Bei ointment (CEBO) in treating plaque psoriasis.METHODS: Adopting block-randomized, open, positive Western medicine and placebo parallel group controlled method, a total of 120 enrolled patients were administered orally with Saoxuan Pill, and randomized into three groups respectively treated with external application of CEBO, Daivonex, or vehicle control twice a day for 4 weeks. The changes of erythema, infiltration, scaly eruption, pruritus and the area of lesion were evaluated, the safety and the initiating time of symptom improvement (ITSI) were observed as well.RESULTS: Observation on local lesion showed that the scores of erythema, infiltration, scaly eruption, pruritus were significantly improved in difference between the CEBO group and the Daivonex group (P < 0.01). But in the placebo control group, significant improvement was only shown in scaly eruption scores (P < 0.01), so, the improvement in skin lesion in the placebo group was significantly inferior to that in the other two groups (P < 0.01). The ITSI of pruritus was shorter in CEBO group than that in the Daivonex group and the placebo group (P < 0.01), but that of other symptoms showed insignificant difference between the CEBO group and the Daivonex group, as for comparing in ITSI of erythema, infiltration, scaly eruption and pruritus, it was significantly shorter in the CEBO group and Daivonex group than that in the placebo group respectively (P < 0.01). The occurrence of adverse events in the CEBO group had insignificant difference to that in the Daivonex group, but the recurrence rate in the former was significantly lower than that in the latter (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: CEBO can effectively improve the symptoms of skin lesion in patients with plaque psoriasis, the clinical efficacy is not inferior to that of positive Western medicine.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Dose-response effects of atropine and HI-6 treatment of organophosphorus poisoning in guinea pigs.HI-6 (1-2-hydroxyiminomethyl-1-pyridino-3-(4-carbamoyl-1-pyridino -2- oxapropane dichloride) has been evaluated as an oxime alternative to pralidoxime, and toxogonin in the treatment of organophosphorus (OP) poisoning. The dose response effects of atropine (ATR) and HI-6 were investigated to more fully explore the interaction of these compounds in the treatment of OP poisoning. ATR, HI-6 and various combinations of the two drugs were evaluated against lethal poisoning by soman (GD) and tabun (GA) in guinea pigs. The effect of adjunctive diazepam treatment on the efficacy of atropine and HI-6 against soman was also investigated. Animals of either sex were challenged s.c. with OP and treated i.m. 1 min later with ATR and/or HI-6. When used, diazepam was injected immediately after ATR+HI6. LD50s of each treatment were calculated from probit models based on 24-hour survival against 5 levels of nerve agent and 6 animals per challenge level. A protective index (PI) was calculated by dividing the nerve agent LD50 in the presence of treatment by the LD50 in the absence of treatment. Treatment with HI6 alone had little effect on the toxicity of either OP. Treatment with ATR alone was more effective than HI-6 alone and was significantly more effective against soman than against tabun. When used in combination atropine and HI-6 had a strong synergistic effect against both agents. The dose of atropine used with HI-6 was critical in determining the efficacy of HI-6 against either agent. The slopes of the dose-lethality curves were minimally affected by the dose of ATR or HI-6. Adjunctive treatment with diazepam enhanced the efficacy of HI-6 and atropine against soman. It is concluded that 1) ATR has a large effect on the efficacy of HI-6 against OP poisoning, 2) the dose of ATR must be carefully selected in studies investigating the efficacy of HI-6 against OP poisoning, 3) the effective dose of ATR in the guinea pig is approximately 16 mg/kg, and 4) diazepam is a useful adjunct to atropine and HI-6.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Population-based analysis of arteriovenous malformation treatment.OBJECT: The author sought to describe overall management data on cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and to focus the actuarial need for different treatment modalities on a population-based scale. Such data would seem important in the planning of regional or national multimodality strategies for the treatment of AVMs. This analysis of a nonselected, consecutive series of patients representing every diagnosed case of cerebral AVM in a population of 1,000,000 over one decade may serve to shed some light on these treatment aspects.METHODS: During the 11-year period from 1989 to 1999, data from every patient harboring a cerebral AVM that was presented clinically or discovered incidentally in a strictly defined population of 986,000 people were collected prospectively. No patient was lost to follow up. There were 12.4 de novo diagnosed AVMs per 1,000,000 population per year (135 AVMs). Large high-grade AVMs (Spetzler-Martin classification) were rare, and Grade 1 to 3 lesions represented 85% of the caseload. Hemorrhage was the initial manifestation of AVM in 69.6% of the cases. lntracerebral hematoma was the most common hemorrhagic manifestation occurring in 78 patients. There were 4.4 cases per 1,000,000 population per year of hematomas needing expedient surgical evacuation. In the remaining patients who did not require hematoma surgery, small, critically located Grade 3 and Grade 4 lesions amounted to 1.6 cases per 1,000,000 population per year. There were 5.8 cases per 1,000,000 population per year of Grade 1 to 2 and larger noncritically located Grade 3 malformations. There were 0.5 cases per 1,000,000 population per year of Grade 5 AVMs. The overall outcome in 135 patients was classified as good according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (Score 5) in 61% of the cases, and the overall mortality rate was 9%.CONCLUSIONS: In centers with population-based referral, AVM of the brain is predominantly a disease related to intracranial bleeding. and parenchymal clots have a profound impact on overall management outcome. The rupture of an AVM is as devastating as that of an aneurysm. Aneurysm ruptures are more lethal, whereas AVM rupture tends to result in more neurological disability due to the high occurrence of lobar intracerebral hematoma. In an attempt to quantify the need for different modalities of AVM treatment based on a population of 1,000,000 people, figures for surgeries performed range from six to 10 operations per year and embolization as well as gamma knife surgery procedures range from two to seven per year, depending on the strategy at hand. When using nonsurgical approaches to Grade 1 to 3 lesions, the number of patients requiring treatment with more than one method for obliteration increases drastically as does the potential risk for procedure-related complications.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effect of combined therapy of danaparoid sodium and tranexamic acid on chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm.Chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a well-known complication of aortic aneurysm. A 63-year-old man with bleeding tendency and a large palpable abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was diagnosed as having fibrinolysis dominant DIC by the excessive activation of both coagulation and fibrinolysis (plasmin -alpha2 plasmin inhibitor complex concentration is usually >4 microg/ml). Although several treatments were tried, DIC could not be controlled until the patient was given combined therapy of danaparoid (1,250 U/12 h, bolus IV) and tranexamic acid (0.5 g x 3/day, oral administration). This therapy may be beneficial when control for bleeding is required without restricting the ambulatory movement of patients by continuous drip.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Virtual reality videos used in undergraduate palliative and oncology medical teaching: results of a pilot study.BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR) immersive environments have been shown to be effective in medical teaching. Our university hospital received funding from our deanery, Health Education in Wales, to film teaching videos with a 360-degree camera.AIMS: To evaluate whether VR is an effective and acceptable teaching environment. VR headsets were set up for medical students who rotated through Velindre Cancer Hospital's Palliative Care department.METHODS: Students were asked to put on a VR headset and experience a pre-recorded 27\u2009min presentation on nausea and vomiting in palliative care settings. They subsequently viewed a radiotherapy treatment experience from a patient's point of view.RESULTS: Of the 72 medical students who participated, 70 found the experience comfortable, with two students stating they felt the experience uncomfortable (1=headset\u2009too tight; 1=blurry visuals). Numerical scoring on ability to concentrate in VR from 0 to 10 (0=worst, 10=best) scored an average of 8.44 (range, 7-10). Asked whether this format suited their learning style, average score was 8.31 (range 6-10). 97.2 % (n=70) students stated that they would recommend this form of learning to a colleague, with one student saying he/she would not recommend and another stating he/she was unsure. Students left anonymous free-text feedback comments which helped frame future needs in this emerging area.DISCUSSION: This study suggests that there is room for exploring new ways of delivering teaching and expanding it more widely in palliative care and oncology, but also provides feedback on areas that need further careful attention. Comments from students included: \"Might have been the novelty factor but I learnt more from this 20\u2009min VR thing than I have from many lectures\".SUMMARY: The project has proved sufficiently popular in medical student feedback, that the VR experience is now available on YouTube and has been permanently introduced into routine teaching. Further 360-degree teaching environments have been filmed. Of note is that our 360-degree videos have been viewed in Africa, so this format of teaching could prove valuable due to its global reach.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Radiological heart enlargement in treated hypertensive men: a comparative study of chest X-ray examination and M-mode echocardiography.Twenty-five hypertensives with no history of myocardial infarction and with a radiologically determined heart enlargement were examined with M-mode echocardiography and compared with a normotensive control group (n = 41). All except two of the hypertensive patients were on a beta-blocker based antihypertensive treatment regime. The relative heart volume on X-ray was significantly larger in the hypertensives, 562 ml m-2 body surface area (BSA), compared to the normotensives, 408 ml m-2 BSA (P less than 0.001). Both left ventricular diameter (LVD) in end-diastole and end-systole and left arterial (LA) diameter were significantly larger in the hypertensives (56 vs. 51 mm, P less than 0.01; 35 vs. 31 mm, P less than 0.01; 46 vs. 42 mm, P less than 0.01, respectively) as was the LV mass (296 vs. 203 g, P less than 0.001). The end-systolic wall stress (ESWS) was significantly greater in the hypertensives. Despite these findings resting left ventricular fractional shortening was the same and showed a similar correlation with ESWS (r = 0.79 and r = 0.77, respectively) in both groups. Hence, left ventricular systolic performance was not impaired in the hypertensives compared to the normotensives. These results show that an enlarged cardiac silhouette on the chest X-ray in hypertensive subjects with beta-blocker based drug therapy must be interpreted with caution and must not, a priori, be judged as a sign of an impaired systolic cardiac function.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Exencephaly and axial skeletal malformations induced by maternal administration of sodium valproate in the MF1 mouse.Clinical and epidemiological studies indicate that maternal use of valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy causes an increased risk for spina bifida in the fetus. A proportion of infants exposed to VPA in utero exhibit a characteristic pattern of facial malformations. Despite the developmental interdependence of the neural plate and paraxial mesoderm during normal morphogenesis, the possible involvement of the axial skeleton in VPA-induced NTD has not been clearly documented. So the objective of this investigation was to determine the nature and extent of involvement of the axial skeleton in VPA-induced exencephaly in the mouse. A single dose of 600 mg/kg of sodium valproate was administered (IP) to MF1 mouse on day 8 of gestation. This treatment resulted in significant increase in resorption, reduction in mean fetal weight, and exencephaly (25%) of live fetuses. Several craniofacial malformations and subcutaneous haematomas were associated with exencephaly. Alizarin red-stained skeletal preparations revealed maxillary-, mandibular hypoplasia, absence of skull vault, hypoplasia and/or agenesis of basicranial bones, and obtuse angulation of the craniovertebral junction. Hemivertebrae, longitudinal fusion of the vertebral arches and bodies, accessory ribs (cervical and lumbar), fusion of thoracic ribs, and several patterns of sternal variations were observed. Nonexencephalic VPA-treated embryos exhibited mandibular, maxillary hypoplasia, arched and cleft palates, cleft lip, kinky tail, and vertebral and sternal anomalies. Treated embryos at early stages of development revealed delay in elevation and fusion of neural folds, distended IVth ventricle, kinky spinal cord, incomplete separation of somites and growth retardation. When viewed in light of the published work on VPA action on embryonic systems, these observations suggest that abnormalities associated with VPA-induced exencephaly may be due to either a direct action of VPA on the precursors of these organs or secondary to its action on neural tube. A significantly high incidence of NTD and their consistent association with defective development of the axial skeleton suggest that this is an excellent experimental model for investigating the pathogenetic mechanism(s) of VPA induced NTD.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A workforce survey of New Zealand medical oncologists.AIM: There is wide recognition that the challenge of providing health care into the future requires planning for a sustainable workforce particularly in the context of increasing service demand. The Medical Oncology Work Group (MOWG) undertook a survey of vocationally registered medical oncologists which aimed to support future workforce planning and the development of models of care.METHODS: The survey was developed and carried out by the MOWG in conjunction with the Ministry of Health during 2009. Medical oncologists were sent the survey and forwarded unnamed completed responses to one of the authors (SB).RESULTS: A total of 33 out of 40 practising medical oncologists completed the survey, representing an 82% response rate. The survey found that there is an emerging movement from a male-dominated workforce largely working full time, to a workforce with a higher proportion of females and part-time workers. The median full-time medical oncologist in New Zealand was responsible for 220 first specialist assessments (FSAs) per annum, 40 more than the number considered reasonable by the surveyed practitioners. In qualitative responses, medical oncologists expressed frustration with lack of resources and high workloads that constrained their ability to appropriately deploy their skills and undertake teaching and research. Positive aspects included collegial collaboration and patient contact. Prominent suggestions for improving job satisfaction included use of skilled administrative staff or nurse specialists to free up time for oncologists to better use their skills.CONCLUSION: The survey highlights high clinical workload and frustration within the medical oncology workforce. In addition there is increasing service demand. This survey has formed the basis of work to develop new models of care in medical oncology.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A subinhibitory concentration of clarithromycin inhibits Mycobacterium avium biofilm formation.Mycobacterium avium causes disseminated infection in immunosuppressed individuals and lung infection in patients with chronic lung diseases. M. avium forms biofilm in the environment and possibly in human airways. Antibiotics with activity against the bacterium could inhibit biofilm formation. Clarithromycin inhibits biofilm formation but has no activity against established biofilm.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Development of autoimmune hepatitis in patients with typical primary biliary cirrhosis.Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)-autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) overlap syndrome is a clinical entity characterized by the occurrence of both conditions at the same time in the same patient. In addition to PBC-AIH overlap syndrome, transitions from one autoimmune disease to another have been reported, but no systematic series have been published. We report a series of 12 patients with consecutive occurrence of PBC and AIH (i.e., PBC followed by AIH). Among 282 PBC patients, 39 were identified who fulfilled criteria for probable or definitive AIH. AIH developed in 12 patients (4.3%). The baseline characteristics of the patients were similar to those of patients with classical PBC. Time elapsed between the diagnosis of PBC and the diagnosis of AIH varied from 6 months to 13 years. Patients with multiple flares of hepatitis at the time of diagnosis of AIH had cirrhosis on liver biopsy. Ten patients were given prednisone +/- azathioprine; short-term as well as sustained remissions were obtained in 8 of these, while two had multiple relapses and eventually died 8 and 7 years after diagnosis of AIH. In conclusion, the development of superimposed AIH could not be predicted from baseline characteristics and initial response to UDCA therapy. If not detected early, superimposed AIH can result in rapid progression toward cirrhosis and liver failure in PBC patients.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Colonization by fragments of the submerged macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum under different sediment type and density conditions.In this paper, the effect of plant density, sediment type, and macrophyte fragment size on the fragment colonization ability of Myriophyllum spicatum was evaluated in an outdoor experiment. The relative growth rate (RGR) was higher in the mud and low-density treatments than in the sand and high-density treatments. The relative elongation rate (RER) decreased with increasing density and fragment size, with RER values being much higher in the mud than the sand treatments. Both branching number and shoot diameter increased with decreasing density and increasing fragment size, and were significantly higher in the mud than the sand treatments. The shoot : root ratio was higher in the mud treatments than in the sand treatments. Total N content in both the shoot and root was significantly higher in the mud and low-density treatments than in the sand and high-density treatments. Shoot P content only decreased with increasing density, while root P content was higher in the mud and low-density treatments than in the sand and high-density treatments. These data indicate that fragment colonization by M. spicatum is improved by large fragments, low density, and nutrient-rich sediments, and that these conditions contribute to the rapid population expansion of this species.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Glycerol-induced development of catalytically active conformation of Crotalus adamanteus L-amino acid oxidase in vitro.The reconstitutable apoprotein of Crotalus adamanteus L-amino acid oxidase was prepared using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. After reconstitution with flavin adenine dinucleotide, the resulting protein was inactive, with a perturbed conformation of the flavin binding site. Subsequently, a series of cosolvent-dependent compact intermediates was identified. The nearly complete activation of the reconstituted apoprotein and the restoration of its native flavin binding site was achieved in the presence of 50% glycerol. We provide evidence that in addition to a merely stabilizing effect of glycerol on native proteins, glycerol can also have a restorative effect on their compact equilibrium intermediates, and we suggest the hydrophobic effect as a dominating force in this in vitro-assisted restorative process.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Spinal cord compression by a rheumatoid nodule.A case, believed to be unique, is reported of spinal cord compression due to an extradural rheumatoid nodule.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Variations in daylight as a contextual cue for estimating season, time of day, and weather conditions.Experience and experiments on human color constancy (i.e., Arend & Reeves, 1986; Craven & Foster, 1992) tell us that we are capable of judging the illumination. However, when asked to make a match of the illuminant's color and brightness, human observers seem to be quite poor (Granzier, Brenner, & Smeets, 2009a). Here we investigate whether human observers use (rather than match) daylight for estimating ecologically important dimensions: time of year, time of day, and outdoor temperature. In the first three experiments we had our observers evaluate calibrated color images of an outdoor urban scene acquired throughout a year. Although some observers could estimate the month and the temperature, overall they were quite poor at judging the time of day. In particular, observers were not able to discriminate between morning and afternoon pictures even when they were allowed to compare multiple images captured on the same day (Experiment 3). However, observers could distinguish between midday and sunset and sunrise daylight. Classification analysis showed that, given a perfect knowledge of its variation, an ideal observer could have performed the task over chance only considering the average chromatic variation in the picture. Instead, our observers reported using shadows to detect the position of the sun in order to estimate the time of day. However, this information is highly unreliable without knowledge of the orientation of the scene. In Experiment 4 we used an LED chamber in order to present our observers with lights whose chromaticity and illuminance varied along the daylight locus, thus isolating the light cues from the sun position cue. We conclude that discriminating the slight variations in chromaticity and brightness, which potentially distinguish morning and afternoon illuminations, lies beyond the ability of human observers.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A 2-year follow-up of root coverage using sub-pedicle acellular dermal matrix allografts and subepithelial connective tissue autografts.BACKGROUND: Coverage of roots exposed by gingival recession is one of the main objectives of periodontal reconstructive surgery. A large variety of mucogingival grafting procedures are available. However, the long-term effectiveness of this procedure is still not clear. This study compared the effectiveness of sub-pedicle acellular dermal matrix allografts with subepithelial connective tissue autografts in achieving root coverage 2 years postoperatively.METHODS: One hundred one (101) patients were treated with dermal matrix allografts (mean age, 28.4+/- 0.7 years; mean recession, 4.2 mm) and 65 patients treated with connective tissue graft (mean age, 30.1+/- 1.4 years; mean recession, 4.9 mm). All patients underwent full periodontal evaluation and presurgical preparation, including oral hygiene instruction and scaling and root planing. The exposed roots were thoroughly planed and covered by a graft without any further root treatment or conditioning. There were no differences in the average age, time of follow-up, or gender between the two groups. Patients were evaluated periodically between 1 and 2 years. Residual recession and defect coverage were assessed.RESULTS: Mean residual root recession after root coverage with acellular dermal matrix allograft was 0.2 +/- 0.04 mm, with defect coverage of 95.9% +/- 0.9%. Frequency of defect coverage was 82.2%. Root coverage was 98.8% +/- 0.2%, resulting in a frequency of root coverage of 100%. Gain in keratinized gingiva was 2.2+/- 0.04 mm and attachment gain was 4.5+/- 0.1 mm per patient. Connective tissue autografts resulted in mean residual root recession of 0.1+/- 0.04 mm, with percent defect coverage of 97.8%+/- 0.6% and frequency of defect coverage of 95.4%. Root coverage was 99.1%+/- 0.2%, and frequency of root coverage was 100%. Gain in keratinized gingiva was 3.0+/- 0.1 mm and attachment gain was 5.3+/- 0.2 mm per patient. No significant differences in final recession and root coverage between the two treatment methods were found. However, autografts resulted in significant increases in defect coverage, keratinized gingival gain, attachment gain, and residual probing depth. The clinical results were stable for the 2-year follow-up period.CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that coverage of root by sub-pedicle acellular dermal matrix allografts or subepithelial connective tissue autografts is a very predictable procedure which is stable for 2 years postoperatively. However, subepithelial connective tissue autografts resulted in significant increases in defect coverage, keratinized gingival gain, attachment gain, and residual probing depth.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Microbial transformations of steroids--III. Transformation of progesterone by Sepedonium ampullosporum.The 16 alpha-steroid hydroxylating fungus Sepedonium ampullosporum (CMI strain 203 033) transformed progesterone into 16 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and four other major metabolites which have not been reported previously for this organism, 6 beta-hydroxyprogesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 16 alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione and 16-oxotestosterone (16-ketotestosterone). Among the minor metabolites we have been able to identify 15 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone. This compound has not been reported for S. ampullosporum. The conditions used for transformation had comparatively little effect on the relative proportions of products formed, 16 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone always being the predominant metabolite, but had a major effect on the total yields of metabolites isolatable. These findings suggest that one or more constitutive enzyme systems were responsible for the transformations.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "HER-2/neu expression in ovarian clear cell carcinomas.HER-2 /neu is a 185-kDa glycoprotein and a transmembrane receptor with tyrosine kinase activity. Its overexpression is observed in 25-30% of primary breast carcinomas and is associated with a poor clinical prognosis. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labor approved the use of trastuzumab (Herceptin, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA) for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast carcinomas overexpressing HER-2 /neu. Results of clinical trials with Herceptin suggest that it may prolong the survival of patients with advanced metastatic breast carcinoma. Relatively little is known concerning the relationship between HER-2 /neu status and ovarian clear cell carcinoma. If HER-2 /neu overexpression status were demonstrable in ovarian clear cell carcinoma and a clinical correlation between overexpression and prognosis could be established, a rationale for clinical use of Herceptin for this tumor could be established. Our aim was to evaluate HER-2 /neu status in ovarian clear cell carcinomas. Fifteen ovarian clear cell carcinoma cases were immunostained for HER-2 /neu using HercepTest (DAKO, Glostrup, Denmark). Overexpression of HER-2 /neu was detected in only one case. Unlike in breast carcinoma, HER-2 /neu overexpression appeared to be uncommon in ovarian clear cell carcinomas. Herceptin may thus target only a small proportion of ovarian clear cell carcinomas and be of limited clinical value for treatment of this carcinoma.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[The risk of stent thrombosis in the perioperative setting].Percutaneous coronary interventions associated with a need for long-term dual anti-platelet therapy are steadily increasing. Accordingly, reports of severe perioperative complications in this high-risk group of patients are also increasing. Complications can be categorized into two groups: coronary ischemia or myocardial infarction due to acute stent thrombosis or increased blood loss. Risk of stent thrombosis is higher compared to the risk of bleeding. The article discusses the perioperative management based on an informative case report and recent evidence: Elective surgery has to be postponed until the end of dual anti-platelet therapy. Management of patients planned for semi-elective surgery should be individualized with interdisciplinary consensus. If clopidogrel is withdrawn, aspirin should be administered throughout the perioperative period. Careful surgical technique is required. If surgery is planned within 12 months, implantation of bare metal stents is recommended.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Weekly 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin: achieving lower toxicity with higher dose-intensity in adjuvant chemotherapy after colorectal cancer resection.BACKGROUND: Current standard therapy following resection of high-risk colon cancer is intravenous bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with leucovorin (LV), but there is no consensus on the optimum regimen of these drugs: practice ranges from the high toxicity Mayo Clinic schedule to the very low toxicity weekly QUASAR schedule. We present data for a weekly schedule that aims to provide moderately dose-intense treatment with low toxicity.PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-two patients were studied: 60% male; median age 65 years (36% over 70 years); 94% colorectal primary. Treatment was intravenous bolus (5 min) 5-FU 425 mg/m(2) plus D,L-LV 45 mg flat rate once weekly, for a planned 24 weeks. Data for toxicity, dose-reductions, delays and stoppages were collected.RESULTS: Overall, 20% of patients experienced any grade > or = 3 toxicity, most commonly diarrhoea (14% patients). Dose reductions were made in 35% of patients (although only 21% required 20% or more reduction); toxicity contributed to a decision to stop treatment before 24 weeks in 16% of patients. Median delivered dose intensity (DI) was 96% of planned (407 mg/m(2)/week) during treatment, and 91% of planned (385 mg/m(2)/week) over the full 24 week treatment plan. Female sex and age >70 years were significantly associated with higher rates of toxicity and dose adjustment, and lower delivered DI.CONCLUSIONS: Weekly treatment at these doses is convenient and well-tolerated for the large majority of patients, and achieves DI comparable with the 5 days a month QUASAR schedule and other more toxic standard regimens.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Anatomy", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Phenomena and Processes" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "RNA-like conformational properties of a synthetic DNA poly(dA-dU).poly(dA-dU).Differences in the circular dichroism of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) and poly(dA-dU).poly(dA-dU) and in its temperature induced changes are reported. A comparison to the data obtained with DNA and RNA indicates that an absence of thymine methyl groups in the polynucleotide results in promoting its RNA-like conformational properties. However, poly(dA-dU).poly(dA-dU) is not an A-DNA type of double helix.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "EPA-coated titanium implants promote osteoconduction in white New Zealand rabbits.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-coated Ti implants on osteoconduction in white New Zealand rabbit mandibles.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sandblasted and cleansed planar titanium specimens with a size of 5 ? 5 ? 1 mm were coated on one side with 0.25 vol% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The other side of the specimens was kept highly polished (the control side). These specimens were inserted in rabbit mandibles. Twelve rabbits were randomly assigned into three study groups (n = 4). The rabbits were sacrificed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The harvested specimens with the implants were assessed for new bone formation on both sides of the implant using CBCT, conventional radiographs, and the biaxial pullout test. The results were statistically analyzed by a nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test and Friedman's test as multiple comparisons and by Brunner-Langer nonparametric mixed model approach (R Software).RESULTS: A significant osteoconductive bone formation was found on the EPA-coated Ti implant surface (P < 0.05) at 8 weeks when compared to the polished surface (control). Biaxial pullout test results showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) after 8 and 12 weeks with a maximum force of 243.8 N, compared to 143.25 N after 4 week.CONCLUSION: EPA implant coating promoted osteoconduction on the Ti implant surfaces, enhancing the anchorage of the implant to the surrounding bone in white New Zealand rabbits.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Mutations in the nucleotide binding domain of the alpha subunits of the F1-ATPase from thermophilic Bacillus PS3 that affect cross-talk between nucleotide binding sites.Inactivation of MF1 (bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase) with 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoylethenoadenosine is caused by labeling alpha Y244 [Verburg, J. G., and Allison, W. S. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 8065-8074]. In the crystal structure [Abrahams, J.P., Leslie, A. G. W., Lutter, R., and Walker, J. E. (1994) Nature 370, 621-628], alpha Y244 is hydrogen bonded to alpha R304 which is also hydrogen bonded to alpha Y300. The catalytic properties of mutant alpha 3 beta 3 gamma subcomplexes of the TF1-ATPase from the thermophilic Bacillus PS3 containing the alpha F244C, alpha R304C, and alpha Y300C substitutions have been examined. Each has unique features for hydrolyzing ATP and forming inhibitory ADP-fluoroaluminate complexes in catalytic sites. Unlike wild-type, the (alpha R304C)3 beta 3 gamma and (alpha Y300C)3 beta 3 gamma subcomplexes entrap inhibitory MgADP in a catalytic site during turnover which fails to dissociate when ATP binds to noncatalytic sites. Although the hydrolytic properties of the (alpha F244C)3 beta 3 gamma subcomplex and wild-type are similar, the mutant forms ADP-fluoroaluminate complexes 7 times faster than wild-type when Al3+ and F- are added to it in the presence of excess ADP and Mg2+. It also resists inhibition by high Mg2+ concentrations in the assay medium. At least one noncatalytic site of the (alpha F244C)3 beta 3 gamma subcomplex has increased affinity for ADP, indicating that the enhanced rate of formation of the ADP-fluoroaluminate complex reflects augmented cooperativity between noncatalytic and catalytic sites. The rate of formation of the ADP-fluoroaluminate complex in (alpha Y300C)3 beta 3 gamma increases only 40% when MgADP in bound to two catalytic sites rather than one, compared to a 9-fold increase exhibited by wild type. When Al3+ and F- are added to the (alpha Y300C)3 beta 3 gamma subcomplex after incubation with excess ADP and Mg2+, ADP-fluoroaluminate complexes are formed in three catalytic sites rather than two observed with the other subcomplexes. Reconciliation of the catalytic properties of the mutant subcomplexes in terms of the crystal structure suggests that alpha F244, alpha R304, and alpha Y300 of TF1 are part of a pathway that propagates conformational signals from one catalytic site to another.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Development of a Functional Ruthenium(II) Complex that Can Act as a Photoluminescent and Electrochemiluminescent Dual-signaling Probe for Hypochlorous Acid.A functional ruthenium(II) complex that can act as a probe for response to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in aqueous media with photoluminescence (PL) and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) dual-signals, [Ru(bpy)2(DB-phen)](PF6)2 [bpy: 2,2'-bipyridine; DB-phen: 5-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylamino)-1,10-phenanthroline)], has been designed and synthesized. The complex is highly luminescent both under the light excitation and the electrochemical induction. It can specifically react with HOCl in physiological pH aqueous media to afford its chlorinated derivative, [Ru(bpy)2(DBCA-phen)](PF6)2 [DBCA-phen: 5-(2,4-dimethoxybenzyl-chloroamino)- 1,10-phenanthroline], accompanied by remarkable decreases in its PL and ECL intensities. The PL and ECL abatements of [Ru(bpy)2(DB-phen)](PF6)2 show good linear correlation to the concentration of HOCl with detection limits at low micromolar concentration level, and the PL and ECL responses of the complex to HOCl are highly specific without interferences of other reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. These features enabled [Ru(bpy)2(DB-phen)](PF6)2 to be used as a probe for the highly selective and sensitive detection of HOCl in aqueous media with PL and ECL dual-modes.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Humanities", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Mating behaviour of Echinostoma trivolvis and E. paraensei in concurrent infections in hamsters.Young adults of Echinostoma trivolvis and E. paraensei were recovered from hamsters previously infected with metacercarial cysts. Some worms of each species were exposed for 1 h to 3-H-tyrosine to label sperm and transplanted singly to uninfected hamsters with several unlabelled worms of the same or opposite species or both species. After 5 days, recovered worms were processed for paraffin sectioning and autoradiography. The resulting slides were observed for the location of radioactive sperm in the seminal receptacles of donor (labelled) and recipient (unlabelled) worms. When E. trivolvis was the donor with the recipient E. paraensei, self-insemination took place, but only one interspecies mating occurred out of 72 possible recipient worms. When E. paraensei served as the donor, self-insemination again occurred, but no cross-insemination was observed among the 59 E. trivolvis recipient worms. When single donor worms had a choice of either species of recipient worms, no interspecies mating took place, but both self- and cross-insemination occurred in the normal, unrestricted behaviour found in single species mating studies. Rates of both self- and cross-insemination were higher in concurrent infections of both recipient species than in single species mating studies. After transplant, both species localized in their natural habitat within the small intestine, with 1/3 overlapping in the duodenum, making interspecies mating a possibility. The correlation between mating and electrophoretic studies on the genetic relationship between 37-collar-spined echinostomes is discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy", "Named Groups", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Preliminary studies on the detection, isolation and partial characterization of Clq-containing IgM immune complexes in sera of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.The complement system is activated in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and this activated state may be medicated by immunoreactive IgM. To identify and further characterize the relationship between the complement (Clq) and IgM in PBC sera, we developed an anti-Clq ELISA method which allowed detection of Clq-containing circulating immune-like complexes. Utilizing this technique, sera from 3 out of 5 patients with PBC revealed circulating immune-like complexes. Moreover, when serum samples were specifically examined for the presence of IgM containing Clq complexes, four of four samples examined were positive. Additional experiments indicated that these immune-like complexes could be removed from PBC sera by means of an anti-Clq immunoadsorbent. Upon subsequent isolation and characterization, these immune-like complexes demonstrated polypeptide chains corresponding to both human Clq and human IgM. Our experimental studies establish that Clq-containing IgM-like complexes can occur in the serum of patients with PBC, and provide additional support for the proposal that immunoreactive IgM can contribute to the activated complement system observed in PBC.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Named Groups", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Establishment and maintenance of behavioural dominance in male mice infected with Trichinella spiralis.Trichinella spiralis infections influenced the establishment and maintenance of behavioural dominance among outbred male mice. Infected animals assumed a subordinate status when challenged by normal or more lightly infected conspecifics both in an unfamiliar test arena and in their established home cages. These effects were demonstrable during the acute and the chronic phases of infection. The significance of this phenomenon to the survival of the mouse host and the transmission of the parasite is discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Outcome of open Tenckhoff catheter insertions: 5 years experience in a major tertiary centre in central Saudi Arabia.BACKGROUND: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) has become a popular and established form of renal replacement therapy in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The objective of this study was to analyse the outcome of open Tenckhoff catheter insertions in patients with ESRD in term of catheter related complications.METHODS: From December 2006 to November 2011, 337 Tenckhoff catheters were placed in 305 patients with ESRD for CAPD, by general surgeons in King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Medical record of all these patients was reviewed retrospectively regarding the demography, causes of ESRD, catheter related complications, and their management.RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 51.2 +/- 14.5 (range, 16-87 years). Majority of the patients were female 164 (53.7%). Forty three patients (14.1%) had previous abdominal surgery. Diabetic nephropathy was the commonest (51.4%) primary cause of ESRD. Ninety three insertions (27.5%) were associated with complications. Post insertion peritonitis was the commonest complication (9.2%) in our series, followed by mechanical dysfunction (8.6%). Fifty two catheters (15.4%) were removed because of different complications. Follow up ranged between 4-47 months with a mean of 21.4 +/- 11.2 months.CONCLUSIONS: Open surgical approach is simple, safe, and effective method of Tenckhoff catheter insertion with an acceptable complication rate, provided patients are adequately optimized and prepared for surgery.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Phenomena and Processes", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The evolution of a community-based telepsychiatry program in rural Alabama: lessons learned-a brief report.The purpose of this paper is to describe the partnership between a community-based rural mental health clinic and an academic health center to provide telepsychiatry services in rural Alabama. The partnership was developed to meet the needs of a clinic that serves an underserved rural population with limited psychiatric services. This paper offers valuable lessons learned for mental health practitioners who may be considering the benefits and challenges of forming community-based partnerships in use of telepsychiatry to build capacity to deliver clinical mental health services to rural mental health shortage areas.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Prescribing valproate to girls and women of childbearing age in Germany : Analysis of trends based on claims data].BACKGROUND: Measures to raise awareness of the teratogenic potential of valproate and restrict its use in girls/women of childbearing age have been intensified. For Germany, the impact of these measures on valproate prescription rates remains unknown.OBJECTIVES: Trends in prescribing valproate, the underlying treatment indication, and the specialty of the prescribing physician are analyzed.MATERIALS AND METHODS: With claims data from several statutory health insurance providers from 2004 to 2016 (approximately 3.5\u00a0million insured persons per year) considering treatment indication and medical specialties of prescribing physicians, we assessed the rate of girls/women (12 to 50\u00a0years) with at least one valproate dispensation per year.RESULTS: The age-standardized rate of girls/women with at least one valproate dispensation declined by 28% between 2004 and 2016 (2.91/1000 vs. 2.09/1000). For 2015, the indications were epilepsy (66.9%), bipolar disorder (13.6%), migraine/headache (5.6%), schizoaffective disorder (4.3%), and other mental disorders (8.9%). Among epilepsy patients, the proportion treated with valproate declined from 26.2 to 16.8%, but changed little in patients with bipolar disorder (9.3% vs. 8.0%). A\u00a0total of 46.3% of valproate dispensations were issued by neurologists or psychiatrists and 29.6% by general practitioners, internal medicine specialists, or family doctors.CONCLUSIONS: Based on German claims data, a\u00a0decline of valproate dispensations was shown for epilepsy patients of childbearing age, while the proportion in other indications has hardly changed since 2004.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "\u00e3-Tocotrienol attenuates TNF-\u00e1-induced changes in secretion and gene expression of MCP-1, IL-6 and adiponectin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.Tocotrienols, members of the vitamin E family, have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties and display activity against a variety of chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases. However, whether tocotrienols contribute to the prevention of inflammatory responses in adipose tissue remains to be elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of \u00e3-tocotrienol, the most common tocotrienol isomer, on tumor necrosis factor-\u00e1 (TNF-\u00e1)-induced inflammatory responses by measuring the expression of the adipokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and adiponectin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Exposure to TNF-\u00e1 (10 ng/ml) for 24 h increased MCP-1 and IL-6 secretion, and decreased adiponectin secretion and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-\u00e3 (PPAR\u00e3) mRNA expression. \u00e3-tocotrienol effectively improved the TNF-\u00e1-induced adverse changes in MCP-1, IL-6 and adiponectin secretion, and in MCP-1, IL-6, adiponectin and PPAR\u00e3 mRNA expression. Furthermore, TNF-\u00e1-mediated I\u00eaB-\u00e1 phosphorylation and nuclear factor-\u00eaB (NF-\u00eaB) activation were significantly suppressed by the \u00e3-tocotrienol treatment. Our results suggest that \u00e3-tocotrienol may improve obesity-related functional abnormalities in adipocytes by attenuating NF-\u00eaB activation and the expression of inflammatory adipokines.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Long-term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery for Clinical Stage II/III Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter Cohort Study in Japan (LOC-A Study).OBJECTIVE: A large-scale multicenter historical cohort study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) in comparison to open gastrectomy (OG) for locally advanced gastric cancer.BACKGROUND: LG is now practiced widely, but its applicability for advanced gastric cancer is still controversial. As oncologic outcomes of randomized trials are still pending, there is an urgent need for information that would be relevant to current practice.METHODS: Through a consensus meeting involving surgeons and biostatisticians, 30 preoperative variables possibly influencing the choice of surgical approach and associated with outcome were identified to enable rigorous estimation of propensity scores. A total of 1948 consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy for clinical stage II/III gastric adenocarcinoma between 2008 and 2014 were identified, and their clinical data were collected from 8 participating hospitals. After propensity score matching, 610 cases (OG = 305, LG = 305) were finally selected for comparison of long-term outcomes.RESULTS: In the propensity-matched OG and LG populations, the mean observation period was 3.5 and 3.4 years, and the 5-year overall survival was 53.0% and 54.2%, respectively. The hazard ratio (LG/OG) for overall survival was 1.01 (95% confidence interval, 0.80-1.29), and noninferiority of LG was demonstrated statistically as the upper 95% confidence limit was less than the prespecified margin (1.33). The recurrence rate was 30.8% and 29.8% for OG and LG, respectively, and the hazard ratio for recurrence was 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.74-1.31). The patterns of recurrence in the 2 groups were similar.CONCLUSIONS: This observational study strictly adjusted for confounding factors has provided evidence to suggest that LG is oncologically comparable to OG for locally advanced gastric cancer. The validity of this result will be examined in ongoing randomized trials.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Soluble HLA class I and class II concentrations in commercial immunoglobulin preparations.Soluble HLA class I (sHLA-ABC) and class II (sHLA-RQP) molecules were quantitated in 16 commercially available immunoglobulin (Ig) preparations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Whereas three Ig preparations contained no detectable sHLA-ABC, all preparations showed concomitant sHLA-RQP molecules. There was a considerable variability with regard to the individual sHLA concentrations. For sHLA-RQP the values exceeded that found in human plasma of healthy individuals, suggesting that the extraction procedure may concentrate not only Ig, but also HLA class II molecules. Based on the total dosage of intravenously administered immunoglobulins (i.v.Ig), contaminating sHLA molecules may become immunogenic. Furthermore, sHLA molecules are discussed in terms of participation in the well-known immunomodulating effects of i.v.Ig therapy.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Clinical and Economic Impact of Time From Admission for CSF Rhinorrhea to Surgical Repair.BACKGROUND: If conservative management of CSF leak is unsuccessful, surgical repair is indicated for the prevention of severe complications such as meningitis. This study investigated the influence of surgical timing on clinical and economic outcomes.METHODS: Retrospective review of the National Inpatient Sample (2012) and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002-2011) for nonelective admissions with a principal diagnosis of CSF rhinorrhea treated with surgical repair of the meninges. Demographics and outcomes of patients undergoing meningeal repair for CSF rhinorrhea were analyzed. Cases were classified into four groups based on timing of surgical intervention: 1) performed on the day of admission (day 0), 2) performed between days 1 and 3, 3) performed between days 4 and 7, and 4) performed between days 8 and 14.RESULTS: A total of 1,088 emergent admissions were analyzed. On average, patients underwent surgical repair between the second and fourth day of admission. Lowest rates of meningitis were in patients treated on the day of admission (6.1%); those treated at 2 weeks had a 34.7% incidence. Multivariate analysis controlling for comorbidity burden, gender, and surgical timing found the highest odds of meningitis in patients treated with surgical repair during the second week of admission compared to repair on the day of admission (OR 8.2, P\u2009<\u2009.001). Length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs increased as time to repair increased.CONCLUSION: Multiple factors influence outcomes in patients with CSF rhinorrhea. Early surgical repair was significantly associated with decreased rates of meningitis, LOS, and hospital costs. Expedient treatment of patients admitted for CSF rhinorrhea may prove to be both a cost- and morbidity-saving measure.LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2C Laryngoscope, 129:539-543, 2019.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Sildenafil (Viagra) induces powerful cardioprotective effect via opening of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels in rabbits.Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is the pharmacological agent used to treat erectile dysfunction in men. Because this drug has a vasodilatory effect, we hypothesized that such an action may induce a preconditioning-like cardioprotective effect via opening of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K (K(ATP)) channels. Rabbits were treated with sildenafil citrate (0.7 mg/kg iv) either 30 min (acute phase) or 24 h (delayed phase) before 30 min of ischemia and 3 h of reperfusion. Mitochondrial K(ATP) channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD, 5 mg/kg iv) was given 10 min before ischemia-reperfusion. Infarct size was measured by tetrazolium staining. Sildenafil caused reduction in arterial blood pressure within 2 min of treatment, which returned to nearly baseline levels 3 min later. The infarct size (% risk area, means +/- SE) reduced from 33.8 +/- 1.7 in control rabbits to 10.8 +/- 0.9 during the acute phase (68% reduction, P < 0.05) and 19.9 +/- 2.0 during the delayed phase (41% reduction, P < 0.05). 5-HD abolished protection with an increase in infarct size to 35.6 +/- 0.4% and 36.8 +/- 1.6% during the acute and delayed phase, respectively (P < 0.05). Similar acute and delayed cardioprotective effects were observed when sildenafil was administered orally. Systemic hemodynamics also decreased after oral administration of the drug. However, these changes were mild and occurred slowly. For the first time, we demonstrate that sildenafil induces acute and delayed protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury, which are mediated by opening of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Cholesterol homeostasis in T cells. Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin treatment results in equal loss of cholesterol from Triton X-100 soluble and insoluble fractions.Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD) is frequently used to acutely deplete cells of cholesterol. A widespread assumption is that MBCD preferentially targets cholesterol in lipid rafts and that sensitivity to MBCD is proof of lipid raft involvement in a cellular process. To analyse any MBCD preference systematically, progressive cholesterol depletion of Jurkat T cells was performed using MBCD and [3H]-cholesterol. It was found that at 37 degrees C, MBCD extracts similar proportions of cholesterol from the Triton X-100 resistant (lipid raft enriched) as it does from other cellular fractions and that the cells rapidly reestablish the relative differences in cholesterol concentration between different compartments. Moreover, cells restore the cholesterol level in the plasma membrane by mobilising cholesterol from intracellular cholesterol stores. Interestingly, mere incubation at 0 degrees C caused a loss of plasma membrane cholesterol with a concomitant increase in cholesteryl esters and adiposomes. Moreover, only 35% of total cholesterol could be extracted by MBCD at 0 degrees C and was accompanied by a complete loss of plasma membrane and endocytotic recycling centre filipin staining. This study clearly shows that MBCD does not specifically extract cholesterol from any cellular fraction, that cholesterol redistributes upon temperature changes and that intracellular cholesterol stores can be used to replenish plasma membrane cholesterol.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[HUVECs respond to low shear stress stimulation by activating Wnt/\u00e2-catenin signaling pathway].Objective To investigate the influence of different fluid shear stress (FSS) on Wnt/\u00e2 signaling pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and its relationship with atherosclerosis. Methods HUVECs were subjected to different FSS (0, 1, 15 dynes/cm2) for various durations (6, 12, 18, 24 hours) using a shear stress device. Subsequently, real-time quantitative PCR was used to observe the mRNA expression levels of dishevelled 2 (Dvl2) and \u00e2-catenin in the Wnt signaling pathway, and immunofluorescence technology to observe their protein expression and localization. Results The low FSS promoted the expression and recruitment of Dvl2 as well as the translocation of \u00e2-catenin into the nucleus at the early stage of loading low FSS. Conversely, laminar FSS inhabited their expression and nuclear translocation of \u00e2-catenin. Conclusion Wnt signaling pathway participates in the stress response of vascular endothelial cells to low shear stress.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Identification of motoneurons and interneurons in the spinal network for escapes initiated by the mauthner cell in goldfish.We used intracellular recording and staining techniques to study the spinal circuitry of the escape behavior (C-start) initiated by the Mauthner axon (M-axon) in goldfish. Simultaneous intracellular recordings from one or both M-axons and a spinal neuron, followed by HRP labeling of the spinal cell, show that each M-axon makes monosynaptic, chemical excitatory synapses onto 2 populations of ipsilateral spinal neurons. The first consists of the large primary motoneurons that, based on earlier work (Fetcho, 1986), innervate exclusively the faster, white muscle fiber types in the myomeres. The second group of cells is formed by previously undescribed descending interneurons with ipsilateral axonal branches that have contacts with primary and secondary motoneurons spread over 2 or more body segments. Indirect evidence suggests that these descending interneurons are excitatory, and they may explain the polysynaptic activation of motoneurons observed in earlier studies of the spinal circuitry (Diamond, 1971). Both classes of neurons excited by the ipsilateral M-axon are disynaptically inhibited by the contralateral one. The morphology and physiology indicate that this inhibition is mediated by interneurons that are electrotonically coupled to one M-axon and have processes that cross the cord to inhibit contralateral neurons in the region where these postsynaptic cells receive excitatory input from the other M-axon. We have identified interneurons with the physiological and morphological features of these predicted crossed inhibitory interneurons. These cells are electrotonically coupled to the ipsilateral M-axon and receive a chloride-dependent disynaptic inhibitory input from the contralateral M-axon. Their very simple somata give rise to a process that crosses the spinal cord between the 2 M-axons. Once on the opposite side of the cord, the crossing process sends myelinated branches that run rostrally and caudally, roughly parallel to the contralateral M-axon. Processes that arise from these longitudinal branches terminate in a striking association with collaterals of the M-axon; nearly every M-axon collateral along the longitudinal course of an interneuron is met by a branch or branches of the interneuron whose terminals are apposed to neurons postsynaptic to the collateral.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Direct chemiluminescence immunoassay for estradiol in serum.In this simple, reliable, fast solid-phase chemiluminescence immunoassay for directly measuring (i.e., without prior extraction) estradiol-17 beta in serum, a monoclonal antibody is used that binds estradiol with high affinity (Ka = 10(10) L/mol), and does not bind other steroids tested, the highest cross reactivity observed being 0.1% for estradiol-17 alpha. In this system the monoclonal antibody is bound to the wells of microtiter plates via a second antibody directed against the monoclonal antibody. Fifty microliters of serum and estradiol-displacing agents are added, followed by 100 pg of estradiol-isoluminol conjugate, and the label is measured by luminometry after the binding reaction. The sensitivity of the assay is 180 pmol per liter of serum, and the effective working range at less than or equal to 10% CV is 270 to 6700 pmol/L. Analytical recovery of added estradiol averaged 99.7% (SD 6.5%). Within- and between-assay CVs ranged between 5 and 12.7%. Thirty-five unknown serum samples can be assayed within 4 h. Results correlated well with those obtained with a direct RIA: r = 0.94 (n = 149). This assay opens new perspectives for chemiluminescence immunoassays.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effect of antibiotics on the properties of poly(methylmethacrylate)-based bone cement.The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between gentamicin concentration in Palacos R bone cement (in the mass fraction range of 0-9.4%) and various properties of the cement. The results from the thermal, density, and static compression tests show that gentamicin favors the cement polymerization in its final steps, and forms a diphasic structure with the cement [poly(methylmethacrylate)] matrix. The static compression properties in the dry state are only slightly modified by the presence of the antibiotic. Concerning aging in water at 37 degrees C, two types of behavior can be distinguished: below a critical concentration, approximately 3-4%, the extraction of gentamicin by water is slow and there is only a slight change of static compression properties. In contrast, above this critical concentration, the gentamicin extraction is fast and almost complete after 48 weeks, and there is a considerable loss of static compression properties.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Acute Exercise, Psychological Stress Induction, and Episodic Memory.Objective: In this study, we evaluated whether exercise prior to memory encoding or during memory consolidation can influence episodic memory function after being exposed to a stressful environment. Methods: We conducted 3 between-group randomized controlled experiments among young adults. We assessed episodic memory (via logic memory task) at the beginning of the experiment and approximately 45 minutes later. Across the 3 experiments, we varied the temporal period (eg, before memory encoding or during consolidation) of the acute bout of exercise (15-minute moderate-intensity exercise) and psychological stress induction. Results: Across all 3 experiments there was a statistically significant main effect for time for memory function, but there were no time x group interaction effects. Conclusion: Memory declined across the 2 assessment periods, but for all 3 experiments, exercise was not associated with memory function after being exposed to a stressful stimulus.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Diseases" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Beyond the classroom, 'pro-active teaching methods--a must for today's CPD movement'.Non-traditional teaching approaches are not recent innovations in the field of continuing medical and professional development; however, there is a lack of employing such methods in our context. The reasons could include lack of awareness, recognition and overlapping and adoption of these approaches, peculiarly academic detailing, by the pharmaceuticals. Nevertheless these methods have proven to be useful in changing physicians' behaviour and attitudes towards patient care and health safety. Moreover, it guides, promotes and derives the self-directedness of the physicians to acquire current knowledge, skills and generic attributes that are required for lifelong learning.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Associations of built environment and proximity of food outlets with weight status: Analysis from 14 cities in 10 countries.The study aimed to examine associations of neighborhood built environments and proximity of food outlets (BE measures) with body weight status using pooled data from an international study (IPEN Adult). Objective BE measures were calculated using geographic information systems for 10,008 participants (4463 male, 45%) aged 16-66\u202fyears in 14 cities. Participants self-reported proximity to three types of food outlets. Outcomes were body mass index (BMI) and overweight/obesity status. Male and female weight status associations with BE measures were estimated by generalized additive mixed models. Proportion (95% CI) of overweight (BMI 25 to <30) ranged from 16.6% (13.1, 19.8) to 41.1% (37.3, 44.7), and obesity (BMI\u202f?\u202f30) from 2.9% (1.3, 4.4) to 31.3% (27.7, 34.7), with Hong Kong being the lowest and Cuernavaca, Mexico highest for both proportions. Results differed by sex. Greater street intersection density, public transport density and perceived proximity to restaurants (males) were associated with lower odds of overweight/obesity (BMI\u202f?\u202f25). Proximity to public transport stops (females) was associated with higher odds of overweight/obesity. Composite BE measures were more strongly related to BMI and overweight/obesity status than single variables among men but not women. One standard deviation improvement in the composite measures of BE was associated with small reductions of 0.1-0.5% in BMI but meaningful reductions of 2.5-5.3% in the odds of overweight/obesity. Effects were linear and generalizable across cities. Neighborhoods designed to support public transport, with food outlets within walking distance, may contribute to global obesity control.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes in Real-World Patients Between Resolute Zotarilumus-Eluting and Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents in Small Vessel.OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term clinical outcomes between Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES) and paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) in patients with small coronary artery disease.BACKGROUND: Patients with a small vessel diameter are independently associated with increased risk of adverse cardiac events after drug-eluting stent implantation.METHODS: A cohort of 265 patients treated with R-ZES (185 patients with 211 lesions) or PES (80 patients with 100 lesions) in small vessel (?2.5 mm) lesions were retrospectively analyzed. The primary end point of the study was the composite of major adverse cardiac events. The secondary end points included target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and stent thrombosis at 3 years.RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. In the R-ZES group, the mean stent diameter was smaller and the total stent length per lesion was longer. Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 8 (10%) patients who had received PES and in 7 (3.8%) patients who had received R-ZES (P = .07). The rates of 3-year TLR (2.2% vs 2.5%; P = 1.00) and TVR (5.4% vs 10.0%; P = .17) showed no statistically significant difference between the R-ZES and PES groups. The rate of stent thrombosis was 0.5% in the R-ZES group and 2.5% in the PES group (P = .21).CONCLUSION: The rates of major adverse cardiac events and cardiac death were similar in the R-ZES-treated group compared with the PES-treated group.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Phenomena and Processes" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in New Zealand--what are the clinical laboratories doing?INTRODUCTION: Recent guidelines recommend automatic reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation with every request for plasma creatinine in patients aged >18 years. We evaluated the uptake of this recommendation in New Zealand at 6 months after the time that these recommendations were made.METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to all laboratories participating in the Royal Australasian College of Pathologists' General Chemistry Quality Assurance Program (RCPA QAP), asking whether laboratories routinely report eGFR, to what extent the specific recommendations have been followed and what feedback there had been from clinicians.RESULTS: Over 69% of New Zealand laboratories report eGFR results with most requests for creatinine in patients aged >18 years. There are, however, significant deviations from the specific recommendations made.CONCLUSIONS: The uptake of eGFR reporting in New Zealand is high. Areas of importance for refinement of eGFR reporting in New Zealand have also been identified. While there has been little feedback from clinicians on eGFR reporting, it is mostly positive.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of prenatal exposure to Zidovudine and Lamivudine on brainstem auditory evoked potentials in infants from HIV-infected women.Long-term in utero adverse effects of infants exposed perinatally to antiretroviral drugs are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were differences in Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) waves and interval interwaves in a group of Zidovudine (AZT) alone or AZT plus Lamivudine (3TC) prenatally exposed infants as the result of a mother with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection; compared with a group of infants not exposed to antiretroviral drugs. Results couls provide an index of neurotoxicity in newborns. Pregnant women were recruited at the first trimester of pregnancy, when they were diagnosed with HIV syndrome. Infants were included in the study if they were exposed prenatally to AZT alone or AZT plus 3TC. BAEP recordings were blinded from each investigator and results compared with a cephalic perimeter-matched control group of non-exposed infants. Comparison of wave latencies showed significant delay of wave I and I-III interwave interval in the AZT-3TC-treated group. The present findings suggest that prenatal exposure to the antiretroviral drugs AZT and/or 3TC is related to increased latencies in wave I and I-III interwave interval. This finding may provide an index of toxicity in lower regions of the brainstem in exposed infants.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Health Care", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Neutrophils ameliorate lung injury and the development of severe disease during influenza infection.The clinical response to influenza infection ranges from mild disease to severe pneumonia and it remains unclear whether the inflammatory response to infection is protective or pathogenic. We have defined a novel role for neutrophils in ameliorating lung injury during influenza infection, thereby limiting development of severe disease. Infection of neutrophil-depleted mice with influenza virus HKx31 (H3N2) led to rapid weight loss, pneumonia, and death. Neutropenia was associated with enhanced virus replication in the respiratory tract; however, viral titers were declining at the time of death, leading us to investigate other factors contributing to mortality. In addition to thymic atrophy, lymphopenia, and viremic spread, depletion of neutrophils led to exacerbated pulmonary inflammation, edema, and respiratory dysfunction. Thus, while it is well established that neutrophils contribute to lung injury in a range of pathological conditions, reduced numbers or impaired neutrophil function can facilitate progression of mild influenza to severe clinical disease.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Heterogeneity in the biological and cultural determinants of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in five North American populations: the Lipid Research Clinics Family Study.Heterogeneity in the source of familial resemblance for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in 5 different Lipid Research Clinics (Cincinnati, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Stanford) was assessed using a general linear model for cultural and biological inheritance. No evidence of heterogeneity was found in any of the parameters of the model. Under the most parsimonious hypothesis, using data pooled over all clinics, genetic and cultural heritability were both significant and were estimated to be 0.52 +/- 0.04 and 0.09 +/- 0.02, respectively; there was cultural transmission but no maternal effects; marital and nontransmitted sibship environmental resemblance were significant.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Humanities", "Diseases", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "C-reactive protein as a marker of the surgical stress reduction within an ERAS protocol (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) in colorectal surgery: A prospective cohort study.BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol (ERAS) in relation to reduce the Systemic Inflammatory Response (SIR) to surgery using C-reactive protein (CRP) in the first (POD1), second (POD2) and third (POD3) postoperative day.METHODS: We enrolled 121 patients (ERAS group) that underwent elective colorectal surgery with ERAS, and compared them with 135 patients (preERAS group) that had undergone surgery prior to the implementation. We made a univariate analysis to compare the CRP values in POD1, POD2, and POD3 between preERAS/ERAS group, laparoscopic/open surgery and the presence or not of Clavien Dindo complications. Multivariable lineal regression was used to assess if the ERAS had a decreasing effect on the CRP in POD1, POD2, and POD3, and was adjusted by age, male sex, use of laparoscopy, and complications.RESULTS: The presence of complications was independently associated with an increase in CRP values \u200b\u200bin POD1, POD2, and POD3. Laparoscopy in POD1 and POD2, and ERAS in POD2 was independently associated with a decrease in CRP values.CONCLUSION: The analysis shows an increase in SIR measured as a CRP value in those patients that had complications. The SIR decreased with laparoscopy in POD1 and POD2 and with ERAS in POD2.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A longitudinal clinical comparison of plaque-induced inflammation between gingival and peri-implant soft tissues in the maxilla.BACKGROUND: Little information exists concerning the periimplant soft tissue response to plaque compared to the gingiva of the dentition. The purpose of this study was to compare this relative tissue response to plaque in humans over time.METHODS: Two hundred seventy-five (275) hydroxyapatite-coated implants were placed in the maxillae of 50 subjects followed by prosthetic rehabilitation. Baseline gingival (GI) and plaque (PI) index scores were obtained for all implants. Two to 4 teeth per subject were similarly measured, serving as controls. Measurements were repeated at 6-month intervals over 30-months. GI scores were evaluated relative to PI scores at 4 separate sites for each implant, to implant location within the oral cavity, and to length of time that each implant was in function.RESULTS: The peri-implant mucosa demonstrated a significantly greater likelihood of having elevated GI scores relative to PI scores when compared to the gingiva (chi-square for combined PI scores of 0 and 1 = 85.0, df = 1, P <0.001; for combined P1 scores of 2 and 3 = 114.6, df = 1, P <0.001). A logistic generalized linear model confirmed the significance of these results (Student t for implant effect = 21.602). It further demonstrated significantly elevated GI scores for implant sites over time and for implants located in the posterior oral cavity.CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that maxillary peri-implant soft tissues are at increased risk for plaque-induced inflammation relative to the gingiva of the dentition. Hygiene recall standards and treatment regimens may require revisions to minimize peri-implantitis and prevent bone loss.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of amethopterin (methotrexate) on the evolution of pregnancy in rats.Amethopterin (4-amino-N-10-methyl-glutamic acid) was given to pregnant rats in varying doses at different periods of gestation to evaluate its effects upon both the mother and the fetoplacental unit. The maternal organism is more sensitive to this drug at days 14 to 17 than at a larger stage of gestation. When administered to rats from day 14 to day 18 of pregnancy the drug is capable of inducing a series of deleterious effects: maternal weight loss, resorption, abortion or hypotrophy of fetuses. Day 16 appears to be a critical moment in the evolution of rat pregnancy, after which injection of amethopterin does no longer impair fetoplacental growth. Before this date, the drug directly inhibits fetal weight gain, whereas the sensitivity of the placenta is only transient at day 16 resulting in maximum weight decrease of this organ 24 h later. Its action on rat pregnancy follows a direct dose-effect relationship reflecting increasing damage to the products of conception (resorption, abortion and hypotrophy).", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Redefining Gold Standard Testing for Diagnosing Leptospirosis: Further Evidence from a Well-Characterized, Flood-Related Outbreak in Sri Lanka.A gap in the leptospirosis field remains the lack of well-characterized sample collections that allow for comparison of new methods to standard ones. In the context of a flood-related outbreak of leptospirosis evaluated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, a specimen bank was obtained with detailed metadata accompanied by gold standard diagnostic test results. Blood samples collected on admission and 14 days later from suspected cases of leptospirosis were tested using microscopic agglutination test (MAT) (17 serovars), an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a locally obtained strain of Leptospira kirschneri as sonicated antigen, a commercially available ELISA based on sonicated Leptospira biflexa, and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay targeting the pathogenic Leptospira-specific 16S rRNA gene. Of 62 patients presenting within the first 2 days of illness, 31 had confirmed leptospirosis based either on paired-sample MAT or qPCR. During the acute phase, qPCR was most sensitive, detecting 74% of definitively diagnosed cases; immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISA (in-house), IgG ELISA (commercial), and MAT had sensitivities of 35.5%, 12.0%, and 22.6%, respectively, in detecting definitively diagnosed cases using acute phase serum. Of 40 patients with paired sera, 10 were qPCR positive. Of these, five samples were negative by paired-sample MAT. Of the 11 MAT-positive samples, only five were detected using qPCR confirming that both tests are needed for maximal sensitivity. Regional leptospiral serovar-specific IgG ELISA was superior to MAT. Knowing the regionally dominant serovars improves serological sensitivity in the analysis of acute specimens by ELISA, but qPCR was most sensitive in this patient population.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Evanescent wave long-period fiber bragg grating as an immobilized antibody biosensor.An immunosensor using a long-period grating (LPG) was used for sensitive detection of antibody-antigen reactions. Goat anti-human IgG (antibody) was immobilized on the surface of the LPG, and detection of specific antibody-antigen binding was investigated. This sensor operates using total internal reflection where an evanescent field interacts with bound antibody immobilized over the grating region. The reaction between antibody and antigen altered the LPG transmission spectrum and was monitored in real time as a change in refractive index, thereby eliminating the need for labeling antigen molecules. Human IgG binding was observed to be concentration dependent over a range of 2-100 microg mL-1, and equilibrium bound antigen levels could be attained in approximately 5 min using an initial rate determination. Binding specificity was confirmed using human interleukin-2 and bovine serum albumin as controls, and nonspecific adsorption of proteins did not significantly interfere with detection of binding. Antigen detection in a heterogeneous protein mixture and in crude cell lysate from Escherichia coli was also confirmed. Moreover, regeneration of the LPG surface via diethylamine treatment resulted in approximately 80% removal of bound antigen. Subsequently, fibers reexposed to antigen retained greater than 85% of the initial signal after five consecutive regeneration cycles.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Incidence and prognostic importance of lymph node metastases in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma: 228 cases (1986-2003).OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of regional lymph node metastasis in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma and determine whether regional lymph node metastasis was associated with shortened disease-free interval or survival time.DESIGN: Retrospective study.ANIMALS: 228 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma in which regional lymph nodes were examined histologically at the time of limb amputation.PROCEDURE: Information collected from the medical records included signalment; affected site; initial serum alkaline phosphatase activity; whether treatment involved adjuvant chemotherapy and, if so, chemotherapeutic agents administered and number of treatments; disease-free interval; and survival time.RESULTS: 10 (4.4%) dogs had histologic evidence of regional lymph node metastasis at the time of amputation. Median disease-free interval for dogs without regional lymph node metastasis (238 days; range, 0 to 1,067 days) was significantly longer than median disease-free interval for dogs with regional lymph node metastasis (48 days; range, 2 to 269 days). Median survival time for dogs without lymph node metastasis (318 days; range, 20 to 1,711 days) was significantly longer than median survival time for dogs with lymph node metastasis (59 days; range, 19 to 365 days).CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that regional lymph node metastasis is rare in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma but that dogs with lymph node metastasis have a poorer prognosis than do dogs without.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Cushing's syndrome during HIV treatment: pharmacological interaction during use of ritonavir].Physicians are not always aware that locally administered glucocorticoids can cause systemic toxicity. This risk is greatly enhanced in the case of pharmacological interactions. We present two cases of HIV-infected patients who developed Cushing-like symptoms as a result of a pharmacological interaction. Their antiretroviral treatment regimen consisted of atazanavir, ritonavir, tenofovir and emtricitabine. One patient received salmeterol/fluticasone inhalations for asthmatic bronchitis. The other was treated with intra-articular triamcinolonacetonide injections for ongoing shoulder complaints. Ritonavir exhibits strong inhibition of hepatic enzyme CYP 3A4, which is part of the major metabolic pathway of most glucocorticoids. As a result of this interaction even locally administered glucocorticoids can cause symptoms of overdose, e.g. Cushing-like symptoms. Beclomethasone is a safe alternative for inhaled glucocorticoids as it is not metabolized by CYP 3A4. There is no substitute for intra-articular administration of triamcinolonacetonide. Depending on necessity of the administration of the drug, changing ritonavir-containing antiretroviral therapy to a non-interacting compound, e.g., an integrase inhibitor, is an option.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "What information should lead to a suspicion of catheter sepsis in HPN?BACKGROUND & AIMS: The diagnosis of catheter sepsis in patients on home parenteral nutrition can be difficult and patients often do not present with classical symptoms of pyrexia whilst feeding. This study reviews the clinical and diagnostic criteria needed to diagnose catheter sepsis.METHODS: A retrospective consecutive notes review of 2 years of patients presenting with catheter infections assessed symptoms, inflammatory markers and some liver function tests. The same data was also collected on those same patients who had successfully under gone line salvage. The two sets were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test and predictive calculations were carried out using receiver operated characteristic curves.RESULTS: Over the two year period there were 37 episodes of CRBSI in 31 patients recorded. Successful catheter salvage was achieved in 30 episodes (in 24 patients) which is an 81% salvage rate. The most significant abnormality seen was a raised C-reactive protein, but less than a third of patients had a raised white cell count. However, there were significant changes in the bilirubin (p=0.0007) and albumin (p=0.0013) in these patients. Almost a third of patients who feel unwell do not present with a raised temperature.CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of CRBSI remains difficult, but it should be suspected in patients with newly abnormal CRP, albumin or bilirubin and in the non-specifically unwell patient a clinician should not be misled by a normal white cell count and apyrexia.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Exploratory factor analysis: health perceptions of Chinese early childhood educators in Hong Kong.The aim of this study was to explore health perceptions of preschool teachers, with a view to inform early childhood practices and teacher education. Pre-service student-teachers and in-service teachers (n = 200) who were voluntarily recruited completed a 24-item health attitude questionnaire. Factor analysis identified four dimensions of health attitudes, reflecting physical, psychosocial, mental and emotional domains. Inter-correlations among the factors suggested that early childhood educators in Hong Kong embrace a holistic view of health, although they consider physical and emotional health as more salient than the psychosocial and mental health dimensions. In comparisons of the perceptions of in-service teachers and student-teachers, students placed less emphasis on psychosocial health, but teachers placed more emphasis on physical health. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for designing health education programmes for preschool teacher education.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Outcome of severe damage to the central nervous system. Scale, scope and philosophy of the clinical problem.The recovery process after acute brain damage has attracted little interest from either basic or clinical scientists who seem to be most concerned with the acute stage. Much might be learnt about the mechanisms of the nervous system from study of the recovery process. The number of patients with permanent brain damage is growing as the result of the increased survival rate from such common conditions as severe head injury and non-geriatric stroke. Response to this problem has largely come from other disciplines, and in the form of supportive care rather than scientific enquiry. Such an enquiry might seek to answer three outstanding questions. (1) What is the nature of the persisting disability? (2) Can more scientifically based rehabilitation, including physical, mental and social components, either accelerate the rate of recovery or reduce the degree of ultimate disability? (3) Can the ultimate outcome be predicted in the acute stage; and can the amount of further improvement be estimated in the later stages of recovery?", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Synthesis of rhodamines from fluoresceins using Pd-catalyzed C-N cross-coupling.A unified, convenient, and efficient strategy for the preparation of rhodamines and N,N'-diacylated rhodamines has been developed. Fluorescein ditriflates were found to undergo palladium-catalyzed C-N cross-coupling with amines, amides, carbamates, and other nitrogen nucleophiles to provide direct access to known and novel rhodamine derivatives, including fluorescent dyes, quenchers, and latent fluorophores.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Organisms", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Patterns of healthy lifestyle behaviours in older adults: Findings from the Chilean National Health Survey 2009-2010.The purpose of this study was to investigate healthy lifestyle behaviours across age categories in the older population in Chile. Data from 1390 older adults (?60\u202fyears), in the 2009-2010 Chilean National Health Survey were analyzed. We derived the following age categories: 60-65, 66-70, 71-75, 76-80 and >80\u202fyears. The associations between age and compliance with healthy lifestyle behaviours (smoking, sitting time, physical activity, sleep duration and intake of salt, alcohol, fruit and vegetables) were investigated using logistic regression. The probability of meeting the guidelines for alcohol intake (OR trend: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.11; 1.64], p\u202f=\u202f0.001) and smoking (OR trend: 1.23 [95% CI: 1.13; 1.33], p\u202f<\u202f0.0001) increased with age, whereas spending <4\u202fh per day sitting time or engaging in at least 150\u202fmin of physical activity per week or sleep on average between 7 and 9\u202fh per day were less likely to be met with increasing age (OR trend: 0.77 [95% CI: 0.71; 0.83], p\u202f<\u202f0.000; OR trend: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.67; 0.79], p\u202f<\u202f0.0001, and OR trend: 0.89 [95% CI: 0.82; 0.96], p\u202f=\u202f0.002, respectively). No significant trend across age categories was observed for fruit and vegetables, and salt intake. The probability of meeting at least 3 out of 7 healthy lifestyle behaviours across the age categories was also lower in older age categories compared to those aged 60 to 65\u202fyears. Overall, in older adults the probability of having the healthy lifestyle behaviours of physical activity, sitting time and sleeping behaviours was low but not for smoking or alcohol consumption. With an increasingly ageing population, these findings could inform stakeholders on which lifestyle behaviours could be targeted in the older adults and therefore which interventions should take place to promote healthy ageing.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Evaluation of susceptibility of HIV-1 CRF01_AE variants to neutralization by a panel of broadly neutralizing antibodies.Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are very promising agents for HIV-1 prophylaxis and AIDS treatment. However, the neutralization susceptibility of circulating recombinants such as CRF01_AE, which is becoming increasingly prevalent, has not been studied in detail until now. Here, we focused on CRF01_AE in China and aimed to find bNAbs that can be used for neutralization of CRF01_AE. Full-length env clones were obtained from the plasma samples of 22 HIV-1-infected individuals sampled in 2009 and 2015. An env-pseudovirus-based neutralization assay was conducted using five categories of bNAbs: VRC01, NIH45-46G54W, and 3BNC117 (targeting the CD4 binding site); PG9 and PG16 (targeting the V1V2 loop); 2G12 (glycan specific), PGT121 and 10-1074 (targeting the V3 glycan); 2F5, 4E10, and 10E8 (targeting the membrane-proximal external region (MPER)). The neutralizing efficiency was compared, and features of the escape pseudoviruses were analyzed. The CRF01_AE pseudoviruses exhibited different susceptibility to these bNAbs. Overall, 4E10, 10E8, and 3BNC117 neutralized all 22 env-pseudotyped viruses, followed by NIH45-46G54W and VRC01, which neutralized more than 90% of the viruses. 2F5, PG9, and PG16 showed only moderate breadth, while the other three bNAbs neutralized none of these pseudoviruses. Specifically, 10E8, NIH45-46G54Wand 3BNC117 showed the highest efficiency, combining neutralization potency and breadth. Mutations at position 160, 169, 171 were associated with resistance to PG9 and PG16, while loss of a potential glycan at position 332 conferred insensitivity to V3-glycan-targeting bNAbs. Our results may help for choosing bNAbs that can be used preferentially for prophylactic or therapeutic approaches in China.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of thyroid hormone on GLUT4 glucose transporter gene expression and NIDDM in rats.Previous studies have shown that T3 coordinately stimulates GLUT4-glucose transporter messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression in mixed fiber-type skeletal muscle of the rat and produces a concomitant elevation in basal (noninsulin mediated) glucose uptake. The aim of the present study was to 1) determine the precise mechanism(s) for the T3-induced expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle, and 2) investigate the potential benefits of T3 on noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Ten daily ip injections of T3 (100 micrograms/100 g BW) administered to hypothyroid male Sprague-Dawley rats, increased both GLUT4 mRNA and transcription approximately 70% (P < 0.05) in mixed fiber-type hindlimb skeletal muscle. Transcriptional induction was subsequently defined to be restricted to red (oxidative) muscle fibers (2.5-fold; P < 0.05), whereas GLUT4 protein was increased in both red and white (glycolytic) skeletal muscle. GLUT4 mRNA and protein expression were similarly inducible in the skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant Zucker rats. More importantly, T3 treatment totally ameliorated hyperinsulinemia in obese animals (P < 0.001), although their moderately elevated plasma glucose levels were not significantly altered. In conclusion, regulation of GLUT4 expression by T3 was shown to lie at the transcriptional level in red skeletal muscle, whereas in white muscle fiber types, it appears to operate via an alternative posttranscriptional mechanism. These data also support the potential of hormonally inducing glucose transporter expression in insulin-resistant muscle. However, high levels of T3 are associated with a number of adverse side-effects, in particular the stimulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis. Nevertheless, future studies may demonstrate, e.g. subthyrotoxic levels, to be similarly effective but without side effects, and thus perhaps find a clinical application in reducing both hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia in NIDDM.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Oral efficacy of a leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist in colitic cotton-top tamarins.Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent neutrophil activator and chemotaxin that is present in increased concentrations in the colonic tissue and rectal dialysates of acute ulcerative colitis patients. Cotton-top tamarins (CTTs) with confirmed active colitis were treated with the second generation LTB4 receptor antagonist, SC-53228 ((+)-(S)-7-[3-(2-cyclopropyl-methyl)-3-methoxy-4-[(methylamino) carbonyl]phenoxy]propoxy]-3,4-dihydro-8-propyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2- propanoic acid), 20 mg/kg bodyweight by gavage, twice daily for 56 days. End points were body weights, stool consistency, colonic endoscopy, assay of inflammatory mediators, and haematology and clinical chemistry tests. LTB4 and prostaglandin E (PGE) values were measured in rectal dialysates at pretreatment, 28 day and 56 day time points. LTB4 concentrations were reduced from pretreatment mean (SEM) values of 37.3 (0.8) ng/ml to 3.7 (0.8) ng/ml (p < 0.001) and 2.3 (0.5) ng/ml (p < 0.01) at days 28 and 56, respectively. On the other hand, mucosal protective PGE values remained constant or slightly increased during SC-53228 treatment (pre: 6.9 (2.2) ng/ml; day 28: 6.7 (1.4) ng/ml; day 56: 9.9 (1.6) ng/ml). Furthermore, assessment of a panel of 35 clinical chemistry and haematology parameters throughout the treatment showed there were no significant untoward effects of drug treatment. Six CCTs finished the eight week treatment and five of six gained weight (ranging from 27-121 grams each) while one CTT lost weight (50 g). Stool condition improved in five of six animals while one of six remained unchanged. All CCTs showed dramatic improvement histologically, with no or only minimally active colitis after treatment. The histological changes plus significant weight gains and improvement of stool condition (quality of life parameters) after eight weeks of SC-53228 treatment were remarkable. Furthermore, in follow up biopsies seven months after treatment ceased, three of six CTTs had no active colitis. This is the first time afflicted CTTs have not had recurring colitic exacerbations after a treatment regimen was stopped. It is concluded that in colitic CTTs, SC-53228 has shown both an immediate and a long acting anticolitic activity. It is also concluded that reduced LTB4 concentrations during treatment inhibited neutrophil infiltration of the colonic tissue and this, coupled with the maintenance of mucosal protective prostaglandins, contributed to the dramatic anticolitic efficacy. The treatment was safe over eight weeks. A compound such as SC-53228 may be useful in the medical treatment of human inflammatory bowel disease.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Resistance to Melampsora larici-epitea leaf rust in Salix: analyses of quantitative trait loci.Quantitative resistance of Salix to Melampsora larici-epitea leaf rust was studied in 2 Salix mapping populations. One population was a backcross between a S. schwerinii x S. viminalis hybrid and S. viminalis, and the other was an F2 population between S. viminalis and S. dasyclados. A leaf disc bioassay was used to study the components of quantitative resistance (latent period, uredinia number, and uredinia size) to 3 isolates of the leaf rust. The analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) revealed 9 genomic regions in the backcross population and 7 genomic regions in the F2 population that were important for rust resistance, with QTLs explaining 8-26% of the phenotypic variation. An important genomic region was identified for the backcross population in linkage group 2, where QTLs were identified for all resistance components for 2 of the rust isolates. Four of the QTLs had overlapping mapping intervals, demonstrating a common genetic background for latent period, uredinia diameter, and uredinia number. QTLs specific to some rust isolates and to some resistance components were also found, indicating a combination of common and specific mechanisms involved in the various resistance components. Breeding implications in relation to these findings are discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The fabrication of a ceramic-metal crown to fit an existing removable partial denture clasp.An indirect-direct technique of fabricating a ceramic-metal crown to fit a removable partial denture clasp has been described. The chief advantage of the technique is that the entire procedure can be performed without depriving the patient of the prosthesis.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care", "Organisms", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Functional properties of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase after proteolytic cleavage at Leu119-Lys120, close to the A-domain.By measuring the phosphorylation levels of individual proteolytic fragments of SERCA1a separated by electrophoresis after their phosphorylation, we were able to study the catalytic properties of a p95C-p14N complex arising from SERCA1a cleavage by proteinase K between Leu(119) and Lys(120), in the loop linking the A-domain with the second transmembrane segment. ATP hydrolysis by the complex was very strongly inhibited, although ATP-dependent phosphorylation and the conversion of the ADP-sensitive E1P form to E2P still occurred at appreciable rates. However, the rate of subsequent dephosphorylation of E2P was inhibited to a dramatic extent, and this was also the case for the rate of \"backdoor\" formation of E2P from E2 and P(i). E2P formation from E2 at equilibrium nevertheless indicated little change in the apparent affinity for P(i) or Mg(2+), while binding of orthovanadate was weaker. The p95C-p14N complex also had a slightly reduced affinity for Ca(2+) and exhibited a reduced rate for its Ca(2+)-dependent transition from E2 to Ca(2)E1. Thus, disruption of the N-terminal link of the A-domain with the transmembrane region seems to shift the conformational equilibria of Ca(2+)-ATPase from the E1/E1P toward the E2/E2P states and to increase the activation energy for dephosphorylation of Ca(2+)-ATPase, reviving the old idea of the A-domain being a phosphatase domain as part of the transduction machinery.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Furfural production from xylose using sulfonic ion-exchange resins (Amberlyst) and simultaneous stripping with nitrogen.The aim of this work deals with the development of new approaches to the production of furfural from xylose. It combines relatively cheap heterogeneous catalysts (Amberlyst 70) with simultaneous furfural stripping using nitrogen under semi-batch conditions. Nitrogen, compared to steam, does not dilute the vapor phase stream when condensed. This system allowed stripping 65% of the furfural converted from xylose and almost 100% of selectivity in the condensate. Moreover, high initial xylose loadings led to the formation of two water-furfural phases, which could reduce further purification costs. Constant liquid-vapor equilibrium along stripping could be maintained for different xylose loadings. The modeling of the experimental data was carried out in order to obtain a liquid-vapor mass-transfer coefficient. This value could be used for future studies under steady-state continuous conditions in similar reaction-systems.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Assessing the statistical power to detect linkage in a sample of 51 bipolar affective disorder pedigrees.We used computer simulation method to address the question of power in an initial collaborative sample of 51 bipolar affective disorder pedigrees. Simulations were performed for all possible combinations using (1) two levels of diagnostic stringency, (2) three transmission models, (3) locus heterogeneity, and (4) different assumed phenocopy rates. Some of the factors affect the power to detect linkage are (1) the specification of the correct genetic model, (2) the degree of locus heterogeneity, and (3) the frequency of phenocopies. The first two assertions were supported by our simulation results, but varying the rates of phenocopy did not substantially alter the power of the sample until a critical point. However, it is important to point out that these results are dependent on the genetic models under study and on the use of the \"correct\" model (i.e., the one used to simulate the data). If we assume a dominant mode of inheritance and locus homogeneity, the power to detect linkage is 97.5% at a theta of .01. However, the power declines dramatically, to 60.5% and 14.7%, if only 75 and 50% of the families are linked, respectively. Locus heterogeneity has a similar effect on the power of the sample to exclude linkage. The relative lack of power in our data, in the presence of significant locus heterogeneity, and for an intermediate mode of inheritance, underscores the need for multicenter collaboration.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Comparison of Dialysis- and Solvatofluorochromism-Based Methods to Determine Drug Release Rates from Polymer Nanoassemblies.PURPOSE: To compare traditional dialysis- and novel solvatofluorochromism (SFC)-based methods for accurate determination of drug release profiles for nanoparticle drug carriers.METHODS: Polymer nanoassemblies (PNAs) varying in drug release patterns were prepared using poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylenimine), hydrophobic excipients (palmitate and deoxycholate), and model hydrophobic anticancer drugs with clinical relevance (carfilzomib and docetaxel). Nile blue (NB) was used as a model SFC dye quenching fluorescence in water yet emitting strong fluorescence in the presence of hydrophobic drugs within PNAs. Drug release kinetics were measured by dialysis- and SFC-based methods, and analyzed by mathematical modeling of free drug, spiked drug, and encapsulated drug release.RESULTS: The dialysis method overestimated drug remaining in PNAs because it included released drug in measurements, whereas the SFC method successfully distinguished drugs entrapped in PNAs from released in solution and thus provided more accurate drug release patterns. However, mathematical modeling revealed that the dialysis method would be less influenced than the SFC method by hydrophobic excipients modulating drug diffusion within PNAs.CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to the dialysis-based method, the SFC-based method would allow for real-time spectroscopic determination of drug release from PNAs and potentially other nanoparticle drug carriers with improved convenience and accuracy.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Organisms", "Humanities", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[New photoreactive N(4)-substituted dCTP analogues:synthesis, photochemical characteristics, and substrate properties in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase catalyzed DNA synthesis].Photochemical characteristics and substrate properties of four newly synthesized dCTP analogues: N4-[2-(2-nitro-5-azidobenzoylamino)ethyl]-, N4-[2-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzylideneaminooxymethylcarbamoyl)ethyl] -, N4-[4-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzylideneaminooxy)butyloxy]-, and N4-[4-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzylidene hydrazinocarbonyl)butylcarbamoyl]-, and N4-[4-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzylideneaminooxy)butyloxy]-2'-de oxycytidine 5'-triphosphates as well as those of the earlier described N4-[2-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzoylamino)ethyl]- and 5-[E-3-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzoylamino)-1-propenyl)]-2'-deoxycytid ine 5'-triphosphates were compared. When being irradiated with UV light at a wavelength of 303-313 nm, the new analogues demonstrated greater than 10-fold higher photoactivity as compared with the old compounds. The first three new compounds were utilized by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase as dCTP and dTTP, while the last derivative was recognized only as dTTP. Once incorporated into the primer 3'-terminus, none of the analogues synthesized terminated further primer elongation with natural triphosphates.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Breakaway forces of flat and domed surfaced Magfit implant magnet attachments.The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the resistance to separation (breakaway force) of flat (Magfit-IP-BF) and domed (Magfit-IP-BD) implant magnet attachments subjected to non-axial forces. The separating forces were applied by an Instron Universal Testing Instrument to single magnet attachments at angles of 0 degrees, 2 degrees, 5 degrees 10 degrees, and 20 degrees from the axial line of the components (angle of pull) and at crosshead speeds of 0.5 mn/min and 5 degrees mm/min. The breakaway forces were significantly (p < 0.0001) inversely related to the angle of pull for both flat magnets and for domed magnets. At the slow crosshead speed, the breakaway forces recorded for the domed magnets were significantly greater than those recorded for the flat magnets for angles of pull greater than 5 degrees. At the faster crosshead speed, the breakaway forces recorded for the domed magnets were significantly greater than those recorded for the flat magnets for angles of pull greater than 2 degrees. This apparent superiority of domed magnets under non-axially directed separating forces could influence the choice of magnet attachment for implant overdentures as intraoral displacing forces are multidirectional. Domed magnets may also be advantageous where implants are not parallel.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Comparable molecular alterations in 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced oral and esophageal cancer in mice and in human esophageal cancer, associated with poor prognosis of patients.BACKGROUND: The murine model of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO)-induced oral and esophageal cancer is frequently used to assess the effects of different cancer prevention/ therapy agents in vivo, but the molecular mechanisms in those 4-NQO-induced carcinogenesis are unknown. This study investigated aberrant expression of cell growth-critical genes in 4-NQO-induced oral and esophageal cancer tissues in mice compared to those present in the human disease for association with survival of patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57LB6/129Sv mice were given 4-NQO in their drinking water to induce oral and esophageal cancer. Quantitative-reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect gene expression in the cancer tissues from mice and in 4-NQO-treated human esophageal cancer cell lines and esophageal cancer tissues. Methylation-specific PCR and DNA sequencing were performed to assess methylation of the Rarb2 promoter in murine tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to associate gene expression in esophageal cancer tissues with survival data for patients with esophageal cancer.RESULTS: 4-NQO dose-dependently induced pre-malignant and malignant lesions in the oral cavity and esophagus in mice that pathologically and morphologically mimicked human oral and esophageal cancer. Molecularly, 4-NQO inhibited Rar\u00e2\u2082 but induced expression of phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase-1 and -2 (p-ERK1/2) and Cox2 proteins and Rar\u00e2\u2082 gene promoter methylation in murine tumors. In vitro treatment with 4-NQO altered expression of RAR\u00e2\u2082, p-ERK1/2, and COX2 in human esophageal cancer cells. In tissues from 90 patients with esophageal cancer, expression of p-ERK1/2 and COX2 was up-regulated, and p-ERK1/2 expression was associated with advanced clinical tumor stage and consumption of hot beverages, while COX2 expression was associated with tumor de-differentiation in esophageal cancer. Furthermore, expression of p-ERK1/2 was associated with a worse overall survival rate of patients (p=0.014), whereas the association of COX2 expression with worse overall survival rate did not reach statistical significance (p=0.19). Knockdown of COX2 expression using transient transfection of a COX2 antisense expression vector inhibited Ki67 expression, an indicator of cell proliferation, in human esophageal cancer cells.CONCLUSION: 4-NQO-induced cancer in oral cavity and esophagus of mice not only pathologically and morphologically mimicked human oral and esophageal cancer, but also shared some molecular alterations (e.g. aberrant expression of Rarb2, p-ERK1/2, and Cox2). This study further demonstrated that targeting of the altered RAR\u00e2\u2082-led gene pathway could effectively suppress the development of this deadly type of cancer.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The Co-Occurrence and Unique Mental Health Effects of Political Violence and Intimate Partner Violence.The global mental health ramifications of political violence and intimate partner violence (IPV) are well established. There also exists a growing body of evidence about the increased risks for IPV within situations of political violence. Yet, except for a few studies, there is little literature that simultaneously examines how political violence and IPV might result in unique risks for particular types of mental health sequela. Delineating possible divergent patterns between specific mental health conditions resulting from political violence and IPV takes on an increased urgency given that, although they are related, the two most commonly reported outcomes of these two types of violence-post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression-not only require different types of treatment, but may in fact be generated or maintained by disparate paths. Using survey data from adult women in Palestine ( n = 122), this study explores the relationships between IPV and political violence (both lifetime and past-month exposure) and tests their independent relationships to PTSD and depressive symptomology. After controlling for the other form of violence exposure, political violence was correlated with PTSD and not with depressive symptomology, while IPV was correlated with depressive symptomology and not with PTSD. Findings demonstrate that distinct forms of violence exposure might indeed be associated with specific mental health outcomes. Results illustrate the need to assess for both political violence and IPV when researching and designing interventions related to violence.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "High frequency of herpesvirus-specific clonotypes in the human T cell repertoire can remain stable over decades with minimal turnover.High-throughput T cell receptor sequencing on sequentially banked blood samples from healthy individuals has shown that high-frequency clonotypes can remain relatively stable for up to 18 years, with minimal inflation, deflation, or turnover. These populations included T cell expansions specific for Epstein-Barr virus. Thus, in spite of exposure to a barrage of microorganisms over the course of life, the dominant clonotypes in the mature peripheral T cell repertoire can alter surprisingly little.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "An invertebrate calcium-binding protein of the calbindin subfamily: protein structure, genomic organization, and expression pattern of the calbindin-32 gene of Drosophila.Antisera against vertebrate calcium-binding proteins cross-react with Drosophila nervous and muscle tissue. We have used an antiserum against carp parvalbumin to isolate from a Drosophila head cDNA library immunopositive expression clones. Tissue in situ hybridization identified a clone that labeled specific neurons and muscles similar to the parvalbumin-like immunohistochemical staining pattern. Five independent cDNAs derive from an mRNA whose open reading frame codes for a 310 amino acid polypeptide. Sequence analysis identifies six EF-hand calcium-binding domains and reveals 42% and 37% homology to chicken calretinin and calbindin D-28k, respectively. Since the positions of 9 out of 10 introns within the ORF are conserved from the Drosophila gene to both vertebrate genes, we conclude that we have identified the first invertebrate member of the calbindin sub-family of calcium-binding protein genes of the EF-hand homolog family. The calbindin-32 gene (cbn) maps to 53E on the second chromosome. It is expressed through most of ontogenesis with a selective distribution in the nervous system and in a few small adult thoracic muscles. The cloning of a Drosophila homolog to vertebrate neuronal Ca(2+)-binding proteins opens new routes to study the so far largely elusive function of these brain molecules.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Mortality in alcoholics with autonomic neuropathy.Seventy-nine male chronic alcoholics who had been tested for autonomic neuropathy using four tests of vagus nerve function were followed for up to 7 years (mean 5.5 years). Thirty-two subjects had no vagal neuropathy, 25 had one abnormal test and 22 had two or more abnormal vagal function tests and two of these also had orthostatic hypotension. There were no differences between the reported alcohol consumptions and evidence of central or peripheral nerve or liver damage between the three groups. Twelve patients died during the follow-up period. At 7 years the percentage survival for the subjects with no evidence of vagal neuropathy was 91%, with one abnormal test it was 66% and with two or more abnormal tests it was 79%. The expected percentage survival for each of the group was 94%, 91% and 88% respectively. The results suggest that evidence of vagal neuropathy in chronic alcoholics is associated with a significantly higher mortality than in the general population and that deaths due to cardiovascular disease are a major cause.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A Promising Antiprion Trimethoxychalcone Binds to the Globular Domain of the Cellular Prion Protein and Changes Its Cellular Location.The search for antiprion compounds has been encouraged by the fact that transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) share molecular mechanisms with more prevalent neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Cellular prion protein (PrPC) conversion into protease-resistant forms (protease-resistant PrP [PrPRes] or the scrapie form of PrP [PrPSc]) is a critical step in the development of TSEs and is thus one of the main targets in the screening for antiprion compounds. In this work, three trimethoxychalcones (compounds J1, J8, and J20) and one oxadiazole (compound Y17), previously identified in vitro to be potential antiprion compounds, were evaluated through different approaches in order to gain inferences about their mechanisms of action. None of them changed PrPC mRNA levels in N2a cells, as shown by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR. Among them, J8 and Y17 were effective in real-time quaking-induced conversion reactions using rodent recombinant PrP (rPrP) from residues 23 to 231 (rPrP23-231) as the substrate and PrPSc seeds from hamster and human brain. However, when rPrP from residues 90 to 231 (rPrP90-231), which lacks the N-terminal domain, was used as the substrate, only J8 remained effective, indicating that this region is important for Y17 activity, while J8 seems to interact with the PrPC globular domain. J8 also reduced the fibrillation of mouse rPrP23-231 seeded with in vitro-produced fibrils. Furthermore, most of the compounds decreased the amount of PrPC on the N2a cell surface by trapping this protein in the endoplasmic reticulum. On the basis of these results, we hypothesize that J8, a nontoxic compound previously shown to be a promising antiprion agent, may act by different mechanisms, since its efficacy is attributable not only to PrP conversion inhibition but also to a reduction of the PrPC content on the cell surface.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Akaloids from roots of Stephania dentifolia].Eight alkaloids were isolated from the thin sulfuric acid extracts of the fresh roots of Stephania dentifolia by aluminum oxide, silica and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography methods. Based on the spectroscopic analysis and chemical evidence, the structures of these alkaloids were identified as sinoacutine (1), sinomenine (2), cephamonine (3), tetrahydropalmatine (4), capaurine (5), stepharanine (6), (+)-stepharine (7) and palmatine (8). All compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Humanities", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Antibodies against crystals.We suggest that crystals, when introduced into an organism, may behave as conventional antigens, mediating the production of specific antibodies. These antibodies would bear an imprint of the crystal surface and may consequently behave as a nucleating matrix in a new crystallization event. Thus, they would behave as catalytic antibodies. We show that IgG antibodies isolated from patients suffering from gout, a joint disease caused by crystals of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSUM), accelerate the appearance of new crystals of MSUM from a supersaturated solution of the salt in vitro. The same effect is not observed for IgG antibodies isolated from the joint fluids of patients with other joint diseases, such as pseudogout, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis. Furthermore, IgG antibodies obtained from rabbits injected subcutaneously with crystals of MSUM, were also nucleating towards MSUM crystals.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "\"The legacy of thalidomide\" - A multidisciplinary meeting held at the University of York, United Kingdom, on September 30, 2016.BACKGROUND: Between 1957 and 1962 thalidomide was used as a nonaddictive, nonbarbiturate sedative that also was successful in relieving the symptoms of morning sickness in early pregnancy. Infamously, thousands of babies were subsequently born with severe birth defects. The drug is used again, today, to successfully treat leprosy, and tragically, there is a new generation of thalidomide damaged children in Brazil. While the outward damage in babies has been documented, the effects of the damage upon the survivors as they grow up, the lifestyle changes and adaptations required to be made, as well as studies into ageing in survivors, has received little attention and remains understudied.METHODS: A unique multidisciplinary meeting was organized at the University of York bringing together thalidomide survivors, clinicians, scientists, historians, and social scientists to discuss the past, the current and the future implications of thalidomide.RESULTS: There is still much to learn from thalidomide, from its complex history and ongoing impact on peoples' lives today, to understanding its mechanism/s to aid future drug safety, to help identify new drugs retaining clinical benefit without the risk of causing embryopathy.CONCLUSION: For thalidomide survivors, the original impairments caused by the drug are compounded by the consequences of a lifetime of living with a rare disability, and early onset age-related health problems. This has profound implications for their quality of life and need for health and social care services. It is vital that these issues are addressed in research, and in clinical practice if thalidomide survivors are to \"age well\". Birth Defects Research 109:296-299, 2017. \u00a9 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Gait disturbance in normal pressure hydrocephalus: a clinical study.The origin of gait disturbance in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is poorly understood. We assessed the frequency of frontal and sub-cortical hypokinetic gait clinical features and changes in gait variables after lumbar puncture (LP), in 15 patients with idiopathic NPH. Hypokinesia and disequilibrium were the main features, suggesting dysfunction of the basal ganglia (BG) and the frontal lobe (FL), respectively. Disequilibrium responded worse to LP and frontal signs were more frequent in patients that did not improve after LP. This could be related to earlier disturbance of frontal gait control.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Bacterial biosynthesis of a calcium phosphate bone-substitute material.A species of Serratia bacteria produces nano-crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals by use of a cell-bound phosphatase enzyme, located both periplasmically and within extracellular polymeric materials. The enzyme functions in resting cells by cleaving glycerol-2-phosphate (G-2-P) to liberate free phosphate ions which combine with calcium in solution to produce a cell-bound calcium phosphate material. Bacteria grown as a biofilm on polyurethane reticulated foam cubes were challenged with calcium and G-2-P in a bioreactor to produce a 3-D porous bone-substitute material. The scaffold has 1 mm macropores and 1 microm micropores. XRD showed the crystallites to be 25-28 nm in size, resembling HA before sintering and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP, whitlockite) after. When biofilm was grown on titanium discs and challenged with calcium and G-2-P, a calcium phosphate layer formed on the discs. Biomineralisation is therefore a potential route to production of precursor nanophase HA, which has the potential to improve strength. The scaffold material produced by this method could be used as a bone-filler or as an alternative method for coating implants with a layer of HA.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Humanities", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein mass and phospholipid transfer protein activity are associated with leptin in type 2 diabetes mellitus.Adipose tissue contributes to plasma levels of lipid transfer proteins and is also the major source of plasma adipokines. We hypothesized that plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mass, phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity and cholesteryl ester transfer (CET, a measure of CETP action) are determined by adipokine levels. In this study, relationships of plasma CETP mass, PLTP activity and CET with leptin, resistin and adiponectin were analyzed in type 2 diabetic patients and control subjects. Plasma PLTP activity (P<0.001), CET (P<0.001), leptin (P=0.003), resistin (P<0.001), high sensitive C-reactive protein (P=0.005), and insulin resistance (HOMA(ir)) (P<0.001) were higher, whereas HDL cholesterol (P<0.001) and plasma adiponectin (P<0.001) were lower in 83 type 2 diabetic patients (32 females) than in 83 sex-matched control subjects. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that in diabetic patients plasma leptin levels were related to plasma CETP mass (P=0.018) and PLTP activity (P<0.001), but not to the other adipokines measured. Plasma CET was inversely correlated with adiponectin in univariate analysis, but this association disappeared in multivariate models that included plasma lipids and CETP. In conclusion, both plasma CETP mass and PLTP activity are associated with plasma leptin in type 2 diabetes. The elevated CET in these patients is not independently related to any of the measured plasma adipokines.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Emergency medical information system for transferring patients to the medical institute by triage-result.The Objective of this study was to triage the emergency patients in a pre-hospital stage and transfer them to the appropriate medical institute by the triaged result. For this, considering the pre-hospital emergence situation, we selected the Manchester system as the triage. So we analyzed the components of the ambulance records in Korea, transformed MTS components according to analysis-results of the ambulances and applied them to the information system in using a C# web application. Then we made the emergency medical institute database with the distances of any selected places and institute-grade in the emergency medical system and connected the triage-result with the medical institute database. Through this study, the medical institute can be selected based on patient condition. In addition we also can expect the emergency medical institutes to be effectively managed.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Chemicals and Drugs" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Changes in the number of active sweat glands (palmar sweat index, PSI) during a distressing film.Changes of the number of active palmar sweat glands (palmar sweat index, PSI) as assessed by the plastic finger-print method were studied in two groups of female students (n = 21 each). In both samples experiments involved an initial adaptation period, several relaxation phases and an activation period (presentation of a movie). The film was shown 10 min earlier in Group 1, for which in turn follow-up was twice as long. Prints for determination of PSI were taken every 2.5 min from the forefinger and ring finger of the left hand, and recordings of SCL, SF (number of spontaneous fluctuations) and HR were made during the corresponding intervals. Both within- and between-groups comparisons showed an increase of PSI during the activation period and a decrease afterwards. Similar effects were observed for SCL, SF and affective and somatic arousal assessed by a state questionnaire. A decrease of PSI and parameters of electrodermal activity during the first measurements indicated an initial reaction to the assessment procedure itself. Both within-subject and between-subjects correlations between PSI from both fingers showed high parallel test reliabilities, while correlations with electrodermal variables indicated a common physiological basis.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Current-distance relations for microelectrode stimulation of pyramidal cells.Microelectrodes placed within the densely packed cortical neuronal region are surrounded by many thin processes. Although dendrites are considered to be functionally different to axons, they also possess voltage sensitive membrane channels. Therefore, dendritic regions are suitable candidates for spike initiation sites when stimulated externally, although they demand two to three times higher thresholds in comparison with thin axons. Simulations based upon recently reported distributions of two types of sodium channels and traced pyramidal cell data accompanied by a simplified model structure enlightened the spike initiation sites for extracellular cortical microstimulation and revealed insights into dendritic excitation patterns. Surprisingly low dendritic threshold values for cathodic stimulation were detected, that is, 3.3 \u00b5A for a 0.4-\u00b5m diameter fiber excited with a 100-\u00b5s pulse in 4-\u00b5m distance. However, according to the activating function concept the excited region is calculated by 1414*electrode-distance, therefore a minimum electrode-fiber distance is required as sufficient sodium channels are needed to produce enough intracellular current for spike conduction. The minimum distance for dendritic spike initiation increases with diameter and hinders low current stimulation of thick dendrites. This effect is in contrast to the inverse recruitment order known from functional electrical stimulation. Simulations were performed using NEURON and MATLAB.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science" ], "distractor groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The protective role of epithelium-derived nitric oxide in isolated bovine trachea.Airway epithelial cells from bovine airways can release relaxant factors such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) and the removal of airway epithelium results in an increased responsiveness of smooth muscle to spasmogen stimuli. In this study, we assessed whether or not epithelial NO modulates the contractile response of bovine trachea in vitro.Cumulative concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh), histamine (Hist) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were obtained in both intact and epithelium denuded tracheal strips in the presence of indomethacin (10 microM).In intact, but not in epithelium denuded strips, preincubation with the NO synthase inhibitor L-N((G))-Nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), but not with D-NAME, shifted to the left the concentration-response curve to ACh (pD(2) values in the absence and in the presence of L-NAME were 3.47+/-0.1 and 4.60+/-0.1, respectively; P<0.05) and to Hist (pD(2) in the absence and in the presence of L-NAME: 3.89+/-0.1 and 4.54+/-0.1, respectively; P<0.05). This effect was reversed by L-arginine (1mM), but not by D-arginine. The contractile response to 5-HT was not affected by L-NAME in either intact or epithelium denuded strips. These data suggest that NO is an epithelial relaxant factor modulating airway cholinergic and histaminergic contraction of bovine trachea and that the activation of the epithelial NO synthase is a mediator-specific process.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Named Groups", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Structure and kinetics of a transient antibody binding intermediate reveal a kinetic discrimination mechanism in antigen recognition.Induced fit is a predominant phenomenon in protein-ligand interactions, yet it is invariably attributed without establishing the existence, let alone the structure, of the initial, low-affinity encounter complex. We determined the crystal structure of the encounter complex on the pathway of ligand binding by IgE antibody SPE7. We show that this complex is formed by a wide range of ligands that initially bind with identical affinity. Nonspecific ligands rapidly dissociate, whereupon the antibody isomerizes to a nonbinding isomer. Specific ligand complexes, however, slowly isomerize to give a high-affinity complex. This isomerization involves backbone and side-chain rearrangements of up to 14 A and the formation of specific hydrogen bonds. The postbinding conformational switch, combined with the prebinding isomerization to an energetically favorable nonbinding isomer, results in a \"kinetic discrimination\" mechanism that mediates selective binding, by a factor of >10(3), between highly related ligands that initially bind with the same affinity. This model may apply to proteins that bind multiple ligands in a specific manner or other proteins that, although capable of binding many ligands, are activated by only a few.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Diseases", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Organisms", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Differential effects of monocular deprivation seen in different layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus.Recent investigations have suggested that the morphological effects of monocular deprivation can be explained by a developmental competitive interaction between the pathways from the two eyes. This study presents evidence in the tree shrew for binocular competition and for an unequal effect of such competition on the different layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus. The effects of monocular deprivation were evaluated by comparing cell size changes in the binocular and monocular segments of the lateral geniculate nucleus in three tree shrews raised with one eye sutured. In two of these animals the open eye was injected with 3H proline in order to identify accurately geniculate layers innervated by the non-deprived eye. Cell sizes in three normal animals and one monocularly enucleated animal were measured for comparison. The results show the following main effects: First, that monocular deprivation significantly changes cell size in the binocular but not the monocular segment of the geniculate nucleus. Comparisons with cell size in normal animals indicates that non-deprived cells may grow in response to deprivation. Second, that cell size in geniculate lamina 3 is not affected by monocular deprivation, suggesting that cells in this layer are morphologically or functionally secluded from competitive interactions affecting the other layers. Finally, that monocular enucleation in the adult tree shrew affects all parts of the geniculate nucleus including layer 3 and the monocular segment, demonstrating that these parts of the geniculate nucleus are responsive to lack of retinal innervation.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Information Science", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Influence of lactose concentration of milk and yogurt on growth rate of rats.Growth rates of rats fed lyophilized diets of yogurt, milk, 100% lactose-hydrolyzed milk, and 100% lactose-hydrolyzed yogurt were compared. No differences were significant in weight gains between the animals fed lactose-hydrolyzed diets over 3 wk. Further more, rats fed the lactose-hydrolyzed diets had significantly larger weight gains during the 1st wk than those fed unhydrolyzed diets. This may have been from the deleterious effect of lactose, which was in concentrations of 43% in milk and 36% in yogurt. However, by the 2nd wk, rats fed yogurt had growth rates similar to those fed lactose-hydrolyzed diets, and by the 3rd wk, no differences of growth rates were significant. Continued consumption of high concentrations of lactose improved digestion of lactose. Yogurt fermentation produced growth benefit as compared to the milk from which it was made by reducing the lactose content and by supplying microbial lactase activity.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Stage IV small cell esophageal carcinoma that responded to various chemotherapeutic regimens with relative longevity - a case report].Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is reported to be both rare and aggressive, and is commonly associated with a short post-diagnosis survival period. We report a case of Stage IV small cell carcinoma of the esophagus involving a relatively long survival period of 2 years. The patient was a 70-year-old man with a chief complaint of epigastric discomfort. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy by a local physician showed a protruding tumor at the mid-thoracic esophagus. Tumor biopsy revealed small cell carcinoma. Chest-abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple liver metastases, and swelling of a number of regional lymph nodes. The diagnosis was cT3N4M1, cStage IVb esophageal small cell carcinoma. According to the regimen used for lung small cell carcinoma, we administered CDDP/CPT-11. After administration of four courses, the primary lesion, liver metastases, and lymph node metastases significantly reduced, indicating a partial response. However, after completion of eight courses, liver metastasis and lymph node swelling recurred. The patient subsequently received other therapeutic regimens such as CBDCA/VP-16, AMR, NGT, and CDGP/5-FU. However, the tumor gradually progressed, and the patient died approximately 2 years after the first treatment.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Usefulness of Histogram-Profile Analysis in Ring-Enhancing Intracranial Lesions.BACKGROUND: Several intracranial pathologies present as a ring-enhancing lesion on conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), creating diagnostic difficulty. We studied the characteristics of the anatomical border of gadolinium enhancement on T1-weighted imaging (WI) and hypointensity on T2WI to employ a simple technique of histogram-profile analysis of MRI for differentiation of various ring-enhancing intracranial lesions.METHODS: After approval from the institutional review board, preoperative MRI (T2WI, postcontrast T1WI) scans were analyzed retrospectively in 18 patients with histologically confirmed brain abscess, 66 glioblastomas, 46 brain-metastases, and 16 tumefactive multiple sclerosis (MS). T2WI and postcontrast T1WI were overlapped, and histogram-profile analysis was performed with in-house image-fusion software. The pattern of differential-peaks in histogram-profile was assessed visually. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis incorporating histogram-profile patterns was performed in patients with glioblastoma.RESULTS: The histogram-profile study revealed 4 distinct patterns. Pattern 1 showed no differential T2-hypointensity trough, pattern 2 had T2-hypointensity trough inside, whereas pattern 3 had T2-hypointensity trough overlapping the enhanced margin. Pattern 4 had T2-hypointensity trough immediately external to the enhanced margin. Pattern 1 was specific for tumefactive MS (93.3%), whereas pattern 4 was specific for glioblastoma (40.7%). Pattern 4 glioblastoma was subdivided into rim (T2-hypointensity ?50% of circumference of contrast-enhanced tumor) and arc (T2-hypointensity <50% of circumference of contrast-enhanced tumor). Pattern 4 glioblastoma was further subdivided into group A (edema: T2-hyperintensity ?50% of circumference of contrast-enhanced tumor) and group B (less edema: T2-hyperintensity <50% of circumference of contrast-enhanced tumor). Patients with pattern 3 glioblastoma (37.6%) had better survival compared with others (P\u00a0= 0.0341) and pattern 4B had decreased survival compared with pattern 4A (P\u00a0= 0.0001) and others (P\u00a0= 0.0003).CONCLUSIONS: Tumefactive MS and a subset of glioblastomas show specific patterns in histogram-profile analysis. The difference in anatomical border also determines difference in survival in glioblastoma. Histogram-profile analysis is a simple and efficient technique to differentiate these pathologies.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The heterotrimeric Thermus thermophilus Asp-tRNA(Asn) amidotransferase can also generate Gln-tRNA(Gln).Thermus thermophilus strain HB8 is known to have a heterodimeric aspartyl-tRNA(Asn) amidotransferase (Asp-AdT) capable of forming Asn-tRNA(Asn) [Becker, H.D. and Kern, D. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 12832-12837]. Here we show that, like other bacteria, T. thermophilus possesses the canonical set of amidotransferase (AdT) genes (gatA, gatB and gatC). We cloned and sequenced these genes, and constructed an artificial operon for overexpression in Escherichia coli of the thermophilic holoenzyme. The overproduced T. thermophilus AdT can generate Gln-tRNA(Gln) as well as Asn-tRNA(Asn). Thus, the T. thermophilus tRNA-dependent AdT is a dual-specific Asp/Glu-AdT resembling other bacterial AdTs. In addition, we observed that removal of the 44 carboxy-terminal amino acids of the GatA subunit only inhibits the Asp-AdT activity, leaving the Glu-AdT activity of the mutant AdT unaltered; this shows that Asp-AdT and Glu-AdT activities can be mechanistically separated.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Humanities", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Simple and sensitive aptasensor based on quantum dot-coated silica nanospheres and the gold screen-printed electrode.A novel electrochemical aptasensor involving quantum dots-coated silica nanospheres (QDs/Si) and the screen-printed gold electrodes (SPGE) was developed for the detection of thrombin. The screen-printed electrodes with several advantages, including low cost, versatility, miniaturization, and mechanical regeneration after each measurement cycle, were employed. On the other hand, the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were electrodeposited on the surface of SPGE to obtain AuNPs/SPGE. And this sandwich format (Apt/thrombin/Apt-QDs/Si) was fixed on the AuNPs/SPGE to fabricate the electrochemical aptasensor. The bound CdTe QDs were dissolved in an acid-dissolution step and were detected by electrochemical stripping analysis. The proposed aptasensor has excellent performance such as high sensitivity, good selectivity and analytical application in real samples. The combination of nanoparticles with the screen-printed electrode is favorable for amplifying electrochemical signals, and useful for large-scale fabrication of the electrochemical aptasensors, which would lay a potential foundation for the development of the electrochemical aptasensor.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Investigation of the diversity of homoacetogenic bacteria in mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic sludges using the formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase gene.Homoacetogenic bacteria are strict anaerobes capable of autotrophic growth on H(2)/CO(2) or CO, and of heterotrophic growth on a wide range of sugars, alcohols, methoxylated aromatic compounds and one carbon compounds, yielding acetate as their sole metabolic end-product. Batch activity tests on anaerobic granular sludge, using H(2)/CO(2) as a substrate and 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) as a specific methanogenic inhibitor revealed that H(2)/CO(2) conversion and concomitant acetate production commenced only after a lag period of 60-100 h. This finding suggests that the homoacetogenic population of digester sludge could be maintained by heterotrophic growth on sugars or other organic compounds, rather than by autotrophic growth on H(2)/CO(2). In the present study, two upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors were operated at 37 degrees C and 55 degrees C for two distinct trial periods, each characterised by the application of influents designed to enrich for homoacetogenic bacteria. Specific primers designed for the amplification of the functional gene encoding formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (FTHFS), a key enzyme in the acetyl-CoA pathway of acetogenesis, were used as a specific probe for acetogenic bacteria. The diversity of acetogens in the granular sludge cultivated in each reactor was revealed by application of FTHFS targeted PCR. Results show that biomass acetogenic composition was dependent upon the operational temperature of the reactor and the substrate supplied as influent.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Dicot-specific ATG8-interacting ATI3 proteins interact with conserved UBAC2 proteins and play critical roles in plant stress responses.Selective macroautophagy/autophagy targets specific cargo by autophagy receptors through interaction with ATG8 (autophagy-related protein 8)/MAP1LC3 (microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3) for degradation in the vacuole. Here, we report the identification and characterization of 3 related ATG8-interacting proteins (AT1G17780/ATI3A, AT2G16575/ATI3B and AT1G73130/ATI3C) from Arabidopsis. ATI3 proteins contain a WxxL LC3-interacting region (LIR) motif at the C terminus required for interaction with ATG8. ATI3 homologs are found only in dicots but not in other organisms including monocots. Disruption of ATI3A does not alter plant growth or development but compromises both plant heat tolerance and resistance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. The critical role of ATI3A in plant stress tolerance and disease resistance is dependent on its interaction with ATG8. Disruption of ATI3B and ATI3C also significantly compromises plant heat tolerance. ATI3A interacts with AT3G56740/UBAC2A and AT2G41160/UBAC2B (Ubiquitin-associated [UBA] protein 2a/b), 2 conserved proteins implicated in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation. Disruption of UBAC2A and UBAC2B also compromised heat tolerance and resistance to B. cinerea. Overexpression of UBAC2 induces formation of ATG8- and ATI3-labeled punctate structures under normal conditions, likely reflecting increased formation of phagophores or autophagosomes. The ati3 and ubac2 mutants are significantly compromised in sensitivity to tunicamycin, an ER stress-inducing agent, but are fully competent in autophagy-dependent ER degradation under conditions of ER stress when using an ER lumenal marker for detection. We propose that ATI3 and UBAC2 play an important role in plant stress responses by mediating selective autophagy of specific unknown ER components.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The SV40 late protein VP4 is a viroporin that forms pores to disrupt membranes for viral release.Nonenveloped viruses are generally released by the timely lysis of the host cell by a poorly understood process. For the nonenveloped virus SV40, virions assemble in the nucleus and then must be released from the host cell without being encapsulated by cellular membranes. This process appears to involve the well-controlled insertion of viral proteins into host cellular membranes rendering them permeable to large molecules. VP4 is a newly identified SV40 gene product that is expressed at late times during the viral life cycle that corresponds to the time of cell lysis. To investigate the role of this late expressed protein in viral release, water-soluble VP4 was expressed and purified as a GST fusion protein from bacteria. Purified VP4 was found to efficiently bind biological membranes and support their disruption. VP4 perforated membranes by directly interacting with the membrane bilayer as demonstrated by flotation assays and the release of fluorescent markers encapsulated into large unilamellar vesicles or liposomes. The central hydrophobic domain of VP4 was essential for membrane binding and disruption. VP4 displayed a preference for membranes comprised of lipids that replicated the composition of the plasma membranes over that of nuclear membranes. Phosphatidylethanolamine, a lipid found at high levels in bacterial membranes, was inhibitory against the membrane perforation activity of VP4. The disruption of membranes by VP4 involved the formation of pores of ?3 nm inner diameter in mammalian cells including permissive SV40 host cells. Altogether, these results support a central role of VP4 acting as a viroporin in the perforation of cellular membranes to trigger SV40 viral release.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Named Groups" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Evolution and genetic architecture of chromatin accessibility and function in yeast.Chromatin accessibility is an important functional genomics phenotype that influences transcription factor binding and gene expression. Genome-scale technologies allow chromatin accessibility to be mapped with high-resolution, facilitating detailed analyses into the genetic architecture and evolution of chromatin structure within and between species. We performed Formaldehyde-Assisted Isolation of Regulatory Elements sequencing (FAIRE-Seq) to map chromatin accessibility in two parental haploid yeast species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces paradoxus and their diploid hybrid. We show that although broad-scale characteristics of the chromatin landscape are well conserved between these species, accessibility is significantly different for 947 regions upstream of genes that are enriched for GO terms such as intracellular transport and protein localization exhibit. We also develop new statistical methods to investigate the genetic architecture of variation in chromatin accessibility between species, and find that cis effects are more common and of greater magnitude than trans effects. Interestingly, we find that cis and trans effects at individual genes are often negatively correlated, suggesting widespread compensatory evolution to stabilize levels of chromatin accessibility. Finally, we demonstrate that the relationship between chromatin accessibility and gene expression levels is complex, and a significant proportion of differences in chromatin accessibility might be functionally benign.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Costimulation modulation with abatacept in patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes: follow-up 1 year after cessation of treatment.OBJECTIVE We previously reported that 2 years of costimulation modulation with abatacept slowed decline of \u00e2-cell function in recent-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D). Subsequently, abatacept was discontinued and subjects were followed to determine whether there was persistence of effect. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Of 112 subjects (ages 6-36 years) with T1D, 77 received abatacept and 35 received placebo infusions intravenously for 27 infusions over 2 years. The primary outcome-baseline-adjusted geometric mean 2-h area under the curve (AUC) serum C-peptide during a mixed-meal tolerance test (MMTT) at 2 years-showed higher C-peptide with abatacept versus placebo. Subjects were followed an additional year, off treatment, with MMTTs performed at 30 and 36 months. RESULTS C-peptide AUC means, adjusted for age and baseline C-peptide, at 36 months were 0.217 nmol/L (95% CI 0.168-0.268) and 0.141 nmol/L (95% CI 0.071-0.215) for abatacept and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.046). The C-peptide decline from baseline remained parallel with an estimated 9.5 months' delay with abatacept. Moreover, HbA1c levels remained lower in the abatacept group than in the placebo group. The slightly lower (nonsignificant) mean total insulin dose among the abatacept group reported at 2 years was the same as the placebo group by 3 years. CONCLUSIONS Costimulation modulation with abatacept slowed decline of \u00e2-cell function and improved HbA1c in recent-onset T1D. The beneficial effect was sustained for at least 1 year after cessation of abatacept infusions or 3 years from T1D diagnosis.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Humanities", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[The influence of the diet with different content of magnesium on certain chemical and physical properties of the bones].The influence of the diet with different magnesium content on chosen chemical and physical properties of bones of young rats was investigated. In the first part of the work the influence of the calcium level in the diet on the content of magnesium and some other mineral constituents in bone was also studied. The investigations were carried out on growing Wistar rats weighing 96-100 g. During 21 days the animals were fed the following semi-synthetic diets: a) with different content of calcium: 0,214, 0,418, 0,610, 0,815% Ca and the same level of magnesium (av. 554 ppm Mg), b) with different content of magnesium and the same level of calcium (av. 0,614% Ca). The content of phosphorus was the same (0,440%) in all the diets. The control diet contained: 0,610% Ca, 0,44% P and 550 ppm Mg. After 21 days of experiment the animals were killed by anesthesia and the femurs and humeri were isolated. They constituted the material for investigations. The results of the investigations showed that the variable level of calcium (from 0,214% to 0,815%) in the diet with the same level of magnesium did not influence the content of magnesium and phosphorus in dry fat-free weight of bones. The body weight of rats fed the diets with different content of calcium was very similar to the control group. On the contrary the weight of femurs and calcium content in dry fat-free weight of bones of rats fed the diet with the lowest level of calcium (0,214%), were smaller than in the control group. In the group of rats fed the diet with 60 ppm Mg the visual symptoms of magnesium deficiency appeared after 7 days of the experiment. After 21 days the body weight and length of bones in this group were smaller than in the control group. Also the content of magnesium and phosphorus in dry fat-free weight of bones, breaking strength, and the strength of twisting destroying moment of bones were lower in this group of rats as compared with the control one (for most indices p less than 0,01). The group of rats fed the diet with 120 ppm Mg differed from the control group only by smaller content of magnesium in dry fat-free weight of bones. There was no statistically significant difference in the group of rats fed the diet with 2060 Mg regarding all indices except for the phosphorus from the control group.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Protective immunization against Helicobacter stimulates long-term immunity.Immunization with an oral vaccine composed of whole cell sonicates of Helicobacter felis plus cholera toxin (CT) can protect mice from H. felis challenge. The aim of this study was to determine whether this protective immunity was long-lived. Mice were given the vaccine then left for up to 15 months before challenge. After 15 months, all mice were still protected from H. felis infection, indicating that oral immunization using bacterial antigens plus CT can stimulate long-term local immunological memory.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Humanities", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Naturalistic stress and cortisol response to awakening: adaptation to seafaring.Study of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis has been critical to advancing our understanding of human adaptation to stress. The cortisol response to awakening (CRA) is a potentially useful measure for understanding group and individual differences in HPA axis regulation. In this study, the CRA was examined in the context of a naturalistic stressor--a 6-week voyage of work and study aboard an oceangoing ship, including both experienced and novice sailors. Thirty-one subjects provided weekday and weekend baseline CRA data onshore prior to boarding, followed by three CRAs at sea and one shore leave CRA. Subjective measures of sleep, stress and control were also collected. Results suggest that novice sailors' cortisol response to awakening was elevated at sea relative to both a shoreside weekend and a shore leave during the voyage, but the most striking elevation was found during a workday onshore. Inexperienced students' profiles changed differently over the course of the voyage from those of professional crew. CRAs were not affected by sleep variables and were not predicted by subjective ratings. These data support the value of the cortisol response to awakening as a neuroendocrine marker of HPA regulatory responses to a naturalistic stressor, influenced by changes in work and living environment, and perhaps prior experience with the stressor.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Using willingness to pay to measure family members' preferences in mental health.BACKGROUND: Willingness to pay is a valuation technique that has rarely been applied in mental health economics. First used in environmental economics to measure the intangible value of environmental improvements, WTP has increasingly been used in health care economics. The technique may be useful in mental health policy research where it can be critical to include the intangible impact of mental health treatment on individuals other than the person with illness, such as family members, in cost-benefit analyses.AIMS OF THE STUDY: The goal of the study was to test the application of WTP in a sample of individuals who have family members with serious mental illness. This paper describes the survey development process and the feasibility analysis that was conducted as part of the study.METHODS: A mail survey was designed by the author in two phases and utilized cognitive pretests and focus group pretests in the process of development. Qualitative analysis of this process resulted in a revised survey instrument that was then distributed to a random sample of 2000 individuals who have family members with mental illness. Feasibility was evaluated based upon the study response rate, the willingness to pay item response rate and an outlier response analysis.RESULTS: Qualitative analysis during the survey development process found that it was critical to consider two areas of concern in the application of WTP with this population in the mental health field. Some respondents experienced a highly emotional response to the initial versions of the survey, and complex probabilities were difficult for the respondents to answer. These findings resulted in significant modifications in the survey design. The analysis of response rate, WTP item non-response rate, and outlier responses found no significant concerns regarding overall feasibility of WTP with this population.DISCUSSION: Based upon the results from this study, WTP is a potentially useful tool for further research in the mental health policy and economics field. However, significant accommodations must be made in survey design to account for a possibility of a high level of emotional distress for those dealing with the illness of a family member. Some of these modifications may be in contrast to the recommendations currently being followed in health care economics. Face-to-face surveys may be preferred in some cases, such as with elderly respondents. Limitations of this study include the lack of targeted follow-up due to the anonymous study design and the fact that there are so few models for WTP studies in mental health. IMPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH POLICY: Given that effective mental health programs can be matched with additional expenditures, it is important to explore comprehensive measures of value for treatment in cost-benefit analysis. The values of persons whose family members have serious mental illness are important to consider in setting policy. The success of this study suggests that WTP could be used in other settings, e.g., to understand community preferences for mental health treatment programs, to understand differences in preferences across multiple stakeholder groups.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Do levels of perceived stress increase with increasing age after age 65? A population-based study.BACKGROUND: psychological and health-related stressors often occur in advanced ages, but little is known about perceived stress in adults aged 65 and over. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that levels of perceived stress increase with increasing age and to detect factors that may account for the association.METHODS: a dementia-free cohort of 1,656 adults aged 66-97 years living at home or in institutions, participating in the Swedish National Aging and Care study, Kungsholmen (SNAC-K) was assessed for levels of perceived stress using the 10-item perceived stress scale (PSS).RESULTS: prevalence of high stress according to the top tertile of the population (PSS score 20+) was 7.8% in adults aged 81+ years, 7.5% in adults aged 72-78 and 6.2% in adults aged 66 years (P = 0.020). More women than men reported high stress, 8.3 versus 5.4% (P = 0.001). Levels of stress increased with increasing age (P = 0.001) in the linear regression model. This association remained after adjustment for demographic and psychosocial factors, but no longer was present after adjusting for health-related factors.CONCLUSION: health-related stress is highly prevalent in older adults and seems to play an important role in the association between levels of perceived stress and age in older adults.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [ "Diseases", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Information Science", "Anatomy", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Orbitofrontal volume deficit in schizophrenia and thought disorder.Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) structural abnormality in schizophrenia has not been well characterized, probably due to marked anatomical variability and lack of consistent definitions. We previously reported OFC sulcogyral pattern alteration and its associations with social disturbance in schizophrenia, but OFC volume associations with psychopathology and cognition have not been investigated. We compared chronically treated schizophrenia patients with healthy control (HC) subjects, using a novel, reliable parcellation of OFC subregions and their association with cognition, especially the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), and with schizophrenic psychopathology including thought disorder. Twenty-four patients with schizophrenia and 25 age-matched HC subjects underwent MRI. OFC Regions of Interest (ROI) were manually delineated according to anatomical boundaries: Gyrus Rectus (GR); Middle Orbital Gyrus (MiOG); and Lateral Orbital Gyrus (LOG). The OFC sulcogyral pattern was also classified. Additionally, MiOG probability maps were created and compared between groups in a voxel-wise manner. Both groups underwent cognitive evaluations using the IGT, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and Trail Making Test (TMT). An 11% bilaterally smaller MiOG volume was observed in schizophrenia, compared with HC (F(1,47) = 17.4, P = 0.0001). GR and LOG did not differ, although GR showed a rightward asymmetry in both groups (F(1,47) = 19.2, P < 0.0001). The smaller MiOG volume was independent of the OFC sulcogyral pattern, which differed in schizophrenia and HC (chi2 = 12.49, P = 0.002). A comparison of MiOG probability maps suggested that the anterior heteromodal region was more affected in the schizophrenia group than the posterior paralimbic region. In the schizophrenia group, a smaller left MiOG was strongly associated with worse 'positive formal thought disorder' (r = -0.638, P = 0.001), and a smaller right MiOG with a longer duration of the illness (r = -0.618, P = 0.002). While schizophrenics showed poorer performance than HC in the IGT, performance was not correlated with OFC volume. However, within the HC group, the larger the right hemisphere MiOG volume, the better the performance in the IGT (r = 0.541, P = 0.005), and the larger the left hemisphere volume, the faster the switching attention performance for the TMT, Trails B (r = -0.608, P = 0.003). The present study, applying a new anatomical parcellation method, demonstrated a subregion-specific OFC grey matter volume deficit in patients with schizophrenia, which was independent of OFC sulcogyral pattern. This volume deficit was associated with a longer duration of illness and greater formal thought disorder. In HC the finding of a quantitative association between OFC volume and IGT performance constitutes, to our knowledge, the first report of this association.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Humanities", "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of methyl methanesulfonate on mouse sperm chromatin structure and testicular cell kinetics.Effects of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) on mouse testicular cell kinetics and sperm chromatin structure were determined flow cytometrically. Mice were exposed to a single ip injection of saline containing 0 or 150 mg/kg MMS. Relative ratios of 1N, 2N and 4N testicular cells were not affected until 22 days postexposure. Ratios of 1N cell types were altered from 13 to 22 days and were near normal by 25 days. This study revealed an MMS induced alteration of chromatin structure in testicular, elongated spermatids by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), a flow cytometric measure of the susceptibility of acridine orange stained sperm DNA to denaturation in situ. The SCSA also detected alterations in cauda sperm chromatin structure at 3 days, which was 8 days prior to alterations in sperm head morphology, indicating the increased sensitivity of the SCSA. SCSA data were practically similar whether measuring either fresh or frozen/thawed sperm, or whether measured by two different types of flow cytometers: a) laser driven, orthogonal optical axis; or b) low cost mercury arc lamp system with epiillumination. The data support the model of Sega and Owens [Mutat Res 111:227-244:1983] that MMS alkylates cysteine-SH groups in sperm protamines, thereby destabilizing sperm chromatin structure and leading to broken chromosomes and mutations.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [ "Information Science", "Humanities", "Diseases", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Two diphosphonate-functionalized asymmetric polyoxomolybdates with catalytic activity for oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde.Two asymmetric polyoxomolybdates Na(6){Mo(2)O(5)[(Mo(2)O(6))NH(3)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)C(O)(PO(3))(2)](2)}\u00b716H(2)O (1) and (NH(4))(7)Na{MoO(2)[(Mo(2)O(6))NH(3)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)C(O)(PO(3))(2)]}(4)\u00b7H(2)O (2) have been synthesized by the reactions of alendronic acid with molybdate. Structure analysis revealed that the polyoxoanions 1 and 2 can be described as dimeric and tetrameric aggregates of the {MoO(3)[(Mo(2)O(6))NH(3)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)C(O)(PO(3))(2)]} units respectively. Their tetrabutylammonium salts show efficient selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with 72.5% and 81.5% benzyl alcohol conversion, and 87.1% and 82.4% benzaldehyde selectivity, respectively.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Anatomy", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Humanities", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Geographicals" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Developmental aspects of pteridine metabolism and relationships with phenylalanine metabolism.Large variations of pteridine elimination occur in childhood, due to the ontogenic development of the metabolism of tetrahydrobiopterin. The main feature is the slow maturation of biopterin synthesis whereas neopterin synthesis is high at birth; thus a high neopterin to biopterin ratio (4.4 +/- 2.1) occurs in the neonatal period, a ratio which then decreases to adult values (0.5 +/- 0.2). Comparing pteridine elimination of PKU patients with that of controls of the same age, a high excretion of biopterin and, to a lesser extent, of neopterin is found. In normal subjects, following an oral phenylalanine load, biopterin levels in urine and serum also increase, whereas variations of neopterin concentration are small. In rats, phenylalanine also leads to an increase of serum biopterin whereas liver biopterin decreases. This suggests that the main explanation for the biopterin increase in serum and in urine by phenylalanine is a release of the intracellular biopterin by the aminoacid.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [ "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Humanities" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of supplemental zinc concentration and source on performance, carcass characteristics, and serum values in finishing beef steers.Three studies were conducted to examine the effects of zinc concentration or source in diets of finishing beef steers. In Exp. 1, 108 (British x Continental) beef steers were supplemented with concentrations of added zinc (as ZnSO4) at 20, 100, or 200 mg/kg of dietary DM. No differences (P > 0.10) were noted among treatments for ADG or gain:feed for the 112-d finishing period. However, a linear (P < 0.10) decrease was noted in daily DMI with increasing zinc concentrations for the overall finishing period. No differences (P > 0.10) were noted in hot carcass weight; dressing percentage; longissimus muscle area; percentage of kidney, pelvic, and heart fat; or marbling score. There were, however, quadratic increases in s.c. fat thickness (P < 0.05) and yield grade (P < 0.01) with added zinc. In Exp. 2, 12 beef steers were used to examine effects of added dietary zinc on serum concentrations of cholesterol and fatty acid profiles. No differences (P > 0.10) were observed in cholesterol or fatty acids among the supplemental zinc levels. In Exp. 3, 84 Brangus- and Angus-sired steers were fed a steam-flaked corn-based diet containing 30 mg of supplemental zinc per kilogram of dietary DM from one of the following sources: 1) ZnSO4, 2) Zn amino acid complex, or 3) a zinc polysaccharide complex. No differences (P > 0.10) were noted for the overall 126-d trial for ADG, DMI, or gain:feed ratio. Percentage kidney, pelvic, and heart fat was increased (P < 0.10) in steers supplemented with ZnSO4 vs the average of Zn amino acid and Zn polysaccharide complexes. However, s.c. fat thickness was greater (P < 0.10) in steers supplemented with Zn amino acid and Zn polysaccharide complexes vs ZnSO4. Serum zinc concentration did not differ (P > 0.10) among zinc sources. Supplemental zinc concentration in finishing diets did not seem to influence feedlot performance and had a minimal impact on carcass quality. Either the organic or inorganic source can be included in finishing diets without affecting feedlot performance.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Humanities", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy" ] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Intra-operative cardiac arrest--a tropical experience.In order to determine the pattern of intra-operative cardiac arrests in a developing country, we reviewed 40 consecutives cases of cardiac arrests at the Jos University Teaching Hospital between January 1993 and December 1997. During this period 15,060 minor cases and 9800 medium/major surgical procedures were performed and an arrest rate of 1:15,060 for minor cases and 1:251 for medium/major cases were obtained. The age ranged between one day and 65 years with a mean of 29.8 years and a male/female ratio of 1:1.3 as there were 18 males and 22 females. Twenty-five (62.5%) arrests occurred outside work hours while fifteen (37.5%) cases arrested during work hours. The surgical procedures with high arrest rates in this study were: emergency laparotomy 8 (20%), emergency caesarian sections 7 (17.5%), thoracotomy 6(15%), emergency craniotomy 5(12.5%), emergency hysterectomy 4(10%) and therapeutic bronchoscopy for foreign bodies in the airway 4(10%). The arrests occurred in 30(75%) emergency procedures as opposed to 10(25%) elective cases. Only in 3 out of the 18, 318 day case procedures did the patients arrest. One patient arrested during local infiltration of lignocaine while the other 39(97.5%) arrested under general anaesthesia. There was no arrest with spinal anaesthesia. The predisposing factors for a patient to arrest on the operating table in our environment include emergency major surgery, poor risk patients with ASA 111 and above, surgery performed outside work hours, under general anaesthesia administered by nurse anaesthetists or junior anaesthetic residents. The success rate at resuscitation is highest with patients with ASA 1 & 11, operations performed during work hours and by senior surgeons and anaesthetists.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Geographicals", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Power of an effective clinical conversation: improving accrual onto clinical trials.The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is actively transforming clinical trials to revitalize the clinical trials system and improve patient accrual. For more than 30 years, NCI has provided information and communication resources about cancer clinical trials. The Institute supports a clinical trials Web site (www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials) that receives nearly a half million page views a month. In addition, NCI's Cancer Information Service (800-4-CANCER, chat and e-mail) responds to 1,750 clinical trial inquiries every month. Although these numbers suggest that a high volume of clinical trial information is being exchanged between NCI, the public, and providers, most patients decide whether to participate in clinical trials during the patient-provider interaction.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Health Care", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Forensic medical aspects of male-on-male rape and sexual assault in greater Manchester.Male-on-male rapes and sexual assaults comprise fewer than 10% of such assaults reported to the police, and so many physicians seldom encounter them. This paper provides an overview of the nature of sexual assault encountered by males, ensuing injuries, and comparisons with male-on-female assault cases. The retrospective epidemiological study was on two cohorts seen at St. Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester. The participants were Centre clients seen between October 1986 and mid-May 2003; 376 male eases (370 individual clients) and 7,789 female cases (7,403 individual clients). The main outcome measure was the presence of injury (abrasion, laceration, or bruise) to defined body areas. The results showed that 66% of male cases (when assault type was known) had been raped, significantly fewer than in female cases, (p 0.00, a 0.05, O.R. 0.474, 95% C.I. 0.357 to 0.63). Eighteen per cent of male cases that had a forensic medical examination presented with an anal injury, significantly more than in females (p 0.00, a 0.05, O.R. 6.101, 95% C.I. 4.216 to 8.829). Significantly fewer males than females sustained injuries to other body areas. The conclusion was that males were significantly more likely (six times) than females to receive at least one injury to the anal area. Even so, males are five times more likely to have no anal injury.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The Effect of COVID-19 on Orthopedic Practices and Surgeons in Louisiana.This study was performed to analyze the effect that coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has had on orthopedic surgeons' practices, their patients, and orthopedic surgeons themselves through a survey distributed to members of the Louisiana Orthopaedic Association (LOA). An anonymous 22-question online survey was created and distributed to 323 LOA members. Of the 323 recipients of the survey, 99 (30.7%) responded. As a part of a multiple response set, in which respondents could choose more than one answer, the majority reported delayed care for routine orthopedic injuries (81 of 97, 83.5%). Almost every surgeon (n=95, 96.0%) reported stopping or delaying elective surgery because of COVID-19 and an increase in pain/disability/deformity in patients due to delay in elective procedures (73 of 97, 75.3%) and delay in seeking care (66 of 97, 68.0%). The majority reported an increased use of telehealth visits (68 of 97, 70.1%), a decrease in patient volume (88 of 97, 90.7%), and a reduction in income (79 of 98, 80.6%) during the past 6 months. A majority of surgeons (58 of 98, 59.2%) reported that they had applied for government assistance or took out loans. Via a multiple response set, respondents indicated that as a result of the pandemic, telehealth will become more widespread (64 of 98, 65.3%) and hospitals will exert a stronger influence over health care (64 of 98, 65.3%). The COVID-19 pandemic has had lasting effects on orthopedic surgeons in Louisiana and their practices, with a substantial decrease in the number of patients treated (90.5%), surgical volume, and revenue (80.6%). Orthopedic surgeons affected by the pandemic could use these data to further understand future challenges with patient care and changing orthopedic practice dynamics during this unique time. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(6):351-355.].", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Information Science", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Organisms", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Antiangiogenic treatment enhances photodynamic therapy responsiveness in a mouse mammary carcinoma.Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment that induces localized tumor destruction via the photochemical generation of cytotoxic singlet oxygen. PDT-mediated oxidative stress elicits direct tumor cell damage as well as microvascular injury within exposed tumors. Reduction in vascular perfusion associated with PDT-mediated microvascular injury produces tumor tissue hypoxia. Using a transplantable BA mouse mammary carcinoma, we show that Photofrin-mediated PDT induced expression of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) subunit of the heterodimeric HIF-1 transcription factor and also increased protein levels of the HIF-1 target gene, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), within treated tumors. HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression were also observed following tumor clamping, which was used as a positive control for inducing tissue hypoxia. PDT treatment of BA tumor cells grown in culture resulted in a small increase in VEGF expression above basal levels, indicating that PDT-mediated hypoxia and oxidative stress could both be involved in the overexpression of VEGF. Tumor-bearing mice treated with combined antiangiogenic therapy (IM862 or EMAP-II) and PDT had improved tumoricidal responses compared with individual treatments. We also demonstrated that PDT-induced VEGF expression in tumors decreased when either IM862 or EMAP-II was included in the PDT treatment protocol. Our results indicate that combination procedures using antiangiogenic treatments can improve the therapeutic effectiveness of PDT.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Diseases", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of intravenous lidocaine on isoflurane concentration, physiological parameters, metabolic parameters and stress-related hormones in horses undergoing surgery.Physiological parameters, metabolic parameters and stress-related hormones are evaluated in horses anaesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen combined with lidocaine intravenously. Two groups of horses anaesthetized with isoflurane (six horses in each group) were studied: a lidocaine group (IL), which received intravenous lidocaine and a control group (C), which received intravenous saline. Horses in both groups were premedicated with detomidine (i.v.), and anaesthesia was induced with midazolam-ketamine (i.v.). The lidocaine group received intravenous lidocaine as a loading dose of 2.5 mg kg(-1) at 15 min after induction of anaesthesia directly followed by a maintenance dosage of 50 microg kg(-1) min(-1), while the control group received saline (i.v.) following the same regime. End-tidal isoflurane and standard physiological parameters were measured. Blood was sampled for measurement of lidocaine, stress hormones and metabolic parameters. The end-tidal isoflurane concentration in the lidocaine group was 0.96 +/- 0.06% versus 1.28 +/- 0.06% (mean +/- SD) in the control group, a significant (P < 0.05) reduction of 25%. No significant differences were found regarding stress-related hormones, metabolic and physiological parameters. This study suggests that the use of lidocaine to decrease the concentration of isoflurane to obtain a sufficient surgical anaesthesia has no subsequent effects on physiological and metabolic parameters or stress-related hormones.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Combined liver-kidney transplantation versus liver transplant alone based on KDIGO stratification of estimated glomerular filtration rate: data from the United Kingdom Transplant registry - a retrospective cohort study.Patient selection for combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT) is a current issue on the background of organ shortage. This study aimed to compare outcomes and post-transplant renal function for patients receiving CLKT and liver transplantation alone (LTA) based on native renal function using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) stratification. Using the UK National transplant database (NHSBT) 6035 patients receiving a LTA (N\u00a0=\u00a05912; 98%) or CLKT (N\u00a0=\u00a0123; 2%) [2001-2013] were analysed, and stratified by KDIGO stages of eGFR at transplant (eGFR group-strata). There was no difference in patient/graft survival between LTA and CLKT in eGFR group-strata (P\u00a0>\u00a00.05). Of 377 patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) at time of transplantation, 305 (81%) and 72 (19%) patients received LTA and CLKT respectively. A significantly greater proportion of CLKT patients had severe end-stage renal disease (eGFR\u00a0<\u00a030\u00a0ml/min/1.73\u00a0m2 ) at 1\u00a0year post-transplant compared to LTA (9.5% vs. 5.7%, P\u00a0=\u00a00.001). Patient and graft survival benefit for patients on RRT at transplantation was favouring CLKT versus LTA (P\u00a0=\u00a00.038 and P\u00a0=\u00a00.018, respectively) but the renal function of the long-term survivors was not superior following CLKT. The data does not support CLKT approach based on eGFR alone, and the advantage of CLKT appear to benefit only those who are on established RRT at the time of transplant.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Role of galectin-3 as an adhesion molecule for neutrophil extravasation during streptococcal pneumonia.Recruitment of neutrophils from blood vessels to sites of infection represents one of the most important elements of innate immunity. Movement of neutrophils across blood vessel walls to the site of infection first requires that the migrating cells firmly attach to the endothelial wall. Generally, neutrophil extravasation is mediated at least in part by two classes of adhesion molecules, beta(2) integrins and selectins. However, in the case of streptococcal pneumonia, recent studies have revealed that a significant proportion of neutrophil diapedesis is not mediated by the beta(2) integrin/selectin paradigm. Galectin-3 is a beta-galactoside-binding lectin implicated in inflammatory responses as well as in cell adhesion. Using an in vivo streptococcal pneumonia mouse model, we found that accumulation of galectin-3 in the alveolar space of streptococcus-infected lungs correlates closely with the onset of neutrophil extravasation. Furthermore, immunohistological analysis of infected lung tissue revealed the presence of galectin-3 in the lung tissue areas composed of epithelial and endothelial cell layers as well as of interstitial spaces. In vitro, galectin-3 was able to promote neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells. Promotion of neutrophil adhesion by galectin-3 appeared to result from direct cross-linking of neutrophils to the endothelium and was dependent on galectin-3 oligomerization. Together, these results suggest that galectin-3 acts as an adhesion molecule that can mediate neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells. However, accumulation of galectin-3 in lung was not observed during neutrophil emigration into alveoli induced by Escherichia coli infection, where the majority of neutrophil emigration is known to be beta(2) integrin dependent. Thus, based on our results, we propose that galectin-3 plays a role in beta(2) integrin-independent neutrophil extravasation, which occurs during alveolar infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Parent-implemented social intervention for toddlers with autism: an RCT.OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of two 9-month parent-implemented interventions within the Early Social Interaction (ESI) Project. Both individual-ESI, offered 2 or 3 times per week at home or in the community, and group-ESI, offered once per week in a clinic, taught parents how to embed strategies to support social communication throughout everyday activities.METHODS: Participants in the randomized controlled trial included 82 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 16 to 20 months. Children were matched on pretreatment nonverbal developmental level and pairs were randomly assigned to treatment condition. Child outcomes included measures of social communication, autism symptoms, adaptive behavior, and developmental level. Child outcomes are reported from baseline to the end of the 9-month interventions.RESULTS: Children in individual-ESI showed differential change on a standardized examiner-administered observational measure of social communication, as they improved at a faster rate than children in group-ESI. Individual-ESI also showed differential efficacy on a parent report measure of communication, daily living, and social skills, as they showed improvement or stability, whereas group-ESI led to worsening or no significant change on these skills. Finally, individual-ESI showed differential change on examiner-administered measures of receptive language skills, as children in individual-ESI improved significantly, whereas group-ESI showed no change.CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the efficacy of individual-ESI compared with group-ESI on child outcomes, suggesting the importance of individualized parent coaching in natural environments. The efficacy of a parent-implemented intervention using little professional time has potential for community viability, which is particularly important in light of the lack of main effects on child outcomes of most other parent-implemented interventions.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Relationship between entry into child welfare and mental health service use.OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between initiation of outpatient mental health service use and level of child welfare involvement.METHODS: Three levels of child welfare involvement were examined: in-home care and no child welfare services beyond an initial investigation, in-home care and additional child welfare services, and placement in out-of-home care (foster care). Longitudinal data were collected for a subsample of children (N=3,592) aged two through 14 years who were enrolled in the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, a nationally representative sample of children undergoing investigation for abuse or neglect. Event history analysis was used to model relative risk of initiation of mental health service use over time.RESULTS: Hazard functions revealed a large increase in onset of mental health services immediately after the time of the initial contact with child welfare, varying by level of child welfare involvement and leveling off by three months after the initial contact. The multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model indicated that compared with children who were placed in out-of-home care, those in in-home care who did not receive any further child welfare services were about one-third as likely to use mental health services and those in in-home care who received additional child welfare services were one-half as likely to use mental health services. Other covariates in the model predicted mental health service use, including being older, being Caucasian, having a history of maltreatment (specifically, physical abuse, physical neglect, or abandonment), being uninsured, and need for mental health services, as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist.CONCLUSIONS: Contact with child welfare functions as a gateway into mental health services for children in child welfare, even when need for such services is controlled for.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Transplacental immunity and waning of maternal antibody in measles.Since transplacental immunity and waning of maternally derived measles specific antibodies play an important role in determining the optimum age for vaccination of infants against measles, a study was carried out in which 150 paired samples and 581 infant serum samples were tested for measles specific antibodies. Out of these paired samples, 132 pairs showed measles antibodies in both mother and cord. HAI antibody was absent in 3 paired samples whereas, 5 mothers could not pass on the antibodies in the cord samples. In the remaining 10 serum samples only cord blood showed the presence of antibodies without the detectable level of antibodies in mother. Statistically no significant difference between the mother and cord blood titers was observed by applying the student 't' test for comparison of the mean (t = 0.01). Analysis of 581 infant serum samples for prevalence of maternal antibodies indicated that 83% of the samples at the age of 3 months or below had measles antibodies but with the increase in age there was tremendous loss with only 19-20% at the age of 6-7 months. After 7 months the percentage of infants which had antibody varied from 11-13%. There was negative correlation between age and seropositivity (r = -0.72) which was highly significant (p < 0.05).", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Cloning and sequencing of Vibrio cholerae mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin pilin gene: localization of mshA within a cluster of type 4 pilin genes.The mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin (MSHA) pilus that is associated with Vibrio cholerae strains of El Tor biotype has been shown to be a potential colonization factor and protective antigen. The gene encoding the structural subunit of MSHA pili was cloned from size-fractionated SacI-cleaved chromosomal DNA in the expression phage vector lambda ZAPII. Positive clones carried a c. 5.3 kb SacI fragment and were identified on the basis of MSHA expression and hybridization with a synthetic oligonucleotide probe based upon the N-terminus of MshA, the structural subunit of MSHA. The mshA gene was localized to a 2.6 kb SalI-EcoRI fragment, which was subcloned and shown to express MshA from its own promoter in Escherichia coli. Nucleotide sequencing of the entire fragment revealed six open reading frames (ORFs) of which four were complete. The mshA gene encodes an 18,094 Da prepilin protein, which in its mature form has a size of 17,436 Da. MshA is a type 4 (N-MePhe) pilin protein that is more homologous to pilins produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Neisseria gonorrhoeae than to TcpA, the structural subunit of the toxin-coregulated pilus of V. cholerae. The protein seems to be directly involved in receptor binding, as an in-frame mutation in the mshA gene was found to abolish both D-mannose-dependent haemagglutination and binding of V. cholerae bacteria to D-mannose-containing agarose beads. Three additional ORFs, all in the same transcriptional orientation as mshA, were found to encode type 4 pilin-like proteins. A potential promoter with a sequence homologous to that of cAMP-CRP-activated promoters in E. coli was identified upstream of ORF3, the gene preceding mshA.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Information Science", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Age and hearing loss and the use of acoustic cues in fricative categorization.This study examined the use of fricative noise information and coarticulatory cues for categorization of word-final fricatives [s] and [f] by younger and older Dutch listeners alike. Particularly, the effect of information loss in the higher frequencies on the use of these two cues for fricative categorization was investigated. If information in the higher frequencies is less strongly available, fricative identification may be impaired or listeners may learn to focus more on coarticulatory information. The present study investigates this second possibility. Phonetic categorization results showed that both younger and older Dutch listeners use the primary cue fricative noise and the secondary cue coarticulatory information to distinguish word-final [f] from [s]. Individual hearing sensitivity in the older listeners modified the use of fricative noise information, but did not modify the use of coarticulatory information. When high-frequency information was filtered out from the speech signal, fricative noise could no longer be used by the younger and older adults. Crucially, they also did not learn to rely more on coarticulatory information as a compensatory cue for fricative categorization. This suggests that listeners do not readily show compensatory use of this secondary cue to fricative identity when fricative categorization becomes difficult.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Named Groups", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Kinetic properties, nutrient-dependent regulation and energy coupling of amino-acid transport systems in Penicillium cyclopium.In submerged grown hyphae of Penicillium cyclopium the activities of seven transport systems could be distinguished which share in the uptake of L-arginine, L-glutamic acid, L-phenylalanine and L-leucine. They include the specific systems a (accepting L-arginine and L-lysine), b (L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine), c (L-glutamic acid) and d (L-leucine), system I (a 'general amino-acid permease') and the low-affinity systems II and III, which accept acidic or basic amino acids, respectively, but also L-phenylalanine. In nutrient-sufficient cells, systems I, II and III remain repressed; uptake is dominated by the specific systems b, c, d and a, the latter reaching its maximum activity. Nitrogen starvation is the most powerful signal for the development of systems I, II and III, whereas, in carbon-starved cells, systems b, c and d reach maximum activities. The development of the general amino-acid permease in nitrogen-starved cells requires both translational and--with a few hours delay--transcriptional events as indicated by the influence of cycloheximide and 5-fluorouracil. The uptake of all amino acids is accompanied by a transient acidification of the cellular interior. Short-time preaccumulation of several anions, such as citrate, alpha-oxo-glutarate, glutamate (but not glutamine), increases the initial rate of amino-acid uptake at a pH above the optimum. Uncouplers inhibit the uptake not only under aerobic but also under anaerobic conditions, where the ATP content is not influenced by these compounds. These findings point to an H+/amino acid symport, which is tightly connected with the recycling of the incoming protons by the plasmalemma H+-ATPase.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "New records of Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Paraguay.This work presents new distribution records in Paraguay for 19 fruit fly species of the genus Anastrepha Schiner, including four new records for the country: A. alveatoides Blanchard, A. australis (Blanchard), A. obliqua (Macquart) and A. pastranai Blanchard. Additionally, an updated list of the 26 Anastrepha species present in Paraguay is provided, as well as illustrations (wings, aculeus tips) of the majority of species.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Organisms", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Contributions of individual syndromes to global psychopathology ratings for mental health and substance abuse patients.Used the SCL-90 Analogue to rate nine psychiatric syndromes-and overall psychopathology in 1,046 mental health and 809 substance abuse patients admitted to a large metropolitan, community mental health center. Stepwise multiple regressions of the nine syndrome ratings on the global psychopathology ratings for each sample indicated that different syndromes contributed meaningful amounts of variance to the explanations of the global psychopathology ratings. The salient syndromes for the mental health patients were Interpersonal Sensitivity and Psychoticism, whereas those for the substance above patients were Anxiety and Paranoid Ideation. Implications of the results for the wisdom of averaging syndrome ratings to calculate overall psychopathology were discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Organisms", "Diseases", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Complications associated with ureterorenoscopy (URS) related to treatment of urolithiasis: the Clinical Research Office of Endourological Society URS Global study.INTRODUCTION: Ureterorenoscopy (URS) is a popular and growing option for management of ureteric and renal stones. The CROES URS Global Study was set up to assess the outcomes of URS in a large worldwide cohort of patients involving multiple centres. In this paper, we analysed the database for intra-operative and post-operative complications associated with ureterorenoscopy.METHODS: The CROES database was established via collaboration between 114 centres in 32 countries worldwide, and information on both intra-operative and post-operative complications was collected electronically between January 2010 and October 2012.RESULT: On analysis of a total of 11,885 patients, the overall complication and stone-free rates were found to be 7.4 and 85.6\u00a0%, respectively. The intra-operative and post-operative complication rates were 4.2 and 2.6\u00a0%, respectively, and in total 5 deaths were reported in the study period. Taking into account different world economies, there were no differences in the complication rates between the developing and developed nations or between different centres from different continents.CONCLUSION: Ureterorenoscopy is a safe and effective procedure for treatment of stones, the outcomes of which are broadly comparable in different parts of the world for similar patient and stone demographics.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Health Care", "Information Science", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Named Groups", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The role of butyrate in the reverse transformation reaction in mammalian cells.The reverse transformation reaction of Chinese hamster ovary cells from compact, epithelial-like, randomly growing, heavily knobbed, lectin reactive cells into stretched, tighly adherent, smooth-surfaced, lectin resistant, fibroblast-like cells normally elicited by dibutyryl cAMP can be produced to its complete extent by N6-monobutyryl cAMP or 8-bromo-cAMP, O2'-monobutyryl cAMP is ineffective as is cAMP itself in the absence of an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase activity. In the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, cAMP is fully effective. These results indicate that the role of the butyryl groups of dibutyryl cAMP and, especially, the N6-butyryl, in the reverse transformation reaction is protection of the cAMP analogue from degradation. Butyrate at concentrations of about 1 mM does produce a response which to some extent mimics that of cAMP analogues. The cells, however, fail to assume a fibroblastic-like shape, but rather become flattened. The butyrate effect is much slower and less readily reversible than that evoked by cAMP analogues. Butyrate produces an approximately 2-fold increase in intracellular cAMP levels. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that butyrate effects, in part, are mediated by AMP.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "MASS: meta-analysis of score statistics for sequencing studies.SUMMARY: MASS is a command-line program to perform meta-analysis of sequencing studies by combining the score statistics from multiple studies. It implements three types of multivariate tests that encompass all commonly used association tests for rare variants. The input files can be generated from the accompanying software SCORE-Seq. This bundle of programs allows analysis of large sequencing studies in a time and memory efficient manner.AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: MASS and SCORE-Seq, including documentations and executables, are available at http://dlin.web.unc.edu/software/.CONTACT: lin@bios.unc.edu.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Health Care", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Increased severity of experimental colitis in alpha 5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit-deficient mice.Substantial evidence suggests a negative association between cigarette smoking and the incidence and severity of ulcerative colitis, a common human inflammatory bowel disease. Nicotine has been implicated in this association. The detection of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in colonic epithelium, the primary tissue affected in ulcerative colitis, suggests a role for these receptors in the beneficial effect of nicotine on colonic inflammation. Using an animal model, we demonstrate for the first time that alpha5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice have significantly more severe experimental colitis than wild-type controls and that nicotine significantly ameliorates its course when compared with wild-type controls. These findings suggest that alpha5-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors participate in the modulation of colitis in mice, but other nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits also mediate the antiinflammatory effects of nicotine.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Influence of postural anxiety on postural reactions to multi-directional surface rotations.Previous studies have shown significant effects of increased postural anxiety in healthy young individuals when standing quietly or performing voluntary postural tasks. However, little is known about the influence of anxiety on reactive postural control. The present study examined how increased postural anxiety influenced postural reactions to unexpected surface rotations in multiple directions. Ten healthy young adults (mean age: 25.5 yr, range: 22-27 yr) were required to recover from unexpected rotations of the support surface (7.5 degrees amplitude, 50 degrees/s velocity) delivered in six different directions while standing in a low postural threat (surface height: 60 cm above ground) or high postural threat (surface height: 160 cm above ground) condition. Electromyographic data from 12 different postural leg, hip, and trunk muscles was collected simultaneously. Full body kinematic data were also used to determine total body center of mass (COM) and segment displacements. Four distinct changes were observed with increased postural anxiety: increased amplitude in balance-correcting responses (120-220 ms) in all leg, trunk, and arm muscles; decreased onset latency of deltoid responses; reduced magnitude of COM displacement; and reduced angular displacement of leg, pelvis, and trunk. These observations suggest that changes in dynamic postural responses with increased anxiety are mediated by alterations in neuro-muscular control mechanisms and thus may contribute significantly to the pathophysiology of balance deficits associated with aging or neurological disease.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Named Groups", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Fish sperm subpopulations: Changes after cryopreservation process and relationship with fertilization success in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum).Fish tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is the native Brazilian fish with the highest agricultural production under intensive aquaculture in South America. However, the decrease in the genetic variability in fish farms has become necessary the improvement of cryopreservation process through new statistical studies of spermatozoa (like subpopulation studies). The evaluation of the kinetic data obtained with a computer-assisted sperm analysis system, applying a two-step cluster analysis, yielded in tambaqui three different subpopulations in fresh sperm: SP1, considered as a slow nonlinear subpopulation; SP2, considered as a fast nonlinear subpopulation, and finally; SP3, considered as a fast linear subpopulation. For cryopreserved sperm, the cluster analysis yielded only two sperm subpopulations: SP1', considered as a slow nonlinear subpopulation and SP2', which seemed to be an intermediate subpopulation (showing medium motility and velocity values) merged from SP2 and SP3 obtained from fresh sperm. Coefficients of correlation (r) and determination (r2) between the sperm subpopulations from fresh sperm and the fertilization rates were calculated, and SP2 and SP3 (the fast-spermatozoa subpopulations) showed a high-positive correlation with the fertilization rates (r\u00a0=\u00a00.93 and 0.79, respectively). In addition, the positive significant correlations found in curvilinear velocity (r\u00a0=\u00a00.78), straight line velocity (r\u00a0=\u00a00.57), and average velocity (r\u00a0=\u00a00.75) indicate that sperm kinetic features seem to be a key factor in the fertilization process in tambaqui, as occur in other fish species.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Toxicity of aerosol propellants in the respiratory and circulatory systems. VI. Influence of cardiac and pulmonary vascular lesions in the rat.Three propellants were selected for investigation in rats because of their non-uniform effect in mice and monkeys. Trichlorofluoromethane (FC 11) provoked arrhythmia in all three animal species, dichlorodifluoromethane (FC 12) in monkeys and rats but not in mice, and difluoroethane (FC 152a) only in rats. In rats the alterations in heart rate and electrocardiographic pattern during inhalation of these propellants are largely brought about by release of catecholamines from the adrenal gland, because adrenalectomy or prior injection of beta-adrenergic blocking drugs decreased the incidence of cardiac effects. Rats that have pulmonary vascular thrombosis or cardiac necrosis become more sensitive to proarrhythmic activity of these propellants.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Injection of intrathecal normal saline in decreasing postdural puncture headache.PURPOSE: Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) is the most common and still unresolved postoperative complication of spinal anesthesia. Although there are several positive results of intrathecal saline injection for the treatment of PDPH and prophylaxis after accidental dural puncture, the effect of deliberate intrathecal saline injection before spinal anesthesia has not been examined. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of prophylactic administration of intrathecal normal saline in decreasing PDPH.METHODS: One hundred healthy women (ASA physical status I) of age between 18 and 35 years scheduled for elective term cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia were included. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group C received 2.5 ml (12.5 mg) hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5 % as a control, and group S received intrathecal normal saline 5 ml before intrathecal injection of 2.5 ml (12.5 mg) hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5%. The incidence and severity of PDPH were assessed after 48 h and again 3-7 days after operation.RESULTS: Basal characteristics were statistically similar in both groups (P > 0.05). The incidences of moderate and severe PDPH during first postoperative 48 h were not different between the groups (P = 0.24). However, the frequency of PDPH after 3-7 days was statistically higher in group C in compared with group S (16 vs. 2 %, P = 0.03). Totally the frequency of PDPH was higher in group C (24 vs. 2%, P = 0.002).CONCLUSION: Administration of normal saline (5 ml) before intrathecal administration of hyperbaric bupivacaine as a preventive approach is an effective and simple way to minimize PDPH in patients undergoing cesarean section.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Health Care", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Named Groups", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Rectal cancer: mucinous carcinoma on magnetic resonance imaging indicates poor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.PURPOSE: To assess response of locally advanced rectal carcinoma to chemoradiation with regard to mucinous status and local tumor invasion found at pretherapeutic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 88 patients were included in this prospective study of patients with advanced mrT3 and mrT4 carcinomas. Carcinomas were categorized by MRI as mucinous (mucin proportion >50% within the tumor volume), and as nonmucinous. Patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiation consisting of 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy/fraction) and 5-fluorouracil on Days 1 to 5 and Days 29 to 33. Therapy response was assessed by comparing pretherapeutic MRI with histopathology of surgical specimens (minimum distance between outer tumor edge and circumferential resection margin = CRM, T, and N category).RESULTS: A mucinous carcinoma was found in 21 of 88 patients. Pretherapeutic mrCRM was 0 mm (median) in the mucinous and nonmucinous group. Of the 88 patients, 83 underwent surgery with tumor resection. The ypCRM (mm) at histopathology was significantly lower in mucinous carcinomas than in nonmucinous carcinomas (p ? 0.001). Positive resection margins (ypCRM ? 1 mm) were found more frequently in mucinous carcinomas than in nonmucinous ones (p ? 0.001). Treatment had less effect on local tumor stage in mucinous carcinomas than in nonmucinous carcinomas (for T downsizing, p = 0.012; for N downstaging, p = 0.007). Disease progression was observed only in patients with mucinous carcinomas (n = 5).CONCLUSION: Mucinous status at pretherapeutic MRI was associated with a noticeably worse response to chemoradiation and should be assessed by MRI in addition to local tumor staging to estimate response to treatment before it is initiated.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms", "Diseases", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A 2-year follow-up of root coverage using sub-pedicle acellular dermal matrix allografts and subepithelial connective tissue autografts.BACKGROUND: Coverage of roots exposed by gingival recession is one of the main objectives of periodontal reconstructive surgery. A large variety of mucogingival grafting procedures are available. However, the long-term effectiveness of this procedure is still not clear. This study compared the effectiveness of sub-pedicle acellular dermal matrix allografts with subepithelial connective tissue autografts in achieving root coverage 2 years postoperatively.METHODS: One hundred one (101) patients were treated with dermal matrix allografts (mean age, 28.4+/- 0.7 years; mean recession, 4.2 mm) and 65 patients treated with connective tissue graft (mean age, 30.1+/- 1.4 years; mean recession, 4.9 mm). All patients underwent full periodontal evaluation and presurgical preparation, including oral hygiene instruction and scaling and root planing. The exposed roots were thoroughly planed and covered by a graft without any further root treatment or conditioning. There were no differences in the average age, time of follow-up, or gender between the two groups. Patients were evaluated periodically between 1 and 2 years. Residual recession and defect coverage were assessed.RESULTS: Mean residual root recession after root coverage with acellular dermal matrix allograft was 0.2 +/- 0.04 mm, with defect coverage of 95.9% +/- 0.9%. Frequency of defect coverage was 82.2%. Root coverage was 98.8% +/- 0.2%, resulting in a frequency of root coverage of 100%. Gain in keratinized gingiva was 2.2+/- 0.04 mm and attachment gain was 4.5+/- 0.1 mm per patient. Connective tissue autografts resulted in mean residual root recession of 0.1+/- 0.04 mm, with percent defect coverage of 97.8%+/- 0.6% and frequency of defect coverage of 95.4%. Root coverage was 99.1%+/- 0.2%, and frequency of root coverage was 100%. Gain in keratinized gingiva was 3.0+/- 0.1 mm and attachment gain was 5.3+/- 0.2 mm per patient. No significant differences in final recession and root coverage between the two treatment methods were found. However, autografts resulted in significant increases in defect coverage, keratinized gingival gain, attachment gain, and residual probing depth. The clinical results were stable for the 2-year follow-up period.CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that coverage of root by sub-pedicle acellular dermal matrix allografts or subepithelial connective tissue autografts is a very predictable procedure which is stable for 2 years postoperatively. However, subepithelial connective tissue autografts resulted in significant increases in defect coverage, keratinized gingival gain, attachment gain, and residual probing depth.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Metabolic profiling of Actaea species extracts using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.Despite persistent questions about the safety of black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L., syn. Cimicifuga racemosa L.), its products continue to be one of the most popular botanical supplements in the United States market. Black cohosh products have been associated with cases of liver toxicity, but subsequent evaluation found some products to be adulterated with other related plants from the same genus. US FDA regulations require that black cohosh products be unadulterated, and correct identification of different species of Actaea is a key first step for their good manufacturing practice. We have developed a phytochemical method to distinguish four different groups of Actaea, including: species other than A. racemosa, Asian species, A. racemosa, and North American species other than A. racemosa. Using HPLC-TOF-ESI-MS technique and principal component analysis, we identified 15 chemical markers (1-3, 5-6, 8-10, 12, 16-21). Three marker compounds were unambiguously identified using authentic standards, and 12 marker compounds were tentatively identified by comparison of fragmentation patterns with previously reported data. The presence of these marker compounds is critical for discrimination among the four groups of closely related plants. The use of metabolic profiling to distinguish black cohosh from related species of Actaea has broader implications in the identification of markers to help authenticate other important medicinal plants.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Trauma performance improvement and patient safety committee: fostering an effective team.Trauma programs that are verified by the American College of Surgeons are required to have a multidisciplinary committee that examines trauma-related patient care operations. To facilitate a potentially large number of issues relevant to patient care, the Trauma Performance Improvement and Patient Safety Committee can apply team principles to promote success. A literature review concerning effective teams was conducted. Eleven principles were identified as essential for developing an effective committee that can properly respond to and resolve performance issues in complex trauma care. This article describes and applies these 11 principles to the Trauma Performance Improvement and Patient Safety Committee.", "answer groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Constitutive variants of the pC194 cat gene exhibit DNA alterations in the vicinity of the ribosome binding site sequence.The chloramphenicol-inducible regulation of the expression of cat genes from two Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus pumilus has been suggested to result from the presence of inverted repeat sequences that span the ribosome-binding site (RBS) for cat. In support of this hypothesis, we demonstrate that two derivatives of the pC194 cat gene which are constitutively expressed in Bacillus subtilis are deleted for all or a major portion of the inverted-repeat sequences.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "State of Diabetes Self-Management Education in the European Union Member States and Non-EU Countries: The Diabetes Literacy Project.Background: Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is considered essential for improving the prevention and care of diabetes through empowering patients to increase agency in their own health and care processes. However, existing evidence regarding DSME in the EU Member States (EU MS) is insufficient to develop an EU-wide strategy.Objectives: This study presents the state of DSME in the 28 EU MS and contrasts it with 3 non-EU countries with comparable Human Development Index score: Israel, Taiwan, and the USA (ITU). Because type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disproportionately affects minority and low-income groups, we paid particular attention to health literacy aspects of DSME for vulnerable populations.Methods: Data from multiple stakeholders involved in diabetes care were collected from Feb 2014 to Jan 2015 using an online Diabetes Literacy Survey (DLS). Of the 379 respondents (249 from EU MS and 130 from ITU), most were people with diabetes (33% in the EU MS, 15% in ITU) and care providers (47% and 72%). These data were supplemented by an expert survey (ES) administered to 30 key informants.Results: Access to DSME varies greatly in the EU MS: an average of 29% (range 21% to 50%) of respondents report DSME programs are tailored for people with limited literacy, educational attainment, and language skills versus 63% in ITU. More than half of adult T2DM patients and children/adolescents participate in DSME in EU MS; in ITU, participation of T1DM patients and older people is lower. Prioritization of DSME (6.1\u2009\u00b1\u20092.8 out of 10) and the level of satisfaction with the current state of DSME (5.0\u2009\u00b1\u20092.4 out of 10) in the EU MS were comparable with ITU.Conclusion: Variation in availability and organization of DSME in the EU MS presents a clear rationale for developing an EU-wide diabetes strategy to improve treatment and care for people with diabetes.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Paleoparasitological report on the stool from a Medieval child mummy in Yangju, Korea.Previous studies have successfully shown evidence for parasitic infections in human remains from various archaeological sites. However, in the case of Korea, since there have been very few paleoparasitological reports published, pre-20th century parasitic infection patterns remain obscure. Therefore, in order to partly fill this gap, we are reporting on a case of paleoparasitic infection from the feces of a 15th century child mummy from Yangju, Korea. In the course of the present study, we found the eggs of Clonorchis sinensis, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Trichuris trichiura in the feces of the mummy. Trichuris trichiura eggs were found in far greater numbers than other parasite eggs; in fact, intact bipolar plugs were clearly observed and even the larvae were still visible in some eggs. The eggs of C. sinensis and A. lumbricoides were also well preserved, though not in as great a number. Since we could find a number of well-preserved larvae-containing eggs, we are encouraged that successful extraction, amplification, and sequence determination of ancient DNA from the paleoparasite eggs might be possible in future studies. With additional paleoparasitological investigation using feces from Korean mummies, we hope that a history of parasite infection in Korea will be reconstructed.", "answer groups": [ "Humanities", "Diseases", "Anatomy", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Tracing of projection neurons from the cervical dorsal horn to the medulla with the anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine.In addition to the well-defined role of dorsal horn neurons in pain transmission, neurons in the superficial laminae also provide a rich source of synaptic input to cardiovascular and respiratory centers in the medullary reticular formation. In this study, ascending projection neurons from the superficial laminae of the cervical enlargement were studied in the rat using the anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine (BDA). Ipsilateral microinjection of BDA into the cervical spinal cord (C6-C8) resulted in extensive labeling of dorsal horn neurons in laminae I-V. Axons and terminal processes of cervical dorsal horn cells projecting to the medulla were present in the cuneate nucleus (Cu), the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), the lateral reticular nucleus, (LRt) as well as the caudal and rostral ventrolateral medulla (VLM). The highest density of BDA labeling was found ipsilaterally in the Cu, LRt, caudal and rostral VLM, while a moderate density of labeling was present in the NTS caudal to the area postrema (AP). Moderate-to-weak labeling was also found in the LRt, the caudal and rostral VLM contralateral to the BDA injection. These results support the existence of a spinomedullary pathway that transmits noxious and innocuous Adelta and C fiber-mediated sensory signals to the medulla. Neurons in this ascending spinal pathway likely participate in the patterning of autonomic responses evoked by pain or during exercise.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Biphasic effects of dexamethasone on glycogen metabolism in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.Glucocorticoids (GC), the basic function of which is modulating carbohydrates metabolism, play a critical role in stress response by enhancing the organism's resistance. It is widely believed that they could promote glycogen synthesis. However, it is doubtful whether GC can still stimulate glycogen deposition in stress response, as it is known that glucose is imperatively needed at that time. Here, we used primary cultured rat hepatocytes to investigate the effects of GC on glycogen metabolism in vitro to exclude other influences in stress. The results showed that dexamethasone (Dex) played biphasic effects on hepatocytes glycogen metabolism depending on its dosage and the duration of stimulation. Dex could decrease glycogen content of hepatocytes in the higher concentration within a relatively shorter period of time, which could not be blocked by cycloheximide. Therefore, dual roles in hepatic glycogen metabolism played by GC were demonstrated, and a non-genomic mechanism might be involved in the glycogenolytic action of GC. We postulated that the biphasic effects of GC on hepatic glycogen metabolism might be of important significance in stress response.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A novel basal ganglia pathway forms a loop linking a vocal learning circuit with its dopaminergic input.Dopamine has been implicated in mediating contextual modulation of motor behaviors and learning in many species. In songbirds, dopamine may act on the basal ganglia nucleus Area X to influence the neural activity that contributes to vocal learning and contextual changes in song variability. Neurons in midbrain dopamine centers, the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), densely innervate Area X and show singing-related changes in firing rate. In addition, dopamine levels in Area X change during singing. It is unknown, however, how song-related information could reach dopaminergic neurons. Here we report an anatomical pathway that could provide song-related information to the SNc and VTA. By using injections of bidirectionally transported fluorescent tracers in adult male zebra finches, we show that Area X and other song control nuclei do not project directly to the SNc or VTA. Instead, we describe an indirect pathway from Area X to midbrain dopaminergic neurons via a connection in the ventral pallidum (VP). Specifically, Area X projects to the VP via axon collaterals of Area X output neurons that also project to the thalamus. Dual injections revealed that the area of VP receiving input from Area X projects to the SNc and VTA. Furthermore, VP terminals in the SNc and VTA overlap with cells that project back to Area X. A portion of the arcopallium also projects to the SNc and VTA and could carry auditory information. These data demonstrate an anatomical loop through which Area X activity could influence its dopaminergic input.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "William Penn and the peace of Europe.The Quaker William Penn proposed a European Union to ensure peace in the continent in 1693. Penn was unusual among Quakers in being of the landed upper classes. When converted, he became a leader of the Quakers and other Dissenters. He had the two related ideals of peace and religious toleration, and dreamed of realizing both ideals in the New World. A practical idealist, he took advantage of four factors: friends at Court made through his social position; King Charles II's gratitude for services rendered by his father, Admiral Sir William Penn; the King's desire to conciliate the City merchants, who were ready to invest in Penn's scheme; and above all the King's concern to get North America settled by British colonists. Penn received a charter to found Pennsylvania in 1681. In England he worked hard, especially in collaboration with James II, for toleration for the cruelly persecuted Quakers and other Dissenters. In Pennsylvania he was able to establish complete toleration and his fair and friendly treatment gave the colony 70 years of peaceful co-existence with the Indians. In his essay on the peace of Europe, he virtually invented collective security and with amazing foresight planned in detail something very like the present European Union.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Organisms", "Humanities" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A body-weight-based method to estimate inorganic arsenic body burden through tilapia consumption in Taiwan.In the present study, a stage-classified exposure model is developed to better characterize long-term arsenic (As) accumulation of both genders of children, adolescents, and adults through tilapia consumption in Taiwan. Ingestion rate as well as elimination rate of As are treated dynamically and are used to parameterize the stage-classified accumulation model. Model simulations are carried out to produce temporal changes of As body burden of the residents who consume tilapia from blackfoot disease (BFD)-endemic area in three major cities in Taiwan. The model presented here can be served as a strong framework for refining human health risk assessments through fish consumption.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Crystal structure of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. 1011 complexed with 1-deoxynojirimycin at 2.0 A resolution.1-Deoxynojirimycin, a pseudo-monosaccharide, is a strong inhibitor of glucoamylase but a relatively weak inhibitor of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase). To elucidate this difference, the crystal structure of the CGTase from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. 1011 complexed with 1-deoxynojirimycin was determined at 2.0 A resolution with the crystallographic R value of 0.154 (R(free) = 0.214). The asymmetric unit of the crystal contains two CGTase molecules and each molecule binds two 1-deoxynojirimycins. One 1-deoxynojirimycin molecule is bound to the active center by hydrogen bonds with catalytic residues and water molecules, but its binding mode differs from that expected in the substrate binding. Another 1-deoxynojirimycin found at the maltose-binding site 1 is bound to Asn-667 with a hydrogen bond and by stacking interaction with the indole moiety of Trp-662 of molecule 1 or Trp-616 of molecule 2. Comparison of this structure with that of the acarbose-CGTase complex suggested that the lack of stacking interaction with the aromatic side chain of Tyr-100 is responsible for the weak inhibition by 1-deoxynojirimycin of the enzymatic action of CGTase.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Alamethicin-induced current-voltage curve asymmetry in lipid bilayers.We have examined the causes of the asymmetry of the current-voltage curve induced by addition of alamethicin to one side of a black lipid membrane. We find that the alamethicin-induced current-voltage (I-V) curve has an inherent asymmetry. If it were possible to confine all alamethicin molecules to one side of the membrane, the I-V curve would exhibit a positive branch (voltage being measured with respect to the side of the membrane trans to the alamethicin addition) of steeper logarithmic slope than the negative branch and at a lower absolute value of potential. This condition is not usually realized, however, because alamethicin can leak through the membrane, so that, except at very high alamethicin concentrations and in certain kinds of membranes, the positive branch of the current-voltage curve has the same logarithmic slope as the negative branch and appears to arise from alamethicin which diffuses from the cis to the trans side of the membrane. We develop simple quantitative models for these two cases.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Role of caspases in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis.In the present study, we have used an in vitro model of apoptosis using primary human renal proximal tubular epithelial (RPTE) cells to investigate the mechanisms involved in renal cell apoptosis. Treatment of RPTE cells with okadaic acid for 24-48 h induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptosis was accompanied by the activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway followed by the activation of caspase-9, -3, and -7. The induction of caspase activity correlated with the proteolytic cleavage of beta-catenin, suggesting that beta-catenin is a caspase substrate. The caspase inhibitor, Z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-fmk), resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of apoptosis and beta-catenin cleavage. These data suggest that okadaic acid-induced apoptosis is p38 MAPK and caspase-dependent and that proteolytic cleavage of beta-catenin by caspases is likely to be a downstream molecular event associated with the morphological and cytoskeletal changes induced during apoptosis.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Histopathological study on experimental endophthalmitis induced by bloodstream infection with Candida albicans.To investigate the details of the pathophysiology of endogenous fungal endophthalmitis (EFE), we performed sequential histological and ophthalmoscopic examination on a rabbit model comparing immunocompromised EFE developed using a steroid with an immunocompetent one intravenously inoculated with Candida albicans. The ophthalmoscopic examination and histological analysis of the retina in both groups demonstrated that lesions appear on the equator of the eyeball and then spread toward the posterior pole. It has been speculated that, because of the unique innate vasculature system of the equator, there is a sudden, decrease of shear stress in rheologically, resulting in adhesion of yeast cells to the endothelial cells. Histological examination revealed that the degree of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration was equivalent in the two groups. However, the appearance of PMN was delayed and the number of fungi was higher in the state of hyphae and/or pseudohyphae in the steroid-treated group. Furthermore, the eyeball was found to be the second earliest organ involved in candidemia. Our results indicate that ophthalmic examination is useful to monitor the development and systemic involvement of endophthalmitis in patients with candidemia.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Pigment-dispersing hormone-immunoreactive neurons in the nervous system of wild-type Drosophila melanogaster and of several mutants with altered circadian rhythmicity.Antisera against the crustacean pigment-dispersing hormone (beta-PDH) were used in immunocytochemical preparations to investigate the anatomy of PDH-immunoreactive neurons in the nervous system of wild-type Drosophila melanogaster and in that of several brain mutants of this species, some of which express altered circadian rhythmicity. In the wild-type and in all rhythmic mutants (small optic lobes, sine oculis, small optic lobes; sine oculis), eight cell bodies at the anterior base of the medulla (PDFMe neurons) exhibit intense PDH-like immunoreactivity. Four of the eight somata are large and four are smaller. The four large PDFMe neurons have wide tangential arborizations in the medulla and send axons via the posterior optic tract to the contralateral medulla. Fibers from the four small PDFMe neurons ramify in the median protocerebrum dorsal to the calyces of the mushroom bodies. Their terminals are adjacent to other PDH-immunoreactive somata (PDFCa neurons) which send axons via the median bundle into the tritocerebrum. The results suggest a possible involvement of the PDFMe neurons in the circadian pacemaking system of Drosophila. The location and size of the PDFMe neurons are identical with those of neurons containing the period protein which is essential for circadian rhythmicity. Changes in the arborizations of the PDFMe neurons in small optic lobes; sine oculis mutants are suited to explain the splitting in the locomotor rhythm of these flies. In the arrhythmic mutant, disconnected, the PDFMe neurons are absent. The arrhythmic mutant per0, however, shows normal PDH immunoreactivity and therefore, does not prevent the expression of PDH-like peptides in these neurons.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Comparable molecular alterations in 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced oral and esophageal cancer in mice and in human esophageal cancer, associated with poor prognosis of patients.BACKGROUND: The murine model of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO)-induced oral and esophageal cancer is frequently used to assess the effects of different cancer prevention/ therapy agents in vivo, but the molecular mechanisms in those 4-NQO-induced carcinogenesis are unknown. This study investigated aberrant expression of cell growth-critical genes in 4-NQO-induced oral and esophageal cancer tissues in mice compared to those present in the human disease for association with survival of patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57LB6/129Sv mice were given 4-NQO in their drinking water to induce oral and esophageal cancer. Quantitative-reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect gene expression in the cancer tissues from mice and in 4-NQO-treated human esophageal cancer cell lines and esophageal cancer tissues. Methylation-specific PCR and DNA sequencing were performed to assess methylation of the Rarb2 promoter in murine tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to associate gene expression in esophageal cancer tissues with survival data for patients with esophageal cancer.RESULTS: 4-NQO dose-dependently induced pre-malignant and malignant lesions in the oral cavity and esophagus in mice that pathologically and morphologically mimicked human oral and esophageal cancer. Molecularly, 4-NQO inhibited Rar\u00e2\u2082 but induced expression of phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase-1 and -2 (p-ERK1/2) and Cox2 proteins and Rar\u00e2\u2082 gene promoter methylation in murine tumors. In vitro treatment with 4-NQO altered expression of RAR\u00e2\u2082, p-ERK1/2, and COX2 in human esophageal cancer cells. In tissues from 90 patients with esophageal cancer, expression of p-ERK1/2 and COX2 was up-regulated, and p-ERK1/2 expression was associated with advanced clinical tumor stage and consumption of hot beverages, while COX2 expression was associated with tumor de-differentiation in esophageal cancer. Furthermore, expression of p-ERK1/2 was associated with a worse overall survival rate of patients (p=0.014), whereas the association of COX2 expression with worse overall survival rate did not reach statistical significance (p=0.19). Knockdown of COX2 expression using transient transfection of a COX2 antisense expression vector inhibited Ki67 expression, an indicator of cell proliferation, in human esophageal cancer cells.CONCLUSION: 4-NQO-induced cancer in oral cavity and esophagus of mice not only pathologically and morphologically mimicked human oral and esophageal cancer, but also shared some molecular alterations (e.g. aberrant expression of Rarb2, p-ERK1/2, and Cox2). This study further demonstrated that targeting of the altered RAR\u00e2\u2082-led gene pathway could effectively suppress the development of this deadly type of cancer.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Organisms", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "An Integrated Approach to Bias in a Longitudinal Survey in the United Kingdom: Assessing Construct, Method, and Item Bias in the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).Construct, method, and item bias are three levels of measurement bias (i.e., internal bias) essential for valid group comparisons. While many studies often focus on only one level of bias, an integrated perspective on bias is still missing, especially in longitudinal designs. The aim of this study is to address bias in an integrated manner, using four waves of data in the U.K. Longitudinal Household Panel Survey. Responses to the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) from natives and two generations of immigrants were used to analyze the three levels of bias. While the basic structure of the GHQ-12 was stable across groups and time, item and method bias decreased with repeated administrations. Results were confirmed with a sensitivity test. The integrated results allowed for a distinction between temporal sources of bias that became smaller over time and sources affecting valid comparisons persistently. We discuss the implications for mental health assessment.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Combining Microfluidics and Microrheology to Determine Rheological Properties of Soft Matter during Repeated Phase Transitions.The microstructure of soft matter directly impacts macroscopic rheological properties and can be changed by factors including colloidal rearrangement during previous phase changes and applied shear. To determine the extent of these changes, we have developed a microfluidic device that enables repeated phase transitions induced by exchange of the surrounding fluid and microrheological characterization while limiting shear on the sample. This technique is \u00b52rheology, the combination of microfluidics and microrheology. The microfluidic device is a two-layer design with symmetric inlet streams entering a sample chamber that traps the gel sample in place during fluid exchange. Suction can be applied far away from the sample chamber to pull fluids into the sample chamber. Material rheological properties are characterized using multiple particle tracking microrheology (MPT). In MPT, fluorescent probe particles are embedded into the material and the Brownian motion of the probes is recorded using video microscopy. The movement of the particles is tracked and the mean-squared displacement (MSD) is calculated. The MSD is related to macroscopic rheological properties, using the Generalized Stokes-Einstein Relation. The phase of the material is identified by comparison to the critical relaxation exponent, determined using time-cure superposition. Measurements of a fibrous colloidal gel illustrate the utility of the technique. This gel has a delicate structure that can be irreversibly changed when shear is applied. \u00b52rheology data shows that the material repeatedly equilibrates to the same rheological properties after each phase transition, indicating that phase transitions do not play a role in microstructural changes. To determine the role of shear, samples can be sheared prior to injection into our microfluidic device. \u00b52rheology is a widely applicable technique for the characterization of soft matter enabling the determination of rheological properties of delicate microstructures in a single sample during phase transitions in response to repeated changes in the surrounding environmental conditions.", "answer groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Smoking cessation through the use of nicotine chewing gum: a double-blind trial in Thailand.Two hundred cigarette smokers in Thailand were randomly assigned to receive a chewing gum containing nicotine or placebo. After six months, significantly more of the group receiving the active gum than those receiving the placebo had given up smoking. The results suggested that this treatment was more effective in highly dependent smokers than in those who were less dependent. Few side effects were reported.", "answer groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The impact of osteoporosis on quality-of-life: the OFELY cohort.Although the long-term outcomes of osteoporosis (Op) such as fracture, kyphosis, and pain are well known, the physical, psychological, and social consequences, beyond fracture and pain, are less clear. The Osteoporosis-targeted Quality-of-life (OPTQoL) questionnaire aimed at assessing the physical difficulty, fears, and adaptations to one's daily life was developed as a cross-sectional instrument to characterize the burden of Op within a community. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of Op and related factors on community women participating in the OFELY study in France. Femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) and OPTQoL questionnaire data were collected from women randomly selected from a large insurance company. Data were obtained for 756 women (mean age 59 years, range 36-92), most of whom were white. Women were classified into five groups based on the extent of physical manifestations and family history of Op. Women who had prior fractures, height loss, and/or kyphosis or both reported greater physical difficulty, more adaptations to their lives, and greater fears than women reporting no such changes. Scores on the Physical Difficulty domain, however, did not differ significantly based on BMD alone (BMD T score or =0.300% v/v). MC3T3-E1 cultures challenged with a high particle dose (0.300% v/v) showed no rise in these outcome parameters over time, whereas cultures challenged with a low particle dose (0.075% v/v) showed a normal or reduced rate of increase compared to controls. Osteocalcin production was not significantly affected by particles at all doses tested. MC3T3-E1 cells grown in conditioned medium from particle-treated MC3T3-E1 cultures showed a significant reduction in mineralization only. These results indicate that direct exposure of MC3T3-E1 osteoprogenitors to PMMA particles results in suppression of osteogenic proliferation and differentiation.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Research on the fundamental principles of China's marine invasive species prevention legislation.China's coastal area is severely damaged by marine invasive species. Traditional tort theory resolves issues relevant to property damage or personal injuries, through which plaintiffs cannot cope with the ecological damage caused by marine invasive species. Several defects exist within the current legal regimes, such as imperfect management systems, insufficient unified technical standards, and unsound legal responsibility systems. It is necessary to pass legislation to prevent the ecological damage caused by marine invasive species. This investigation probes the fundamental principles needed for the administration and legislation of an improved legal framework to combat the problem of invasive species within China's coastal waters.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Characterization of a new strain of Taura syndrome virus (TSV) from Colombian shrimp farms and the implication in the selection of TSV resistant lines.Prior to 2004, Colombian shrimp farming benefited from a selection program in which Penaeus vannamei stocks were developed with resistance to Taura syndrome disease (TS). However since 2004, TS reappeared as a significant disease. In 2010, an apparently new strain of TSV (designated as CO 10) was collected in Colombia. Its genome was sequenced and compared with six other fully sequenced isolates. This analysis revealed that the TSV CO 10 is closely related to the isolates from Hawaii and Venezuela. Phylogenetic analysis based on capsid protein 2 (CP2) region from 59 TSV isolates shows that the recent Colombian isolates (2006-2010) form a new cluster and differ from the previous Colombia isolates (1994-1998) by 4% in nucleotide sequence. The virulence of this CO 10 isolate was similar to a Belize TSV determined through experimental infection in P. vannamei showing 100% mortalities and similar survival curves. By RT-qPCR for TSV, the viral loads were also close in the infected shrimp from both CO 10 and Belize at the order of 1?10(10) copies per \u00ecl RNA. To develop TSV-resistant lines, the candidate shrimp should be challenged with virus strains that have been isolated most recently from the regions where they will be cultured. This study suggests that the TSV present in Colombian shrimp farms during the last 5 years is a new TSV strain with high virulence.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Estimating the cost of visiting nursing service by visiting nursing model for urban public health center in Korea].PURPOSE: This study focused on analysing costs per visiting nursing care based on nursing activities in a public health center.METHOD: The Easley-Storfjell Instrument(1997) was used for a prospective descriptive analysis of self-records for workload data from 10 visiting nurses during 4 weeks on all nursing activities. In addition, analysis of the 478 visiting nursing records and cost data from 5 home visiting departments in public health centers during one year of 2003 was done.RESULT: The workload of visiting nurses by the type of model was identified as follows: Type I showed that caseloads made up 32.9 % of all nurse activities, and type II showed that the caseloads made up 45.8 %. Second, The cost per visit in type I was 33,088 won and 31,323 won in type II. Third, the estimated budgets were 1,902,436 won to 12,057,696 won for the type I model. and 4,151,316 won to 17,432,712 won for the type II model for one year.CONCLUSION: This study's results will contribute to baseline data used to establish on infrastructure for visiting nursing program and visiting nursing agencies based on the budget of visiting nursing services.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Bacteriophage P4282, a parasite of Ralstonia solanacearum, encodes a bacteriolytic protein important for lytic infection of its host.To enhance bacterial wilt resistance in tobacco expressing a foreign protein, we isolated the bacteriolytic gene from a bacteriophage that infects Ralstonia solanacearum. The bacteriolytic protein of phage P4282 isolated in Tochigi Prefecture was purified from a lysate of R. solanacearum M4S cells infected with the phage, and its bacteriolytic activity was assayed by following the decrease in the turbidity of suspensions of R. solancacearum M4S cells. The molecular weight of the bacteriolytic protein was approximately 71 kDa, and the sequence of the N-terminal 13 amino acids was determined. We used oligonucleotide probes based on this amino acid sequence to isolate the bacteriolytic gene from phage P4282 DNA. This gene of 2061 bp encodes a product of 687 amino acids, whose calaculated molecular weight was 70.12 kDa. The bacteriolytic gene was placed under the control of an inducible promoter. and the plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli NM522. The soluble proteins extracted from E.coli NM522 cells harboring the plasmid with the bacteriolytic gene showed obvious bacteriolytic activities against several strains of R. solanacearum isolated in various districts in Japan. DNA fragments from five phages, isolated in Niigata, Aomori, Okinawa, Fukushima and Yamaguchi Prefectures, hybridized to the bacteriolytic gene of phage P4282. These observations indicate that the bacteriolytic protein shows nonspecific activity against R. solanacearum strains, and a sequence similar to that of the bacteriolytic gene is conserved in the DNA of other bacteriophages. These results indicate that the generation of transgenic (tobacco) plants expressing the bacteriolytic gene of phage P4282 might result in enhanced resistance to bacterial wilt in tobacco.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Postpartum dissecting aneurysm of the basilar artery.BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dissecting aneurysms arising from the vertebrobasilar complex are rare and difficult to manage. More of their natural history needs to be known before treatment can be optimized.CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a postpartum dissecting aneurysm of the right vertebrobasilar artery in a 31-year-old woman that was confirmed by angiographic identification of a double lumen. The intracranial segment of the right vertebral artery was thrombosed proximal to the aneurysm. The patient, managed conservatively, recovered well and, when reexamined 2 months later, was found to be neurologically intact. A repeat angiographic study at that time demonstrated that the aneurysm had resolved.CONCLUSIONS: Proximal occlusion may have protected the aneurysm from rupture and further dissection, thereby making surgery unnecessary.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Diseases", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Normal erythrocytic delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in ten nonhuman primate species.Normal data on erythrocytic delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity were obtained from ten species of nonhuman primates: Tupaia glis, Galago crassicaudatus, Saimiri sciureus, Papio spp., Theropithecus gelada, Macaca mulatta, Macaca fascicularis, Macaca nigra, Hylobates lar entelloides and Pan troglodytes. Significant differences between species were observed with M. mulatta having the lowest activity and G. crassicaudatus the highest. Pan troglodytes and Papio spp. have levels of erythrocytic ALAD activity most closely approximating that of man.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Simultaneous determination of daphnetin, daphnoretin, daphneticin in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS and its application in pharmacokinetic study].To establish HPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of daphnetin, daphnoretin, and daphneticin in rat plasma after oral and intravenous administration of Daphne giraldii extract, and then use them in the calculation of pharmacokinetic parameters. Six sprague-dawley rats received intragastric administration of D. giraldii extract (daphnetin, daphnoretin and daphneticin were 88.40, 3.24 and 4.28 mg\u2022kg\u207b?, respectively). Their drug plasma concentration was determined by LC-MS/MS with schisandrin as an internal standard to draw plasma concentration-time curve. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Kinetica 4.4. The results showed that the linear range was 5-1 000 \u00ecg\u2022L\u207b? for daphnetin, daphnoretin and daphneticin, and the method ological test showed conformance to the requirements.The intraday and inter-day variable coefficients (RSD) were both less than 15.0%, indicating that both of legitimate precise and accuracy were consistent with the analysis requirements of biological samples. For daphnetin, the pharmacokinetic parameters Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-t, T1/2 and MRT were 4 h, 858.96 \u00ecg\u2022L\u207b?, 10 566.4 \u00ecg\u2022L\u207b?\u2022h, 5.19 h and 9.43 h, respectively. For daphnoretin, the pharmacokinetic parameters Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-t, T1/2 and MRT were 2.92 h, 178.00 \u00ecg\u2022L\u207b?, 905.89 \u00ecg\u2022L\u207b?\u2022h, 3.50 h and 6.95 h, respectively. For daphneticin, the pharmacokinetic parameters Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-t, T1/2 and MRT were 2 h, 36.67 \u00ecg\u2022L\u207b?, 355.11 \u00ecg\u2022L\u207b?\u2022h, 4.95 h and 8.27 h, respectively. The LC-MS/MS analysis method established in this study was proved to be so accurate and sensitive that it can be applied to the pharmacokinetic study of daphnetin, daphnoretin and daphneticin.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Level dependent signal flow in the light pupil reflex. I. Latency of time domain responses to transient stimuli.Latency of pupillary responses to light stimuli are smaller for larger steps of light, and larger for smaller steps of light (Alpern 1954; Lowenstein et al. 1964; Lee et al. 1969; Terdiman et al. 1969; Cibis et al. 1977; and many others). Miller and Thompson (1978), however, reported negligible change in pupil cycle time (period of high gain instability oscillations) with increased mean brightness. Sandberg and Stark (1968) reported a negligible reduction in phase lag of pupillary responses to sinusoidal light stimuli as the modulation coefficient (m) increased. To resolve the inconsistency between the well-documented dependence of latency upon brightness, and the apparent absence of level dependence in the phase characteristics (as reflected directly in the responses to sinusoidal stimuli and indirectly in pupil cycle time experiments) we measured: 1. Latency to step stimuli of light, 2. Phase of responses to sinusoidal light stimuli and 3. Period (pupil cycle time) of high gain instability oscillations. The dependence of pupillary latency upon stimulus level (both light and accommodation) and the interaction between accommodation and light responses were investigated. We show that most of the level dependence of light-pupil latency resides in the afferent path. In the companion papers, we demonstrate that: 1. Phase of pupillary response to sinusoidal light stimuli is reduced by increased mean light level, but is independent of pupil size and accommodative stimulus level; and 2. The period of high gain oscillations is shown to decrease with increased mean light level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Information Science", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[New photoreactive N(4)-substituted dCTP analogues:synthesis, photochemical characteristics, and substrate properties in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase catalyzed DNA synthesis].Photochemical characteristics and substrate properties of four newly synthesized dCTP analogues: N4-[2-(2-nitro-5-azidobenzoylamino)ethyl]-, N4-[2-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzylideneaminooxymethylcarbamoyl)ethyl] -, N4-[4-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzylideneaminooxy)butyloxy]-, and N4-[4-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzylidene hydrazinocarbonyl)butylcarbamoyl]-, and N4-[4-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzylideneaminooxy)butyloxy]-2'-de oxycytidine 5'-triphosphates as well as those of the earlier described N4-[2-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzoylamino)ethyl]- and 5-[E-3-(4-azidotetrafluorobenzoylamino)-1-propenyl)]-2'-deoxycytid ine 5'-triphosphates were compared. When being irradiated with UV light at a wavelength of 303-313 nm, the new analogues demonstrated greater than 10-fold higher photoactivity as compared with the old compounds. The first three new compounds were utilized by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase as dCTP and dTTP, while the last derivative was recognized only as dTTP. Once incorporated into the primer 3'-terminus, none of the analogues synthesized terminated further primer elongation with natural triphosphates.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Consultation for employees about cancer: the role of industrial physicians].At present, one-third of people die of cancer and the number is still increasing in Japan. Recently, the discovery of new drugs and the development of medical oncology promote outpatient treatment for cancer patients. In the near future, the working style by employees receiving cancer chemotherapy is expected to increase. In this article we discuss the role of the industrial physician in factories in the consultation for working staff with cancer or anxieties of cancer.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Nature and nurture in the family physician's choice of practice location.INTRODUCTION: An understanding of the contextual, professional, and personal factors that affect choice of practice location for physicians is needed to support successful strategies in addressing geographic maldistribution of physicians. This study compared two categories of predictors of family practice location in non-metropolitan areas among undergraduate medical students: individual characteristics (nature), and the rural program component of their training program (nurture). The study aimed to identify factors that predict the location of practice 2 years post-residency training and determine the predictive value of combining nature and nurture variables using administrative data from two undergraduate medical education programs.METHODS: Databases were developed from available administrative sources for a retrospective analysis of two undergraduate medical education programs in Canada: Universit? de Sherbrooke (UdeS) and University of British Columbia (UBC). Both schools have a strong mandate to evaluate the impact of their programs on physician distribution. The dependent variable was location of practice 2 years after completing postgraduate training in family medicine. Independent variables included individual and program characteristics. Separate analyses were conducted for each program using multiple logistic regression.RESULTS: The nature and nurture variables considered in the models explained only 21% to 27% of the variance in the eventual location of practice of family physician graduates. For UdeS, having an address in a rural/small-town environment at application to medical school (OR=2.61, 95% CI: 1.24-6.06) and for UBC, location of high school in a rural/small town (OR=4.03, 95% CI: 1.05-15.41), both increased the chances of practicing in a non-metropolitan area. For UdeS the nurture variable (ie length of clerkship in a non-metropolitan area) was the most significant predictor (OR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.067-1.22). For both medical schools, adding a single nurture variable to the model using only nature variables significantly increased the amount of variation accounted for in predicting location of practice in non-metropolitan areas.CONCLUSIONS: Aspects of graduates' rural background increase the chances of practicing in a non-metropolitan area. A third-year clerkship experience in a rural area may increase the chances of non-metropolitan practice. Although the total variation predicted by both nature and nurture variables in this study was small, adding a nurture variable significantly improves the prediction of individuals who will practice in a non-metropolitan area. The fact that total variation predicted was small is likely to be due to the limitations of the administrative databases used. Different strategies are being implemented in each university to improve the quality of existing administrative databases, as well as to collect relevant data about intent-to-practice, training characteristics, and the attitudes, beliefs and backgrounds of students.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effect of deprivation and time of refeeding on food intake.The amount of food eaten in a two hour trial by male Sprague Dawley rats was recorded after periods of food deprivation up to 42 hr in length. Rats ate 50-78% more when refed during the dark phase than when refed during the light phase. This occurred even when light fed animals were fasted for longer periods than the dark fed animals. Rats eat in a rhythmic pattern after deprivation. These data are in good agreement with data previously reported and extend it by increasing the number of observations, increasing the length of deprivation, and comparing different age groups.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Spectrofluorometric studies of the lipid probe, nile red.We found that the dye nile red, 9-diethylamino-5H-benzo[alpha]phenoxazine-5-one, can be applied as a fluorescent vital stain for the detection of intracellular lipid droplets by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytofluorometry (J. Cell. Biol. 1985. 100: 965-973). To understand the selectivity of the staining, we examined the fluorescence properties of nile red in the presence of organic solvents and model lipid systems. Nile red was found to be both very soluble and strongly fluorescent in organic solvents. The excitation and emission spectra of nile red shifted to shorter wavelengths with decreasing solvent polarity. However, the fluorescence of nile red was quenched in aqueous medium. Nile red was observed to fluoresce intensely in the presence of aqueous suspensions of phosphatidylcholine vesicles (excitation maximum: 549 nm; emission maximum: 628 nm). When neutral lipids such as triacylglycerols or cholesteryl esters were incorporated with phosphatidylcholine to form microemulsions, nile red fluorescence emission maxima shifted to shorter wavelengths. Serum lipoproteins also induced nile red fluorescence and produced spectral blue shifts. Nile red fluorescence was not observed in the presence of either immunoglobulin G or gelatin. These results demonstrate that nile red fluorescence accompanied by a spectral blue shift reflects the presence of nile red in a hydrophobic lipid environment and account for the selective detection of neutral lipid by the dye. Nile red thus serves as an excellent fluorescent lipid probe.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition for the prophylaxis and treatment of preinvasive breast cancer in a her-2/neu mouse model.Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the most common form of preinvasive breast cancer. Several molecular alterations have been identified in DCIS. Among them, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) overexpression has been shown in 60% to 80% of DCIS cases. Celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that selectively inhibits COX-2. In this study, we evaluated whether COX-2 inhibition by celecoxib can reduce the incidence of preinvasive breast cancer and its progression to invasive breast cancer in a mouse model exhibiting a similar phenotype to human solid-pattern DCIS. We have used the mouse model mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-Neu to investigate this possibility. These mice carry a rat Her-2/Neu transgene and are known to develop DCIS-like lesions. Our results showed that celecoxib (500 ppm) given as prophylaxis was neither able to prevent tumor development nor delay tumor appearance compared with untreated mice. Furthermore, when the drug was given early in tumorigenesis, it did not reduce the progression of preinvasive to invasive tumors nor prevent lung metastasis. Reduction of prostaglandin levels was, however, achieved in mammary tumors of treated mice. In addition, celecoxib treatment caused an increase in apoptosis and decreased vascular endothelial growth factor expression in treated animals. Our results contrast with some previously published studies and highlight the complexity of the relationship between COX-2 and breast cancer.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Changes in the number of active sweat glands (palmar sweat index, PSI) during a distressing film.Changes of the number of active palmar sweat glands (palmar sweat index, PSI) as assessed by the plastic finger-print method were studied in two groups of female students (n = 21 each). In both samples experiments involved an initial adaptation period, several relaxation phases and an activation period (presentation of a movie). The film was shown 10 min earlier in Group 1, for which in turn follow-up was twice as long. Prints for determination of PSI were taken every 2.5 min from the forefinger and ring finger of the left hand, and recordings of SCL, SF (number of spontaneous fluctuations) and HR were made during the corresponding intervals. Both within- and between-groups comparisons showed an increase of PSI during the activation period and a decrease afterwards. Similar effects were observed for SCL, SF and affective and somatic arousal assessed by a state questionnaire. A decrease of PSI and parameters of electrodermal activity during the first measurements indicated an initial reaction to the assessment procedure itself. Both within-subject and between-subjects correlations between PSI from both fingers showed high parallel test reliabilities, while correlations with electrodermal variables indicated a common physiological basis.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Humanities", "Information Science", "Organisms", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Recognition of carboxylate anions and carboxylic acids by selenium-based new chromogenic fluorescent sensor: a remarkable fluorescence enhancement of hindered carboxylates.A selenium metal-based new fluorescence sensor 5-pivaloylamino-1,2,5-selenodiazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-7-(6H)-one (receptor 1) has been reported for the recognition of monocarboxylic acids and carboxylate anions both by UV-vis and fluorescence methods. Receptor 1 recognizes carboxylate anions more than monocarboxylic acids and it is a selective sensor for carboxylates with specially hindered carboxylate anions. The changes of fluorescence intensity are remarkably enhanced with red shift in presence of bulky carboxylate anions. The X-ray crystal structure of receptor 1 with pivalic acid has been reported.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The Cost of Asthma Treatment in Phramongkutlao Hospital: Population-Based Study in Adults.BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects patients' quality of life and work performance. The cost of asthma treatment is a global economic burden. The costs include the direct medical costs and the indirect costs, such as the loss of productivity, which is difficult to quantify.OBJECTIVE: Analyze the cost of asthma treatment in Thailand.MATERIAL AND METHOD: Seventy-four asthmatic patients who had exacerbation were enrolled in the present study. Self-answer questionnaires were completed by the subjects including characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and level of asthma control by asthma control test (ACT) score. We evaluated the cost of asthma treatment calculated from direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect medical costs.RESULTS: The average total cost per month was 2,752 Thai baht (US$ 86). The direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect medical costs were 52.39%, 20.73%, and 26.88%, respectively. The direct medical costs accounted for quick-relief medications 11.91% and control medications 36.85% of the total medical cost. Loss of productivity, loss of work caused by asthma exacerbation, was the majority cost of non-medical costs. The average cost of treatment in uncontrolled was higher than partly controlled asthmatic patients but without significant difference. Healthcare payment system and age range affected the total costs of asthma treatment.CONCLUSION: The direct non-medical costs and indirect medical costs tend to play an important role of asthma treatment. The data suggested that cost savings could be achieved by improving asthma control.", "answer groups": [ "Humanities", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Raised Proinflammatory Cytokine Production Within Cerebrospinal Fluid Precedes Fever Onset in Patients With Neurosurgery-Associated Bacterial Meningitis.OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to determine whether selective inflammatory cytokine concentrations within cerebrospinal fluid are useful markers for the differential diagnosis of aseptic and bacterial meningitis within neurosurgical patients.DESIGN: Prospective, open-label, observational, cohort study.SETTING: Neurosurgical ICU, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.PATIENTS: Thirty-two consecutive neurosurgical patients who had postoperative fever following external ventricular drain insertion for the treatment of brain injury underwent serial cerebrospinal fluid cytokine analysis pre and post fever to determine the value of such markers in ascertaining the differential diagnosis of meningitis.INTERVENTION: Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected on the day of fever onset, as well as on day 2 and 4 pre and post fever development. Tumor necrosis factor-\u00e1, interleukin-1\u00e2, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, transforming growth factor-\u00e2, and procalcitonin were subsequently analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis techniques.MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Inflammatory marker levels were compared among febrile aseptic, bacterial, and nonmeningitis patients to determine cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory changes over time. Significant increases in cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor -\u00e1, interleukin-1\u00e2, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 levels were observed within patients with bacterial meningitis at fever onset, which was not evident in aseptic or nonmeningitis patients. Furthermore, significant increases in cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor-\u00e1, interleukin-1\u00e2, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 levels were detected as early as 4 days prior to fever onset within patients with bacterial meningitis when compared with both aseptic and nonmeningitis groups. Interestingly, procalcitonin was only significantly increased in patients with bacterial meningitis on the fourth day post fever.CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that raised cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor -\u00e1, interleukin-1\u00e2, and interleukin-8 in a temporal manner may indicate early bacterial meningitis development in neurosurgical patients, enabling earlier diagnostic certainty and improved patient outcomes.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "C-reactive protein as a marker of the surgical stress reduction within an ERAS protocol (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) in colorectal surgery: A prospective cohort study.BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol (ERAS) in relation to reduce the Systemic Inflammatory Response (SIR) to surgery using C-reactive protein (CRP) in the first (POD1), second (POD2) and third (POD3) postoperative day.METHODS: We enrolled 121 patients (ERAS group) that underwent elective colorectal surgery with ERAS, and compared them with 135 patients (preERAS group) that had undergone surgery prior to the implementation. We made a univariate analysis to compare the CRP values in POD1, POD2, and POD3 between preERAS/ERAS group, laparoscopic/open surgery and the presence or not of Clavien Dindo complications. Multivariable lineal regression was used to assess if the ERAS had a decreasing effect on the CRP in POD1, POD2, and POD3, and was adjusted by age, male sex, use of laparoscopy, and complications.RESULTS: The presence of complications was independently associated with an increase in CRP values \u200b\u200bin POD1, POD2, and POD3. Laparoscopy in POD1 and POD2, and ERAS in POD2 was independently associated with a decrease in CRP values.CONCLUSION: The analysis shows an increase in SIR measured as a CRP value in those patients that had complications. The SIR decreased with laparoscopy in POD1 and POD2 and with ERAS in POD2.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "If brain scans really detected deception, who would volunteer to be scanned?Recent neuroimaging studies investigating the neural correlates of deception among healthy people, have raised the possibility that such methods may eventually be applied during legal proceedings. Were this so, who would volunteer to be scanned? We report a \"natural experiment\" casting some light upon this question. Following broadcast of a television series describing our team's investigative neuroimaging of deception in 2007, we received unsolicited (public) correspondence for 12 months. Using a customized template to examine this material, three independent assessors unanimously rated 30 of an initial 56 communications as unequivocally constituting requests for a \"scan\" (to demonstrate their author's \"innocence\"). Compared with the rest, these index communications were more likely to originate from incarcerated males, who were also more likely to engage in further correspondence. Hence, in conclusion, if neuroimaging were to become an acceptable means of demonstrating innocence then incarcerated males may well constitute those volunteering for such investigation.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Charge-density distribution in hydrogen methylphosphonates of calcium and lithium.Two new crystal structures, calcium bis(hydrogen methylphosphonate), Ca(CH(3)PO(3)H)(2), and lithium hydrogen methylphosphonate, Li(CH(3)PO(3)H), have been obtained, and the experimental and theoretical charge densities, as well as their topological properties, are reported. Both compounds display layered structures. Each hydrogen methylphosphonate anion coordinates three metal cations in the calcium compound and four in the lithium one. Weak polarization of oxygen lone pairs is observed, with lithium showing somewhat stronger polarization strength than calcium. The reported topological properties from the density functional theory (DFT) and X-ray approach are consistent with each other. In both structures the P-O bonds have a significant share of ionic character. The hyperconjugation effects within the phosphonate group are quenched upon coordination of the metal cations.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Adherence in the CAPRISA 004 tenofovir gel microbicide trial.High adherence is key to microbicide effectiveness. Here we provide a description of adherence interventions and the adherence rates achieved in the CAPRISA 004 Tenofovir gel trial. Adherence support for the before-and-after dosing strategy (BAT 24) was provided at enrolment and at each monthly study visit. This initially comprised individual counselling and was replaced midway by a structured theory-based adherence support program (ASP) based on motivational interviewing. The 889 women were followed for an average of 18 months and attended a total of 17,031 monthly visits. On average women reported five sex acts and returned 5.9 empty applicators per month. The adherence rate based on applicator count in relation to all reported sex acts was 72.2 % compared to the 82.0 % self-reported adherence during the last sex act. Adherence support activities, which achieve levels of adherence similar to or better than those achieved by the CAPRISA 004 ASP, will be critical to the success of future microbicide trials.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Organisms", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The effect of hospice on Medicare and informal care costs: the U.S. Experience.The effect of hospice on third-party payer costs has long been of great interest in the United States and other nations. The choice of hospice could also influence the costs experienced by patients and family members as compared with when Medicare beneficiaries choose to use normal care. This article considers both types of cost in the context of the United States. Hospice provides a rare example of a medical or multiprofessional intervention that improves quality of life for patients while reducing the costs of third-party insurers. Out-of-pocket costs do not differ by hospice use, but families experience higher informal costs when a loved one who is dying uses hospice. There are likely benefits of such interactions that would offset any costs, but these are hard to quantify. The Medicare program is supposed to provide necessary and reasonable care to beneficiaries, and hospice would easily pass any such assessment.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Ambient and biochemical effect monitoring of workers exposed to ethylene oxide.OBJECTIVES: Ethylene oxide is an alkylating agent known to be a directly acting mutagen and carcinogen. This study describes the relationship between workplace ambient air concentrations of ethylene oxide and the concentration of N-2-hydroxyethylvaline in the globin of exposed workers.METHODS: During the sterilization of medical equipment, 12 workers were occupationally exposed to ethylene oxide. Personal and stationary ambient air measurements were carried out to monitor the external exposure. The determination of the protein adducts was based on the N-alkyl-Edman method, introducing a new commercially available dipeptide standard for calibration purposes.RESULTS: Ethylene oxide concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 8.5 ppm were found in the workplace air. The adduct concentrations ranged from 5,219 to 32,738 pmol N-2-hydroxyethylvaline/g globin in the case of regularly exposed workers (n = 9) and from 518 to 3,321 pmol N-2-hydroxyethylvaline/g globin for three persons with occasional contact with ethylene oxide.CONCLUSIONS: The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft established in 1993 a relationship between the ethylene oxide concentration in ambient air and the amount of N-2-hydroxyethylvaline in human globin. By extrapolation, constant exposure to 1 ppm ethylene oxide should yield approximately 4,000 pmol N-2-hydroxyethylvaline/g globin. The ambient air concentrations of ethylene oxide and the amount of N-2-hydroxyethylvaline determined within the present study confirm this extrapolation in practice. In addition, the determination of adducts based on the use of commercially available dipeptide standards for calibration purposes turned out to be an advantageous alternative to the commonly used protein standards.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Modeling Disease Progression via Multisource Multitask Learners: A Case Study With Alzheimer's Disease.Understanding the progression of chronic diseases can empower the sufferers in taking proactive care. To predict the disease status in the future time points, various machine learning approaches have been proposed. However, a few of them jointly consider the dual heterogeneities of chronic disease progression. In particular, the predicting task at each time point has features from multiple sources, and multiple tasks are related to each other in chronological order. To tackle this problem, we propose a novel and unified scheme to coregularize the prior knowledge of source consistency and temporal smoothness. We theoretically prove that our proposed model is a linear model. Before training our model, we adopt the matrix factorization approach to address the data missing problem. Extensive evaluations on real-world Alzheimer's disease data set have demonstrated the effectiveness and efficiency of our model. It is worth mentioning that our model is generally applicable to a rich range of chronic diseases.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Identification of an encystation-specific transcription factor, Myb protein in Giardia lamblia.The life cycle of Giardia lamblia contains two differentiation processes, encystation and excystation. We performed an experiment to identify the genes induced during encystation using the differential display reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Three of twelve isolated cDNA clones that showed increased transcription during encystation were identified to be of the myb2, which encodes a well-known transcriptional factor involved in cellular development and differentiation. The amino acid sequences of the Myb2 protein deduced from the isolated gene revealed that this Myb2 has a DNA binding domain comprising two imperfect repeats at its carboxyl-terminus. The nuclear localization of Myb2 protein during encystation was observed in vivo by expressing a Myb2-GFP fusion protein. In a random site selection experiment, the oligonucleotides bound by rMyb2 contained a conserved sequence of GTTT(G/T)(G/T). Two promoters of the encystation-induced genes, myb2, and cwp1, were also found to bind to rMyb2, whereas gap1, one of the constitutive genes did not.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Cigarette smoking in the U.S. military: findings from the 1992 Worldwide Survey.BACKGROUND: Using data from the military's Worldwide Survey series, this article presents findings on the prevalence of smoking among active-duty military personnel in 1992 and trends since 1980.METHODS: A stratified probability sampling design was used in the 1992 Worldwide Survey. Military installations worldwide were sampled, and then active-duty personnel within these installations were selected. A total of 16,395 usable questionnaires were obtained, for an overall response rate of 77.3%.RESULTS: The prevalence of cigarette smoking among military personnel has declined from 51% in 1980 to 35% in 1992. This decline was not explained by changes in the sociodemographic composition of the military population. Overall, smoking was more prevalent among personnel who were white, had less education, and were enlisted. In addition, enlisted men reporting higher levels of work-related stress were more likely to be smokers. Over half of all military personnel who were smokers in the past year attempted to quit.CONCLUSIONS: The military has made considerable progress since 1980 in reducing the prevalence of smoking among military personnel. Nonetheless, the prevalence in 1992 was still relatively high, affecting about one of every three personnel. A promising group to target in future antismoking efforts may be smokers who tried to quit during the past year.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Sera-controlled preadipocyte growth in culture: an ontogeny study with sera from lean and obese pigs.Genetically lean and obese swine were used to investigate the control of preadipocyte growth in culture by porcine serum. Sera were collected from fetuses from obese and lean strains at 70, 90 and 110 d of gestation. Postnatal serum samples were collected from both lines of pigs at 23 to 27 kg. Rat preadipocytes were isolated and grown in culture. Preadipocyte and stromal-vascular cell proliferation was greater in cultures grown in sera obtained postnatally than in cultures grown in sera from fetuses. Sera from lean and obese fetuses were equipotent in promoting cell proliferation. Glycerol-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity was higher in cultures fed serum from obese pigs and fetuses than in cultures fed serum from lean pigs and fetuses. Cultures grown in serum from obese fetuses and pigs had soluble protein levels similar to cultures grown with serum from lean pigs and fetuses. These results demonstrate that serum from genetically obese swine, in the pre-obese (fetal) and obese (postnatal) state, caused increased adipogenic activity in adipocytes in culture.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "P-cadherin induces an epithelial-like phenotype in oral squamous cell carcinoma by GSK-3beta-mediated Snail phosphorylation.Cadherins belong to a family of Ca(2+)-dependent homophilic cell-cell adhesion proteins that are important for correct cellular localization and tissue integrity. They play a major role in the development and homeostasis of epithelial architecture. Recently, it has become more and more evident that P-cadherin contributes to the oncogenesis of many tumors. To analyze the role of P-cadherin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we used a cell line that was deficient of the classical cadherins, P-cadherin, E-cadherin and N-cadherin. This cell line was transfected with full-length P-cadherin (PCI52_PC). After overexpression of P-cadherin, PCI52_PC gained an epithelial-like brickstone morphology in contrast to the mock-transfected cells with a spindle-shaped mesenchymal morphology. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a strong nuclear Snail staining in mock-transfected cells compared with a significantly reduced nuclear staining and translocation to the cytoplasm in P-cadherin-overexpressing cells. Interestingly, the effects triggered by P-cadherin overexpression could be reversed by transfecting the cells with an antisense P-cadherin plasmid construct. Additional investigations showed a reexpression of E-cadherin in all P-cadherin-transfected cell clones in contrast to the mock controls. Analyzing the signaling mechanism behind it, we found glycogen-synthase-kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) bound to Snail in all cell clones. Furthermore, P-cadherin-overexpressing cell lines showed activated GSK-3beta that phosphorylated Snail leading to its cytoplasmic translocation. In summary, our results reveal P-cadherin as one major component in reconfiguring mesenchymal cells with epithelial features by triggering GSK-3beta-mediated inactivation and cytoplasmatic translocation of Snail in OSCC.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Anatomy", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A liquor contacting area in the pineal recess of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).The wall of the third ventricle in the pineal recess of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) has been investigated by light and electron microscopy. Deep in the pineal recess, where the ependymal lining is thin and non-ciliated, clusters of pinealocytes protrude into the ventricular lumen. They force the ependyma apart so that their surface is directly exposed to the CSF, while basal processes extend towards the hypependymal pineal tissue. It is assumed that these cells may secrete melatonin into the CSF which is known to contain varying amounts of this hormone.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The influence of behavioural and psychological factors on medication adherence over time in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a study in the biologics era.OBJECTIVES: To investigate levels of self-reported adherence to biologic treatment and establish the contribution of demographic, physical and psychological factors to biologic medication adherence in an RA cohort.METHODS: Adalimumab-treated patients were recruited through the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for RA between May 2007 and April 2009. Demographic and baseline psychological measures including illness and medication beliefs were collected. Disease activity (28-item DAS), physical function (HAQ) and quality of life (36-item Short Form Health Survey) were also measured at baseline and at 6, 12 and 18 months. Adherence was assessed at each follow-up using the patient self-completed Compliance Questionnaire for Rheumatology (CQR). Multilevel mixed effects modelling analysis was performed to investigate predictors of adherence.RESULTS: Of the 329 Adalimumab-treated patients included, low adherence (CQR score <65) was reported in 23%, with 41% reporting low adherence at at least one time point. After controlling for age and disease duration, factors independently predictive of increased adherence were increased belief in medication necessity, with baseline effect diminishing over time [\u00e2 coefficient 1.68 (s.e. 0.19), P = 0.0001], lower medication concerns [0.50 (0.15), P = 0.001], with this effect remaining throughout follow-up, increased professional or family member support [0.81 (0.32), P = 0.01], strong views of illness being chronic [0.32 (0.14), P = 0.025] and increased treatment control [0.41 (0.19), P = 0.032].CONCLUSION: Wider recognition of the importance of psychological factors, particularly medication beliefs, in driving medication adherence could have substantial clinical and health economic benefits in RA. The psychological factors we have identified are putative targets for strategies to improve adherence in RA.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The tumor suppressor CYLD interacts with TRIP and regulates negatively nuclear factor kappaB activation by tumor necrosis factor.Cylindromas are benign adnexal skin tumors caused by germline mutations in the CYLD gene. In most cases the second wild-type allele is lost in tumor tissue, suggesting that CYLD functions as tumor suppressor. CYLD is a protein of 956 amino acids harboring a functional deubiquitinating domain at the COOH-terminal end. To shed more light on the function of CYLD, we have performed a yeast two hybrid screen using an HaCaT cDNA library that identified the RING finger protein TRIP (TRAF-interacting protein) as interactor with full-length CYLD. Mapping of the interacting domains revealed that the central domain of CYLD binds to the COOH-terminal end of TRIP. Far Western analysis and coimmunoprecipitations in mammalian cells confirmed that full-length CYLD binds to the COOH-terminal domain of TRIP. Because TRIP is an inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation by tumor necrosis factor (TNF), the effect of CYLD on NF-kappaB activation was investigated in HeLa cells. The results established that CYLD down-regulates NF-kappaB activation by TNF-alpha. The inhibition by CYLD depends on the presence of the central domain interacting with TRIP and its deubiquitinating activity. These findings indicate that cylindromas arise through constitutive NF-kappaB activation leading to hyperproliferation and tumor growth.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A rare native mitral valve endocarditis successfully treated after surgical correction.Mycobacterium abscessus and Kocuria species are rare causes of infections in humans. Endocarditis by these agents has been reported in only 11 cases. M. abscessus is a particularly resistant organism and treatment requires the association of antibiotics for a prolonged period of time. We report a case of native mitral valve bacterial endocarditis due to M. abscessus and Kocuria species in a 48-year-old man with a history of intravenous drug use. The case was complicated by a perforation of the posterior mitral valve leaflet, leading to surgical mitral valve replacement. Cultures from the blood and mitral valve disclosed M. abscessus and Kocuria species. The patient was treated for 6 months with clarithromycin, imipenem and amikacin, with resolution of symptoms. Repeated blood cultures were negative. Acid-fast staining should be done in subacute endocarditis in order to identify rapidly growing mycobacteria.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Synthesis of polysubstituted 5-azaindoles via palladium-catalyzed heteroannulation of diarylalkynes.A general and efficient procedure for the synthesis of functionalized 5-azaindoles through the catalyzed heteroannulation of 4-acetamido-3-iodopyridines and diarylalkynes is described. The reaction allows the preparation of a variety of substituted 2,3-diaryl-5-azaindoles in good to excellent yields.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Sexist language: should we be concerned?What is sexist language? It is inherently discriminatory language, either written or spoken, that implies an unjustified sexual bias against a group or an individual, usually women, but sometimes men. The identification of sexist language and the need for a change to nonsexist forms have long been topics of controversy. In this article we review the history of the debate as well as the evidence that this form of discriminatory language causes harm. The latter point is important, since the whole question is often dismissed as insignificant. The relevance of the issue to scientific and, particularly, medical writing is explored. Finally, a survey of journal writing is presented to help answer first, the question of how much of a problem still exists, and second, if so, what recommendations are needed to ameliorate it.", "answer groups": [ "Information Science", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Spinal cord compression by a rheumatoid nodule.A case, believed to be unique, is reported of spinal cord compression due to an extradural rheumatoid nodule.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Organisms", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[The influence of the diet with different content of magnesium on certain chemical and physical properties of the bones].The influence of the diet with different magnesium content on chosen chemical and physical properties of bones of young rats was investigated. In the first part of the work the influence of the calcium level in the diet on the content of magnesium and some other mineral constituents in bone was also studied. The investigations were carried out on growing Wistar rats weighing 96-100 g. During 21 days the animals were fed the following semi-synthetic diets: a) with different content of calcium: 0,214, 0,418, 0,610, 0,815% Ca and the same level of magnesium (av. 554 ppm Mg), b) with different content of magnesium and the same level of calcium (av. 0,614% Ca). The content of phosphorus was the same (0,440%) in all the diets. The control diet contained: 0,610% Ca, 0,44% P and 550 ppm Mg. After 21 days of experiment the animals were killed by anesthesia and the femurs and humeri were isolated. They constituted the material for investigations. The results of the investigations showed that the variable level of calcium (from 0,214% to 0,815%) in the diet with the same level of magnesium did not influence the content of magnesium and phosphorus in dry fat-free weight of bones. The body weight of rats fed the diets with different content of calcium was very similar to the control group. On the contrary the weight of femurs and calcium content in dry fat-free weight of bones of rats fed the diet with the lowest level of calcium (0,214%), were smaller than in the control group. In the group of rats fed the diet with 60 ppm Mg the visual symptoms of magnesium deficiency appeared after 7 days of the experiment. After 21 days the body weight and length of bones in this group were smaller than in the control group. Also the content of magnesium and phosphorus in dry fat-free weight of bones, breaking strength, and the strength of twisting destroying moment of bones were lower in this group of rats as compared with the control one (for most indices p less than 0,01). The group of rats fed the diet with 120 ppm Mg differed from the control group only by smaller content of magnesium in dry fat-free weight of bones. There was no statistically significant difference in the group of rats fed the diet with 2060 Mg regarding all indices except for the phosphorus from the control group.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "6-OHDA sympathectomy and exercise performance in the rat.6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was utilised for the study of the sympathetic nervous system in the resting rats and rats submitted to prolonged exercise. In order to reduce the acute physiological stress associated with an injection of 6-OHDA, beta-1 and alpha-1 adrenoceptors were blocked before the treatment leading to sympathectomy. Sympathectomised rats were divided in two groups: one sacrificed at rest, 24 hours after the treatment. The other group was sacrificed after a treadmill exercise to exhaustion. Running time to exhaustion was 36.0 +/- 4.5 min (mean +/- S.E.M.). This group ran significantly less than a control group brought to exhaustion in 73.7 +/- 10.0 min of exercise (P < 0.05). In order to make appropriate comparisons, another control group was run for 36 min. Some differences were observed between corresponding control and sympathectomized groups. At rest: 1) a lower plasma level of insulin, and 2) a higher plasma free fatty acid concentration were observed in sympathectomized rats. After 36 min of exercise: 1) a lower plasma concentration of norepinephrine, 2) no decrease of the plasma level of insulin, 3) no increase in the plasma glucagon concentration, and 4) a higher plasma glucose level were observed in sympathectomised rats when compared to control rats running for the same time. The lower plasma norepinephrine concentration in exercised sympathectomised rats suggests a lower sympathetic nervous activity in these animals than in control rats. The absence of a decrease of plasma insulin concentration and of an increase in glucagon can be attributed to this lower sympathetic activity in sympathectomised rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Identification of autoantibody against beta-amyloid peptide in the serum of elderly.Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by two major neurological features: amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. According to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide (A-beta) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD. Several lines of evidence suggest that antibodies against A-beta play a protective role in the neuropathology of AD. In this study, we describe the purification of an autoantibody against A-beta from human serum using affinity purification method. The purified autoantibody recognized A-beta deposits in the brain of aged Tg2676 mice, an animal model of AD. The serum levels of anti-A-beta autoantibody correlated inversely with age in both AD patients and control non-demented elderly subjects. Furthermore, the levels were significantly lower in AD patients compared with the age-matched control subjects. It is the first time to show the identification of endogenous anti-A-beta autoantibody in human serum and suggesting that serum levels of anti-A-beta autoantibody might be a good biomarker for AD patients.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms", "Health Care", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Morphological characteristics and physiological properties of aflatoxin B1 producing and non-producing Aspergillus flavus strains].Comparison between about 80 strains of Aspergillus flavus, belonging to the series flavus and oryzae, obtained from international collections but also isolated from French or African substrates revealed the following observations: 1. Cultural and morphological characteristics of toxicogenic and atoxicogenic strains of A. flavus are similar. However, the former produce a diffusible yellow pigment in 83% of isolates. 2. The two groups of conidiospores have the same resistance to UV irradiation (254 nm, 5 and 10 min). All the strains are equally sensitive to 4 antifungal antibiotics: nystatine, ketoconazole, clotrimazole and amphotericine. 3. A difference was seen in the capacity to produce enzymes as alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase and beta-glucosidase, implicated in the glucid metabolism. The specific hydrolytic activity has been confirmed by the characterization of a large amount of beta-galactosidase and by a diauxic growth on glucose medium supplemented by lactose. Possible relationship between these characters and aflatoxin B1 production by A. flavus strains is discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Psychometric properties of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory in a competitive sport setting: a confirmatory factor analysis.The present study was designed to assess selected psychometric properties of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) (Ryan, 1982), a multidimensional measure of subjects' experience with regard to experimental tasks. Subjects (N = 116) competed in a basketball free-throw shooting game, following which they completed the IMI. The LISREL VI computer program was employed to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis to assess the tenability of a five factor hierarchical model representing four first-order factors or dimensions and a second-order general factor representing intrinsic motivation. Indices of model acceptability tentatively suggest that the sport data adequately fit the hypothesized five factor hierarchical model. Alternative models were tested but did not result in significant improvements in the goodness-of-fit indices, suggesting the proposed model to be the most accurate of the models tested. Coefficient alphas for the four dimensions and the overall scale indicated adequate reliability. The results are discussed with regard to the importance of accurate assessment of psychological constructs and the use of linear structural equations in confirming the factor structures of measures.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Establishment and maintenance of behavioural dominance in male mice infected with Trichinella spiralis.Trichinella spiralis infections influenced the establishment and maintenance of behavioural dominance among outbred male mice. Infected animals assumed a subordinate status when challenged by normal or more lightly infected conspecifics both in an unfamiliar test arena and in their established home cages. These effects were demonstrable during the acute and the chronic phases of infection. The significance of this phenomenon to the survival of the mouse host and the transmission of the parasite is discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A quantitative morphology of nucleoli of erythroblasts in the mouse spleen: an electron microscopic study.Nucleolar changes during the differentiation of erythroblasts in the mouse spleen were examined quantitatively by electron microscopy. On the basis of a three-dimensional nuclear analysis, as reported previously, the erythroblasts could be classified into four types: small (S), medium (M), large (L) and extra-large (EL). Extra-large and large erythroblasts have large prominent nucleoli which are usually attached to the nuclear membrane. Medium and small erythroblasts have small nucleoli which are generally separated from the nuclear margin. The volumetric ratio of nucleoli to nucleus obtained by a point-counting method is 0.157 +/- 0.016 in EL; 0.135 +/- 0.011 in L; 0.035 +/- 0.004 in M and 0.015 +/- 0.004 in S, and the volume of nucleoli is 37.8 microns3 in EL; 17.3 microns3 in L; 2.3 microns3 in M; 0.5 microns3 in S, respectively. The number of nucleoli per nucleus is largest (3.9) in EL and smallest (0.6) in S. The nucleolar changes are discussed in relation to the developmental sequence of the erythroid series.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Mutation analysis of the acid ceramidase gene in Japanese patients with Farber disease.Farber disease is a rare lysosomal storage disease, characterized by the accumulation of ceramide in tissues due to acid ceramidase deficiency. Here we report the identification of three novel mutations in the acid ceramidase gene from two Japanese patients. Patient 1 showed joint problems at around 10 months of age and the patient is now emaciated, with multiple nodules and mild neurological problems at 10 years of age. Patient 2 had consanguineous parents and showed joint contractures at around 8 months of age. He showed neurological symptoms around 2 years of age and died at 6 years owing to respiratory failure. The diagnosis was made clinically and was confirmed by enzymatic assay of acid ceramidase. Molecular analysis of cultured skin fibroblasts showed normal mRNA levels expressed in both patients. By direct sequencing of cDNA, missense mutations of V97E in exon 4 and G235R in exon 9 were detected in patient 1 and 96delV in exon 4 was homozygously identified in patient 2. These mutations were also confirmed in genomic DNA. Expression of mutated acid ceramidase cDNA in COS-1 cells showed acid ceramidase activity decreased to 35%, 2% and 37% of control value, respectively. We also found a new polymorphism V3691 in exon 14 in the allele from the mother of patient 1. To date, 13 mutations, including our newly identified mutations, have been reported. All these mutations were genetically private and genotype-phenotype correlations could not be made.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Regioselective enzymatic acylation of ribavirin to give potential multifunctional derivatives.Lipase-catalyzed synthesis of potential multifunctional ribavirin derivatives was performed in acetone. Divinyl dicarboxylates with different chain lengths (C4, C6, C9, C10) were used as acyl donors and the reactions were catalyzed by lipase immobilized on acrylic resin from Candida antarctica (CAL-B). Ribavirin was regioselectivly acylated at the primary hydroxyl groups and the corresponding vinyl esters (C4, C6, C9, C10) were prepared in respective yields of 48%, 65%, 54%, 55%.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "USB-based Personal Health Records: an analysis of features and functionality.PURPOSE: To determine the features of commercially available USB-based Personal Health Records (PHR) devices, and compare the commercial state of the art to recommendations made by certification committees.METHODS: Thirteen USB-based PHRs were identified and analyzed based on data elements used and features provided. Marketing techniques used by the companies were also explored.RESULTS: Eight of the thirteen PHRs contained all seven clinical data elements (problems, procedures, medications, providers, allergies, labs, immunizations), three were missing a single element and the remaining two lacked two elements. In the features analysis no single PHR contained all eight features (export data, import data, images, summary print out, emergency entry, teaching material available for problem, username and password supported, Mac-compatible), but two of the devices had seven of the eight features. Finally, scare tactics were used in marketing all but two of the PHR devices.CONCLUSION: While PHRs are very important in the health care field, at the present time, USB-based PHRs currently on the market appear to have deficiencies. Tethered or web-based PHRs may be a better option for consumers at present.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Health Care", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Information Science", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "International EMS systems: France.The EMS (Emergency Medical Service) system in France is a centrally based, two-tiered, physician-manned system. The first level is composed of BLS (Basic Life Support) fire department ambulances (called \"VSAB\") based at fire stations. The second level is composed of ALS (Advanced Life Support) physician staffed-ambulances. In France, there are two different levels of emergency department (ED). The first level is called \"SAU\" and has continuous coverage by surgeons, in Level 2 certain specialities may be available only on an \"on-call\" basis. Staffing patterns in the ED vary from one hospital to another. In general, EDs in university and major teaching hospitals are staffed by emergency physicians and residents from different specialties. In France medical schools are part of free public universities. The length of medical training varies from 8 to 11 years according to speciality. Emergency Medicine is not recognised as a stand alone specialty.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[N-dealkylation of chlorimipramine and chlorpromazine in patients undergoing chronic treatment with both drugs: preliminary results].Data obtained in this preliminary study show that in patients chronically treated either with Chlorimipramine (n = 6) or with Chlorpromazine (n = 2), significant amounts of the corresponding Nor1- and Nor2-metabolites were detected in plasma. The role of these metabolites in the overall therapeutic effect is under investigation.", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Reaction of optically active alpha-aminoallenylstannanes with aldehydes formed in situ from the Lewis-acid-catalyzed rearrangement of epoxides.Reaction of optically active alpha-oxazolidinonylallenylstannanes with oxiranes in the presence of BF3.OEt2 produced beta-hydroxypropargylamines with high syn diastereoselectivity and high enantioselectivity through an initial Lewis-acid-catalyzed rearrangement of the oxirane to the corresponding aldehyde via an alkyl, aryl, or hydride shift. This permits the use of readily available oxiranes as alternatives to aldehydes that are difficult to prepare and/or unstable.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of amethopterin (methotrexate) on the evolution of pregnancy in rats.Amethopterin (4-amino-N-10-methyl-glutamic acid) was given to pregnant rats in varying doses at different periods of gestation to evaluate its effects upon both the mother and the fetoplacental unit. The maternal organism is more sensitive to this drug at days 14 to 17 than at a larger stage of gestation. When administered to rats from day 14 to day 18 of pregnancy the drug is capable of inducing a series of deleterious effects: maternal weight loss, resorption, abortion or hypotrophy of fetuses. Day 16 appears to be a critical moment in the evolution of rat pregnancy, after which injection of amethopterin does no longer impair fetoplacental growth. Before this date, the drug directly inhibits fetal weight gain, whereas the sensitivity of the placenta is only transient at day 16 resulting in maximum weight decrease of this organ 24 h later. Its action on rat pregnancy follows a direct dose-effect relationship reflecting increasing damage to the products of conception (resorption, abortion and hypotrophy).", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Novel visual system homeobox 1 gene mutations in Turkish patients with keratoconus.The aim of this study was to screen the visual system homeobox 1 (VSX1) gene in Turkish patients with keratoconus (KC). The patient group consisted of 44 patients who had undergone corneal transplant surgery before the age of 30, for advanced and rapidly progressive KC. The control group comprised 250 healthy individuals. We detected two missense mutations, D144N and D295Y, in exon 2 and exon 5 of the VSX1 gene, respectively, using next-generation sequencing analysis. The pathologic effects of the D144N and D295Y missense mutations on protein function were determined with bioinformatic analysis tools, SIFT, PolyPhen, and MutationTaster. Aspartic acid at the 144th position was more preserved among species than aspartic acid at the 295th position of the VSX1 protein. In the control group, five different genetic variations were detected, two of which (rs8123716 and rs12480307) were synonymous with variations in the patient group. Our results suggested that the D144N and D295Y mutations might have a role in the pathogenesis of KC disease.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "End-of-life care for lung cancer patients in the United States and Ontario.BACKGROUND: Both the United States and Canada offer government-financed health insurance for the elderly, but few studies have compared care at the end of life for cancer patients between the two systems.METHODS: We identified care for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who died of cancer at age 65 years and older during 1999-2003. Patients were identified from US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data (N = 13,533) and the Ontario Cancer Registry (N = 8100). Health claims during the last 5 months of life identified chemotherapy and emergency room use, hospitalizations, and supportive care. We estimated rates per person-months (PM) for short-term survivors (died <6 months after diagnosis) and longer-term survivors (died ?6 months after diagnosis), adjusting for demographic differences. To test whether monthly rates in Ontario were statistically significantly different from the United States, standardized differences were computed, and a 99% confidence interval (CI) was constructed to account for the multiple tests performed. All statistical tests were two-sided.RESULTS: Rates of chemotherapy use were statistically significantly higher for SEER-Medicare patients than Ontario patients in every month before death (short-term survivors at 5 months before death: SEER-Medicare, 33.2 patients per 100 PM vs Ontario, 9.5 per 100 PM, rate difference = 23.7 per 100 PM, 99% CI = 18.3 to 29.1 per 100 PM, P < .001; longer-term survivors at 5 months before death: SEER-Medicare, 24.4 patients per 100 PM vs Ontario, 14.5 per 100 PM, rate difference = 9.9 per 100 PM, 99% CI = 7.7 to 12.1 per 100 PM, P <. 001). During the last 30 days of life, fewer SEER-Medicare than Ontario patients were hospitalized (short-term survivors, 49.9 vs 78.6 patients per 100 PM, rate difference = 28.6 per 100 PM, 95% CI = 22.9 to 34.4 per 100 PM, P <. 001; longer-term survivors, 44.1 vs 67.1 patients per 100 PM, rate difference = 23.0 per 100 PM, 95% CI = 18.5 to 27.5 per 100 PM, P < .001).CONCLUSIONS: NSCLC patients in both Ontario and the United States used extensive end-of-life care. Limited availability of hospice care in Ontario and differing attitudes between the United States and Ontario regarding end-of-life care may explain the differences in practice patterns.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Poor Infant Feeding Practices and High Prevalence of Malnutrition in Urban Slum Child Care Centres in Nairobi: A Pilot Study.Little is known about the style and quality of feeding and care provided in child day-care centres in slum areas. This study purposively sampled five day-care centres in Nairobi, Kenya, where anthropometric measurements were collected among 33 children aged 6-24 months. Mealtime interactions were further observed in 11 children from four centres, using a standardized data collection sheet. We recorded the child actions, such as mood, interest in food, distraction level, as well as caregiver actions, such as encouragement to eat, level of distraction and presence of neutral actions. Of the 33 children assessed, with a mean age of 15.9\u2009\u00b1\u20094.9 months, 14 (42%) were female. Undernutrition was found in 13 (39%) children with at least one Z score <-2 or oedema (2): height for age <-2 (11), weight for age <-2 (11), body mass index for age <-2 (4). Rates of undernutrition were highest (9 of 13; 69%) in children aged 18-24 months. Hand-washing before the meal was lacking in all centres. Caregivers were often distracted and rarely encouraged children to feed, with most children eating less than half of their served meal. Poor hygiene coupled with non-responsive care practices observed in the centres is a threat to child health, growth and development.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A simple method to construct T-vectors using XcmI cassettes amplified by nonspecific PCR.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most powerful tools in cloning genes. For the direct cloning of PCR products, T-vectors, which contain complementary 3'-thymidine overhangs, are widely used. In the present study, we developed a plasmid, pNB-T, which was constructed by cloning an XcmI cassette with a sufficient length of DNA (over 500 bp long) between two XcmI restriction sites into pBluescript SK(+). An XcmI cassette was made by nonspecific PCR using a primer containing recognition sequences of XcmI so that pNB-T can easily be converted into a T-vector by restriction of the plasmid with XcmI. In addition, the recognition sequences for BamHI and NcoI were added at 5'-end of the primer in order to facilitate subcloning of the gene cloned in the T-vector. The cloning efficiency of a PCR product, the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene, was approximately 90%. Digestion of the recombinant plasmid containing the GAPDH gene with BamHI or NcoI liberated the DNA fragments with the expected size, demonstrating the usefulness of extra restriction sites. The method described in this report is quite simple and enables us to construct a variety of useful T-vectors.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of iso-\u00e1-acids, the hop-derived bitter components in beer, on the MRI-based Brain Healthcare Quotient in healthy middle-aged to older adults.AIM: Neurological disorders are a major public health issue worldwide and are often associated with structural changes in the brain. We have previously demonstrated that iso-\u00e1-acids (IAAs), the hop-derived bitter components in beer, improve memory impairment in aged and Alzheimer's disease mouse models. In this study, we evaluated the effects of IAA intake on the brain structure in healthy middle-aged to older adults. This study was conducted under the Impulsing Paradigm Change through Disruptive Technologies Program (ImPACT) study launched by the Cabinet office of Japan.METHOD: This study employed an open-labeled, single-arm, before and after design. Healthy middle-aged to older adults consumed a beverage containing IAAs (3 mg/190 mL) for 4 weeks.Recently developed magnetic resonance imaging-based brain health indicators were used to evaluate the following brain conditions: the Brain Healthcare Quotient (BHQ) based on gray matter volume (GM-BHQ) and white matter fractional anisotropy (FA-BHQ).RESULTS: In total, 25 subjects were recruited, and GM-BHQ and FA-BHQ were measured before and after intervention. In all subjects, no significant differences in GM-BHQ and FA-BHQ were observed. In subjects aged ? 60 years (mean 54.5; standard deviation 3.9) (n = 8), GM-BHQ was significantly increased 4 weeks after intervention compared with that before intervention.CONCLUSION: Intake of beverages containing IAAs might affect brain aging, particularly in healthy older adults, which may prevent the development of neurological disorders. Future studies employing more robust designs can elucidate the effects of IAAs on GM-BHQ and cognitive functions.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Species difference in glutathione level and glutathione related enzyme activities in rats, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters.Total glutathione (GSH and GSSG) level, and the activities of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GTP), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR) in the liver were investigated in rats, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters. Hepatic GSH level in rats, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters were 7.1, 7.8, 3.5 and 5.4 mM, respectively. The lower level of GSH in guinea pigs seems to be in part attributed to the higher activity of hepatic gamma-GTP, an enzyme which catalyzes GSH breakdown. Moreover, a marked species difference in the activities of GST, GSH-Px and GR was also observed. A 48 h-fasting resulted in a decrease of GSH and GSSG levels in rats, mice and guinea pigs, but not in hamsters. In addition, both nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate- and ascorbate-dependent lipid peroxidation produced by 9000 X g supernatant fraction in fasted animal species occurred most highly in the rat followed by hamster and guinea pig, and almost undetectable in mice. Thus, it suggests that the occurrence of lipid peroxidation in fasted animals may not be related to the hepatic GSH level, and rather, a lack of occurrence of lipid peroxidation in fasted mice may be due to the increased activity of GSH-Px activity.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction Due to the \"Anti-E\" Rhesus Antibody in a Patient with Crohn's Disease.BACKGROUND: The rhesus (Rh) system is the second most important blood group system after ABO, with highly immunogenic antigens. Although the anti-E Rh antibody has been reported to cause hemolytic disease of the newborn and delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions, acute hemolytic transfusion reactions (AHTR) have been rarely reported.METHODS: Peripheral blood (PB) samples were screened for irregular antibodies using a commercial ID-Diacell I - II antibody screening Panel (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Glattbrugg, Switzerland) and ID-cards \"LISS/Coombs\" (Bio-Rad, Switzerland). The antibody was confirmed using ID DiaPanel, an antibody identification panel (Bio-Rad, Switzerland). Rh phenotyping was performed for RhC/c and RhE/e antigens using an immediate-spin tube test with monoclonal anti-C, -c, -E, and -e (OrthoClinical Diagnostics, High Wycombe, UK) in saline-filled test-tubes.RESULTS: The patient was negative for antibody screening test before transfusion. After receiving a total of 6 units of cross-matching negative RBC transfusion, the antibody screening test result increased to 2+ after showing traces and the antibody was confirmed as anti-E Rh antibody. The Rh phenotype of the patient was C (+), c (+), E (-), and e (+). In addition, we verified that all the six units of RBCs transfused were E (+) except for the two units transfused before surgery.CONCLUSIONS: Here is an unusual case of an AHTR due to the anti-E Rh antibody after E-positive RBC transfusion in a patient with Crohn's disease. Because anemia is common in patients with Crohn's disease, it is important to determine the cause of the anemia and necessary to examine the Rh phenotype before transfusions because of the high need for transfusion due to any cause. Awareness of this possibility will ensure safe blood transfusion with special care to screen for antibodies and perform Rh phenotyping, thereby minimizing morbidity and preventing potential mortality.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Malignant eccrine poroma in breast cancer-related lymphoedema.We describe the first case of malignant eccrine poroma arising in a lymphoedematous site. The patient had long-standing lymphoedema of the upper limb following breast cancer treatment. Lymphoedema is a recognised complication of breast cancer treatment and a risk factor for the subsequent development of malignancy. Possible mechanisms for this are discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "SNP Discovery from Single and Multiplex Genome Assemblies of Non-model Organisms.Population genetic studies of non-model organisms often rely on initial ascertainment of genetic markers from a single individual or a small pool of individuals. This initial screening has been a significant barrier to beginning population studies on non-model organisms (Aitken et al., Mol Ecol 13:1423-1431, 2004; Morin et al., Trends Ecol Evol 19:208-216, 2004). As genomic data become increasingly available for non-model species, SNP ascertainment from across the genome can be performed directly from published genome contigs and short-read archive data. Alternatively, low to medium genome coverage from shotgun NGS library sequencing of single or pooled samples, or from reduced-representation libraries (e.g., capture enrichment; see Ref. \"Hancock-Hanser et al., Mol Ecol Resour 13:254-268, 2013\") can produce sufficient new data for SNP discovery with limited investment. We describe protocols for assembly of short read data to reference or related species genome contig sequences, followed by SNP discovery and filtering to obtain an optimal set of SNPs for population genotyping using a variety of downstream high-throughput genotyping methods.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Health Care", "Organisms", "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The exon-junction complex proteins, Y14 and MAGOH regulate STAT3 activation.Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which is activated by cytokines and growth factors, mediates biological actions in many physiological processes. In a previous study, we found that Y14, a core component of the exon-junction complex (EJC) bound to STAT3 and upregulated the transcriptional activity of STAT3 by influencing its DNA-binding activity. In the present study, we demonstrate that STAT3 endogenously interacts with Y14. In addition, we found that MAGOH, a Y14 partner in the EJC, inhibits the STAT3-Y14 complex formation. Furthermore, small-interfering RNA-mediated reduction of MAGOH expression enhanced interleukin-6-induced gene expression. These results indicate that MAGOH regulates the transcriptional activation of STAT3 by interfering complex formation between STAT3 and Y14.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The evolution of a community-based telepsychiatry program in rural Alabama: lessons learned-a brief report.The purpose of this paper is to describe the partnership between a community-based rural mental health clinic and an academic health center to provide telepsychiatry services in rural Alabama. The partnership was developed to meet the needs of a clinic that serves an underserved rural population with limited psychiatric services. This paper offers valuable lessons learned for mental health practitioners who may be considering the benefits and challenges of forming community-based partnerships in use of telepsychiatry to build capacity to deliver clinical mental health services to rural mental health shortage areas.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Information Science", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Glycerol-induced development of catalytically active conformation of Crotalus adamanteus L-amino acid oxidase in vitro.The reconstitutable apoprotein of Crotalus adamanteus L-amino acid oxidase was prepared using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. After reconstitution with flavin adenine dinucleotide, the resulting protein was inactive, with a perturbed conformation of the flavin binding site. Subsequently, a series of cosolvent-dependent compact intermediates was identified. The nearly complete activation of the reconstituted apoprotein and the restoration of its native flavin binding site was achieved in the presence of 50% glycerol. We provide evidence that in addition to a merely stabilizing effect of glycerol on native proteins, glycerol can also have a restorative effect on their compact equilibrium intermediates, and we suggest the hydrophobic effect as a dominating force in this in vitro-assisted restorative process.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Changes in FiO2 affect PaO2 with minor alterations in cerebral concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin during liquid ventilation in healthy piglets.OBJECTIVE: To measure the impact of changes in the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) on systemic and cerebral oxygen supply in gas and liquid ventilated healthy animals.DESIGN: Interventional prospective animal study.SETTING: University research laboratory.PARTICIPANTS: Ten healthy, new-born piglets.INTERVENTIONS: Variations in FiO2 during conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) followed by partial liquid ventilation (PLV) with two different filling volumes of PF 5080 (10 vs. 30 ml/kg).MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Arterial blood gases were obtained 15 min after changing FiO2 and concentrations of cerebral oxygenated and total hemoglobin were determined with near infrared spectroscopy. During CMV an increase in FiO2 1.0 was associated with a constant rise in PaO2 but only a small increase in the cerebral concentration of oxygenated Hb. Initiation of PLV (at FiO2 of 1.0) caused a rapid drop in PaO2 towards values that were similar to CMV at FiO2 of 0.5. At FiO2 of 0.5 a reduction in oxygenated Hb was found in the 30 ml/kg filling group. Complete filling of the lungs with PFC caused a significant drop in total cerebral Hb concentration. CONCLUSIONS. According to our data, PLV in healthy lungs should be performed with a FiO2 of 1.0 and a small filling volume to avoid deterioration in cerebral oxygen supply.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Health Care", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Simulated environmental risk estimation of engineered nanomaterials: a case of cosmetics in Johannesburg City.This paper attempts to quantify the potential risks posed by engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) to the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems from cosmetic-based nanoproducts. The predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) were modelled for the silver (nAg) and titanium dioxide (nTiO(2)) nanoparticles embedded in cosmetic nanoproducts. The Johannesburg Metropolitan City (JHB City), in South Africa, was used as the reference study area. A mathematical model was applied to compute the quantities of ENMs flows from the cosmetic nanoproducts into the JHB City aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The risk quotient (RQ) of the nanoscale materials were evaluated as a ratio of PEC to the predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC). RQ values showed wide variance due to factors like; the quantities of ENMs, the fate and pathways of ENMs in the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, efficiency of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) as well as the economic and demographic data for South Africa and Switzerland. For the aquatic environment, the PEC values of nAg ranged from 2.80 ? 10(-3) to 6.19 ? 10(-1) \u00ecg L(-1) whereas for nTiO(2) the values ranged from 2.7 0 ? 10(-3) to 2.70 ? 10(-1) \u00ecg L(-1) under the realistic dilution factor of 1 with the WWTP functioning at high removal efficiency regime. The RQ values in the aquatic ecosystems were mostly >1, indicating the potential risk of both nAg and nTiO(2) but <<<1 in the terrestrial ecosystems. Our results provide the first quantification of ENMs potential risk into the environment Johannesburg City in a developing country's natural and technical settings.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Information Science", "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of nitroimidazoles on neuronal cells in vitro.Peripheral neuropathy is a significant dose-limiting side effect of the nitroimidazole drugs in vivo. We have thus undertaken a study on the mechanisms of nitroimidazole neurotoxicity in the cultured neuronal cell lines, PC-12 (rat pheochromocytoma) and NB4183 (mouse neuroblastoma). Cells were differentiated with either nerve growth factor or dibutyryl cAMP and then were exposed to misonidazole and SR 2508. Cells underwent extensive morphological changes following exposure to nitroimidazole drugs, including loss of differentiated neurite projections. Loss of neurites appeared to correlate with changes in neurofilament proteins. Immunoblot analysis of the neurofilament proteins revealed a loss of the major parent proteins and the appearance of lower molecular weight (degradation) fragments. Our preliminary data in cultured neuronal cell lines suggest that nitroimidazoles cause disruption and degradation of the neurofilament lattice with subsequent degeneration of dendritic projections, and provide an in vitro model for studying the cellular and biochemical mechanisms of drug-induced neurotoxicity.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "HIV/AIDS education survey for mental health professionals.A total of 6804 mental health professionals, e.g., licensed and certified psychologists, licensed professional counselors, in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas were mailed a questionnaire regarding HIV/AIDS topics professionals might recommend for educational programs. Participants were asked to rate how strongly they would recommend each topic. The return rate was 31% (2121). The percentage of participants who did not recommend the topics was low (0.7%-10.9%). Most topics were either recommended (6.5%-50.2%) or strongly recommended (29.0%-92.8%). Topics with ratings of 80% of participants endorsing the strongly recommended rating included psychological crises associated with learning one is HIV positive, psychosocial issues, and counseling dying clients regarding grief, loss, and legal issues. The results are discussed in terms of continuing to develop educational programs targeting mental health professionals.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Characteristics and sources of elements of atmospheric particles before and in heating period in Beijing].In order to study the characteristics and sources of atmospheric particles before and in heating period, samples of atmospheric particles were collected in November of 2006. Concentrations of elements in particles were determined with ICP-MS. The results shows that concentrations of As, Se, Mo, Cd in heating period are more than twice of those before heating period, and there is sharp increasing of concentrations of Zn, Pb, Tl, K, Se, As, Cu, Cd, Ag in fine particles in heating period. Furthermore, Zn, Na are associated with finer particles in heating period than those before heating period. Factor analysis on the chemical composition of particles shows that contribution of combustion and biomass burning goes up and contribution of crust goes down in heating period.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Clinical observation on effect of compound E-bei ointment in treating plaque psoriasis].OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy oand safety of Compound E-Bei ointment (CEBO) in treating plaque psoriasis.METHODS: Adopting block-randomized, open, positive Western medicine and placebo parallel group controlled method, a total of 120 enrolled patients were administered orally with Saoxuan Pill, and randomized into three groups respectively treated with external application of CEBO, Daivonex, or vehicle control twice a day for 4 weeks. The changes of erythema, infiltration, scaly eruption, pruritus and the area of lesion were evaluated, the safety and the initiating time of symptom improvement (ITSI) were observed as well.RESULTS: Observation on local lesion showed that the scores of erythema, infiltration, scaly eruption, pruritus were significantly improved in difference between the CEBO group and the Daivonex group (P < 0.01). But in the placebo control group, significant improvement was only shown in scaly eruption scores (P < 0.01), so, the improvement in skin lesion in the placebo group was significantly inferior to that in the other two groups (P < 0.01). The ITSI of pruritus was shorter in CEBO group than that in the Daivonex group and the placebo group (P < 0.01), but that of other symptoms showed insignificant difference between the CEBO group and the Daivonex group, as for comparing in ITSI of erythema, infiltration, scaly eruption and pruritus, it was significantly shorter in the CEBO group and Daivonex group than that in the placebo group respectively (P < 0.01). The occurrence of adverse events in the CEBO group had insignificant difference to that in the Daivonex group, but the recurrence rate in the former was significantly lower than that in the latter (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: CEBO can effectively improve the symptoms of skin lesion in patients with plaque psoriasis, the clinical efficacy is not inferior to that of positive Western medicine.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups", "Organisms", "Diseases", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Characterization of the metal-binding sites of the beta-lactamase from Bacteroides fragilis.In an effort to better understand the structure and function of the metallo-beta-lactamase from Bacteroides fragilis, spectroscopic and metal-binding studies were performed on the native, metal-substituted, and mutant forms of the enzyme. Atomic absorption studies demonstrate that the native B. fragilis enzyme tightly binds 2 mol of Zn(II) and, along with mutagenesis studies, that the presence of both metal ions is required for full catalytic activity. EPR spectroscopy was used to confirm that the Co(II)-substituted beta-lactamase binds 2 mol of Co(II) per mole of enzyme, that the two Co(II)'s are highspin and probably uncoupled, with apparent g values of 6.5, 4.2, and 2.0, and that the coordination number of the Co(II) is 5 or 6. This number of ligands for the Co(II)-substituted enzyme is confirmed by UV-Vis spectra, which demonstrate the presence of very weak d-d transitions between 550 and 650 nm (epsilon approximately 30 M-1.cm-1) and an intense feature at 320 nm (epsilon approximately 1570 M-1.cm-1). The latter is assigned to a cysteine sulfur to Co(II) ligand-to-metal charge transfer band, and this assignment is confirmed by the disappearance of this band in the UV-Vis spectrum of a Co(II)-substituted C168S mutant. H NMR studies on the Co(II)-substituted enzyme suggest the presence of three histidine ligands bound to Co(II). Taken together, these studies support the sequence comparison study of Rasmussen et al., in which there is a catalytic metal-binding site with three histidines and one cysteine (C168). The remaining ligands are postulated to be water molecules involved in catalysis. Mutagenesis studies, in combination with activity assays and metal-binding studies, have been used to identify Asp61, Asp90, Asp152, and Asp183 as possible ligands to the second metal-binding site, with Asp90 and Asp152 having a pronounced effect on kcat. These results are discussed in light of the recent crystal structure of the metallo-beta-lactamase from B. cereus.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Vasopressin increases cytosolic free calcium concentration in glomerular mesangial cells.Cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]f) was determined in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells under basal conditions and after exposure to arginine vasopressin (AVP) or angiotensin II (ANG II). [Ca2+]f was determined using quin 2 or fura-2, two intracellular fluorescent probes. [Ca2+]f was measured to be 102 +/- 3 nM (n = 154) using quin 2 and 82 +/- 4 (n = 34) using fura-2. AVP and ANG II increased [Ca2+]f. Maximal levels of [Ca2+]f were achieved in less than 10 s after addition of the hormone. This peak value was followed by a rapid fall toward the base line. With fura-2 as the intracellular Ca2+ indicator, [Ca2+]f increased from 74 +/- 7 to a peak of 578 +/- 39 nM (n = 17) with 100 nM AVP. At 115 s after addition of AVP, [Ca2+]f was 125 +/- 9 nM. Similar peak levels of [Ca2+]f were observed using quin 2. The increase in [Ca2+]f was due in large part to release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, since reduction in extracellular free [Ca2+] with EGTA did not prevent the hormone-induced increase in [Ca2+]f, although it did result in a decreased peak level and a more rapid return to base line. The AVP-induced increase in [Ca2+]f was blocked by the V1 receptor antagonist (CH2)5Tyr(Me)VDAVP. Neither isoproterenol, which increased adenylate cyclase activity, nor dibutyryl cAMP had any affect on [Ca2+]f directly or on the AVP-induced increase in [Ca2+]f. In this report we present the first direct measurements of [Ca2+]f and hormone-induced changes in [Ca2+]f in glomerular mesangial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Treatment of patients with arterial hypertension and other stroke risk factors in clinical practice. The PROGNOS program].AIM: To analyse recent data on the treatment of arterial hypertension (AH) with other risk factors (RF) of cerebral stroke in the Russian Federation, assessment of effects of antihypertensive treatment with a combined drug Hyzaar on the risk of cardiovascular complications (including cerebral stroke), on affection of target organs and metabolic factors of atherosclerosis.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 500 outpatients with primary AH and risk factors including the risk of stroke received Hyzaar (losartan 50/100 mg and hydrochlorthiaside 12.5/25 mg) for one year.RESULTS: More frequent RF in hypertensive patients are the following: high blood cholesterol (86.7%), left ventricular hypertrophy (53.2%), familial history of AH (74.2%). A combination of three and two RF occurs in 49.1 and 37% hypertensive patients, respectively. A 6-month treatment with Hyzaar lowered systolic blood pressure by 28.4 mm Hg and diastolic one by 15.4 mm Hg. The target blood pressure was achieved in 83.5%. Real clinical practice showed that administration of a target Hyzaar dose for 6 months leads to a 6.5% regress of left ventricular hypertrophy, an 11% decrease of total cholesterol, a 4% decrease of glucose and a 8.9% decrease of uric acid.CONCLUSION: A control of AH and correction of RF in hypertensive patients with a high RF of stroke and other cardiovascular complications is real in use of adequate antihypertensive therapy.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Physical performance across the thyroid function values within the normal range in adult and older persons.BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormone variation may be correlated with adverse health outcomes, even within the normal reference range in euthyroid individuals.AIMS: To determine the association between plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) levels and physical performance score in middle age and older adults who had levels of all three hormones in the normal range.METHODS: In this community-based, cross-sectional study, euthyroid participants of the Invecchiare in Chianti study, aged 23-102\u00a0years (N\u2009=\u20091060), were considered. Physical performance was evaluated by the Summary Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Plasma TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels were predictors, and SPPB score was the outcome.RESULTS: At the univariate analyses, TSH, FT4, and FT3 were not significantly associated with SPPB score in young individuals, whereas, in older participants, SBBP score was positively (P\u2009<\u20090.001) associated with FT3, and negatively associated with both TSH (P\u2009<\u20090.02) and FT4 (P\u2009<\u20090.001). After adjusting for multiple confounders, FT3 remained significantly associated with SPPB (beta\u2009\u00b1\u2009SE, 0.35\u2009\u00b1\u20090.17, P\u2009=\u20090.04), but FT4 and TSH were not. Results did not change when all the three hormones FT3, FT4, and TSH were simultaneously considered in the fully adjusted model (beta\u2009\u00b1\u2009SE for FT3, 0.37\u2009\u00b1\u20090.18, P\u2009=\u20090.04).DISCUSSION: The results of this study demonstrate that SPPB score is positively associated with circulating FT3 but not with FT4 or with TSH, in older euthyroid individuals.CONCLUSIONS: In euthyroid older adults, circulating FT3 may play an important role in the thyroid effects on physical function.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care", "Anatomy", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Sensitive Leptospira DNA detection using tapered optical fiber sensor.This paper presents the development of tapered optical fiber sensor to detect a specific Leptospira bacteria DNA. The bacteria causes Leptospirosis, a deadly disease but with common early flu-like symptoms. Optical single mode fiber (SMF) of 125 \u00ecm diameter is tapered to produce 12 \u00ecm waist diameter and 15 cm length. The novel DNA-based optical fiber sensor is functionalized by incubating the tapered region with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane and glutaraldehyde. Probe DNA is immobilized onto the tapered region and subsequently hybridized by its complementary DNA (cDNA). The transmission spectra of the DNA-based optical fiber sensor are measured in the 1500 to 1600 nm wavelength range. It is discovered that the shift of the wavelength in the SMF sensor is linearly proportional with the increase in the cDNA concentrations from 0.1 to 1.0 nM. The sensitivity of the sensor toward DNA is measured to be 1.2862 nm/nM and able to detect as low as 0.1 fM. The sensor indicates high specificity when only minimal shift is detected for non-cDNA testing. The developed sensor is able to distinguish between actual DNA of Leptospira serovars (Canicola and Copenhageni) against Clostridium difficile (control sample) at very low (femtomolar) target concentrations.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Motivational interviewing as a mechanism for change in men who batter: a randomized controlled trial.The present study reports on the potential effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) in changing the way batterers think about their violent behavior. Thirty-three domestic violence offenders who were court-mandated to treatment were randomly assigned to MI or a control condition before attending their first mandated treatment group. Consistent with predictions, the MI group demonstrated generally more improvement on stages of change subscales than the control group. Further, the MI group demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in the extent to which they blamed their violence on external factors. Current data indicate that MI has the potential to increase batterers' motivation to change, although validation trials with larger sample sizes and more refined measures are required.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Information Science", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Awareness, anxiety, compliance: community perceptions and response to the threat and reality of an influenza pandemic.This study compared community response prior to and during the H1N1 2009 influenza pandemic using a cross-sectional phone survey of rural and metropolitan South Australia, conducted in 2007 and 2009. Awareness of pandemic influenza was significantly higher and anxiety lower in 2009 than in 2007. Reported seasonal influenza vaccine uptake increased from 51.7% in 2007 to 61.4% in 2009, but there was more interest in receiving pandemic vaccine in 2007 (87.5%) than in 2009 (57%).", "answer groups": [ "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Information Science", "Organisms", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Study of patient-reported morbidity following V-beam pulsed-dye laser treatment of port wine stains.The V-beam pulsed-dye laser (PDL) (595 nm) has gained popularity in the treatment of port wine stains (PWS). It uses longer pulse durations than the standard flashlamp-pumped pulsed-dye laser (FPDL) (585 nm) and has an in-built cooling system to protect the epidermis. This should, theoretically, reduce the treatment-associated side effects, including discomfort. The aim of this questionnaire-based study was to confirm the clinical impression that V-beam PDL is well tolerated. The results were compared with a historical group of 62 PWS patients treated with FPDL. Fifty-one patients took part in the current study. Only 35.7% (vs. 81% in the historical comparison group) required topical anaesthetic prior to laser treatment. A shortening in the duration of bruising (8 vs. 10 days) and of symptoms such as burning and tightness (3 vs. 10 days) was recorded. Lifestyle change after treatment was recorded by fewer patients (39 vs. 57%). We conclude that V-beam PDL is better tolerated than FPDL when used at therapeutic levels in patients with PWS.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Humanities", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Concerns of entering dental students.First-year students from three dental schools were surveyed during their first week of classes to assess their areas of concern. Factor analysis of the data revealed five independent areas of concern--psychosocial, academic, time, isolation, and money. A high degree of similarity was found in the order in which students ranked their concerns. Significant differences in the intensity of concern were found for academics and time. The implications of this study for future research on stress and coping behavior are discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Named Groups", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Linkage analysis between bipolar affective disorder and markers on chromosome X.Since 1969, several classical linkage studies suggested an X-chromosome locus for bipolar affective disorder. However, methods using highly polymorphic DNA markers have provided conflicting evidence for linkage, and an X-chromosomal locus for bipolar disorder remains controversial. More recently, Pekkarinen et al. (1995) found a maximum LOD score of 3.54 at the marker DXS994 in a large bipolar Finnish kindred. In the present study, we attempted to replicate this finding using 43 families multiply affected by bipolar affective disorder. These families were selected for the absence of male-to-male transmission of the disease, and were genotyped for two microsatellte markers, DXS1227 and DXS1062 (which is about 2 cM telomeric to DXS994). Linkage to this region was excluded either using a two-point lod score method with two plausible genetic models, or by a model-free lod score analysis which does not require specification of a particular mode of transmission. We conclude that there is no evidence of a common major gene for bipolar affective disorder at Xq25-q27 in our set of families.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Unclassified ovarian gonadal stromal tumors. A clinicopathologic study of 32 cases.Approximately 10% of gonadal stromal (sex cord-stromal) tumors of the ovary are difficult to classify. In most of these cases, the differential diagnosis is between granulosa and Sertoli-Leydig types. We studied 32 such neoplasms. The tumors were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisted of tumors with a predominance of a primitive spindle-cell stroma without specific differentiation, and group 2 consisted of tumors with a predominance of cords, trabecula, or tubules with features suggestive of or characteristics of both granulosa and Sertoli-Leydig cell differentiation in different areas. All tumors had overall features that did not permit definitive placement into granulosa or Sertoli-Leydig categories. There were 18 group 1 tumors and 14 group 2 tumors. The mean patient age was 49 years. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage was known in 12 patients, all of whom were in stage I. Survival data were available for 17 patients, whose follow-up was a mean of 8 years of until death. There were three deaths, one of which was of unrelated causes. the 5- and 10-year corrected actuarial survival rates were 92% and 74%. The number of patients was too small to make meaningful comparisons between the two groups. We concluded that the behavior of these unclassified tumors is similar to that of granulosa and Sertoli-Leydig tumors, with a favorable prognosis when confined to the ovaries.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Health Care", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "DNA mismatch detection using a pyrene-excimer-forming probe.A pyrene-excimer-forming probe allowed the easy and sensitive detection of a single base mismatch in target DNA. This was due to the faster strand exchange rate compared to a fully-matched target.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Nifedipine blocks ACTH and cortisol release in man.1. The present study investigated the effect of prior administration of nifedipine on AVP-induced ACTH release in seven normal volunteers. Three protocols were used: 20 mg oral nifedipine; 0.14 pressor units intramuscular (i.m.) per kg bodyweight aqueous AVP; oral nifedipine plus i.m. AVP 90 min later. Plasma ACTH and cortisol were measured at intervals for 2.5 h during each test. 2. The mean peak plasma ACTH and cortisol levels and the mean peak changes from basal in these levels were significantly lower in the nifedipine/AVP test than in the AVP alone test. The integrated area under the cortisol time curve was significantly lower for the nifedipine/AVP test than that for the AVP test alone. Nifedipine alone caused no changes in ACTH or cortisol. 3. Acute administration of oral nifedipine caused an inhibition of AVP-stimulated ACTH and cortisol release in normal humans. This effect may be due to blockade of plasma membrane calcium channels normally activated during AVP stimulation of pituitary corticotrophs.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Genetic complementation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid mutants in the virulence region.Mutants with Tn5 insertions in the vir region of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens TiC58 plasmid are unable to form crown-gall tumors. Complementation tests of these vir region mutants were carried out by constructing merodiploids in a recombination-deficient strain. Each merodiploid possessed a mutant TiC58 plasmid and a recombinant plasmid containing either the homologous wild-type DNA region or the homologous region containing a second Tn5 insertion. The analysis identified six complementation groups. Mutations in one of these complementation groups were not complemented in trans and represent a cis-dominant locus. The mutation in one complementation group showed variation in host range.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Saponins and other constituents from the leaves of Aralia elata.A new triterpenoid saponin, together with five known saponins, were isolated from the nonpolar n-hexane fraction of the leaves of Aralia elata. The structure of the new saponin, durupcoside C, was elucidated as hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The known saponins were characterized as 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester, hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, oleanolic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, hederagenin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (alpha-hederin), and hederagenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (collinsonidin). In addition, two known lipids, Arisaema glyceride 3 and ceramide mixtures were also isolated and characterized. Collinsonidin and two known lipids were isolated for the first time from this plant.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "RNA-like conformational properties of a synthetic DNA poly(dA-dU).poly(dA-dU).Differences in the circular dichroism of poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT) and poly(dA-dU).poly(dA-dU) and in its temperature induced changes are reported. A comparison to the data obtained with DNA and RNA indicates that an absence of thymine methyl groups in the polynucleotide results in promoting its RNA-like conformational properties. However, poly(dA-dU).poly(dA-dU) is not an A-DNA type of double helix.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A seamless ubiquitous emergency medical service for crisis situations.In crisis situations, a seamless ubiquitous communication is necessary to provide emergency medical service to save people's lives. An excellent prehospital emergency medicine provides immediate medical care to increase the survival rate of patients. On their way to the hospital, ambulance personnel must transmit real-time and uninterrupted patient information to the hospital to apprise the physician of the situation and provide options to the ambulance personnel. In emergency and crisis situations, many communication channels can be unserviceable because of damage to equipment or loss of power. Thus, data transmission over wireless communication to achieve uninterrupted network services is a major obstacle. This study proposes a mobile middleware for cognitive radio (CR) for improving the wireless communication link. CRs can sense their operating environment and optimize the spectrum usage so that the mobile middleware can integrate the existing wireless communication systems with a seamless communication service in heterogeneous network environments. Eventually, the proposed seamless mobile communication middleware was ported into an embedded system, which is compatible with the actual network environment without the need for changing the original system architecture.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effect of concentration, pH, and preservative on in vitro transcorneal permeation of ibuprofen and flurbiprofen from non-buffered aqueous drops.Influence of drug concentration, pH of aqueous drops and some commonly used preservatives on in vitro transcorneal permeation of ibuprofen and flurbiprofen were investigated using goat cornea. Increase in drug concentration in the drops made in normal saline resulted in increase in quantity permeated but decrease in cumulative percent permeation of both drugs. Permeation of each drug from 0.5% drops was maximum at acidic pH (6.4) and decreased with increase in pH of the drops. Normal saline, as a vehicle, favoured permeation of each drug, hence retained in the formulation. Benzalkonium chloride and chlorobutanol enhanced cumulative percent permeation of ibuprofen while benzalkonium chloride and phenyl mercuric nitrate increased permeation of flurbiprofen. Benzalkonium chloride being incompatible with 0.5% drops (pH 6.4) of either drug, chlorobutanol appears suitable for ibuprofen drops and phenyl mercuric nitrate for flurbiprofen drops.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A note on amounts of [14C] in laying hens' blood after intramuscular administration of [4-14C]-estrone.[4-14C]-Estrone in 2 ml. ethylene glycol was injected into the breast muscles of S.C. White Leghorn laying hens and the amounts of plasma [14C] per ml. whole blood were measured at various times thereafter. Maximal values were observed at 30 to 50 minutes after injection. The values then declined logarithmically with time and with a half-life of about 80 minutes between 40 and 270 minutes after injection.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "FOETAL for NCD-FOetal Exposure and Epidemiological Transitions: the role of Anaemia in early Life for Non-Communicable Diseases in later life: a prospective preconception study in rural Tanzania.PURPOSE: Low-income and middle-income countries such as Tanzania experience a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including anaemia. Studying if and how anaemia affects growth, placenta development, epigenetic patterns and newborns' risk of NCDs may provide approaches to prevent NCDs.PARTICIPANTS: The FOETALforNCD (FOetal Exposure and Epidemiological Transitions: the role of Anaemia in early Life for Non-Communicable Diseases in later life) Study is a population-based preconception, pregnancy and birth cohort study (n=1415, n=538, n=427, respectively), conducted in a rural region of North-East Tanzania. All participants were recruited prior to conception or early in pregnancy and followed throughout pregnancy as well as at birth. Data collection included: maternal blood, screening for NCDs and malaria, ultrasound in each trimester, neonatal anthropometry at birth and at 1\u2009month of age, cord blood, placental and cord biopsies for stereology and epigenetic analyses.FINDINGS TO DATE: At preconception, the average age, body mass index and blood pressure of the women were 28 years, 23\u2009kg/m2 and 117/75\u2009mm Hg, respectively. In total, 458 (36.7%) women had anaemia (haemoglobin Hb <12\u2009g/dL) and 34 (3.6%) women were HIV-positive at preconception. During pregnancy 359 (66.7%) women had anaemia of which 85 (15.8%) women had moderate-to-severe anaemia (Hb ?9\u2009g/dL) and 33 (6.1%) women had severe anaemia (Hb ?8\u2009g/dL). In total, 185 (34.4%) women were diagnosed with malaria during pregnancy.FUTURE PLANS: The project will provide new knowledge on how health, even before conception, might modify the risk of developing NCDs and how to promote better health during pregnancy. The present project ended data collection 1\u2009month after giving birth, but follow-up is continuing through regular monitoring of growth and development and health events according to the National Road Map Strategic Plan in Tanzania. This data will link fetal adverse event to childhood development, and depending on further grant allocation, through a life course follow-up.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Health Care", "Named Groups", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Prolonged recruitment efforts in health surveys: effects on response, costs, and potential bias.BACKGROUND: In health surveys, considerable effort and expense are invested to achieve a high response proportion and thereby to reduce selection bias. We investigated the interrelation of recruitment efforts and expense with potential nonresponse bias based on data from a large health survey.METHODS: In a population-based health survey, a stratified sample of 6640 residents of the Augsburg (Germany) region was selected, of whom 4261 attended the main study between October 1999 and April 2001. A short telephone interview yielded additional information on nearly half of the nonparticipants. All recruitment contacts were documented, and expenses were estimated on the basis of unit costs. Different recruitment strategies were modeled retrospectively. We compared their cost savings as well as their influence on the response proportion and on prevalence estimates.RESULTS: The distribution of total contacting cost per individual was highly skewed with 50% of the total sum spent on 17% of the sample. Late responders showed many similarities with nonresponders; both included a higher percentage of people with impaired health and with greater behavioral health risks. We were able to identify recruitment strategies that may save up to 25% of the recruitment costs without significant shift in the parameter estimates. Data collected in the short nonresponder interview proved to be important to correct for possible nonresponse bias.CONCLUSIONS: In general, prolonged recruitment efforts lead to a larger and more representative sample but at increasing marginal costs. Specific cost-saving recruitment strategies that do not enhance response bias can be suggested. Interviews of nonresponders are also useful.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Long-term treatment results of postoperative radiation therapy for advanced stage oropharyngeal carcinoma.BACKGROUND: The authors report the long-term treatment results for advanced stage base of tongue (BOT) and tonsillar fossa (TF) carcinomas treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (RT) at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.METHODS: Between 1973 and 1986, 51 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the BOT (n = 31 patients) and TF (n = 20 patients) were treated with surgery plus RT. Indication(s) for RT included: advanced disease (Stage T3/T4, 34 patients [66%]); close or positive margins (33 patients, 64%) and multiple positive neck nodes (43 patients, 84%).RESULTS: The 7-year actuarial local control rates for BOT and TF lesions were 81% and 83%, respectively. Local control was achieved in 17 of 18 (94%) patients with T3 lesions, and 12 of 16 (75%) patients with T4 lesions. Among patients with positive or close margins who received postoperative doses of 60 Gy or more, the long-term control rate was 93%. The presence of a treatment interruption had a negative effect on the local control rates. The actuarial control among patients who required a treatment break was 64%; for those not requiring interruption of their treatment, the actuarial control was 93% (P = 0.05). At 7 years, the overall survival for all patients was 52%, and the disease-free survival was 64%. The actuarial incidence of neck failure was 21% and 18% for BOT and TF, respectively. The likelihood of having distant metastasis at 7 years for all patients was 30%. The actuarial incidence of having a second malignancy was 35% for patients with BOT disease. Second malignancy was not observed among patients with TF lesions.CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that surgery and postoperative RT can provide excellent long-term, disease-control rates for patients with advanced BOT and TF tumors. However, current strategies for BOT lesions have been directed at tongue preservation without surgery.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "How do physicians define \"light,\" \"moderate,\" and \"heavy\" drinking?Although widely used, terms associated with consumption of alcohol--such as \"light,\" \"moderate,\" and \"heavy\"--are unstandardized. Physicians conveying health messages using these terms therefore may impart confusing information to their patients or to other physicians. As an initial attempt to assess if informal standardization exists for these terms, the present study surveyed physicians for their definitions of such terms. Physicians operationally defined \"light\" drinking as 1.2 drinks/day, \"moderate\" drinking as 2.2 drinks/day, and \"heavy\" drinking as 3.5 drinks/day. Abusive drinking was defined as 5.4 drinks/day. There was considerable agreement for these operational definitions, indicating there is indeed an informal consensus among physicians as to what they mean by these terms. Gender and age did not influence these definitions, but self-reported drinking on the part of physicians was a factor. We also asked physicians for their opinions regarding the effects of \"light,\" \"moderate,\" and \"heavy\" drinking on health in general and specifically on health-related implications for pregnant women, and whether they felt their patients shared these beliefs.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Chronic occupational exposure to lead leads to significant mucocutaneous changes in lead factory workers.BACKGROUND: Chronic lead toxicity is a worldwide public health problem. Lead possesses deleterious effects on many organ systems. However, little is known regarding its clinical and biophysical effects on the skin.OBJECTIVE: To investigate mucocutaneous signs and biophysical property changes in skin after chronic lead toxicity.METHODS: One hundred and eighty-seven patients who were car battery workers participated in the study. Complete history and physical examination were performed. Blood was collected for laboratory analyses. Thorough skin examination by dermatologists was carried out in 134 subjects. Additionally, 96 patients with blood lead levels (BLL) >70\u00a0\u00ecg/dL were further evaluated for skin elasticity, sebum content, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration, pH and pigmentation. An equal number of age-, sex- and skin-type-matched subjects were recruited as controls.RESULTS: The mean BLL of all subjects was 74.15\u00a0\u00b1\u00a011.58\u00a0\u00ecg/dL. The most frequently observed signs were gingival brown pigmentation in 112 (83.6%), gingivitis in 111 (82.8%) and lead line in 66 (49.3%) patients. The lead line was found in subjects with significantly higher BLLs (adjusted mean difference 6.45, 95% CI 2.30-10.60\u00a0\u00ecg/dL, P\u00a0=\u00a00.003) and in association with gingivitis (adjusted OR 7.32, 95% CI 2.08-25.74, P\u00a0=\u00a00.002). Mean BLL of the patients who underwent biophysical assessment was 82.77\u00a0\u00b1\u00a09.80\u00a0\u00ecg/dL. Patients exhibited a statistically significant lower skin hydration observed by corneometer as well as elasticity. The adjusted ORs of having dry skin and lower elasticity were 15.32 (95% CI 4.41-53.24), P\u00a0<\u00a00.001) and 1.96 (95% CI 1.06-3.60), P\u00a0=\u00a00.031), respectively. These differences were not significant for sebum content, TEWL, pH and pigmentation.CONCLUSION: Importantly, even in normal-appearing skin, level of hydration and elasticity decreased in lead-intoxicated patients. These results suggest that lead might possess harmful effects on the skin at measurable levels.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Health Care", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Underlying pathology of women with \"atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion\" smears, in a region with a high incidence of cervical cancer.AIM: To evaluate the histopathology of women who had \"atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions\" (ASC-H) on cervical cytology in a region with high incidence of cervical cancer.METHODS: This study was conducted at Chiang Mai University Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand. All women with ASC-H, who had undergone colposcopic and histolopathologic evaluation between October 2004 and January 2007, were recruited. Similar cohorts with other squamous cell abnormalities on a Pap-smear, who had undergone colposcopy during the same period, were included as comparative groups.RESULTS: During the study period, 85 women who had ASC-H smears underwent colposcopic and histopathologic evaluation. The mean age was 45.3 years (range, 20-64 years). The histopathologic results of these 85 women were as follows: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II-III, 52 (61.2%); invasive cancer, 7 (8.2%); CIN I, 6 (7.1%); and no lesions, 20 (23.5%). The incidence of underlying CIN II or higher in an ASC-H smear (69.4%) was intermediate between atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (22.7%), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (44.7%) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (90.5%) smears. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of CIN II or higher between women who were 40 years old or more and those who were younger (68.7% and 71.4%, respectively, P=0.81), or between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women (71.4% and 63.6%, respectively, P=0.49).CONCLUSION: Reporting ASC-H cytology in our population is strongly associated with significant cervical pathology, particularly invasive cancer that is possibly at a rate higher than previously reported. Women who have ASC-H smears should therefore be referred for immediate colposcopy regardless of age and menopausal status.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Exploratory factor analysis: health perceptions of Chinese early childhood educators in Hong Kong.The aim of this study was to explore health perceptions of preschool teachers, with a view to inform early childhood practices and teacher education. Pre-service student-teachers and in-service teachers (n = 200) who were voluntarily recruited completed a 24-item health attitude questionnaire. Factor analysis identified four dimensions of health attitudes, reflecting physical, psychosocial, mental and emotional domains. Inter-correlations among the factors suggested that early childhood educators in Hong Kong embrace a holistic view of health, although they consider physical and emotional health as more salient than the psychosocial and mental health dimensions. In comparisons of the perceptions of in-service teachers and student-teachers, students placed less emphasis on psychosocial health, but teachers placed more emphasis on physical health. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for designing health education programmes for preschool teacher education.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Organisms", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of thyroid hormone on GLUT4 glucose transporter gene expression and NIDDM in rats.Previous studies have shown that T3 coordinately stimulates GLUT4-glucose transporter messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression in mixed fiber-type skeletal muscle of the rat and produces a concomitant elevation in basal (noninsulin mediated) glucose uptake. The aim of the present study was to 1) determine the precise mechanism(s) for the T3-induced expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle, and 2) investigate the potential benefits of T3 on noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Ten daily ip injections of T3 (100 micrograms/100 g BW) administered to hypothyroid male Sprague-Dawley rats, increased both GLUT4 mRNA and transcription approximately 70% (P < 0.05) in mixed fiber-type hindlimb skeletal muscle. Transcriptional induction was subsequently defined to be restricted to red (oxidative) muscle fibers (2.5-fold; P < 0.05), whereas GLUT4 protein was increased in both red and white (glycolytic) skeletal muscle. GLUT4 mRNA and protein expression were similarly inducible in the skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant Zucker rats. More importantly, T3 treatment totally ameliorated hyperinsulinemia in obese animals (P < 0.001), although their moderately elevated plasma glucose levels were not significantly altered. In conclusion, regulation of GLUT4 expression by T3 was shown to lie at the transcriptional level in red skeletal muscle, whereas in white muscle fiber types, it appears to operate via an alternative posttranscriptional mechanism. These data also support the potential of hormonally inducing glucose transporter expression in insulin-resistant muscle. However, high levels of T3 are associated with a number of adverse side-effects, in particular the stimulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis. Nevertheless, future studies may demonstrate, e.g. subthyrotoxic levels, to be similarly effective but without side effects, and thus perhaps find a clinical application in reducing both hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia in NIDDM.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index.BACKGROUND: The impact on quality of life (QOL) caused by atopic dermatitis (AD) has been quantified in children and adults using established QOL measures. However, these are not suitable for use in infants under the age of 4 years, when AD usually develops.OBJECTIVES: To validate a new parent-generated QOL questionnaire, the Infants' Dermatitis QOL Index (IDQOL), which measures the impact of AD on the infant, and to provide further validation of the Family Dermatitis Index (FDI), which measures the impact of a child's dermatitis on the family.METHODS: Parents of 102 predominately caucasian infants under 4 years with AD (34 postal and 68 outpatients) were asked to complete the IDQOL and the FDI on two separate occasions to test for repeat validity. The Infants' Behavioural Check List (BCL) was also given to the study group and to parents of 22 normal control infants. Post-treatment IDQOL and FDI questionnaires were obtained from 25 of the study group.RESULTS: The return rate for initial questionnaires was 87.3% (61 boys, 28 girls) and for retest 70.6%. The mean score for IDQOL was 7.89 and for FDI 8.87. Spearman rank correlation between the IDQOL and FDI was high (r = 0.87). Correlations of IDQOL and FDI with clinical severity assessment by parents were lower (r = 0.58 for IDQOL and r = 0.5 for FDI). Test-retest data for IDQOL and FDI confirmed repeatability, there being negligible differences between the pairs using the method of Bland and Altman. The three highest scoring questions for IDQOL referred to itching and scratching, mood change and sleep disturbance. For the FDI they were parental sleep disturbance, tiredness and exhaustion, and emotional distress. Post-treatment questionnaires from 25 patients indicated sensitivity to clinical change with both IDQOL and FDI. Parameters of behaviour measured using the BCL in 82 study infants and 22 controls showed greater problems with frequent night-time wakening (43% vs. 4.5%) and miserable mood changes (24.4% vs. 9%) in the study infants.CONCLUSIONS: Initial validation of the IDQOL and further validation of the FDI show good test-retest repeatability and apparent sensitivity to change with treatment. The effect on health-related QOL as measured by these methods is poorly correlated with clinical severity, confirming that QOL measures should be used in conjunction with clinical measures for global assessments of disease impact. This work requires further validation but suggests that QOL measures may be useful as outcome measures in clinical practice and research. Their simple construction allows quick and easy use, which is particularly valuable in large-scale and postal studies.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Humanities", "Health Care", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Named Groups", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Unexpected divergence of enzyme function and sequence: \"N-acylamino acid racemase\" is o-succinylbenzoate synthase.A protein identified as \"N-acylamino acid racemase\" from Amycolaptosis sp. is an inefficient enzyme (kcat/Km = 3.7 x 10(2) M-1 s-1). Its sequence is 43% identical to that of an unidentified protein encoded by the Bacillus subtilis genome. Both proteins efficiently catalyze the o-succinylbenzoate synthase reaction in menaquinone biosynthesis (kcat/Km = 2.5 x 10(5) and 7.5 x 10(5) M-1 s-1, respectively), suggesting that this is their \"correct\" metabolic function. Their membership in the mechanistically diverse enolase superfamily provides an explanation for the catalytic promiscuity of the protein from Amycolaptosis. The adventitious promiscuity may provide an example of a protein poised for evolution of a new enzymatic function in the enolase superfamily. This study demonstrates that the correct assignment of function to new proteins in functional and structural genomics may require an understanding of the metabolism of the organism.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Information Science", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Modeling the effects of biomass accumulation on the performance of a biotrickling filter packed with PUF support for the alkaline biotreatment of dimethyl disulfide vapors in air.Excess biomass buildup in biotrickling filters leads to low performance. The effect of biomass accumulation in a biotrickling filter (BTF) packed with polyurethane foam (PUF) was assessed in terms of hydrodynamics and void space availability in a system treating dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) vapors with an alkaliphilic consortium. A sample of colonized support from a BTF having been operating for over a year was analyzed, and it was found that the BTF void bed fraction was reduced to almost half of that calculated initially without biomass. Liquid flow through the examined BTF yielded dispersion coefficient values of 0.30 and 0.72 m(2) h(-1), for clean or colonized PUF, respectively. 3D images of attached biomass obtained with magnetic resonance imaging allowed to calculate the superficial area and the biofilm volume percentage and depth as 650 m(2) m(-3), 35%, and 0.6 mm respectively. A simplified geometric approximation of the complex PUF structure was proposed using an orthogonal 3D mesh that predicted 600 m(2) m(-3) for the same biomass content. With this simplified model, it is suggested that the optimum biomass content would be around 20% of bed volume. The activity of the microorganisms was evaluated by respirometry and the kinetics represented with a Haldane equation type. Experimentally determined parameters were used in a mathematical model to simulate the DMDS elimination capacity (EC), and better description was found when the removal experimental data were matched with a model including liquid axial dispersion in contrast to an ideal plug flow model.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Exploring physiotherapists' experiences of implementing a cognitive behavioural approach for managing low back pain and identifying barriers to long-term implementation.OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were two-fold: (i) to describe physiotherapists' experiences of implementing a cognitive behavioural approach (CBA) for managing low back pain (LBP) after completing an extensive online training course (iBeST), and (ii) to identify how iBeST could be enhanced to support long-term implementation before scale up for widespread use.DESIGN: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 physiotherapists from six National Health Service departments in the Midlands, Oxfordshire and Derbyshire. Questions centred on (i) using iBeST to support implementation, (ii) what barriers they encountered to implementation and (iii) what of information or resources they required to support sustained implementation. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed using NVivo. Themes were categorised using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Evidence-based techniques were identified using the behaviour change technique taxonomy to target relevant TDF domains.RESULTS: Three themes emerged from interviews: anxieties about using a CBA, experiences of implementing a CBA, and sustainability for future implementation of a CBA. Themes crossed multiple TDF domains and indicated concerns with knowledge, beliefs about capabilities and consequences, social and professional roles, social influences, emotion, and environmental context and resources. We identified evidence-based strategies that may support sustainable implementation of a CBA for LBP in a physiotherapy setting.CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted potential challenges for physiotherapists in the provision of evidence-based LBP care within the current UK NHS. Using the TDF provided the foundation to develop a tailored, evidence-based, implementation intervention to support long term use of a CBA by physiotherapists managing LBP within UK NHS outpatient departments.", "answer groups": [ "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Information Science", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "T-2 Toxin/HT-2 Toxin and Ochratoxin A ELISAs Development and In-House Validation in Food in Accordance with the Commission Regulation (EU) No 519/2014.T-2 toxin/HT-2 toxin (T-2/HT-2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are mycotoxins that can contaminate a variety of agricultural commodities. To protect consumers' health, indicative limits for T-2/HT-2 and maximum limits for OTA have been set by the European Commission, requiring food business operators and controlling agencies to conduct routine checks for the presence of these harmful contaminants. Screening methods are increasingly used for monitoring purposes. Due to the demand for new and improved screening tools, two individual detection methods, T-2/HT-2 and OTA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), were developed in this study. The T-2/HT-2 ELISA was based on a T-2 monoclonal antibody with an IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) of 0.28 ng/mL and 125% cross-reactivity with HT-2. As regards the OTA ELISA, a new sensitive monoclonal antibody specific to OTA with an IC50 of 0.13 ng/mL was produced. Both developed ELISA tests were then validated in agricultural commodities in accordance with the new performance criteria guidelines for the validation of screening methods for mycotoxins included in Commission Regulation (EU) No 519/2014. The T-2/HT-2 ELISA was demonstrated to be suitable for the detection of T-2/HT-2 in cereals and baby food at and above the screening target concentration (STC) of 12.5 \u00ecg/kg and 7.5 \u00ecg/kg, respectively. The OTA ELISA was shown to be applicable for the detection of OTA in cereals, coffee, cocoa and wine at and above the STC of 2 \u00ecg/kg, 2.5 \u00ecg/kg, 2.5 \u00ecg/kg and 0.4 ng/mL, respectively. The accuracy of both ELISAs was further confirmed by analysing proficiency test and reference samples. The developed methods can be used for sensitive and high-throughput screening for the presence of T-2/HT-2 and OTA in agricultural commodities.", "answer groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Anatomy", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Emergence of Resistance to Fungicides: The Role of Fungicide Dose.Resistance to antimicrobial drugs allows pathogens to survive drug treatment. The time taken for a new resistant mutant to reach a population size that is unlikely to die out by chance is called \"emergence time.\" Prolonging emergence time would delay loss of control. We investigate the effect of fungicide dose on the emergence time in fungal plant pathogens. A population dynamical model is combined with dose-response data for Zymoseptoria tritici, an important wheat pathogen. Fungicides suppress sensitive pathogen population. This has two effects. First, the rate of appearance of resistant mutants is reduced, hence the emergence takes longer. Second, more healthy host tissue becomes available for resistant mutants, increasing their chances to invade and accelerates emergence. In theory, the two competing effects may lead to a non-monotonic dependence of the emergence time on fungicide dose that exhibits a minimum. But according to field data, fungicides are unable to reduce the fungicide-sensitive population strongly enough even at high doses. Hence, for full resistance over realistic ranges of pathogen's life history and fungicide dose-response parameters, emergence time decreases monotonically with increasing dose. For partial resistance, there can be cases within a limited parameter range, when emergence decelerates at higher doses.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "An evaluation of the effectiveness of a recirculating laboratory hood.Ductless, benchtop hoods have become a popular tool for use in the control of toxic substances in the laboratory. Low price and ease of installation are major factors contributing to their increased utilization. Little objective performance data exist for these devices. One such hood was evaluated for efficacy as an engineering control in typical laboratory applications. Face velocity, flow profile, ability to retain vapors, sorptive capacity of the filter media and overall worker protection were evaluated. The manufacturer's report of an average face velocity of 30.6 cm/s (60 fpm) proved to be accurate; however, this value was found to be substandard when compared with the hood and room design criteria which must be met for this rate to provide adequate control. The hood was designed in a manner which prevented smooth flow through the hood and increased observed turbulence and rolling. The sorptive capacity of the carbon filter proved to be comparable to that reported for organic vapor respirator cartridges. Design deficiencies are discussed to improve protection offered to the worker in an as-used situation. Further work is needed to provide a quantitative measure of the protection offered by these hoods.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Hereditary agenesis of ten maxillary posterior teeth: a family history.A family is described, where the mother and her two sons had similar bilateral congenital absences of the following maxillary teeth: the second premolars, the first, second and possibly the third molars, as well as, in the sons, the second primary molars. The size, shape and formation of the remaining teeth were within normal limits. The near relatives of the parents had no history of hypodontia. The family members were otherwise healthy except that the mother and one of the sons had a slight nasality of speech. Moreover, the mother and both sons had adhesive otitis.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Distribution of phosphodiesterase I in normal human tissues.Phosphodiesterase I (PDE I) is an exonuclease capable of hydrolyzing a variety of phosphate ester and pyrophosphate bonds. Cell fractionation and histochemical studies in animal tissues have localized PDE I in the plasma membrane of various epithelia. This suggests a role for the enzyme in active transport. Distribution of PDE I in human tissues has not previously been studied. We have produced a polyclonal antiserum to bovine intestinal PDE I and have demonstrated crossreactivity with the human intestinal enzyme. This polyclonal antiserum was used in PAP immunocytochemistry to localize immunoreactive PDE I in a variety of human tissues. Localization was prominent in the gastrointestinal tract, including the cytoplasm of gastric mucosa parietal cells, cytoplasm of surface epithelium and isolated crypt cells in small intestine, and the colonic epithelial cytoplasm and brush border. Parotid gland acinar cells and scattered ductal cells showed positive cytoplasmic staining. Acinar and scattered pancreatic islet cells contained immunoreactive PDE I, as did Kupffer cells of the liver sinusoids. Immunoreactive PDE I was found in all vascular endothelia. The epithelium of the urinary tract showed extensive immunoreactivity. This included the distal convoluted and collecting tubules of the kidney, and ureteral and bladder urothelium. In previous histochemical studies of animal tissues, no evidence of PDE I activity was noted in male or female reproductive tract. In this study, immunoreactive PDE I was localized to human Sertoli cells and to basal epithelium of the epididymis and prostate acini. Fallopian tube epithelium of female reproductive tract also demonstrated immunoreactive PDI I, as did several cell types in term placenta. Our immunocytochemical results with human tissues differ significantly from previous histochemical studies in animal tissues, principally in the genitourinary system. This may be due in part to the different detection systems employed as well as the higher sensitivity of the immunoperoxidase technique. This underscores the importance of adjunct techniques in tissue surveys. The widespread epithelial distribution of immunoreactive PDE I detected by this polyclonal antibody implies an integral role in cell function, probably in active transport.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Deep onchocerciasis of the left thigh. An unusual case].INTRODUCTION: Commonly onchocercoma has been presented as superficial and multiple nodules. When it's unique and deeply situated, its clinical diagnosis is difficult. An uncommon form of onchocercoma is reported.CASE REPORT: A 37 years old man presented a big tumor at the inferior third of the left thigh like lipoma or liposarcoma because of microcalcifications. The tumor was removed. It was a cyst containing a liquid like an \"mango juice\". The histological examination was performed. Degenerated microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus was found.DISCUSSION: A big and deep onchocerma of the thigh is uncommon and diagnosis before operation is very difficult. Histological examination have eliminate filarial infections like Dracunculus medinensis and have given the right diagnosis. Radiological microcalcifications and absence of microfilariae at the parasilogical and ophthalmological examinations recall an \"aged\" onchocercoma. For this reason, we didn't realise a chemotherapy.CONCLUSION: This tumor in Sahel areas is very difficult to diagnose before operation. The histological examination is very important in this case. We don't use chemotherapy because this onchocercoma looks old without alive microfilariae.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Rationale and design of the Randomized Evaluation of patients with Stable angina Comparing Utilization of noninvasive Examinations (RESCUE) trial.RESCUE is a phase III, randomized, controlled, multicenter, comparative efficacy study, designed to compare two diagnostic imaging/treatment paradigms that use coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) or single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT MPI) for assisting in the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease in patients with stable angina symptoms, and guiding subsequent treatment. The study is based on the hypothesis that CCTA as a diagnostic tool is associated with no increase in cardiac risk, decreased cost, and reduced radiation exposure compared with SPECT MPI. The RESCUE trial was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) Fund for Imaging Innovation, began in 2011, and completed in 2014.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A double-blinded, comparative study of the effects of short preseason specific immunotherapy and topical steroids in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma.BACKGROUND: Both specific immunotherapy (SIT) and nasal steroid (NS) have been shown to effectively reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Although a number of investigators have convincingly shown anti-inflammatory effects of both treatments in separate studies, few comparative studies have been performed.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of preseason SIT with a standardized allergen extract and NS in seasonal allergic disease (rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma).METHODS: We examined 41 patients allergic to birch pollen, 21 with rhinoconjunctivitis and 20 with both rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma; they were treated in a randomized, double-blinded comparative study with birch SIT and NS (budesonide 400 microg daily). Bronchial hyperresponsiveness was measured before and during the season. Changes in eosinophil number, eosinophil cationic protein, and eosinophil chemotactic activity (ECA) in peripheral blood were investigated.RESULTS: Symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis increased significantly less in the NS-treated patients than in the SIT-treated patients during the final 2 weeks of the season (P = .03 and P = .04, respectively). Seasonal peak expiratory flow values decreased significantly only in the NS-treated patients (P = .01). In the NS-treated patients, bronchial hyperresponsiveness increased significantly during the season (P = .0001); however, SIT treatment prevented seasonal PC(20) increase in the asthmatic patients. Measurement of blood eosinophils, eosinophil cationic protein, and eosinophil chemotactic activity demonstrated significant seasonal increase only in the NS-treated asthmatic patients.CONCLUSION: Treatment with NS was more effective than short-course preseason SIT in reducing symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis; however, the 2 therapies were equivalent in terms of the need for rescue medication. SIT prevented seasonal increase in bronchial hyperresponsiveness, eosinophil number, eosinophil cationic protein, and eosinophil chemotactic activity only in asthmatic patients. The mechanisms underlying bronchial hyperresponsiveness developing during allergen exposure in rhinitis might be different from those operating in asthma.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Vision screening at 8 and 18 months. Steering Committee of Oxford Region Child Development Project.OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of an existing screening programme based in the community for ocular and vision defects in infants considered at increased risk of such defects.DESIGN: Children with ocular or vision defect by the age of 2 were ascertained by searching records. Those from populations at high risk were matched with their results from screening tests. The characteristics of the cases among this population were compared with those of the cases in the remainder of the population. Patterns of referral and age at referral were studied in both groups.SETTING: The study was conducted within Oxfordshire Health District.SUBJECTS: 433 Children at high risk born in 1984 to mothers living in the health district at delivery and who either weighed less than 2000 g or weighed 2000 g and over and required admission to a special care nursery for longer than 24 hours. The low risk population (6254) were infants without these characteristics who were resident in the health district at the time of referral.INTERVENTIONS: Screening tests for vision or ocular defects already routinely used were applied by health visitors at 8 and 18 months to the children at high risk.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Comparison of results of screening tests with vision and ocular defects detected by the age of 2.RESULTS: Screening tests in current use for vision loss and squint in this age group were insensitive and had a low positive predictive value when applied to a high risk population. Defects that were not apparent on direct inspection were unlikely to be detected by these tests. In the high risk group the relative risk of having a defect was 2.8 (95% confidence interval 1.8 to 4.5) but 85% of all cases detected by the age of 2 were in children at low risk. Referral patterns and age of referral differed in the two groups.CONCLUSIONS: Screening by health visitors of high risk populations contributes little to the detection of vision and ocular defects. This type of evaluation needs to be applied also to low risk populations, who have different referral patterns and contribute most of the cases.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Geographicals", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Practical guide to understanding the need for clinical practice guidelines.With recent changes in the landscape of health care, clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have proliferated. Attitudes about guidelines differ considerably, forming 2 competing viewpoints with considerable tension between them. Some feel CPGs are unneeded or are efforts to create automated \"cookie cutter\" medical practice; at best, they are perceived as suggestions that may be altered by experience. Others feel they are mandates that must be followed to the letter. This article attempts to explain how and why we have arrived at this point and to explain the origins of the differing viewpoints. We begin by describing the 2 viewpoints and proceed to define the origin of medicine as a profession and to chronicle the evolution of health insurance, medical education, and scientific methods for evaluating evidence.", "answer groups": [ "Disciplines and Occupations", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Cyanide, carboxyhemoglobin and blood acid-base state in animals exposed to combustion products of various combinations of acrylic fiber and gauze.In order to examine the usefulness of blood cyanide concentrations as an indicator of whether or not a victim was alive at the start of a fire, blood cyanide concentrations were measured in the bodies that we autopsied in our institute between January 1986 and March, 1987. In the present study, bodies with advanced decomposition were excluded. Thirty-six bodies were included: cyanide as well as carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) were detected in four charred bodies found at the scene of a fire. On the other hand, cyanide was not detected in any of the remaining 30 bodies except in two cases suspected of having ingested a cyanide compound. Rats and rabbits were made to inhale the combustion products of various combinations of acrylic fiber (hydrogen cyanide generating material when heated) and gauze (carbon monoxide generating material when heated). The exposure to the combustion products was continued until death in the rat and until apnea in the rabbit. The concentration of hydrogen cyanide in the exposure chamber and that of blood cyanide, at the time the animal died, correlated with the amount of acrylic fiber heated. In addition to differences in blood COHb and cyanide concentrations, there were also differences in blood gas concentrations between the acrylic fiber and the gauze groups. When the rabbits were switched to room air after the occurrence of apnea, the blood gas value began to normalize.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Health Care", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Named Groups", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Diffusion and clearance of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles infused into the rat striatum studied by MRI and histochemical techniques.The purpose of the present study was to investigate, by MRI and histochemical techniques, the diffusion and clearance abilities of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) coated with dextran (Dextran-SPION) and gold (Au-SPION) following their local infusions into the rat brain. In separate groups of anesthetized rats, the Dextran-SPION and Au-SPION were infused at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 5 \u00b5g Fe/0.5 \u00b5l and at the flow rate of 0.5 \u00b5l min(-1) into the left and right striata, respectively. Repetitive T2-weighted spin-echo MRI scans were performed at time intervals of 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h, and one, two and eight weeks after inoculation. Following infusion of Dextran-SPION (0.1 \u00b5g and 1 \u00b5g Fe), the maximal distribution volume was observed at about 12-24 h after inoculation and two weeks later the Fe signals were undetectable for the lower dose. On the other hand, Au-SPION remained tightly localized in the closest vicinity of the infusion site as revealed by unchanged MRI signal intensities and strong histochemical staining of Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) ions in the corresponding brain slices. Immunohistochemical staining of astrocytic and microglial reactions revealed that there were no marked differences in GFAP, VIM or OX-42 labeling observed between the nanoparticle types, however the astrocytic reaction was more pronounced in rats receiving nanoparticles compared to the control (aCSF-infused) rats. In conclusion, the present data demonstrate that the viral-sized Dextran-SPION were able to diffuse freely through the interstitial space of the brain being progressively cleared out from the infusion site within two weeks. Thus, Dextran-SPION could be beneficially used in MRI-guided diagnostic applications such as in experimental oncology or as labels and carriers for targeted drug delivery, whereas Au-SPION could be used for labeling and tracking the transplanted stem cells in experimental MRI.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Organisms", "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Molecular genetic study of Egyptian patients with macular corneal dystrophy.AIM: To identify the underlying genetic defect in Egyptian patients with macular corneal dystrophy (MCD).METHODS: A clinical and molecular genetic study was performed on 11 patients from six families with MCD. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and histopathological examination of corneal buttons following keratoplasty. The coding region of the carbohydrate sulfotransferase (CHST6) gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in all affected subjects. This was followed by direct sequencing and restriction digest analyses. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of antigenic keratan sulfate (KS) in patients' serum was also performed.RESULTS: Six homozygous mutations, of which three are novel, were identified within the coding region of CHST6 in six unrelated MCD families. The barely detectable level of antigenic KS in the serum of the affected individuals indicated that they all have MCD type I, including the subtype IA.CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of a molecular genetic analysis of MCD in the Egyptian population. These data indicate the extensive allelic heterogeneity within CHST6 and further support its essential role in maintaining corneal transparency.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases", "Geographicals", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Information Science" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Potential Implications of Climate Change on Aegilops Species Distribution: Sympatry of These Crop Wild Relatives with the Major European Crop Triticum aestivum and Conservation Issues.Gene flow from crop to wild relatives is a common phenomenon which can lead to reduced adaptation of the wild relatives to natural ecosystems and/or increased adaptation to agrosystems (weediness). With global warming, wild relative distributions will likely change, thus modifying the width and/or location of co-occurrence zones where crop-wild hybridization events could occur (sympatry). This study investigates current and 2050 projected changes in sympatry levels between cultivated wheat and six of the most common Aegilops species in Europe. Projections were generated using MaxEnt on presence-only data, bioclimatic variables, and considering two migration hypotheses and two 2050 climate scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Overall, a general decline in suitable climatic conditions for Aegilops species outside the European zone and a parallel increase in Europe were predicted. If no migration could occur, the decline was predicted to be more acute outside than within the European zone. The potential sympatry level in Europe by 2050 was predicted to increase at a higher rate than species richness, and most expansions were predicted to occur in three countries, which are currently among the top four wheat producers in Europe: Russia, France and Ukraine. The results are also discussed with regard to conservation issues of these crop wild relatives.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Three-month stability of the CogState brief battery in healthy older adults, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease: results from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle-rate of change substudy (AIBL-ROCS).Large prospective studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have sought to understand the pathological evolution of AD and factors that may influence the rate of disease progression. Estimates of rates of cognitive change are available for 12 or 24 months, but not for shorter time frames (e.g., 3 or 6 months). Most clinical drug trials seeking to reduce or modify AD symptoms have been conducted over 12- or 24-week periods. As such, we aimed to characterize the performance of a group of healthy older adults, adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and adults with AD on the CogState battery of tests over short test-retest intervals. This study recruited 105 healthy older adults, 48 adults with aMCI, and 42 adults with AD from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle study and administered the CogState battery monthly over 3 months. The CogState battery of tests showed high test-retest reliability and stability in all clinical groups when participants were assessed over 3 months. When considered at baseline, the CogState battery of tests was able to detect AD-related cognitive impairment. The data provide important estimates of the reliability, stability, and variability of each cognitive test in healthy older adults, adults with aMCI, and adults with AD. This may potentially be used to inform future estimates of cognitive change in clinical trials.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Named Groups", "Health Care", "Organisms", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Oxidation of xenobiotics by plant microsomes, a reconstituted cytochrome P450 system and peroxidase: a comparative study.The microsomal fraction from tulip bulbs (Tulipa fosteriana, L.) contains cytochrome P450 (CYP3, EC 1.14.14.1) and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7.) enzymes catalyzing the NADPH--and hydrogen peroxide--dependent oxidation of the xenobiotic substrates, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosomethylaniline (NMA), aminopyrine and 1-phenylazo 2-hydroxynaphthalene (Sudan I), respectively. Oxidation of these model xenobiotics has also been assessed in a reconstituted electron-transport chain with a partially purified CYP fraction, phospholipid and isolated tulip NADPH:CYP reductase (EC 1.6.2.4.). Peroxidase isolated from tulip bulbs (isoenzyme C) oxidizes these xenobiotics, too. Values of kinetic parameters (Km, Vmax), requirements for cofactors (NADPH, hydrogen peroxide), the effect of inhibitors and identification of products formed from the xenobiotics by the microsomal fraction, partially purified CYP and peroxidase C were determined. These data were used to estimate the participation of the CYP preparation and peroxidase C in oxidation of two out of the four studied xenobiotics (NMA, Sudan I) in tulip microsomes. Using such detailed study, we found that the CYP-dependent enzyme system is responsible for the oxidation of these xenobiotics in the microsomal fraction of tulip bulbs. The results demonstrate the progress in resolving the role of plant CYP and peroxidase enzymes in oxidation of xenobiotics.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Hey, look over there: Distraction effects on rapid sequence recall.In the course of everyday life, the brain must store and recall a huge variety of representations of stimuli which are presented in an ordered or sequential way. The processes by which the ordering of these various things is stored and recalled are moderately well understood. We use here a computational model of a cortex-like recurrent neural network adapted by a multitude of plasticity mechanisms. We first demonstrate the learning of a sequence. Then, we examine the influence of different types of distractors on the network dynamics during the recall of the encoded ordered information being ordered in a sequence. We are able to broadly arrive at two distinct effect-categories for distractors, arrive at a basic understanding of why this is so, and predict what distractors will fall into each category.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "HIV prevalence and risk in long-distance truck drivers in South Africa: a national cross-sectional survey.We estimated the prevalence of HIV and assessed correlates of HIV infection in long-distance truck drivers in South Africa. Between October 2003 and July 2004, 1900 long-distance truck drivers aged ?18 years consented to interview and for testing for HIV. Participants were selected from a 10% stratified random sample of registered truck depots. A proximate-determinants framework was used to assess the hierarchical relationship between risk factors and HIV infection using logistic regression. HIV prevalence was 26% (95% confidence interval 24% to 28%). In multivariate analyses, HIV infection was associated with spending 2-4 weeks on the road (adjusted odds ratio 1.4; 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.9). There was modest evidence of a dose-response relationship between time on the road and HIV risk. Mobility increased risk by creating conditions for unsafe sex and reducing access to health services. Targeted HIV interventions for long-distance truck drivers are needed.", "answer groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Organisms", "Information Science", "Geographicals", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Recovery of a medieval Brucella melitensis genome using shotgun metagenomics.Shotgun metagenomics provides a powerful assumption-free approach to the recovery of pathogen genomes from contemporary and historical material. We sequenced the metagenome of a calcified nodule from the skeleton of a 14th-century middle-aged male excavated from the medieval Sardinian settlement of Geridu. We obtained 6.5-fold coverage of a Brucella melitensis genome. Sequence reads from this genome showed signatures typical of ancient or aged DNA. Despite the relatively low coverage, we were able to use information from single-nucleotide polymorphisms to place the medieval pathogen genome within a clade of B. melitensis strains that included the well-studied Ether strain and two other recent Italian isolates. We confirmed this placement using information from deletions and IS711 insertions. We conclude that metagenomics stands ready to document past and present infections, shedding light on the emergence, evolution, and spread of microbial pathogens. Importance: Infectious diseases have shaped human populations and societies throughout history. The recovery of pathogen DNA sequences from human remains provides an opportunity to identify and characterize the causes of individual and epidemic infections. By sequencing DNA extracted from medieval human remains through shotgun metagenomics, without target-specific capture or amplification, we have obtained a draft genome sequence of an ~700-year-old Brucella melitensis strain. Using a variety of bioinformatic approaches, we have shown that this historical strain is most closely related to recent strains isolated from Italy, confirming the continuity of this zoonotic infection, and even a specific lineage, in the Mediterranean region over the centuries.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Information technology capacities assessment tool in hospitals: instrument development and validation.OBJECTIVES: This research integrates existing literature on information technology (IT) in hospitals, and proposes and validates a comprehensive IT capacities assessment tool in these settings.METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was conducted on Medline until September 2006 to identify studies that used specific IT measures in hospitals. The results were mapped and used as a basis for the development of the proposed instrument, which was tested through a survey of Canadian healthcare organizations (N = 221).RESULTS: A total of seventeen studies provided indicators of clinical and administrative IT capacities in hospitals. Based on the mapping of these indicators, a comprehensive IT capacities assessment instrument was developed including thirty-four items exploring computerized processes, thirteen items assessing contemporary technologies, and eleven items investigating internal and external information sharing. A time frame was inserted in the tool to reflect \"plans for\" versus \"current\" implementation of IT; in the latter, the extent of current use of computerized processes and technologies was measured on a (1-7) scale. Overall, the survey yielded a total of 106 responses (52.2 percent response rate), and the results demonstrated a good level of reliability and validity of the instrument.CONCLUSIONS: This study unifies existing work in this area, and presents the psychometric properties of an IT capacities assessment tool in hospitals. By developing scores for capturing IT capacities in hospitals, it is possible to further address important research questions related to the determinants and impacts of IT sophistication in these settings.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Geographicals", "Information Science" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Application of microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES) for environmental monitoring of industrially contaminated sites in Hyderabad city.Recently introduced microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES) represents yet another and very important addition to the existing array of modern instrumental analytical techniques. In this study, an attempt is made to summarize the performance characteristics of MP-AES and its potential as an analytical tool for environmental studies with some practical examples from Patancheru and Uppal industrial sectors of Hyderabad city. A range of soil, sediment, water reference materials, particulate matter, and real-life samples were chosen to evaluate the performance of this new analytical technique. Analytical wavelengths were selected considering the interference effects of other concomitant elements present in different sample solutions. The detection limits for several elements were found to be in the range from 0.05 to 5\u00a0ng/g. The trace metals analyzed in both the sectors followed the topography with more pollution in the low-lying sites. The metal contents were found to be more in ground waters than surface waters. Since a decade, the pollutants are transfered from Patancheru industrial area to Musi River. After polluting Nakkavagu and turning huge tracts of agricultural lands barren besides making people residing along the rivulet impotent and sick, industrialists of Patancheru are shifting the effluents to downstream of Musi River through an 18-km pipeline from Patancheru. Since the effluent undergoes primary treatment at Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at Patanchru and travels through pipeline and mixes with sewage, the organic effluents will be diluted. But the inorganic pollutants such as heavy and toxic metals tend to accumulate in the environmental segments near and downstreams of Musi River. The data generated by MP-AES of toxic metals like Zn, Cu, and Cr in the ground and surface waters can only be attributed to pollution from Patancheru since no other sources are available to Musi River.", "answer groups": [ "Geographicals", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Keratoconus associated with retrolental fibroplasia.Three adult male patients with keratoconus associated with severe bilateral retrolental fibroplasia were studied. Two of these presented with acute corneal hydrops. The association may be of some interest in determining the etiology of keratoconus.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid influx is mediated by an active transport system in Chinese hamster ovary cells.The influx of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was studied. The cells mainly took up but did not metabolize the undissociated form of the herbicide. The uptake of 2,4-D was carried out against a concentration gradient and was inhibited by sodium azide and dinitrophenol. The results presented here show that the herbicide influx was an active, energy dependent process. (Na+ + K+)ATPase does not seem to be involved because ouabain, an inhibitor of the enzyme, did not affect the 2,4-D uptake.", "answer groups": [ "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Contemporary views on the problem of sepsis].Sepsis is due to its lethality, which varies round 25%, one of the major problems of contemporary clinical medicine. Classical therapeutic approaches, i.e. chemotherapy, surgical elimination of foci and intensive therapy focused on maintenance of vital functions have obviously reached the limit of effectiveness beyond which they are unable to advance any further. Therefore great efforts are devoted to research into pathogenetic mechanisms involved in sepsis with the aim to use their effect to improve therapeutic results. In the submitted paper the authors analyze the definition of sepsis, explain the concept of the syndrome of systemic inflammatory response and summarize the contemporary state of knowledge of the pathogenesis. A review of structures and mechanisms involved in the genesis and development of sepsis (complement, factor XII, macrophage, endothelial cell, polymorphonuclear leucocyte, thrombocyte etc.) is supplemented by a list of substances which act as mediators of inflammations. The conclusions for practice summarize contemporary therapeutic possibilities, i.e. classical means as well as more recent approaches (colony stimulating factors, haemodiafiltration, antithrombin III, monoclonal antibody against endotoxin). The authors review briefly therapeutic means which are developed at present and which should make it possible to interfere actively with the pathogenesis of the disease.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Antibodies against crystals.We suggest that crystals, when introduced into an organism, may behave as conventional antigens, mediating the production of specific antibodies. These antibodies would bear an imprint of the crystal surface and may consequently behave as a nucleating matrix in a new crystallization event. Thus, they would behave as catalytic antibodies. We show that IgG antibodies isolated from patients suffering from gout, a joint disease caused by crystals of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSUM), accelerate the appearance of new crystals of MSUM from a supersaturated solution of the salt in vitro. The same effect is not observed for IgG antibodies isolated from the joint fluids of patients with other joint diseases, such as pseudogout, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis. Furthermore, IgG antibodies obtained from rabbits injected subcutaneously with crystals of MSUM, were also nucleating towards MSUM crystals.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Phase II study of denileukin diftitox for relapsed/refractory B-Cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.PURPOSE: Denileukin diftitox is a fusion protein combining diphtheria toxin and interleukin-2 (IL-2) that targets tumor cells expressing the IL-2 receptor. Its efficacy has been shown in CD25+ cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, but not in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A phase II study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of denileukin diftitox for relapsed or refractory B-cell NHL.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell NHL were eligible. Tumor CD25 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry. Denileukin diftitox was administered intravenously at a dose of 18 microg/kg once daily for 5 days every 3 weeks, up to eight cycles.RESULTS: Of the 45 patients assessable for response, 32 (71%) were refractory to the last chemotherapy treatment, and all were previously treated with rituximab. Three complete responses (6.7%) and eight partial responses (17.8%) were observed, for an overall response rate of 24.5%. Nine patients (20%) had stable disease. Objective response rates were similar in CD25+ (22%) and CD25- histologies (29%), as were stable disease rates (22% and 18%, respectively). For responding patients, the median time to treatment failure was 7 months, with a median follow-up in survivors of 18 months (range, 9 to 28 months), and the projected progression-free survival at 20 months was 24% (95% CI, 0% to 60%). Most toxicities were low-grade and transient.CONCLUSION: Denileukin diftitox seems to be effective in relapsed or refractory, CD25+ and CD25- B-cell NHL and is well-tolerated at the dosage evaluated. Evaluation of denileukin diftitox in combination with other agents may be warranted.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Role of contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasonography and dynamic flow in the evaluation of hepatic tumors treated with radiofrequency.The contribution of contrast-enhanced color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and dynamic flow (DF) (Toshiba) in the evaluation following treatment of hepatic tumors with radiofrequency (RF) is discussed. Twenty-seven patients with 34 hepatic tumors were included in this prospective study. The treated tumors measured 10-58 mm in diameter (mean diameter 29 mm). Two tumors were treated twice and one three times, comprising a total of 38 target lesions treated with RF and evaluated by 127 contrast-enhanced CDUS. The results of CDUS follow-up were compared to those of the dynamic MRI at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 1 year. Before RF, the injection of Levovist raised the number of vascularized lesions seen with unenhanced Doppler from 44% to 79%. All the non-vascularized lesions were metastases. Twenty-four hours after RF, four tumors presented an enhancement with Levovist, in which two were insufficiently treated lesions. Twenty-one treated tumors have been followed-up jointly by CDUS and MRI at the same time at 2 months, 20 at 4 months, 12 at 6 months and nine at 1 year. Compared to the MRI and the evolution, the CDUS presented a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 90% for the detection of progressive recurrence. The preliminary results show that the CDUS is useful to confirm the absence of detectable vascularity after treatment with RF ablation, whereas the presence of enhancement must be confirmed by MRI.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Diseases", "Named Groups", "Health Care" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Pollen tube growth and guidance is regulated by POP2, an Arabidopsis gene that controls GABA levels.During angiosperm reproduction, pollen grains form a tube that navigates through female tissues to the micropyle, delivering sperm to the egg; the signals that mediate this process are poorly understood. Here, we describe a role for gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) in pollen tube growth and guidance. In vitro, GABA stimulates pollen tube growth, although vast excesses are inhibitory. The Arabidopsis POP2 gene encodes a transaminase that degrades GABA and contributes to the formation of a gradient leading up to the micropyle. pop2 flowers accumulate GABA, and the growth of many pop2 pollen tubes is arrested, consistent with their in vitro GABA hypersensitivity. Some pop2 tubes continue to grow toward ovules, yet they are misguided, presumably because they target ectopic GABA on the ovule surface. Interestingly, wild-type tubes exhibit normal growth and guidance in pop2 pistils, perhaps by degrading excess GABA and sharpening the gradient leading to the micropyle.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Anatomy", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Effects of endolymphatic and perilymphatic application of salicylate in the pigeon. II: Fine structure of auditory hair cells.Large doses of salicylate are known to cause reversible ototoxic effects including fine structural alterations of the auditory hair cells in mammals. To investigate possible fine structural correlates of salicylate effects on pigeon auditory hair cells, the basilar papillae following perilymphatic or endolymphatic application of salicylate were fixed and processed for transmission electron microscopy. The pigeon auditory hair cells possessed organelles typically described in avians. A single or multi-layered array of cisternae along the cytoplasmic side of the lateral plasma membrane, i.e. subsurface cisternae that are characteristic for mammalian outer hair cells, was not seen. The most prominent fine structural alterations of hair cells after salicylate application were an increase in the luminal width of smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum as well as the frequent occurrence of prominent single-membrane-bound vesicles filled with electron-dense bodies. Based on the assumption that subsurface cisternae represent a specialized form of endoplasmic reticulum, the present findings indicate that the structural correlates of salicylate toxicity are similar in mammalian and avian auditory hair cells.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Gait disturbance in normal pressure hydrocephalus: a clinical study.The origin of gait disturbance in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is poorly understood. We assessed the frequency of frontal and sub-cortical hypokinetic gait clinical features and changes in gait variables after lumbar puncture (LP), in 15 patients with idiopathic NPH. Hypokinesia and disequilibrium were the main features, suggesting dysfunction of the basal ganglia (BG) and the frontal lobe (FL), respectively. Disequilibrium responded worse to LP and frontal signs were more frequent in patients that did not improve after LP. This could be related to earlier disturbance of frontal gait control.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Evaluation of a novel nicotine inhaler device: part 2--effect on craving and smoking urges.INTRODUCTION: Many smokers find currently available nicotine replacement therapies unsatisfactory. The pharmacokinetics of nicotine delivered via a novel inhaler device, and its effect on craving satiation and smoking urges, were compared with the Nicorette\u00ae Inhalator (10 mg).METHODS: Results are reported for Parts B (N = 24) and D (N = 24) of a 4-part Phase I study. Participants (18-55 years, ? 10 cigarettes/day within 1 hr of waking, expired carbon monoxide >10 ppm on screening) received single doses of nicotine on consecutive days (0.45 and 0.67 mg [Part B] and 0.45 mg [Part D] via the novel device; 10 mg via Nicorette\u00ae [Parts B and D]). Venous pharmacokinetics, craving, and tolerability were assessed.RESULTS: In Part B, the novel device 0.45 and 0.67 mg produced significantly lower C max, AUClast, and AUCall than Nicorette\u00ae (all p ? .05), higher AUC0-10 and significantly shorter T max (18.7 and 19.2 min vs. 38.0 min, respectively, p ? .05). Craving score AUC was lower for the novel device 0.45 mg than for Nicorette\u00ae in Part B (1356.3 vs. 1566.3, p = .029) and approached statistical significance in Part D (1208.5 vs. 1402.3 [p = .059]). Mean craving scores were lower for the novel device 0.45 mg than Nicorette\u00ae at 7/8 postdose timepoints in Part B (p ? .05 at 180 and 240 min) and at all timepoints in Part D (p ? .05 at 2, 4, and 10 min).CONCLUSIONS: The novel device was at least as effective as the Nicorette\u00ae Inhalator (10mg) in relieving craving and smoking urges and was statistically superior at certain timepoints and in an overall craving AUC analysis, despite lower total nicotine exposure.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Interactions between rainfall, deforestation and fires during recent years in the Brazilian Amazonia.Understanding the interplay between climate and land-use dynamics is a fundamental concern for assessing the vulnerability of Amazonia to climate change. In this study, we analyse satellite-derived monthly and annual time series of rainfall, fires and deforestation to explicitly quantify the seasonal patterns and relationships between these three variables, with a particular focus on the Amazonian drought of 2005. Our results demonstrate a marked seasonality with one peak per year for all variables analysed, except deforestation. For the annual cycle, we found correlations above 90% with a time lag between variables. Deforestation and fires reach the highest values three and six months, respectively, after the peak of the rainy season. The cumulative number of hot pixels was linearly related to the size of the area deforested annually from 1998 to 2004 (r2=0.84, p=0.004). During the 2005 drought, the number of hot pixels increased 43% in relation to the expected value for a similar deforested area (approx. 19000km2). We demonstrated that anthropogenic forcing, such as land-use change, is decisive in determining the seasonality and annual patterns of fire occurrence. Moreover, droughts can significantly increase the number of fires in the region even with decreased deforestation rates. We may expect that the ongoing deforestation, currently based on slash and burn procedures, and the use of fires for land management in Amazonia will intensify the impact of droughts associated with natural climate variability or human-induced climate change and, therefore, a large area of forest edge will be under increased risk of fires.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Organisms", "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "A left ventricular end-diastolic dimension less than 6.0\u00a0cm is associated with mortality after implantation of an axial-flow pump.OBJECTIVE: The effects of having a lower left ventricular end-diastolic dimension before HeartMate II (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, Calif) left ventricular assist device implantation remain unclear. We analyzed our single-center data on HeartMate II implantation to determine whether having a lower left ventricular end-diastolic dimension preoperatively was associated with inferior outcomes.METHODS: From November 2003 to March 2016, 393 patients with chronic heart failure underwent primary HeartMate II implantation. We compared the preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and associated survival outcomes of these patients to determine the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension cutoff for worse overall survival. Then, we compared the preoperative demographics, stroke rate, and mortality of patients with a left ventricular end-diastolic dimension above the cutoff for worse survival with those of patients with a left ventricular end-diastolic dimension below the cutoff.RESULTS: A Cox multivariate regression model showed that low left ventricular end-diastolic dimension was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio, 1.49; P\u00a0=\u00a0.02). The Contal and O'Quigley method showed that overall survival postimplantation was decreased in patients with a left ventricular end-diastolic dimension less than 6.0\u00a0cm (n\u00a0=\u00a091). Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed that the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension less than 6.0\u00a0cm group had lower overall survival than the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension 6.0\u00a0cm or greater group (P\u00a0=\u00a0.04). Furthermore, a competing-risk analysis showed that postoperative stroke was more common in the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension less than 6.0\u00a0cm group than in the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension 6.0\u00a0cm or greater group (P\u00a0<\u00a0.01).CONCLUSIONS: Overall survival was decreased and postoperative stroke was increased in HeartMate II recipients with a preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic dimension less than 6.0\u00a0cm. Future research should determine the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension cutoff values for safely implanting other support devices, and device designs should be improved to better accommodate the needs of patients with a limited left ventricle size.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Anatomy", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Classification, distribution and change of Uighur medicinal materials resources].With the development and change of Uygur medicine, The sources,medicinal parts and producing area of some Uygur Medicine have changed. It is more important to master the classification, distribution and change of Uygur medicinal materials. These were more than 1 200 kinds Uygur medicine in history were resaerched by field investigation, philological research, and textual research, which main source of original plant were 140 families, 510 genera, 840 species; and source of original animal were 76 families, 107 genera, the original animal 141 species; 55 kinds of original mineral, which main producer were Xinjiang and Central Asia, West Asia, the Mediterranean, and North Africa, Southeast Asia and other provinces in China, there are individual medicinal materials from the Americas, Europe and other places. Through this study the classification, distribution, source and evolution of specific families and genera of Uygur medicine resources have mastered.It is hoped to provide theoretical basis for further research and development of Uygur medicinal materials.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Study on the method for determination of sulfate in Fe-catalyst by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry].A direct method was reported for the determination of sulfate in iron-catalyst by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The samples were dissolved with hydrochloric acid. The interference factors of hydrochloric acid and iron were studied. The results showed that the effect of iron on the test of sulfate was not only to cause background interference but also to depress the intensity of sulfur seriously as well, and the effect increased with the increment of iron amount. Due to the physical in terference, a high concentration of HCl also depresesed the intensity of sulfur. Matrix effect from iron and HCl were corrected by matrix matching method. The recommended method is simple and rapid, and show satisfying precision and accuracy. The recoveries were more than 97%, and the relative standard deviations of six samples were less than 3%.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Immunological alterations associated with Plasmodium vivax malaria in South Korea.Various haematological and immunological studies on patients infected with Plasmodium vivax were undertaken, at diagnosis (day 0), after treatment with chloroquine but during primaquine treatment (day 10) and after all treatment (day 59), in South Korea (where there has been a recent and abrupt increase in the incidence of such infection). The main aims were to gain an understanding of the haemto-immunological alterations of this malarial infection, both before and after treatment, and to identify at least one useful marker for the diagnosis and post-treatment monitoring of P. vivax malaria. Thirty-eight patients with P. vivax malaria were compared with 20, apparently healthy controls. At diagnosis, the patients had lymphopenia, marked eosinopenia (the eosinophil count being correlated with the platelet count) and thrombopenia. Cells of most of the lymphocyte subsets investigated [i.e. CD3+, CD8+, CD19+, CD56+, CD3-/CD56+ and CD8+/CD56+ but not CD4+, CD3+/CD56+ or CD25+] were significantly less common among the lymphocytes of patients at diagnosis than among those of the controls. After initiating treatment, the numbers of CD19+ lymphocytes gradually increased (to normal values by day 59), whereas those of CD3+/56+ lymphocytes remained abnormally low throughout the follow-up period. The proportions of lymphocytes identified as CD4+ appeared to be unaffected by treatment. Although serum concentrations of IgE (and, to a lesser extent, IgM) were elevated in the patients at diagnosis, they were subnormal on day 10 post-treatment and normal at the day-59 follow-up. Serum concentrations of IgG and IgA in the patients were always found to be similar to those in the controls. At diagnosis the serum concentrations of complements C3 and C4 were significantly elevated in the patients. C3 remained at the same high concentration during follow-up but the concentration of C4, like that of IgE, was found to be subnormal on day 10 and normal 7 weeks later. The level of parasitaemia (%) was only found to be significantly correlated with haemoglobin concentration. The observation of eosinopenia with elevated IgE and C4 could be a useful indicator of P. vivax malaria, and treatment response could be followed by serial monitoring of serum concentrations of IgE and C4.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Donor factors and liver transplantation.There are thus many factors that may affect the suitability of a donor liver for transplantation, and a reliable, objective method of determining whether or not a liver is likely to function adequately after transplantation is urgently required. At the present time, however, the decision to use a particular donor liver remains a matter of clinical judgement. This decision will inevitably be influence both by the general availability of donor organs and by the urgency of recipient need at the time the liver becomes available, but should nevertheless be based primarily on an appreciation of the donor factors described above.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Trends in Operating Room Assistance for Major Urologic Surgical Procedures: An Increasing Role for Advanced Practice Providers.OBJECTIVE: To characterize changes in surgical assistance patterns over time for commonly performed urologic operations.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used the Medicare Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master File to identify cases performed by urologists from 2003 to 2014. Current Procedural Terminology modifiers were used to identify operations assisted by second surgeons and advanced practice providers (APPs). Rates were reported annually for 6 common urologic operations, and average annual rates of change were determined using least squares regression and tested using t tests (\u00e1\u2009=\u2009.05).RESULTS: Of the urologic operations analyzed, 5.0% of cases (n\u2009=\u200933,895) were assisted by APPs compared with 27.0% (n\u2009=\u2009182,842) assisted by a second surgeon. The proportion of cases assisted by an APP rose significantly for all procedures; conversely, the proportion of cases assisted by a second surgeon declined significantly for all procedures, except for open partial nephrectomy. The largest changes were seen in robotic prostatectomies for which second surgeon assistance fell from 26% in 2004 to 15% in 2014, whereas APP assistance rose from <1% to 7%.CONCLUSION: Urologists are increasingly using APPs as assistants in surgery, particularly in robotic and laparoscopic operations. This trend will likely continue as the shortage of urologists worsens in the coming years.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Organisms", "Geographicals" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Linking phylogenetics with population genetics to reconstruct the geographic origin of a species.Reconstructing ancestral geographic origins is critical for understanding the long-term evolution of a species. Bayesian methods have been proposed to test biogeographic hypotheses while accommodating uncertainty in phylogenetic reconstruction. However, the problem that certain taxa may have a disproportionate influence on conclusions has not been addressed. Here, we infer the geographic origin of Drosophila simulans using 2,014 bp of the period locus from 63 lines collected from 18 countries. We also analyze two previously published datasets, alcohol dehydrogenase related and NADH:ubiquinone reductase 75 kDa subunit precursor. Phylogenetic inferences of all three loci support Madagascar as the geographic origin of D. simulans. Our phylogenetic conclusions are robust to taxon resampling and to the potentially confounding effects of recombination. To test our phylogenetically derived hypothesis we develop a randomization test of the population genetics prediction that sequences from the geographic origin should contain more genetic polymorphism than those from derived populations. We find that the Madagascar population has elevated genetic polymorphism relative to non-Madagascar sequences. These data are corroborated by mitochondrial DNA sequence data.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Disciplines and Occupations", "Health Care", "Geographicals", "Information Science", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Organisms", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Clinic and Home-Based Behavioral Intervention for Obesity in Preschoolers: A Randomized Trial.OBJECTIVE: To test the hypotheses that an innovative skills-based behavioral family clinic and home-based intervention (LAUNCH) would reduce body mass index z score (BMIz) compared with motivational interviewing and to standard care in preschool-aged children with obesity.STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with children between the ages of 2 and 5 years above the 95th percentile for body mass index for age and sex recruited from 27 pediatrician offices across 10 recruitment cycles between March 12, 2012 and June 8, 2015. Children were randomized to LAUNCH (an 18-session clinic and home-based behavioral intervention), motivational interviewing (delivered at the same frequency as LAUNCH), or standard care (no formal intervention). Weight and height were measured by assessors blinded to participant assignment. The primary outcome, BMIz at month 6 after adjusting for baseline BMIz, was tested separately comparing LAUNCH with motivational interviewing and LAUNCH with standard care using regression-based analysis of covariance models.RESULTS: A total of 151 of the 167 children randomized met intent-to-treat criteria and 92% completed the study. Children were 76% White and 57% female, with an average age of 55 months and BMI percentile of 98.57, with no demographic differences between the groups. LAUNCH participants demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in BMIz (mean\u2009=\u2009-0.32, SD\u2009=\u2009\u00b10.33) compared with motivational interviewing (mean\u2009=\u2009-0.05, SD\u2009=\u2009\u00b10.27), P\u2009<\u2009.001, \u00f92\u2009=\u20090.74 and compared with standard care (mean\u2009=\u2009-0.13, SD\u2009=\u2009\u00b10.31), P\u2009<\u2009.004, \u00f92\u2009=\u20090.75.CONCLUSIONS: In preschool-age children, an intensive 6-month behavioral skills-based intervention is necessary to reduce obesity.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01546727.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Phenomena and Processes", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Diseases", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Decrease in serum testosterone levels with maximal intensity swimming exercise in trained male and female swimmers.Circulating testosterone levels have generally been reported to increase during short term, intense running or bicycle ergometer exercise. Swimming differs from such activity because of the strenuous arm activity and because it is conducted in a liquid medium in the horizontal position with the weight totally supported. To investigate whether such differences modify the serum testosterone response to exercise, we measured serum testosterone levels before and after a maximal intensity swimming test in ten elite male and ten elite female swimmers. Levels of circulating testosterone fell in 19 of 20 swimmers in contrast to previous reports of exercise in the vertical position. In women mean testosterone levels declined by 39.4% from baseline values and in males, mean testosterone levels declined by 19.0%. Since the incremental protocol was similar to in design to maximal intensity tests conducted on a treadmill or bicycle ergometer, these data suggest that the differing physical circumstances of swimming lead to a qualitatively different testosterone response to exercise.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "[Partial and total joint replacement in femur head necrosis].In literature, the results of hip arthroplasty in patients with avascular osteonecrosis of the femoral head vary. The main reason may be the nonhomogeneous patient groups concerning etiology of the femoral head necrosis (FHN). Analyzing the results of hip endoprosthesis in relation to the etiology of FHN leads to the assumption that steroid-induced FHN and FHN with underlying systemic bone diseases (renal osteodystrophy, sickle-cell hemoglobinopathy) have the highest loosening rates. Diseases with immunosuppressive medication and sickle-cell hemoglobinopathy have the highest risk of joint infection. Therefore etiology plays an important role in the long-term results of hip endoprostheses in FHN. Modern cement techniques of the second generation and new non-cemented total hip endoprostheses seem to have better results than older prostheses and cement techniques. We followed-up 52 non-cemented thrust plate prostheses in 45 patients with FHN, prospectively, for at least 2 years (3.7 +/- 1.6 years). The revision rate was 9.6% (two aseptic loosenings in one patient with renal osteodystrophy and one patient with alcohol abuse, as well as three late infections in one patient with alcohol abuse and two patients with renal osteodystrophy). Additionally, five prostheses showed radiologic lines of a minimum of 2 mm. Future studies with longer follow-up are needed to find out whether these prosthetic designs with proximal fixation of the femoral component preserving the diaphysial bone have advantages in young FHN patients.", "answer groups": [ "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Named Groups" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "On the interaction of the finger and the kringle-2 domain of tissue-type plasminogen activator with fibrin. Inhibition of kringle-2 binding to fibrin by epsilon-amino caproic acid.The binding of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) to fibrin is mediated both by its finger domain and by its kringle-2 domain. In this report, we investigate the relative affinities of these domains for lysine. Human recombinant t-PA deletion-mutant proteins were prepared and their ability to bind to lysine-Sepharose was investigated. Mutants containing the kringle-2 domain bound to lysine-Sepharose, whereas mutants lacking this domain but containing the finger domain, the epidermal growth factor domain or the kringle-1 domain did not bind to lysine-Sepharose. Mutant proteins containing the kringle-2 domain could be specifically eluted from lysine-Sepharose with epsilon-amino caproic acid. This lysine derivative also abolished fibrin binding by the kringle-2 domain but had no effect on the fibrin-binding property of the finger domain. Thus, a lysine-binding site is involved in the interaction of the kringle-2 domain with fibrin but not in the interaction of the finger domain with fibrin. The implications of the nature of these two distinct interactions of t-PA with fibrin on plasminogen activation by t-PA will be discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Stimulus complexity in reminiscence therapy and scores on the Beck Depression Inventory of a small group of nursing-home residents.A pilot study of the efficacy of groups given single and multistimulus reminiscence therapy versus no treatment controls gave no significant effect in reducing depression in 12 nursing-home residents 68.5 yr. of age. However, the data indicate that effectiveness of treatment was likely attenuated by including participants with dementia.", "answer groups": [ "Technology, Industry, and Agriculture", "Health Care", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Diseases", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Psychiatry and Psychology" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Characterization of the repetitive DNA elements in the genome of fish lymphocystis disease viruses.The complete DNA nucleotide sequence of the repetitive DNA elements in the genome of fish lymphocystis disease virus (FLDV) isolated from two different species (flounder and dab) was determined. The size of these repetitive DNA elements was found to be 1413 bp which corresponds to the DNA sequences of the 5' terminus of the EcoRI DNA fragment B (0.034 to 0.052 m.u.) and to the EcoRI DNA fragment M (0.718 to 0.736 m.u.) of the FLDV genome causing lymphocystis disease in flounder and plaice. The degree of DNA nucleotide homology between both regions was found to be 99%. The repetitive DNA element in the genome of FLDV isolated from other fish species (dab) was identified and is located within the EcoRI DNA fragment B and J of the viral genome. The DNA nucleotide sequence of one duplicate of this repetition (EcoRI DNA fragment J) was determined (1410 bp) and compared to the DNA nucleotide sequences of the repetitive DNA elements of the genome of FLDV isolated from flounder. It was found that the repetitive DNA elements of the genome of FLDV derived from two different fish species are highly conserved and possess a degree of DNA sequence homology of 94%. The DNA sequences of each strand of the individual repetitive element possess one open reading frame.", "answer groups": [ "Chemicals and Drugs", "Information Science", "Organisms", "Diseases", "Phenomena and Processes", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Microtubule and male sterility in a gene-cytoplasmic male sterile line of non-heading Chinese cabbage.BACKGROUND: Microtubules are the basic components of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells and are made up of 13 parallel protofilaments, each composed of \u00e1- and \u00e2-tubulin unit molecules aligned along the longitudinal axis of the microtubule.RESULTS: \u00e1-Tubulin gene TUBA2 from non-heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis Makino) was expressed at the highest level in stamens and at lower levels in other organs. In addition, it was expressed at a much lower level in the cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line than in the maintainer line. Furthermore, at the microsporocyte stage of development in the CMS line the microtubule bundles were knitted together in random organisation, which differed significantly from the radiate microtubule bundles running circumferentially around the nucleus in the maintainer line. Also, large vacuoles appeared within the cytoplasm in the CMS line with no dyed microtubules.CONCLUSION: TUBA2 was very important to pollen development, which might be closely related to male sterility. Large vacuoles might replace the nuclei close to the cell walls and lead to a lack of microtubules when the cells abort. Abnormalities and defects in the organisation and composition of microtubules in the male sterile line highlighted the complex interaction between microtubules and cytoplasmic male sterility.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Organisms" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Residential mobility patterns and exposure misclassification in epidemiologic studies of birth defects.Many studies of environmental exposures and birth defects use mothers' addresses at delivery as a proxy for the exposure. The validity of these studies is questionable because birth defects generally occur within 8 weeks of conception and the mother's address at delivery may differ from her address early in pregnancy. In order to assess the extent of this bias, we examined the pattern of maternal residential mobility over the span of 3 months prior to conception through delivery, and associated maternal socio-demographic characteristics. We linked Texas subjects from a national case-control study of birth defects with their corresponding records from the Texas Birth Defects Registry and the Texas live birth certificates. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess maternal socio-demographic factors related to mobility during pregnancy. Overall, 33% of case and 31% of control mothers changed residence between conception and delivery. The pattern of mobility was similar for both case and control mothers for each pregnancy period. Multivariate analyses indicated that for case mothers, older age (OR=0.39, 95% CI=0.21-0.70), higher household income (OR=0.35, 95% CI=0.18-0.68), Hispanic ethnicity (OR=0.64, 95% CI=0.44-0.92), and higher parity (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.38-0.94) were indicators of lower mobility during pregnancy. For control mothers, the same pattern of association was present, however, only older age was significantly associated with low rates of mobility. Studies of birth defects using maternal address at delivery as a proxy for maternal environmental exposures during pregnancy may be subject to considerable nondifferential exposure misclassification due to maternal mobility during pregnancy.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Psychiatry and Psychology", "Phenomena and Processes", "Anthropology, Education, Sociology, and Social Phenomena", "Geographicals", "Health Care", "Organisms", "Named Groups", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Resistance to Melampsora larici-epitea leaf rust in Salix: analyses of quantitative trait loci.Quantitative resistance of Salix to Melampsora larici-epitea leaf rust was studied in 2 Salix mapping populations. One population was a backcross between a S. schwerinii x S. viminalis hybrid and S. viminalis, and the other was an F2 population between S. viminalis and S. dasyclados. A leaf disc bioassay was used to study the components of quantitative resistance (latent period, uredinia number, and uredinia size) to 3 isolates of the leaf rust. The analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) revealed 9 genomic regions in the backcross population and 7 genomic regions in the F2 population that were important for rust resistance, with QTLs explaining 8-26% of the phenotypic variation. An important genomic region was identified for the backcross population in linkage group 2, where QTLs were identified for all resistance components for 2 of the rust isolates. Four of the QTLs had overlapping mapping intervals, demonstrating a common genetic background for latent period, uredinia diameter, and uredinia number. QTLs specific to some rust isolates and to some resistance components were also found, indicating a combination of common and specific mechanisms involved in the various resistance components. Breeding implications in relation to these findings are discussed.", "answer groups": [ "Phenomena and Processes", "Organisms", "Anatomy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Gonadal steroids, gonadotropins and endometrial histology in postmenopausal women with malignant ovarian tumors.The concentrations of FSH, LH, 17-beta-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1) and progesterone (P) were measured in peripheral and ovarian vein sera obtained at preoperative pelvic angiography from 5 postmenopausal women with malignant ovarian tumors. In 5 others the concentrations of E2, P and testosterone (T) were also measured in ascitic fluid collected at laparotomy. The investigation showed that most of these patients had increased concentrations of E2 and/or E1 and P as well in the peripheral blood. Significant gradients between the ovarian and peripheral vein concentrations were found for E2 and for P. High levels of E2, P and T were found in the ascitic fluid. FSH and LH levels were often lowered in peripheral blood compared with normal menopausal values and a gradient to ovarian tumor venous blood - with lower concentrations in the blood coming from the tumors, was found. Endometrial histology showed signs of steroid stimulation. These cases indicate that malignant ovarian tumors and/or the ovaries harboring them, are often capable of producing different sex steroids. These steroids may be found in the peripheral blood and in the ascitic fluid compartment and therefore may be used as tumor markers. The steroid production is probably not autonomous, but gonadotropin-dependent.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Anatomy", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Phenomena and Processes", "Named Groups", "Diseases" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Induction of adipose differentiation related protein and neutral lipid droplet accumulation in keratinocytes by skin irritants.Keratinocytes play an important role in skin irritation. In an attempt to investigate mechanistic bases of human skin irritation response, we recently identified the upregulation by skin irritants of adipose differentiation related protein (ADRP) in reconstituted human epidermis. ADRP is a lipid-storage-droplet-associated protein, governing deposition and release of lipids from droplets. The purpose of this study was to characterize, in a human keratinocyte cell line (NCTC 2544), sodium-dodecyl-sulfate-induced ADRP expression, to identify the biochemical events that lead to ADRP expression, and to understand its function in sodium dodecyl sulfate cytotoxicity. Sodium dodecyl sulfate induced a concentration- and time-related production of ADRP that was associated with lipid droplet accumulation. Lipid accumulation following sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment was due to intracellular redistribution rather than lipid neosynthesis, as indicated by equivalent 14C-oleate and 14C-acetate incorporations. Other skin irritants, namely benzalkonium chloride, tributyltin, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, also induce lipid droplet accumulation. Sodium-dodecyl-sulfate-induced ADRP expression and lipid droplet accumulation were modulated by the calcium chelator BAPTA, indicating a role of calcium in ADRP induction. Decrease of sodium-dodecyl-sulfate-induced ADRP expression by specific ADRP antisense oligonucleotide resulted in increased cytotoxicity, indicating a protective role of ADRP and lipid accumulation in the process of cell damage induced by skin irritants. ADRP expression was also induced in vivo following treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate in an experimental model of skin irritation, indicating that the in vitro model represents irritation.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes", "Chemicals and Drugs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Inhibition of HIV Fusion by Small Molecule Agonists through Efficacy-Engineering of CXCR4.CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes, notably as a coreceptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cell entry. Its broad expression pattern and vital biological importance make CXCR4 a troublesome drug target, as disruption of the interaction with its endogenous ligand, CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), has severe consequences. In fact, only one CXCR4 drug, the bicyclam antagonist and HIV entry inhibitor AMD3100 (Plerixafor/Mozobil), has been approved for clinical use, however only for stem cell mobilization-a consequence of CXCR4 antagonism. Here, we report the engineering of an efficacy switch mutation in CXCR4-F292A7.43 in the middle of transmembrane helix 7-that converted the antagonists AMD3100 and AMD11070 into partial agonists. As agonists on F292A CXCR4, AMD3100 and AMD11070 were less disruptive to CXCR4 signaling while they remained efficient inhibitors of HIV fusion. This demonstrates that small molecule CXCR4 agonists can have a therapeutic potential as HIV entry inhibitors.", "answer groups": [ "Organisms", "Chemicals and Drugs", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "Treatment of an exposed breast implant by muscle flap and by fascia graft.An exposed breast implant was salvaged on one occasion by a lateral muscle flap from the serratus anterior and a second time medially by a fascia lata graft.", "answer groups": [ "Diseases", "Anatomy", "Organisms", "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Named Groups", "Disciplines and Occupations" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "Given the above article, which MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) root categories can be assigned to it?", "paragraph": "The matching method for veins images.BACKGROUND: A common problem in medical practice is the localization of subcutaneous veins and arteries. Automatization of this procedure may help to develop bloodbot rigs and improve use of image guided surgery.METHOD: It is not necessary to have a full 3D model in order to determine their location by calculating the spatial coordinates of veins axes in the adopted coordinate system. A much better solution is pre-segmentation, which provides veins axes, and further search for stereo correspondence in the segmented images. The computational complexity of this approach is much smaller, which ensures its quick operation. A disparity map necessary for the calculation of spatial coordinates is created according to the principle that the most likely correct distance between homologous elements is the minimum distance value. To increase the effectiveness of the method, the difference in the distance between the homologous points and their neighbours is further analysed.RESULTS: The method is illustrated with examples of the authors' own images of subcutaneous veins as well as standard images used for the evaluation of new methods for seeking stereo correspondence. In addition, the method has been compared with three recognized and widely used algorithms for matching images. The effectiveness of the new method reaches 100% of properly matched pixels. The largest percentage of mismatches is 27%. The lowest value of standard deviation is 0.1 and the highest 10 pixels. The proposed method is at least two times faster than other presented methods.", "answer groups": [ "Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment", "Information Science", "Organisms", "Anatomy", "Phenomena and Processes" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a056/2007 of 24 January 2007 determining the extent to which the applications for import licences lodged during the first 15 days of January 2007 for butter originating in New Zealand under quota numbers 09.4195 and 09.4182 can be accepted\n25.1.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 18/8\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 56/2007\nof 24 January 2007\ndetermining the extent to which the applications for import licences lodged during the first 15 days of January 2007 for butter originating in New Zealand under quota numbers 09.4195 and 09.4182 can be accepted\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 of 14 December 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards the import arrangements for milk and milk products and opening tariff quotas\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 35a(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\nApplications for import licences, lodged from 1 to 15 January 2007 for butter originating in New Zealand under quotas numbers 09.4195 and 09.4182 referred to in Annex IIIA to Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 and notified to the Commission by 18 January 2007, concern quantities greater than those available. Allocation coefficients should therefore be fixed for the quantities applied for,\nApplications for import licences for butter originating in New Zealand under the quota numbers 09.4195 and 09.4182 lodged pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 from 1 to 15 January 2007 and notified to the Commission by 18 January 2007 shall be accepted subject to the application of the allocation coefficients set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [ "own consumption", "added value", "sectoral aid", "international voluntary worker", "trade relations", "chemical element", "national election", "migration from the countryside to the town", "speech", "Ecu" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 20/82 of 6 January 1982 on special detailed rules for applying the system of import and export licences for sheepmeat and goatmeat\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 20/82\nof 6 January 1982\non special detailed rules for applying the system of import and export licences for sheepmeat and goatmeat\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1837/80 of 27 June 1980 on the common organization of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 899/81 (2), and in particular Article 16 (2) thereof,\nWhereas, under Article 16 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1837/80, any import into the Community and any export therefrom of the products referred to in Article 1 (a) and (c) of that Regulation are subject to the production of a licence; whereas it is necessary to lay down special detailed rules for applying such a system; whereas such detailed rules will be either additional to or by way of derogation from the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 3183/80 (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2646/81 (4);\nWhereas, under the third subparagraph of Article 16 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1837/80, licences are issued subject to the lodging of a security; whereas it is necessary to fix the amount of that security;\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 19/82 (5) laid down special rules for imports;\nWhereas this Regulation incorporates the provisions of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2666/80 (6), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1553/81 (7); whereas it is therefore necessary to repeal that Regulation;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sheep and Goats,\nThis Regulation lays down special detailed rules for applying the system of import and export licences set up by Article 16 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1837/80.\nHowever:\n(a) for products falling within subheading 02.01 A IV of the Common Customs Tariff and originating in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay,\n(b) for products falling within subheadings 01.04 B and 02.01 A IV of the Common Customs Tariff and originating in Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Poland, Romania and Yugoslavia,\nimport licences may be issued only subject to the conditions laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 19/82.\nThe provisions of the third indent of Article 5 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 3183/80 shall not apply to imports of products within subheadings 01.04 B and 02.01 A IV of the Common Customs Tariff.\n1. The import licence shall be valid for three months from its date of issue within the meaning of Article 21 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 3183/80.\n2. The licence application and the licence itself shall state in section 14, the country of origin of the product.\n3. It shall be obligatory to import from the country stated in the licence.\n1. The export licence shall be valid for three months from its date of issue within the meaning of Article 21 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 3183/80.\n2. The licence application and the licence itself shall state, in section 13, the country of destination of the product.\n1. The rate of the security in connection with import licences shall be:\n- 0;5 ECU per head in the case of live animals,\n- 2 ECU per 100 kg net weight in the case of other products.\n2. The rate of the security in connection with export licences shall be:\n- 0;5 ECU per head in the case of live animals,\n- 2 ECU per 100 kg net weight in the case of other products.\nMember States shall communicate to the Commission, on the first, 11th and 21st days of each month, by telex, the quantities, by product, and where appropriate, by origin or by destination, in respect of which import and export licences have been issued.\nRegulation (EEC) No 2666/80 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply with effect from 1 January 1982.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "export licence" ], "distractor groups": [ "soil analysis", "multilateral relations", "World Anti-Doping Agency", "Kyoto Protocol", "household consumption", "toy industry", "job satisfaction", "Nord-Vest (Romania)", "legal rule", "tropical agriculture", "sheep's milk cheese" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 1842/83 of 30 June 1983 laying down general rules for the supply of milk and certain milk products at reduced prices to schoolchildren\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1842/83\nof 30 June 1983\nlaying down general rules for the supply of milk and certain milk products at reduced prices to schoolchildren\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1600/83 (2), and in particular Article 26 (3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas Article 26 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 provides for the adoption by the Council of general rules governing the aid scheme for the supply to schoolchildren of milk and certain milk products falling within heading No 04.01 or 04.04 or subheading 22.02 B or of yoghourt falling within subheadings 04.02 B, 18.06 D and 21.07 D of the Common Customs Tariff;\nWhereas the beneficiaries of the Community aid, the maximum daily quantities and the characteristics of the products distributed must be determined at Community level;\nWhereas, for financing purposes, this measure may be treated as one of the measures referred to in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1079/77 of 17 May 1977 on a co-responsibility levy and on measures for expanding the market in milk and milk products (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1209/83 (4);\nWhereas, as a result of the amendment of Article 26 of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68, Council Regulation (EEC) No 1080/77 of 17 May 1977 on the supply of milk and certain milk products at reduced prices to schoolchildren (5), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1188/82 (6), should be repealed,\n1. The aid referred to in Article 26 of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 shall be granted for a period of not less than five years as from the 1983/84 milk year.\n2. The beneficiaries of the Community aid shall be schoolchildren and students attending a school to be defined in the detailed rules of application.\n3. In the case of whole milk, the Community aid shall be equal to 125 % of the target price of milk applicable for the milk year concerned.\nIn the case of the other milk products referred to in Article 2 (1), the amounts of aid shall be determined taking into account the milk content of the products concerned.\n1. The Community aid referred to in Article 1 shall apply to:\n(a) whole milk which has been pasteurized or subjected to a UHT process;\n(b) chocolate-flavoured or flavoured whole milk which has been pasteurized, sterilized or subjected to a UHT process;\n(c) whole milk yoghourt falling within heading No 04.01 of the Common Customs Tariff.\nIn accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68, the following may be included in the list of subsidized products:\n(a) untreated whole milk;\n(b) semi-skimmed milk;\n(c) chocolate-flavoured or flavoured semi-skimmed milk which has been pasteurized, sterilized or subjected to a UHT process;\n(d) skimmed milk;\n(e) chocolate-flavoured or flavoured skimmed milk which has been pasteurized, sterilized or subjected to a UHT process;\n(f) buttermilk;\n(g) yoghourt containing sugar, cocoa or fruit in a maximum proportion to be determined;\n(h) certain cheeses to be determined in the detailed rules of application.\nThe Commission may, in the detailed rules of application lay down special requirements, in particular regarding quality, and permit derogations regarding the treatment of the milk.\n2. The products referred to in paragraph 1 supplied to a school shall amount to not more than 0,25 litre of milk equivalent per pupil per school day. This maximum may, however, be increased in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 where the nature of the school enables any change in the destination of the products in question to be avoided.\nThis measure shall, to an extent to be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68, constitute one of the measures referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No 1079/77.\nRegulation (EEC) No 1080/77 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 August 1983.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "educational institution" ], "distractor groups": [ "business management", "over-the-counter drug", "asymmetric warfare", "European industrial area", "research programme", "Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications", "integration into employment", "press agency", "organisation of work" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2798/81 of 28 September 1981 amending for the third time Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the beef and veal sector\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2798/81 of 28 September 1981 amending for the third time Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the beef and veal sector\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (1), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Greece, and in particular Article 15 (2) and Article 25 thereof,\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2378/80 (2), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1727/81 (3), laid down additional special detailed rules concerning the issue of export licences, which were made necessary by the world market situation for agricultural products ; whereas the said detailed rules apply only until 30 September 1981;\nWhereas some of the detailed rules have been found to be useful for giving better indications concerning the market, particularly in respect of exports of beef and veal to non-member countries ; whereas they should therefore be retained by including them in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2137/81 (5);\nWhereas the Management Committee for Beef and Veal has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,\nRegulation (EEC) No 2377/80 is hereby amended as follows. 1. The following Article 8a is inserted:\n\"Article 8a\n1. For products falling within subheading 02.01 A II of the Common Customs Tariff, the application for an export licence and the licence itself shall contain, in Section 13, the name of the country of destination of the product.\n2. For products falling within subheading 02.01 A II of the Common Customs Tariff, the export licence with advance fixing of the refund, as referred to in Article 3 (a), shall be issued on the fifth working day following the day on which the application is lodged, unless special measures are taken during that period.\n3. By way of derogation from Article 5 (b), the export licence with advance fixing of the refund, as referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, shall be valid for 90 days from its actual day of issue.\"\n2. Article 16 is replaced by the following:\n\"Article 16\n1. The Member States shall communicate, by telex, to the Commission on the Monday and Thursday of each week, before 4 p.m., for the products falling within subheading 02.01 A II of the Common Customs Tariff, and specifying, by product, the quantities and countries of destination: - a list of export licences with advance fixing of refunds applied for since the previous communication, and\n- a list of export licences issued since the previous communication.\n2. Before the fifth day of each month, the Member States shall communicate to the Commission by telex the quantity of products for which import or export licences were issued during the previous calendar month.\n3. The communications provided for in this Article shall be made in accordance with Annex I and using the codes indicated therein.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 October 1981. (1) OJ No L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 24. (2) OJ No L 241, 13.9.1980, p. 19. (3) OJ No L 172, 30.6.1981, p. 21. (4) OJ No L 241, 13.9.1980, p. 5. (5) OJ No L 209, 29.7.1981, p. 15.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "export licence" ], "distractor groups": [ "arbitration clause", "agricultural product", "preferential price", "AAMS countries", "Council of Europe fund", "EAEC Joint Undertaking", "organic farming", "comitology", "regions of Lithuania", "economic planning" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2000/707/EC: Commission Decision of 6 November 2000 on financial assistance from the Community for storage in France, Italy and the United Kingdom of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine and amending Decision 2000/112/EC (notified under document number C(2000) 3175)\nCommission Decision\nof 6 November 2000\non financial assistance from the Community for storage in France, Italy and the United Kingdom of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine and amending Decision 2000/112/EC\n(notified under document number C(2000) 3175)\n(2000/707/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(1), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy(2), and in particular Article 14 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) By virtue of Council Decision 91/666/EEC of 11 December 1991 estasblishing Community reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines(3), as last amended by Decision 1999/762/EC(4), establishment of antigen banks is part of the Community's action to create Community reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine.\n(2) Article 3 of that Decision designates the Laboratoire de pathologie bovine du Centre national d'\u00e9tudes v\u00e9t\u00e9rinaires et alimentaires at Lyon in France and the Istituto Zooprofilaticco Sperimentale di Brescia in Italy as antigen banks holding Community reserves and provides for procedures to designate other establishments as antigen bank by Commission Decision.\n(3) By Decision 2000/111/EC(5) the Commission designated Merial SAS, Pirbright, United Kingdom, as a third antigen bank and made provisions for the transfer of antigen from a bank no longer designated. The Community financial contribution for the year 2000 is subject of the contract on transfer and storage of antigen concluded between the Commission and Merial SAS, in accordance with this Decision.\n(4) Commission Decision 2000/112/EC detailing the distribution between antigen banks of antigen reserves established within the framework of the Community action concerning reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines and amending Decisions 93/590/EC and 97/348/EC(6) with regard to the storage site of certain quantities and strains of antigen applies since 1 February 2000. However the transfer of antigen from Pirbright Institute for Animal Health to Merial SAS, Pirbright was delayed for technical reasons and thereby Pirbright Institute for Animal Health, continued to provide to the Community the services of an antigen bank until the transfer was completed on 28 June 2000.\n(5) The functions and duties of these antigen banks are specified in Article 4 of Decision 91/666/EEC and community assistance must be conditional on accomplishment of these.\n(6) Community financial assistance should be granted to the banks providing services to the Community to enable them to carry out during 2000 the said functions and duties.\n(7) For budgetary reasons the Community assistance should be granted for a period of one year.\n(8) For financial control purposes Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 should apply.\n(9) Commission Decision 2000/112/EC should be amended in order to take account of the delayed transfer of antigen from Pirbright Institute For Animal Health to Merial SAS, Pirbright, United Kingdom.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,\n1. The Community shall grant France financial assistance for the stocking of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine.\n2. The Laboratoire de pathologie bovine du Centre national d'\u00e9tudes v\u00e9t\u00e9rinaires et alimentaires at Lyon in France shall hold the stock of antigen to which paragraph 1 relates. The provisions of Article 4 of Decision 91/666/EEC shall apply.\n3. The Community's financial assistance shall be up to a maximum of EUR 30000 for the period 1 January to 31 December 2000.\n1. The Community shall grant Italy financial assistance for the stocking of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine.\n2. The Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Brescia in Italy shall hold the stock of antigen to which paragraph 1 relates. The provisions of Article 4 of Decision 91/666/EEC shall apply.\n3. The Community's financial assistance shall be up to a maximum of EUR 30000 for the period 1 January to 31 December 2000.\n1. The Community shall grant the United Kingdom financial assistance for the stocking of antigen for production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine.\n2. The Institute for Animal Health at Pirbright in the United Kingdom shall hold the stock of antigen to which paragraph 1 relates. The provisions of Article 4 of Decision 91/666/EEC shall apply.\n3. The Community's financial assistance shall be up to a maximum of EUR 15000 for the period 1 January to 30 June 2000.\n1. The Community's financial assistance referred to in Article 1(3), Article 2(3) and Article 3(3) shall be paid following presentation, by the Member State concerned, of supporting documents, which demonstrate the effective completion of the tasks.\n2. The supporting documents referred to in paragraph 1 must be presented to the Commission before 1 March 2001 and they should include:\n(a) technical information on:\n- the amount and type of antigen stored (storage records),\n- storage equipment used (type, number and capacity of tanks),\n- security system in place (temperature control, anti-theft measures),\n- insurance arrangements (fire, accidents);\n(b) financial information (completion of table as show in the Annex).\nArticles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 shall apply mutatis mutandis.\nIn Article 3 of Decision 2000/112/EC the date of \"1 February 2000\" is changed to \"1 July 2000\".\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "foot-and-mouth disease" ], "distractor groups": [ "budgetary classification", "tenant farming", "ECSC recommendation", "nationality of legal persons", "building", "Northern Portugal", "conscience clause", "maize oil", "free-on-board price" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive (EU) 2015/653 of 24 April 2015 amending Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences (Text with EEA relevance)\n25.4.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 107/68\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/653\nof 24 April 2015\namending Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on driving licences\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 8 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The codes and sub-codes set out in Annex I to Directive 2006/126/EC should be updated in the light of technical and scientific progress, especially in the field of vehicle adaptations and technical support for drivers with disabilities.\n(2) To take into account new technological developments, the codes and sub-codes should be function-oriented. For reasons of administrative simplification some codes should also be deleted, merged with other codes or shortened.\n(3) To reduce the burden on drivers with disabilities, it should be made possible where appropriate for those drivers to drive a vehicle without technical adaptation. Since modern vehicle technology allows drivers to operate certain regular vehicles with limited force, e.g. for steering or braking, and in order to enhance flexibility for drivers whilst ensuring safe operation of the vehicle, codes should be introduced that could allow driving of vehicles which are compatible with the maximum force the driver is able to produce.\n(4) Certain codes which are currently restricted to medical conditions may also be relevant for other road safety purposes by limiting high risk situations, e.g. in the case of novice or elderly drivers. Thus a section should also be created for these codes on limited use.\n(5) To enhance road safety, several Member States have or are planning programmes restricting drivers to drive only vehicles equipped with an alcohol interlock. To facilitate the deployment and acceptance of alcohol interlock devices and taking into account the recommendation of the Study on the prevention of drink-driving by the use of alcohol interlock devices\u00a0(2), a harmonised code should be introduced for this purpose.\n(6) In accordance with the Joint Political Declaration of Member States and the Commission of 28 September 2011 on explanatory documents\u00a0(3), Member States have undertaken to accompany, in justified cases, the notification of their transposition measures with one or more documents explaining the relationship between the components of a directive and the corresponding parts of national transposition instruments.\n(7) Directive 2006/126/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on driving licences,\nAnnex I to Directive 2006/126/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 1 January 2017 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "European driving licence" ], "distractor groups": [ "mythology", "political tendency", "social economy", "EAEC recommendation", "fish product", "public contract", "English-speaking Africa", "group travel", "cheese factory", "chaptalisation", "Federated States of Micronesia" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2691/1999 of 17 December 1999 on rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road (Text with EEA relevance)\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2691/1999\nof 17 December 1999\non rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 of 25 May 1998 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road(1), and in particular, Article 9 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1172/98, the Commission should determine the arrangements for the transmission of data by the Member States.\n(2) It is necessary to specify the country codes for international transport during the transitional period foreseen in Article 5 of the said Regulation.\n(3) The use of the two different systems of country codes specified in Annexes A and G of Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 is not compatible with the efficient transmission of data by the Member States.\n(4) It is desirable to establish a new list of country codes following the system used for the NUTS region codes.\n(5) The contents of Annexes A and G of Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 needs to be adapted accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion delivered by the Statistical Programme Committee, set up by Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom(2),\nRegulation (EC) No 1172/98 shall be amended as follows:\n1. In Annex A, part A2, the text of section 7 shall be replaced by the following: \"7. Countries crossed in transit (not more than 5), coded according to Annex G.\"\n2. Annex G shall be replaced by the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EU statistics" ], "distractor groups": [ "regional culture", "area management", "market stabilisation", "clean technology", "sugar levy", "wine", "cinema", "space-based weapons", "Utena county", "agency abroad" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a0364/2011 of 13\u00a0April 2011 amending Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0798/2008 and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01291/2008 as regards a control programme for Salmonella in certain poultry and eggs in Croatia in accordance with Regulation (EC) No\u00a02160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and correcting Commission Regulations (EU) No\u00a0925/2010 and (EU) No\u00a0955/2010 Text with EEA relevance\n14.4.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 100/30\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 364/2011\nof 13 April 2011\namending Annex I to Commission Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2008 as regards a control programme for Salmonella in certain poultry and eggs in Croatia in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and correcting Commission Regulations (EU) No 925/2010 and (EU) No 955/2010\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 9(2)(b) thereof,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the control of Salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 10(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2009/158/EC of 30 November 2009 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs\u00a0(3), and in particular Articles 23(1) and 26(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 of 8 August 2008 laying down a list of third countries, territories, zones or compartments from which poultry and poultry products may be imported into and transit through the Community and the veterinary certification requirements\u00a0(4) lays down the veterinary certification requirements for imports into and transit through the Union of those commodities. It provides that the commodities covered by that Regulation are only to be imported into and transit through the Union from the third countries, territories, zones or compartments listed in columns 1 and 3 of the table in Part 1 of Annex I thereto.\n(2) The definition of eggs set out in point 5.1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin\u00a0(5) does not include cooked eggs while the definition of egg products set out in point 7.3 of Annex I to that Regulation covers cooked eggs. Therefore, the appropriate Harmonised System (HS) code of the World Customs Organisation for cooked eggs, namely 04.07, should also be referred to in the model veterinary certificate for egg products set out in Part 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008.\n(3) Where egg products covered by HS code 04.07 originating from an area under animal health restrictions are imported into the Union, it is necessary that those products have been subjected to an appropriate treatment for the inactivation of disease agents. For that purpose, certain treatments for egg products recommended in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as standards for international trade should be taken into account and be included in the Animal health attestation in Part II of the model veterinary certificate for egg products.\n(4) The model veterinary certificate for egg products set out in Part 2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(5) Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 lays down rules for the control of Salmonella in different poultry populations in the Union. It provides that admission to or retention on the lists of third countries provided for in Union legislation, for the relevant species or category, from which Member States are authorised to import those animals or hatching eggs covered by that Regulation is subject to the submission to the Commission by the third country concerned of a control programme for Salmonella with equivalent guarantees to those contained in the national control programmes for Salmonella in the Member States.\n(6) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2008 of 18 December 2008 concerning the approval of control programmes for Salmonella in certain third countries in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and listing of avian influenza surveillance programmes in certain third countries and amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008\u00a0(6) approves the control programmes submitted by Croatia on 11 March 2008 as regards Salmonella in breeding poultry of Gallus gallus, hatching eggs thereof, laying hens of Gallus gallus, table eggs thereof and day-old chicks of Gallus gallus intended for breeding or laying.\n(7) The control programmes submitted by Croatia on 11 March 2008 also provides the guarantees required by Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 for Salmonella control in all other flocks of Gallus gallus. These programmes should therefore also be approved. Regulation (EC) No 1291/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(8) The entry for Croatia in the list in Part 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 should be amended to take account of the approval of the control programmes for Salmonella for all flocks of Gallus gallus.\n(9) Commission Decision 2007/843/EC of 11 December 2007 concerning approval of Salmonella control programmes in breeding flocks of Gallus gallus in certain third countries in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Decision 2006/696/EC, as regards certain public health requirements at import of poultry and hatching eggs\u00a0(7) approves the control programme submitted by Tunisia for Salmonella in flocks of breeding hens, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003. In that Decision, as amended by Commission Decision 2011/238/EU\u00a0(8), the programme submitted by Tunisia has been deleted since that third country has stopped the programme. The entry for Tunisia in the list in Part 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 should be amended to take account of that deletion.\n(10) Regulations (EC) No 798/2008 and (EC) No 1291/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(11) Commission Regulation (EU) No 925/2010 of 15 October 2010 amending Decision 2007/777/EC and Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 as regards transit through the Union of poultry meat and poultry meat products from Russia\u00a0(9) contains an obvious error in the entry for Israel (IL-2), in column 7 of the table set out in Annex II to that Regulation, which should be corrected. The corrected Regulation should be applicable as of the date of entry into force of that Regulation.\n(12) Commission Regulation (EU) No 955/2010 of 22 October 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 as regards the use of vaccines against Newcastle disease\u00a0(10) contains an error in the veterinary model certificate for meat of poultry (POU) set out in the Annex to that Regulation. The error concerns the entry \u2018Treatment type\u2019, which was erroneously, introduced in Part I (Details of dispatched consignment) in box I.28 of that certificate. The entry \u2018Treatment type\u2019 is not applicable for meat of poultry and should therefore be deleted from the model certificate. That error should be corrected.\n(13) It is appropriate to provide for a transitional period to permit Member States and the industry to take the necessary measures to comply with the applicable veterinary certification requirements following the correction to Regulation (EU) No 955/2010.\n(14) Regulations (EU) No 925/2010 and (EU) No 955/2010 should therefore be corrected accordingly.\n(15) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAmendment to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008\nAnnex I to Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nAmendment to Regulation (EC) No 1291/2008\nof Regulation (EC) No 1291/2008 is replaced by the following:\n\u2018Article 1\nThe control programmes submitted by Croatia to the Commission on 11 March 2008 in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 are approved as regards Salmonella in all flocks of Gallus gallus.\u2019\nCorrection to Regulation (EU) No 925/2010\nIn Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 925/2010, in the entry for Israel (IL-2), column 7 is corrected as follows:\n(a) in the line for veterinary certificate models \u2018BPR, BPP, DOC, DOR, HEP, HER, SRP\u2019, the date \u20181.5.2010\u2019 is replaced by the letter \u2018A\u2019;\n(b) in the line for veterinary certificate model \u2018WGM\u2019, \u2018A\u2019 is deleted.\nCorrection to Regulation (EU) No 955/2010\nIn the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 955/2010, in point (a), in box I.28 of Part I of the model veterinary certificate for meat of poultry (POU), the words \u2018Treatment type\u2019 are deleted.\nEntry into force and applicability\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 May 2011.\nHowever, Article 3 shall apply from 5 November 2010 and Article 4 shall apply from 1 July 2011.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Croatia" ], "distractor groups": [ "relationship", "compulsory insurance", "state of emergency", "flour milling", "cross-border dimension", "national park", "Social Democratic Party", "drawing up of the EU budget" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2001/333/EC: Commission Decision of 13 February 2001 on the allocation of quantities of controlled substances allowed for essential uses in the Community in 2001 under Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council on substances that deplete the ozone layer (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2000) 4153)\nCommission Decision\nof 13 February 2001\non the allocation of quantities of controlled substances allowed for essential uses in the Community in 2001 under Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council on substances that deplete the ozone layer\n(notified under document number C(2000) 4153)\n(Only the Spanish, German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Finnish and Swedish texts are authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2001/333/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council on substances that deplete the ozone layer(1), and in particular to Articles 3, 4 and 7 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Because of concerns for the ozone layer, the Community has already phased out the production and consumption of certain controlled substances.\n(2) Essential uses have to be decided for chlorofluorocarbons; other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons; halons; carbon tetrachloride; 1,1,1 trichloroethane; and hydrobromofluorocarbons (Article 3.1 and Article 4.4).\n(3) The criteria used for assessing essential uses are in line with Decision IV/25 of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and are:\nI. That a use of a controlled substance should qualify as \"essential\" only if:\nA. it is necessary for the health, safety, or is critical for the functioning of society (encompassing cultural and intellectual aspects); and\nB. there are no technically and economically feasible alternatives or substitutes that are acceptable from the standpoint of environment and health.\nII. That production and consumption, if any, of a controlled substance for essential uses should be permitted only if:\nA. all economically feasible steps have been taken to minimise the essential use and any associated emission of the controlled substance; and\nB. the controlled substance is not available in sufficient quantity and quality from existing stocks of banked or recycled controlled substances, also bearing in mind the needs of developing countries for controlled substances.\n(4) Decision XI/14 of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol authorises the levels of production and consumption necessary to satisfy essential uses of controlled substances for metered dose inhalers (MDIs) for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).\n(5) Decision XI/17 of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol authorises the production and consumption necessary to satisfy essential uses of controlled substances for laboratory and analytical uses as listed in Annex IV to the report of the Seventh Meeting of the Parties, subject to the conditions set out in Annex II to the report of the Sixth Meeting of the Parties and in Decision VII/11.\n(6) The Montreal Protocol's Technology and Economic Assessment Panel noted in its April 2000 report that the European Community's stockpile of CFCs has increased and recommended that it be reduced as production of CFC-based MDIs declines.\n(7) The Commission has published a notice(2) to those companies in the European Community that use controlled substances which may be allowed for essential uses in the Community in 2001 pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000, and has thereby received applications for quantities of controlled substances for essential uses in 2001.\n(8) In the framework of the Montreal Protocol nomination and assessment procedures for essential uses, Parties are requested to identify the users who may take advantage of essential uses in 2001.\n(9) The Commission issues licenses to the users identified pursuant to Articles 3, 4 and 7 and in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000.\n(10) Within this framework, a producer may be authorised by the competent authority of the Member State in which its relevant production is situated to produce the controlled substances for the purposes of meeting the licensed demands presented by the identified users; the competent authority of the Member State concerned shall in turn notify the Commission well in advance of any such authorisation.\n(11) Pursuant to Decision XI/17 of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, overall quantitative limits may be set for essential laboratory and analytical uses of controlled substances in the European Community during 2001.\n(12) The list of essential uses and the quantities of the controlled substances are hereby given in the Annex as information for producer and user industries.\n(13) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000,\nCompanies which may take advantage of the essential uses for their own account during 2001 for the manufacture of metered dose inhalers and for the coating of cardiovascular surgical material are listed in Article 5.\nThe total quantities of controlled substances permitted for essential uses during 2001 shall be as specified in the Annex.\nWithin the overall limits set out in Part B of the Annex, the Commission shall issue licenses to acquire controlled substances from producers in the Community or by import for essential laboratory and analytical uses.\nThis Decision shall apply from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001.\nCompanies which may take advantage of the essential uses for their own account during 2001 for the manufacture of metered dose inhalers and for the coating of cardiovascular surgical material are: 3M Health Care Ltd Mr Brian Edwards 3M House\nMorley Street\nLoughborough LE11 1EP United Kingdom Aventis Mr Bob Netrefa London Road\nHolmes Chapel\nCW4 8BE United Kingdom Bespak PLC Mr Chris Halley North Lynn Industrial Estate\nKing's Lynn\nPE30 2JJ United Kingdom Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH J. Pink D - 55216 Ingelheim am Rhein CCL Pharmaceuticals Ltd Ms C. King Astmoor Industrial Estate\n9 Arkwright Road\nRuncorn Cheshire WA7 1NU United Kingdom Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA Dr. P. Chiesi Via Palermo, 26/A I - 43100 Parma Edwards Life Sciences Dr. A. Bronkhorst Energielaan 3 PO Box 169 5400 AD Uden Nederland Glaxo SmithKline Mr Barry Rosenthal Speke Liverpool L24 9JD United Kingdom IG Spr\u00fchtechnik GmbH F. Guck Im Hemmet 1 D - 79664 Wehr Jaba Farmac\u00eautica SA Ana Maria Baptista de Almeida Rua da Tapada Grande n.o 2\nAbrunheira\nP - 2710-089 Sintra Laboratorio Aldo Uni\u00f3n SA Dr. J. Sabater Sanmart\u00ed Baronesa de Mald\u00e0 73\nEsplugues de Llobregat\nE - 08950 Barcelona Norton Waterford Ltd Mr Jim Kennedy Unit 301 Industrial Park Waterford Ireland Orion Corporation Mr Pasi Salokangas Orionintie 1 FIN - 02200 Espoo Schering-Plough Labo NV Dhr P. Gyselinck Industriepark 30 B - 2220 Heist-op-den-Berg Valeas SpA Pharmaceuticals Dr. Virgilio Bernareggi Via Vallisneri, 10 I - 20133 Milano Valois SA M. Salim Haffar 50, avenue de l'Europe F - 78160 Marly-Le-Roi VARI Dr. Bruno Boccardo Via del Pino, 10 I - 23854 Olginate.", "answer groups": [ "dangerous substance" ], "distractor groups": [ "Tokyo Round", "war", "payment system", "educational planning", "Munster", "North-South relations", "pre-accession aid", "admission of aliens", "staff regulations (EU)" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2000/282/EC: Commission Decision of 12 April 2000 on technical measures to assist Japan and South Korea during a foot-and-mouth disease epidemic (notified under document number C(2000) 1031) (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Decision\nof 12 April 2000\non technical measures to assist Japan and South Korea during a foot-and-mouth disease epidemic\n(notified under document number C(2000) 1031)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2000/282/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1258/99(2), and in particular Article 8 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and a large number of wild animals.\n(2) Foot-and-mouth disease can cause great economic losses to livestock-producers.\n(3) On 24 March 2000 Japan reported the presence of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle, a disease which had been absent from the territory of Japan since 1908.\n(4) On 2 April 2000 South Korea reported outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.\n(5) The disease recorded in Japan and in South Korea is caused by foot-and-mouth disease type 0.\n(6) Vaccine is an important tool in the control of foot-and-mouth disease in particular in emergency situations.\n(7) Japan and South Korea have made a request to the European Commission to borrow for emergency use foot-and-mouth disease virus antigen to be converted into vaccine.\n(8) The European Union under Commission Decision 93/590/EC of 5 November 1993 for the purchase by the Community of foot-and-mouth disease antigens within the framework of the Community action concerning reserves of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines(3), purchased foot-and-mouth disease virus antigen which included five million doses of 01 European strain and five million doses of 01 Middle East strain.\n(9) The Community antigen (vaccine) reserves purchased under Decision 93/590/EC are maintained for reasons of safety at different sites in France, Italy and the United Kingdom.\n(10) The European Union by making available for a limited period of time certain amounts of foot-and-mouth disease virus antignes to Japan and to south Korea enhances the prospects of preventing a major catastrophe and thereby reducing the danger to the Community.\n(11) The antigen made available to Japan and South Korea will within a period of six months be replaced by an equivalent quality and amount of antigen.\n(12) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,\n1. The Community shall make arrangements for temporary technical assistance to Japan and to South Korea in relation to the occurrence of a foot-and-mouth disease epidemic.\n2. The arrangements referred to in paragraph 1 shall include:\n- the temporary release of some of the foot-and-mouth disease virus antigen purchased and kept in accordance with the provisions of Decision 93/590/EC,\n- that the amount of antigen being released cannot exceed 50 % of any given virus strain antigen kept in stock,\n- an acceptance by Japan and South Korea to deliver to the Community within a period of six months antigen which as regards quality and amount is equivalent to the one obtained from the Community.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "foot-and-mouth disease" ], "distractor groups": [ "sexual freedom", "County of Zadar", "76 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS", "marine environment", "fuel tax", "textile plant", "Court of Justice (EU)", "protected species", "wealth tax" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0610/2005 of 20 April 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0462/2005 opening a standing invitation to tender for the export of barley held by the German intervention agency\n21.4.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 101/9\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 610/2005\nof 20 April 2005\namending Regulation (EC) No 462/2005 opening a standing invitation to tender for the export of barley held by the German intervention agency\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 462/2005\u00a0(2) has opened a standing invitation to tender for the export of barley held by the German intervention agency.\n(2) Article 5(4) thereof states the address where the tenders must be lodged with the German intervention agency. As a result of an internal reorganisation within the German administrative authorities, this address must be amended.\n(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nArticle 5(4) of Regulation (EC) No 462/2005 is hereby replaced by the following:\n\u20184.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tenders must be lodged with the German intervention agency:\nBundesanstalt f\u00fcr Landwirtschaft und Ern\u00e4hrung (BLE)\nDeichmannsaue 29\nD-53179 Bonn\nFax: (49-228) 68\u00a045\u00a039\u00a085\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall apply from 9.00 (Brussels time) on 28 April 2005.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Germany" ], "distractor groups": [ "imprisonment", "EU financial instrument", "advance voting", "EU borrowing", "cif price", "surveillance", "securities", "acid", "judicial separation", "Mercosur countries" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 1723/2006 of 20 November 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 379/2004 as regards the increase of the volumes of tariff quotas for certain fishery products for the year 2006 (Text with EEA relevance)\n23.11.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 324/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1723/2006\nof 20 November 2006\namending Regulation (EC) No 379/2004 as regards the increase of the volumes of tariff quotas for certain fishery products for the year 2006\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 26 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) To ensure an adequate supply of certain fishery products to the Community processing industries, autonomous Community tariff quotas have been laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 379/2004 of 24 February 2004 opening and providing for the management of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain fishery products for the period 2004 to 2006\u00a0(1).\n(2) The processing industries in some Member States are facing serious difficulties in securing for themselves sufficient Community supplies of certain fishery products. In order to overcome the shortage of raw materials, the industry is using substitute products originating from third countries.\n(3) It is therefore appropriate to increase the volumes of tariff quotas for certain products laid down in Regulation (EC) No 379/2004 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2006.\n(4) Regulation (EC) No 379/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly,\nFor the quota period from 1 January to 31 December 2006, the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 379/2004 shall be amended as follows:\n(a) the quota amount of the tariff quota 09.2759 shall be fixed at 70\u00a0000 tonnes;\n(b) the quota amount of the tariff quota 09.2761 shall be fixed at 20\u00a0000 tonnes;\n(c) the quota amount of the tariff quota 09.2770 shall be fixed at 8\u00a0000 tonnes;\n(d) the quota amount of the tariff quota 09.2785 shall be fixed at 40\u00a0000 tonnes;\n(e) the quota amount of the tariff quota 09.2790 shall be fixed at 5\u00a0500 tonnes;\n(f) the quota amount of the tariff quota 09.2794 shall be fixed at 10\u00a0000 tonnes.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2006.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [ "EU law - national law", "political programme", "County of Split-Dalmatia", "archipelago", "Razgrad region", "life assurance", "fishing regulations", "farm lease", "financial statistics", "still wine", "local media", "consumer behaviour", "compulsory voting" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1379/2002 of 29 July 2002 on the supply of vegetable oil as food aid\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 1379/2002\nof 29 July 2002\non the supply of vegetable oil as food aid\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1292/96 of 27 June 1996 on food-aid policy and food-aid management and special operations in support of food security(1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1726/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2), and in particular Article 24(1)(b) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The abovementioned Regulation lays down the list of countries and organisations eligible for Community aid and specifies the general criteria on the transport of food aid beyond the fob stage.\n(2) Following the taking of a number of decisions on the allocation of food aid, the Commission has allocated vegetable oil to certain beneficiaries.\n(3) It is necessary to make these supplies in accordance with the rules laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2519/97 of 16 December 1997 laying down general rules for the mobilisation of products to be supplied under Council Regulation (EC) No 1292/96 as Community food aid(3). It is necessary to specify the time limits and conditions of supply to determine the resultant costs.\n(4) In order to ensure that the supplies are carried out for a given lot, provision should be made for tenderers to be able to mobilise either rapeseed oil or sunflower oil. The contract for the supply of each such lot is to be awarded to the tenderer submitting the lowest tender,\nVegetable oil shall be mobilised in the Community, as Community food aid for supply to the recipient listed in the Annex, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2519/97 and under the conditions set out in the Annex.\nThe supply shall cover the mobilisation of vegetable oil produced in the Community. Mobilisation may not involve a product manufactured and/or packaged under inward processing arrangements.\nTenders shall cover either rapeseed oil or sunflower oil. Tenders shall be rejected unless they specify the type of oil to which they relate.\nThe tenderer is deemed to have noted and accepted all the general and specific conditions applicable. Any other condition or reservation included in his tender is deemed unwritten.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "vegetable oil" ], "distractor groups": [ "legislative act (EU)", "North America", "discounting", "institutional balance (EU)", "health control", "market access", "selling at a loss", "UNAIDS", "economic sanctions", "central government" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1687/2003 of 25 September 2003 authorising the acidification of grape must and wine produced in wine-growing zones A and B for the 2003/04 wine year\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 1687/2003\nof 25 September 2003\nauthorising the acidification of grape must and wine produced in wine-growing zones A and B for the 2003/04 wine year\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003(2), and in particular Article 46(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The exceptional weather conditions during the period of ripening of the grapes in wine-growing zones A and B have resulted in a significant and irreversible reduction in the acidity of the grapes and grape must. The particular weather conditions observed during the summer of 2003 are similar to those normally found in wine-growing areas located much further south.\n(2) The total level of acidity of the grapes harvested on maturity in the regions concerned is abnormally low and incompatible with good winemaking and the satisfactory conservation of the wine.\n(3) The Member States concerned should be permitted therefore to authorise the acidification of grape must and wine from zones A and B for the 2003 harvest under the conditions laid down in points E.2, E.3 and E.7 of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999.\n(4) The measure provided for in this Regulation is in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine,\nIn derogation from the rules laid down in Annex V, point E.1, to Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, the Member States may authorise the acidification of grape must and wine from the 2003 harvest in wine-growing zones A and B under the conditions laid down in points E.2, E.3 and E.7 of that Annex.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fruit product" ], "distractor groups": [ "European passport", "whole milk", "County of Vara\u017edin", "ruling", "cyclical fluctuation", "atom", "termination of employment", "corporatism", "reference price", "refrigerated product", "Utena county" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2392/2000 of 27 October 2000 providing for the grant of private storage aid fixed in advance for carcases and half-carcases of lamb in Finland\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2392/2000\nof 27 October 2000\nproviding for the grant of private storage aid fixed in advance for carcases and half-carcases of lamb in Finland\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2467/98 of 3 November 1998 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat(1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1669/2000(2), and in particular Article 12(1) and (4) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3446/90 of 27 November 1990 laying down detailed rules for granting private storage aid for sheepmeat and goatmeat(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3533/93(4), lays down in particular detailed rules where the amount of aid is fixed at a flat rate in advance.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3447/90 of 28 November 1990 on special conditions for the granting of private storage aid for sheepmeat and goatmeat(5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 40/96(6), lays down in particular the minimum quantities per contract.\n(3) The application of Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2467/98 may result in a decision to grant private storage aid. That Article provides for the application of these measures on the basis of the situation of each quotation zone. Article 12(2) provides for aid to be granted in the framework of an advance fixing procedure where urgent recourse to private storage proves necessary. In view of the particularly difficult market situation in Finland, the conditions laid down in that Article have been met. As a consequence, it has been judged opportune to initiate such a procedure.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sheep and Goats,\n1. Subject to the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 3446/90 and Regulation (EEC) No 3447/90, applications may be submitted in Finland between 30 October and 1 December 2000 for aid for the private storage of carcases and half-carcases of lamb up to a limit of 50 tonnes.\nApplications submitted after the day on which the total quantity applied for exceeds the quantities referred to in the preceding subparagraph shall not be accepted. Quantities in respect of which applications are lodged on the day the overall limit is exceeded shall be reduced proportionally.\n2. The minimum storage period shall be three months and the level of aid for this period shall be EUR 1400 per tonne. However, the actual storage period shall be chosen by the storer. This period may extend to a maximum of seven months. If the storage period is greater than three months the aid shall be increased on a daily basis by EUR 1,45 per tonne per day.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "terms for aid" ], "distractor groups": [ "UN-Habitat", "popularising science", "European social policy", "environmental cost", "general legal principle", "motorway", "South West (England)", "EU agricultural market", "barter" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 455/2001 of 6 March 2001 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 on the characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and on the relevant methods of analysis\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 455/2001\nof 6 March 2001\namending Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 on the characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and on the relevant methods of analysis\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation No 136/66/EEC of 22 September 1966 on the establishement of a common organisation of the market in oils and fats(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000(2), and in particular Article 35a thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 379/1999(4), provides for analyses, interpretation of the results of which is influenced by the samples.\n(2) The sampling and preparation of test samples are harmonised, by using international standards EN ISO 661 and EN ISO 5555. However, in the case of oils put up in small packages, application of these standards involves disproportionate cost and effort. For small packages of this type, a different sampling method exists which improves the probability of detecting fraud while keeping down the number of analyses required. It is therefore preferable to use this method.\n(3) Analyses of the quality of oil put up in small packages must be performed before the date of minimum durability of products which have been kept in certain storage conditions.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Oils and Fats,\nRegulation (EEC) No 2568/91 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 2(3) is replaced by the following:\n\"3. When the national authorities or their representatives verify the characteristics of the oil as provided for in paragraph 1, samples shall be taken in accordance with international standards EN ISO 661 on the preparation of test samples and EN ISO 5555 on sampling. However, notwithstanding point 6.8 of standard EN ISO 5555, in the case of batches of such oils in immediate packaging not exceeding 100 litres, the sample shall be taken in accordance with Annex Ia to this Regulation.\nWithout prejudice to standard EN ISO 5555 and Chapter 6 of standard EN ISO 661, the samples taken shall immediately be put in a dark place and sent to the laboratory for analysis no later than five working days after they have been taken.\n4. For the purposes of the verification provided for in paragraph 3, the analyses referred to in Annexes II, III, IX and XII and, where applicable, any counter-analyses required under national law, shall be carried out before the minimum durability date. Where sampling is done more than four months before the minimum durability date, the analyses shall be carried out no later than the fourth month after the month in which the sample was taken. No time limit shall apply to the other analyses provided for in that Regulation.\nUnless the sample was taken less than one month before the minimum durability date, if the results of the analyses do not match the characteristics of the category of olive oil or olive-residue oil declared, the party concerned shall be notified no later than one month before the end of the period laid down in the first subparagraph.\"\n2. The following title is inserted in the summary of the Annexes to Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91:\n\"ANNEX Ia\nSampling of batches of olive oil or olive-residue oil in immediate packaging not exceeding 100 litres.\"\n3. Annex Ia is inserted after Annex I.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 2001.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "olive oil" ], "distractor groups": [ "monetary compensatory amount", "Wallis and Futuna", "report", "price freeze", "service occupation", "small and medium-sized enterprises", "agricultural waste", "customs union", "Community body", "adjustment to school", "economic region" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1409/2004 of 2 August 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 1159/2003 laying down detailed rules of application for the 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 marketing years for the import of cane sugar under certain tariff quotas and preferential agreements and amending Regulations (EC) No 1464/95 and (EC) No 779/96\n3.8.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 256/13\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1410/2004\nof 2 August 2004\namending Regulation (EC) No 1185/2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for the export of rye held by the German intervention agency\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1185/2004\u00a0(2) opens a standing invitation to tender for the export of 1\u00a0000\u00a0000 tonnes of rye held by the German intervention agency.\n(2) As the invitation to tender has been opened for exports to all third countries, the procedure for releasing the export security should be simplified.\n(3) In the current market situation the standing invitation to tender should be amended to take account of the oldest lots available.\n(4) Regulation (EC) No 1185/2004 should be amended as a result.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nRegulation (EC) No 1185/2004 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 8(2), second and third paragraphs, and Article 8(3) are deleted.\n2. Annex I is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nPoint 1 of Article 1 shall apply from 1 July 2004.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Germany" ], "distractor groups": [ "sisal", "blog", "Kyustendil region", "Midi-Pyren\u00e9es", "right of establishment", "Iran", "right to culture", "regional government", "protection of plant life", "arbitrage" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2004/31/EC of 17 March 2004 amending Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nCommission Directive 2004/31/EC\nof 17 March 2004\namending Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community(1), and in particular points (c) and (d) of the second paragraph of Article 14 thereof,\nAfter consulting the Member States concerned,\nWhereas:\n(1) From information supplied by Sweden based on surveys, it appears that areas in Sweden should not longer be recognised as \"protected zones\" in respect of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus.\n(2) Under Directive 2000/29/EC, the introduction into the Community of plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, originating in third countries is prohibited.\n(3) From information supplied by Switzerland, it appears that the measures Switzerland applies as regards the introduction into and movement within its territory of plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, are equivalent to the measures laid down in Directive 2000/29/EC. Therefore, plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, originating in Switzerland should be allowed to enter the Community.\n(4) Under Directive 2000/29/EC, the introduction into the areas within the Community recognised as protected zones as regards Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. of the host plants, other than fruit and seeds, of this harmful organism, originating in third countries other than those recognised as being free from this harmful organism, or in which pest free areas have been established in relation to this harmful organism, is prohibited.\n(5) From information supplied by Switzerland, it appears that the measures Switzerland applies as regards the introduction into and movement within its territory of host plants of Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al., other than fruits and seeds, are largely equivalent to the measures laid down in Directive 2000/29/EC. Therefore, host plants of Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al., other than fruits and seeds, and other than plants of Cotoneaster Ehrh. and Photinia davidiana (Dcne.) Cardot, originating in Switzerland should be allowed to enter the Community.\n(6) From information supplied by Italy based on surveys, it appears that some areas in Italy should not longer be recognised as \"protected zones\" in respect of Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.\n(7) Due to a clerical error in the preparation of Directive 2003/116/EC, current point 21.1 of Part B of Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC was erroneously numbered.\n(8) The current provisions against Tilletia indica Mitra should be amended to take into account the updated information on the presence of this harmful organism in Iran.\n(9) Directive 2000/29/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nAnnexes I, II, III, IV and V to Directive 2000/29/EC are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 20 April 2004 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health legislation" ], "distractor groups": [ "European forestry policy", "08 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS", "disaster area", "multilateral agreement", "CAEU countries", "carpet", "research results", "price reduction", "transport of patients", "electrical industry" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2010/30/: Commission Decision of 9 December 2009 amending the list of herbal substances, preparations and combinations thereof for use in traditional herbal medicinal products (notified under document C(2009) 9703) (Text with EEA relevance)\n19.1.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 12/14\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 9 December 2009\namending the list of herbal substances, preparations and combinations thereof for use in traditional herbal medicinal products\n(notified under document C(2009) 9703)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2010/30/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(f) thereof,\nHaving regard to the opinions of the European Medicines Agency, formulated on 10 January 2008 and 6 March 2008 by the Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products,\nWhereas:\n(1) \u2018Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim\u2019 and \u2018Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench\u2019 comply with the requirements set out in Directive 2001/83/EC. \u2018Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim\u2019 and \u2018Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench\u2019 can be considered as herbal substances, herbal preparations or combinations thereof.\n(2) It is therefore appropriate to include \u2018Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim\u2019 and \u2018Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench\u2019 in the list of herbal substances, preparations and combinations thereof for use in traditional herbal medicinal products established in Annex I to Commission Decision 2008/911/EC\u00a0(2).\n(3) Decision 2008/911/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use,\nDecision 2008/911/EC is amended as follows:\n1. Annex I is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Decision;\n2. Annex II is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Decision.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "pharmaceutical industry" ], "distractor groups": [ "competition policy", "temporary employment", "Latin American Parliament", "Publications Office of the European Union", "separation of powers", "barge carrier ship", "Pardubice", "mineral oil", "wood fibre", "hand tool" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2001/749/EC: Commission Decision of 23 October 2001 amending for the fourth time Decision 2001/532/EC concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2001) 3221)\nCommission Decision\nof 23 October 2001\namending for the fourth time Decision 2001/532/EC concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain\n(notified under document number C(2001) 3221)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2001/749/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market(1), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC(2), and in particular Article 10, paragraph 3 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Outbreaks of classical swine fever have occurred in Spain.\n(2) In view of the trade in live pigs, these outbreaks are liable to endanger the herds of other Member States.\n(3) Spain has taken measures within the framework of Council Directive 80/217/EEC of 22 January 1980 introducing Community measures for the control of classical swine fever(3), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden.\n(4) Spain has taken additional measures for the serosurveillance of classical swine fever in its territory.\n(5) The Commission adopted certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Spain by means of Decision 2001/532/EC(4), which was amended three times to take into account the evolution of the epidemiological situation, as amended by Decision 2001/693/EC(5).\n(6) In relation to the favourable evolution of the situation in the province of L\u00e9rida in Spain, it is necessary to amend Decision 2001/532/EC to lift the measures adopted in the comarcas of Segri\u00e0, Garrigues and Segarra, whilst prolonging the measures applied in the comarcas of Pla d'Urgell, Urgell and Noguera.\n(7) This Decision is in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,\n1. Annex I to Decision 2001/532/EC is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.\n2. In Article 7 of Decision 2001/532/EC the date \"15 October 2001\" is replaced by \"15 November 2001\".\nThe Member States shall amend the measures they apply to trade so as to bring them into compliance with this Decision. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "veterinary inspection" ], "distractor groups": [ "weights and measures", "suburban area", "national city park", "knowledge management", "restrictive trade practice", "non-secular State", "Arctic", "European Union", "cancer", "limited circulation" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "82/742/EEC: Commission Decision of 29 October 1982 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/30.517 - Amersham Buchler) (Only the English and German texts are authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 29 October 1982\nrelating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty\n(IV/30.517 - Amersham Buchler\n(Only the English and German texts are authentic)\n(82/742/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 85 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962 (1), and in particular Articles 6 and 8 thereof,\nHaving regard to the notification and application for negative clearance made to the Commission on 21 December 1981 by Amersham International Ltd on behalf of that company and of Buchler GmbH concerning the formation of a joint venture company,\nHaving regard to the publication of the summary of the notification (2), pursuant to Article 19 (3) of the said Regulation No 17 to which no observations from third parties were received by the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions delivered on 7 September 1982 in accordance with Article 10 of the said Regulation No 17,\nWhereas:\nI. THE FACTS\nA. THE AGREEMENTS\n1. On 21 December 1981, Amersham International Ltd (Amersham), an English company, notified the following agreements:\n(1) Company Contract of Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG of 16 August 1971, superseded by Company Contract of Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG of 29 November 1974;\n(2) Company Contract of Amersham Buchler GmbH of 16 August 1971, amended on 20 December 1971, superseded by Company Contract of Amersham Buchler GmbH of 18 December 1972;\n(3) Contract between Buchler & Co. and Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG of 13 October 1971, superseded by Contract between The Radiochemical Centre Ltd (TRC Ltd), The Radiochemical Centre GmbH (TRC GmbH), Buchler & Co. KG and Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG of 20 December 1978; and\n(4) Exclusive distributorship agreement between The Radiochemical Centre Ltd and Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG of 20 December 1978.\nThe agreements under (1) and (2) were made for the founding of a joint venture company named Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG, with Amersham Buchler GmbH being the unlimited liability partner.\nThe agreements under (3) provide that the joint venture should buy Buchler's radioactive product business and that it should receive know-how and expertise from Amersham and Buchler. By the agreement under (4), the joint venture is appointed the exclusive distributor of Amersham for the Federal Republic of Germany including West Berlin.\nWith respect to these agreements, Amersham made an application to the Commission for negative clearance, or, failing that, an exemption under Article 85 (3).\n2. The joint venture was formed jointly by:\n(a) TRC GmbH, a 100 % subsidiary of Amersham (formerly TRC Ltd); and\n(b) Buchler GmbH (formerly Buchler GmbH & Co. KG).\nTRC GmbH holds 60 % and Buchler holds 40 % of the capital of the joint venture. The agreements have the object of establishing a joint venture for the manufacture and marketing of radioactive material and products, and in particular of radiochemical products for research purposes, radiopharmaceutical products, and radiation sources.\nThe agreements provide that the founding parties may not compete with the joint venture. In case a competitor gains control over one of the parties, the other party may require that the former cease to be a party to the joint venture.\n3. Before entering into these agreements, Amersham (then: The Radiochemical Centre) acted as a commercial department within the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), a body controlled by the UK Government. This Centre had responsibility for research, development, manufacture, use and disposal of radioisotopes. In 1971, the commercial activities of the UKAEA in the field of radioisotopes were transferred to a newly-created corporate entity, The Radiochemical Centre Ltd (TRC Ltd), which later changed its name to Amersham International Ltd. The UKAEA assured TRC Ltd access to its nuclear facilities and granted TRC Ltd the right to act as the commercial representative for all commercially-applicable radioactive products emanating from the facilities of the UKAEA.\nBuchler had acted for Amersham as sole distributor for Germany since 1960. Traditionally, Buchler had been producing radioactive sources derived from naturally-occurring radioactive materials, especially radium. Other branches of production have included and continue to include radiation protection equipment, irradiation devices for use in medicine, research and industry as well as the making of Quinidine salts and Quinidine.\n4. In 1971, Amersham (then: TRC Ltd) and Buchler agreed to establish Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG. Buchler transferred its radioactive product business to the joint venture but remained an independent producer as regards its other product lines.\nThe principal task of the joint venture is to distribute in Germany the products made by Amersham. It is to ensure the high standards of safe handling during transport and storage which radioactive products require. Moreover the joint venture provided the basis for creating a waste disposal service for the radioactive waste of which most customers could not dispose of otherwise. Amersham sells its products in other Member States through other distributors.\nB. THE MARKET\n5. Amersham Buchler's total sales for the fiscal year 1980/81 amount to . . . . . . (1). This represents an estimated share of the German market for radioactive products of 17;8 %, the overall volume of that market being estimated at . . . . . . . Amersham Buchler's biggest competitors on the market are . . . . . . , and . . . . . . with estimated market shares of 13;5 %, 11;5 %, and 11;3 %, respectively. The remaining 45;9 % are distributed among more than 17 other companies.\nII. LEGAL ASSESSMENT\nA. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE 85 (1)\n6. The agreements notified by Amersham have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the common market. However, the prohibition in Article 85 (1) may be declared inapplicable in the present case in accordance with Article 85 (3).\n7. The agreements setting up the joint venture fall within the ambit of Article 85 (1) because they limit competition between Amersham and Buchler. Before 1971, they had been competitors although not over the entirety of their respective product lines. Amersham produced a wide variety of radioactive products including radiopharmaceuticals, clinical reagents, radiochemicals and radiation sources derived from nuclear reactors or the company's own cyclotron.\nOnly part of Buchler's turnover, on the other hand, was attributable to the production of radioactive materials, and that part consisted mainly of radioactive sources derived from naturally-occurring radioactive materials such as radium. The overlap therefore concerned only one out of four sectors of Amersham's activity, namely the radiation sources.\n8. As regards potential competition, Buchler was not able to expand into the product lines manufactured by Amersham. Buchler's radioactive source, plant and equipment were largely outdated and Buchler lacked the financial resources necessary to modernize this part of its operations. Therefore, as far as Buchler is concerned, the formation of the\njoint venture did not exclude potential competition to a considerable extent. As regards Amersham, the cooperation with Buchler may have reduced its interest in expanding, e.g., into the radiation protection business, but this product is not closely related to Amersham's product lines. The probability of expansion into this field was therefore not very high.\n9. Accordingly, the restrictive effect on competition of the joint venture, while appreciable, is not of great severity.\n10. The agreements affect trade between Member States since they were concluded between a British and a German company and concern a considerable amount of exports from the UK to Germany. Before the creation of the joint venture, i.e. in fiscal year 1969/70, Amersham's sales to Germany amounted to \u00c2\u0141 409 000. In 1980/81, its sales to Germany had risen to \u00c2\u0141 3;1 million or 6;7 % of the market.\nB. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE 85 (3)\n11. The agreements fulfil the requirements laid down in Article 85 (3).\nFor the reasons given in this paragraph and in paragraph 13, the joint venture contributes to improving the production and distribution of goods since it enables Amersham to produce and market a much greater variety of products in Germany than before. Radioactive products require a high level of know-how in manufacture and marketing. They are perishable products having a limited useful life of a few days or weeks only. Most of them cannot be stockpiled so that a rapid and efficient system of accepting and executing orders has to be established. Moreover, the products have to fulfil stringent national and international requirements as regards packaging, labelling, transport and storage. Finally, the customers expect the producer to take back their radioactive waste and to dispose of it safely. Because of these factors, Amersham could no longer rely on a simple distributor since such a distributor could not be expected to provide all the necessary services and to invest considerable sums in the waste disposal service. The formation of the joint venture solved these problems and permitted Amersham a better market penetration with an increased number of products being marketed in Germany.\n12. It is to be expected that the consumer receives a fair share of the resulting benefit since the competitive pressure - increased by Amersham's improved market penetration - will ensure that at least part of the resulting profits are transferred to the consumer. Amersham Buchler's market share of about 18 % of the German market does not enable it to prevent a transfer of the profits to the consumer, especially since it is in competition with very powerful companies such as . . . . . . and others with market shares of 13;5 %, 11;5 % and 11;3 % respectively.\n13. The restrictions on competition resulting from the setting-up of the joint venture are indispensable to the attainment of the objectives described in paragraphs 11 and 12 above.\nUntil the time when the agreements were made, Amersham had been essentially a government agency rather than a commercial enterprise. The joint venture allowed Amersham to enter the German market more quickly and effectively and at a lower cost than would have been the case had it established a subsidiary on its own. Buchler had been Amersham's distributor in Germany since 1960 and had obtained all Amersham's German customers for it. It would have been expensive (perhaps involving substantial compensation) for Amersham to end its relationship with Buchler and set up a subsidiary to form its own links with German buyers. Buchler contributed an etablished sales force, production facilities and a good knowledge of the German market. It had long-established contacts with customers such as hospitals, industry and researchers and was fully informed about their individual technical needs: in this industry products must be suited to the needs of particular buyers. Moreover, Buchler was familiar with the stringent requirements of German law concerning storage and handling of radioactive products. It would have been difficult and costly for Amersham to meet these requirements and to establish a sales force and production facilities comparable to those of Buchler. The intended improvement of production and distribution could thus not have been achieved otherwise. In this case, the non-competition clause does not add to the normal non-competition effect implicit in a joint venture of this kind. It ensures that Amersham and Buchler do not jeopardize the functioning of the joint venture or the amortization of its investments. On the other hand, the parties are not prevented from expanding into each other's product lines not covered by the agreements; Amersham is for example, free to start the production of radiation protection equipment.\n14. The agreements do not afford the parties the possibility of eliminating competition in respect of a substantial part of the products in question. Their market share on the German market is about 18 % and they face competition from a number of other powerful companies (see point 12 above). By way of comparison, the total assets (in 1981) of . . . . . . , one of Amersham Buchler's strongest competitors, amounted to $ 2 063 million, whereas Amersham Buchler's total assets amounted to . . . . . . , Amersham's to $ 87;6 million and Buchler's to $ 17;5 million. In view of the large resources available to its competitors, Amersham Buchler is not able to eliminate competition in this field.\nIn all these circumstances the objective benefits of the agreement outweigh its relatively limited impact on competition.\nC. ARTICLES 6 AND 8 OF REGULATION NO 17\n15. In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation 17, this Decision is to take effect as from the date of notification, i.e., as from 21 December 1981.\n16. In view of the relatively balanced market situation and the rather limited impact of the joint venture's foundation on the competitive conditions in the common market, it is justified to grant the exemption for a period of 15 years (Article 8 (1) of Regulation No 17).\n17. In order to enable the Commission to ascertain that the conditions for the application of Article 85 (3) continue to be fulfilled during the period of exemption, the parties must be required to inform the Commission of any material amendment to the agreements notified, of the conclusion of any new agreement between them and of any extension of their cooperation (Article 8 (1) of Regulation No 17),\nPursuant to Article 85 (3) of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, the provisions of Article 85 (1) are hereby declared inapplicable for the period 21 December 1981 to 20 December 1996 to the following agreements:\n1. Company Contract of Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG of 29 November 1974;\n2. Company Contract of Amersham Buchler GmbH of 18 December 1972;\n3. Agreements comprised in a contract concerning know-how and expertise concluded between The Radiochemical Centre Ltd, The Radiochemical Centre GmbH, Buchler & Co. KG and Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG of 20 December 1978; and\n4. Exclusive distributorship agreement between the Radiochemical Centre Ltd and Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG of 20 December 1978.\nThe undertakings to which this Decision is addressed shall inform the Commission without delay of any material amendment or addition to the agreements notified, of the conclusion of any new agreement between them, and of any extension of the cooperation between them.\nThis Decision is addressed to the following undertakings:\n1. Amersham International Ltd,\nWhite Lion Road,\nUK-Amersham\nBuckinghamshire HP7 9LL;\n2. The Radiochemical Centre GmbH,\nGieselweg 1,\nD-3300 Braunschweig;\n3. Buchler GmbH,\nHarxbuetteler Strasse 3,\nD-3300 Braunschweig; 4. Amersham Buchler GmbH,\nGieselweg 1,\nD-3300 Braunschweig;\n5. Amersham Buchler GmbH & Co. KG,\nGieselweg 1,\nD-3300 Braunschweig.", "answer groups": [ "joint venture" ], "distractor groups": [ "UN Institute for Disarmament Research", "non-profit organisation", "law relating to prisons", "direct selling", "combustion gases", "audiovisual programme", "oil pipeline", "finance act", "marine life" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 185/2004 of 2 February 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 94/2002 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 185/2004\nof 2 February 2004\namending Regulation (EC) No 94/2002 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 of 19 December 2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market(1), and in particular Article 12 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 94/2002(2) provides for the drawing up of lists of themes and products for which information and/or promotion measures may be carried out.\n(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1907/1990 of 26 June 1990 on certain marketing standards for eggs(3) requires, inter alia, that eggs for human consumption be marked with a code indicating the producer and allowing identification of the type of farming, as from 1 January 2004.\n(3) It would be useful to inform consumers about these new rules on the marking of eggs.\n(4) Eggs for human consumption should therefore be included in the list of products which may be covered by information and/or promotion measures, and general guidelines should be defined for the campaigns to be carried out in this sector.\n(5) Taking account of the date for drawing up these guidelines, it will not be possible to comply with the dates set for transmitting and approving the first series of programmes presented in 2004 for eggs intended for human consumption. In view of the need to inform consumers as soon as possible, a special deadline should be set for transmitting and approving that first series.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 94/2002 should be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion delivered at the joint meeting of the management committees on agricultural product promotion,\nRegulation (EC) No 94/2002 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. in the second subparagraph of Article 5(1), the following is added:\"The first series of programmes relating to eggs for human consumption to be submitted in 2004 shall be received by the Member State concerned no later than 29 February 2004.\";\n2. Article 7 is amended as follows:\n(a) in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, the following is added:\"The first series of programmes relating to eggs for human consumption to be submitted in 2004 shall be notified to the Commission no later than 31 March 2004.\";\n(b) in the second subparagraph of paragraph 3, the following is added:\"The first series of programmes relating to eggs intended for human consumption to be submitted in 2004 shall be decided on by the Commission no later than 31 May 2004.\";\n3. in Annex I(b), the following indent is added:\n\"- Eggs for human consumption.\"\n4. The text contained in the Annex to this Regulation is added to Annex III.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EU financing" ], "distractor groups": [ "delinquency", "simplification of formalities", "Germany", "regions of Slovenia", "leather", "Dillon Round", "political militant", "pasteurised milk", "civil register", "hops" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "EEC Council: Rules of the Transport Committee\nRules of the Transport Committee\nTHE COUNCIL\n,\nHaving regard to Article 83 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, which provides that an advisory committee consisting of experts designated by the Governments of Member States shall be attached to the Commission and consulted by the latter on transport matters whenever the Commission considers this desirable, without prejudice to the powers of the transport section of the Economic and Social Committee;\nHaving regard to Article 153 of that Treaty, which provides that the Council shall, after receiving an opinion from the Commission, determine the rules governing the committees provided for in that Treaty;\nHaving received an Opinion from the Commission;\nthat the Rules of the Transport Committee shall be as follows:\nThe Committee shall consist of experts on transport matters designated by the Governments of Member States. Each Government shall designate one expert or two experts selected from among senior officials of the central administration. It may, in addition, designate not more than three experts of acknowledged competence in, respectively, the railway, road transport and inland waterway sectors.\nEach Government may designate an alternate for each member of the Committee appointed by it; this alternate shall satisfy conditions the same as those for the member of the Committee whom he replaces.\nAlternates shall attend Committee meetings and take part in the work of the Committee only in the event of full members being unable to do so.\nCommittee members and their alternates shall be appointed in their personal capacity and may not be bound by any mandatory instructions.\nThe term of office for members and their alternates shall be two years. Their appointments may be renewed.\nIn the event of the death, resignation or compulsory retirement of a member or alternate, that member or alternate shall replaced for the remainder of his term of office.\nThe Government which appointed a member or alternate may compulsorily retire that member or alternate only if the member or alternate no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance of his duties.\nThe Committee shall, by an absolute majority of members present and voting, elect from among the members appointed by virtue of their status as senior officials of the central administration a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, who shall serve as such for two years.\nShould the Chairman or Vice-Chairman cease to hold office before the period for which he was elected has expired, a replacement for him shall be elected for the remainder of the period for which he was originally elected.\nNeither the Chairman nor the Vice-Chairman may be re-elected.\nThe Committee shall be convened by the Chairman, at the request of the Commission, whenever the latter wishes to consult it. The Commission's request shall state the purpose of the consultation.\nWhen the Committee is consulted by the Commission, it shall present the latter with a report setting out the conclusions reached as a result of its deliberations. It shall do likewise if the Commission entrusts it with the study of a specific problem.\nThe Commission shall also be entitled to consult the Committee orally.\nThe minutes of the Committee shall be sent to the Commission.\nThe Commission shall be invited to send its representatives to meetings of the Committee and its working parties.\nThe Committee shall, by an absolute majority of members present and voting, adopt rules of procedure laying down its methods of working.\nThe Committee may, whenever such action appears to it to be necessary for the purposes of formulating an opinion, seek the assistance of any suitably qualified person, obtain any advice and hold hearings. Such action may, however, be taken only with the consent of the Commission.\n0\nThe expenses of the Committee shall be included in the estimates of the Commission.", "answer groups": [ "committee (EU)" ], "distractor groups": [ "aerosol", "public contract", "patient's rights", "school-working life relations", "territorial law", "head of agricultural holding", "Treaty of Nice", "Mediterranean Sea", "town-planning regulations", "Occitanie", "inland waterway shipping", "consumer law" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/954/EC: Commission Decision of 15\u00a0December 2008 amending Decision 2006/133/EC requiring Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al . (the pine wood nematode) as regards areas in Portugal, other than those in which it is known not to occur (notified under document number C(2008) 8298)\n17.12.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 338/64\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 15 December 2008\namending Decision 2006/133/EC requiring Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al. (the pine wood nematode) as regards areas in Portugal, other than those in which it is known not to occur\n(notified under document number C(2008) 8298)\n(2008/954/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Commission Decision 2006/133/EC\u00a0(2), Portugal is implementing a plan against the dissemination of the pine wood nematode (PWN) to other Member States as well as within its own territory.\n(2) Sweden and Finland informed the Commission between August and October 2008 that several cases of PWN-infested wood had been detected in Portuguese consignments. As a result of these cases, Sweden informed the Commission on 18 September 2008 on the additional measures that it was taking to prevent the introduction into and spread within its territory of PWN.\n(3) Spain informed the Commission on 12, 14 and 18 November 2008 about cases where susceptible wood and wood products, including wood packaging material, had been moved recently from Portugal to Spain though the requirements laid down in Decision 2006/133/EC were not fulfilled. In some of those cases PWN was detected.\n(4) Portugal has adopted a ministerial decree Portaria n.o 1339-A/2008 on 20 November 2008, including the application of the measures in FAO International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No 15 on wood packaging material originating in continental Portugal and destined for intra-Community trade or export.\n(5) In view of this information, it is necessary that all susceptible wood, originating in the demarcated areas in the form of packing cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar packings, pallets, box pallets and other load boards, pallet collars, dunnage, spacers and bearers, including that which has not kept its natural round surface, is treated and marked before it is moved out of the demarcated area, instead of only the newly produced material.\n(6) This information also indicates that the existing requirements for movements of all types of susceptible wood other than those referred to in recital 5 and originating in the demarcated areas are not fully applied. Under those circumstances it is appropriate to introduce a general prohibition for movements of such wood out of the demarcated areas. Exceptions from the general prohibition should be provided for as regards movements of susceptible wood from authorised processing plants. Those plants should be authorised and inspected by the responsible official body to ensure that an effective treatment is carried out. They should be included in a list established and updated by the Commission. Traceability should be guaranteed by a plant passport or by a mark as set out in the applicable FAO Standard.\n(7) Member States should have the possibility to take measures to ascertain whether the susceptible wood, bark or plants, moving from demarcated areas into their territory is free from PWN.\n(8) Decision 2006/133/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nThe text of Article 3 to Decision 2006/133/EC is replaced by the following:\n\u2018Article 3\nMember States of destination other than Portugal may:\n(a) subject consignments of susceptible wood, bark and plants, coming from Portugal and moved into their territory, to testing for the presence of PWN;\n(b) take further appropriate steps to carry out official monitoring in respect of such consignments and to ascertain whether they comply with the relevant conditions specified in the Annex. In case non-compliances are confirmed, appropriate measures in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 2000/29/EC shall be taken.\u2019\nThe Annex to Decision 2006/133/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.\nMember States shall take all measures to comply with this Decision and, if necessary, amend the measures which they have adopted to protect themselves against the introduction and spread of PWN in such a manner that those measures comply with this Decision. They shall immediately inform the Commission of those measures.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "wood product" ], "distractor groups": [ "land productivity", "regional transport", "small industry", "commuting", "EU expenditure", "family benefit", "undisclosed partnership", "forensic medicine", "publishing" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01048/2003 of 16\u00a0June 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01255/96 temporarily suspending the autonomous common customs tariff duties on certain industrial, agricultural and fishery products\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 1048/2003\nof 16 June 2003\namending Regulation (EC) No 1255/96 temporarily suspending the autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on certain industrial, agricultural and fishery products\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 26 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) It is in the interest of the Community to suspend partially or totally the autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties for a number of new products not listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1255/96(1).\n(2) A number of products should be withdrawn from the list in the Annex to the said Regulation because it is no longer in the Community's interest to maintain suspension of autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties or because the description needs to be altered in the light of technical developments.\n(3) Products whose description needs to be altered should be regarded as new products.\n(4) Regulation (EC) No 1255/96 should be altered accordingly.\n(5) Having regard to the economic importance of this Regulation, it is necessary to rely upon the grounds of urgency provided for in point 1.3 of the Protocol annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaties establishing the European Community on the role of national parliaments in the European Union,\nThe Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1255/96 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. the products set out in Annex I to this Regulation shall be inserted;\n2. the products for which the codes are set out in Annex II to this Regulation shall be deleted.\nThe duration of the validity of the suspension measure for colour cathode-ray tubes with a diagonal measurement of the screen of 85,5 cm or more (TARIC code 8540 11 99 31) shall be limited to 31 December 2003 and the rate of autonomous duty applicable from 1 July 2003 shall be 5 %.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply with effect from 1 July 2003.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fishery product" ], "distractor groups": [ "United Kingdom OCT", "peace zone", "Western Thrace", "arms policy", "town-planning scheme", "audiovisual programme", "EAEC", "sunflower seed oil", "international voluntary worker", "Moluccas" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2511/2001 of 20 December 2001 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 32/2000 in order to extend the Community tariff quotas for jute and coconut-fibre products\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2511/2001\nof 20 December 2001\namending Council Regulation (EC) No 32/2000 in order to extend the Community tariff quotas for jute and coconut-fibre products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 32/2000 of 17 December 1999 opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas bound in GATT and certain other Community tariff quotas and establishing detailed rules for adjusting the quotas, and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1808/95(1), and in particular the second indent of Article 9(1)(b),\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with the offer it made within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) and alongside its scheme of generalised preferences (GSP), the Community introduced tariff preferences in 1971 for jute and coconut-fibre products originating in certain developing countries; these preferences took the form of a gradual reduction of Common Customs Tariff duties and, from 1978 to 31 December 1994, the complete suspension of these duties.\n(2) Since the entry into force of the new GSP scheme on 1 January 1995, the Community has, alongside the GATT, opened autonomous zero-duty Community tariff quotas for specific quantities of jute and coconut-fibre products until 31 December 2001 by Council Regulation (EC) No 764/96(2), as amended by Regulations (EC) No 1401/98(3) and (EC) No 32/2000. Since the GSP scheme will be extended until 31 December 2004 by a Council Regulation, the arrangement for jute and coconut-fibre products should also be extended until 31 December 2004.\n(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,\nThe phrase, for serial numbers 09.0107, 09.0109 and 09.0111, in the fifth column (\"Quota period\") of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 32/2000, \"from 1.1.2000 to 31.12.2000 and from 1.1.2001 to 31.12.2001\" shall be replaced by the phrase \"from 1.1.2002 to 31.12.2002, from 1.1.2003 to 31.12.2003 and from 1.1.2004 to 31.12.2004\".\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2002.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "manufactured goods" ], "distractor groups": [ "cultural exception", "Latin American organisation", "matrimonial law", "immigration", "fruit", "machine-tool industry", "EU situation", "economics", "Belize", "aerosol", "Single European Act", "special chemicals" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/631/EC: Commission Decision of 29 July 2008 amending Decision 2006/805/EC as regards certain Member State regions set out in the Annex and the extension of application of that Decision (notified under document number C(2008) 3964) (Text with EEA relevance)\n1.8.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 205/51\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 29 July 2008\namending Decision 2006/805/EC as regards certain Member State regions set out in the Annex and the extension of application of that Decision\n(notified under document number C(2008) 3964)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2008/631/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Decision 2006/805/EC of 24 November 2006 concerning animal health control measures relating to classical swine fever in certain Member States\u00a0(3) was adopted in response to outbreaks of classical swine fever in certain Member States. That Decision lays down certain disease control measures concerning classical swine fever in those Member States.\n(2) Decision 2006/805/EC applies until 31 July 2008. In the light of the disease situation of classical swine fever in certain areas of Bulgaria, Germany, France, Hungary and Slovakia, it is appropriate to extend the period of application of that Decision until 31\u00a0July 2009.\n(3) Bulgaria has informed the Commission about the recent evolution of classical swine fever in feral pigs and pigs on holdings in its territory. According to that information, the disease situation in that Member State has significantly improved as regards feral pigs. In addition, classical swine fever is no longer suspected to be endemic in pigs on holdings. Bulgaria has also informed the Commission that additional measures have been taken to exclude the presence of classical swine fever virus infection in pigs on commercial farms which are dispatched for slaughter. The prohibition on the dispatch of fresh pork meat, pork meat preparations and pork meat products from Bulgaria to other Member States, provided for in Decision 2006/805/EC should therefore no longer apply.\n(4) Even though the disease situation in feral pigs in Bulgaria has improved, there is still a continuing risk of outbreaks of classical swine fever in that Member State. Therefore the prohibition on the dispatch of live pigs to other Member States should continue to apply as regards the whole territory of Bulgaria. That whole territory should accordingly be included in Part II of the Annex to Decision 2006/805/EC.\n(5) Hungary and Slovakia have also informed the Commission about the recent evolution of classical swine fever in feral pigs in their territories. In the light of the epidemiological information available, the areas in those Member States where control measures relating to classical swine fever apply need to be extended to include also certain areas of the counties of Heves and Borsod-Aba\u00faj-Zempl\u00e9n in Hungary and the whole districts of Rimask\u00e1 Sobota, Nov\u00e9 Z\u00e1mky, Levice and Kom\u00e1rno in Slovakia. Decision 2006/805/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDecision 2006/805/EC is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 14, \u201831 July 2008\u2019 is replaced by \u201831 July 2009\u2019;\n2. Parts II and III of the Annex are replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "health legislation" ], "distractor groups": [ "Poland", "sociology", "Mercosur", "international trade law", "armed forces", "EP opinion", "Lesser Antilles" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01896/2005 of 18 November 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0887/2005 opening crisis distillation as provided for in Article 30 of Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01493/1999 for certain wines in Greece\n19.11.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 302/33\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1896/2005\nof 18 November 2005\namending Regulation (EC) No 887/2005 opening crisis distillation as provided for in Article 30 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 for certain wines in Greece\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 33(1)(f) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 887/2005\u00a0(2) opened crisis distillation under Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 for certain wines produced in Greece.\n(2) Since this is the first time that crisis distillation has been applied in Greece, some practical problems have been encountered in launching the system. Certain producers wishing to deliver their wine for distillation may be unable to do so by the deadline set. To ensure that the measure is effective, therefore, the period for delivering the wine to distilleries as provided for in Regulation (EC) No 887/2005 should be extended until 31 January 2006.\n(3) Regulation (EC) No 887/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) To ensure continuity of the measure, this Regulation should apply from 15 November 2005.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine,\nThe first paragraph of Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 887/2005 is hereby replaced by the following:\n\u20181.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The quantities of wine covered by approved contracts shall be delivered to the distilleries not later than 31 January 2006. The alcohol obtained shall be delivered to the intervention agency in accordance with Article 6(1) not later than 15 March 2006.\u2019\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 15 November 2005.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Greece" ], "distractor groups": [ "ADN agreement", "coordination of EMU policies", "selective dissemination of information", "research programme", "economy", "development region", "Abruzzi", "pollution of waterways", "mortgage", "cultural object" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 443/77 of 2 March 1977 on the sale at a fixed price of skimmed-milk powder for use in feed for pigs and poultry and amending Regulations (EEC) No 1687/76 and (EEC) No 368/77\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 443/77 of 2 March 1977 on the sale at a fixed price of skimmed-milk powder for use in feed for pigs and poultry and amending Regulations (EEC) No 1687/76 and 368/77\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 559/76 (2), and in particular Articles 7 (5) and 28 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 974/71 of 12 May 1971 on certain measures of conjunctural policy to be taken in agriculture following the temporary widening of the margins of fluctuations of the currencies of certain Member States (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 557/76 (4), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas in conjunction with the sale by tender under Commission Regulation (EEC) No 368/77 of 23 February 1977 on the sale by tender of skimmed-milk powder for use in feed for pigs and poultry (5), a corresponding measure should be adopted for the sale of the skimmed-milk powder concerned at a fixed price, in order that the processing industry may obtain supplies, in certain circumstances, outside the tendering procedure;\nWhereas the price must be fixed in such a way as to give priority to sale by tender ; whereas the other rules can for the most part be based on the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 368/77 ; whereas some of these rules must be amended or corrected under this Regulation following some errors of substance;\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1687/76 of 30 June 1976 laying down common detailed rules for verifying the use and/or destination of products from intervention (6), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 368/77, applied ; whereas, therefore, an appropriate addition must be made to the Annex hereto;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,\nThere shall be put up for sale at a fixed price under the conditions set out hereinafter skimmed-milk powder bought in under Article 7 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 and taken into storage before 1 January 1976.\n1. Purchase contracts may only be concluded with the intervention agency during the period from the fourth Tuesday of each month to the Tuesday of the following week, hereinafter called \"the selling period\".\n2. Skimmed-milk powder shall be sold: (a) in quantities of 20 tonnes and over;\n(b) ex-warehouse at a price equal to the minimum selling price fixed in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EEC) No 368/77, for the individual invitation to tender immediately preceding the selling period, increased by one unit of account per 100 kilograms.\n3. Requests to purchase which reach the intervention agency on the same day shall be deemed to have been introduced at the same time. If, after taking such requests into account, it is found that they exceed the quantity available in a store, then unless the interested parties reach an amicable arrangement the intervention agency shall dispose of the available quantity by drawing lots.\nSkimmed-milk powder shall be sold only to those who give a written undertaking: - either to denature the skimmed-milk powder or have it denatured in accordance with one of the formulae set out in Section 1 of the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 368/77 and with the prescription set out in Section 3 thereof, at a denaturing centre approved in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 368/77, (1)OJ No L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 13. (2)OJ No L 67, 15.3.1976, p. 9. (3)OJ No L 106, 12.5.1971, p. 1. (4)OJ No L 67, 15.3.1976, p. 1. (5)OJ No L 52, 24.2.1977, p. 19. (6)OJ No L 190, 14.7.1976, p. 1.\n- or to denature the skimmed-milk powder by incorporating it directly in a feedingstuff, under the conditions laid down in Article 8 and Section 2 of the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 368/77 and in accordance with the prescriptions set out in Section 3 thereof.\n1. The purchase contracts shall specify the Member State on whose territory the denaturing or direct incorporation is to take place.\n2. Articles 5 (2), 6 (2) and 9 (4) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 368/77 shall apply to the skimmed-milk powder sold under this Regulation as regards: (a) the taking of samples by those concerned;\n(b) the power of Member States not to allow the application of certain denaturing formulae, or the recourse to direct incorporation;\n(c) the obligation of the buyer to forego any claim.\n1. The intervention agency shall sell the skimmed-milk powder only if, not later than the date of conclusion of the purchase contract, a payment on account is made of two units of account per 100 kilograms for the whole quantity covered by the contract.\n2. The taking over of any quantity by the purchaser is conditional on: (a) payment of the balance of purchase price;\n(b) the lodging of a processing security, the amount of which shall be equal to that laid down in Article 11 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 368/77 for the individual tendering procedure immediately preceding the selling period.\n1. On payment of the purchase price and when the processing security has been lodged the intervention agency shall issue a removal warrant indicating: - the quantity in respect of which these conditions have been satisfied,\n- the store in question,\n- the latest date for taking delivery,\n- the date of expiry of the selling period during which the skimmed-milk powder has been purchased.\n2. The purchaser shall take delivery of the skimmed-milk powder within 45 days of the conclusion of the contract of sale. Delivery of the skimmed-milk powder may be taken in instalments, each of which shall not be less than 10 tonnes.\n3. Save in cases of force majeure, if the buyer has not taken delivery of the skimmed-milk powder within the period prescribed, the contract of sale shall be cancelled in respect of the quantities not taken and the payment on account shall be forfeited in respect of those quantities.\n1. The skimmed-milk powder shall be delivered by the intervention agency in sacks marked with one or more of the following indications in letters not less than one centimetre high:\n\"to be denatured (Regulation (EEC) No 443/77)\",\n\"til denaturering (forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 443/77)\",\n\"zur Denaturierung (Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 443/77\",\n\"\u00e0 d\u00e9naturer (r\u00e8glement (CEE) n\u00ba 443/77)\",\n\"destinato alla denaturazione (regolamento (CEE) n. 443/77)\",\n\"voor denaturering (Verordening (EEG) nr. 443/77)\".\n2. The intervention agency shall make the skimmed-milk powder available in the manner laid down in Article 15 (2) of Regualtion (EEC) No 368/77.\n1. The denaturing of the skimmed-milk powder or its direct incorporation in a feedingstuff shall take place within the time limit and in the manner laid down in Article 16 (1) and (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 368/77.\n2. The sacks, packagings and containers used for the transport and storage of the skimmed-milk powder sold under this Regulation and denatured or incorporated in accordance with Article 3 shall bear the number of this Regulation and shall indicate the denaturing or incorporation formula used (formulas I A to I G and II A to II K) and, in the case of direct incorporation, the percentage of skimmed-milk powder contained in the final product.\nArticles 17 (2), 18 and 19 of Regulation (EEC) No 368/77 shall apply to skimmed-milk powder sold under this Regulation, as regards: (a) release of the processing security where time limits are exceeded;\n(b) the measures to be taken in cases of force majeure;\n(c) the application of monetary compensatory amounts and aid.\n0\nMember States shall communicate to the Commission, before the 10th day of each month, the quantities of skimmed-milk powder which during the preceding month have been: - the subject of a contract of sale under this Regulation,\n- allocated under the tendering procedure referred to in Regulation (EEC) No 368/77;\n- removed from store, divided up according to the methods of sale provided for in the above Regulations.\n1\nRegulation (EEC) No 368/77 is hereby amended as follows: 1. Article 9 (6) shall read;\n\"6. The tender may not be withdrawn. However, the tenderer may stipulate that where the price specified in his tender exceeds by more than one unit of account per 100 kilograms the minimum selling price fixed for the individual tender, his tender shall be deemed to be withdrawn and that he shall undertake to purchase, during the selling period beginning on the fourth Tuesday of the same month, subject to the conditions laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 443/77, a quantity equivalent to that covered by the tender to be taken from a store which may be different from that designated in the tender.\"\n2. The following paragraph shall be added to Article 10:\n\"4. Where, pursuant to Article 9 (6), the tenderer purchases skimmed-milk powder under Regulation (EEC) No 443/77, the tendering security shall be released only if the person concerned has made the payment on account provided for in Article 5 (1) of the said Regulation.\n3. In Article 12 (2) the words \"and notwithstanding the tenders deemed to be withdrawn under Article 9 (6)\" shall be inserted after the words \"Subject as provided in paragraph 1\".\n4. In the third line of Article 16 (2), the amount \"two units of account per tonne\" is replaced by \"three units of account per tonne\".\n5. In Article 19: - the letter \"a\" is deleted,\n- the text under \"b\" is replaced by the following:\n\"the aid provided for under Article 10 of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 is not applicable to skimmed-milk powder sold in accordance with this Regulation.\"\n2\nIn the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 1687/76, under \"II. Products subject to a use and/or destination other than that mentioned under I\", the following paragraph 16 and footnote 7 relating thereto shall be inserted after paragraph 15:\n\"16. Commission Regulation (EEC) No 443/77 of 2 March 1977 on the sale at a fixed price of skimmed-milk powder for use in feed for pigs and poultry and amending Regulations (EEC) No 1687/76 and (EEC) No 368/77 (7) - Section 104 : \"to be denatured (Regulation (EEC) No 443/77)\",\n\"til denaturering (forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 443/77)\",\n\"zur Denaturierung (Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 443/77)\",\n\"\u00e0 d\u00e9naturer (r\u00e8glement (CEE) n\u00ba 443/77)\",\n\"destinato alle denaturazione (regolamento (CEE) n. 443/77)\",\n\"voor denaturering (Verordening (EEG) nr. 443/77)\",\n- Section 106 : 1. The date on which the skimmed-milk powder was removed from intervention stocks.\n2. The date of expiry of the selling period during which the skimmed-milk powder was purchased.\"\n(7)OJ No L 58, 3.3.1977, p. 16.\n3\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal nutrition" ], "distractor groups": [ "Brazil", "electoral quota", "gas field", "petroleum exploration", "Yaound\u00e9 Convention", "Iraq", "trade union", "reptile", "Malta", "Central Macedonia" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2007/3/EC of 2 February 2007 amending, for the purposes of their adaptation to technical progress, Annexes I and II to Directive 96/74/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on textile names (Text with EEA relevance )\n3.2.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 28/12\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2007/3/EC\nof 2 February 2007\namending, for the purposes of their adaptation to technical progress, Annexes I and II to Directive 96/74/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on textile names\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Directive 96/74/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1996 on textile names\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 96/74/EC lays down rules governing the labelling or marking of products as regards their textile fibre content, in order to ensure that consumer interests are thereby protected. Textile products may be placed on the market within the Community only if they comply with the provisions of that Directive.\n(2) In view of recent findings by a technical working group, it is necessary, for the purposes of adapting Directive 96/74/EC to technical progress, to add the fibre elastolefin to the list of fibres set out in the Annexes I and II to that Directive.\n(3) Directive 96/74/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Directives relating to Textile Names and Labelling,\nDirective 96/74/EC is amended as follows:\n1. In Annex I the following row 46 is added:\n\u201846 Elastolefin Fibre composed of at least 95\u00a0% (by mass) of macromolecules partially cross-linked, made up from ethylene and at least one other olefin and which, when stretched to one and a half times its original length and released, recovers rapidly and substantially to its initial length\u2019\n2. In Annex II the following entry 46 is added:\n\u201846 Elastolefin 1,50\u2019\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 2 February 2008 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "textile fibre" ], "distractor groups": [ "military equipment", "pasture fattening", "censorship", "migration from the countryside to the town", "confiscation of property", "strip", "Braila", "insurance law", "commodities market" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2009/301/EC: Commission Decision of 25\u00a0March 2009 setting up a High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries\n28.3.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 82/9\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 25 March 2009\nsetting up a High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries\n(2009/301/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 157 of the Treaty establishing the European Community assigned the Community and the Member States the task of ensuring that the conditions necessary for the competitiveness of the Community\u2019s industry exist. Article 151 provides that the Community shall contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore.\n(2) The Communication from the Commission \u2018i2010 \u2014 A European Information Society for growth and employment\u2019\u00a0(1) announced a flagship initiative on digital libraries.\n(3) The Communication from the Commission \u2018i2010: Digital Libraries\u2019\u00a0(2) announced the creation of a High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries to advise the Commission on how to best address the organisational, legal and technical challenges at European level.\n(4) That expert group was set up by Commission Decision 2006/178/EC\u00a0(3), which expired on 31 December 2008. In view of further needs, this Decision should allow the group to continue its work in 2009.\n(5) The group should contribute to a shared strategic vision for European digital libraries.\n(6) The group should be composed of highly qualified experts with competence on digital libraries, appointed in a personal capacity.\n(7) In 2009, the group should address copyright and preservation questions relating to digital libraries and access to scientific information. These include, in particular, exceptions and limitations, voluntary agreements for enhancing online accessibility of in copyright content, user generated content, open access to scientific information and access to and preservation of research data.\n(8) The group should also monitor the uptake of solutions presented in previously adopted reports, in particular in the area of orphan and out-of-print works.\n(9) Rules on disclosure of information by members of the group should be provided for, without prejudice to the Commission\u2019s rules on security as set out in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom\u00a0(4).\n(10) Personal data relating to members of the group should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data\u00a0(5).\n(11) It is appropriate to fix a period for the application of this Decision,\nHigh Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries\nThe group of experts \u2018High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries\u2019, hereinafter referred to as \u2018the group\u2019, is hereby set up.\nTask\nThe group\u2019s tasks shall be:\n(a) to advise the Commission on how to best address the organisational, legal and technical challenges at European level;\n(b) to contribute to a shared strategic vision for European digital libraries.\nConsultation\nThe Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to the implementation of the digital libraries initiative.\nMembership \u2014 Appointment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall be composed of up to 20 members.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Director-General of DG \u2018Information Society and Media\u2019 shall appoint the members of the group from specialists with competence in the areas referred to in Articles 2 and 3.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The members shall be appointed in a personal capacity as high level experts on digital libraries and shall advise the Commission independently of any outside influence.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members shall be appointed to ensure, as far as possible, an adequate balance in terms of range of competencies, geographical origin and gender.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Group shall include experts from the following categories:\n\u2014 memory organisations (libraries, archives, museums),\n\u2014 authors, publishers and content providers,\n\u2014 ICT industry (e.g. search engines, technology providers),\n\u2014 scientific and research organisations, academia.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members may not designate an alternate to replace them.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members are appointed for a mandate which ends on 31 December 2009.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members who are no longer capable of contributing effectively to the group\u2019s deliberations, who resign or who do not comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of this Article or in Article 287 of the Treaty may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office.\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members shall sign an undertaking to act in the public interest and a declaration indicating the absence or existence of any interest which may undermine their objectivity.\n10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The names of members shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001. The names of members shall be published on the i2010 Digital libraries website.\nOperation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall be chaired by the Commission.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In agreement with the Commission, sub-groups may be set up to examine specific questions under the terms of reference established by the group. Such sub-groups shall be dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission\u2019s representative may ask observers or experts, in particular with specific competence on a subject on the agenda, to participate in the group\u2019s or sub-group\u2019s deliberations if this is useful and/or necessary.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Information obtained by participating in the deliberations of a group or sub-group shall not be divulged if, in the opinion of the Commission, that information relates to confidential matters.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group and its sub-groups shall normally meet on Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by it. The Commission shall provide secretarial services. Other Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the group and its sub-groups.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may publish, in the original language of the document concerned, any summary, conclusion, or partial conclusion or working document of the group.\nMeeting expenses\nThe Commission shall reimburse travel and, where appropriate, subsistence expenses for members, experts and observers in connection with the group\u2019s activities in accordance with the Commission\u2019s rules on the compensation of external experts.\nThe members, experts and observers shall not be remunerated for the services they render.\nMeeting expenses are reimbursed within the limits of the annual budget allocated to the group by the responsible Commission services.\nExpiry\nThis Decision shall expire on 31 December 2009.", "answer groups": [ "self-employed person" ], "distractor groups": [ "separated person", "management committee (EU)", "public legal official", "ministerial meeting", "peaceful use of energy", "Antigua and Barbuda", "social development", "pet shop", "freedom of association", "mythology" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Decision of 18\u00a0December 2009 appointing members of the Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents for a new term of office\n19.12.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 338/98\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 18 December 2009\nappointing members of the Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents for a new term of office\n(2009/985/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Commission Decision 95/320/EC of 12 July 1995 setting up a Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents\u00a0(1), referred to below as \u2018the Committee\u2019, as amended by Commission Decision 2006/275/EC\u00a0(2) and\nHaving regard to the profiles of candidates submitted by the Member States and evaluated by a Selection Committee on 6 July 2009,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 3(1) of Decision 95/320/EC provides that the Committee shall consist of not more than 21 members selected from among suitable candidates proposed by the Member States and reflecting the full range of scientific expertise which is necessary to fulfil the mandate of the Committee.\n(2) Article 3(2) of Decision 95/320/EC provides that the Commission shall appoint the members of the Committee, on the basis of their proven scientific expertise and experience, having regard to the need to ensure that the various specific areas are covered.\n(3) Article 3(4) of Decision 95/320/EC provides that the term of office of the members of the Committee shall be three years and that their appointment shall be renewable. After the expiry of the three-year period, members of the Committee remain in office until they are replaced or until their appointments are renewed.\n(4) The Commission has appointed by Decision 2006/573/EC\u00a0(3) the members of the Committee for the fourth term of office from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2009.\n(5) It is therefore necessary to appoint the members of that Committee for the fifth term of office from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012.\n(6) The Commission consulted the Member States according to Article 3(2) of Decision 95/320/EC,\nThe Commission appoints the following members of the Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits to Chemical Agents for the term of office from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012:\nProf. Hermann Bolt Germany\nDr Marie-Th\u00e9r\u00e8se Brondeau France\nDr Dominique Brunet France\nDr Eugenia D\u0103nulescu Romania\nProf. Helmut Greim Germany\nProf. Andrea Hartwig Germany\nProf. Alastair Hay United Kingdom\nDr Miroslava Hornychov\u00e1 Czech Republic\nDr Aranka Hud\u00e1k-Demeter Hungary\nProf. Gunnar Johanson Sweden\nProf. Leonard Levy United Kingdom\nProf. Dominique Lison Belgium\nProf. Raphael Masschelein Belgium\nDr Ekaterina Mirkova Bulgaria\nDr Gunnar Nielsen Denmark\nDr Hannu Norppa Finland\nDr Erich Pospischil Austria\nDr Tiina Santonen Finland\nDr Jolanta Skowro\u0144 Poland\nDr Jos\u00e9 Natalio Tejedor Spain\nDr Ruud Woutersen The Netherlands", "answer groups": [ "occupational health" ], "distractor groups": [ "Asian Productivity Organisation", "education", "Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons", "luxury products industry", "bipolarisation", "metropolis", "respiratory disease", "root vegetable", "Employment Committee (EU)", "pulp and paper industry" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Implementing Directive 2014/22/EU of 13\u00a0February 2014 amending Annex IV to Council Directive 2006/88/EC as regards infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) Text with EEA relevance\n14.2.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 44/45\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVE 2014/22/EU\nof 13 February 2014\namending Annex IV to Council Directive 2006/88/EC as regards infectious salmon anaemia (ISA)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2006/88/EC of 24 October 2006 on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 61(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 2006/88/EC lays down, inter alia, certain animal health rules applicable to aquaculture animals and products thereof, including specific provisions concerning the exotic and non-exotic diseases and species susceptible thereto, listed in Part II of Annex IV to that Directive.\n(2) Section B of Part I of Annex IV to Directive 2006/88/EC sets out the criteria to be fulfilled in order for a disease to be listed as a non-exotic disease in Part II of that Annex. Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is currently included in that list.\n(3) In May 2013 the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) amended Chapter 10.5. of the Aquatic Animal Health Code (OIE Aquatic Code) as regards ISA. According to the revised OIE Aquatic Code (16th Edition 2013), ISA is defined as an infection with genotype HPR-deleted or genotype HPR0 (non-deleted highly polymorphic region) of the genus Isavirus (ISAV) of the family Orthomyxoviridae. Furthermore, both genotypes are now notifiable in accordance with Article 1.3.1. and 10.5.1 of the OIE Aquatic Code. Before that revision no distinction was made between the two genotypes of ISAV.\n(4) Only infections with genotype HPR-deleted of the genus ISAV fulfil the criteria set out in Section B of Part I of Annex IV to Directive 2006/88/EC. Consequently, only infections with genotype HPR-deleted of the genus ISAV should be listed in Part II of Annex IV to Directive 2006/88/EC. For the purpose of Directive 2006/88/EC, infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) should therefore be defined as an infection with genotype HPR-deleted of the genus ISAV.\n(5) Part II of Annex IV to Directive 2006/88/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAnnex IV to Directive 2006/88/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 15 November 2014 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 16 November 2014 at latest.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fish disease" ], "distractor groups": [ "computer crime", "anhydride", "diffusion of innovations", "noise level", "legal aid", "defence expenditure", "employment structure", "red wine", "official document", "Pazardzhik region", "road traffic", "Sysmin" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 721/94 of 29 March 1994 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on isobutanol originating in the Russian Federation\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 721/94 of 29 March 1994 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on isobutanol originating in the Russian Federation\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1) (hereinafter referred to as the 'basic Regulation'), and in particular Article 12 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consultations within the Advisory Committee as provided for under the basic Regulation,\nWhereas:\nA. Previous action (1) By Regulation (EEC) No 2720/93 of 28 September 1993 (2), the Commission imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of isobutanol originating in the Russian Federation.\nB. Subsequent procedure (2) Following the imposition of the provisional anti-dumping duty, a major processor of isobutanol in the Community made a written submission making known its views on the findings. These arguments have been examined and taken account of where appropriate.\nC. Dumping (3) As the Russian Federation is a non-market economy country, the Commission based the determination of normal value on domestic sales prices of a market economy country, in this case the United States, in accordance with Article 2 (5) (a) (i) of the basic Regulation.\n(4) The Community user company contested this determination and claimed that United States export prices should be used instead.\n(5) In this case it was found that the United States domestic market was open and competitive, the domestic sales prices were found to be made in the ordinary course of trade and the quantities could be considered representative. Accordingly, in view of the clear preference in the basic Regulation for the use of domestic prices, there is no reason to use export prices in the present case.\nD. Injury (6) In its preliminary findings, the Commission concluded that Community industry suffered material injury from the dumped imports. This view was founded mainly on the convergence of several economic indicators such as strong decline of production and sales volume, significant loss of market share, price depression and deterioration of financial results. During the same period, imports originating from Russia increased significantly in terms of volume as well as of market share.\n(7) The processor company mentioned in recital 2 argued that the declining production of the Community industry was the consequence of the introduction, by the industry itself, of a new and more efficient production technology for oxoplants which altered the output radio of isobutanol to other products, thus making the Community industry incapable of producing volumes of isobutanol previously achieved.\n(8) It is true that Community industry deliberately reduced its production capacity. However, the reduction of production capacity of 20 % was in line with the shrinking of the market of isobutanol. By contrast, production recorded a decrease rate twice as high, i.e. 39,8 %. As a consequence, the utilization rate of production capacity dropped from 73,8 % in 1988 to 57,3 %. These figures show clearly that the Community industry continued to have considerable potential for expanding its production, but was prevented from doing so by dumped imports.\n(9) As far as the situation of the Community industry is concerned, no other arguments were put forward after the imposition of provisional duty. The Council therefore confirms the findings set out in recitals 21 to 35 of Regulation (EEC) No 2720/93.\nE. Community interest (10) The same company argued that isobutanol represented a relevant proportion of production costs of some of its intermediate products produced only in Italy and for the Italian market. For these intermediate products this company would have to face competition from producers based in Austria, Hungary and Poland for which Russian isobutanol would be available free of anti-dumping duty.\n(11) The future price development of isobutanol cannot be quantified with any accuracy. Nevertheless, in view of the high number of producers in competition to supply the Community market, it can be expected that there will continue to be considerable price competition on the market for isobutanol. Furthermore, the disadvantages to the user company have to be viewed against the background of the threat to the Community producers of being forced out of the market if no measures are taken against the dumped imports.\n(12) The user company further argued that, even if the losses on turnover of isobutanol were as high as 33,9 %, the impact on the global profitability of the oxoplant was limited to a 2 % loss, as isobutanol represented only 6 % of total turnover. Therefore isobutanol profitability could not have any influence on the decision to close down a plant.\n(13) Assuming that the figure of 2 % for the loss on the global turnover of the oxoplant production is realistic, such a loss is not negligeable. In this connection, account has to be taken of the fact that the production of other by-products is also loss-making. The negative results from the production of isobutanol are, therefore, increasing the problems of a sector which is already heavily affected by economic difficulties.\n(14) No other arguments were made with respect to Community interest. The general considerations in recitals 42 to 48 of Regulation (EEC) No 2720/93 are accordingly confirmed.\n(15) In these circumstances, it is considered that it is in the Community interest to impose definitive anti-dumping measures to eliminate the injurious effects of dumped imports.\nF. Duty (16) Provisional measures took the form of an anti-dumping duty, which was established as a fixed amount of ecus per tonne corresponding to the dumping margin. No arguments were raised concerning the method of calculating the duty. The relevant findings, as expressed in recitals 20 and 51 of Regulation (EEC) No 2720/93, are therefore confirmed. Accordingly, the amount of the definitive anti-dumping duty should be the same as the amount of the provisional duty.\nG. Collection of provisional duty (17) In view of the level of dumping margin found and the seriousness of the injury caused to the Community producers, it is considered necessary that amounts secured by way of provisional anti-dumping duty should be collected in full with regard to all imports of isobutanol originating in the Russian Federation,\n1. A definitive anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of isobutanol falling within CN code ex 2905 14 90 (Taric code 2905 14 90*10), originating in the Russian Federation.\n2. The duty applicable shall be a fixed amount of ECU 102 per tonne.\nThe amounts secured by way of provisional anti-dumping duty pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 2720/93 shall de definitely collected in full for imports of isobutanol originating in the Russian Federation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "chemical alcohol" ], "distractor groups": [ "Midtjylland (region)", "soya bean oil", "forestry development", "Ko\u0161ice region", "non-flat product", "EAEC Treaty", "Dominican Republic", "management committee (EU)", "energy-generating product", "barge carrier ship" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Regulation (EEC) No 1487/73 of the Commission of 30 May 1973 on the classification of goods under heading No 87.06 of the Common Customs Tariff\nREGULATION (EEC) No 1487/73 OF THE COMMISSION of 30 May 1973 on the classification of goods under heading No 87.06 of the Common Customs Tariff\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 97/69 (1) of 16 January 1969 on measures to be taken for the uniform application of the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff, and in particular to Article 3 thereof;\nWhereas it is necessary, for the uniform application of the Common Customs Tariff, to make provision for the classification of transmission shafts, universal joints and spiders therefor, devised to provide even transmission of motive torque in motor vehicles of heading No 87.01, 87.02 or 87.03;\nWhereas the Common Customs Tariff annexed to Council Regulation (EEC) No 950/68 (2) of 28 June 1968, as last amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1354/73 (3) of 15 May 1973, covers: - in Section XVI, Chapter 84 and in particular in heading No 84.63, \"transmission shafts, cranks, bearing housings, plain-shaft bearings, gears and gearing (including friction gears and gear-boxes and other variable speed gears), flywheels, pulleys and pulley blocks, clutches and shaft couplings\",\n- in Section XVII, Chapter 87 and in particular in heading No 87.06, \"parts and accessories of the motor vehicles falling within heading No 87.01, 87.02 or 87.03\";\nWhereas the transmission shafts, universal joints and spiders therefor mentioned above have characteristics enabling them to withstand the stresses resulting from the high speed of rotation which is a feature of motor vehicles;\nWhereas the aforementioned articles do not constitute parts of engines and motors for the purposes of Note 2 (e) to Section XVII and whereas, consequently, heading No 84.63 cannot be considered for their tariff classification;\nWhereas Note 1 (k) to Section XVI excludes from that Section goods falling within Section XVII ; the aforementioned transmission shafts, universal joints and spiders therefor constitute parts of the motor vehicles falling within heading No 87.01, 87.02 or 87.03, referred to in heading No 87.06 ; the last-mentioned heading must therefore be taken for the classification of the aforementioned articles by application of General Rule 1 for the interpretation of the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff;\nWhereas the provisions provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the Opinion of the Committee on Nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff;\nTransmission shafts, universal joints and spiders therefor, devised to provide even transmission of motive torque in motor vehicles of heading No 87.01, 87.02 or 87.03, are classified in heading No 87.06 of the Common Customs Tariff:\n\"Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles falling within heading No 87.01, 87.02 or 87.03.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the eighth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tariff nomenclature" ], "distractor groups": [ "computer", "itinerant trade", "sacred text", "primary sector", "nitrogen", "judicial investigation", "plant taxonomy", "commercial media", "consumer protection", "partnership", "children's library" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a01355/2011 of 20\u00a0December 2011 amending Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0329/2007 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea\n21.12.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 338/39\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1355/2011\nof 20 December 2011\namending Council Regulation (EC) No 329/2007 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 329/2007\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 13(1)(e) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 329/2007 lists persons, entities and bodies who, having been designated by the Council, are covered by the freezing of funds and economic resources under that Regulation.\n(2) On 19 December 2011, the Council decided to amend the list of persons, entities and bodies to whom the freezing of funds and economic resources should apply. Annex V should therefore be updated.\n(3) In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective, this Regulation must enter into force immediately.\nAnnex V to Regulation (EC) No 329/2007 is hereby replaced by the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "economic sanctions" ], "distractor groups": [ "isoglucose", "market enlargement", "water analysis", "religious institution", "Comecon", "mineral water", "organisation of teaching", "Lower Silesia province", "aviation fuel", "Mariana Islands", "evacuation of the population", "European social budget" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/691/EC: Commission Decision of 9 July 2003 on State aid which Spain is planning to implement in the form of contract-related operating aid for three LNG ships built by IZAR (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 2009)\nCommission Decision\nof 9 July 2003\non State aid which Spain is planning to implement in the form of contract-related operating aid for three LNG ships built by IZAR\n(notified under document number C(2003) 2009)\n(Only the Spanish text is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2003/691/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Communities, and in particular the first paragraph of Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 establishing new rules on aid to shipbuilding(1), and in particular to Article 3(2) thereof,\nHaving called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above(2),\nWhereas:\nI. PROCEDURE\n(1) On 6 November 2001 Spain notified the Commission of its request to be granted an extension of the delivery limit for four liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers contracted by the Spanish shipbuilding group IZAR. By letter dated 24 April 2002 the Commission informed Spain that it had decided to initiate a proceeding under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the measure. Spain replied by letter dated 4 June 2002, registered on 6 June 2002.\n(2) The Commission decision to initiate a proceeding was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(3). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments.\n(3) The Commission received comments from interested parties. It forwarded them to Spain, which was given the opportunity to react; its comments were received by letter dated 3 December 2002.\nII. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID\n(4) Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 (the shipbuilding Regulation) states that the operating aid rate applicable to a contract shall be that in force at the date of signature of the final contract. However, for any ship delivered more than three years from the date of signing of the final contract the ceiling applicable to that contract shall be that in force three years before the date of the vessel's delivery.\n(5) According to the same Article, operating aid of 9 % is allowed for ships contracted before 31 December 2000. For ships contracted after that date, no operating aid is allowed. Therefore, without an extension of the three-year delivery limit, no operating aid can be provided for ships delivered after 31 December 2003, even if the contracts were signed before the end of 2000. According to Article 3(2) of the shipbuilding Regulation, the Commission may extend the three-year delivery limit in case of exceptional circumstances or technical complexity of the ships.\n(6) Spain has requested an extension of this three-year delivery limit, due to technical complexity, for three LNG tankers built by IZAR. The original request concerned four ships, but in a letter dated 6 March 2002 Spain informed the Commission that one order had been cancelled, and that the request now concerns three ships. IZAR is owned by the Spanish state holding company SEPI, and is a shipbuilding group consisting of six civil and three military yards.\n(7) The Spanish notification concerns ships numbers 3 to 5 in the table, with planned dates as follows. Ships 1 and 2, in the same series, are included for comparison.\nTABLE\n>TABLE>\nNote:\nS = Sestao shipyard, PR = Puerto Real shipyard.\n(8) Spain has referred to a Commission statement(4) from 1990 to the effect that, when the Commission first proposed the possibility of extending the three-year delivery limit for technical reasons, it was taking account in particular of the construction of liquid gas carriers and very large cruise liners. Spain further argues that these ships are at least as complicated as the product tankers for which the Commission granted an extension(5) in 1993. Spain also claims that the production time is no longer than that of other major shipyards building, or having built LNG tankers.\nIII. COMMENTS FROM THIRD PARTIES\n(9) The Commission has received comments from France. France contests a statement in the initiation of the proceeding that the normal period from contract to delivery for LNG tankers is 36 months, and provides figures from Japanese and Korean yards showing that this time is often between 35 and 60 months. France therefore finds it normal that the Spanish yards cannot deliver the five ships before the end of 2003. However, France underlines that Spain should have requested the extension of the three-year delivery limit before the contracts were signed, and not almost one year after. A retrospective extension would to some extent distort competition with other yards interested in the same orders.\nIV. COMMENTS FROM SPAIN\n(10) Spain agreed with the French comments on the time needed between contract and delivery. Concerning notification of the extension one year after the contracts were signed, Spain stated that it had notified the request in any event and would wait for a Commission decision before any contract-related aid was provided.\nV. ASSESSMENT OF THE MEASURE\n(11) According to Article 87(1) of the Treaty, any aid granted by a Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it affects trade between Member States, be incompatible with the common market. In accordance with the established case-law of the Community law courts, the criterion of trade being affected is met, if the recipient firm carries out an economic activity involving trade between Member States. Shipbuilding is an economic activity involving trade between Member States.\n(12) According to Article 87(3)(e) of the EC Treaty, categories of aid specified by a decision of the Council acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission may be considered compatible with the common market. The Commission notes that the Council adopted the shipbuilding Regulation on this basis on 29 June 1998.\n(13) The Commission notes that, according to that Regulation, \"shipbuilding\" means building of self-propelled seagoing commercial vessels. The Commission also notes that the IZAR-owned shipyards Puerto Real and Cadiz build such ships and consequently are undertakings covered by the Regulation.\n(14) Under Article 3(1) of the shipbuilding Regulation, a maximum ceiling of 9 % for contract-related operating aid for ships was allowed until 31 December 2000. The aid ceiling applicable to the contract would be the one in force at the date when the final contract is signed. However, this does not apply to ships delivered more than three years after the signing of the contract. In these cases, the ceiling applicable is the one in force three years before the date of the delivery of the ship. Consequently, the last delivery date for a vessel still qualifying for operating aid is 31 December 2003.\n(15) Article 3(2) of the shipbuilding Regulation stipulates that \"the Commission may, however, grant an extension of the three-year delivery limit when this is found justified by the technical complexity of the individual shipbuilding project concerned or by delays resulting from unexpected disruptions of a substantial and defensible nature in the working programme of a yard due to exceptional circumstances, unforeseeable and external to the company\". It will be noted that Spain bases its request for extension of the delivery limit on the technical complexity of the individual shipbuilding project concerned.\n(16) The Commission notes that extension of the delivery limit is crucial to deciding whether the ships in question will qualify for contract-related operating aid. The operating aid in question concerns financing from State resources part of the costs that the yard in question would normally have to bear when building a vessel. Therefore, the aid which can be provided if the three-year delivery limit is extended for the ships falls within the scope of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.\n(17) When it initiated the proceeding, the Commission expressed doubts about two aspects of the case. These were the production time and the period between contract and delivery of the vessels in question. These doubts will be analysed below in light of the information received during the proceeding.\n(18) As regards the first doubt, the construction period for the LNG tankers, the Commission stated that it currently took only about 30 months to build a vessel of this type. The fact that it is possible to deliver LNG tankers within 36 months of signing the contract led to doubts that such ships could benefit from an extension of the three-year limit due to technical complexity.\n(19) On this issue Spain has highlighted the complexity of the ships, and requested that production times should be compared with other EU shipyards and not with the most experienced Korean shipyards. It has also underlined the need to make a certain number of installations at the shipyards concerned, since it is the first time LNG tankers have been built there. Spain also points out that double hull LNG tankers, built in Spain, are more complex than some other LNG tankers, and therefore need a longer construction period.\n(20) The information provided during the proceeding has not contradicted the statement made when the proceeding was initiated that, currently, the construction period could be about 30 months. Nevertheless, the Commission acknowledges that LNG tankers are particularly complex ships technically, with a long construction period. It also notes that the fact that the two Spanish yards, and IZAR, are building vessels of this type for the first time, is a valid reason for accepting a somewhat longer production time than in the case of the most experienced Korean shipyards.\n(21) Furthermore, the Commission would cite its statement from 1990 to the effect that when it proposed the possibility of extending the three-year limit for technical reasons, it was taking account in particular of the construction of liquid gas tankers and very large cruise liners.\n(22) As regards the second doubt, the period from contract to delivery of the vessels concerned, the Commission wondered whether this was not much longer than could be considered necessary. Both France and Spain submitted comments in this respect. Spain states that the average period from contract to delivery for LNG tankers built in the EU is around 49 months, and for LNG tankers built in Asia around 42 months. France agrees that periods from contract to delivery in the major Asian yards are between 35 and 60 months.\n(23) The Commission notes that the period from contract to delivery is a combination of the construction period and the time from signing the contract to starting production. The Commission would not be able to extend the delivery period, if the time from contract to the start of production was excessively long. In the present case, the time from contract to start of production of the vessels is 6, 5 and 12 months respectively, which the Commission considers to be acceptable.\n(24) For the reasons set out above, the Commission considers that the delivery time may be extended for the vessels concerned in accordance with the abovementioned planned delivery dates.\n(25) It will be noted that, when it initiated the proceeding, the Commission stated that, following its negative decision on State aid in the form of tax credits for publicly owned Spanish shipyards (2000/131/EC)(6), the yards in question have not repaid the aid. If, in its final decision on this case, the Commission should find that there is reason to authorise the three-year extension for any of the three LNG tankers, it would also have to examine the relevance of the judgment of the Court of Justice of 15 May 1997 in Case C-355/95 Textilwerke Deggendorf(7), if the abovementioned aid has still not been recovered.\n(26) The Commission considers in this respect that it can adopt a decision to suspend payment of aid which is compatible with the common market, the principle in Deggendorf, only if the aid granted in the new decision gives rise to a combination of aid that renders the new aid incompatible. The Commission considers that the present case does not concern the effect of combination on the amount of aid to be authorised, but only whether specific conditions for an extension exist.\n(27) The Commission finds, therefore, that the fact that it does not consider that the illegal state aid referred to above has been recovered does not prevent Spain from granting the operating aid linked to the three vessels in question.\n(28) Lastly, regarding the French comment that a retrospective extension would to some extent distort competition with other yards interested in the same orders, the Commission notes that Article 3(2) of the Shipbuilding Regulation does not state that requests for an extension of the delivery limit have to be notified before the contracts are signed. The Commission also notes that Spain has informed it that no operating aid will be granted for the vessels in question, unless the Commission decides to extend the delivery period.\nVI. CONCLUSION\n(29) In view of the reasons set out above, the Commission considers that an extension of the three-year delivery period can be approved for the three vessels in question. The delivery period should be extended to the planned delivery dates mentioned above (15 February 2004, 30 June 2004 and 31 December 2004),\nThe three-year delivery limit laid down in Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 is extended for three LNG tankers built by IZAR as follows:\n(a) until 15 February 2004, for ship 321 built at Sestao shipyard;\n(b) until 30 June 2004, for ship 103 built at Puerto Real shipyard, and\n(c) until 31 December 2004, for ship 105 built at Puerto Real shipyard.\nThis decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Spain.", "answer groups": [ "shipbuilding" ], "distractor groups": [ "chaptalisation", "economic reform", "social mobility", "regulatory committee (EU)", "Berlin", "condiment", "production target", "public-private partnership", "flax", "Horn of Africa" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a02019/2006 of 21 December 2006 amending Regulations (EC) Nos 2058/96, 327/98 and 955/2005 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas for imports of rice\n29.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 384/48\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2019/2006\nof 21 December 2006\namending Regulations (EC) Nos 2058/96, 327/98 and 955/2005 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas for imports of rice\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1095/96 of 18 June 1996 on the implementation of the concessions set out in Schedule CXL drawn up in the wake of the conclusion of the GATT XXIV.6 negotiations\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 1 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 96/317/EC of 13 May 1996 concerning the conclusion of the results of consultations with Thailand under GATT Article XXIII\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 3 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in rice\u00a0(3), and in particular Articles 10(2) and 13(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules for the administration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences\u00a0(4) applies to import licences for tariff quota periods starting from 1\u00a0January 2007.\n(2) Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 lays down in particular detailed rules for applications for import licences, the status of applicants and the issue of licences. It limits the period of validity of import licences to the final day of the tariff quota period and applies without prejudice to additional conditions or derogations laid down by the sectoral regulations.\n(3) Commission Regulations (EC) Nos 2058/96 of 28 October 1996 opening and providing for the management of a tariff quota for broken rice of CN code 1006\u00a040\u00a000 for production of food preparations of CN code 1901\u00a010\u00a0(5), 327/98 of 10 February 1998 opening and providing for the administration of certain tariff quotas for imports of rice and broken rice\u00a0(6) and 955/2005 of 23 June 2005 opening a Community import quota for rice originating in Egypt\u00a0(7) contain provisions which diverge from or repeat the common rules laid down by Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006. Those Regulations should therefore be amended with a view to removing the differing or redundant rules, specifying the serial numbers of each quota and subquota and redefining the specific rules which apply, in particular to the drawing up of licence applications, their issue, their period of validity and the notification of information to the Commission.\n(4) In the interests of harmonising and simplifying the above Regulations, provisions which are already contained in the horizontal or sectoral implementing regulations, that is, apart from Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, Commission Regulations (EC) Nos 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products\u00a0(8), and 1342/2003 of 28 July 2003 laying down special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences for cereals and rice\u00a0(9), should be deleted, as should provisions which no longer apply.\n(5) In the interests of simplification, provision should be made for quantities of less than 20 tonnes allocated following the application of an award coefficient to be administered in the same way in Regulations (EC) Nos 2058/96, 327/98 and 955/2005.\n(6) In the interests of improved administration of the tariff quotas opened by Regulations (EC) Nos 2058/96 and 955/2005, it is necessary to continue to allow operators to submit more than one licence application per quota period, and therefore to derogate from Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006. Moreover, in order to improve controls on these two quotas and to harmonise and simplify their administration, provision should be made for import licence applications to be submitted on a weekly basis.\n(7) The import duty on broken rice is laid down in Article 11d of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003; therefore reference should no longer be made to the combined nomenclature and Regulation (EC) No 2058/96 should be amended accordingly.\n(8) For those quotas opened by Regulation (EC) No 327/98 which are administered on the basis of an export certificate, it is necessary to continue to allow operators with more than one export certificate to submit more than one import licence application per quota subperiod, and therefore to derogate from Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, in order to ensure controls adapted to such imports. The amount of the security relating to the import licences for husked rice provided for in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 327/98 should moreover be aligned with the amount of the security provided for in Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 1342/2003.\n(9) With regard to Regulation (EC) No 955/2005, the references to Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 should be made clearer and it should be specified that the period of validity of the licence is calculated from the actual day of issue of the licence.\n(10) These measures should be applied from 1 January 2007, which is the date from which the measures provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 apply.\n(11) However, the period for lodging the first applications referred to in Regulations (EC) Nos 2058/96 and 955/2005 falls on a public holiday in 2007; it should therefore be laid down that the first applications may be lodged by operators only from the first working day of 2007, and that this first period for lodging applications closes no later than Monday 8 January 2007. It should also be specified that import licence applications for this first period should be sent to the Commission no later than Monday 8 January 2007.\n(12) Regulations (EC) Nos 2058/96, 327/98 and 955/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(13) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nRegulation (EC) No 2058/96 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 1, the following second and third paragraphs are added:\n2. Article 2 is amended as follows:\n(a) In paragraph 1 the following second subparagraph is added:\n(b) paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:\n3. Article 3 is replaced by the following:\n4. Article 4 is replaced by the following:\n(a) on the final day for the submission of licence applications, no later than 18.00 (Brussels time), the information on the import licence applications referred to in Article 11(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, with a break-down by eight-digit CN code and by country of origin of the quantities covered by those applications;\n(b) no later than the second working day following the issue of the import licences, information on the licences issued, as referred to in Article 11(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, with a break-down by eight-digit CN code and by country of origin of the quantities for which import licences have been issued;\n(c) no later than the last day of each month, the total quantities actually released for free circulation under this quota during the previous month but one, broken down by eight-digit CN code and by country of origin. If no quantities have been released for free circulation during the period, a \u201cnil\u201d notification shall be sent.\u2019\n5. In Article 5(1)(b), \u2018set in the combined nomenclature\u2019 is replaced by \u2018fixed in Article 11d of Council Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003\u00a0(13).\n6. Article 6(2) is deleted.\nRegulation (EC) No 327/1998 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 1(1):\n(a) The second subparagraph is replaced by the following:\n(b) the following third subparagraph is added:\n2. Article 2 is replaced by the following:\n3. The third paragraph of Article 3 is replaced by the following:\n4. Article 4 is amended as follows:\n(a) Paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:\n(b) the second indent of paragraph 2 is deleted;\n(c) the following second sentence is added to paragraph 3:\n(d) paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:\n5. Article 5 is replaced by the following:\n6. Article 6 is replaced by the following:\n7. Article 7 is amended as follows:\n(a) paragraph 3 is deleted;\n(b) the second subparagraph of paragraph 4 is deleted.\n8. Article 8 is replaced by the following:\n(a) no later than the second working day following the final day for the submission of licence applications at 18.00 (Brussels time), the information on the import licence applications referred to in Article 11(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, with a break-down by eight-digit CN code and by country of origin of the quantities covered by those applications, specifying the number of the import licence and the number of the export licence where this is required;\n(b) no later than the second working day following the issue of the import licences, information on the licences issued, as referred to in Article 11(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, with a break-down by eight-digit CN code and by country of origin of the quantities for which import licences have been issued, specifying the number of the import licence and the quantities for which licence applications have been withdrawn in accordance with the third paragraph of Article 5;\n(c) no later than the last day of each month, the total quantities actually released for free circulation under this quota during the previous month but one, broken down by eight-digit CN code and by country of origin, giving details of the packaging if that packaging is less than or equal to 5 kg. If no quantities have been released for free circulation during the period, a \u201cnil\u201d notification shall be sent.\u2019\n9. Article 10 is deleted.\n10. Annex III is deleted.\n11. In Annex IX, \u2018tranches\u2019 is replaced by \u2018subperiods\u2019.\n12. Annex X is deleted.\nRegulation (EC) No 955/2005 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 1 is amended as follows:\n(a) in the first paragraph, \u2018in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003\u2019 is replaced by \u2018in accordance with Articles 11, 11a, 11c and 11d of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003\u2019;\n(b) the second paragraph is deleted;\n(c) the following paragraph is added after the new second paragraph:\n2. Article 2 is amended as follows:\n(a) paragraph 2 is deleted;\n(b) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:\n3. Article 3 is amended as follows:\n(a) paragraph 2 is deleted;\n(b) in paragraph 3, \u2018in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003\u2019 is replaced by \u2018in accordance with Articles 11, 11a, 11c and 11d of Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003\u2019.\n4. Article 4 is replaced by the following:\n5. Article 5 is replaced by the following:\n(a) on the final day for the submission of licence applications, no later than 18.00 (Brussels time), the information on the import licence applications referred to in Article 11(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, with a break-down by eight-digit CN code of the quantities covered by those applications;\n(b) no later than the second working day following the issue of the import licences, information on the licences issued, as referred to in Article 11(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, with a break-down by eight-digit CN code of the quantities for which import licences have been issued;\n(c) no later than the last day of each month, the total quantities actually released for free circulation under this quota during the previous month but one, broken down by eight-digit CN code. If no quantities have been released for free circulation during the period, a \u201cnil\u201d notification shall be sent.\u2019\n6. Article 6 is deleted.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2007.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [ "UN programmes and funds", "European Political Union", "bilateral aid", "regulation", "cannery", "Videotex", "English Channel", "climate", "Economic and Financial Committee", "Macedonia", "Eurobond" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2012/779/: Council Decision of 11\u00a0December 2012 appointing a Dutch member and a Dutch alternate member of the Committee of the Regions\n14.12.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 342/45\nCOUNCIL DECISION\nof 11 December 2012\nappointing a Dutch member and a Dutch alternate member of the Committee of the Regions\n(2012/779/EU)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 305 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal of the Dutch Government,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 22 December 2009 and on 18 January 2010, the Council adopted Decisions 2009/1014/EU\u00a0(1) and 2010/29/EU\u00a0(2) appointing the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2010 to 25 January 2015.\n(2) A member\u2019s seat on the Committee of the Regions has become vacant following the end of the term of office of Mr C.H.J. (Cor) LAMERS.\n(3) An alternate member\u2019s seat has become vacant following the end of the term of office of Mr F. (Frank) de VRIES,\nThe following are hereby appointed to the Committee of the Regions for the remainder of the current term of office, which runs until 25 January 2015:\n(a) as member:\n\u2014 Mr C.H.J. (Cor) LAMERS, Burgemeester (mayor) of the municipality of Schiedam;\n(b) as alternate member:\n\u2014 Ms J.H.M. (Jon) HERMANS-VLOEDBELD, Burgemeester (mayor) of the municipality of Almelo.\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.", "answer groups": [ "appointment of members" ], "distractor groups": [ "management information system", "industrial secret", "single monetary policy", "criminal law", "alternative service", "Province of West Flanders", "electric cable", "notary", "green economy", "rural migration", "Riga", "quality label" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2007/13/EC of 7 March 2007 amending Annex II to Council Directive 71/316/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control (Text with EEA relevance)\n13.3.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 73/10\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2007/13/EC\nof 7\u00a0March 2007\namending Annex\u00a0II to Council Directive 71/316/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 71/316/EEC of 26\u00a0July 1971 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control\u00a0(1), and in particular the first sentence of Article\u00a016 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 71/316/EEC makes provision, in item 3.1.1.1(a) of Annex\u00a0II, for the distinguishing capital letters of Member States to be used for the EEC initial verification mark affixed on a measuring instrument and indicating that the latter conforms to the EEC requirements.\n(2) Directive 71/316/EEC makes provision, in item 3.2.1 of Annex\u00a0II, for the drawings, showing the shape, dimensions and outline of the letters for the EEC initial verification marks as laid down in item 3.1 of that Annex.\n(3) The drawings of the distinguishing letters were not provided in the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden and in the 2003 Act of Accession. According to Annex\u00a0II, Chapter\u00a01, point D1.b of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and of the 2003 Act of Accession, the drawings to which Annex\u00a0II item 3.2.1 of Directive 71/316/EEC refers are supplemented by the requisite letters.\n(4) It is therefore necessary to amend item 3.2.1 of Annex\u00a0II to Directive 71/316/EEC in order to include the drawings of the distinguishing letters.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Adjustment to Technical Progress set up under Article\u00a017 of Directive 71/316/EEC,\nAnnex\u00a0II to Directive 71/316/EEC is amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 10\u00a0March 2008 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "metrology" ], "distractor groups": [ "budgetary stabiliser", "public accounting", "processing industry", "Northern Portugal", "EU sponsorship", "trading margin", "Trade Expansion Act", "Shumen region", "paediatrics", "vehicle parts", "nursing staff" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 417/2003 of 6 March 2003 derogating from Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards the import of milk and milk products and opening tariff quotas\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 417/2003\nof 6 March 2003\nderogating from Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards the import of milk and milk products and opening tariff quotas\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 509/2002(2), and in particular Article 29(4) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under quotas Nos 09.4086 and 09.4554 as provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 2475/2000(3) and Council Regulation (EC) No 1361/2002(4) establishing certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for an adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements with Slovenia and Lithuania respectively, the Slovene and Lithuanian authorities have introduced veterinary checks ensuring that the milk powder for export to the Community complies with the conditions laid down in Council Directive 92/46/EEC of 16 June 1992 laying down the health rules for the production and placing on the market of raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based products(5), as last amended by Directive 94/71/EC(6), and in Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC(7).\n(2) In view of the difficulties that these veterinary checks have caused for importers holding licences issued during the first six months of 2002, in the case of imports originating in Lithuania, the validity period of those licences was extended to 30 September 2002 and 31 January 2003 respectively by Commission Regulations (EC) No 1333/2002(8) and (EC) No 1925/2002(9), derogating from Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001(10), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2302/2002(11).\n(3) Given that these difficulties persist and, furthermore, that the veterinary checks carried out by the Lithuanian and Slovene authorities have led to the temporary suspension of certain operators from the possibility to export dairy products, the validity of the import licences issued in January and July 2002 under quota No 09.4554 in the case of Lithuania, and the import licences issued in July 2002 under quota No 09.4086 in the case of Slovenia, should be extended to 30 June 2003.\n(4) Prior to carrying out imports originating in Latvia under quota No 09.4549 as provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1362/2002 of 22 July 2002 establishing concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for an adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreement with Latvia(12), importers holding licences issued for the second six months of 2002 carried out representative tests on the milk powder. It was discovered that all available stocks of milk powder in that country were contaminated with chloramphenicol and that the exporting firms concerned were no longer able to deliver the quantities for which contracts had been concluded before the end of the period of validity of the licences.\n(5) The validity of the import licences issued in July 2002 under quota No 09.4549 for imports originating in Latvia should therefore be extended to 30 June 2003.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,\n1. Notwithstanding Article 16(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001, the term of validity of the import licences issued during the first and second six months of 2002 for imports from Lithuania of products covered by quota No 09.4554, listed in Annex I.B.9 to that Regulation, shall expire on 30 June 2003.\n2. Notwithstanding Article 16(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001, the term of validity of the import licences issued during the second six months of 2002 for imports from Latvia of products covered by quota No 09.4549, listed in Annex I.B.8 to that Regulation, shall expire on 30 June 2003.\n3. Notwithstanding Article 16(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001, the term of validity of the import licences issued during the second six months of 2002 for imports from Slovenia of products covered by quota No 09.4086, listed in Annex I.B.10 to that Regulation, shall expire on 30 June 2003.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [ "cessation of trading", "building plot", "communication skills", "equatorial zone", "anti-personnel weapon", "total catch", "baby food" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1472/2003 of 20 August 2003 opening and providing for the management of a Community tariff quota for grape juice and must as from the 2003/2004 marketing year\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 1472/2003\nof 20 August 2003\nopening and providing for the management of a Community tariff quota for grape juice and must as from the 2003/2004 marketing year\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003(2), and in particular Article 62(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Pursuant to the Agreement concluded as part of the World Trade Organisation multilateral trade negotiations, the Community undertook to open an annual tariff quota for the importation of 14000 tonnes of grape juice and must.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2012/96 opening and providing for the administration of a Community tariff quota for grape juice and must as from the 1996/97 marketing year(3), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2499/97(4), provided for the management of this quota on the basis of the delivery of import licences.\n(3) The management of this quota should be improved in the interest of administrative simplification and efficiency. Experience in the use of the first-come-first-served management system has been positive with other tariff quotas in the wine sector. The tariff quota for grape juice and grape must should therefore be managed in conformity with Article 62(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, and on the basis of Articles 308a, 308b and 308c of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code(5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) 1335/2003(6).\n(4) The benefit from the tariff quota is subject to a specific end-use. Supervision of compliance with the provisions concerning the end-use should be carried out by the customs authorities in accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code(7), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2700/2000(8) and Regulation No 2454/93 as regards goods which are released for free circulation at a reduced rate of duty on account of their end-use.\nGiven the considerable reduction of the customs duties involved and the related financial risk in case of non-compliance with these rules, it is appropriate to make mandatory the requirement to lodge security covering this risk. According to the rules of Community customs legislation, the customs authorities require a single security to cover the financial risk related to any potential customs debt in respect of the goods concerned.\n(5) It is therefore appropriate to repeal Regulation (EC) No 2012/96 and to replace it with a new one.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine,\nOpening of the tariff quota\n1. A tariff quota for the importation of 14000 tonnes of grape juice and must falling within CN codes 2009 61 90, 2009 69 11, 2009 69 19, 2009 69 51 and 2009 69 90 (hereinafter \"the tariff quota\"), shall be opened each year for a period running from 1 September to 31 August of the following year.\nThe tariff quota shall bear the number 09.0067.\n2. The grape juice and must referred to in paragraph 1 shall be used for the production of grape juice and/or non-wine sector products such as non-alcoholic drinks, jams and sauces.\nThe transformation of this grape juice and must shall take place within six months following the release for free circulation of the products concerned.\nManagement of the tariff quota\nThe tariff quota shall be managed on a first-come-first-served basis in accordance with Articles 308a, 308b and 308c of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\nCustoms duties\nThe customs duties applicable within the tariff quota shall be the ad valorem duties indicated for each CN code and, in respect of the products falling within CN code 2009 69 11, the specific duty expressed in euro/kg provided for in the Common Customs Tariff of the European Communities.\nSupervision of the end-use\nIn order to obtain the benefit of the tariff quota, the goods concerned shall remain under customs supervision as set out in Article 82 of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 and Articles 291 to 300 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\nBy way of derogation from Article 293(1)(e) of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93, the lodging of security shall be mandatory. It shall cover the difference of duty between the erga omnes third-country duty rate and the duty rate within the tariff quota, as set out in Article 3 of this Regulation.\nRepeal\nRegulation (EC) No 2012/96 is hereby repealed.\nEntry into force\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 September 2003.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fruit juice" ], "distractor groups": [ "advisory committee (EU)", "56 AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES", "alternative service", "customs debt", "import licence", "International Bureau of Education", "power of implementation", "foundation", "European civil service", "national accounts", "corrosion" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/107/ECSC: Commission Decision of 17 July 2002 on the State aid which Italy is planning to implement for ILVA SpA (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 2595)\nCommission Decision\nof 17 July 2002\non the State aid which Italy is planning to implement for ILVA SpA\n(notified under document number C(2002) 2595)\n(Only the Italian text is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2003/107/ECSC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 4(c) thereof,\nHaving regard to Commission Decision No 2496/96/ECSC of 18 December 1996 establishing Community rules for State aid to the steel industry(1), and in particular Article 6(5) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof,\nHaving called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above(2) and having regard to their comments,\nWhereas:\nI. PROCEDURE\n(1) By letter dated 20 December 2001, registered as received on 21 December, Italy notified the Commission of planned aid for investments to be carried out by ILVA SpA at its Taranto plant.\n(2) By letter dated 18 February 2002, the Commission informed Italy that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 6(5) of Commission Decision No 2496/96/ECSC (hereinafter referred to as \"the Steel Aid Code\") in respect of the aid.\n(3) The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(3). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid.\n(4) By letter dated 12 April 2002, registered as received on 17 April, Italy informed the Commission that, in view of the deadline of 22 July imposed by the Steel Aid Code for payment of the aid, ILVA SpA had waived the second and third instalments of the aid. It also informed the Commission that the company had decided that five of the 13 projects included in the original notification would not be carried out and that therefore no aid would be granted for them. The projects were described in paragraphs 8, 9, 13, 14 and 16 of the Decision to initiate proceedings. In the same letter, Italy submitted additional information on the remaining projects.\n(5) By letter dated 18 April 2002, the United Kingdom Steel Association submitted comments on the aid. The Commission forwarded them to Italy, which was given the opportunity to react. Its comments were received by letter dated 22 May 2002.\nII. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID\n(6) ILVA SpA is a producer of steel belonging to the Riva Group.\n(7) The aid is granted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade under Law No 488/92 for aid in depressed areas (\"Converting and amending Decree Law No 415 of 22 October 1992 amending Law No 64 of 1 March 1986 containing an organic framework for extraordinary aid to the Mezzogiorno and rules for subsidising production activities\"). The aid was approved on 9 April 2001, subject to authorisation by the Commission.\n(8) Following the partial withdrawal of the notification referred to in recital 4, the costs considered eligible for aid by the Italian authorities amount to EUR 20225000. The aid granted under Law No 488/92 is calculated not on the basis of a fixed percentage of eligible costs but on the basis of a percentage expressed as the net grant equivalent (nge) within the limits of the maximum aid approved by the Commission for the aid scheme in question, according to the size of the firm and the location of the production unit. In the specific case of ILVA SpA, the percentage approved by Italy was 12,25 % nge, corresponding to EUR 3034000 to be paid in three instalments. However, because the company has waived the last two instalments, only one instalment will be paid. Therefore, the actual aid will amount to EUR 980000 and will concern the following projects.\n(9) Treatment of by-products in the coking plant; refurbishment of the three existing lines for the absorption of ammonia and the refrigeration of coking gas: these lines were completely renovated in 1991. Their remaining useful life at the time of the investment is more than 15 years. The total cost relates to necessary equipment and amounts to EUR 3100000. Of this amount, EUR 800000 has been considered as maintenance costs. The eligible costs amount therefore to EUR 2300000.\n(10) Replacement of the existing dust filtration system, which uses cyclones or electrostatic precipitators, by a new system that uses fabric: the statutory maximum level of emissions is 100 mg/Nmc. With this system, the level of dust in the smoke will fall from 50 mg/Nmc to 30 mg/Nmc, i.e. a reduction of 40 %. The existing system dates from the early 1970s and its remaining useful life at the time of the investment is 15 years. The eligible costs relate to necessary equipment and amount to EUR 1292000.\n(11) Installation of a system for monitoring the emissions of the coke ovens and sintering plant: this is required by the regional authorities. The cost of the equipment amounts to EUR 1033000.\n(12) Installation of a conveyor belt for the transportation of mineral to the homogenisation plant: this system will replace the transportation by lorry currently used. Dust emissions will be eliminated. The total cost of the project amounts to EUR 4700000. According to the Italian authorities, this investment will result in cost savings of EUR 312000 per year. They have deducted EUR 2500000 as cost savings over 10 years. Costs considered eligible by the Italian authorities amount therefore to EUR 2200000.\n(13) Installation of a new additional system for the regeneration of hydrochloric acid (Ruthner plant): this system (closed-circuit) will be added to the existing one which dates from 1978 and its remaining useful life at the time of the investment is 10 years. The statutory maximum level of emissions is 60 mg/Nmc. The concentration of hydrochloric acid in the smoke will fall from 55 mg/Nmc to 22 mg/NMC. Moreover, since it is a closed-circuit system, the pollutants contained in the water will no longer pass into the sewage. The cost of the equipment amounts to EUR 1550000.\n(14) Improvement of the dust removal system for secondary emissions in blast furnace No 1: this installation dates from 1988 and its remaining useful life at the time of the investment is 12 years. The statutory maximum level of emissions is 100 mg/Nmc. The dust concentration will fall from 50 mg/Nmc to 30 mg/Nmc. The cost of the equipment amounts to EUR 1550000, from which EUR 500000 has been deducted for costs not directly relating to environmental protection. Eligible costs amount therefore to EUR 1050000.\n(15) Extension of landfill for special waste by 300000 m2: the waste is currently transported to special landfills outside the company's premises. This investment would eliminate the risks inherent in transporting the waste. According to the Italian authorities, this investment will reduce the costs of transporting and discharging the waste from EUR 70 per tonne/year to EUR 15 per tonne/year. The capacity of this extension is 60000 tonnes per year. The investment amounts to EUR 1290000.\n(16) Replacement of 350 PCB electric transformers with new transformers cooled using air or mineral oil: under Italian law, PCB transformers must be dismantled by 2010. These transformers were installed in the 1960s and 1970s. Their remaining useful life is over 20 years. No cost savings are generated by this investment. The investment amounts to EUR 9510000.\nIII. COMMENTS BY INTERESTED PARTIES\n(17) The United Kingdom Steel Association expressed doubts about the environmental purpose of the investments referred to in recitals 11, 13 and 15. With respect to the investments referred to in recitals 10 and 16, it asked the Commission to ensure that they were not being undertaken simply because the existing equipment had reached the end of its normal life. With respect to the investments referred to in recitals 9, 12, 14 and 16, it considered that these are likely to result in cost savings that should be deducted from the eligible costs.\nIV. COMMENTS BY ITALY\n(18) Since the Commission's doubts arose mainly from the lack of information contained in the notification, the Italian authorities simply provided the missing information.\nV. ASSESSMENT OF THE AID\n(19) ILVA SpA manufactures products listed in Annex I to the ECSC Treaty. It is therefore an undertaking within the meaning of Article 80 of that Treaty to which the Steel Aid Code applies.\n(20) Article 3 of the Steel Aid Code stipulates that steel companies may receive aid for environmental investments. The criteria for assessing whether such aid is compatible with the common market are set out in the Annex to the Steel Aid Code and in the Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection(4) (hereinafter \"the 1994 environmental guidelines\").\n(21) According to the 1994 environmental guidelines, aid ostensibly intended for environmental protection measures but which, in fact, is aid for general investment is not covered by the guidelines. The eligible costs must be strictly confined to the extra investment costs necessary to meet environmental objectives(5). Also according to these guidelines, aid to help firms adapt to new mandatory standards plant that has been in operation for at least two years can be authorised up to the level of 15 % gross of the eligible costs (point A, first paragraph) and aid for investment which will allow the firm to improve on mandatory standards or which is undertaken in the absence of standards may be authorised up to 30 % gross of the eligible costs (point B, first paragraph).\n(22) According to the Annex to the Steel Aid Code, the Commission will analyse the economic and environmental background to a decision to opt for replacement of existing plant or equipment. In principle, a decision to undertake new investment which would have been necessary in any event on economic grounds or on account of the age of the existing plant or equipment (remaining useful life of less than 25 %) will not be eligible for aid. Furthermore, any advantage in terms of lower production costs will be deducted.\n(23) With respect to the replacement investments referred to in recitals 10, 13, 14 and 16, given in particular that they will not affect the production installations and that their remaining useful life is more than 25 %, the Commission considers that they are environmental investments.\n(24) With respect to the investment relating to the treatment of by-products in the coking line (see recital 9), given that the gases will be reintegrated within the network and reused by the company, the Commission considers that this may be the main purpose of the investment. The Italian authorities claim that there are no cost savings generated by this investment. This contradicts, however, their statement that emissions will be reduced in quantity and in quality by 20 % (for which, moreover, they have not provided evidence). The Commission cannot therefore conclude that the investment will significantly improve on environmental protection, as required by the 1994 environmental guidelines. Moreover, no cost savings have been deducted from the eligible costs. In these circumstances, the Commission's doubts as to whether the investment is eligible for environmental aid have not been allayed.\n(25) With respect to the investment concerning the installation of a conveyor belt (see recital 12), given the cost savings generated and the limited impact in terms of environmental protection, the Commission considers that it has been undertaken for economic reasons and that it is not, therefore, eligible for aid. In any case, even deducting the cost savings generated would lead to the same conclusion, i.e. non-eligibility for aid.\n(26) With respect to the investment concerning the extension of the landfill for special waste (see recital 15), the Commission notes that it will not lead to a reduction in pollution but rather to a reduction in the costs of dealing with the waste. Indeed, the cost reductions will compensate amply for the investment. In these circumstances, the Commission considers that this investment is undertaken more for economic reasons and that it is not, therefore, eligible for aid. In any case, even deducting the cost savings generated would lead to the same conclusion, i.e. non-eligibility for aid.\n(27) With respect to the investment concerning the installation of a system for monitoring the emissions of the coke ovens and sintering plant (see recital 11), the Commission notes that, although it is intended to comply with the legal obligations imposed by the regional authorities, it is equipment intended not to reduce or eliminate pollution and nuisances or to adapt production methods (as required by point 3.2.1. of the 1994 environmental guidelines) but merely to measure actual pollution levels. In these circumstances, the investment is not eligible for environmental aid.\n(28) With respect to the investment concerning the replacement of electric transformers (see recital 16), the Commission notes that the new equipment is intended to comply with new legal obligations and that it will reduce or eliminate pollution. Therefore, according to point 3.2.A of the 1994 environmental guidelines, the maximum aid for this investment is 15 % gross of the eligible costs, i.e. EUR 1426500.\n(29) With respect to the investments described in recitals 10, 13 and 14, the Commission notes that they will allow for significantly higher levels of environmental protection and that the cost savings generated by them have been deducted. According to point 3.2.B of the 1994 environmental guidelines, the maximum aid for these investments is 30 % gross of the eligible costs, i.e. EUR 1167600.\n(30) The Table below gives a summary of the eligible costs and of the maximum aid allowed under the 1994 environmental guidelines:\n>TABLE>\n(31) In these circumstances, given that the aid will consist only of the first instalment of the approved aid, i.e. EUR 980000 (see recital 8), the aid intensity is in conformity with the Steel Aid Code.\nVI. CONCLUSION\n(32) In view of the foregoing, the State aid amounting to EUR 980000 that Italy intends to grant to ILVA SpA under Law No 488/92 for the projects referred to in recital 30 is compatible with the common market. With respect to the rest of the notified aid, in view of the withdrawal of the notification (see recital 4), the procedure initiated on 18 February 2002 is closed,\nThe State aid amounting to EUR 980000 which Italy plans to implement under Law No 488/92 for ILVA SpA in respect of projects to be carried out at its Taranto plant is compatible with the common market.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Italian Republic.", "answer groups": [ "iron and steel industry" ], "distractor groups": [ "Bonaire", "occupational status", "decorative item", "plant variety right", "information security", "EU financing arrangements", "EU reference laboratory", "International Telecommunication Union", "economic support", "qualitative analysis" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 1038/78 of 22 May 1978 amending Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 concerning aid for the supply of milk to schoolchildren\n( 1 ) OJ NO C 85 , 10 . 4 . 1978 , P . 31 .\n( 2 ) OJ NO C 101 , 26 . 4 . 1978 , P . 10 .\n( 3 ) OJ NO L 148 , 28 . 6 . 1968 , P . 13 .\n( 4 ) SEE PAGE 1 OF THIS OFFICIAL JOURNAL .\nCOUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 1038/78\nOF 22 MAY 1978\nAMENDING REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 804/68 CONCERNING AID FOR THE SUPPLY OF MILK PRODUCTS TO SCHOOLCHILDREN\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHAVING REGARD TO THE TREATY ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY , AND IN PARTICULAR ARTICLE 43 THEREOF ,\nHAVING REGARD TO THE PROPOSAL FROM THE COMMISSION ,\nHAVING REGARD TO THE OPINION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ( 1 ),\nHAVING REGARD TO THE OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE ( 2 ),\nWHEREAS , PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 26 OF COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 804/68 OF 27 JUNE 1968 ON THE COMMON ORGANIZATION OF THE MARKET IN MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS ( 3 ), AS LAST AMENDED BY REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 1037/78 ( 4 ), THE MEMBER STATES MAY GRANT AID FOR THE SUPPLY TO SCHOOLCHILDREN OF PROCESSED MILK PRODUCTS FALLING WITHIN HEADING NO 04.01 OR 22.02 OF THE COMMON CUSTOMS TARIFF ; WHEREAS A COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION TO THE FINANCING OF SUCH PROGRAMMES MAY BE DECIDED ;\nWHEREAS , IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED IN APPLYING THESE PROVISIONS AND IN ORDER TO PROMOTE FURTHER THE CONSUMPTION OF MILK PRODUCTS BY YOUNG PERSONS , THE LIST OF MILK PRODUCTS WHICH MAY BE SUPPLIED AT A REDUCED PRICE TO SCHOOLCHILDREN SHOULD BE EXTENDED ,\nTHE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF ARTICLE 26 OF REGULATION ( EEC ) NO 804/68 SHALL BE REPLACED BY THE FOLLOWING :\n' ARTICLE 26\nMEMBER STATES MAY GRANT NATIONAL AIDS TO PROVIDE SCHOOLCHILDREN WITH MILK PRODUCTS FALLING WITHIN HEADING NO 04.01 OR 04.04 OR SUBHEADING 22.02 B , OR YOGHOURT FALLING WITHIN SUBHEADINGS 04.02 B , 18.06 D AND 21.07 D OF THE COMMON CUSTOMS TARIFF . '\nTHIS REGULATION SHALL ENTER INTO FORCE ON 22 MAY 1978 .\nTHIS REGULATION SHALL BE BINDING IN ITS ENTIRETY AND DIRECTLY APPLICABLE IN ALL MEMBER STATES .", "answer groups": [ "educational institution" ], "distractor groups": [ "vote", "public limited company", "irradiated fuel", "early retirement", "seniority", "small retailer", "work-life balance", "packaging", "reserve currency" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 1421/98 of 29 June 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1421/98 of 29 June 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 28 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas, by virtue of Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 (1), the Council opened autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products; whereas Community demand for the products in question should be met under the most favourable conditions; whereas Community tariff quotas should therefore be opened at reduced or zero rates of duty for appropriate volumes, and increased or extended in the case of certain existing tariff quotas, avoiding any disturbance to the markets for these products;\nWhereas Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 should therefore be amended,\nAnnex I to Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 shall be amended as follows:\n1. for the quota period from 1 January to 30 June 1998:\n- order number 09.2935: the amount of the tariff quota shall be 70 000 tonnes,\n- order number 09.2967: the amount of the tariff quota shall be 3 000 000 units;\n2. for the quota period from 1 January to 31 December 1998:\n- order number 09.2799: the amount of the tariff quota shall be 30 000 tonnes,\n- order number 09.2943: the amount of the tariff quota shall be 30 000 000 units,\n- order number 09.2947: the amount of the tariff quota shall be 1 300 tonnes,\n- order number 09.2959: the amount of the tariff quota shall be 45 000 tonnes,\n- order number 09.2963: the amount of the tariff quota shall be 500 000 000 units;\n3. the quota period for tariff quota with order number 09.2965 shall be replaced by: 1.1-31.12.1998;\n4. the tariff quotas shown in the Annex to this Regulation shall be added.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 1998 as regards points 1, 2 and 3 of Article 1 and as from 1 July 1998 as concerns point 4 thereof.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "industrial product" ], "distractor groups": [ "Viborg (county)", "Kashmir question", "protocol to an agreement", "Chile", "nuclear war", "Varna region", "West Zealand (county)", "home help", "profit", "Eurogroup (NATO)", "computer crime", "international credit" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2317/85 of 12 August 1985 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of roller chains for cycles originating in the USSR and the People' s Republic of China\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2317/85\nof 12 August 1985\nimposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of roller chains for cycles originating in the USSR and the People's Republic of China\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2176/84 of 23 July 1984 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 11 thereof,\nAfter consultations within the Advisory Committee under the above Regulation,\nWhereas:\nA. Procedure\n1. In May 1984 the Commission received a complaint lodged by the Fachverband Fahrrad- und Kraftradteile- Industrie e.V. on behalf of producers whose collective output constitutes a major proportion of the Community production of the product in question. The complaint contained evidence of dumping and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. The Commission accordingly announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (2), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports into the Community of 1/2\" \u00d7 1/8\" roller chains for cycles falling within heading No ex 73.29 of the Common Customs Tariff, corresponding to NIMEXE code ex 73.29-11, originating in the USSR and the People's Republic of China and commenced an investigation.\n2. The Commission officially so advised the exporters and importers known to be concerned and the complainants and gave the parties directly concerned the opportunity to make known their views in writing and to request a hearing. All the known exporters made their views known in writing. Neither the exporters nor the importers concerned have requested hearings.\n3. The Chinese exporter presented its views in writing, though without providing the necessary supporting evidence. In particular, it failed to reply to the questionnaire sent to it, although the Commission extended the deadline several times and referred in writing to the importance of this information for the establishment of the facts and to the consequences for the outcome of the proceeding of failure to provide the necessary information, particularly in the light of Article 7 (7) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 2176/84, which provides that should any interested party refuse access to necessary information, preliminary or final findings may be made on the basis of the facts available.\n4. The Commission sought and verified all the information which it deemed necessary for the preliminary determination of the facts and carried out investigations at the premises of the following firms:\nEEC producers:\n- Union Sils, Van de Loo & Co. GmbH, Froendenberg, Germany;\n- Wippermann Jr. GmbH, Hagen, Germany.\nThe Commission requested detailed written submissions from all complainant Community producers and all exporters and importers, and verified the information made available to the extent considered necessary.\nThe investigation of dumping covered the period June 1983 to June 1984.\nB. Normal value\n5. In order to establish whether the imports from the USSR and the People's Republic of China were dumped, the Commission had to take account of the fact that these countries do not have market economies and the Commission therefore had to base its determinations on the normal value in a market-economy country. In this connection, the complainants had suggested the Japanese market. As the Commission did not obtain the necessary information it had requested from Japanese producers, the complainants had proposed the Spanish market as an appropriate alternative.\n6. The USSR exporter objected to this suggestion. It considered that India could be a more appropriate analogue country, alleging that bicycle production in India is on a scale more comparable to that of the Soviet Union and that cycle chains manufactured in India are of the same type as those manufactured in the USSR as they are produced mainly for roadster bicycles. It gave no indication, however, of the domestic price ruling in India.\n7. The Commission has examined the structure of the Spanish market for bicycle chains. Spain, the USSR and the People's Republic of China all produce 1/2 \u00d7 1/8 inch standard simple roller chains for cycles according to DIN 8187 or ISO/R-606 specifications. The producers in the USSR and China do not guarantee that their products meet these specifications but their products generally do so in practice. The Spanish products are of slightly higher quality than those from the USSR and the People's Republic of China but the difference in quality is not significant for the purpose for which the product is normally sold, and it can be allowed for (see paragraph 9 below). It was found that in Spain there was efficient internal competition between the existing producers as well as from imports from other countries; in 1984 these held a market share of about 23 % in Spain. The Commission is also satisfied that industrial production technologies for roller chains are very similar in all countries and that the conditions and volume of production investigated in Spain are adequate to permit a proper comparison. The choice of Spain appears to be more appropriate than that of India since both Spain and the USSR use capital intensive production methods and similar machinery. Furthermore, the levels of development of the industries in Spain and the USSR are more similar than those of the USSR and India.\nThe Chinese exporter did not contest this choice.\nC. Export price\n8. Export prices were determined on the basis of the prices actually paid or payable for the products sold for export to the Community.\nD. Comparison\n9. In comparing normal values with export prices, the Commission took account, where appropriate, of differences affecting price comparability. Based on information given by the Spanish producers, adjustments were made in particular for differences in quality, selling and marketing conditions, and payment terms. All comparisons were made at the ex-works level.\nE. Margins\n10. The preliminary examination of the facts showed the existence of dumping in respect of the exports investigated, the margin of dumping being equal to the amount by which the normal value as established exceeds the weighted average price for export to the Community.\n11. These margins vary according to the importing Member State; they are all appreciably in excess of 40 % for China and of 60 % for the USSR, the weighted average for the Community as a whole being as follows:\nthe People's Republic of China 45 %;\nthe USSR 102 %.\nF. Injury\n12. With regard to the injury caused by the dumped imports, the evidence available to the Commission shows that imports into the Community from the USSR increased from 2 185 000 metres in 1982 to 3 793 000 metres in 1984 with a consequent increase in market share from 8,9 % to 14,4 %, while in the same period imports from the People's Republic of China decreased from 3 449 000 metres to 2 144 000 metres, reducing their market share from 14,1 % to 8,1 %. Taken together the dumped imports increased from 5 634 000 metres in 1982 to 5 937 000 metres in 1984 maintaining a significant market share of approximately 23 % throughout the period.\n13. Considering that the imports of the Chinese product in the Community had decreased and corresponded to a declining market share of the Chinese product in the Community, the Commission has examined whether it was appropriate to aggregate the imports of cycle chains originating in China with those originating in the USSR.\nThe Commission found, however, that all the products under investigation competed with each other in the Community market. Furthermore, Chinese imports had shown a decline in 1983 only and had stabilized in 1984, still maintaining a substantial market share significant enough to cause material injury because of the low prices at which they were sold in the Community. The Commission therefore concluded that in order to determine whether material injury was caused by the dumped products aggregation of the imports from China with those from the USSR was not unreasonable.\n14. The sale prices of the imports under consideration undercut the prices of the Community producers during the investigation period by up to 16 % for the USSR product and by up to 6 % for the Chinese product, account being taken of differences in quality. These sale prices were lower than those required to cover the costs of Community producers and provide a reasonable profit.\n15. Community production fell from 10 938 000 metres in 1982 to 8 500 000 metres in 1984. Although taken together the dumped imports from the USSR and China did not increase in the same proportion as the decrease in Community production, the Commission is satisfied that their significant level of market share, which in 1984 reached 37 % in the Federal Republic of Germany and 31 % in Italy, which alone absorbed more than 80 % of the dumped imports, combined with the low prices at which the dumped imports were offered for sale, have caused a serious market deterioration in the Community. These dumped imports contributed to the fact that the Community industry concerned had to work continuously at a low rate of capacity utilization of less than 60 %, which entailed high unit costs, and to sell the product at prices which in certain cases did not even yield a reasonable contribution to fixed costs. Thus the Community industry accumulated substantial financial losses, which led two Community producers to close down this line of production, while others, in order to cut losses, reduced their output. As a result, employment fell by about 18 % between 1982 and 1984 while short-time working frequently had to be introduced.\n16. The Commission has considered whether injury has been caused by other factors such as the development of consumption in the Community. It has been alleged by the complainant that consumption in the Community has risen by some 8 % since 1982, but that this increase has not been reflected in the Community producers' figures for sales in the EEC. The Commission has therefore also considered whether injury has been caused by other imports. Although it is difficult to establish precise data for consumption in the Community and imports from other non-member countries since the statistics available to the Commission include other types of chains than those under consideration, the information received by the Commission leads to the inference that sales by the Community industry have been partly replaced by imports from other countries as well. However, verifying global import statistics from other third countries, the Commission found that on average these imports have been sold at higher prices than the dumped imports. Moreover, the Commission has received no evidence that these imports have been dumped. Thus the substantial market share of the dumped imports from the two countries concerned and the prices at which they are offered for sale in the Community led the Commission to determine that the effects of the dumped imports of 1/2\" \u00d7 1/8\" roller chains for cycles originating in the USSR and the People's Republic of China, taken in isolation, have to be considered as constituting material injury to the Community industry concerned.\nG. Community interest\n17. In view of the serious difficulties facing the Community industry the Commission has come to the conclusion that it is in the Community's interest that action be taken. In order to prevent further injury being caused during the remainder of the proceeding, this action should take the form of provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of 1/2\" \u00d7 1/8\" roller chains for cycles originating in the USSR and the People's Republic of China.\nH. Rate of duty\n18. The extent of injury caused was determined by the difference between the prices at which the dumped imports are offered for sale and the return expected from efficient manufacturing of the product in the Community. The rate of such duties, therefore, should be sufficient to eliminate the difference between the selling prices of the dumped products in the Community and the prices necessary to cover the production cost of Community producers and a reasonable contribution to fixed costs and overheads. Taking into account the different level of prices at which the USSR and Chinese products were sold on the Community market and the difference in the rate of price undercutting resulting therefrom, the rate of duty should be higher for these products imported from the USSR than for China.\n19. A period should be fixed within which the parties concerned may make their views known and request a hearing.\n1. A provisional anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of 1/2\" \u00d7 1/8\" roller chains for cycles falling within heading No ex 73.29 of the Common Customs Tariff, corresponding to NIMEXE code ex 73.29-11, originating in the USSR and the People's Republic of China.\n2. The rates of the duty shall be, for products originating in:\n- the USSR 30 %;\n- the People's Republic of China 20 %,\nof the free-at-Community-frontier net price before duty.\n3. The provisions in force concerning customs duties shall apply.\n4. The release for free circulation in the Community of the products referred to in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the provision of a security equivalent to the amount of the provisional duty.\nWithout prejudice to Article 7 (4) (b) and (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 2176/84, the parties may make known their views in writing and apply to be heard orally by the Commission within one month of the entry into force of this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nSubject to Articles 11, 12 and 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2176/84, this Regulation shall apply for a period of four months unless the Council adopts definitive measures before the expiry of that period.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "metal product" ], "distractor groups": [ "collectivised economy", "European External Action Service", "North Brabant", "Namibia", "purchase", "roll-call vote", "breeding animal", "plastics industry", "nuclear test", "number of pupils", "conservation of fish stocks" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 3952/92, of 30 December 1992, amending Regulation (EEC) No 594/91 in order to speed up the phasing-out of substances that deplete the ozone layer\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3952/92 of 30 December 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 594/91 in order to speed up the phasing-out of substances that deplete the ozone layer\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 130s thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),\nWhereas, according to the latest scientific knowledge, severe depletion over the Antarctic continues to occur; whereas depletion of the ozone layer over the Northern hemisphere is more extensive than was previously generally accepted;\nWhereas scientific studies forecast further depletion of the ozone layer into the twenty-first century, unless the production and consumption of the fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride and 1,1,1-trichloroethane are brought to an end in the very near future;\nWhereas, except for certain essential uses, it is technically possible to phase out all consumption of halons by the end of 1993, fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons and carbon tetrachloride by the end of 1994 and 1,1,1-trichloroethane by the end of 1995;\nWhereas the amendment to the Montreal Protocol adopted at the second meeting of its Parties entered into force on 10 August 1992; whereas Annex D of the Protocol adopted at the third meeting of its Parties entered into force on 27 May 1992;\nWhereas the Parties to the Montreal Protocol adopted, at their fourth meeting in Copenhagen, at which the Community and the Member States played a leading role, additional measures for the protection of the ozone layer;\nWhereas Regulation (EEC) No 594/91 (4) provides for controls on substances that deplete the ozone layer;\nWhereas it is necessary for additional action to be taken at Community level to carry out the Community's obligations under the Protocol as far as the adjustments are concerned;\nWhereas, in the light of recent scientific knowledge and the availability of technologies for replacing ozone depleting substances, it is appropriate to introduce control measures which are stricter than those provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 594/91 and which are, in some cases, stricter than those of the adjusted Protocol,\nControl of the production and consumption of chlorofluorocarbons 11, 12, 113, 114 and 115\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (1) and 11 (1) of, and Annex II to, Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1), 'and in the following 12-month period`, shall be deleted;\n2. the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1) shall be deleted;\n3. in the fourth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1), '1996` shall be replaced by '1994`;\n4. the fifth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1) shall be deleted;\n5. in the sixth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1):\n- '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`,\n- the following shall be added: 'However, for those Member States whose calculated level of production of chlorofluorocarbons was less than 15 000 tonnes in 1986, the calculated level of their production in the period 1 January to 31 December 1995 shall not exceed 15 % of the calculated level of their production in 1986 and there shall be no production of chlorofluorocarbons after 31 December 1995`;\n6. in the second subparagraph of Article 10 (1), '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`;\n7. the second to fifth indents of the first subparagraph and the second subparagraph of Article 11 (1) shall be amended in the same way as the corresponding indents and subparagraphs of Article 10 (1);\n8. in the sixth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 11 (1) '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`.\n9. in Annex II, the calculated level of the quantitative limits on imports of substances in Group I shall be fixed at 348 tonnes for 1994; imports of these substances shall cease on 31 December 1994 at the latest.\nControl of the production and consumption of other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (2) and 11 (2) of, and Annex II, to Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the first indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2), 'each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by 'the following 12-month period`;\n2. the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2) shall be deleted;\n3. in the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2), '1996` shall be replaced by '1994`;\n4. the fourth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2) shall be deleted;\n5. in the fifth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2), '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`;\n6. in the second subparagraph of Article 10 (2), '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`;\n7. the first to fifth indents of the first subparagraph and the second subparagraph of Article 11 (2) shall be amended in the same way as the corresponding indents and subparagraphs of Article 10 (2);\n8. in Annex II, the calculated level of the quantitative limits on imports of substances in Group II shall be fixed at 15 % of the calculated level of imports in 1989 for 1994; imports of these substances shall cease on 31 December 1994 at the latest.\nControl of the production and consumption of the halons\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (3) and 11 (3) of and Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the first indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (3), 'each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by 'the following 12-month period`;\n2. the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (3) shall be deleted;\n3. in the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (3), '1999` shall be replaced by '1993`.\n4. in the second subparagraph of Article 10 (3), '2000` shall be replaced by '1994`.\n5. the first to third indents of the first subparagraph and the second subparagraph of Article 11 (3) are amended in the same way as the corresponding indents and subparagraphs of Article 10 (3);\n6. in Annex II, imports of the substances shall cease on 31 December 1993.\nControl of the production and consumption of carbon tetrachloride\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (4) and 11 (4) of and Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the first indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (4), 'each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by 'the following 12-month period`;\n2. in the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (4), '1995, and in each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by '1994`;\n3. in the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (4), '1997` shall be replaced by '1994`;\n4. in the second subparagraph of Article 10 (4), '1998` shall be replaced by '1995`;\n5. the first to third indents of the first subparagraph and the second subparagraph of Article 11 (4) shall be amended in the same way as the corresponding indents and subparagraphs of Article 10 (4);\n6. in Annex II, the calculated level of the quantitative limits on imports of the substance in Group IV shall be fixed at 15 % of the calculated level of imports in 1989 for 1994; imports of this substance shall cease on 31 December 1994 at the latest.\nControl of the production and consumption of 1,1,1-trichloroethane\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (5) and 11 (5) of and Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the first indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5), 'each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by 'the following 12-month period`;\n2. in the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5), '1995`, and in each 12-month period thereafter' shall be replaced by '1994, and in the following 12-month period`, and '70 %` shall be replaced by '50 %`;\n3. the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5) shall be deleted;\n4. in the fourth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5), '2004` shall be replaced by '1995`;\n5. a second subparagraph shall be inserted after the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5) as follows:\n'The Commission, in accordance with the producers set out in Article 12, shall determine any essential uses of 1,1,1-trichloroethane which may be permitted in the Community after 31 December 1995 and until 31 December 2004 at the latest and any quantities of 1,1,1-trichloroethane which may be produced by each producer for this purpose. Such production shall be allowed only if adequate alternatives or recycled 1,1,1-trichloroethane are not available.`;\n6. the first to fourth indents of the first subparagraph of Article 11 (5) shall be amended in the same way as the corresponding indents of Article 10 (5);\n7. A second subparagraph shall be inserted after the first subparagraph of Article 11 (5) as follows:\n'The Commission, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 12, shall determine any quantities of 1,1,1-trichloroethane that could be placed on the market or used for its own account by each producer after 31 December 1995 and until 31 December 2004 at the latest for the purpose of essential uses.`;\n8. in Annex II, the calculated level of the quantitative limits on imports of the substances in Group V shall be fixed at 50 % of the calculated level of imports in 1989 for each of the years 1994 and 1995; imports of this substance shall cease on 31 December 1995 at the latest.\nImportation of controlled substances from non-Parties to the Protocol\nIn Article 5 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n'1 January 1993` shall be replaced by '10 August 1993`.\nExportation of controlled substances to non-Parties to the Protocol\nof Regulation (EEC) 594/91 shall be replaced by the following Article:\n'Article 8\nExportation of controlled substances to non-Parties to the Protocol\n1. With effect from 1 January 1993, the exportation from the Community of virgin, recycled or used chlorofluorocarbons or halons to any non-Party to the Protocol shall be prohibited.\n2. With effect from 10 August 1993, the exportation from the Community of virgin, recycled or used other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride or 1,1,1-trichloroethane to any non-Party to the Protocol shall be prohibited.`\nImportation of products containing controlled substances from non-Parties to the Protocol\nIn Article 6 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n'1 January 1993` shall be replaced by '27 May 1993`.\nEntry into force\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "halogen" ], "distractor groups": [ "continuing education", "practitioner of alternative medicine", "EEC Treaty", "knowledge economy", "peaceful co-existence", "allocation of seats", "short-term financing", "mobile communication", "veterinary drug", "national election" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "1999/663/EC: Commission Decision of 9 December 1998 on State aid granted by Germany to Maschinenfabrik Sangerhausen (Samag) (notified under document number C(1998) 4274) (Text with EEA relevance) (Only the German text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 9 December 1998\non State aid granted by Germany to Maschinenfabrik Sangerhausen (Samag)\n(notified under document number C(1998) 4274)\n(Only the German text is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(1999/663/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof,\nHaving given interested parties notice to submit their comments in accordance with those Articles,\nWhereas:\nI\nMaschinenfabrik Sangerhausen GmbH i.K. (hereinafter referred to as Samag) was privatised in June 1991. On 1 July 1994 insolvency proceedings (Gesamtvollstreckungsverfahren - insolvency proceedings prior to a takeover or the winding-up of a company, the procedure in the new Federal L\u0102\u00a4nder equivalent to the Konkursverfahren in the rest of Germany) were initiated regarding the company and its assets because it was unable to pay its creditors and its debts exceeded its assets. On 14 July 1994 Germany notified aid amounting to DEM 2 million that the Land of Saxony-Anhalt had made available to Samag.\nOn 1 February 1995 the Commission decided to initiate proceedings pursuant to Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid granted in the form of subsidies intended to finance the recovery of assets located abroad or subject to reservation of title and to keep the business as a going concern for a short time. The Land had originally provided the subsidies in order to achieve milder terms in the insolvency proceedings in order to assist employees, suppliers and other creditors while it tried to identify a new source of capital for the complete or partial takeover of the business or to satisfy the creditors in a winding-up since the assets would otherwise be insufficient. Since the beginning of Samag's insolvency proceedings, the aid has been used towards the orderly liquidation of the business.\nOf the DEM 2 million, DEM 50000 was to be used for paying interest on a bridging loan for redundancy payments on winding-up that had been taken out by the administrator in the winding-up. The Commission was uncertain whether this part of the aid constituted a general measure or aid within the meaning of Article 92(1).\nThe Commission decision was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(1) and interested parties were given notice to submit their comments.\nII\nGermany provided details of the aid by letters of 28 March, 4 May and 23 November 1995 and 12 June and 20 December 1996. It was stated that the aid had been used as follows:\n- DEM 50000 for the payment of interest on a bridging loan for redundancy payments on winding-up taken out by the administrator in the winding-up;\n- DEM 770000 for the purchase of materials to complete outstanding orders and to secure the release of materials held under reservation of title for Samag's core business (other than the foundry);\n- DEM 230000 for complete performance of contracts concerning the foundry;\n- DEM 350000 for payments to public utilities (gas, water and electricity, of which DEM 91000 were made in July and August), mainly concerning the foundry;\n- DEM 600000 for the repatriation of Samag's assets from abroad.\nThe aid made it possible to continue the insolvency proceedings in an orderly manner; otherwise the company would have had to be put into liquidation by reason of its insufficient assets.\nAfter completing performance of the contracts outstanding at the time of initiation of the insolvency proceedings, the entire company (that is to say, including the foundry) ceased trading on 31 October 1994. No new orders were taken. The business continued for a further four months and the assets were sold separately following a public call for offers.\nIII\nThe United Kingdom supported the Commission's initiation of investigatory proceedings on the grounds that Samag did not appear to be an enterprise that was viable in the long term and the rescue of the machine-tool and foundry business adversely affected competition in the industry.\nGermany replied that, since the enterprise had completely ceased trading, no comment was called for.\nIV\nHowever, the assistance of DEM 1,95 million constitutes State aid within the meaning of Article 92(1) since it was paid to a specific enterprise in an industry where there is considerable trade between Member States.\nIt must therefore be ascertained whether this aid can be considered compatible with the common market under Article 92(3).\nAlthough Saxony-Anhalt is indeed an assisted area for the purposes of Article 92(3)(a), the assistance cannot be classified as aid to promote regional development since keeping the enterprise as a going concern for such a short time (four months) does not contribute to the development of the area. The exemption from the prohibition of aid under Article 92(3)(a) is therefore precluded.\nMoreover, since the assistance does not facilitate the development of certain economic activities it does not meet the conditions in the Community Guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty(2) (hereinafter referred to as \"the Guidelines\") for the reasons set out below.\nThe assistance cannot be considered rescue aid since it has not been provided in forms that are permitted under the Guidelines; only liquidity help in the form of loan guarantees or loans bearing normal commercial interest rates can be approved.\nLikewise, the assistance cannot be classified as restructuring aid for the purposes of the guidelines because it is not conditional on a restructuring plan or the creation of new jobs. Since it was solely intended to permit outstanding contracts to be performed and to identify persons interested in taking over the business, it constitutes operating aid and as such is incompatible with the Community competition rules.\nSince an exemption under Article 92(3)(a) or (c) is excluded, the aid of DEM 1,95 million is incompatible with the common market.\nThe sum of DEM 50000 was paid by the Land to meet interest on a loan taken out by the administrator in the winding-up for bridging finance for redundancy payments on winding-up.\nUnder Article 141a of the Law on the promotion of labour (the ArbfG), every employee is entitled to redundancy payments up to a maximum of three months' wages which he has not received by reason of the winding-up of the enterprise. The party responsible for payment is the Federal Labour Office (the BfA). Provided the conditions in Articles 141a et seq., of the ArbfG are fulfilled, the BfA does not enjoy any discretion in making redundancy payments on winding-up. Under Article 141m of the ArbfG, when such payment is made, the employee's claims concerning the payment are against the BfA.\nThe BfA generally does not make redundancy payments on winding-up until three or four months after the initiation of the winding-up. To secure the employee's subsistence, it is recognised practice(3) for a private bank to provide an appropriate loan for the employee.\nThe BfA has a right of recourse under the general provisions of the law applicable to winding-up. Under Article 13(2) of the Regulations on insolvency proceedings, read in conjunction with Article 17(3) thereof, the BfA's claim ranks as a preferential debt in the winding-up.\nThis means that such redundancy payments are to be classified as general social measures in the context of a winding-up, over which the BfA does not enjoy any discretion.\nIn this case, the Land of Saxony-Anhalt has provided assistance amounting to DEM 50000 for the payment of interest on a loan, which was agreed on behalf of the employees between the administrator in the winding-up and a private bank as a bridging loan for redundancy payments on winding-up. The Land has not to date presented its claim to the DEM 50000 against the assets in the winding-up. The interest is regularly paid from the assets being wound up. Since the Land has not put forward its claim, the assets in the winding-up have been increased by that amount, which constitutes an economic advantage for the insolvent enterprise. In this particular case, it therefore constitutes aid for the purposes of Article 92(1). On the same grounds as those relating to the other grants of aid of DEM 1,95 million, this aid cannot be exempted under Article 92(3). It is therefore to be considered incompatible with the common market and must be recovered,\nUnder Article 92(1) of the EC Treaty and Article 61(1) of the EEA Agreement, the State aid paid by Germany to Maschinenfabrik Sangerhausen GmbH i.K. (Samag) in the form of grants amounting in all to over DEM 2,0 million is not compatible with the common market or the functioning of the EEA Agreement.\n1. Germany shall take the necessary steps to recover from the recipient enterprise the State aid specified in Article 1.\n2. The recovery shall be carried out in accordance with the procedures and provisions of German law. Interest shall be payable from the date of payment to the date of actual recovery, at a rate equal to the reference rate used to calculate the net grant equivalent of regional aid.\nGermany shall inform the Commission within two months of the date of notification of this Decision of the measures it has taken to comply therewith.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.", "answer groups": [ "Germany" ], "distractor groups": [ "roadworthiness tests", "arbitration", "self-defence", "legal capacity", "microeconomics", "footwear industry", "publication of accounts", "energy policy", "automatic vending machine", "social court" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2004/605/EC: Decision of the Translation Centre for the bodies of the European Union of 13 April 2004 on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to documents\n20.8.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 272/13\nDECISION OF THE TRANSLATION CENTRE FOR THE BODIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\nof 13 April 2004\non the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to documents\n(2004/605/EC)\nTHE MANAGEMENT BOARD\n,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2965/94 of 28 November 1994 setting up a Translation Centre for bodies of the European Union\u00a0(1), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1645/2003\u00a0(2) of 18 June 2003, in particular Article 18a thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The second subparagraph of Article 1 of the Treaty on European Union enshrines the concept of openness, stating that the Treaty marks a new stage in the process of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as openly as possible and as closely as possible to the citizen.\n(2) Openness guarantees that the administration enjoys greater legitimacy and is more effective and more accountable to the citizen in a democratic system and contributes to strengthening the principles of democracy and respect for fundamental rights as laid down in Article 6 of the EU Treaty and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.\n(3) Article 18a of Regulation (EC) No 2965/94 provides that Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents\u00a0(3) (hereinafter Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001) shall also apply to documents held by the Centre and it also provides that the Management Board shall adopt the practical arrangements for implementing Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001,\nBeneficiaries and scope\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Any natural or legal person shall have a right of access to documents of the Translation Centre for the bodies of the European Union (the Centre) subject to the principles, conditions and limits laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 and in accordance with the provisions of this decision.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Documents in the Centre\u2019s possession for translation purposes only are not held by the Centre within the meaning of Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.\nDefinitions\nFor the purpose of this decision:\n(a) \u2018document\u2019 shall mean any content whatever its medium (written on paper or stored in electronic form or as a sound, visual or audiovisual recording) concerning a matter relating to the policies, activities and decisions falling within the Centre\u2019s sphere of responsibility;\n(b) \u2018third party\u2019 shall mean any natural or legal person, or any entity outside the Centre, including the Member States, other Community or non-Community institutions and bodies and third countries.\nApplications\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All applications for access to a document shall be sent to the Centre via its website (www.cdt.eu.int), by e-mail (cdt@cdt.eu.int), by mail (Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union, B\u00e2timent Nouvel H\u00e9micycle, 1 rue du Fort Th\u00fcngen, L-1499 Luxembourg), or by fax ((352) 421711 220). The Centre shall reply to initial and confirmatory access applications within 15 working days from the date of registration of the application. In the case of complex or bulky applications, the deadline may be extended by 15 working days. Reasons must be given for any extension of the deadline and be notified to the applicant in advance.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If an application is not sufficiently precise, as referred to in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, the Centre shall ask the applicant to provide further information to help identify the documents requested; the deadline for reply shall run only from the date on which the Centre is in receipt of such information.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Any decision which is even partly negative shall state the reason for the refusal based on one of the exceptions listed in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 and shall inform the applicant of the remedies open to it.\nProcessing of initial applications\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Once the application has been registered, an acknowledgement of receipt shall be sent to the applicant, unless a reply is sent immediately. The acknowledgement of receipt and the reply shall be sent in writing, where appropriate in electronic form.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Subject to the provisions of Article 9 of this decision, the Administration Department shall have the power to decide on the action to be taken with regard to initial applications. To that end, a member of staff shall be assigned to process applications for access and to coordinate replies.\nThe applicant shall be informed of the outcome of its application.\nAny reply which is even partly negative shall inform the applicant of its right to submit, within 15 working days from receipt of the reply, a confirmatory application to the Centre.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the event of a total or partial refusal, the applicant may, within 15 working days of receiving the Centre\u2019s reply, make a confirmatory application asking the Centre to reconsider its position.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Failure by the Centre to reply within the prescribed time-limit shall entitle the applicant to make a confirmatory application.\nProcessing of confirmatory applications\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Director of the Centre shall decide on confirmatory applications. He shall inform the Centre\u2019s Management Board of his decision.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The decision shall be notified to the applicant in writing, where appropriate in electronic form, informing the applicant of its right to bring an action before the Court of First Instance or to lodge a complaint with the European Ombudsman.\nConsultation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where the Centre receives an application for access to a document which it holds but which originates from a third party, the Centre shall examine whether one of the exceptions provided for under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 applies.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If, after examination, the Centre considers that access to the document requested must be refused by reason of one of the exceptions provided for in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, the negative answer shall be sent to the applicant without consultation of the third-party author.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Subject to the provisions of paragraph 4 of this Article, the Centre shall grant the application without consulting the third-party author where:\n(a) the document requested has already been disclosed either by its author or pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 or similar provisions;\n(b) the disclosure, or partial disclosure, of its contents would not obviously undermine one of the interests referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.\nIn all other cases, the third-party author shall be consulted.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If an application for access concerns a document originating from a Member State, the Centre shall consult the originator subject to the provisions of paragraph 3(a) of this Article.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The third party consulted shall have not less than five working days in which to reply, or enough time to allow the Centre to meet its own time limits for replying. If no reply is received within the prescribed period, or if the third party cannot be found or identified, the Centre shall decide in accordance with the rules on exceptions stated in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, taking account of the legitimate interests of the third party on the basis of the information at its disposal.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the Centre intends to give access to a document against the explicit opinion of the author, it shall inform the author of its intention to disclose the document after a period of 10 working days and shall draw the author\u2019s attention to the remedies open to it to oppose such disclosure.\nExercise of the right of access\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Documents shall be sent by mail, fax or, if available, by e-mail. If documents are voluminous or unwieldy, the applicant may be asked to consult the documents on the spot. This consultation shall be free of charge.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the document has been published, the reply shall consist of references to the publication and/or the place where the document is available and, where appropriate, the address of the document on the website www.cdt.eu.int.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the volume of the documents requested exceeds 20 pages, the applicant may be charged a fee of EUR 0,10\u00a0per page, plus delivery charge. The amount of this fee may be amended by the Centre\u2019s Director. The charges for other media shall be decided individually, but shall not exceed a reasonable amount.\nMeasures facilitating access to documents\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To make citizens\u2019 rights under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 effective, the Centre shall provide public access to a register of documents. Access to the register shall be provided in electronic form.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The register shall contain the title of the document (in the languages in which it is available), including, where applicable, other useful references, an indication of its author and the date of its creation or adoption.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A help page (in all official languages) shall inform the public how the document can be obtained. If the document is published, there shall be a link to the original text.\nDocuments directly accessible to the public\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This article applies only to documents drawn up or received after the date of implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The following documents shall be automatically provided on request and, as far as possible, made directly accessible in electronic form:\n(a) texts adopted by the Centre\u2019s Director or Management Board intended for publication in the Official Journal of the European Union or on the Centre\u2019s website;\n(b) documents originating from third parties which have already been disclosed by their author or with its consent;\n(c) documents already disclosed following a previous application.\n0\nReports\nThe Centre shall publish annually a report for the preceding year including information on implementation of this decision, in particular statistics on the number of applications for access to the Centre\u2019s documents, the number of cases in which the Centre refused to grant access and the reasons for such refusals, in accordance with Article 17(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.\n1\nEntry into force\nThis decision shall enter into force on 1 April 2004.\n2\nPublication\nThis decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union" ], "distractor groups": [ "European arms policy", "soft technology", "Eurofound", "credit rating", "toll", "information system", "strategic reserves", "arboriculture", "food contamination", "specialisation of trade", "conscientious objection", "tobacco industry" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2010/177/: Commission Decision of 23\u00a0March 2010 amending Decision 2006/109/EC by accepting three offers to join the joint price undertaking accepted in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain castings originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China\n24.3.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 77/55\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 23 March 2010\namending Decision 2006/109/EC by accepting three offers to join the joint price undertaking accepted in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain castings originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China\n(2010/177/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community\u00a0(1) (the \u2018basic Regulation\u2019), and in particular Articles 8 and 11(3) thereof,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PROCEDURE\n(1) The Council, by Regulation (EC) No 1212/2005\u00a0(2) (the definitive Regulation), imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain castings originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC). This Regulation was last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 500/2009\u00a0(3).\n(2) The Commission, by Decision 2006/109/EC\u00a0(4) accepted a joint price undertaking from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronics Products (CCCME) together with 20 cooperating Chinese companies or cooperating groups of companies. This Decision was amended by Commission Decision 2008/437/EC\u00a0(5).\n(3) The definitive Regulation gives the possibility to new Chinese exporting producers to be granted the same treatment as the cooperating companies in the original investigation, on the condition that these producers have been granted the new exporting producer treatment (NEPT) in accordance with Article 1(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1212/2005.\n(4) Following three requests for NEPT based on Article 1(4) of the definitive Regulation, the Council, by Regulation (EC) No 426/2008\u00a0(6) amended the definitive Regulation and assigned an individual duty rate of 28,6\u00a0% to the exporting producers HanDan County Yan Yuan Smelting and Casting Co., Ltd (HanDan), XianXian Guozhuang Precision Casting Co., Ltd (XianXian) and Wuxi Norlong Foundry Co., Ltd (Norlong).\n(5) Following a request for NEPT based on Article 1(4) of the definitive Regulation, the Council, by Regulation (EC) No 282/2009\u00a0(7) amended the definitive Regulation and assigned and individual duty rate of 28,6\u00a0% to the exporting producer Weifang Stable Casting Co., Ltd (Weifang).\n(6) It is recalled that all four exporting producers received individual treatment (IT) during the NEPT investigation.\n(7) Two of the four above-mentioned exporting producers granted NEPT (XianXian and Weifang) submitted together with the CCCME formal offers to join the joint liability undertaking accepted by the Commission.\n(8) On 10 June 2009, the Commission, by a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union\n\u00a0(8), initiated a partial interim review of the definitive measures. The review is limited in scope to the examination of the form of the measures and in particular to the examination of the acceptability and workability of undertakings offered by exporting producers in the PRC.\n(9) After the initiation of the partial interim review of the measures, yet another exporting producer granted NEPT, HanDan, submitted within the deadline, together with the CCCME a formal offer to join the joint liability undertaking accepted by the Commission.\n(10) Another exporting producer granted NEPT, Norlong, submitted that it does not wish to adhere to the joint undertaking accepted by the Commission, but offered, within the deadline, a separate undertaking.\n(11) On 15 December 2009, the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to accept the offers to join the joint price undertaking submitted by CCCME and HanDan, by CCCME and XianXian and by CCCME and Weifang and to reject the undertaking offered by Norlong were disclosed to interested parties. They were given the opportunity to comment. Their comments have been assessed before taking a final decision.\nB.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0UNDERTAKING OFFERS\n(12) With regard to the undertaking offer submitted by CCCME together with Handan, XianXian and Weifang, it is noted that they are identical to the collective undertaking offer accepted by Decision 2006/109/EC and thus the CCCME and the three exporting producers undertake to ensure that the product concerned is exported at or above a minimum import price (MIP) set at a level that eliminates the injurious effect of dumping. It is recalled that the undertaking includes the indexation of the minimum import price of the product concerned in accordance with public international quotations for its main raw material, i.e. pig iron, given that casting prices vary significantly depending on the prices of pig iron.\n(13) In addition, a further investigation showed that there are no company specific reasons that would call for a refusal of the offer submitted by CCCME together with HanDan, XianXian and Weifang. In view of the foregoing, and as the companies received an individual duty rate, the Commission considers that it can accept the undertaking offer made by CCCME and the exporting producers.\n(14) Moreover, the regular and detailed reports which the CCCME and the companies undertake to provide to the Commission will allow effective monitoring. It is, therefore, considered that the risk of circumventing the undertaking is limited.\n(15) With regard to the separate undertaking offered by Norlong, it should be recalled that the original undertaking accepted by Decision 2006/109/EC was a joint liability undertaking of 20 companies together with the CCCME. The fact that it was offered as a joint undertaking contributed in a decisive manner to its acceptability by the Commission given that it increased the practicability and improved the control of the respect of the obligations deriving from the undertaking, all of this being necessary in view of the great number of exporting producers involved.\n(16) Norlong argued that the Commission had already accepted in the past at least one individual undertaking from a company which had not been granted market economy treatment (MET) but only individual treatment\u00a0(9), as is the case of Norlong. However, it should be emphasized that the situation in the case referred to by Norlong is different from the situation in the original undertaking accepted by Decision 2006/109/EC: in the case referred to by Norlong, only one undertaking offer of one exporting producer was finally accepted. It should also be recalled that that undertaking was subsequently withdrawn by the Commission because of numerous breaches found, including cross-compensation schemes\u00a0(10).\n(17) In the case of the undertaking accepted by Decision 2006/109/EC, the specificity of the situation, i.e. the great number of companies which exceeds 20, requires a particular set-up for a special control and monitoring. Norlong did not bring forward any relevant argument suggesting that it was in a different situation as the other companies part of the joint undertaking or justifying that the Commission should treat Norlong in a different way than the other companies that are part to the joint undertaking. Moreover, Norlong\u2019s offer would imply a duplication of efforts of the Commission\u2019s control and monitoring system. Since it would not be practicable and cost-effective for the Commission to control the respect of the obligations deriving from Norlong\u2019s individual undertaking offer, the Commission considers that it cannot accept the separate undertaking offer made by Norlong.\n(18) The Union industry objected to the undertaking offer submitted by CCCME together with HanDan, XianXian and Weifang, arguing that the MIP would be too low to protect the European industry from the effect of dumped imports and that the Union industry is suffering further injury. As regards the level of the MIP, it should be noted that anti-dumping duties were imposed at the level of the dumping margins found which were lower than the injury margins. Therefore, the MIP was also set on the normal value and thus eliminates merely the dumping established, in conformity with the principle of the lesser duty rule set out in Article 8(1) of the basic Regulation.\n(19) The Union industry further argued that, despite the imposition of anti-dumping measures, the market share of Chinese exporters increased since the original investigation period\u00a0(11). The Union industry claimed that this was due to an increase in exports from China combined with a sharp drop in Union consumption. However, no conclusive evidence with regard to the alleged sharp drop in consumption was submitted. Moreover, from the statistics available\u00a0(12), it appears that dumped imports have decreased by 14\u00a0% since the original investigation period.\n(20) In view of the above, none of the reasons put forward by the Union industry could alter the conclusion that the undertaking offer submitted by CCCME together with HanDan, Weifang and XianXian should be accepted.\n(21) In order to enable the Commission to monitor effectively the companies\u2019 compliance with the undertaking, when the request for release into free circulation is presented to the relevant customs authority, exemption from the anti-dumping duty will be conditional upon (i) the presentation of an undertaking invoice containing at least the elements listed in the Annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 268/2006\u00a0(13); (ii) the fact that imported goods are manufactured, shipped and invoiced directly by the said company to the first independent customer in the Union; and (iii) the fact that the goods declared and presented to customs correspond precisely to the description on the undertaking invoice. Where no such invoice is presented, or when it does not correspond to the product presented to customs, the appropriate rate of anti-dumping duty shall instead be payable.\n(22) To further ensure the respect of the undertaking, importers have been made aware by Regulation (EC) No 268/2006 that the non-fulfilment of the conditions provided for by that Regulation, or the withdrawal by the Commission of the acceptance of the undertaking, may lead to a customs debt being incurred for the relevant transactions.\n(23) In the event of a breach or withdrawal of the undertaking or in case of withdrawal of acceptance of the undertaking by the Commission, the anti-dumping duty imposed in accordance with Article 9(4) of the basic Regulation shall automatically apply pursuant to Article 8(9) of the basic Regulation.\n(24) In view of the above, the undertaking offered by Norlong should be rejected. The offer submitted by CCCME and HanDan, by CCCME and XianXian and by CCCME and Weifang to join the joint price undertaking as accepted by Decision 2006/109/EC should be accepted, and Article 1 of Decision 2006/109/EC should be amended accordingly,\nThe undertaking offered in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain castings originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China by: (i) the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronics Products (CCCME) and HanDan County Yan Yuan Smelting and Casting Co., Ltd; (ii) CCCME and XianXian Guozhuang Precision Casting Co. Ltd; and (iii) CCCME and Weifang Stable Casting Co., Ltd is hereby accepted.\nThe table of Article 1 in Decision 2006/109/EC as amended by Decision 2008/437/EC is replaced by the following table:\nCompany Taric Additional Code\nBeijing Tongzhou Dadusche Foundry Factory, East of Dongtianyang Village, Dadushe, Tongzhou Beijing A708\nBotou City Simencun Town Bai Fo Tang Casting Factory, Bai Fo Tang Village, Si Men Cun Town, Bo Tou City, 062159, Hebei Province A681\nBotou City Wangwu Town Tianlong Casting Factory, Changle Village, Wangwu Town, Botou City, Hebei Province A709\nChangan Cast Limited Company of Yixian Hebei, Taiyuan main street, Yi County, Hebei Province, 074200 A683\nChangsha Jinlong Foundry Industry Co., Ltd, 260, Jinchang Road, JinJing Town, Changsha, Hunan A710\nChangsha Lianhu Foundry, Lianhu Village, Yuhuating Town, Yuhua District, Changsha, Hunan A711\nManufactured and sold by GB Metal Products Co., Ltd, Zhuanlu Town, Dingzhou, Hebei or manufactured by GB Metal Products Co., Ltd, Zhuanlu Town, Dingzhou, Hebei and sold by its related sales company GB International Trading Shanghai Co Ltd, B301-310 Yinhai Building., 250 Cao Xi Road., Shanghai A712\nGuiyang Bada Foundry Co., Ltd, Mengguan Huaxi Guiyang, Guizhou A713\nHebei Jize Xian Ma Gang Cast Factory, Nankai District. Xiao Zhai Town, Jize County, Handan City, Hebei A714\nManufactured and sold by Hebei Shunda Foundry Co., Ltd, Qufu Road, Quyang, 073100, PRC or manufactured by Hebei Shunda Foundry Co., Ltd, Qufu Road, Quyang, 073100, PRC and sold by its related sales company Success Cast Tech-Ltd, 603A Huimei Business Centre 83 Guangzhou Dadao(s), Guangzhou 510300 A715\nHong Guang Handan Cast Foundry Co., Ltd, Nankai District, Xiao Zhai Town, Handou City, Jize County, Hebei A716\nQingdao Qitao Casting Co., Ltd, Nan Wang Jia Zhuang Village, Da Xin Town, Jimo City, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266200 A718\nShandong Huijin Stock Co., Ltd, North of Kouzhen Town, Laiwu City, Shandong Province, 271114 A684\nShahe City Fangyuan Casting Co., Ltd, West of Nango Village, Shiliting Town, Shahe City, Hebei Province A719\nShanxi Yuansheng Casting and Forging Industrial Co. Ltd, No 8 DiZangAn, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030002 A680\nTianjin Fu Xing Da Casting Co., Ltd, West of Nan Yang Cun Village, Jin Nan District, 300350, Tianjin A720\nWeifang Jianhua Casting Co., Ltd, Kai Yuan Jie Dao Office, Hanting District, Weifang City, Shandong Province A721\nZibo City Boshan Guangyuan Casting Machinery Factory, Xiangyang Village, Badou Town, Boshan District, Zibo City Shandong Province A722\nZibo Dehua Machinery Co., Ltd, North of Lanyan Street, Zibo High-tech Developing Zone A723\nHanDan County Yan Yuan Smelting and Casting Co., Ltd, South of Hu Cun Village, Hu Cun Town, Han Dan County, Hebei, 056105 A871\nXianXian Guozhuang Precision Casting Co., Ltd, Guli Village, Xian County, Gouzhuang, Hebei, Cangzhou 062250 A869\nWeifang Stable Casting Co., Ltd, Fangzi District, Weifang City, Shandong Province, 261202 A931\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "import" ], "distractor groups": [ "animal feedingstuffs", "child care", "Association of Caribbean States", "semi-metal", "institutional balance (EU)", "apartheid", "lighting" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2007/68/EC of 27 November 2007 amending Annex IIIa to Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain food ingredients (Text with EEA relevance)\n28.11.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 310/11\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2007/68/EC\nof 27 November 2007\namending Annex IIIa to Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain food ingredients\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs\u00a0(1), and in particular third subparagraph of Article 6(11) and Article 21 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Annex IIIa to Directive 2000/13/EC establishes a list of food ingredients which must be indicated on the label of foodstuffs as they are likely to cause adverse reactions in susceptible individuals.\n(2) Directive 2000/13/EC provides for the possibility of excluding from the labelling requirement ingredients or substances derived from ingredients listed in Annex IIIa for which it has been scientifically established that they are not likely, under specific circumstances, to trigger adverse reactions.\n(3) Commission Directive 2005/26/EC\u00a0(2) establishes the list of food ingredients or substances provisionally excluded from the labelling requirement until the 25 November 2007.\n(4) A number of applications for permanent exemption from the labelling requirement have been submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Those applications concern substances for which provisional exemptions were granted by Directive 2005/26/EC. On the basis of the EFSA opinions and other available information, it can be concluded that certain ingredients or substances derived from those ingredients listed in Annex IIIa to Directive 2000/13/EC are not likely, under specific circumstances, to cause adverse reactions in susceptible individuals.\n(5) Those ingredients or substances derived from those ingredients should therefore be permanently excluded from Annex IIIa to Directive 2000/13/EC.\n(6) Annex IIIa of Directive 2000/13/EC should be amended accordingly.\n(7) Directive 2005/26/EC should be repealed on 26 November 2007 in view of the deadline set by Article 6(11), second subparagraph of Directive 2000/13/EC.\n(8) In order to avoid disruption of the market, it is necessary for this Directive to apply from the 26 November 2007.\n(9) It was expected that this Directive could be adopted and published well in advance of the date of 26 November 2007 in order to give time to the industry to adapt to the new rules. Since this has not been possible in practice, temporary measures appear therefore necessary to facilitate the application of the new rules. Indeed changes in labelling rules will affect industry, mainly small and medium enterprises, which need an adaptation period to smooth the transition towards new labelling requirements.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAnnex IIIa to Directive 2000/13/EC is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Directive as from 26 November 2007.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 May 2008 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nDirective 2005/26/EC shall be repealed on 26 November 2007.\nMember States shall allow foodstuffs placed on the market or labelled before 31 May 2009 that comply with the provisions of Directive 2005/26/EC to be marketed until stocks are exhausted.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing" ], "distractor groups": [ "Indonesia", "monopoly", "ACP-EU Joint Assembly", "national parliament", "combat vehicle", "fresh vegetable", "Fascism", "Saudi Arabia", "political power", "tunnel" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 802/98 of 16 April 1998 initiating a 'new exporter' review of Council Regulation (EC) No 1950/97 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of sacks and bags made of polyethylene or polypropylene originating, inter alia, in India, repealing the duty with regard to imports from four exporters in this country and making these imports subject to registration\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 802/98 of 16 April 1998 initiating a 'new exporter` review of Council Regulation (EC) No 1950/97 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of sacks and bags made of polyethylene or polypropylene originating, inter alia, in India, repealing the duty with regard to imports from four exporters in this country and making these imports subject to registration\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2331/96 (2), and in particular Article 11(4) thereof,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA. REQUEST FOR A REVIEW\n(1) The Commission has received applications for a 'new exporter` review pursuant to Article 11(4) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Basic Regulation`). The applications were lodged by Hyderabad Polymers Pvt. Ltd, Pithampur Poly Products Ltd, Sangam Cirfab Pvt. Ltd, and Synthetic Fibres (Mysore) Pvt. Ltd, four exporters in India which claim they did not export the product concerned during the period of investigation on which the anti-dumping measures were based, i.e. the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 (hereinafter referred to as 'the original investigation period`).\nB. PRODUCT\n(2) The product concerned is woven sacks and bags of a kind used for packaging of goods, not knitted or crocheted, obtained from a polyethylene or polypropylene strip or the like of woven fabrics weighing 120 gr/m2 or less. The product described falls within CN codes 6305 32 81, 6305 33 91, ex 3923 21 00, ex 3923 29 10 and ex 3923 29 90. These codes are given for information.\nC. EXISTING MEASURES\n(3) By Regulation (EC) No 1950/97 (3) the Council imposed, inter alia, a definitive anti-dumping duty of 36,0 % on imports of the product concerned originating in India, with the exception of several companies especially mentioned which are subject to a lesser duty.\nD. GROUNDS FOR THE REVIEW\n(4) The applicants, Hyderabad Polymers Pvt. Ltd, Pithampur Poly Products Ltd, Sangam Cirfab Pvt. Ltd, and Synthetic Fibres (Mysore) Pvt. Ltd, India, have shown that they are not related to any of the exporting producers in India which are subject to the afore-mentioned anti-dumping measures on the product concerned, and that they started exporting to the Community after the original investigation period.\n(5) Community producers known to be concerned have been informed of the above application and have been given an opportunity to comment.\n(6) In the light of the above, the Commission concludes that there is sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a review pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Basic Regulation with a view to determining the applicants' individual margins of dumping and, should dumping be found, the level of duty to which their imports of the product concerned into the Community should be subject.\nE. REPEAL OF THE DUTY IN FORCE AND REGISTRATION OF IMPORTS\n(7) Pursuant to Article 11(4) of the Basic Regulation, the anti-dumping duty in force should be repealed with regard to imports of the product concerned originating in India which are produced and sold for export to the Community by the applicants. At the same time, such imports should be made subject to registration in accordance with Article 14(5) of that Regulation, in order to ensure that, should the review result in a determination of dumping in respect of the applicants, anti-dumping duties can be levied retroactively from the date of the initiation of this review. The amount of the applicant's possible future liabilities cannot be estimated at this stage of the proceeding.\nF. TIME LIMIT\n(8) In the interest of sound administration, a period should be fixed within which interested parties, provided they can show that they are likely to be affected by the results of the investigation, may make their views known in writing and submit supporting evidence. A period should also be fixed within which interested parties may make a written request for a hearing and show that there are particular reasons why they should be heard.\nG. NON-COOPERATION\n(9) It should be noted that in cases in which any interested party refuses access to, or otherwise does not provide, necessary information within the relevant time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, findings, affirmative or negative, may be made in accordance with Article 18 of the Basic Regulation, on the basis of the facts available,\nA review of Regulation (EC) No 1950/97 is hereby initiated in order to determine if and to what extent imports of sacks and bags made of polyethylene or polypropylene falling within CN codes 6305 32 81, 6305 33 91, ex 3923 21 00 (3923 21 00*10), ex 3923 29 10 (3923 29 10*10) and ex 3923 29 90 (3923 29 90*10), originating in India, produced and sold for export to the Community by Hyderabad Polymers Pvt. Ltd (TARIC additional code: 8106), Pithampur Poly Products Ltd (TARIC additional code: 8155), Sangam Cirfab Pvt. Ltd (TARIC additional code: 8156) and Synthetic Fibres (Mysore) Pvt. Ltd, India (TARIC additional code: 8157), should be subject to the anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 1950/97.\nThe anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 1950/97 is hereby repealed with regard to imports of the product identified in Article 1 (TARIC additional code: 8900).\nThe customs authorities are hereby directed, pursuant to Article 14(5) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96, to take the appropriate steps to register the imports identified in Article 1. Registration shall expire nine months following the date of entry into force of this Regulation.\nInterested parties, if their representations are to be taken into account during the investigation, must make themselves known, present their views in writing and submit information within 37 days from the date of transmission of this Regulation to the authorities of the exporting country. Interested parties may also apply to be heard by the Commission within the same time limit. The transmission of a copy of this Regulation to the authorities of the exporting country shall be deemed to have taken place on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nAny information relating to the matter and any request for a hearing should be sent to the following address:\nEuropean Commission,\nDirectorate-General for External Relations: Commercial Policy and Relations with North America, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand,\nDM-24 8/38,\nRue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200,\nB-1049 Brussels;\nFax: (322) 295 65 05,\nTelex: COMEU B 21877.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "originating product" ], "distractor groups": [ "expansion card", "work schedule", "maritime transport", "harmonisation of standards", "Protocol (EU)", "infringement of EU law", "European election", "Council of Ministers", "social problem" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 297/2010 of 9 April 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 supplementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security (Text with EEA relevance)\n10.4.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 90/1\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 297/2010\nof 9 April 2010\namending Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 supplementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation security and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2320/2002\u00a0(1) and in particular Article 4(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) General measures supplementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security should be adopted in the field of screening, access control and other security controls as well as in the field of prohibited articles, third country recognition of equivalence, staff recruitment, training, special security procedures and exemptions from security controls.\n(2) These general measures are necessary in order to achieve a common level of aviation security within the European Union to protect the travelling public from acts of unlawful interference. One-stop security is the main facilitating element offered by EU legislation. Therefore the harmonisation of screening methods is essential in order to maintain one-stop security within the EU including controls of liquids, aerosols and gels without impeding the benefits of the Single aviation market for EU citizens.\n(3) The Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 of 2 April 2009 supplementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security laid down in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(2), details in its Part A.3 the methods of screening allowed for baggage, cargo and mail which is to be loaded into the hold of an aircraft. It is necessary from time to time to make provision for additional methods of screening shown to be effective for screening some or all types of cargo and to provide a legal basis for the development of detailed implementing measures. Metal detection equipment is considered to be an effective screening method for some types of cargo.\n(4) Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 does not provide for liquids, aerosols and gels to be considered as a category of articles that may be prohibited from introduction into security restricted areas and on board an aircraft. Instead Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 requires methods, including technologies, for detection of liquid explosives to be deployed on an EU-wide basis at airports as swiftly as possible, but no later than 29 April 2010.\n(5) It is now time to put an end to the restrictions on liquids, aerosols and gels, moving progressively from banning most liquids to a system of screening for liquid explosives. To this end, transitional arrangements beyond April 2010 are required to phase-in the deployment of detection methods, including technologies, at all EU airports without compromising aviation security. The concerns of the law enforcement community, aimed at preventing possible terrorist threats in the future, require an effective mechanism in place until airports are in a position to install reliable detection equipment. Therefore a new approach is needed. This should be achieved by 29 April 2013, the date by which all airports should have the capability to screen liquids, aerosols and gels.\n(6) However, such an approach should not prevent airports from deploying and using equipment at an earlier date, provided that the equipment meets the standards set by the implementing legislation adopted by the Commission. This way, airports would be able to facilitate the carriage of liquids, aerosols and gels by departing passengers by deploying, for example, screening equipment for liquid explosives at one security check lane. Furthermore, some airports may choose to install advanced equipment more quickly.\n(7) Given the need for flexibility on how to operate security measures at airports the common basic standards on civil aviation security remain strictly technology neutral. Member States and airports may choose the technologies to be deployed and operated most effectively and efficiently at airports from the available options listed in Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 amended herewith.\n(8) Operating screening equipment capable of detecting liquid explosives requires airports or other entities responsible for aviation security to procure and deploy equipment proven to comply with the technical standards adopted pursuant to Article 4(3) of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008. Member States should ensure that all regulatory requirements are in place to allow such equipment to be deployed in time to meet the deadlines referred to in this Regulation.\n(9) During the transitional period, passengers should be clearly informed of the EU airports applying liquid screening. Airports and airlines should cooperate to ensure that confiscation of liquids, aerosols and gels remains a means of last resort.\n(10) The general measures provided for by Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 should be amended to introduce rules allowing metal detection equipment to be used for the screening of hold baggage, cargo and mail, where appropriate and authorising phasing-in arrangements for liquids, aerosols and gels to be brought into the security restricted area or on board an aircraft to apply for a limited period of time, in order not to compromise standards of security.\n(11) Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(12) Developments of technological or regulatory nature both at EU and international level may affect the dates laid down in this Regulation. Where appropriate, the Commission may make proposals for revision, in particular taking into account the operability of equipment and passenger facilitation.\n(13) Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 shall apply in full as from the date specified in the implementing rules adopted in accordance with the procedures referred to in Article 4(2) and 4(3) of that Regulation but not later than 29 April 2010. This Regulation should therefore apply as from 29 April 2010 together with Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 and its supplementing and implementing acts.\n(14) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Civil Aviation Security set up by Article 19(1) of Regulation (EC) No 300/2008,\nThe Annex to Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 29 April 2010.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "air safety" ], "distractor groups": [ "economic concentration", "slaughtered poultry", "industrial economy", "local budget", "blue-collar worker", "animal health", "Severoiztochen (Bulgaria)", "extremist party", "contract of carriage" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2001/97/EC: Commission Decision of 23 January 2001 terminating the examination procedure concerning measures affecting the trade of cognac in Brazil (notified under document number C(2001) 129)\nCommission Decision\nof 23 January 2001\nterminating the examination procedure concerning measures affecting the trade of cognac in Brazil\n(notified under document number C(2001) 129)\n(2001/97/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3286/94 of 22 December 1994 laying down Community procedures in the field of the common commercial policy in order to ensure the exercise of the Community's rights under international trade rules, in particular those established under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation(1), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 356/95(2), and in particular Articles 11(1) thereof,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND\n(1) On 17 February 1997 the Bureau national interprofessionnel du cognac (hereinafter BNIC) lodged a complaint under Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 3286/94 (hereinafter \"the Regulation\") on behalf of those of its members which export to Brazil or wish to do so.\n(2) The complainant alleged that Community sales of cognac in Brazil were hindered by three obstacles to trade within the meaning of Article 2(1) of the Regulation, i.e. \"a practice adopted or maintained by a third country and in respect of which international trade rules establish a right of action\". The alleged obstacles to trade were the following.\n(i) Lack of protection of the cognac appellation of origin (AOC) and discrimination vis-\u00e0-vis other foreign and local geographical indications: the complainant alleged that the Brazilian legislation allowed Brazilian brandy and other types of spirits to be called cognac or conhaque, these being the terms officially and commercially used to define such spirits, regardless of their geographical origin. It was claimed that this practice was in breach of several provisions of the WTO Agreement in trade related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPs); ot the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (Paris Convention); of the Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False or Deceptive Indications of Source of Goods (Madrid Agreement) as well as of the 1992 Framework Cooperation Agreement between the Community and Brazil (Framework Agreement).\n(ii) Excessive administrative requirements for import: the complainant claimed that the requirements for the marketing of cognac in Brazil, such as the cumbersome registration procedure and the compulsory visit of a Brazilian agronomist to the production site in France at the exporter's expense are largely excessive and unique so as to constitute a disguised restriction to trade. It was claimed that these measures violate Articles III and VIII of GATT 1994 and to Articles 1 and 2 of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS).\n(iii) Discriminatory taxation: BNIC complained that the rate of tax on industrial products discriminates against Cognac vis-\u00e0-vis locally produced spirits. It was alleged that cognac is ex officio classified in the most heavily taxed category, while local spirits are never classified in that category. According to the complainant, this would be a breach of Article III.1 and III.2 of GATT 1994.\n(3) The complainant also claimed that these practices were causing adverse trade effects within the meaning of Article 2(4) of the Regulation and that they were in danger of being more adversely affected in the near future, as they blocked the access of cognac to the Brazilian market, which represent an important export market to an industry which is substantially export oriented.\n(4) The Commission decided therefore, after consultation of the Advisory Committee established by the Regulation, that there was sufficient evidence to justify initiating an examination procedure for the purpose of considering the legal and factual issues involved. Consequently, an examination procedure was initiated on 2 April 1997(3).\nB. THE FINDINGS OF THE EXAMINATION PROCEDURE\n(5) On the lack of protection of the cognac AOC, the investigation confirmed the complainant's allegation that the cognac AOC was not protected and that the term conhaque was used to define locally produced spirits. According to the Brazilian laws regulating the market of alcoholic drinks(4), the term defines two kind of spirits, very different from each other: vine spirits or brandy (called conhaque or conhaque fino according to the length of the ageing process) and sugar cane spirits with different flavourings (conhaque de... according to the flavour added).\n(6) Consequently, the alleged violations of the Framework Agreement as well as of the Madrid Agreement to the Paris Convention were confirmed. It should be noted that, at the time the investigation was carried out, Brazil was entitled, as a developing country according to Article 65.2 of the TRIP Agreement, to delay the implementation of, inter alia, Articles 22 to 24 of the TRIP Agreement until 1 January 2000. The compliance of the measures under examination with these provisions was therefore not examined at that stage.\n(7) It was also confirmed that the lack of protection misleads consumers, so damaging the brand image of cognac; it therefore adversely affects trade of cognac in favour of Brazilian producers of spirits using the same name, cognac or conhaque.\n(8) The excessive administrative requirements and the discriminatory taxation were confirmed by the investigation, but they were not found to have a material impact on the trade of cognac; it was therefore decided not to pursue these issues.\nC. DEVELOPMENTS AFTER THE END OF THE INVESTIGATION\n(9) In view of the entry into force of the TRIPs obligation on 1 January 2000, Brazil adopted Law No 9279 of 14 May 1996, known as Lei da propriedade industrial or LPI, which, among other things, introduced a register of geographical indications.\n(10) Pursuant to LPI and following bilateral contacts betweeen the Commission and the Brazilian authorities, BNIC applied for registration of the cognac geographical indication. The application was accepted and the cognac geographical indication was registered on 11 April 2000, after a delay due to the opposition of the Brazilian producers' association. The registration gave to the French producers exclusive rights to the use of the name cognac. Consequently, no registration of trademarks containing the word cognac is allowed and existing registered trademarks containing the word cognac will expire within five years from registration. Furthermore, the term cognac cannot be used as a generic name.\n(11) As regards the term conhaque, it remains, according to the Brazilian legislation on alcoholic drinks, a generic name as it was at the time of the investigation, and only as such it may be used, since, according to LPI, a generic name cannot be registered as a trademark. The geographical indication cognac will therefore have to coexist with the use of the generic term conhaque.\n(12) Since 1 January 2000, TRIPs has to be fully implemented by Brazil. The Commission services have therefore analysed the compliance with TRIPs of the present level of protection of the cognac AOC.\n(13) The analysis found that, being a geographical indication concerning a product of the vine, the cognac AOC, is covered by Article 23.1 TRIPs and as such has to be protected. As explained in recital 10, the registration of the cognac geographical indication entitles the A.O.C. to full protection in Brazil, and is therefore in accordance with Article 23.1.\n(14) It should be noted that the protection of Article 23.1 extends to translations of the original geographical indication; it should therefore also cover the Portuguese version of the word (conhaque). However, the use of the term conhaque is likely to be covered by the exceptions granted by Article 24.4 and 24.6 of the TRIPs Agreement. It was therefore concluded that the present level of protection accorded to the cognac AOC complies with the relevant provisions of TRIPs.\n(15) The coexistence of the protected geographical indication with the generic use of the Portuguese translation may still create some difficulties to the French exporters. However, the present Brazilian legal framework is likely to create, over time, a clear distinction in consumers' perception between cognac AOC and locally produced conhaque. The scope for consumers' confusion should therefore be substantially reduced, so creating a situation of fair competition on the Brazilian market and removing the adverse trade effects caused by the lack of protection.\n(16) As explained in recital 6, the investigation had found violations of the Paris Convention and of the Madrid Agreement. However, as the new situation created by the registration is expected to remove the unfair competition and the adverse trade effects, the issue will not be pursued further.\nD. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS\n(17) In view of the above analysis, it is considered that the examination procedure has led to a satisfactory situation with regard to the obstacles that faced the trade of cognac in Brazil as alleged in the complaint lodged by BNIC. The examination procedure should therefore be terminated.\n(18) Further protection of the geographical indication cognac against the generic name conhaque may be pursued, if appropriate, by negotiation in particular under Article 24.1 of the TRIPS Agreement,\nSole Article\nThe examination procedure concerning measures imposed by Brazil affecting the trade of cognac initiated on 2 April 1997 is hereby terminated.", "answer groups": [ "spirits" ], "distractor groups": [ "institutional cooperation", "export financing", "trade cooperation", "workers' stock ownership", "dissidence", "prices policy", "East Timor", "Province of Namur", "palm nut" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "90/86/EEC: Commission Decision of 22 February 1990 concerning applications for refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of light sodium carbonate originating in Bulgaria (Industrial Resinera Valcan, SA) (Only the Spanish text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 22 February 1990\nconcerning applications for refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of light sodium carbonate originating in Bulgaria (Industrial Resinera Valcan, SA)\n(Only the Spanish text is authentic)\n(90/86/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 16 thereof,\nWhereas:\nA. Procedure\n(1) On 1 February 1963 the Council adopted Regulation (EEC) No 273/83 (2) imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of light sodium carbonate originating in Bulgaria and other non-member countries. The rate of duty applied to imports of light sodium carbonate in bulk or bagged originating in Bulgaria was fixed as follows:\n- 14,09 % of the price per tonne net, free at Community frontier, before duty,\nor\n- the difference between the price per tonne net, free at Community frontier, before duty, and the sum of ECU 113,85,\nwhichever amount is the higher.\nThis duty was increased by ECU 9,50 per tonne net for imports in bags of a weight of less than 500 kg each.\n(2) On 25 August 1987 industrial Resinera Valcan, SA, of Cuenca (Spain) submitted an application of a refund of anti-dumping duties paid on the import, in May 1987, of 1 000 tonnes of light sodium carbonate in bags of less than 500 kg originating in Bulgaria. The duties amounted to a total of Ptas. . . (3).\n(3) It is clear from the original procedure that prices on the Austrian market had been used as the reference prices for determining the normal value (4). The applicant was not able to obtain the necessary information in that regard since it did not know the identity of the Austrian producer, which was not named in Regulation No 273/83. On being contacted by the Commission, the producer sent to the Commission information concerning prices on the Austrian market for the references period of six months preceding the import in question (5).\n(4) In accordance with the Notice, the applicant asked the Bulgarian exporter for information relating to export prices for the other consignments made by the Bulgarian exporter to the Community during\nthe reference period. The applicant received no reply, so the Commission itself approached the exporter, also without success. All that is known is the export period paid by the applicant.\n(5) On 21 June 1988, in the course of examining the refund application, the Commission published a notice of initiation of a review of the anti-dumping measures imposed by Regulation (EEC) No 273/83 (1). Referring to point I (5) of the Notice, the Commission, with the agreement of the applicant, decided to suspend the refund procedure until publication of the results of the review (2).\nIt was established that for the period from 1 January 1987 to 31 May 1988 the dumping margin for imports originating in Bulgaria was 67 % and upwards (3). This margin was calculated on the basis of a normal value established by reference to prices on the Mexican market.\n(6) The Commission informed the applicant that its application did not appear to be justified and that it intended to reject it.\n(7) The applicant had the opportunity to submit its comments.\n(8) The Commission informed the Member States and gave its opinion on the matter. No Member State raised any objection.\nB. Argument of the applicant\n(9) The applicant argued in essence that the imports could not have been dumped because the price it paid was greater than a price invoiced in April 1986 by a Spanish producer for the same product. The Commission argued that the absence of information from the exporter concerning the prices of other consignments put into free circulation in the Community during the reference period prevented calculation at the Community level of the effective dumping margin, bearing in mind the application of weighted average. In reply, the applicant requested a specific review of its case, claiming that there may be exceptional cases justifying a departure from the general guidelines on refunds.\nC. Admissibility\n(10) The application is admissible in that it was introduced in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Community's anti-dumping legislation, in particular with regard to time-limits.\nD. Merits of the claim\n(11) The application must be rejected. Article 16 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 stipulates that the importer requesting the refund must show that the anti-dumping duty paid exceeds the effective dumping margin, bearing in mind the application of weighted averages. This has not been done, for the exporter has not provided information permitting a determination of all the export prices which could serve as a basis for calculating the effective dumping margin. Although the review procedure compensated for the absence of adequate evidence it should be stressed that it is independent of the refund procedure and that, in its absence, the refund application would have had to be rejected. Lastly, it should be noted that a refund can only be granted on the basis of a comparison of the anti-dumping duty paid for one or more imports and the dumping margin found for the representative period for the import(s) (the 'effective dumping margin'). This margin is calculated on the basis of the producer-exporter's normal value and the prices paid for all consignments from that source put into free circulation in the Community. As a result, the applicant's reference to the prices charged on the Spanish market by a European producer, which were, moreover, for a period which was not representative for the import in question, is immaterial.\n(12) The review procedure also specifically established that the effective dumping margin amounted to 67 % for the reference period in question. The review file showed that the margin was precisely that applicable to the six months preceding the import in question. The margin subsequently became even greater when other imports of products from the Bulgarian exporter put into free circulation in the Community were taken into account in relation to the total investigation period of 17 months used for the review. The effective dumping margin was therefore greater than the dumping margin originally found, which varied between 54 % and 63,5 % for Bulgaria (4).\nFor a refund to be granted it would have been necessary for the effective dumping margin to fall below 14,09 %, the rate of duty applied to the import in question. That is manifestly not the case.\n(13) The investigation also covered the question of whether the result would have been different if the reference used to establish the normal value had not been the Mexican market prices used in the\nreview but the Austrian market prices used in the original inquiry. It was found that in such a case the effective dumping margin would have been even greater than that mentioned above because the normal value would have been higher. The application for refund must therefore be rejected,\nThe application for the refund of anti-dumping duties submitted by industrial Resinera Valcan, SA is hereby rejected.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Spain and Industrial Resinera Valcan, SA, Carretera de Alc\u0e23\u0e01zar, Cuenca, Spain.", "answer groups": [ "Bulgaria" ], "distractor groups": [ "religious group", "Marshall Islands", "intergovernmental cooperation (EU)", "military discipline", "urban infrastructure", "liberal profession", "toy industry", "crowdfunding", "digital divide", "reintegration enterprise", "standard", "regional law" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2010/16/EU of 9 March 2010 amending Directive 2006/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the exclusion of a certain institution from the scope of application (Text with EEA relevance)\n10.3.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 60/15\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2010/16/EU\nof 9 March 2010\namending Directive 2006/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the exclusion of a certain institution from the scope of application\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 2006/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14\u00a0June 2006 relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions\u00a0(1), in particular Article 150(1)(d) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 2 of Directive 2006/48/EC lists those institutions explicitly excluded from the scope of application of that Directive.\n(2) The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia has requested the inclusion of SID-Slovenska izvozna in razvojna banka, d.d. Ljubljana (hereinafter referred to as \u2018SID Bank\u2019) in the list of institutions excluded from the scope of application of Directive 2006/48/EC laid down in Article 2 of that Directive.\n(3) SID Bank supports structural, social and other public policies of the Slovenian government, by providing financial services, counselling and education in areas such as international trade and international cooperation, economic incentives for small and medium enterprises, research and development, regional development and commercial and public infrastructures, among other things. The Republic of Slovenia is the sole shareholder of SID Bank and is also the guarantor of all the liabilities incurred by the bank.\n(4) SID Bank is an institution involved in specific activities in the public interest and therefore eligible for inclusion in the list of institutions excluded from the scope of application of Directive 2006/48/EC pursuant to Article 2 of that Directive.\n(5) Directive 2006/48/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the European Banking Committee,\nIn Article 2 of Directive 2006/48/EC, the following new indent is inserted after the 17th\u00a0indent:\n\u2018\u2014 in Slovenia, the \u201cSID-Slovenska izvozna in razvojna banka, d.d. Ljubljana\u201d\u00a0\u2019.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 30 June 2010 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1 July 2010.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "provision of services" ], "distractor groups": [ "EU Official Journal", "Alpine Region", "UN Industrial Development Organisation", "radio frequency identification", "organ transplant", "environmental standard", "domestic waste", "health control", "delivered price", "trade in organs", "examination" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a0427/2013 of 8\u00a0May 2013 concerning the authorisation of selenomethionine produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC R646 as a feed additive for all animal species and amending Regulations (EC) No\u00a01750/2006, (EC) No\u00a0634/2007 and (EC) No\u00a0900/2009 as regards the maximum supplementation with selenised yeast Text with EEA relevance\n9.5.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 127/20\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 427/2013\nof 8 May 2013\nconcerning the authorisation of selenomethionine produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC R646 as a feed additive for all animal species and amending Regulations (EC) No 1750/2006, (EC) No 634/2007 and (EC) No 900/2009 as regards the maximum supplementation with selenised yeast\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 9(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition and for the grounds and procedures for granting such authorisation.\n(2) In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, an application was submitted for the authorisation of selenomethionine produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC R646. That application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.\n(3) The application concerns the authorisation of selenomethionine, an organic compound of selenium, produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC R646 as a feed additive for all animal species, to be classified in the additive category \u2018nutritional additives\u2019.\n(4) The European Food Safety Authority (\u2018the Authority\u2019) concluded in its opinion of 15 June 2012\u00a0(2) that, under the proposed conditions of use, selenomethionine produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC R646 does not have an adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment and that its use may be considered as an effective source of selenium for all animal species. The Authority does not consider that there is a need for specific requirements of post-market monitoring. It also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additive in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.\n(5) The assessment of selenomethionine produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC R646 shows that the conditions for authorisation, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of this preparation should be authorised as specified in the Annex to this Regulation.\n(6) The Authority reiterated in its opinion mentioned above the recommendation from its opinion of 15 March 2011\u00a0(3) to limit the maximum supplementation with selenised yeast, an organic selenium compound, to 0,2\u00a0mg Se/kg complete feed for reasons of consumer safety. Selenised yeasts are already authorised by Commission Regulations (EC) No 1750/2006\u00a0(4), (EC) No 634/2007\u00a0(5) and (EC) No 900/2009\u00a0(6). Consequently, these authorisations should be amended in consistency with the Annex to this Regulation. In case inorganic compounds of selenium are also added to the feed, the supplementation with organic Selenium should not exceed 0,2\u00a0mg per kg complete feed.\n(7) Since further use of selenised yeasts as a feed additive at incorporation rates higher than 0,20\u00a0mg Se/kg complete feed may cause a risk to human health, feed materials and compound feed with higher levels of selenised yeasts should be phased out. For practical reasons however, a limited transitional period should be allowed for interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nThe preparation specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category \u2018nutritional additives\u2019 and to the functional group \u2018compounds of trace elements\u2019, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.\nIn column 9 in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1750/2006, the text in the line \u20183b8.10\u2019 shall be replaced by the following:\n\u20181. The additive shall be incorporated in feed in the form of a premixture.\n2. For user safety: breathing protection, safety glasses and gloves should be worn during handling.\n3. Maximum supplementation with organic selenium: 0,20\u00a0mg Se/kg of complete feed with a moisture content of 12\u00a0%.\u2019.\nIn column 9 in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 634/2007, the text in the line \u20183b8.11\u2019 shall be replaced by the following:\n\u20181. The additive shall be incorporated in feed in the form of a premixture.\n2. For user safety: breathing protection, safety glasses and gloves should be worn during handling.\n3. Maximum supplementation with organic selenium: 0,20\u00a0mg Se/kg of complete feed with a moisture content of 12\u00a0%.\u2019.\nIn column 9 in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 900/2009, the text in the line \u20183b8.12\u2019 shall be replaced by the following:\n\u20181. The additive shall be incorporated in feed in the form of a premixture.\n2. For user safety: breathing protection, safety glasses and gloves should be worn during handling.\n3. Maximum supplementation with organic selenium: 0,20\u00a0mg Se/kg of complete feed with a moisture content of 12\u00a0%.\u2019.\nThe manufacturing of feed containing selenised yeast according to the existing maximum contents in Regulations (EC) No 1750/2006, (EC) No 634/2007 and (EC) No 900/2009 shall be brought in compliance with the new maximum contents as soon as possible and at the latest by 28 July 2013. Feed containing selenised yeast according to the existing maximum contents in Regulations (EC) No 1750/2006, (EC) No 634/2007 and (EC) No 900/2009 may be used up until stocks are exhausted.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal feedingstuffs" ], "distractor groups": [ "Ulster-Donegal", "UN Security Council", "carriage for hire or reward", "fraud against the EU", "business name", "EU customs procedure", "ACP-EU institution", "data-processing law", "exclusive distribution agreement", "youth unemployment", "Cedefop" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2172/2003 of 12 December 2003 amending and correcting Regulation (EC) No 2273/2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 as regards the survey of prices of certain bovine animals on representative Community markets\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2172/2003\nof 12 December 2003\namending and correcting Regulation (EC) No 2273/2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 as regards the survey of prices of certain bovine animals on representative Community markets\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal(1), and in particular Article 41 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2273/2002(2) lays down provisions on the recording of prices on the representative markets of the Member States for various categories of bovine animals. Detailed rules on the information to be provided for the price survey for each of these categories are provided in the Annexes to that Regulation.\n(2) On the request of the Member States concerned, Annexes I, II and III to Regulation (EC) No 2273/2002 should be partly revised in the light of how marketing and the size of the cattle population in the Member States develop.\n(3) In the light of experience, it would moreover appear that Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2273/2002 contains an error.\n(4) Regulation (EC) No 2273/2002 should therefore be amended and corrected accordingly.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\nRegulation (EC) No 2273/2002 is amended as follows:\n1. in Annex I, part G, point 2 is replaced by the following:\n\"2. Qualities and coefficients\n>TABLE>\"\n2. in Annex I, part H, point 2 is replaced by the following:\n\"2. Qualities and coefficients\n>TABLE>\"\n3. In Annex II, part F, point 2 is replaced by the following:\n\"2. Qualities and coefficients\n>TABLE>\"\n4. in Annex III, part B, point 2 is replaced by the following:\n\"2. Qualities\nVeaux blancs, moyenne des types commerciaux 'extra', 'blanc bleu', 'pie rouge' et 'pie noire'\".\nIn Annex II, part C, to Regulation (EC) No 2273/2002, point 2 is corrected as follows:\n\"2. Qualities and coefficients\n>TABLE>\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply to the communications referred to in Articles 1(3), 2(3) and 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2273/2002 transmitted as of 8 January 2004.\nshall apply from 1 January 2003.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fixing of prices" ], "distractor groups": [ "regions of Poland", "public contract", "thermal equipment", "Koro\u0161ka", "agricultural waste", "single-ballot system", "revision of the Treaty (EU)", "nuclear law", "industrial property", "workers' stock ownership", "EU employment policy" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "94/90/ECSC, EC, Euratom: Commission Decision of 8 February 1994 on public access to Commission documents\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 8 February 1994 on public access to Commission documents (94/90/ECSC, EC, Euratom)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaties establishing the European Communities, and in particular Article 162 of the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nWhereas, in accordance with the Declaration on the right of access to information annexed to the Final Act of the Treaty on European Union and with the conclusions of the Birmingham and Edinburgh European Councils on bringing the Community closer to its citizens, a code of conduct setting out the principles governing access to Commission and Council documents should be agreed upon with the Council;\nWhereas these principles are based on the Commission's papers on public access to the institutions' documents of 5 May 1993 and openness in the Community of 2 June 1993;\nWhereas specific provisions need to be adopted whereby the Commission can give effect to the code,\nThe code of conduct on public access to Commission documents set out in the Annex is adopted.\nIn order to ensure that effect is given to the code referred to in Article 1, the following measures are adopted:\n1. All applications for access to documents shall be made in writing to the relevant Commission department at its headquarters, Commission Offices in the Member States or Commission Delegations in non-member countries.\n2. The relevant Director-General or Head of Department, the Director designated for the purpose in the Secretariat-General or an official acting on their behalf shall inform the applicant in writing, within one month, whether the application is granted or whether he intends to refuse access. In the latter case the applicant shall also be notified that he has one month in which to apply to the Secretary-General of the Commission for review of the intention to refuse access, failing which he shall be deemed to have withdrawn his initial application.\n3. The President shall be empowered to decide on applications for review in agreement with the relevant Member of the Commission. He may delegate this authority to the Secretary-General.\n4. Failure to reply to an application for access to a document within one month of application being made constitutes an intention to refuse access.\nFailure to reply within one month of an application for review being made constitutes a refusal.\n5. A fee of ECU 10, plus ECU 0.036 per sheet of paper, shall be charged for copies of printed documents exceeding 30 pages. Charges for information in other formats shall be set on a case-by-case basis but shall not exceed what is reasonable.\n6. If an applicant wishes to consult a document on Commission premises, the relevant department shall try to make arrangements to accommodate him. Where the department is unable to provide appropriate facilities, the documents shall be consulted in either of the Commission's central libraries in Brussels and Luxembourg in any of the Commission's Offices in the Member States or in any of its Delegations in non-member countries.\nThis Decision will take effect from 15 February 1994. It will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.", "answer groups": [ "right to information" ], "distractor groups": [ "demerger", "ASEAN countries", "commercial education", "sexual freedom", "Community method", "restoration of customs duties", "terminology", "building slab", "natural rubber" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2002/50/EC of 6 June 2002 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 1999/36/EC on transportable pressure equipment (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Directive 2002/50/EC\nof 6 June 2002\nadapting to technical progress Council Directive 1999/36/EC on transportable pressure equipment\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 1999/36/EC of 29 April 1999 on transportable pressure equipment(1), and in particular Article 14 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Directive 2001/2/EC(2) has amended the certification procedures provided for in Directive 1999/36/EC as regards the combination of the modules to be followed for the conformity assessment of new receptacles and new tanks.\n(2) Those modules should be changed in order to ensure better coherence between them.\n(3) Annex IV to Directive 1999/36/EC should, therefore, be amended accordingly.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on transport of dangerous goods,\nIn Annex IV Part I, in module D, point 1, first sentence, point 3.1, second subparagraph, third indent and point 3.2, first subparagraph, the words \"EC type-examination certificate\" are replaced by the words \"EC type-examination certificate or EC design-examination certificate\".\nMember States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 1 January 2003. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EC conformity marking" ], "distractor groups": [ "soil conditioning", "research", "agricultural sector representative body", "credit policy", "Libya", "eligibility criteria", "traceability", "bio-industry", "historic site" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2002/48/EC of 30 May 2002 amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include iprovalicarb, prosulfuron and sulfosulfuron as active substances\nCommission Directive 2002/48/EC\nof 30 May 2002\namending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include iprovalicarb, prosulfuron and sulfosulfuron as active substances\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market(1), as last amended by Commission Directive 2002/37/EC(2), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Article 6(2) of Directive 91/414/EEC, Ireland received on 30 March 1998 an application from Bayer AG for the inclusion of the active substance iprovalicarb in Annex I to the Directive. By Commission Decision 98/512/EC(3) it was confirmed that the dossier was \"complete\" in the sense that it could be considered as satisfying, in principle, the data and information requirements laid down in Annexes II and III to Directive 91/414/EEC.\n(2) France received a similar application on 14 May 1995 from Novartis, now Syngenta, concerning prosulfuron. This application was declared complete by Commission Decision 97/137/EC(4).\n(3) Ireland received a similar application on 24 April 1997 from Monsanto concerning sulfosulfuron. This application was declared complete by Commission Decision 97/865/EC(5).\n(4) For these three active substances, the effects on human health and the environment have been assessed, in accordance with Article 6(2) and (4) of Directive 91/414/EEC, for the uses proposed by the applicant. The nominated rapporteur Member States submitted draft assessment reports concerning the substances to the Commission on 4 November 1999 (iprovalicarb), 18 January 1999 (prosulfuron), and 2 April 1998 (sulfosulfuron), respectively.\n(5) The draft assessment reports have been reviewed by the Member States and the Commission within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. The reviews were finalised on 26 February 2002 in the format of the Commission review reports for iprovalicarb, prosulfuron and sulfosulfuron.\n(6) The dossier and the information from each of the reviews were submitted to the Scientific Committee for Plants. As regards iprovalicarb, the Committee was asked to comment on the acceptability of the risk of metabolite PMPA on earthworms and on the relevance to humans of tumours which were observed in rats after lifetime exposure to high doses. In two opinions(6)(7), the Committee identified the need for further data on earthworms, which were subsequently provided and assessed, and concluded that concerning the effects observed in rats sufficient safety margins exist to ensure protection of consumers and operators. The observations of the Scientific Committee were taken into consideration in formulating this Directive and the relevant review report.\n(7) With respect to prosulfuron, the Committee was asked to comment on the acceptability of the risk of two breakdown products of the active substance to sediment dwelling organisms and on possible hormonal disruption effects observed in test animals. In its opinion(8) the Committee concluded that certain uterine and mammary changes, which were observed in rats after lifetime exposure are not considered relevant for human risk assessment of prosulfuron in the context of its intended uses. The Committee further commented that risks of the two breakdown products to sediment-dwelling species were not yet adequately assessed and noted that other persistent metabolites are formed in significant quantities in sediment-water tests which also did not appear to have been assessed. The pending information and assessments were subsequently provided and the observations of the Scientific Committee were taken into consideration in formulating this Directive and the relevant review report.\n(8) With respect to sulfosulfuron the Committee was asked for its opinion on the occurrence of bladder tumours in the 18 months mouse study; to consider whether it would be appropriate to establish an acute reference dose for sulfosulfuron; to confirm that a sub-lethal study for earthworms is unnecessary, notwithstanding the persistence of the soil metabolites. In its opinion(9) the Committee considered that the lesions observed in mice do not predict a carcinogenic hazard to humans and saw no need to establish an acute reference dose. It was further concluded that no significant long term risks to earthworms are likely to arise. The Committee further highlighted the need to assess the potential environmental impact of three unidentified metabolites. This information was subsequently provided and the requested assessments were made.\n(9) It has appeared from the various examinations made that plant protection products containing the active substances concerned may be expected to satisfy, in general, the requirements laid down in Article 5(1)(a) and (b) and Article 5(3) of Directive 91/414/EEC, in particular with regard to the uses which were examined and detailed in the Commission review reports. It is therefore appropriate to include these active substances in Annex I, in order to ensure that in all Member States the authorisations of plant protection products containing the active substances concerned, can be granted in accordance with the provisions of the said Directive.\n(10) The Commission review report is required for the proper implementation by the Member States, of several sections of the uniform principles laid down in Directive 91/414/EEC. It is, therefore, appropriate to provide that the finalised review reports, except for confidential information, should be kept available or made available by the Member States for consultation by any interested parties.\n(11) After inclusion, Member States should be allowed a reasonable period to implement the provisions of Directive 91/414/EEC as regards plant protection products containing iprovalicarb, prosulfuron or sulfosulfuron and in particular to review existing provisional authorisations and, by the end of this period at the latest, to transform those authorisations into full authorisations, to amend them or to withdraw them in accordance with the provisions of Directive 91/414/EEC.\n(12) It is therefore appropriate to amend Directive 91/414/EEC accordingly.\n(13) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAnnex I to Directive 91/414/EEC is amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive.\nMember States shall keep available the review reports for iprovalicarb, prosulfuron, and sulfosulfuron, except for confidential information within the meaning of Article 14 of Directive 91/414/EEC, for consultation by any interested parties or shall make it available to them on specific request.\nMember States shall adopt and publish by 31 December 2002 at the latest the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1 January 2003.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n1. Member States shall review the authorisation for each plant protection product containing iprovalicarb, prosulfuron, or sulfosulfuron, to ensure that the conditions relating to these active substances set out in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC are complied with. Where necessary, they shall amend or withdraw the authorisation in accordance with Directive 91/414/EEC before 31 December 2002.\n2. Member States shall, for each authorised plant protection product containing iprovalicarb, prosulfuron, or sulfosulfuron, as either the only active substance or as one of several active substances, all of which were listed in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC by 1 July 2002, re-evaluate the product in accordance with the uniform principles provided for in Annex VI to Directive 91/414/EEC, on the basis of a dossier satisfying the requirements of Annex III thereto. On the basis of that evaluation, they shall determine whether the product satisfies the conditions set out in Article 4(1)(b), (c), (d) and (e) of Directive 91/414/EEC. Where necessary and by 31 December 2003 at the latest, they shall amend or withdraw the authorisation for each such plant protection product.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on 1 July 2002.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health product" ], "distractor groups": [ "forest ranger", "Italy", "Ecowas countries", "EAEC opinion", "repentance", "population statistics", "credit policy", "Falkland Islands", "document retrieval", "slaughter animal", "regions of Germany", "photograph" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2000/510/EC: Commission Decision of 26 July 2000 on Community financial assistance towards the eradication of avian influenza in Italy in 1999 (notified under document number C(2000) 2282) (Text with EEA relevance) (Only the Italian text is authentic)\nCommission Decision\nof 26 July 2000\non Community financial assistance towards the eradication of avian influenza in Italy in 1999\n(notified under document number C(2000) 2282)\n(Only the Italian text is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2000/510/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999(2), and in particular Article 3(3) and (5) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Outbreaks of avian influenza occurred in Italy in 1999. The appearance of the disease represents a serious danger to Community stocks. With a view to contributing towards the speedy eradication of the disease the Community is able to contribute to eligible expenditure incurred by the Member States.\n(2) As soon as the presence of avian influenza was officially confirmed the Italian authorities reported that they had taken appropriate measures, including the measures listed in Article 3(2) of Decision 90/424/EEC.\n(3) Pending completion of checks by the Commission that, on the one hand, Community veterinary rules have been observed and, on the other, that the conditions for a Community financial contribution are met, a first advance should be paid immediately.\n(4) Further tranches may be granted at a later stage once the Commission has verified the information provided by Italy, subject to appropriations being available.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,\nItaly may obtain financial assistance from the Community for eligible expenditure incurred under eradication measures relating to outbreaks of avian influenza which occurred from December 1999 to April 2000.\n1. The Community financial contribution shall be paid to Italy in tranches, on the basis of the information sent by Italy and the results of the Commission checks referred to in Article 4.\n2. However, Italy may obtain, on request, an advance of EUR 10 million as soon as this Decision has been adopted.\n1. Without prejudice to Article 2, the Community financial contribution shall be paid on the basis of the supporting documents submitted by Italy.\n2. The documents referred to in paragraph 1 shall include: an epidemiological report covering each holding on which poultry have been slaughtered and a financial report. These reports shall be provided in computerised form in accordance with the model and format requested by the Commission.\n3. The supporting documents relating to the measures taken in the period referred to in Article 1 shall be forwarded no later than 1 September 2000.\n1. The Commission may make on-the-spot checks, with the cooperation of the competent national authorities, on the application of measures and expenditure incurred.\nThe Commission shall inform the Member States of the result of the checks carried out.\n2. Articles 8 and 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 shall apply mutatis mutandis.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Italian Republic.", "answer groups": [ "agricultural holding" ], "distractor groups": [ "sectoral agreement", "investment policy", "direct tax", "economic cycle", "political cooperation", "female unemployment", "contract", "space research", "START agreement" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2007/54/EC of 29 August 2007 amending Council Directive 76/768/EEC, concerning cosmetic products, for the purpose of adapting Annexes II and III thereto to technical progress (Text with EEA relevance )\n30.8.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 226/21\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2007/54/EC\nof 29 August 2007\namending Council Directive 76/768/EEC, concerning cosmetic products, for the purpose of adapting Annexes II and III thereto to technical progress\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,\nAfter consulting the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products,\nWhereas:\n(1) Following the publication of a scientific study in 2001, entitled \u2018Use of permanent hair dyes and bladder cancer risk\u2019, the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products intended for Consumers, replaced by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP), by Commission Decision 2004/210/EC\u00a0(2), concluded that the potential risks were of concern. It recommended that the Commission take further steps to control the use of hair dye substances.\n(2) The Scientific Committee on Consumer Products further recommended an overall safety assessment strategy for hair dye substances including the requirements for testing substances used in hair dye products for their potential genotoxicity/mutagenicity.\n(3) Following the opinions of the SCCP, the Commission together with Member States and stakeholders agreed on an overall strategy to regulate substances used in hair dye products according to which the industry was required to submit files containing the scientific data on hair dye substances to be evaluated by the SCCP.\n(4) Substances for which no updated safety files are submitted allowing an adequate risk assessment should be included in Annex II.\n(5) However 4,4\u2032-Diaminodiphenylamine and its salts; 4-Diethylamino-o-toluidine and its salts; N,N-Diethyl-p-phenylenediamine and its salts; N,N-Dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine and its salts; and Toluene-3,4-Diamine and its salts, are currently listed under reference numbers 8 and 9 in Annex III, Part 1, which are general entries. Therefore they should be expressly deleted from general entries in Annex III. It is appropriate to list them in Annex II instead. Those annexes should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) Directive 76/768/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Cosmetic Products,\nAnnexes II and III to Directive 76/768/EEC are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 18 March 2008 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 18 June 2008. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "technological change" ], "distractor groups": [ "Protocol (EU)", "ATP Agreement", "Nauru", "sparkling wine", "European Region", "industrial project", "hospital waste", "personality", "trading volume" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 2051/2004 of 25 October 2004 amending Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training\n1.12.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 355/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2051/2004\nof 25 October 2004\namending Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal of the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee\u00a0(2),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions,\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 of 10 February 1975 establishing a European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training\u00a0(3) includes provisions concerning the organisation of the Centre, and in particular its Management Board. Those provisions have been amended several times following each accession of new Member States, when new members had to be added to the Management Board.\n(2) An external evaluation of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (hereinafter the Centre) was carried out in 2001. The Commission's response and the Action Plan established by the Management Board on the basis of that response underline the need to adapt the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 in order to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of the Centre and of its management structures.\n(3) The European Parliament has called upon the Commission to review the composition and working methods of agencies' boards and to put forward appropriate proposals.\n(4) A Joint Opinion concerning the future governance and functioning of the Boards of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, of the Centre and of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions has been submitted to the Commission by their respective management or administrative Boards.\n(5) The tripartite governance of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the Centre and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions by representatives of governments, employers\u2019 organisations and employees\u2019 organisations, is fundamental to the success of those bodies.\n(6) The participation of the social partners in the governance of those three Community bodies creates a specificity, which requires them to function according to common rules.\n(7) The existence, within the tripartite Board, of the three groups, drawn from government, employers and employees and the designation of a coordinator for the groups of employers and employees have proved to be essential. That arrangement should therefore be formalised and also extended to the government group.\n(8) The maintenance of the tripartite representation from each Member State ensures that all major stakeholders are involved and that account is taken of the diversity of systems and approaches which characterise vocational training issues.\n(9) It is necessary to anticipate the practical consequences for the Centre of the forthcoming enlargement of the Union. The composition and functioning of its Board should be adjusted to take account of the accession of new Member States.\n(10) The Bureau, provided for in the Rules of Procedure of the Management Board, needs to be strengthened in order to ensure continuity in the functioning of the Centre and efficiency in its decision making. The composition of the Bureau should continue to reflect the tripartite structure of the Board.\n(11) According to Article 3 of the Treaty, the Community is to aim to eliminate inequalities, and promote equality, between men and women in all its activities. It is therefore appropriate to make provision for encouraging a balanced representation of men and women in the composition of the Governing Board and the Bureau.\n(12) Regulation (EEC) No 337/75 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.\n(13) The Treaty does not provide, for the adoption of this Regulation, for powers other than those under Article 308,\nRegulation (EEC) No 337/75 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. in Article 3, paragraph 2 shall be replaced by the following:\n2. Article 4 shall be replaced by the following:\n(a) a Governing Board;\n(b) a Bureau;\n(c) a Director.\n(a) one member representing the Government from each Member State;\n(b) one member representing the employers\u2019 organisations from each Member State;\n(c) one member representing the employees\u2019 organisations from each Member State;\n(d) three members representing the Commission.\n3. in Article 7, paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be replaced by the following:\n4. in Article 8, paragraph 1 shall be replaced by the following:\n5. each time the term \u2018Management Board\u2019 appears in the articles, it shall be replaced by the term \u2018Governing Board\u2019.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Cedefop" ], "distractor groups": [ "hemp", "Hunedoara", "harmonisation of standards", "political institution", "Lodz province", "polymer", "undernourishment", "Community body", "Iran", "ECSC opinion", "consumer demand", "use of water", "structural adjustment" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0423/2009 of 20\u00a0May 2009 on the issue of licences for importing rice under the tariff quotas opened for the May 2009 subperiod by Regulation (EC) No\u00a01529/2007\n21.5.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 125/67\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 423/2009\nof 20 May 2009\non the issue of licences for importing rice under the tariff quotas opened for the May 2009 subperiod by Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007 of 21 December 2007 opening and providing for the administration in 2008 and 2009 of import quotas for rice originating in the ACP States which are part of the Cariforum region and the overseas countries and territories (OCTs)\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 4(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007 opens and provides for the administration of an annual import tariff quota for 2009 of 250\u00a0000 tonnes of rice, in husked-rice equivalent, originating in States that are part of the Cariforum region (order number 09.4220), an import tariff quota of 25\u00a0000 tonnes of rice, in husked-rice equivalent, originating in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (order number 09.4189) and an import tariff quota of 10\u00a0000 tonnes of rice, in husked-rice equivalent, originating in the least-developed OCTs (order number 09.4190).\n(2) May is the second subperiod for the quota laid down in Article 1(1) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007.\n(3) The notification sent in accordance with Article 6(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007 shows that, for the quotas with order numbers 09.4220, 09.4189, and 09.4190, the applications lodged in the first seven days of May 2009 under Article 2(1) of the Regulation cover a quantity, in husked-rice equivalent, lower than that available.\n(4) The total quantities available for the following subperiod should therefore be fixed for the quotas with order numbers 09.4220, 09.4189, and 09.4190, in accordance with Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007,\nThe total quantities available for the following subperiod under the quotas with order numbers 09.4220, 09.4189, and 09.4190 as referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1529/2007 are set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "rice" ], "distractor groups": [ "transport economics", "Central Portugal", "stabilisation and association agreement", "political group (EP)", "subsistence farming", "new religion", "book trade", "building speculation", "inshore fishing", "institutional structure", "drug traffic", "Libya" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2012/40/EU of 26\u00a0November 2012 correcting Annex I to Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market Text with EEA relevance\n27.11.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 327/26\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2012/40/EU\nof 26 November 2012\ncorrecting Annex I to Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market\u00a0(1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 16(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Directive 2009/91/EC of 31 July 2009 amending Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council to include disodium tetraborate as an active substance in Annex I thereto\u00a0(2) defines disodium tetraborate by three CAS numbers for three different forms of the substance. The CAS numbers are based on a report submitted to the Commission by the Netherlands on 7 July 2006 and endorsed by the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products on 20 February 2009.\n(2) The Netherlands have informed the Commission that the CAS number for the pentahydrate form in the original report was incorrect, and submitted a revised report to the Commission according to which the correct CAS number for this form is 12179-04-3. The revised report was endorsed by the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products on 25 May 2012.\n(3) Annex I to Directive 98/8/EC should therefore be corrected accordingly.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products,\nAnnex I to Directive 98/8/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 March 2013 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health control" ], "distractor groups": [ "import policy", "palm nut", "waste recycling", "self-financing", "EU expenditure", "bromine", "alternative dispute resolution", "deprived urban area", "statistics", "dependence of elderly persons" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Decision of 3\u00a0July 2012 setting up the EU VAT forum\n6.7.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 198/4\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 3 July 2012\nsetting up the EU VAT forum\n2012/C 198/05\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nWhereas:\n(1) In its Communication of December 2008\u00a0(1), the Commission presented a short-term action plan for combating VAT fraud. It also suggested a reflection on a longer-term approach that could take into account technological developments and new strategies regarding compliance and monitoring, with the overall aim of reducing the involvement of tax authorities and reducing the administrative burden on business.\n(2) Furthermore, given the taxpayers\u2019 crucial role in making the VAT system work, and the fact that their relationship with the tax authorities should be based on trust, which could have a considerable influence on the cost of administering the system, the Commission put forward the idea of devising a new approach based on voluntary compliance, risk assessment and monitoring. This approach called upon the expertise of business representatives to contribute to this reflection on the longer-term strategy.\n(3) In March 2010, the business experts group on a smooth functioning of the VAT in the EU, hereinafter referred to as \u2018the business expert group on VAT\u2019 (BEGV), was set up in order to discuss at EU level the actual practical problems that arise from managing the VAT system as it is implemented in the Member States, as well as suggestions for possible solutions for reducing the administrative burden.\n(4) On 23 February 2011, Member States agreed on setting up a new ad hoc expert group, known as the \u2018tax authorities dialogue platform\u2019 (TADP). The much-changed business environment prompted some Member States to develop a customer-led business strategy which is based on understanding the different groups of tax payers/customers, their behaviours and the difficulties they experience when dealing with tax authorities \u2014 from the individual filing of a tax return to the needs of large business. The aim of this approach was to create a level playing field for compliant business for fairer competition and it allowed the tax authorities to allocate resources to combat fraud more efficiently.\n(5) Both experts groups have been set up to prepare the dialogue between tax authorities and business experts which is due to take place at EU level in a new forum.\n(6) With a view to improving the governance of VAT at EU level, in line with the Communication from the Commission on the future of VAT \u2014 Towards a simpler, more robust and efficient VAT system tailored to the single market\u00a0(2) \u2014, stakeholders have also advocated setting up a channel of communication at EU level, where tax authorities, business representatives and the Commission would be able to exchange views on the practical aspects of VAT administration.\n(7) Identifying best practices on both sides could contribute to streamlining the management of the VAT system, and thereby to reducing compliance costs, while at the same time securing VAT revenue. It is therefore appropriate to set up the EU VAT forum (comprising Member States and stakeholders, and chaired by the Commission) and to define its tasks and its structure.\n(8) The EU VAT forum is a structured platform for dialogue, aimed at improving the relationship between business and tax authorities in order to create the conditions for a smoother functioning of the current VAT system in the EU, thereby reducing costs and administrative burden on both sides. Real practical problems arising from managing the VAT system are due to be discussed, as well as suggestions for possible solutions.\n(9) The forum should be chaired by the Commission and consist of the Member States' tax authorities and of organisations representing business or tax practitioners; authorities and organisations in the Member States will nominate their representatives.\n(10) Rules on disclosure of information by members of the forum should be provided for, without prejudice to the Commission's rules on security as set out in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom\u00a0(3).\n(11) Personal data should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data\u00a0(4),\nSubject matter\nThe group of experts called the \u2018EU VAT forum\u2019, hereinafter referred to as \u2018the forum\u2019, is hereby set up.\nTasks\nThe forum's tasks shall be:\n(a) to create a platform where business and national tax authorities' experts can informally discuss tax administration issues in the field of VAT with which both parties are currently confronted in a cross-border environment;\n(b) to discuss practical insights provided by tax authorities, as well as business experts, and to elaborate on possible ways to manage the current VAT system more efficiently, including by combating fraud, in the interest of both parties with a view to achieving a smoother functioning of the current VAT system;\n(c) to assist the Commission in promoting good practice including the use of IT, which could culminate in a more efficient, secure, fairer and cost-effective VAT system in the interests of both parties;\n(d) to work, where necessary, in cooperation with any other appropriate bodies or committees dealing with VAT and administrative cooperation in the tax field.\nConsultation\nThe Commission may consult the forum on any matter relating to tax administration in the field of VAT.\nMembership \u2014 Appointment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The forum shall be composed of a maximum of 45 members.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The forum shall comprise:\n(a) one representative from each Member State;\n(b) representatives of maximum 15 organisations representing business or tax practitioners.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The tax authorities of each Member State shall nominate one representative from among the officials dealing with tax administration issues, compliance and services to users in the European VAT environment.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union shall appoint organisations referred to in Article 4.2(b) with competence in the areas referred to in Article 2 and which have responded to a call for applications.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Organisations shall nominate one representative and an alternate to replace a representative who is absent or indisposed. The Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union may refuse a representative or an alternate proposed by an organisation on the basis that he or she does not meet the profile required in the call for applications. In such cases, the organisation concerned shall be asked to appoint another representative or another alternate.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Alternates shall be appointed on the same conditions as members; alternates automatically replace any members who are absent or indisposed.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Organisations are appointed for three years, unless they are replaced or excluded pursuant to paragraph 9. Their term of office may be renewed after they have responded to a further call for applications.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Organisations deemed suitable for membership, but not appointed, may be placed on a reserve list to be kept for three years, which the Commission shall use to appoint replacements.\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Organisations referred to in Article 4.2(b) or their representatives may be replaced or excluded for the remainder of their term of office in any of the following cases:\n(a) where the organisation or its representative is no longer capable of contributing effectively to the forum's deliberations;\n(b) where the organisation or its representative does not comply with the condition set out in Article 339 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;\n(c) where the organisation or its representative is not independent of any outside influence;\n(d) where the organisation or its representative has failed to inform the Commission in good time of a conflict of interest;\n(e) where the organisation or its representative resigns;\n(f) where it is desirable in order to maintain a balanced representation of relevant areas of expertise and areas of interest.\nThe Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union may ask an organisation to appoint another representative or another alternate on the basis of one or more of the conditions set out in paragraph 9 of this Article.\n10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The names of organisations and their representatives shall be published in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities, hereinafter referred to as \u2018Register\u2019, as well as on a dedicated website.\n11.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Personal data shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\nOperation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The forum shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In agreement with the Commission services, the forum may set up sub-groups to examine specific questions on the basis of terms of reference defined by the forum. Such sub-groups shall be disbanded as soon as their mandate is fulfilled.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Chairperson may, on an ad hoc basis, invite experts from outside the forum with specific competence on a subject on the agenda to participate in the work of the forum or sub-group. In addition, the Chairperson may grant observer status to individuals or organisations as defined in Rule 8(3) of the horizontal rules on expert group\u00a0(5) and candidate countries. In particular, representatives of accession countries and from international organisations may be invited as observers.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members and their representatives, as well as invited experts and observers, shall comply with the obligation of professional secrecy laid down by the Treaties and their implementing rules, as well as with the Commission rules on security regarding the protection of EU classified information, laid down in the Annex to Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom. Should they fail to respect these obligations, the Commission may take all appropriate measures.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The meetings of the forum and its sub-groups shall in principle be held on Commission premises. The Commission shall provide secretarial services. Other Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the forum and its sub-groups.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The forum shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure for expert groups.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission publishes relevant documents on the activities carried out by the forum either in the Register or via a link from the Register to a dedicated website. A document shall not be published where its disclosure would undermine the protection of a public or private interest as defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001\u00a0(6).\nMeeting expenses\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Participants in the activities of the forum shall not be remunerated for the services they render.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Travel and, where appropriate, subsistence expenses incurred by participants in the activities of the forum shall be reimbursed by the Commission in accordance with the provisions in force within the Commission.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Those expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the available appropriations allocated under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources.\nApplicability\nThis Decision shall apply until 30 September 2018.", "answer groups": [ "tax evasion" ], "distractor groups": [ "Ribe (county)", "strategic defence", "release on licence", "collective redress", "Commonwealth", "Cambodia", "member of the Court of Justice (EU)", "reintegration into working life", "Asian and Pacific Development Centre", "market prices", "Eastern Bloc countries" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a0291/2012 of 2\u00a0April 2012 amending Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0992/95 as regards tariff quotas of the Union for certain agricultural and fishery products originating in Norway\n3.4.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 96/1\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 291/2012\nof 2 April 2012\namending Council Regulation (EC) No 992/95 as regards tariff quotas of the Union for certain agricultural and fishery products originating in Norway\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 992/95 of 10 April 1995 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas of the Union for certain agricultural and fishery products originating in Norway\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 5(1)(a) and (b) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) An Agreement has been concluded in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Norway, of the other part, concerning additional trade preferences in agricultural products reached on the basis of Article 19 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. The Agreement was approved on behalf of the Union by Council Decision 2011/818/EU\u00a0(2).\n(2) That Agreement provides further progressive liberalisation of agricultural trade on a preferential, reciprocal and mutually beneficial basis and for new annual duty free tariff quotas at import into the European Union of certain agricultural products originating in Norway.\n(3) In order to implement the new tariff quotas provided for in the Agreement, it is necessary to amend Regulation (EC) No 992/95.\n(4) Regulation (EC) No 992/95 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(5) In accordance with Decision 2011/818/EU the new tariff quotas are to apply from 1 January 2012. This Regulation should therefore apply from the same date.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,\nAnnex I to Regulation (EC) No 992/95 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2012.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import (EU)" ], "distractor groups": [ "European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation", "available energy", "prepared foodstuff", "deforestation", "committee of inquiry", "Northern Mariana Islands", "reduced price", "institutional structure", "non-violence" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2005/6/EC of 26 January 2005 amending Directive 71/250/EEC as regards reporting and interpretation of analytical results required under Directive 2002/32/ECText with EEA relevance\n27.1.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 24/33\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2005/6/EC\nof 26 January 2005\namending Directive 71/250/EEC as regards reporting and interpretation of analytical results required under Directive 2002/32/EC\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to the Council Directive 70/373/EEC of 20 July 1970 on the introduction of Community methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of feeding-stuffs\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 2 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Directive 71/250/EEC of 15 June 1971 establishing Community methods of analysis for the official control of feeding-stuffs\u00a0(2) includes provisions concerning the expression of results.\n(2) To ensure a harmonised implementation approach to Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed\u00a0(3) in all Member States, it is of major importance that analytical results are reported and interpreted in a uniform way.\n(3) Directive 71/250/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDirective 71/250/EEC is amended as follows:\n1. In Article 1 the following paragraph is added after the second paragraph:\n2. The Annex is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive twelve months after the entry into force. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal feedingstuffs" ], "distractor groups": [ "political centre", "spare part", "\u00c5land", "ministry", "sales aid", "European forestry policy", "extra-territoriality", "interurban migration", "cheque", "EAGGF Guidance Section" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/825/EC: Council Decision of 25 November 2003 amending Decision 2002/882/EC providing further macro-financial assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with regard to additional macro-financial assistance to Serbia and Montenegro\nCouncil Decision\nof 25 November 2003\namending Decision 2002/882/EC providing further macro-financial assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with regard to additional macro-financial assistance to Serbia and Montenegro\n(2003/825/EC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(1),\nWhereas:\n(1) The Commission consulted the Economic and Financial Committee before submitting its proposal.\n(2) Decision 2002/882/EC(2) provides for further macro-financial assistance to be made available to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with a view to ensuring a sustainable balance of payments situation and strengthening the country's reserve position.\n(3) On 4 February 2003, there was a constitutional change and the country is now called Serbia and Montenegro.\n(4) Following the assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister on 11 March 2003, the external outlook of the country appears to be more uncertain, in particular with respect to the size of private capital inflows, including foreign direct investments, while important financing needs continue to put a heavy strain on the economy.\n(5) Additional balance of payments needs in 2003 and possibly in 2004 have been identified in the context of the current IMF programme and Serbia and Montenegro will require significant additional external financing in 2003 and possibly in 2004 over and above official financing which could be provided by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other donors, including the Community.\n(6) An increase in Community macro-financial assistance to Serbia and Montenegro is an appropriate measure to help, with other donors, ease the country's financial constraints.\n(7) The grant component of this assistance is without prejudice to the powers of the budgetary authority and its implementation will be subject to the availability of appropriations under the corresponding budget heading.\n(8) The increase of macro-financial assistance to Serbia and Montenegro should not be to the detriment of foreseen macro-financial assistance for other countries covered by the same budget heading.\n(9) The Treaty provides for no powers, other than those in Article 308 thereof, for the adoption of this Decision,\nDecision 2002/882/EC is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4, the term \"FRY\" shall be replaced by the term \"Serbia and Montenegro\".\n2. In Article 1, paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"2. The loan component of this assistance shall amount to a maximum principal of EUR 80 million with a maximum maturity of 15 years. To this end, the Commission is empowered to borrow, on behalf of the Community, the necessary resources that will be placed at the disposal of Serbia and Montenegro in the form of a loan.\n3. The grant component of this assistance shall amount to a maximum of EUR 120 million.\"\n3. In Article 3(1), the first phrase shall be replaced by the following:\n\"1. The loan and grant components of this assistance shall be made available to Serbia and Montenegro in at least three instalments.\"\nThis Decision shall take effect on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "financial aid" ], "distractor groups": [ "Western Transdanubia", "reimbursement of aid", "bankruptcy", "social integration", "withdrawal from the market", "market stabilisation", "EURES", "North Sea", "court of civil jurisdiction" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2000/103/EC: Commission Decision of 22 December 1999 amending Decision 1999/354/EC on the eligiblity of expenditure to be incurred by certain Member States in 1999 for the purpose of introducing monitoring and control systems applicable to the common fisheries policy (notified under document number C(1999) 4847)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 22 December 1999\namending Decision 1999/354/EC on the eligiblity of expenditure to be incurred by certain Member States in 1999 for the purpose of introducing monitoring and control systems applicable to the common fisheries policy\n(notified under document number C(1999) 4847)\n(2000/103/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 95/527/EC of 8 December 1995 on a Community financial contribution towards certain expenditure incurred by the Member States in implementing the monitoring and control systems applicable to the common fisheries policy(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) When Commission Decision 98/439/EC on the eligibility of expenditure to be incurred by certain Member States in 1999 for the purpose of introducing monitoring and control systems applicable to the common fisheries policy(2), as amended by Decision 102(3), was adopted the available budget allocation was insufficient to grant the maximum Community financial contribution to all eligible expenditure.\n(2) The budget allocation has now been increased so that an additional financial contribution is available for some eligible expenditure.\n(3) Decision 1999/354/EC did not take account of the requests for assistance from France and Ireland because they were not sent to the Commission within the required deadlines. However, in order to ensure the continuity of monitoring and control activities in ICES zones VI, VII and VIII, it is essential that France and Ireland incur some expenditure which they cannot cover from their own budgets. Without any Community financial contribution the financing of investments programmed for 1999 would be seriously jeopardised and it would be impossible to attain the necessary monitoring and control objectives. It is therefore warranted to provide, exceptionally, for a financial contribution to the essential expenditure of France and Italy for 1999.\n(4) Greece has forwarded additional information concerning its request for a financial contribution towards the expenditure referred to in Article 2 of Decision 95/527/EC for 1999 which will affect the amount of expenditure eligible for a financial contribution under that Decision.\n(5) Commission Decision 1999/354/EC should therefore be amended.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture,\nDecision 1999/354/EC is hereby amended as follows:\n1. in the first sentence of Article 1, \"EUR 108378475\" is replaced by \"EUR 113744098\";\n2. in the second sentence of Article 1, \"EUR 33833388\" is replaced by \"EUR 35570045\";\n3. in the second sentence of Article 2(1). \"EUR 11024266\" is replaced by \"EUR 11424166\";\n4. in the first sentence of Article 2(2), \"EUR 2500\" is replaced by \"EUR 2800\";\n5. in the second sentence of Article 2(2). \"EUR 2500\" is replaced by \"EUR 2800\";\n6. in the third sentence of Article 2(2). \"EUR 3250\" is replaced by \"EUR 3400\";\n7. in the last sentence of Article 2(2), \"EUR 6750000\" is replaced by \"EUR 7500000\";\n8. the following Article is inserted after Article 2:\n\"Article 2a\nIreland's investment expenditure planned for 1999, amounting to EUR 13693872, shall be eligible for a financial contribution under Article 3(3) of Decision 95/52/EC. The rate of the Community contribution shall be 65 %. However, the contribution shall be granted up to a maximum of EUR 2600000.\"\n9. Annex I is replaced by Annex I to this Decision;\n10. Annex II is replaced by Annex II to this Decision.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.", "answer groups": [ "fishing controls" ], "distractor groups": [ "auditing", "sheepmeat", "issuing of currency", "working population engaged in agriculture", "self-employment", "chemical product", "European Asylum Support Office", "financing of aid", "exchange parity" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1870/86 of 17 June 1986 fixing the quotas applying to imports into Spain of beef products from third countries\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1870/86\nof 17 June 1986\nfixing the quotas applying to imports into Spain of beef products from third countries\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 491/86 of 25 February 1986 laying down rules for the application of quantitative restrictions on imports into Spain of certain agricultural products from third countries (1), and in particular Article 3 (1) thereof,\nWhereas, pursuant to Article 77 of the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, Spain may, until 31 December 1995, apply quantitative restrictions on imports from third countries; whereas the said restrictions concern products which are subject to the supplementary trade mechanism in the case of beef; whereas the initial quotas in volume should be fixed in respect of each product or group of products in accordance with Article 1 (2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 491/86;\nWhereas, to ensure proper management of the quota, the applications for import licences should be subject to the lodging of a security in accordance with Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85 of 22 July 1985 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of securities for agricultural products (2);\nWhereas provision should be made for Spain to communicate information to the Commission on the application of the quota;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\n1. Initial contingents of beef products, referred to in Annex III of Regulation (EEC) No 491/86 applying to imports into Spain from third countries are settled as follows:\n1.2.3 // // // // CCT heading No // Description // Initial contingent // // // // 01.02 A ex II // Live animals of the bovine species other than pure-bred breeding animals and animals for use in bull-fighting // 300 animals // 02.01 A II a) // Meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled // 900 tonnes (carcase weight) // 02.01 A II b) and 02.01 B II b) // Meat of bovine animals, frozen, and offals of bovine animals // 3 600 tonnes (carcase weight) // // //\n2. For the period from 1 March to 31 December 1986, the quotas referred to above are reduced by one-sixth.\n3. In the final outcome of the present Regulation, 100 kilograms of bone-in beef corresponds to 100 kilograms of bone-in beef corresponds to 77 kilograms of boneless beef.\n1. The Spanish authorities shall issue import authorizations so as to ensure a fair allocation of the available quantity between the applicants.\n2. Applications for import authorizations shall be subject to the lodging of a security. The provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85 shall apply in respect of the said security.\nThe primary requirement, within the meaning of Article 20 of the said Regulation, shall consist in the effective importation of the products.\n1. The Spanish authorities shall communicate to the Commission the measures which they adopt for the application of Article 2.\n2. They shall, for each of the products concerned transmit, not later than the 15th of each month, the following information on import authorizations issued in the preceding month:\n- the quantities covered by the import authorizations issued,\n- the quantities imported.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt will apply with effect from 1 March 1986.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import" ], "distractor groups": [ "forest ranger", "auction sale", "Azores", "UN Framework Convention on Climate Change", "ECSC loan", "Armenian question", "executive power", "suburban transport", "report", "APEC countries" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/69/EC: Commission Decision of 28 January 2003 authorising the Member States to provide for temporary derogations from certain provisions of Council Directive 2000/29/EC in respect of plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, originating in Switzerland (notified under document number C(2003) 340)\nCommission Decision\nof 28 January 2003\nauthorising the Member States to provide for temporary derogations from certain provisions of Council Directive 2000/29/EC in respect of plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, originating in Switzerland\n(notified under document number C(2003) 340)\n(2003/69/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community(1), as last amended by Directive 2002/89/EC(2), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,\nHaving regard to the request made by France,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Directive 2000/29/EC, plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, originating in third countries must not in principle be introduced into the Community. However, that Directive permits derogations from that rule, provided that there is no risk of spreading harmful organisms.\n(2) By Commission Decisions 97/159/EC(3), 1999/166/EC(4), 2000/189/EC(5), 2001/5/EC(6) and 2001/836/EC(7), derogations from certain provisions of Directive 2000/29/EC in respect of plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, originating in Switzerland have been authorised for limited periods and subject to specific conditions.\n(3) The circumstances justifying those derogations are still valid. There is no new information giving cause for revision of the specific conditions.\n(4) The Member States should therefore be authorised to provide for derogations for a limited period and subject to specific conditions.\n(5) That authorisation to provide for derogations should be terminated if it is established that the specific conditions laid down in this Decision are not sufficient to prevent the introduction of harmful organisms into the Community or have not been complied with.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nThe Member States are authorised to provide for derogations from Article 4(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC, with regard to the prohibitions referred to in point 15 of Part A of Annex III to that Directive for plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, originating in Switzerland.\nIn order to qualify for the derogation provided for in the first paragraph, plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, shall satisfy, in addition to the requirements laid down in Annexes I and II to Directive 2000/29/EC, the conditions set out in the Annex to this Decision.\nMember States shall provide the Commission and the other Member States, before 30 November 2003, with the information on quantities imported pursuant to this Decision and with a detailed technical report of the official examination referred to in point 6 of the Annex.\nAny Member State in which buds from the plants are grafted on to rootstocks and in which the grafted plants are planted after the import, shall also provide the Commission and the other Member States, before 30 November 2003, with a detailed technical report of the official examination referred to in point 9(b) of the Annex.\nMember States shall immediately notify the Commission and the other Member States of all cases of consignments introduced into their territory pursuant to this Decision which were subsequently found not to comply with this Decision.\nArticle 1 shall apply for the period from 1 February to 30 March 2003.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health legislation" ], "distractor groups": [ "mining product", "international criminal law", "student residence", "Dominican Republic", "Southern African Development Community", "safety standard", "motor vehicle pollution", "First World War", "EU competence", "sexual offence" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01747/2005 of 24 October 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0883/2001 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01493/1999 as regards trade with third countries in products in the wine sector\n25.10.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 280/9\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1747/2005\nof 24 October 2005\namending Regulation (EC) No 883/2001 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 as regards trade with third countries in products in the wine sector\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 59(3)(a) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1810/2004 of 7 September 2004 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff\u00a0(2), amends the nomenclature for certain table wines.\n(2) Annexes II and III to Commission Regulation (EC) No 883/2001\u00a0(3), contain lists of wine products, the codes of which should be adapted to correspond to the amendments introduced by Regulation (EC) No 1810/2004.\n(3) Regulation (EC) No 883/2001 should be amended accordingly.\n(4) The amendments should apply from 1 January 2005, the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1810/2004.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine,\nRegulation (EC) No 883/2001 is amended as follows:\n(a) Annex II is replaced by the text set out in Annex I to this Regulation.\n(b) Annex III is replaced by the text set out in Annex II to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2005.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "customs regulations" ], "distractor groups": [ "traveller", "EU study report", "tropical zone", "party organisation", "admission to examinations", "price of farm land", "repeal", "Normandie", "standardised accounting system", "refusal to bid", "participatory democracy" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/857/EC: Commission Decision of 10\u00a0November 2008 amending Decision 2004/4/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt (notified under document number C(2008) 6583)\n13.11.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 302/28\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 10 November 2008\namending Decision 2004/4/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt\n(notified under document number C(2008) 6583)\n(2008/857/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Commission Decision 2004/4/EC\u00a0(2), tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in Egypt, must not in principle be introduced into the Community. However, in previous years including the 2007/2008 import season the entry into the Community of such tubers was permitted from \u2018pest-free areas\u2019 and subject to specific conditions.\n(2) During the 2007/2008 import season, no interception of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith was recorded.\n(3) In the light of the request and technical information provided by Egypt, the Commission has established that there is no risk of spreading Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith with the entry into the Community of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. from \u2018pest-free areas\u2019 of Egypt, provided that certain conditions are satisfied.\n(4) The entry into the Community of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in \u2018pest-free areas\u2019 of Egypt, should therefore be permitted for the 2008/2009 import season.\n(5) Decision 2004/4/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nDecision 2004/4/EC is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 2 paragraph 1 \u20182007/2008\u2019 is replaced by \u20182008/2009\u2019;\n2. in Article 4, \u201831 August 2008\u2019 is replaced by \u201831 August 2009\u2019;\n3. in Article 7, \u201830 September 2008\u2019 is replaced by \u201830 September 2009\u2019;\n4. the Annex is amended as follows:\n(a) in point 1(b)(iii), \u20182007/2008\u2019 is replaced by \u20182008/2009\u2019;\n(b) in the second indent of point 1(b)(iii), \u20181 January 2008\u2019 is replaced by \u20181 January 2009\u2019;\n(c) in point 1(b)(xii), \u20181 January 2008\u2019 is replaced by \u20181 January 2009\u2019.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Egypt" ], "distractor groups": [ "consolidated account", "documentation", "transport policy", "dictatorship", "cleaning industry", "video communications", "Group of 77", "Liberia", "small state" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2009/437/EC: Commission Decision of 8 June 2009 amending Decision 2007/268/EC on the implementation of surveillance programmes for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be carried out in the Member States (notified under document number C(2009) 4228) (Text with EEA relevance)\n10.6.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 145/45\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 8 June 2009\namending Decision 2007/268/EC on the implementation of surveillance programmes for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be carried out in the Member States\n(notified under document number C(2009) 4228)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2009/437/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field\u00a0(1) and in particular the fourth subparagraph of Article 24(2) and Article 24(10) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC\u00a0(2) and in particular Article 4(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Decision 2007/268/EC\u00a0(3) lays down guidelines for the performance of the surveillance programmes for avian influenza in poultry and wild birds to be carried out by the Member States. Those guidelines include provisions on the submission of laboratory results to the Community Reference Laboratory for avian influenza.\n(2) Since the adoption of Decision 2007/268/EC, the Commission has introduced an online system for reporting laboratory results obtained during surveillance in poultry and wild birds. It is appropriate that that online system be used for the purposes of the reporting obligations provided for in Decision 2007/268/EC.\n(3) In addition, Decision 2007/268/EC provides that all positive serological findings are to be confirmed by the National Laboratories for avian influenza by a haemaglutination-inhibition test, using designated strains supplied by the Community Reference Laboratory for avian influenza. It is appropriate that the strains used for confirmation of the avian influenza H5 subtype be replaced by other strains, which may achieve the same diagnostic parameters in a more rapid and cost-efficient manner.\n(4) Decision 2007/268/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDecision 2007/268/EC is amended as follows:\n1. Annex I is amended as follows:\n(a) in Part A, Section A.2, point 4 is replaced by the following:\n\u20184. The competent authority shall ensure that all positive and negative results of both serological and virological laboratory investigations obtained during surveillance are reported to the Commission through the Commission\u2019s online system. These results must be reported every three months and entered into the online system within four weeks following the end of the three months period.\u2019;\n(b) in Part B, point 2 is replaced by the following:\n\u20182. Specific protocols to accompany the sending of samples and diagnostic material to the CRL shall be provided by the CRL. A good exchange of information between the CRL and the NL must be ensured. The CRL shall provide technical support and keep an enlarged stock of diagnostic reagents.\u2019\n(c) in Part D, point 3 is replaced by the following:\n\u20183. All positive serological findings shall be confirmed by the NL by a haemagglutination-inhibition test, using designated strains supplied by the CRL:\n(a) for \nH5\n subtype:\n(i) Initial testing using teal/England/7894/06 (H5N3);\n(ii) Testing of all positives with chicken/Scotland/59(H5N1) to eliminate N3 cross reactive antibodies\n(b) for \nH7\n subtype:\n(i) Initial testing using Turkey/England/647/77 (H7N7);\n(ii) Testing of all positive with African Starling/983/79 (H7N1) to eliminate N7 cross reactive antibodies.\u2019;\n2. in Annex II, Part A, Section A2, point 3 is replaced by the following:\n\u20183. The competent authority shall ensure that all positive and negative results of both serological and virological laboratory investigations obtained during surveillance are reported to the Commission through the Commission\u2019s online system. These results must be reported every three months and entered into the online system within four weeks following the end of the three months period.\u2019\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal disease" ], "distractor groups": [ "economic discrimination", "peace", "occupational physiology", "forum", "independence of the disabled", "EU migration policy", "national minority" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0790/2005 of 25 May 2005 amending Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a02406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\n26.5.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 132/15\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 790/2005\nof 25 May 2005\namending Council Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 of 17 December 1999 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 provides that common marketing standards may be determined for the products or groups of these products listed in Article 1 of that Regulation.\n(2) Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 lists certain species which are subject to intervention mechanisms. The 2003 Act of Accession provided for sprat to be added to that Annex.\n(3) The setting of common marketing standards, harmonised throughout the Community, is of particular importance for the proper operation of the intervention mechanisms laid down in Regulation (EC) No 104/2000.\n(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 of 26 November 1996 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\u00a0(2), does not fix standards for sprat. That Regulation should be amended in order to cover sprat.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fishery Products,\nRegulation (EC) No 2406/96 is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 3(1)(a), the following indent is added:\n\u2018\u2014 Sprat (Sprattus sprattus)\u2019;\n2. Annexes I and II are amended as follows:\n(a) in Annex I, point B (Bluefish), the word \u2018sprat\u2019 is added;\n(b) in Annex II, the entry set out in the text in the Annex to this Regulation is added.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing standard" ], "distractor groups": [ "fishery resources", "South Asia", "pesticide", "agricultural holding", "eugenics", "EU Member State", "electronic government", "non-tariff barrier", "grouping of farms", "customs warehouse", "UN research and training institutes" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2007/182/EC: Commission Decision of 19 March 2007 on a survey for chronic wasting disease in cervids (notified under document number C(2007) 860) (Text with EEA relevance)\n24.3.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 84/37\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 19 March 2007\non a survey for chronic wasting disease in cervids\n(notified under document number C(2007) 860)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2007/182/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Chronic wasting disease is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) affecting cervids, which is widespread in North America but which has never been reported to date in the Community.\n(2) On 3 June 2004, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an opinion recommending that a targeted surveillance should be undertaken of cervids in the Community. The aim of such surveillance would be to detect the possible presence of TSEs in cervids. Accordingly, provision should be made for Member States to carry out surveys in line with that opinion.\n(3) Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 lays down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of TSEs in animals. That Regulation, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1923/2006 lays down provision for monitoring programmes for TSEs in cervids. Accordingly, it is now possible to provide for surveys for TSEs in cervids to be carried out by Member States in this Decision.\n(4) Those surveys should include wild and farmed deer species. Since wild deer should primarily be sampled during the hunting season which is of limited duration, in order to allow Member States sufficient time to achieve target numbers of samples, this Decision should therefore apply following the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 1923/2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.\n(5) Member States should submit an annual report of the results of those surveys on cervids. The detection of a positive finding of TSE in cervids must be immediately reported to the Commission.\n(6) Member States should ensure that cervids tested for TSEs do not enter the commercial food chain until a negative result has been obtained.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nScope\nThis Decision lays down rules for a survey to detect the presence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in animals of the deer family, namely cervids (the survey).\nDefinitions\nFor the purposes of this Decision the definitions set out in Annex I shall apply.\nScope of the survey\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall carry out a survey to detect the presence of CWD in cervids in accordance with the minimum requirements in Annex II.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall complete their survey no later than the end of the 2007 hunting season.\nMeasures to be taken by Member States following testing for CWD\nMember States shall carry out the measures set out in Annex III following testing for CWD.\nReports to be provided to the Commission by the Member States\nMember States shall submit to the Commission the following reports:\n(a) a report immediately following the discovery of a positive or inconclusive finding for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in a cervid;\n(b) an annual report of the results of surveys as set out in Annex IV.\nSummary of reports by the Commission to the Member States\nThe Commission shall present to the Member States a summary of the reports provided for in Article 5.\nAddressees\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal disease" ], "distractor groups": [ "maintenance obligation", "natural disaster", "judicial cooperation in civil matters in the EU", "travel", "company in difficulties", "mythology", "carpet", "interpretation of the law", "extranet", "political affiliation" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a02094/2004 of 8 December 2004 opening and providing for the administration of a tariff quota of 10000 tonnes of oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 11042298\n9.12.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 362/12\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2094/2004\nof 8 December 2004\nopening and providing for the administration of a tariff quota of 10\u00a0000 tonnes of oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29\u00a0September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In order to meet its international commitments, the Community has established for each marketing year since 1 January 1996 a zero duty tariff quota for oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098.\n(2) Up to the 2004/05 marketing year this tariff quota has been managed under Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a02369/96 of 12 December 1996 opening and providing for the administration of a Community tariff quota for 10\u00a0000 tonnes of oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098\u00a0(2). This Regulation provides for management through import licences, for which applications are submitted monthly.\n(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code\u00a0(3) codifies the management rules for tariff quotas designed to be used following the chronological order of dates of customs declarations and for surveillance of preferential imports.\n(4) With a view to simplification and given the small volume of the tariff quota for oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098, Regulation (EC) No 2454/93 should be applied to the management of this quota from the 2005/06 marketing year on, and Regulation (EC) No 2369/96 should be repealed. For administrative reasons a new serial number must be introduced for the quota in question.\n(5) Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 provides for an exemption from the requirement to submit an import licence for products having no significant appreciable impact on the supply situation of the cereals market. The Community annually imports an average of 6\u00a0000 tonnes of oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098. This involves a limited quantity of very specific products for industrial use, with no impact on the cereals market. The exemption from the import licence requirement provided for in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 can therefore be applied.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nThe tariff quota in the Annex is hereby opened for each marketing year running from 1 July to 30 June.\nThe tariff quota referred to in Article 1 shall be managed by the Commission in accordance with the Articles 308a, 308b and 308c of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\nImports of oat grains under the tariff quota referred to in Article 1 shall not require the submission of an import licence.\nRegulation (EC) No 2369/96 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 2005.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "oats" ], "distractor groups": [ "monarchist party", "European Union Intellectual Property Office", "commercial contract", "Brunei", "press undertaking", "dependant", "conglomerate", "transfer of property", "cultural prize" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EU) No\u00a0670/2010 of 13\u00a0July 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0974/98 as regards the introduction of the euro in Estonia\n28.7.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 196/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 670/2010\nof 13 July 2010\namending Regulation (EC) No 974/98 as regards the introduction of the euro in Estonia\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (the Treaty), and in particular Article 140(3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank,\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 974/98 of 3 May 1998 on the introduction of the euro\u00a0(1) provides for the substitution of the euro for the currencies of the Member States which fulfilled the necessary conditions for the adoption of the euro at the time when the Community entered the third stage of economic and monetary union.\n(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 2596/2000\u00a0(2) amended Regulation (EC) No 974/98 to provide for the substitution of the euro for the currency of Greece.\n(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 2169/2005\u00a0(3) amended Regulation (EC) No 974/98 in order to prepare for subsequent introductions of the euro in Member States which have not yet adopted the euro as the single currency.\n(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 1647/2006\u00a0(4) amended Regulation (EC) No 974/98 to provide for the substitution of the euro for the currency of Slovenia.\n(5) Council Regulation (EC) No 835/2007\u00a0(5) amended Regulation (EC) No 974/98 to provide for the substitution of the euro for the currency of Cyprus.\n(6) Council Regulation (EC) No 836/2007\u00a0(6) amended Regulation (EC) No 974/98 to provide for the substitution of the euro for the currency of Malta.\n(7) Council Regulation (EC) No 693/2008\u00a0(7) amended Regulation (EC) No 974/98 to provide for the substitution of the euro for the currency of Slovakia.\n(8) In accordance with Article 4 of the 2003 Act of Accession, Estonia is a Member State with a derogation as defined in Article 139(1) of the Treaty.\n(9) Pursuant to Council Decision 2010/416/EU of 13 July 2010 in accordance with Article 140(2) of the Treaty on the adoption by Estonia of the euro on 1 January 2011\u00a0(8), Estonia fulfils the necessary conditions for the adoption of the euro and the derogation in favour of Estonia is to be abrogated with effect from 1 January 2011.\n(10) The introduction of the euro in Estonia requires the extension to Estonia of the existing provisions on the introduction of the euro set out in Regulation (EC) No 974/98.\n(11) Estonia\u2019s changeover plan specifies that euro banknotes and coins should become legal tender in that Member State on the day of the introduction of the euro as its currency. Consequently, the euro adoption date and the cash changeover date should be 1 January 2011. No \u2018phasing-out\u2019 period should apply.\n(12) Regulation (EC) No 974/98 should therefore be amended accordingly,\nThe Annex to Regulation (EC) No 974/98 shall be amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2011.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaties.", "answer groups": [ "Estonia" ], "distractor groups": [ "supply", "Holy See", "supplementary budget", "secondary education", "fallow", "help desk", "scientific profession", "East-West relations" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2009/427/EC: Commission Decision of 3\u00a0June 2009 establishing the expert group for technical advice on organic production\n5.6.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 139/29\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 3 June 2009\nestablishing the expert group for technical advice on organic production\n(2009/427/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91\u00a0(1), defines objectives and principles applicable to organic production and lays down basic requirements with regard to production, labelling and control of organic products in the plant, livestock and aquaculture production.\n(2) With the Communication from the Commission to the Council and to the European Parliament on a European action plan for organic food and farming adopted in June 2004\u00a0(2), the Commission intends to assess the situation and to lay down the basis for policy development, thereby providing an overall strategic vision for the contribution of organic farming to the common agricultural policy. In particular, the European action plan for organic food and farming recommends, in action 11, establishing an independent expert panel for technical advice.\n(3) The Commission may need technical advice to decide on the authorisation of the use of products, substances and techniques in organic farming and processing, to develop or improve organic production rules and, more in general, for any other matter relating to the area of organic production. These are complex and time consuming exercises, for which a high degree of specialisation is required.\n(4) It is therefore necessary to set up a group of experts in the field of organic production and to define its tasks and its structure.\n(5) The group should help to ensure easy access to highly qualified technical expertise in a wide range of fields related to organic production.\n(6) The group should be composed of scientists and other experts with competences related to organic production and should deliver independent, excellent and transparent technical advice to the Commission.\n(7) Rules on disclosure of information by members of the group should be provided for, without prejudice to the Commission\u2019s rules on security as set out in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom\u00a0(3).\n(8) Personal data relating to members of the group should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data\u00a0(4),\nThe \u2018expert group for technical advice on organic production\u2019\nThe expert group for technical advice on organic production, hereinafter referred to as \u2018the group\u2019, is hereby set up.\nTask\nThe group\u2019s task shall be to assist the Commission in:\n(a) evaluating products, substances and techniques which can be used in organic production, taking into account objectives and principles laid down in Regulation (EC) No 834/2007;\n(b) improving existing rules and developing new production rules;\n(c) bringing about an exchange of experience and good practices in the field of organic production.\nConsultation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to the area of organic production.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The chairperson of the group may advise the Commission that it is desirable to consult the group on a specific question.\nMembership \u2014 Appointment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall be composed of 13 members.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The members of the group shall be appointed by the Commission from specialists with competence in the areas referred to in Articles 2 and 3(1) and who have responded to the public call for applications. The Commission may also establish a pool list of candidates that could not be appointed as permanent members although they were considered suitable for a position in the group in the course of the selection procedure.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This pool list can be used to appoint replacements for members of the group or to appoint as members of the sub-groups.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The members of the group and of the sub-groups shall be appointed in a personal capacity and shall advise the Commission independently of any outside influence.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the group are appointed for a three-year renewable term of office and may not serve for more than three consecutive mandates. They shall remain in office until such time as they are replaced in accordance with paragraph 6 or their term of office ends.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members who are no longer capable of contributing effectively to the group\u2019s deliberations, who resign or who do not comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 4 of this Article, or Article 287 of the Treaty, may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members appointed in a personal capacity shall each year sign an undertaking to act in the public interest and a declaration indicating the absence or existence of any interest which may undermine their objectivity. They shall also declare at each meeting any specific interest which may be considered as prejudicial to their independence in relation to the items on the agenda.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The names of members appointed in a personal capacity in the group and in the sub-groups and those included in the pool list shall be published on the Internet site of the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development and in the Register of Expert Groups. These names shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\nOperation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group elects a chairperson and two vice-chairpersons from its members by a simple majority.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In agreement with the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, sub-groups may be set up to examine specific questions under terms of reference established by the group. Such groups shall be dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled. Sub-groups shall be composed of up to seven members from the members of the group or from the pool list referred to in Article 4(3).\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission\u2019s representative may ask experts or observers with specific competence on a subject on the agenda to participate in the group\u2019s or sub-group\u2019s deliberations if this is useful or necessary.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Information obtained by participating in the deliberations of a group or sub-group shall not be divulged if, in the opinion of the Commission, that information relates to confidential matters.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group and its sub-groups shall normally meet on Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by it. The Commission shall provide secretarial services. Other Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the group and its sub-groups.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission\u00a0(5).\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may publish on the Internet, in the original language of the document concerned, the agenda, the minutes, any summary, conclusion, or partial conclusion or working document of the group.\nMeeting expenses\nThe Commission shall reimburse travel and, where appropriate, subsistence expenses for members and experts in connection with the group\u2019s activities in accordance with the Commission\u2019s rules on the compensation of external experts.\nNo remuneration shall be paid for the services rendered under this Decision.\nMeeting expenses are reimbursed within the limits of the annual budget allocated to the group by the responsible Commission services.\nEntry into force\nThe decision shall take effect on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "food inspection" ], "distractor groups": [ "religious institution", "action for annulment (EU)", "Hungary", "EU law - international law", "product life", "electronic component", "corporate finance", "mutual assistance", "higher education", "jewellery and goldsmith's articles" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01774/2004 of 14 October 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01623/2000 laying down detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EC) No\u00a01493/1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine with regard to market mechanisms\n15.10.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 316/61\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1774/2004\nof 14 October 2004\namending Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 laying down detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine with regard to market mechanisms\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine\u00a0(1), and in particular Articles 26 and 33 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under the arrangements for the private storage of wine and musts provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, producers should be allowed to conclude sales contracts during the period of validity of storage contracts in order to encourage them to become more market oriented.\n(2) Article 42 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000\u00a0(2), provides for the approval of distillers of wine and the drawing up of lists of approved distillers. Given the importance of the distillation of potable alcohol, distillers should be guaranteed access to those lists. In addition, given advances in communications technologies, the electronic publication of this information should be provided for.\n(3) As regards the arrangements for the distillation or the withdrawal under supervision of by-products of wine-making, the rules on the organic production of grapes should be clarified and the notification to the Commission of certain derogations granted by the Member States should be provided for.\n(4) Article 63a of Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000, concerning the distillation of wine into potable alcohol, lays down a percentage of producers\u2019 production that may be distilled. The percentage for the 2004/05 wine year should be set. In addition, experience in previous wine years indicates that some of the dates for this distillation should be amended. In order better to monitor the movement of the alcohol obtained in these distillation operations, prior authorisation should be provided for.\n(5) In order to guarantee the smooth implementation of intervention measures where several Member States are involved, the Commission should be notified of the competent authorities designated by the Member States.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 should consequently be amended.\n(7) In order to permit the application of the amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 for the whole wine year, this Regulation should apply from 1 August 2004.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine,\nRegulation (EC) No 1623/2000 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 34, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:\n2. Article 42 is replaced by the following:\n3. Article 49(4 ) is replaced by the following:\n(a) producers who produce no more than 80\u00a0hl by themselves on their own premises;\n(b) producers who grow their grapes using organic production methods.\u2019\n4. In Article 50, the following subparagraph is added to paragraph 1(b):\n5. Article 63a is amended as follows:\n(a) in paragraph 1, the words \u2018for the period from 1 October to 31 December\u2019 are replaced by \u2018for the period from 1 October to 23 December\u2019;\n(b) in the first subparagraph of paragraph 2, the words \u2018For the wine year 2003/04\u2019 are replaced by \u2018For the 2004/05 wine year\u2019;\n(c) paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:\n(d) in the first subparagraph of paragraph 6, the words \u2018between 25 January and 15 February\u2019 are replaced by \u2018between 30 January and 20 February\u2019;\n(e) paragraph 7 is replaced by the following:\n6. In Article 64(2), the following subparagraph is added:\n7. Article 65 is amended as follows:\n(a) paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:\n(a) in the case referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 3, by the declaration,\n(b) in the case referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 3, by the declaration accompanied by a contract for delivery for distillation on the producer's behalf concluded between the producer and the distiller.\u2019\n(b) in paragraph 7, the following subparagraph is added:\n8. Article 66(2) is replaced by the following:\n9. In Article 74(5), the words \u2018within the deadline laid down in Article 65(7)\u2019 are replaced by \u2018within the deadline laid down in Article 65(7) plus one month.\u2019\n10. The following Article 102b is added:\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 August 2004.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "common organisation of markets" ], "distractor groups": [ "popularising science", "long-term care", "cooperative", "president of an institution", "occupational accident", "autonomist party", "audiovisual co-production", "learning", "marine mammal", "local wine", "timetable for EMU" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 82/622/EEC of 1 July 1982 adapting to technical progress for the second time Council Directive 73/360/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to non-automatic weighing machines\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE of 1 July 1982 adapting to technical progress for the second time Council Directive 73/360/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to non-automatic weighing machines (82/622/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 71/316/EEC of 26 July 1971 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control (1), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Greece, and in particular Article 17 thereof,\nWhereas, since the preparation and adoption of Directive 73/360/EEC (2), as last amended by Commission Directive 76/696/EEC (3), new and more advanced weighing machines have been developed ; whereas the said Directive should therefore be amended to take account of technical progress;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directives for the Elimination of Technical Barriers to Trade in Measuring Instruments,\nIn the Annex to Directive 73/360/EEC, the texts of items 2.4.3, 10.4.5, 10.4.7, 10.4.8, 10.4.9, 10.8.1.2, 10.8.1.5, 10.13.2.1.6, 10.13.2.3.1 and 16.4.4 are hereby replaced, and items 10.13.12.1.10 and 11.5.1.3 added in accordance with the Annex hereto. Items 10.13.2.2.3 and 12.3.1.7.2 are hereby deleted.\nMember States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary in order to comply with this Directive on 1 May 1983. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "metrology" ], "distractor groups": [ "South Asia", "imposed price", "majority voting", "natural hazard", "legislative power", "Caribbean Islands", "post-communism", "world production", "office worker", "conglomerate" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1508/2001 of 24 July 2001 laying down the marketing standard for onions and amending Regulation (EEC) No 2213/83\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 1508/2001\nof 24 July 2001\nlaying down the marketing standard for onions and amending Regulation (EEC) No 2213/83\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 911/2001(2), and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Onions are among the products listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 for which standards must be adopted. Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2213/83 of 28 July 1983 laying down quality standards for onions and witloof chicory(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2390/97(4), has been amended and can no longer ensure legal clarity.\n(2) In the interest of clarity, the rules on onions should be separated from those on other products under Regulation (EEC) No 2213/83. The rules in question should therefore be recast and Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2213/83 should be repealed. To that end, and in the interest of preserving transparency on the world market, account should be taken of the standard for onions recommended by the Working Party on Standardisation of Perishable Produce and Quality Development of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE).\n(3) Application of these standards should remove products of unsatisfactory quality from the market, bring production into line with consumer requirements and facilitate trade based on fair competition, thereby helping to improve profitability.\n(4) The standards are applicable at all marketing stages. Long-distance transport, storage over a certain period and the various processes the products undergo may cause some degree of deterioration owing to the biological development of the products or their perishable nature. Account should be taken of such deterioration when applying the standard at the marketing stages following dispatch.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,\nThe marketing standard for onions, falling within CN code 0703 10 19, shall be as set out in the Annex.\nThis standard shall apply at all marketing stages, under the conditions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.\nHowever, at stages following dispatch, products may show in relation to the requirements of the standard a slight lack of freshness and turgidity, as well as slight deterioration due to their development and their perishable nature.\nRegulation (EEC) No 2213/83 is amended as follows:\n1. In the title, the words \"onions and\" are deleted.\n2. Article 1(1) is replaced by the following: \"1. The marketing standard for witloof chicory, falling within CN code 0705 21 00, shall be as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\"\n3. Annex I is deleted.\n4. In Annex II, the title is replaced by the following title: \"Annex\".\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2002.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "bulb vegetable" ], "distractor groups": [ "travel agency", "energy recovery", "press release", "national expenditure", "biography", "Greater Copenhagen", "fight against crime", "judgment of the Court (EU)", "New Caledonia", "amphibian", "Communist Party", "flood", "large-scale construction" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2047/2001 of 18 October 2001 amending Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine with regard to market mechanisms\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2047/2001\nof 18 October 2001\namending Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine with regard to market mechanisms\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000(2), and in particular Article 33 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In order that the distillation measure laid down in Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 can apply to as many growers as possible, a decision has been taken to postpone the opening of the measure from 1 September to 16 October 2001. To make the measure more effective, distillers who need alcohol quickly and who therefore wish to begin distillation operations as quickly as possible should be allowed to do so by the rapid approval of distillation contracts up to a certain percentage. That amendment must apply from the date on which the distillation measure opens.\n(2) Article 93 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1660/2001(4), lays down the detailed rules for the public sale of vinous alcohol for disposal with a view to its use as bioethanol in the Community. Given experience to date, certain rules should be amended, including those concerning the volume of the lots put up for sale and the deadline for removal of the alcohol.\n(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine,\nRegulation (EC) No 1623/2000 is amended as follows:\n1. In Article 63, the following paragraph is added: \"5a. By derogation from paragraph 5, Member States may approve contracts signed during the period 16 October 2001 to 31 October 2001 immediately after their presentation in respect of a quantity not exceeding 20 % of the quantity to which the contracts relate.\"\n2. Article 93 is amended as follows:\n(a) Paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: \"2. The volume of alcohol put up for sale shall split into lots. The Commission shall decide on the composition of the lots. Unless the Commission decides otherwise in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 75 of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, a lot shall be made for each firm on the approved list and each firm on the list shall be allocated a lot. Should a firm not accept the alcohol offered for sale, it must notify the Commission and the intervention agency thereof no more than 30 days after the date of publication of the notice of public sale of alcohol. Alcohol which has not been accepted shall be released from the prohibition on physical movement under Article 95(2) of this Regulation from the date on which the refusal was notified and may be sold during a subsequent sale.\"\n(b) Paragraph 5 is replaced by the following: \"5. Except where they have lodged a standing security, prior to any removal of alcohol and no later than the date of issue of the removal order, purchasing firms shall lodge a performance guarantee with the intervention agency concerned to ensure that the alcohol is used as bio-ethanol in the fuel sector.\"\n(c) Paragraph 6 is replaced with the following: \"6. All the alcohol must be removed no more than six months after the date of notification of the Commission's decision to award the sale.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 16 October 2001.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "common organisation of markets" ], "distractor groups": [ "United Arab Emirates countries", "absolute majority", "Interparliamentary Union", "fuel wood", "Smolyan region", "maritime shipping", "cost analysis", "territorial enclave", "Orthodoxy", "Partnership for Peace", "diversification of exports" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2858/86 of 15 September 1986 on the classification of goods falling within heading No 39.07 of the Common Customs Tariff\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2858/86\nof 15 September 1986\non the classification of goods falling within heading No 39.07 of the Common Customs Tariff\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 97/69 of 16 January 1969 on measures to be taken for uniform application of the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2055/84 (2), and in particular Article 3 thereof,\nWhereas, in order to ensure that the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff is uniformly applied, provisions should be adopted on the classification of the following goods:\n1. A binder consisting of a paperboard rectangle (approximately 530 \u00d7 310 mm and 1,84 mm thick), covered on each side with a sheet of artificial plastic material (approximately 0,23 mm thick) welded on all four edges; this covered paperboard is then folded in two places to form the spine of the binder. Inside, there is a binding mechanism;\n2. A binder consisting of two paperboard rectangles (the covers, approximately 310 \u00d7 220 mm each and 1,64 mm thick), a paperboard strip (the spine, approximately 310 \u00d7 45 mm and 1,64 mm thick) and two narrow strips on either side of the spine (stiffeners, approximately 310 \u00d7 14 mm each and 1,64 mm thick), covered on each side with a sheet of artificial plastic material (approximately 0,42 mm thick) welded on all four edges, along the length of the strip forming the spine of the folder, and along the length of the stiffness. Inside, there is a binding mechanism;\n3. A binder consisting of two paperboard rectangles (the covers, approximately 255 \u00d7 310 mm each and 2,05 mm thick) and a paperboard strip (the spine, approximately 51 \u00d7 310 mm and 2,05 mm thick), which are covered on each side with a sheet of artificial plastic material (approximately 0,40 mm thick) welded on all four edges and along the length of the strip forming the spine of the binder. Inside, there is a binding mechanism;\n4. A binder consisting of a paperboard rectangle approximately 520 \u00d7 310 mm) having in its central part, along the two folding lines, two rectangular slots (approximately 290 \u00d7 6 mm) approximately 18 mm apart. The paperboard is covered on each side with a sheet of artificial plastic material that is welded on all four edges and in the part corresponding to the slots. Inside, there is a binding mechanism;\nWhereas the Common Customs Tariff annexed to Council Regulation (EEC) No 950/68 (3) as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1355/86 (4), classifies in heading No 39.07 articles of materials of the kind described in headings Nos 39.01 to 39.06, and in heading No 48.18, inter alia, registers, exercise books, notebooks, memorandum blocks, order books, receipt books, diaries, blotting-pads, binders (loose-leaf or other), etc., whereas the abovementioned headings can be envisaged for the classification of the goods in question;\nWhereas all these articles consist basically of two materials, namely paperboard and artificial plastic material; whereas they are therefore goods consisting of different materials to be classified in accordance with general rule 3 (b) for the interpretation of the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff;\nWhereas, in the above articles the paperboard merely provides strengthening and support whilst the artificial plastic material, bearing in mind the presentation and use of the articles, confers on them their essential character; whereas the articles in question should therefore be classified in heading No 39.07 of the Common Customs Tariff;\nWhereas the provisions of Regulation do not conflict with the opinion of the Committee on Common Customs Tariff Nomenclature,\nThe following articles:\n1. A binder consisting of a paperboard rectangle (approximately 530 \u00d7 310 mm and 1,84 mm thick), covered on each side with a sheet of artificial plastic material (approximately 0,23 mm thick) welded on all four edges; this covered paperboard is then folded in two places to form the spine of the binder. Inside, there is a binding mechanism;\n2. A binder consisting of two paperboard rectangles (the covers, approximately 310 \u00d7 220 mm each and 1,64 mm thick), a paperboard strip (the spine, approximately 310 \u00d7 45 mm and 1,64 mm thick) and two narrow strips on either side of the spine (stiffeners, approximately 310 \u00d7 14 mm each and 1,64 mm thick), covered on each side with a sheet of artificial plastic material (approximately 0,42 mm thick) welded on all four edges, along the length of the strip forming the spine of the folder and along the length of the stiffness. Inside, there is a binding mechanism;\n3. A binder consisting of two paperboard rectangles (the covers, approximately 255 \u00d7 310 mm each and 2,05 mm thick) and a paperboard strip (the spine, approximately 51 \u00d7 310 mm and 2,05 mm thick), covered on each side with a sheet of artificial plastic material (approximately 0,40 mm thick) welded on all four edges and along the length of the strip forming the spine of the binder. Inside, there is a binding mechanism;\n4. A binder consisting of a paperboard rectangle (approximately 520 \u00d7 310 mm) having in its central part, along the two folding lines, two rectangular slots (approximately 290 \u00d7 6 mm) approximately 18 mm apart. The paperboard is covered on each side with a sheet of artificial plastic material welded on all four edges and in the part corresponding to the slots. Inside, there is a binding mechanism;\nshall be classified under the following heading in the Common Customs Tariff\n39.07: Articles of materials of the kind described in heading Nos 39.01 to 39.06.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 21st day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "pulp and paper industry" ], "distractor groups": [ "regulations for civil servants", "Statute for Members of the Parliament", "tax on employment income", "exchange transaction", "Philippines", "report", "DNA", "job vacancy", "EU policy", "Group of 77", "Serbia" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2104/2001 of 26 October 2001 amending Regulation (EC) No 1249/96 on rules of application (cereals sector import duties) for Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2104/2001\nof 26 October 2001\namending Regulation (EC) No 1249/96 on rules of application (cereals sector import duties) for Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in cereals(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1666/2000(2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1249/96(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2015/2001(4), provides for a difference of EUR 10 per tonne with regard to the calculation of the import duties on cereals imported overland or by river, or by sea on vessels from ports located in the Mediterranean, Black Sea or Baltic Sea. That difference is based on transport costs that are considerably less than those used for calculating import duties. On the basis of market information, it would appear that the advantage of proximity is offset by logistical disadvantages created by transport, storage and loading infrastructures and that, in practice, freight costs over the long term are equivalent. On the basis of experience, it appears that the existence of this supplementary import duty has the effect of creating flow difficulties to the market. The reduction of EUR 10 per tonne provided for in Article 4 should therefore be abolished. The situation will be reassessed before the next marketing year.\n(2) Article 3 of and Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1249/96 lay down the quality criteria to be respected on imports to the Community. Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1908/84(5), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2507/87(6), laid down the reference methods for the determination of the quality of cereals. This Regulation was repealed as a consequence of the abolition of the standard qualities for cereals. It is therefore necessary to refer to the analytical methods laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No 824/2000 of 19 April 2000 establishing procedures for the taking-over of cereals by intervention agencies and laying down methods of analysis for determining the quality of cereals(7).\n(3) The footnote in Annex II lays down that where no quotation is available that can be used to calculate a representative cif import price, fob quotations publicly available in the United States of America may be used. However, that provision is difficult to apply, since internal transport costs in the USA cannot be taken into account. The footnote must therefore be amended to take account of those transport costs.\n(4) The Management Committee for Cereals has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,\nRegulation (EC) No 1249/96 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 4(2) is replaced by the following: \"2. The representative cif import prices for durum wheat, barley, maize and, in the case of common wheat, for each standard quality shall be the sum of the components referred to in paragraph 1 (a), (b) and (c).\nIn cases where third countries grant subsidies on exports of medium or low quality common wheat to European or Mediterranean basin countries so that world market prices can be undercut, the Commission may take account of those subsidies in establishing the representative cif price for importation into the Community.\"\n2. The first table in Annex I is replaced by the following table:\n\"Classification standards for imported products\n(on the basis of a moisture content of 12 % by weight or equivalent)\n>TABLE>\"\n3. The table in Annex II is replaced by the following:\n\"Quotation exchanges and reference varieties\n>TABLE>\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 9 November 2001.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import" ], "distractor groups": [ "leather industry", "public sector", "CoR opinion", "County of Istra", "consumer information", "power to appoint", "ecosystem", "papal act", "refusal to sell", "customs drawback" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2009/98/EC: Decision of the European Central Bank of 11\u00a0December 2008 amending Decision ECB/2006/17 on the annual accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB/2008/22)\n5.2.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 36/22\nDECISION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\nof 11 December 2008\namending Decision ECB/2006/17 on the annual accounts of the European Central Bank\n(ECB/2008/22)\n(2009/98/EC)\nTHE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\n,\nHaving regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 26.2 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Decision ECB/2006/17 of 10 November 2006 on the annual accounts of the European Central Bank\u00a0(1) needs to be amended to reflect policy decisions and market developments.\n(2) The European Central Bank (ECB) has revised its disclosure policy for securities transactions with a view to enhance further the transparency of the ECB\u2019s annual accounts. As part of the revised policy, securities that previously qualified as financial fixed assets should be reclassified from the balance sheet item \u2018Other financial assets\u2019 to the appropriate item under the heading \u2018asset\u2019 depending on the origin of the issuer, the currency denomination and on whether the securities are held-to-maturity. Moreover, all financial instruments that are part of an earmarked portfolio should be included under the item \u2018Other financial assets\u2019.\n(3) Decision ECB/2006/17 does not contain specific rules on the accounting of forward interest rate swaps, foreign exchange futures and equity futures. Such instruments are increasingly used in the financial markets and may be relevant to the management of the ECB\u2019s foreign reserves. While forward interest rate swaps should be accounted for in the same manner as \u2018plain vanilla\u2019 interest rate swaps, foreign exchange futures and equity futures should be accounted for in the same manner as interest rate futures,\nAmendments\nDecision ECB/2006/17 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 8 is amended as follows:\n(a) Paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:\n(b) The following paragraph 4 is added:\n2. Article 10 is replaced by the following:\n3. Article 16 is replaced by the following:\n4. In Article 17 the following sentence is added:\n5. Annexes I and III to Decision ECB/2006/17 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.\nFinal provision\nThis Decision shall enter into force on 31 December 2008.", "answer groups": [ "financial regulation" ], "distractor groups": [ "crop yield", "marine mammal", "information industry", "non-governmental organisation", "maximum price", "North-South trade", "job access", "smoking", "Basque Country", "ECSC general Decision" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2008/74/EC of 18 July 2008 amending, as regards the type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and access to vehicle repair and maintenance information, Directive 2005/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive 2005/78/EC (Text with EEA relevance)\n19.7.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 192/51\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2008/74/EC\nof 18 July 2008\namending, as regards the type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and access to vehicle repair and maintenance information, Directive 2005/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive 2005/78/EC\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Directive 2005/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from compression-ignition engines for use in vehicles, and the emission of gaseous pollutants from positive-ignition engines fuelled with natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas for use in vehicles\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 7 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Following the change of scope of Directive 2005/55/EC introduced by Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions from light passenger and commercial vehicles (Euro 5 and Euro 6) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information\u00a0(2), it is necessary to further amend this Directive by transferring the relevant technical requirements. Consequently, it is also necessary to amend Commission Directive 2005/78/EC\u00a0(3), which implements that Directive.\n(2) As a consequence of the change of scope, it is necessary to introduce new requirements into the heavy-duty emissions legislation set up by Directive 2005/55/EC. These requirements include test procedures to enable type approval of heavy-duty engines and vehicles with petrol engines.\n(3) In addition, it is necessary to introduce existing requirements for measuring the smoke opacity of diesel engines into Directive 2005/78/EC. This is due to the repeal of Council Directive 72/306/EEC of 2 August 1972 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles\u00a0(4) as provided by Regulation (EC) No 715/2007.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Technical Committee \u2014 Motor Vehicles,\nDirective 2005/55/EC is amended as follows:\n1. Article 1 is replaced by the following:\n(a) \u201cvehicle\u201d means any motor vehicle as defined in Article 2 of Directive 70/156/EEC with a reference mass exceeding 2\u00a0610 kg;\n(b) \u201cengine\u201d means the motive propulsion source of a vehicle for which type approval as a separate technical unit, as defined in Article 2 of Directive 70/156/EEC, may be granted;\n(c) \u201cenhanced environment-friendly vehicle (EEV)\u201d means a vehicle propelled by an engine which complies with the permissive emission limit values set out in row C of the tables in Section 6.2.1 of Annex I.\u2019\n2. Annexes I, II, III and VI to Directive 2005/55/EC are amended in accordance with Annex I to this Directive.\nDirective 2005/78/EC is amended as follows:\n1. Article 2 is replaced by the following:\n2. In point 1 of Annex V, Section 2 is replaced by the following:\n\u2018Section 2: the number of the Directive \u2014 2005/55/EC\u2019.\n3. Annexes VI and VII as set out in Annex II to this Directive are added.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 2 January 2009 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 3 January 2009.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "reduction of gas emissions" ], "distractor groups": [ "Hradec Kr\u00e1lov\u00e9", "turnkey factory", "arboriculture", "educational system", "fertiliser", "Danube region", "international human rights law", "older worker", "government" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "1999/141/EC: Commission Decision of 10 February 1999 amending the Decision on the Liaison Group on the Elderly (notified under document number C(1999) 211)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 10 February 1999 amending the Decision on the Liaison Group on the Elderly (notified under document number C(1999) 211) (1999/141/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nWhereas, in the light of developments at Community level, it is necessary to adjust the membership of the Group set up by Commission Decision 91/544/EEC (1), as amended by Decision 93/417/EEC (2); whereas at the same time, in the interests of administrative efficiency, the terms of office of the Chairman and of the Members of the Group should be reduced,\nDecision 91/544/EEC is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 3(2), '25 members` is replaced by '24 members`;\n2. Article 4(3) is amended as follows:\n(a) in each case, 'five seats` is replaced by 'four seats`;\n(b) the following indent is added:\n'- ESCU-European Senior Citizens Union: four seats`;\n3. in Article 5(1), '18 months` is replaced by '12 months`;\n4. in Article 7(1), '18 months` is replaced by '12 months`;\n5. in the Annex, the following indent is added:\n'- ESCU-European Senior Citizens Union`.", "answer groups": [ "elderly person" ], "distractor groups": [ "quality control of agricultural products", "designation of origin", "price formation", "measure having equivalent effect", "European cultural event", "commentary on a law", "employment statistics", "Arab Maghreb Union", "land bank", "legislative programme (EU)", "support mechanism" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/96/EC: Commission Decision of 20 December 2007 granting a derogation requested by Belgium referred to the region of Wallonia pursuant to Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (notified under document number C(2007) 6643)\n6.2.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 32/21\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 20 December 2007\ngranting a derogation requested by Belgium referred to the region of Wallonia pursuant to Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources\n(notified under document number C(2007) 6643)\n(Only the French text is authentic)\n(2008/96/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources\u00a0(1), and in particular the third subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III thereto,\nWhereas:\n(1) If the amount of manure that a Member State intends to apply per hectare each year is different from the one specified in the first sentence of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC and in point (a) thereof, that amount has to be fixed so as not to prejudice the achievement of the objectives specified in Article 1 of that Directive and has to be justified on the basis of objective criteria, such as, in the present case, long growing seasons and crops with high nitrogen uptake.\n(2) Belgium submitted to the Commission a request for a derogation under third subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC referred to the region of Wallonia.\n(3) The requested derogation concerns the intention of Belgium to allow the application in Wallonia of up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year from livestock manure in specific holdings with more than 48\u00a0% of acreage as grassland. The nitrogen application from livestock manure on grassland would not exceed 230 kg per hectare per year, while on arable crops of these farms it would not exceed 115 kg/ha nitrogen per hectare per year.\n(4) The designation of nitrates vulnerable zones in respect to Wallonia, in conformity with paragraphs 2 and 4 of Article 3 of Directive 91/676/EEC, covers approximately 42\u00a0% of this region\u2019s territory and 54\u00a0% of utilised agricultural land.\n(5) Approximately 500 farms, corresponding to 5,6\u00a0% of total number of farms in nitrate vulnerable zones, and 3\u00a0% of the Utilised Agricultural Land are estimated to be encompassed by the derogation.\n(6) The legislation implementing Directive 91/676/EEC in Wallonia \u2018Arr\u00eat\u00e9 du Gouvernement wallon du 15 f\u00e9vrier 2007 modifiant le Livre II du Code de l\u2019Environnement constituant le Code de l\u2019Eau en ce qui concerne la gestion durable de l\u2019azote en agriculture\u2019 has been adopted and applies equally to the requested derogation.\n(7) Water quality data submitted show that in Wallonia in 2005 average nitrate concentration in surface water in nitrate vulnerable zones was 16,7 mg/L, with stable or decreasing trends in 84\u00a0% of monitoring sites in the period from 2001 to 2005. Median groundwater concentration in 2005 was 24,8 mg/L nitrates, with stable or decreasing trends in 74\u00a0% of monitoring sites in the period from 2001 to 2005.\n(8) Average nitrogen input per hectare from livestock manure decreased by 12\u00a0% since 1990 and in 2004 was 101 kg/ha of Utilised Agricultural Land, of which 94\u00a0% from cattle manure, 3\u00a0% from pig manure and 2\u00a0% from poultry manure. Average application of chemical fertilisers decreased for both nitrogen and phosphate since 1990, respectively by 19\u00a0% and by 49\u00a0% and in 2004 was on average of 109 kg/ha and 28 kg/ha respectively for nitrogen and phosphate.\n(9) The supporting documents presented in the notification show that the proposed amount of 230 kg per hectare per year of nitrogen from manure is justified on the basis of objective criteria such as long growing seasons and crops with high nitrogen uptake.\n(10) The Commission after examination of the request considers that the proposed amount of 230 kg per hectare per year nitrogen from manure will not prejudice the achievement of the objectives of Directive 91/676/EEC, subject to certain strict conditions being met.\n(11) This Decision should be applicable in connection with the second action programme in force for the region of Wallonia for the period 2007 to 2010.\n(12) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Nitrates Committee set up pursuant to Article 9 of Directive 91/676/EEC,\nThe derogation requested by Belgium referred to the region of Wallonia by letter of 19 October 2006, for the purpose of allowing a higher amount of livestock manure than that provided for in the first sentence of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC and in point (a) thereof, is granted, subject to the conditions laid down in this Decision.\nDefinitions\nFor the purpose of this decision, the following definitions shall apply:\n(a) \u2018cattle farms\u2019 means holdings with more than three livestock units, where at least two-thirds of livestock are cattle;\n(b) \u2018grassland\u2019 means acreage of the cattle farm cultivated with permanent or temporary grassland (generally temporary lies less than four years).\nScope\nThis Decision applies on an individual basis and subject to the conditions set out in Articles 4, 5 and 6 to cattle farms.\nAnnual authorisation and commitment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Farmers who want to benefit from a derogation shall submit an application to the competent authorities annually.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Together with the annual application referred to in paragraph 1 they shall undertake in writing to fulfil the conditions provided for in Articles 5 and 6.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The competent authorities shall ensure that all the applications for derogation are subject to administrative control. Where the control carried out by the national authorities of the applications referred to in paragraph 1 demonstrates that the conditions provided for in Articles 5 and 6 are not fulfilled, the applicant shall be informed thereof and the application shall be considered to be refused.\nApplication of manure and other fertilisers\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The amount of livestock manure applied each year on cattle farms, including by the animals themselves, shall not exceed the amount of manure containing 230 kg of nitrogen per hectare, subject to the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2 to 8.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The amount of livestock manure applied on grassland each year shall not exceed 230 kg of nitrogen per hectare. The amount of livestock manure applied on other farmland each year shall not exceed 115 kg of nitrogen per hectare.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A fertilisation plan shall be kept for each farm describing the crop rotation, the planned application of manure and nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers. It shall be available in the farm each calendar year by 31 March at the latest.\nThe fertilisation plan shall include the following:\n(a) the number of livestock, a description of the housing and storage system, including the volume of manure storage available;\n(b) a calculation of manure nitrogen (less losses in housing and storage) and phosphorus produced in the farm;\n(c) the crop rotation and acreage for grassland and for each crop, including a sketch map indicating location of individual fields;\n(d) the foreseeable nitrogen and phosphorus crop requirements;\n(e) the amount and the type of manure delivered outside and to the farm;\n(f) nitrogen and phosphorus application from manure over each field;\n(g) application of nitrogen and phosphorus with chemical and other fertilisers over each field.\nPlans shall be revised no later than seven days following any changes in agricultural practices to ensure consistency between plans and actual agricultural practices.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fertilisation accounts shall be prepared by each farm. They shall be submitted to the competent authority for each calendar year.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each farm benefiting from an individual derogation shall accept that the application referred to in Article 4(1), the fertilisation plan and the fertilisation accounts can be subject to control.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Phosphorous analysis in soil shall be performed for each farm which benefits from an individual derogation at least once every four years for each homogeneous area of the farm, with regard to crop rotation and soil characteristics. At least one analysis every five hectares of farmland shall be required.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nitrate concentration in soil shall be measured every year in each farm which benefits from an individual derogation. At least five samples per year shall be analysed for each farm.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Manure shall not be spread in the autumn before grass cultivation.\nLand management\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a048\u00a0% or more of the acreage available for manure application on the cattle holding shall be cultivated with grass.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Farmers benefiting from an individual derogation shall carry out the following measures:\n(a) Temporary grassland shall be ploughed in spring.\n(b) Grassland shall not include leguminous or other plants fixing atmospheric nitrogen. This will however not apply to leguminous in grassland with less than 50\u00a0% leguminous.\nOther measures\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This derogation shall be applied without prejudice to the measures needed to comply with other Community environmental legislation.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each farmer benefiting from an individual derogation shall be provided with technical assistance through an advisory service, which shall ensure the evaluation of the results of soil analysis, fertilisation plans and fertilisation accounts. Results of evaluation shall be transmitted to the competent authorities in charge of compliance checking in respect to the conditions set out in Articles 5 and 6.\nMonitoring\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Maps showing the percentage of farms, percentage of livestock and percentage of agricultural land covered by individual derogation in each agricultural zone shall be drawn by the competent authority and shall be updated every year. Those maps shall be submitted to the Commission annually and for the first time by the end of 2007.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A monitoring network for sampling of surface and shallow groundwater shall be established and maintained to assess the impact of the derogation on water quality.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Survey and nutrient analysis shall provide data on local land use, crop rotations and agricultural practices on farms benefiting from individual derogations. Those data can be used for model-based calculations of the magnitude of nitrate leaching and phosphorus losses from fields where up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year from livestock manure is applied.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Monitoring sites shall be established in order to provide data on nitrogen concentration in soil water and corresponding nitrogen losses through the root zone into groundwater, as well as on nitrogen losses by surface and subsurface runoff, both under derogation and non derogation conditions.\nReporting\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The competent authority shall submit the results of the monitoring every year to the Commission, with a concise report on water quality evolution, evaluation of nitrate residue in soil in autumn in farms benefiting from a derogation and evaluation practice. The report shall provide information on how the evaluation of the implementation of the derogation conditions is carried on through controls at farm level and include information on non compliant farms based on the results of administrative and field inspections. The first report shall be transmitted by June 2008 and subsequently every year by June.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The results thus obtained will be taken into consideration by the Commission with regard to an eventual new request for a derogation.\n0\nApplication\nThis Decision shall apply in the context of the second action programme 2007-2010 for the Region of Wallonia. \u2018Arr\u00eat\u00e9 du Gouvernement wallon du 15 f\u00e9vrier 2007 modifiant le Livre II du Code de l\u2019Environnement constituant le Code de l\u2019Eau en ce qui concerne la gestion durable de l\u2019azote en agriculture\u2019. It shall expire on 31 December 2010.\n1\nThis Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium.", "answer groups": [ "derogation from EU law" ], "distractor groups": [ "Philippines", "tax evasion", "lockout", "Uruguay", "work schedule", "energy law", "embryo and foetus", "world population" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01544/2007 of 20 December 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a02707/2000 laying down rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01255/1999 as regards Community aid for supplying milk and certain milk products to pupils in educational establishments\n21.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 337/64\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1544/2007\nof 20 December 2007\namending Regulation (EC) No 2707/2000 laying down rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards Community aid for supplying milk and certain milk products to pupils in educational establishments\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 15 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 14(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1152/2007 of 26 September 2007 sets up the aid level for milk supplied to pupils in educational establishments, regardless of its fat content and provides for the adaptation of the aid level for other eligible products.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2707/2000\u00a0(2) should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,\nRegulation (EC) No 2707/2000 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 3 is replaced by the following:\n2. Article 4(1) is replaced by the following:\n3. Article 5(2) is replaced by the following:\n(a) category II: 100 kg = 300 kg of milk;\n(b) category III: 100 kg = 765 kg of milk;\n(c) category IV: 100 kg = 850 kg of milk;\n(d) category V: 100 kg = 935 kg of milk;\n(e) category VI: 100 kg = 750 kg of milk.\u2019;\n4. Annexes I and II are replaced by the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2008.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "milk" ], "distractor groups": [ "European Investment Bank", "Australia", "sales representative", "facilities for the disabled", "employment service", "Sud \u2014 Muntenia (Romania)", "staff regulations", "Middle East", "one person household", "small industry" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "81/9/EEC: Commission Decision of 15 December 1980 amending Commission Decision 78/463/EEC establishing a Community typology for agricultural holdings\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 15 December 1980 amending Commission Decision 78/463/EEC establishing a Community typology for agricultural holdings (81/9/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to the Treaty concerning the accession of the Hellenic Republic to the European Economic Community and to the European Atomic Energy Community (1), signed on 28 May 1979, and in particular Article 146 of the Act annexed thereto,\nWhereas, under Article 22 of the Act, Commission Decision 78/463/EEC (2) must be adapted in conformity with the guidelines set out in Annex II and under the conditions laid down in Article 146 of the Act ; whereas, consequently, Annex I should be completed accordingly,\nSection \"A. Standard gross margins\" of Annex I to Decision 78/463/EEC is amended as follows: 1. the following sentence is added to the last paragraph:\n\"; the SGM for Greece are regionalized at the level of 15 nomos groups.\"\n2. the following conversion rate is added to footnote (1):\n\", 35 73081 drachmas.\"\n3. the SGMs for Greece set out in the Annex hereto are added to the SGMs for the Member States.\nThis Decision shall enter into force on 1 January 1981.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Greece" ], "distractor groups": [ "relations between the State and the regions", "Cook Islands", "polluter pays principle", "regional law", "magnetic medium", "bull", "mixed cropping", "earths and stones", "average price", "new type of employment" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0615/2008 of 23\u00a0June 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01405/2006 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands and amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers\n28.6.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 168/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 615/2008\nof 23 June 2008\namending Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands and amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament\u00a0(1),\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006\u00a0(2) lays down the scope of application of the Regulation and gives the definition of the smaller islands. Experience from the application of that Regulation shows that the scope of the Regulation should be adapted.\n(2) Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 introduces specific supply arrangements aiming at easing the problems deriving from the particular geographical situation of some of the Aegean islands imposing additional transport costs in supplying products which are essential for human consumption, for processing or as agricultural inputs. These essential products are included in Annex I to the Treaty. Therefore, Article 3 should be amended in order to include reference to the Annex I in question, thus limiting the scope of the Article to these products only.\n(3) Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 provides for the procedure for adoption of detailed rules for the application of Chapter II of Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006. As a similar provision is laid down in Article 14 of the said Regulation concerning the implementation of the Regulation in its entirety, Article 6 should therefore be deleted.\n(4) Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 introduces measures to assist local agricultural products in general, thus having a wider scope than Article 3. Therefore, Article 7 should be amended to include a reference to Title II of Part Three of the Treaty, thus covering products of the soil, of stock farming and of fisheries and products of first-stage processing directly related to these products.\n(5) Article 9(e) of Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 refers, among other issues to be included in the support programme, to provisions for checks and administrative penalties. However, national provisions on checks and administrative penalties cannot be the subject of approval in the framework of the Community support programme for the smaller Aegean islands. These national measures may only be communicated to the Commission in accordance with Article 16 of that Regulation. Therefore, Article 9(e) should be amended in order to exclude any provisions for checks and administrative penalties to be included in the programme submitted by the competent authorities of Greece.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(7) Most of the measures referred to in Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 constitute direct payments and should as such be referenced in Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003\u00a0(3). Due to an error, the entry for the Aegean Islands was incorrectly deleted from Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 by Article 20(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006. Annex I should therefore be corrected with effect from the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006,\nRegulation (EC) No 1405/2006 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 1(1) shall be replaced by the following:\n2. Article 3(1) shall be replaced by the following:\n3. Article 6 shall be deleted;\n4. Article 7(1) shall be replaced by the following:\n5. Article 9(e) shall be replaced by the following:\n\u2018(e) the steps taken to ensure the support programme is implemented effectively and appropriately, including the arrangements for publicity, monitoring and evaluation;\u2019.\nIn Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 the following entry shall be inserted after POSEI:\n\u2018Aegean Islands Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006\u00a0(4) Direct payments within the meaning of Article 2 of this Regulation, under measures established in the programmes\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nHowever, Article 2 shall apply with effect from 1 January 2007.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "agricultural product" ], "distractor groups": [ "nuclear technology", "transport staff", "International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology", "field research", "European judicial area", "absolute majority", "North East (England)" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 1384/79 of 25 June 1979 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 introducing an accounting system for expenditure on infrastructure in respect of transport by rail, road and inland waterway\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1384/79 of 25 June 1979 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 introducing an accounting system for expenditure on infrastructure in respect of transport by rail, road and inland waterway\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),\nWhereas, in order to institute under the common transport policy a system of charging for the use of infrastructure, it is necessary to know what expenditure is incurred in respect of infrastructure;\nWhereas a permanent accounting system offers the most suitable means for knowing what expenditure is incurred in respect of infrastructure;\nWhereas to this end the Council, by Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 (3), introduced a permanent accounting system for such expenditure;\nWhereas account should be taken of experience gained and of the development of the common transport policy ; whereas the forms of accounts, the list of types of infrastructure and the schedule of returns concerning the use of infrastructure provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 should be adjusted accordingly,\nRegulation (EEC) No 1108/70 is hereby amended as follows: 1. Article 3 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"Article 3\nInfrastructure expenditure accounts shall be kept for each of the railway networks listed in Annex II (A. 1) and for the total of all the other networks listed in Annex II (A. 2), as well as for all roads and inland waterways open to public traffic, with the following exceptions: (a) roads closed to motor traffic, that is, to vehicles with a cylinder capacity equal to or exceeding 50 cm3;\n(b) roads used exclusively by agricultural or forestry vehicles or which serve only to provide access for agricultural or forestry operations;\n(c) inland waterways on which traffic is limited to vessels of less than 250 tonnes deadweight;\n(d) waterways of a maritime character, as listed in Regulation (EEC) No 281/71 (1).\n(1)OJ No L 33, 10.2.1971, p. 11.\" 2. Article 5 (2) (a) shall be replaced by the following:\n\"2. Separate accounts shall be presented:\n(a) in respect of railways: (i) for each of the networks listed in Annex II (A. 1);\n(ii) for the total of all the other networks listed in Annex II (A. 2). However, the returns relating to these networks shall be sent only once every five years, starting with those for the year 1980.\" (1)OJ No C 296, 11.12.1978, p. 57. (2)OJ No C 128, 21.5.1979, p. 35. (3)OJ No L 130, 15.6.1970, p. 4.\n3. The second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 6 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"- capital repayments and, separately, interest on loans contracted earlier.\"\n4. Article 7 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"Article 7\nMember States shall send to the Commission, at the same time as they send the accounts referred to in Article 5 and in respect of the same period, returns relating to the use of infrastructures in accordance with Tables A, B (1.1) and C of Annex III.\nThe returns covered by Tables B (1.2) and B (2) of that Annex shall be sent only once every five years. In the case of Table B (1.2) returns shall be sent for the first time for the year 1980 and, in the case of Table B (2), returns shall be suspended until work on the system of charging for the use of infrastructure make them necessary.\"\n5. Annexes I, II and III are amended in accordance with the Annex.\nMember States shall, in good time and after consulting the Commission, adopt such laws, regulations or administrative provisions as may be necessary for the implementation of this Regulation.\nWhere a Member State so requests, or where the Commission considers it appropriate, the Commission shall consult with the Member States concerned upon the proposed terms of the measures referred to in the preceding paragraph.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "accounting" ], "distractor groups": [ "night work", "EU relations", "energy technology", "prison system", "European Asylum Support Office", "recycling technology", "national transport", "international security", "tantalum" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 4154/88 of 19 December 1988 amending Council Regulations (EEC) No 4182/87, (EEC) no 4183/87 and (EEC) No 1842/88 opening, allocating and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for apricot pulp, prepared or preserved sardines and certain wines having a registered designation of origin originating in Morocco\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 4154/88 of 19 December 1988 amending Council Regulations (EEC) No 4182/87, (EEC) no 4183/87 and (EEC) No 1842/88 opening, allocating and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for apricot pulp, prepared or preserved sardines and certain wines having a registered designation of origin originating in Morocco\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas under Regulations (EEC) No 4182/87 (1), (EEC) No 4183/87 (2) and (EEC) No 1842/88 (3) the Council opened Community tariff quotas at zero or reduced duty for the following products originating in Morocco:\n- apricot pulp falling within CN code ex 2008 50 91 for the period from 1 January to 31 December 1988,\n- prepared or preserved sardines falling within CN codes ex 1604 13 10 and ex 1604 20 50 for the period 1 January to 31 December 1988,\n- certain wines having a registered designation of origin falling within CN codes ex 2204 21 25, ex 2204 21 29, ex 2204 21 35 and ex 2204 21 39 for the period 1 July 1988 to 30 June 1989.\nWhereas the Additional Protocol to the Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco came into force on 1 October 1988 (4); whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 3189/88 of 14 October 1988 establishing the arrangements to be applied by Spain and Portugal in trade with Morocco (5) is applicable from 1 November 1988;\nWhereas the Regulations referred to above should therefore be amended to take account of both the reduction in the duty applicable to apricot pulp under the quota and the enlargement of the scope of these Regulations to include Spain and Portugal,\nCouncil Regulation (EEC) No 4182/87 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 1 the phrase \u00b4as constituted on 31 December 1985' is deleted.\n2. The duty of 11,9 % referred to in the fifth column of the table in Article 1 is reduced to 10,6 %.\n3. A second paragraph is added to Article 1 as follows:\n\u00b4The Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic shall be covered by the tariff quota in question as soon as Regulation (EEC) No 3189/88 comes into force. The customs duties applied by these Member States within the limits of the said tariff quota shall be calculated in accordance with the Regulation referred to above.' Article 2 Council Regulation (EEC) No 4183/87 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 1 the phrase \u00b4as constituted on 31 December 1985' is deleted.\n2. A second paragraph is added to Article 1 as follows:\n\u00b42. The Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic shall be covered by the tariff quota in question as soon as Regulation (EEC) No 3189/88 comes into force. The customs duties applied by these Member States within the limits of the said tariff quota shall be calculated in accordance with the Regulation referred to above.' 3. In Article 2 (4), \u00b4in Denmark' is replaced by \u00b4in the other Member States.' Article 3 Council Regulation (EEC) No 1842/88 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 1 (1), \u00b4as formed on 31 December 1985' is replaced by \u00b4excluding Portugal.' 2. A second subparagraph is added as follows:\n\u00b4The Kingdom of Spain shall be covered by the tariff quota in question as soon as Regulation (EEC) No 3189/88 comes into force. The customs duties applied by Spain within the limits of the said tariff quota shall be calculated in accordance with the Regulation referred to above.' 3. A fourth paragraph added to Article 2 as follows:\n\u00b44. If an importer gives notification of imminent imports of the products concerned into the other Member States and applies to take advantage of the quota, the Member State concerned shall inform the Commission and draw an amount corresponding to its requirements to the extent that the available balance of the reserve so permits.' Article 4 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. The provisions of Article 1 (2) shall be applicable from 1 October 1988.\nThe provisions of Articles 1 (1) and (3), 2 and 3 shall be applicable from 1 November 1988.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "stone fruit" ], "distractor groups": [ "atmospheric pollution", "Arab League countries", "EU study report", "electric cable", "beef", "ethnic cleansing", "intraurban commuting", "energy transport", "education of foreigners", "voting method", "corpus juris (EU)" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a02045/2004 of 29 November 2004 amending Regulation (EEC) No\u00a02131/93 laying down the procedure and conditions for the sale of cereals held by intervention agencies\n30.11.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 354/17\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2045/2004\nof 29 November 2004\namending Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 laying down the procedure and conditions for the sale of cereals held by intervention agencies\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93\u00a0(2) lays down the procedure and conditions for the sale of cereals held by intervention agencies.\n(2) New modern means of communication should be used to inform all interested parties all over the Community about sales out of intervention. This permits to authorise intervention bodies to sell by tender higher quantities without prior decision of the Commission, to take into account the market situation in their Member States. To simplify the sales for export, the mention of the storage localisation should not be required in the decision issuing invitations to the tender.\n(3) In Member States which do not have sea ports, tenderers for cereals put up for sale are penalized by higher transport costs. As a result of these additional costs, cereals are more difficult to export from those Member States, which results in particular in longer intervention storage and additional costs to the Community budget. Provision should accordingly be made for the possibility in certain cases of financing the lowest transport costs between the place of storage and the place of exit in order to make tenders comparable. The Romanian port of Constanta was a traditional port of exit for the countries of Central Europe before their accession to the Union. It is therefore necessary to include Constanta as a place for the calculation of the transport costs that can be reimbursed in the case of export.\n(4) In order to simplify the procedure for selling the cereals, the security accompanying the tenders for sale for export as well as on the Community market should be unified.\n(5) Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nRegulation (EEC) No 2131/93 is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 2 (2), \u20182\u00a0000 tonnes\u2019 is replaced by \u20185\u00a0000 tonnes\u2019;\n2. in Article 3(1), the first sentence is replaced by the following sentence:\n3. Article 7 is amended as follows:\n(a) in paragraph 1, point (b) is deleted;\n(b) in paragraph 2a, the following sentence is added:\n4. in Article 13 (4), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "market intervention" ], "distractor groups": [ "Pitcairn Islands", "region dependent on fishing", "turnout of voters", "transfer pricing", "source of aid", "local tax", "professional society", "import substitution", "anti-missile defence", "legal code", "petroleum product" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a025/2013 of 16\u00a0January 2013 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No\u00a01333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a0231/2012 as regards the food additive potassium diacetate Text with EEA relevance\n17.1.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 13/1\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 25/2013\nof 16 January 2013\namending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as regards the food additive potassium diacetate\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 10(3), Article 14 and Article 30(5) thereof,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 7(5) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 lays down a Union list of food additives approved for use in foods and their conditions of use.\n(2) Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 lays down a Union list of food additives approved for use in food additives, food enzymes, flavourings, nutrients and their conditions of use.\n(3) Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012\u00a0(3) lays down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.\n(4) Those lists may be amended in accordance with the procedure referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008.\n(5) Pursuant to Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Union list of food additives may be updated either on the initiative of the Commission or following an application.\n(6) An application for authorisation of the use of potassium diacetate as a preservative was submitted on 27 September 2010 and was made available to the Member States.\n(7) Potassium diacetate is requested for use as an alternative to the food additive sodium diacetate E 262 (ii) which is used as a growth inhibitor of microorganisms. The replacement of sodium diacetate E 262 (ii) by potassium diacetate can contribute to the reduction of dietary sodium intake.\n(8) Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Commission is to seek the opinion of the Authority in order to update the Union list of food additives set out in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, except where the update in question is not liable to have an effect on human health. Potassium diacetate is an equimolecular compound of two authorised food additives (potassium acetate E 261 and acetic acid E 260). The Scientific Committee for Food evaluated food additives of various technological functions in 1990. For acids, bases and their salts the evaluations were based on the anions and cations listed. Acetic acid (E 260) as well as its salts, ammonium-, sodium-, potassium- and calcium acetates and diacetates, were covered by the evaluation. The Committee established a group Acceptable Daily Intake not specified for all these substances. This implies that their use does not represent a hazard to health in order to achieve the desired technological effect. The authorisation of use of potassium diacetate in a similar way to potassium acetate is not liable to have an effect on human health and it is therefore not necessary to seek the opinion of the Authority.\n(9) Potassium diacetate should be authorised to be used in a the same way as potassium acetate. Therefore in the Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 the current name of additive E 261, i.e. \u2018potassium acetate\u2019, should be replaced by the expression \u2018potassium acetates\u2019 covering both potassium acetate and potassium diacetate.\n(10) Specifications for potassium diacetate should be included in Regulation (EU) No 231/2012. In the Annex to that Regulation, the number E 261 (ii) should be assigned to potassium diacetate and the number for potassium acetate, currently designated as E 261, should be changed to E 261 (i). This renumbering has no consequences on the labelling requirements set out in Articles 22 and 23 of Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.\n(11) Pursuant to the transitional provisions of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011 of 11 November 2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing a Union list of food additives\u00a0(4), Annex II establishing the Union list of food additives approved for use in foods and conditions of use applies from 1 June 2013. In order to allow the use of potassium diacetate before that date, it is necessary to specify an earlier date of application with regard to that food additive.\n(12) Regulations (EC) No 1333/2008 and (EU) No 231/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(13) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council has opposed them,\nAnnexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 are amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation.\nThe Annex to Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "foodstuff" ], "distractor groups": [ "public debt", "marital status", "Euratom Supply Agency", "legislative-executive relations", "economic discrimination", "international waterway", "contraception", "Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries", "smallholding", "Buddhism" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2005/18/EC of 2 March 2005 amending Directive 2001/32/EC as regards certain protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community\n3.3.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 57/25\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2005/18/EC\nof 2 March 2005\namending Directive 2001/32/EC as regards certain protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 2(1)(h) thereof,\nHaving regard to the requests made by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom,\nWhereas:\n(1) From information supplied by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece (as far as Crete and Lesvos are concerned), Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands but not the Isle of Man), it appears that Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr. is not present in the territory of these countries. Therefore these countries should be recognised as protected zones for Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr.\n(2) From information supplied by Denmark based on updated surveys, Denmark should no longer be recognised as a protected zone in respect of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus as it appears that this harmful organism is now established in Denmark.\n(3) From information supplied by Estonia based on updated surveys, it appears that Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. is not present in the territory of Estonia. Therefore, Estonia should be recognised temporarily as a protected zone for this organism.\n(4) From information supplied by the United Kingdom based on updated surveys for the presence of Dendroctonus micans Kugelan, it appears that this harmful organism is now established in some parts of the United Kingdom but not in Northern Ireland, nor in the Isle of Man or Jersey. The protected zone should therefore be modified and restricted to Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Jersey.\n(5) From information supplied by Italy based on updated surveys and from additional information collected by the Food and Veterinary Office during a mission in Italy in May 2004, it appears that this harmful organism is now established in this country. Italy should therefore no longer be recognised as a protected zone in respect of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV).\n(6) From information supplied by Sweden, it appears that some names of counties in Sweden recognised as protected zone for Leptinotarsa decemlineata may need to be corrected typographically.\n(7) Directive 2001/32/EC\u00a0(2) should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nDirective 2001/32/EC is amended as follows:\n1. at the end of Article 1 the following paragraph is added:\n2. the Annex is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 14 May 2005 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall apply those provisions from 15 May 2005.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such a reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of domestic law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant disease" ], "distractor groups": [ "gender mainstreaming", "bracket rate", "East Timor", "production target", "secondary education", "semi-manufactured goods", "honour", "petroleum product", "protective clause", "privilege", "meat" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2010/3/EU of 1\u00a0February 2010 amending, for the purpose of adaptation to technical progress, Annexes III and VI to Council Directive 76/768/EEC concerning cosmetic products\n2.2.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 29/5\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2010/3/EU\nof 1 February 2010\namending, for the purpose of adaptation to technical progress, Annexes III and VI to Council Directive 76/768/EEC concerning cosmetic products\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,\nAfter consulting the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety,\nWhereas:\n(1) The Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP), subsequently replaced by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) by Commission Decision 2008/721/EC\u00a0(2), concluded in its opinion of 15 April 2008 that Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl is safe for the consumers, when used up to a maximum authorised concentration of 0,8\u00a0% in soap, anti-dandruff shampoos, and non-spray deodorants. It should therefore be included in Annex III to Directive 76/768/EEC.\n(2) The SCCP concluded in the same opinion that Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl is safe for the consumers, when used up to a maximum authorised concentration of 0,4\u00a0% as a preservative in cosmetic products. However, the Committee considered that it should not be used in lip products, oral products and spray due to mucosal and respiratory tract irritation potential. It should therefore be included along with these restrictions in Annex VI to Directive 76/768/EEC.\n(3) Directive 76/768/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Cosmetic Products,\nAnnexes III and VI to Directive 76/768/EEC are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 1 September 2010 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1 March 2011.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "product safety" ], "distractor groups": [ "early childhood", "storage premium", "casual employment", "Anglicanism", "heat pump", "monthly pay", "desertification", "Kashmir question" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision 2005/808/CFSP of 21 November 2005 extending the mandate of the Head of Mission of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM)\n22.11.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 303/62\nCOUNCIL DECISION 2005/808/CFSP\nof 21 November 2005\nextending the mandate of the Head of Mission of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 23(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Joint Action 2002/921/CFSP of 25 November 2002 extending the mandate of the European Union Monitoring Mission\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 5(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 22 November 2004, the Council adopted Decision 2004/795/CFSP\u00a0(2) extending the mandate of Ms Maryse DAVIET as Head of Mission of the European Monitoring Mission (EUMM). This Decision expires on 31 December 2005.\n(2) On 21 November 2005, the Council adopted Joint Action 2005/807/CFSP extending and amending the mandate of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM)\u00a0(3) until 31 December 2006.\n(3) The mandate of the Head of Mission of the EUMM should therefore also be extended,\nThe mandate of Ms Maryse DAVIET as Head of Mission of the EUMM is hereby extended until 31 December 2006.\nThis Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption.\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "peacekeeping" ], "distractor groups": [ "UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute", "school fees", "adoption of the budget", "Romania", "geophysical environment", "chromium", "Spodnjeposavska", "EC institutional body", "cultural policy", "fishery resources" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 1419/2006 of 25 September 2006 repealing Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 laying down detailed rules for the application of Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty to maritime transport, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 as regards the extension of its scope to include cabotage and international tramp services (Text with EEA relevance)\n28.9.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 269/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1419/2006\nof 25 September 2006\nrepealing Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 laying down detailed rules for the application of Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty to maritime transport, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 as regards the extension of its scope to include cabotage and international tramp services\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 83 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee\u00a0(2),\nAfter consulting the Committee of the Regions,\nWhereas:\n(1) Application of the rules on competition in the maritime transport sector has been subject to the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86\u00a0(3) since 1987. Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 originally had two functions. Firstly, it contained procedural provisions for the enforcement of Community competition rules in the maritime transport sector. Secondly, it laid down certain specific substantive competition provisions for the maritime sector and notably a block exemption for liner shipping conferences, allowing them to fix prices and regulate capacity under certain conditions, the exclusion of purely technical agreements from the application of Article 81(1) of the Treaty and a procedure for dealing with conflicts of international law. It did not apply to maritime transport services between ports in one or to the same Member State (cabotage) and international tramp vessel services.\n(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty\u00a0(4) amended Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 to bring maritime transport under the common competition enforcement rules applicable to all sectors with effect from 1 May 2004, with the exception of cabotage and international tramp vessel services. However, the specific substantive competition provisions relating to the maritime sector continue to fall within the scope of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86.\n(3) The liner shipping conference block exemption provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 exempts from the prohibition of Article 81(1) of the Treaty agreements, decisions and concerted practices of all or part of the members of one or more liner conferences which fulfil certain conditions. The justification for the block exemption in essence assumes that conferences bring stability, ensuring exporters reliable services which cannot be achieved by less restrictive means. However, a thorough review of the industry carried out by the Commission has demonstrated that liner shipping is not unique as its cost structure does not differ substantially from that of other industries. There is therefore no evidence that the industry needs to be protected from competition.\n(4) The first condition for exemption under Article 81(3) requires that the restrictive agreement contributes to improving the production or distribution of goods or to promoting technical or economic progress. As regards the efficiencies generated by conferences, liner conferences are no longer able to enforce the conference tariff although they still manage to set charges and surcharges which are a part of the price of transport. There is also no evidence that the conference system leads to more stable freight rates or more reliable shipping services than would be the case in a fully competitive market. Conference members increasingly offer their services via individual service agreements entered into with individual exporters. In addition, conferences do not manage the carrying capacity that is available as this is an individual decision taken by each carrier. Under current market conditions price stability and the reliability of services are brought about by individual service agreements. The alleged causal link between the restrictions (price fixing and supply regulation) and the claimed efficiencies (reliable services) therefore appears too tenuous to meet the first condition of Article 81(3).\n(5) The second condition for exemption under Article 81(3) is that consumers must be compensated for the negative effects resulting from the restriction of competition. In the case of hard core restrictions, such as horizontal price fixing which occur when the conference tariff is set and charges and surcharges are jointly fixed, the negative effects are very serious. However no clearly positive effects have been identified. Transport users consider that conferences operate for the benefit of the least efficient members and call for their abolishment. Conferences no longer fulfil the second condition of Article 81(3).\n(6) The third condition for exemption under Article 81(3) is that the conduct must not impose on the undertakings concerned restrictions which are not indispensable to the attainment of its objectives. Consortia are cooperative agreements between liner shipping lines that do not involve price fixing and are therefore less restrictive than conferences. Transport users consider them to provide adequate, reliable and efficient scheduled maritime services. In addition the use of individual service agreements has increased significantly in recent years. By definition, such individual service agreements do not restrict competition and provide benefits to exporters as they make it possible to tailor special services. Furthermore, because the price is established in advance and does not fluctuate for a predetermined period (usually up to one year), service contracts can contribute to price stability. It has therefore not been established that the restrictions of competition permitted under Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 (price fixing and capacity regulation) are indispensable for the provision of reliable shipping services to transport users as these can be achieved by less restrictive means. The third condition under Article 81(3) is therefore not satisfied.\n(7) Finally, the fourth condition under Article 81(3) requires that the conference should remain subject to effective competitive constraints. In current market circumstances conferences are present in nearly all major trade lanes and they compete with carriers grouped in consortia and with independent lines. Whilst there may be price competition on the ocean freight rate due to the weakening of the conference system there is hardly any price competition with respect to the surcharges and ancillary charges. These are set by the conference and the same level of charges is often applied by non-conference carriers. In addition, carriers participate in conferences and consortia on the same trade, exchanging commercially sensitive information and cumulating the benefits of the conference (price fixing and capacity regulation) and of the consortia (operational cooperation for the provision of a joint service) block exemptions. Given the increasing number of links between carriers in the same trade, determining the extent to which conferences are subject to effective internal and external competition is a very complex exercise and one that can only be done on a case by case basis.\n(8) Liner shipping conferences therefore no longer fulfil the four cumulative conditions for exemption under Article 81(3) of the Treaty and the block exemption in respect of such conferences should therefore be abolished.\n(9) The exclusion from the prohibition of Article 81(1) of the Treaty of purely technical agreements and the procedure for dealing with conflicts of law which may arise are also redundant. Those provisions should therefore also be deleted.\n(10) In the light of the above, Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 should be repealed in its entirety.\n(11) Liner conferences are tolerated in several jurisdictions. In this, as in other sectors, competition law is not applied in the same way worldwide. In light of the global nature of the liner shipping industry, the Commission should take the appropriate steps to advance the removal of the price fixing exemption for liner conferences that exist elsewhere whilst maintaining the exemption for operational cooperation between shipping lines grouped in consortia and alliances, in line with the recommendations of the OECD Secretariat in 2002.\n(12) Cabotage and international tramp vessel services have been excluded from the rules implementing Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty originally laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 and subsequently in Regulation (EC) No 1/2003. They are currently the only remaining sectors to be excluded from the Community competition implementing rules. The lack of effective enforcement powers for these sectors is an anomaly from a regulatory point of view.\n(13) The exclusion of tramp vessel services from Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 was based on the fact that rates for these services are freely negotiated on a case by case basis in accordance with supply and demand conditions. However, such market conditions are present in other sectors and the substantive provisions of Articles 81 and 82 already apply to these services. No convincing reason has been brought forward to maintain the current exclusion of these services from the rules implementing Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty. Similarly, although cabotage services often have no effect on intra Community trade, this does not mean that they should be excluded from the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 from the outset.\n(14) As the mechanisms enshrined in Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 are appropriate for applying the competition rules to all sectors, the scope of that Regulation should be amended so as to include cabotage and tramp vessel services.\n(15) Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(16) Since Member States may need to adjust their international commitments in the light of the abolition of the conference system, the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 relating to the liner conference block exemption should continue to apply to conferences satisfying the requirements of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 on the date of entry into force of this Regulation for a transitional period,\nRegulation (EEC) No 4056/86 shall be repealed.\nHowever, Article 1(3)(b) and (c), Articles 3 to 7, Article 8(2) and Article 26 of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 shall continue to apply in respect of liner shipping conferences satisfying the requirements of Regulation (EEC) No 4056/86 on 18 October 2006, for a transitional period of two years from that date.\nArticle 32 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 shall be deleted.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "chartering" ], "distractor groups": [ "EADI", "national currency", "Council for Cultural Cooperation", "anatomy", "film industry", "tradeable emission permit", "water protection" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2010/377/: Commission Decision of 7 July 2010 releasing Estonia from certain obligations to apply Council Directives 66/402/EEC and 2002/57/EC in respect of Avena strigosa Schreb., Brassica nigra (L.) Koch and Helianthus annuus L. (notified under document C(2010) 4526) (Text with EEA relevance)\n8.7.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 173/73\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 7 July 2010\nreleasing Estonia from certain obligations to apply Council Directives 66/402/EEC and 2002/57/EC in respect of Avena strigosa Schreb., Brassica nigra (L.) Koch and Helianthus annuus L.\n(notified under document C(2010) 4526)\n(Only the Estonian text is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2010/377/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 66/402/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of cereal seed\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 23a thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2002/57/EC of 13 June 2002 on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 28 thereof,\nHaving regard to the application submitted by Estonia,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directives 66/402/EEC and 2002/57/EC set out certain provisions for the marketing of cereal seed and seed of oil and fibre plants. Those Directives also provide that, subject to certain conditions, Member States may be wholly or partially released from the obligation to apply the provisions of those Directives in respect of certain species.\n(2) Estonia has applied for release from their obligations in respect of Avena strigosa Schreb., Brassica nigra (L.) Koch and Helianthus annuus L.\n(3) The seed of Avena strigosa Schreb., Brassica nigra (L.) Koch and Helianthus annuus L. is not normally reproduced or marketed in Estonia. In addition, the economic importance of this seed is not significant in this Member State.\n(4) Therefore, as long as those conditions remain, this Member State should be released from the obligation to apply the provisions of Directives 66/402/EEC and 2002/57/EC to the species in question.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry,\nEstonia is released from the obligation to apply Directive 66/402/EEC, with the exception of Article 14(1), in respect of the species of Avena strigosa Schreb.\nEstonia is released from the obligation to apply Directive 2002/57/EC, with the exception of Article 17, in respect of the species of Brassica nigra (L.) Koch and Helianthus annuus L.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Republic of Estonia.", "answer groups": [ "oleaginous plant" ], "distractor groups": [ "foreign enterprise", "renewal of an agreement", "operating system", "transport insurance", "fire", "Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0563/2009 of 25\u00a0June 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a02505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products\n30.6.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 168/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 563/2009\nof 25 June 2009\namending Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 26 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) For certain products for which an autonomous tariff quota is opened by Regulation (EC) No 2505/96\u00a0(1) the quota amount set out in that Regulation is expressed in a measurement unit other than the weight in tonnes or kilogram and than the value. Where for those products no supplementary measurement unit is set out in the Combined Nomenclature laid down in Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff\u00a0(2) there can be uncertainty in respect of the measurement unit used. For the sake of clarity and in the interest of a better quotas management it is therefore necessary to provide that, in order to benefit from the said autonomous tariff quotas, the exact quantity of the products imported must be entered in \u2018Box 41: Supplementary units\u2019 of the declaration for release for free circulation using the measurement unit of the quota amount set out for those products in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2505/96.\n(2) Community demand for the products to which Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 applies should be met under the most favourable conditions. For that purpose with effect from 1 July 2009, three new Community tariff quotas should be opened at zero rates of duty for appropriate amounts while avoiding any disturbance to the markets for those products.\n(3) The quota amount for autonomous Community tariff quota with order No 09.2767 is insufficient to meet the needs of the Community industry. Consequently, this quota amount should be increased.\n(4) For the autonomous Community tariff quota with order No 09.2806 the product description should be revised.\n(5) Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) Having regard to the economic importance of this Regulation, it is necessary to rely on the grounds of urgency provided for in point I(3) of the Protocol on the role of national parliaments in the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaties establishing the European Community.\n(7) Since the tariff quotas have to take effect from 1 July 2009, this Regulation should apply from the same date and enter into force immediately,\nRegulation (EC) No 2505/96 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. the following Article shall be inserted:\n2. Annex I shall be amended as follows:\n(a) the tariff quotas for the products set out in Annex I to this Regulation shall be inserted;\n(b) with effect from 1 January 2009, the rows for the tariff quotas with order numbers 09.2767 and 09.2806 shall be replaced by the rows set out in Annex II to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 2009.\nHowever, Article 1(2)(b) shall apply from 1 January 2009.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [ "arid zone", "water consumption", "manganese", "sociology of law", "dehydration", "issuing of currency", "damages", "official seal", "European Securities and Markets Authority", "UN regional commission", "urban transport" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 95/41/EC of 19 July 1995 amending certain Annexes to Council Directive 77/93/EEC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 95/41/EC of 19 July 1995 amending certain Annexes to Council Directive 77/93/EEC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 77/93/EEC of 21 December 1976 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (1), as last amended by Commission Directive 95/4/EC (2), and in particular Article 13, second subparagraph, third indent thereof,\nWhereas certain provisions on protective measures in France against Cephalcia lariciphila (Klug.), Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. and Gilpinia hercyniae (Hartig), in Italy against Anthonomus grandis (Boh.) and Glomerella gossypii Edgerton, in Portugal against Bemisia tabaci Genn. (European populations), and in the United Kingdom against Cephalcia lariciphila (Klug.) Gilpinia hercyniae (Hartig), Gremminiella abietina (Lag.) Morelet and Hypoxylon mammatum (Wahl.) J. Miller should be modified because it is no longer appropriate to maintain the current provision set out in the said Directive;\nWhereas similarly, certain provisions on protective measures in Portugal against certain bark beetles, i.e. Dendroctonus micans Kugelan, Ips amitinus Eichhof, Ips cembrae Heer, Ips duplicatus Sahlberg and Ips typographus Heer, in Greece against the bark beetle Ips sexdentatus Boerner and in the United Kingdom against the bark beetles Dendroctonus micans Kugelan and Pissodes spp. (European), should be modified because it is no longer appropriate to maintain the current provisions set out in the said Directive;\nWhereas certain provisions on protective measures in Sweden against Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say should be modified because it has been determined that the said organism is not present in a much larger area than originally recognized; whereas furthermore certain provisions on protective measures in some part of Finland against Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say should be improved;\nWhereas these amendments are in agreement with the requests of the Member States concerned;\nWhereas therefore the relevant Annexes of the said Directive 77/93/EEC should be amended accordingly;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nDirective 77/93/EEC is hereby amended as indicated in the Annex to this Directive.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive with effect from 1 July 1995. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The procedure for such a reference shall be adopted by the Member States.\n2. The Member States shall immediately communicate to the Commission the essential provisions of domestic law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EU Member State" ], "distractor groups": [ "productivity", "Ialomita", "promulgation of a law", "speed reading", "law of the sea", "smoking", "management techniques", "location of production", "widowed person" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2001/430/EC: Commission Decision of 7 June 2001 amending for the third time Decision 2001/356/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2001) 1605)\nCommission Decision\nof 7 June 2001\namending for the third time Decision 2001/356/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom\n(notified under document number C(2001) 1605)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2001/430/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market(1), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC(2), and in particular Article 10 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market(3), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC, and in particular Article 9 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Following the reports of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom, the Commission adopted Decision 2001/356/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom(4), as last amended by Decision 2001/415/EC(5).\n(2) Council Directive 85/511/EEC of 18 November 1985, as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, introduces Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease(6).\n(3) Council Decision 90/424/EEC(7), as last amended by Council Decision 2001/12/EC(8), concerns expenditure in the veterinary field.\n(4) In the light of the disease evolution it appears therefore appropriate to prolong the measures but also to adjust the regionalisation, in particular to release the restrictions on Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.\n(5) The situation shall be reviewed at the meeting of the Standing Veterinary Committee scheduled for 12-13 June 2001 and the measures adapted where necessary.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee.\nDecision 2001/356/EC is amended as follows:\n1. The date in Article 15 is replaced by \"20 July 2001\".\n2. In Annex I the words \"Great Britain, Northern Ireland\" are replaced by \"United Kingdom, except Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man\".\n3. In Annex II the words \"Great Britain, Northern Ireland\" are replaced by \" United Kingdom, except Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man\".\nMember States shall amend the measures which they apply to trade so as to bring them into compliance with this Decision. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Northern Ireland" ], "distractor groups": [ "theft", "confiscation of property", "storage cost", "international credit", "rubber industry", "start-up", "transport safety", "Senegal", "apiculture", "coal industry" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0811/2007 of 11 July 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0917/2004 on detailed rules to implement Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0797/2004 on improving general conditions for the production and marketing of apiculture products\n12.7.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 182/5\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 811/2007\nof 11 July 2007\namending Regulation (EC) No 917/2004 on detailed rules to implement Council Regulation (EC) No 797/2004 on improving general conditions for the production and marketing of apiculture products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 797/2004 of 26 April 2004 on improving general conditions for the production and marketing of apiculture products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) To avoid any risk of ambiguity, Article 2(3) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 917/2004\u00a0(2) should clearly lay down that measures in apiculture programmes must be implemented before the end of the year to which they relate.\n(2) The possibility of amending the financial limits for each measure in an apiculture programme during a year without such amendment needing to be approved in accordance with the procedure at Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 797/2004 is currently restricted to a maximum of 20\u00a0% of those financial limits.\n(3) This limit of 20\u00a0% has proved administratively too restrictive for both the Member States and the Commission. It should therefore be abolished.\n(4) To achieve simplification, the adjustment of measures in the apiculture programmes during a year should be made more flexible; the limits on a new budgetary allocation by type of measure within the budget allocated to each Member State should therefore be abolished.\n(5) There should be provision for adjustments to the measures in the apiculture programmes to be notified to the Commission where certain measures were not notified in the three-year programme forwarded initially.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 917/2004 should be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Poultrymeat and Eggs,\nRegulation (EC) No 917/2004 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 2 is amended as follows:\n(a) in paragraph 1, the second subparagraph is deleted;\n(b) in paragraph 3, the first sentence is replaced by the following:\n2. Article 6 is replaced by the following:\n3. Article 7 is deleted.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing" ], "distractor groups": [ "industrial infrastructure", "digital archiving", "defoliation", "liqueur", "Joint Research Centre", "water pollution", "tax on oils and fats", "means of public conveyance", "trade relations", "British Antarctic Territory", "allocation of resources" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "94/367/CFSP: Council Decision of 14 June 1994 on the continuation of the joint action adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union on the inaugural conference on the Stability Pact\nCOUNCIL DECISION of 14 June 1994 on the continuation of the joint action adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union on the inaugural conference on the Stability Pact (94/367/CFSP)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles J.3 and J.11 thereof,\nHaving regard to the conclusions of the European Council meetings on 21 and 22 June 1993, on 29 October 1993 and on 10 and 11 December 1993,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 93/728/CFSP of 20 December 1993 (1),\nThe joint action agreed on by the abovementioned Council Decision shall be continued with a view to the conclusion of the Stability Pact.\nThe action shall be conducted in accordance with the concluding documents adopted by the inaugural conference on the Stability Pact in Paris on 27 May 1994, as annexed hereto.\nThe Council requests the Commission to direct its activity towards attainment of the objectives of the joint action by means of appropriate economic measures, in the framework of the implementation of Community programmes.\nExpenditure relating to the organization of meetings convened by the Union in the context of the Conference on Stability away from the seats of the institutions shall constitute administrative expenditure in so far as such expenditure exceeds the costs usually borne by host countries. Regular reports shall be submitted to the Council on financial arrangements in connection with follow-up to the Conference.\nThe Council shall examine the progress made in achieving the objective of the joint action in due course and at the latest in a year's time.\nThis Decision shall enter into force as of today's date.\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.", "answer groups": [ "joint action" ], "distractor groups": [ "education of foreigners", "malt", "sorghum", "free movement of persons", "vehicle", "energy conversion", "political responsibility", "video surveillance", "Euratom loan" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "90/446/EEC: Commission Decision of 27 July 1990 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/32.688 - Konsortium ECR 900) (Only the German, English and Dutch texts are authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 27 July 1990\nrelating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty\n(IV/32.688 - Konsortium ECR 900)\n(Only the English, Dutch and German texts are authentic)\n(90/446/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, First Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (1), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Article 2 thereof,\nHaving regard to the notification of a cooperation agreement on 7 April 1988 by the firms AEG Aktiengesellschaft, Alcatel NV and Oy Nokia AB,\nHaving published a summary of the notification (2) pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17,\nHaving consulted the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions,\nWhereas:\nI. THE FACTS\nA. Subject of the notification\nOn 7 April 1988, AEG Aktiengesellschaft, Alcatel NV and Oy Nokia notified a cooperation agreement concluded by them. The cooperation between the undertakings relates to the formation of a consortium, ECR 900, for the joint development and manufacture and the joint distribution of a pan-European digital cellular mobile telephone system. The cooperation does not include the end products (mobile telephones) through which users are connected to the system.\nB. The undertakings concerned\n(1) AEG Aktiengesellschaft ('AEG'), whose head office is in Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany, is a group owned on a majority holding basis by the Daimler-Benz AG group, whose head office is in Stuttgart-Untertuerkheim, Federal Republic of Germany. AEG's activities include automation systems, electrical tools, energy distribution, household equipment and high-frequency, industrial, information and communications technology.\n(2) Alcatel NV ('Alcatel'), whose head office is in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is owned on a majority holding basis by the CGE group, whose head office is in Paris, France. Alcatel's activities comprise communications systems and information technology.\n(3) Oy Nokia AB ('Nokia'), whose head office is in Helsinki, Finland, does not belong to any other group, but is an independent group of undertakings. Its activities include information systems, telecommunications, mobile telephones and consumer electronics.\nC. Description of the telephone system\n(1) In the 'CEPT-Memorandum of Understanding' of 7 September 1987 (3), the signatories agreed to introduce a pan-European public digital cellular mobile telecommunications service in their countries in 1991. The planned telephone system, known as the GSM ('Groupe sp\u00e9cial mobile') system, is a new communications system which does not yet exist.\n(2) The system uses a new, digital, cellular technique to improve communication between the users of a mobile telephone network in numerous respects: there is a substantial improvement in speech quality and an increase in the total number of users. The system allows additional data and information technology services to be linked up and new protective arrangements to be included (authentication to prevent misuse of users' appliances and encoding to prevent unauthorized interception of communications). The agreement of virtually all the network operators in Europe on the hardware and software interfaces of the system removes all the communication obstacles created by differences in systems across geographical frontiers and opens up the way for a single European communication network which would, for example, allow a user to be contacted anywhere in Europe ('roaming').\n(3) Through predefinition of the GSM system on the basis of a uniform standard with two to three specified interfaces, it is ensured that the development work will result in a uniform system. However, the system does not require uniform technology, but allows room for the development of different system components. The differing specified interfaces allow the compatibility of all system components, which means that they provide the opportunity of combining parts from different manufacturers.\nD. Demand and supply in respect of the GSM system\nThe only potential buyers in the network area covered by the GSM system are at present the national network operators in the CEPT countries and the undertakings acting on their behalf (in the Federal Republic of Germany, for example, Detecon, a telecommunications consultancy firm).\nDemand for all and/or part of the system is channeled through invitations to tender. Thus, a series of invitations to tender was published in the Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities of 5 January 1988 (No 2/59).\nThe invitations to tender involve orders for supply and installation and not development orders. The objective is the delivery, installation and operation of the equipment by the first quarter of 1991. The mobile telephones themselves are not covered by the invitations to tender.\nIn addition to the undertakings making the notification, the following consortia and individual firms have emerged as suppliers:\n- Philips/Siemens respectively Philips/Bosch/Siemens,\n- Bosch/Philips,\n- Matra-Ericsson,\n- Ericsson/Orbitel,\n- Ericsson/Matra/Ascom Hasler,\n- Orbitel/Matra/Ericsson,\n- Orbitel (Racal/Plessey),\n- Motorola (employing system components acquired from third parties).\nE. Content of the cooperation agreement\n(1) The parties to the agreement have agreed to cooperate in the development and manufacture of the GSM system and parts thereof, in the further definition and adjustment of technical specifications and in the joint and exclusive distribution of the system and parts thereof in CEPT countries in accordance with the cooperation agreement.\n(2) The parties are setting up a consortium known as ECR 900 for the purpose of the submission of tenders for the GSM system in invitations to tender.\nCommitments in respect of CEPT countries require the prior written agreement of all the parties. However, if one of the parties does not wish to participate in a tender or contract, the other parties are free to do so.\n(3) During the term of the agreement, the parties are prohibited from submitting other tenders or concluding contracts in the CEPT countries in respect of the GSM system.\n(4) Outside of the CEPT countries, each party is entitled to pursue business in respect of those parts of the GSM system in whose development it was involved.\n(5) (a) In the case of development activities in which several parties were involved, all the technical documentation is to be exchanged on a permanent and cost-free basis between the parties concerned until such time as the technical documentation for series production is completed.\n(b) In the case of development activities in which only one party is involved, there will be no exchange of technical documentation.\n(6) (a) Up until eight months before expiry of the agreement, the parties are prohibited from using technical documentation obtained pursuant to point 5 (a) in order to manufacture the GSM system or parts thereof for sale in CEPT countries.\n(b) After expiry of the agreement, each party has the non-exclusive right to use the technical documentation obtained pursuant to point 5 (a) in order to manufacture the GSM system or parts thereof for sale in any country.\n(c) Within a period of five years following expiry of the agreement, however, the grant to third parties of a sublicence in respect of the abovementioned right requires the prior agreement of the party concerned, with any licence fees being divided equally between them.\nAfter the end of such period, the parties are free to grant sublicences without sharing the fees.\n(d) Where a party is excluded on the grounds of breach of contract, the party excluded loses the right to use the technical documentation acquired. (7) The agreement may be terminated by each party for the first time on 31 December 1993 and thereafter at the end of each year. In such an event, the other parties may decide to continue the agreement.\nThe agreement ends automatically on 31 December 1992 if the French or German or any other important postal authority of a CEPT country has not selected the GSM system for its market.\nF. The Commission did not receive any observations from interested third parties following publication of the notice required by Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17.\nII. LEGAL ASSESSMENT\nArticle 85 (1)\nThe cooperation agreement notified is not under the present circumstances caught by Article 85 (1).\n(1) The parties to the agreement are undertakings, and the notified agreement is an agreement between undertakings within the meaning of Article 85 (1).\n(2) The agreement does not have as its object or effect the restriction of competition within the common market, for the following reasons:\n(a) Joint development and manufacture of the GSM system\nThe parties to the agreement have agreed to cooperate on the development and manufacture of the GSM system. Such an agreement does not constitute a restriction of competition. The facts show that development and manufacture by individual companies would not take place because of the high cost involved. The invitations to tender by the telecommunications administrations published on 5 January 1988 lay down tight deadlines. The invitation to tender for Denmark provides for the pilot system to be supplied by the end of October 1988, and the invitation to tender for the United Kingdom provides for the complete testing of the development system by 30 June 1989. By mid-1990, an initial pilot system is to have been set up for test purposes in the countries involved in the invitations to tender, and the supply, installation and operation of the equipment is scheduled for the first quarter of 1991. The parties to the agreement would therefore hardly be able to comply with the timetable laid down if they were to proceed individually.\nFurthermore, the financial expenditure and the staff required in the development and manufacture of the GSM system is so great that realistically there is no scope for companies to act individually.\nThe development costs are estimated by the parties to the agreement at some DM 300 to 500 million. Because of the time schedule laid down, this amount cannot be spread over a longer period, but must be raised in the period up to the installation of the pilot system in 1990, while the amortization of the investment in the event of a bid award will be long term. In the event of a bid award to one of the competitors, amortization may indeed be entirely open to question. As far as the staffing requirements are concerned, only a limited number of sufficiently qualified engineers are available for the development of the GSM system, and this limited number cannot be increased in the short term.\nLastly, for objective economic reasons, the parties to the agreement cannot be expected to bear the financial risk involved in the development and manufacture of the GSM system alone.\nThe relevant market is characterized by narrowly limited demand. At present, the only potential customers are 15 national network operators in the CEPT countries, or the undertakings acting for them, with the result that the suppliers' prospects of achieving a bid award are only limited. Only if they achieve a bid award will the suppliers be able to amortize the extremely high development costs, since the results of the development work will have only limited use outside the field covered by the invitations to tender. This real and serious economic risk can be borne only if the parties to the agreement bear the costs jointly.\nIt is noteworthy in this context that, in their invitations to tender, the national telecommunications administrations expressly refer to consortia and bidding syndicates.\nNo single member of the consortium would therefore be able to use its own production improved by individual development in order to achieve a competitive advantage over the other members.\nThe obligation to engage in joint development and manufacture of the GSM system therefore does not restrict competition within the common market.\n(b) Joint distribution of the GSM system\nAs a result of the joint distribution requirement in the CEPT countries, the parties to the agreement are prevented during the term of the agreement from competing with one another in the sale of the products in such countries, which include all the Member States. However, this requirement does not amount to a restriction of competition. For the reasons specified above, the parties to the agreement acting on their own would not be in a position to provide a viable source of supply for individual distribution of the GSM system.\n(c) Ban on the use of technical documentation\nWhere a party is excluded because of infringement of the agreement, such party loses the right to use the technical documentation supplied to him and hence the possibility of manufacturing and distributing competing products with the help of such documentation.\nHowever, this ban does not create any restriction of competition within the meaning of Article 85 (1). The party in breach of the agreement, having failed to fulfil his obligations vis-\u00e0-vis the other parties and to perform his contribution to achieving the joint task, would, if allowed to use the technical documentation, receive unjustified benefits which would lead to an undeserved competitive advantage vis-\u00e0-vis the other parties. Such competition not based on performance is not protected by Article 85.\n(3) This legal assessment is based on the circumstances set out above. Should there be any change in the actual circumstances, there is nothing to prevent the Commission from re-examining the case,\nOn the basis of the facts known to it, the Commission sees no reason to take any action under Article 85 (1) of the EEC Treaty against the cooperation agreement concluded by the firms AEG Aktiengesellschaft, Alcatel NV and Oy Nokia AB on 21 December 1987.\nThis Decision is addressed to the following undertakings:\n1. AEG Aktiengesellschaft\nTheodor-Stern-Kai 1\nD-6000 Frankfurt/Main 70,\n2. Alcatel NV\nStrawinskylaan 537\nNL-1077 XX Amsterdam,\n3. Oy Nokia AB\nMikonkatu 15 A\nHelsinki, Finland.", "answer groups": [ "Netherlands" ], "distractor groups": [ "non-flat product", "social class", "continuous production", "plant health control", "anatomy", "polling station", "public institution", "lactose", "European cooperative" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 1092/2014 of 16 October 2014 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the use of sweeteners in certain fruit or vegetable spreads Text with EEA relevance\n17.10.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 299/19\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 1092/2014\nof 16 October 2014\namending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the use of sweeteners in certain fruit or vegetable spreads\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives\u00a0(1) and in particular Article 10(3),\nWhereas:\n(1) Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 lays down a Union list of food additives approved for use in foods and their conditions of use.\n(2) The Union list of food additives may be updated in accordance with the common procedure referred to in Article\u00a03(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(2) either on the initiative of the Commission or following an application.\n(3) On 24 April 2014 an application was submitted for authorisation of the use of sweeteners in all products belonging to sub food category 04.2.5.3 \u2018Other similar fruit or vegetable spreads\u2019 of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. That category includes fruit or vegetable spreads similar to jams, jellies and marmalades as defined by Council Directive 2001/113/EC\u00a0(3). The application was subsequently made available to the Member States pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008.\n(4) Council Directive 2001/113/EC describes and defines jams, jellies and marmalades. Fruit or vegetable spreads, similar to jams, jellies and marmalades, which fall within sub food category 04.2.5.3, may contain ingredients other than those listed in Annex II to Directive 2001/113/EC (e.g. vitamins, minerals and flavourings).\n(5) Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 authorises the use of sweeteners Aspartame (E 951), Neotame (E\u00a0961) and Salt of aspartame-acesulfame (E 962) in energy-reduced jams, jellies and marmalades, as well as in other similar fruit spreads as dried-fruit-based sandwich spreads that are energy-reduced or with no added sugar.\n(6) An extension of use of those sweeteners to all other energy-reduced similar fruit or vegetable spreads will allow their use in a similar way as in energy-reduced jams, jellies and marmalades.\n(7) As fruit or vegetable spreads are used as an alternative to jams, jellies and marmalades, the use of sweeteners in those spreads will not lead to an additional exposure of the consumer and therefore is not of safety concern.\n(8) Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Commission is to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority in order to update the Union list of food additives set out in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, except where such update is not liable to have an effect on human health. Since the extension of use of Aspartame (E 951), Neotame (E 961) and Salt of aspartame-acesulfame (E 962) to all other energy-reduced similar fruit or vegetable spreads constitutes an update of that list which is not liable to have an effect on human health, it is not necessary to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority.\n(9) Therefore, Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 should be amended accordingly.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,\nAnnex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fruit product" ], "distractor groups": [ "incoterms", "migrant unemployment", "Yambol region", "production technique", "Schleswig-Holstein", "cultural event", "venture capital", "Eurofound", "social policy", "J\u00f6nk\u00f6ping county" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/907/EC: Commission Decision of 3 November 2008 laying down health guarantees for the transport of equidae from one third country to another in accordance with Article 9(1)(c) of Council Directive 91/496/EEC (notified under document number C(2008) 6296) (Text with EEA relevance)\n5.12.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 327/22\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 3 November 2008\nlaying down health guarantees for the transport of equidae from one third country to another in accordance with Article 9(1)(c) of Council Directive 91/496/EEC\n(notified under document number C(2008) 6296)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2008/907/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 9(1)(c) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Decision 94/467/EC of 13 July 1994 laying down health guarantees for the transport of equidae from one third country to another in accordance with Article 9(1)(c) of Directive 91/496/EEC\u00a0(2) has been substantially amended several times\u00a0(3). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Decision should be codified.\n(2) In accordance with Article 9(1)(c) of Directive 91/496/EEC, health guarantees must be laid down for the transport of animals from one third country to another. Certain problems have been encountered as regards movements of equidae from one third country to another.\n(3) Commission Decision 92/260/EEC\u00a0(4) lays down the animal health conditions and veterinary certification required for temporary admission of registered horses. Those conditions provide all the necessary guarantees as regards the Community's health status. For the health guarantees applicable to movements of equidae from one third country to another, reference should therefore be made to the health conditions laid down in Decision 92/260/EEC. That Decision requires, among others, a certain residence in the country of dispatch. The residence in Member States or certain listed third countries may, however, count for the calculation of the period considered, provided that at least the same health requirements are fulfilled.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Equidae on their way from one third country to another must come from a third country listed in Annex I to Decision 92/260/EEC.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Equidae as referred to in paragraph 1 must be accompanied by a certificate entitled \u2018Transit certificate for the transport of equidae from one third country to another\u2019. This certificate must comprise Sections I, II and III with the exception of point (e)(v) of the health certificate, corresponding to the third country of provenance listed in Annex II to Decision 92/260/EEC. It must in addition comprise the following sections:\n\u2018IV. Equidae coming from: \u2026\nV. Stamp and signature of official veterinarian: \u2026\u2019\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By way of derogation from paragraph 2 and only in the case of registered equidae, the list of countries in the third indent in point (d) of Section III of the certificates A, B, C, D and E in Annex II to Decision 92/260/EEC shall be replaced by the list of third countries in Groups A to E in Annex I to that Decision.\nDecision 94/467/EC is repealed.\nReferences to the repealed Decision shall be construed as references to this Decision and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex II.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "equidae" ], "distractor groups": [ "Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union", "noise level", "large business", "desiccated product", "Galicia", "workers' movement", "European Association of National Productivity Centres", "power of attorney", "Basilicata" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2005/11/EC of 16 February 2005 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical progress, Council Directive 92/23/EEC relating to tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers and to their fittingText with EEA relevance\n17.2.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 46/42\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2005/11/EC\nof 16 February 2005\namending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical progress, Council Directive 92/23/EEC relating to tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers and to their fitting\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 13(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 92/23/EEC of 31 March 1992 relating to tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers and to their fitting\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 10 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 92/23/EEC is one of the separate Directives of the EC type-approval procedure established by Directive 70/156/EEC.\n(2) Directive 92/23/EEC as amended by Directive 2001/43/EC provides the possibility for type-approval authorities to accept tyre manufacturers\u2019 laboratories as approved test laboratories until 31 December 2005. The experience with this provision has been very positive and therefore the possibility should be continued and that deadline should be removed.\n(3) Technical progress in the tyre-producing sector is very fast. Due to strong demand from consumers and the car industry, the production cycles of tyres become faster and the variety of tyre types is constantly increasing. This situation is expected to become even more critical in the future since very expensive or unique test installations and expertise will be required. In order to be able to bring the newly developed products on to the market without delay, a sufficient number of test facilities, which can be used in a flexible manner, is indispensable.\n(4) In line with the development of superior tyres due to technical progress, the related test procedures need to be more and more sophisticated. There is currently no test capacity outside that of tyre manufacturers that would be able to cope with the high number of tests needed.\n(5) Directive 92/23/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Adaptation to Technical Progress established by Article 13(1) of Directive 70/156/EEC,\nPoint 1.3 of Annex I to Directive 92/23/EEC is replaced by the following:\n\u20181.3. The approval authority may accept the laboratories of the tyre manufacturers as approved test laboratories pursuant to Article 14(1) of Directive 70/156/EEC.\u2019\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 31 December 2005 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1 January 2006.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "pneumatic tyre" ], "distractor groups": [ "telephone charges", "halogen", "trade intermediary", "emission allowance", "bioconversion", "audiovisual industry", "Pleven region", "conversion to beef production", "intermediate technology", "automatic game" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/866/EC: Commission Decision of 12 November 2008 on emergency measures suspending imports from Peru of certain bivalve molluscs intended for human consumption (notified under document number C(2008) 6732) (Text with EEA relevance)\n18.11.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 307/9\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 12 November 2008\non emergency measures suspending imports from Peru of certain bivalve molluscs intended for human consumption\n(notified under document number C(2008) 6732)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2008/866/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 53(1)(b)(i) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 lays down the general principles governing food and feed in general, and food and feed safety in particular, at Community and national level. It provides for emergency measures where it is evident that food or feed imported from a third country is likely to constitute a serious risk to human health, animal health or the environment and that such a risk cannot be contained satisfactorily by means of measures taken by the Member State(s) concerned.\n(2) An outbreak of Hepatitis A in humans has been confirmed in the Community. The origin of the disease has been identified to be the consumption of certain bivalve molluscs imported from Peru that were contaminated with the hepatitis A virus (HAV).\n(3) The contaminated bivalve molluscs are Donax clams (Donax spp) and the origin of the contamination is most likely a viral contamination of the water of the production areas. Other bivalve molluscs could therefore also be contaminated.\n(4) Since the consumption of those bivalve molluscs presents a serious risk for human health it is appropriate to suspend imports into the Community of bivalve molluscs from Peru.\n(5) Considering the seriousness of the contamination, the suspension should also apply to bivalve molluscs that have been dispatched to the Community before this Decision comes into effect but which arrive at the Community border inspection posts after that date.\n(6) The suspension of those imports should be provided for at Community level in order to ensure the effective and uniform protection of consumer health in all Member States.\n(7) The aquaculture production of scallops (Pectinidae) in Peru takes place in separated production areas with a low population density and far from potential sources of contamination. In addition, Pectinidae are processed to withdraw the viscera and thus mitigate the risk of viral contamination in the edible part of the product. It is therefore appropriate to allow imports from Peru of Pectinidae processed in that manner.\n(8) In addition, the heat treatment avoids the viability of the virus. It is therefore appropriate to allow imports from Peru of bivalve molluscs that have undergone a heat treatment following the requirements established in point A.5(b) of Chapter II of Section VII of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin\u00a0(2).\n(9) The Peruvian authorities have committed to put in place immediate corrective measures and, if necessary, to allow a Commission inspection in the coming months. It is therefore appropriate to limit the application of the measures provided for in the present Decision to 31 March 2009, without prejudice of the power of the Commission to modify, repeal or extend those measures in the light of any new information related to the evolution of the situation in Peru and of the outcome of inspections by its services.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nThis Decision shall apply to bivalve molluscs, as defined in point 2.1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, imported from Peru and intended for human consumption (bivalve molluscs).\nMember States shall not authorise the importation into the Community of bivalve molluscs from Peru.\nThat prohibition shall apply to all consignments of bivalve molluscs that are received at Community border inspection posts whether or not the consignments were produced, stored or certified in the country of origin before this Decision takes effect.\nBy way of derogation from Article 2, Member States shall authorise the importation into the Community of the following products:\n(a) eviscerated Pectinidae of aquaculture origin;\n(b) bivalve molluscs that have undergone a heat treatment as set out in point A.5(b) of Chapter II of Section VII of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.\nAll expenditure incurred in the application of this Decision shall be charged to the consignee or his agent.\nThis Decision shall apply until 31 March 2009.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "infectious disease" ], "distractor groups": [ "war damage", "gulf", "harmonisation of weapons", "Mongolia", "document", "maize oil" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Directive 80/502/EEC of 6 May 1980 amending Directive 74/63/EEC on the fixing of maximum permitted levels for undesirable substances and products in feedingstuffs\nCOUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 6 May 1980 amending Directive 74/63/EEC on the fixing of maximum permitted levels for undesirable substances and products in feedingstuffs (80/502/EEC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43 and 100 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),\nWhereas in order to implement Council Directive 74/63/EEC of 17 December 1973 on the fixing of maximum permitted levels for undesirable substances and products in feedingstuffs (4), as last amended by Directive 76/934/EEC (5), it appears necessary to complete the definition of technical terms to which this Directive refers;\nWhereas it should be specified that the Directive is without prejudice to any provisions that may be taken concerning micro-organisms in feedingstuffs;\nWhereas it is justifiable to grant Member States the possibility of derogating from the maximum permitted levels in the case of fodder which is produced and used on the same agricultural holding, provided that neither animal nor human health can suffer harm thereby,\nDirective 74/63/EEC shall be amended as follows: 1. The following subparagraph shall be added to Article 1 (2):\n\"(d) micro-organisms in feedingstuffs.\"\n2. In the German text of Article 2 (b) the words \"ohne Be- und Verarbeitung\" shall be replaced by the words \"im jeweils gegebenen Zustand\".\n3. The following subparagraphs shall be added to Article 2:\n\" (f) Animals : animals belonging to species normally nourished and kept or consumed by man;\n(g) Pet animals : animals belonging to species normally nourished and kept but not consumed by man, except animals bred for fur production;\n(h) Compound feedingstuffs : organic or inorganic substances in mixtures, whether or not containing additives, for oral animal feeding in the form of complete feedingstuffs or complementary feedingstuffs.\n\" (1)OJ No C 197, 18.8.1977, p. 3. (2)OJ No C 63, 13.3.1978, p. 53. (3)OJ No C 84, 8.4.1978, p. 4. (4)OJ No L 38, 11.2.1974, p. 31. (5)OJ No L 364, 31.12.1976, p. 4.\n4. The following paragraph shall be added to Article 3:\n\"3. Member States may authorize the maximum permitted levels provided for in the Annex in respect of feedingstuffs to be exceeded in the case of fodder which is produced and used in the same state on the same agricultural holding, where this is necessary for particular local reasons. The Member States concerned shall ensure that neither animal nor human health can suffer harm thereby.\"\nThe Member States shall bring into force, on 1 July 1981, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal feedingstuffs" ], "distractor groups": [ "bull", "food chemistry", "processed food product", "extra-EU trade", "balance-sheet analysis", "technical regulations", "52 ENVIRONMENT", "convergence criteria", "help desk", "spirits" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2003/73/EC of 24 July 2003 amending Annex III to Directive 1999/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Directive 2003/73/EC\nof 24 July 2003\namending Annex III to Directive 1999/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Directive 1999/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars(1), and in particular Article 9 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Annex III to Directive 1999/94/EC lays down a format for a poster which has to be exhibited at any point of sale of new passenger cars.\n(2) Provision should be made for the use of modern communication tools (electronic display), and to prevent the use of poster updating techniques which are less consumer-friendly.\n(3) Annex III to Directive 1999/94/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) Consumer organisations and interested parties have been consulted.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established under Article 10 of Directive 1999/94/EC,\nAnnex III to Directive 1999/94/EC is replaced by the Annex to this Directive.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive within one year of publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen Member States adopt these provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for such a reference shall be adopted by Member States.\n2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "motor fuel" ], "distractor groups": [ "Lovech region", "bauxite", "EU research policy", "stem cell", "competitiveness", "used goods", "noise pollution", "interurban migration", "forces abroad" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0131/2009 of 13\u00a0February 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0105/2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in butter\n14.2.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 44/5\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 131/2009\nof 13 February 2009\namending Regulation (EC) No 105/2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in butter\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 43 in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 10(1)(e) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides for public intervention of butter.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 105/2008\u00a0(2) has laid down the detailed rules concerning the public intervention of butter.\n(3) Article 13(1)(c) in conjunction with Article 18(2)(d) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 limit public intervention of butter at fixed price to a quantity offered of 30\u00a0000 tonnes for the period 1 March to 31 August.\n(4) In order to comply with the limit of 30\u00a0000 tonnes it is appropriate to provide for a reflection period during which, before a decision is taken on the offers, special measures can be taken applying in particular to pending offers. Those measures may consist of closure of intervention, application of an allocation percentage and rejection of pending offers. They require swift action and the Commission should be enabled to take all necessary measures without delay.\n(5) Regulation (EC) No 105/2008 should be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,\nRegulation (EC) No 105/2008 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 6 is replaced by the following:\n2. In Article 7(5) the following subparagraph is added:\n3. Article 9 is amended as follows:\n(a) Paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:\n(a) the quantity to be delivered;\n(b) the final date for delivery of the butter;\n(c) the cold store to which it must be delivered.\n(b) Paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:\n4. Article 12 is replaced by the following:\n(a) to close intervention buying-in at fixed price;\n(b) where acceptance of the full quantity offered on a certain day would lead to the maximum quantity being exceeded, to set a single percentage by which the quantities in the offers received on that day are reduced;\n(c) where appropriate, to reject offers for which no delivery order has been issued.\n5. In Article 13, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:\n6. In Article 16(2), the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:\n7. In Article 18 the following paragraph is added:\n8. In Article 20, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 March 2009.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "butter" ], "distractor groups": [ "Guinea", "shareholding", "bismuth", "standing committee (EU)", "primary sector", "early childhood", "extreme right", "private sector", "parliamentary debate", "health service", "Yaound\u00e9 Convention", "computer assisted publishing" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 2110/85 of 25 July 1985 amending the list in the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 2763/83 as regards arrangements for processing under customs control\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2110/85\nof 25 July 1985\namending the list in the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 2763/83 as regards arrangements for processing under customs control\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2763/83 of 26 September 1983 on arrangements permitting goods to be processed under customs control before being put into free circulation (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 630/85 (2), and in particular Article 2 (2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas certain processing operations which, before the entry into force of Regulation (EEC) No 2763/83, could be carried out on the basis of equivalent national arrangements, are not included in the Annex to the said Regulation; whereas the operations concerned involve the processing of certain petroleum products into products which may be given favourable tariff treatment within the meaning of Commission Regulations (EEC) No 1535/77 (3) and (EEC) No 1775/77 (4), and the processing of dichromium trioxide into chromium;\nWhereas there exists an economic need for these kinds of processing operations to be allowed to continue under the arrangements for processing under customs control because the Community industry concerned has invested considerable sums in such operations; whereas, in the case of dichromium trioxide, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient supply of chromium for Community industry, notably the aircraft industry;\nWhereas it is necessary to maintain the competitiveness of the industries concerned in relation to processing firms in non-member countries in order to avoid the danger of cessation of these economic activities within the Community;\nWhereas a need has arisen, furthermore, to include under the arrangements for processing under customs control the usual forms of handling which may be carried out in a customs warehouse or a free zone, in accordance with Directive 71/235/EEC (5);\nWhereas therefore the list in the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 2763/83 should be supplemented by including in it the operations referred to in the temporary measures adopted by means of Commission Regulations (EEC) No 283/85 (6) and (EEC) No 630/85, which were valid for six months only;\nWhereas it is also necessary to make certain clarifications to the abovementioned list,\nThe list annexed to Regulation (EEC) No 2763/83 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In columns I and II, the second to last entry concerning processing operations for tobaccos, is replaced as follows:\n1.2 // // // Column I // Column II // // // 'Raw or unmanufactured tobacco falling within heading No 24.01 of the Common Customs Tariff // Processing into tobaccos partially or totally stripped falling within heading No 24.01 of the Common Customs Tariff and into tobacco refuse, falling within OJ No L 30, 2. 2. 1985, p. 5.\n2. The following shall be added to columns I and II:\n1.2 // // // Column I // Column II // // // 'Products falling within subheadings 27.07 B, 27.07 G, 27.10 A, 27.10 B, 27.10 C I, 27.10 C II and 27. 10 C III of the Common Customs Tariff // Processing into products falling within subheading 27.10 C II a) or 27.10 C II b) of the Common Customs Tariff // Crude oils falling within subheading 27.07 A of the Common Customs Tariff // Processing into products falling within subheading 27.07 B II and 29.01 D I b) of the Common Customs Tariff // Dichromium trioxide falling within heading No 28.21 of the Common Customs Tariff // Processing into chromium falling within subheading 81.04 D I b) of the Common Customs Tariff // Goods of any kind // Usual forms of handling permitted in customs warehouses or in free zones in accordance with Directive 71/235/EEC.' // //\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 August 1985.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "free zone" ], "distractor groups": [ "aviation security", "forum", "parliamentary seat", "scientific research", "international market", "deforestation", "summary procedure", "power plant", "surrogate mother", "industrial manufacturing", "European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation", "Comecon" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision 2013/477/CFSP of 27\u00a0September 2013 amending Decision 2010/573/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova\n28.9.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 257/18\nCOUNCIL DECISION 2013/477/CFSP\nof 27 September 2013\namending Decision 2010/573/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 27 September 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/573/CFSP\u00a0(1).\n(2) On the basis of a review of Decision 2010/573/CFSP, the restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova should be extended until 30 September 2014.\n(3) Decision 2010/573/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,\nArticle 4(2) of Decision 2010/573/CFSP is hereby replaced by the following:\n\u20182.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Decision shall apply until 30 September 2014. It shall be kept under constant review. It may be renewed or amended, as appropriate, if the Council deems that its objectives have not been met.\u2019.\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "removal" ], "distractor groups": [ "Costa Rica", "juvenile delinquency", "Canary Islands", "28 SOCIAL QUESTIONS", "sweetener", "Ringk\u00f8bing (county)", "waste", "offer price", "law of succession", "indebtedness", "business data processing", "Arctic Council" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2004/115/EC: Commission Decision of 10 December 2003 on the aid scheme for the Th\u00fcringer Industriebeteiligungsfonds (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 4495)\nCommission Decision\nof 10 December 2003\non the aid scheme for the Th\u00fcringer Industriebeteiligungsfonds\n(notified under document number C(2003) 4495)\n(Only the German text is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2004/115/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 88(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof,\nHaving called on interested parties to submit their comments(1) and having regard to those comments,\nWhereas:\n1. PROCEDURE\n(1) After scrutinising the annual reports of the Th\u00fcringer Industriebeteiligungsfonds (TIB-Fonds), the Commission had doubts as to the compatibility of the activities of the TIB-Fonds with its decision of 9 August 1994 on the TIB-Fonds aid scheme (state aid N 183/94). It accordingly initiated proceedings under No NN 120/98 and called for information to be provided (letter of 30 December 1998). Since the Federal Government did not react, the Commission informed Germany by letter dated 15 March 1999 of its decision to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty.\n(2) In addition, by letter dated 17 November 1997, Germany notified the Commission of clarifications and amendments to the aid scheme previously approved by the Commission for a 10-year period under aid N 183/1994. It provided the Commission with additional information by letter dated 29 January 1998. The Commission had doubts as to whether the TIB-Fonds was effectively controlled by the Land authorities. By letter of 15 March 1999 (see recital 1), Germany was informed of the Commission's decision to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 88(2) in respect of this aspect too.\n(3) The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(2). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments.\n(4) The comments received from interested parties were forwarded to Germany.\n(5) By fax of 24 October 2003, Germany withdrew its application of 17 November 1997.\n2. COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES\n(6) The only comments received were those submitted by the TIB-Fonds by letter dated 31 May 1999.\n3. DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT\n(7) The present procedure covers two distinct aspects: first, the presumed improper application of the Commission decision of 9 August 1994 on the TIB-Fonds aid scheme and, second, the notification of an improved, partially amended aid scheme for the activities of the TIB-Fonds. Since the notification was withdrawn by Germany, the procedure should be closed in accordance with Article 8 of Council Regulation No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty(3).\n(8) As regards the presumed improper application of the Commission decision in 1994, the period covered by the investigation extends from 9 August 1994 (notification to Germany of the Commission decision in procedure N 184/94) to 15 March 1999 (notification to Germany of the Commission decision initiating the procedure) (cf. point 4 of that decision). Several firms were referred to by name in that decision. In various parallel individual cases, the Commission has, in relation to those firms, examined the compatibility of the activities of the TIB-Fonds with the common market. The procedures are the following: MITEC (NN 31/97), Umformtechnik Erfurt (N 201/99), Compact Disc Albrechts (C 42/98), Kahla Porzellan (C 62/00), Zeuro M\u00f6bel (C 56/97), Henneberg Porzellan (C 36/00) and Deckel Maho (C 27/00). These cases are not, therefore, covered by the present procedure.\n(9) Insolvency proceedings were initiated in respect of four other small and medium-sized enterprises (KHW Konstruktionsholzwerk Seubert GmbH & Co. KG, Simson Zweirad GmbH, Polyplast GmbH and M\u00f6belwerke Themar). None of those enterprises is active on the market any more. Since they no longer distort competition and since any recovery claims would therefore be devoid of purpose, the procedure should be closed.\n(10) By fax of 25 May 1999, Germany provided information on another six firms. The information communicated does not give the Commission any grounds for considering that the criteria laid down in its decision in Case N 183/94 have not been complied with.\n4. CONCLUSION\nFor the above reasons, the procedure in aid case C 17/99 should be closed,\nAid procedure C 17/99, which concerns, on the one hand, the changes notified to the aid scheme initially approved and, on the other, certain measures to assist firms in Thuringia through the Th\u00fcringer Industriebeteiligungsfonds during the period from 9 August 1994 to 15 March 1999 under the originally approved aid scheme, is terminated.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.", "answer groups": [ "Germany" ], "distractor groups": [ "defence policy", "short-term financing", "fruit juice", "dissolution of parliament", "regional finances", "collective agreement", "sectoral planning", "wage earner", "assessment", "Java" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a01166/2012 of 7\u00a0December 2012 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No\u00a01333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the use of dimethyl dicarbonate (E 242) in certain alcoholic drinks Text with EEA relevance\n8.12.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 336/75\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 1166/2012\nof 7 December 2012\namending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the use of dimethyl dicarbonate (E 242) in certain alcoholic drinks\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 10(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 lays down a Union list of food additives approved for use in foods and their conditions of use.\n(2) That list may be amended in accordance with the procedure referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings\u00a0(2).\n(3) Pursuant to Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Union list of food additives may be updated either on the initiative of the Commission or following an application.\n(4) An application for authorisation of the use of dimethyl dicarbonate (E 242) to all products belonging to category 14.2.8 (\u2018Other alcoholic drinks including mixtures of alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks and spirits with less than 15\u00a0% of alcohol\u2019), was submitted on 4 October 2011 and has been made available to the Member States.\n(5) Dimethyl dicarbonate (E 242) is used for cold sterilisation beverages. It acts against fungi and bacteria and is in particular useful to limit pasteurisation. This use allows an effective preservation of drinks without altering their flavour and taste. In addition a limited pasteurisation will be more cost effective and environmental friendly. The substance is currently authorised for use in several categories of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.\n(6) Dimethyl dicarbonate (E 242) was last evaluated by the Scientific Committee on Food in 2001\u00a0(3). The substance is considered to be of no toxicological concern as at the use level of 250\u00a0mg/l it is unstable and breaks down in substances the residues of which are considered harmless. This implies that this use does not represent a hazard to health. It is therefore appropriate to allow the use of dimethyl dicarbonate (E 242) for the preservation of all products belonging to category 14.2.8 (\u2018Other alcoholic drinks including mixtures of alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks and spirits with less than 15\u00a0% of alcohol\u2019).\n(7) Pursuant to Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008, the Commission is to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority in order to update the Union list of food additives set out in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, except where the update in question is not liable to have an effect on human health. Since the authorisation of use of dimethyl dicarbonate (E 242) for the preservation of all products belonging to category 14.2.8 constitutes an update of that list which is not liable to have an effect on human health, it is not necessary to seek the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority.\n(8) Pursuant to the transitional provisions of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1129/2011 of 11 November 2011 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing a Union list of food additives\u00a0(4), Annex II establishing the Union list of food additives approved for use in foods and conditions of use applies from 1 June 2013. In order to allow the use of dimethyl dicarbonate (E 242) for the preservation of all products belonging to category 14.2.8 before that date, it is necessary to specify an earlier date of application with regard to that food additive.\n(9) Therefore, Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 should be amended accordingly.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council has opposed them,\nAnnex II to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "health control" ], "distractor groups": [ "J\u00f6nk\u00f6ping county", "sugar refining", "food standard", "gas field", "assistant", "Burma/Myanmar", "research", "nuclear weapon", "uncultivated land", "International Monetary Fund" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2006/45/EC of 16 May 2006 amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC as regards the specification of the active substance propoxycarbazone (Text with EEA relevance)\n18.5.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 130/27\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2006/45/EC\nof 16 May 2006\namending Council Directive 91/414/EEC as regards the specification of the active substance propoxycarbazone\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market\u00a0(1), and in particular the second indent of the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) By Commission Directive 2003/119/EC\u00a0(2) propoxycarbazone was included as active substance in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC.\n(2) When applying for the inclusion of propoxycarbazone its manufacturer Bayer CropScience gave a specification based on small-scale production. For large-scale production, that company now intends to modify the specification as regards purity. It has submitted data to show that the modified specification fulfils the requirements for inclusion.\n(3) Germany evaluated the information and data submitted by the company. It informed the Commission in July 2005 that it concludes that the modified specification does not cause any risks in addition to those already taken into account in the entry for propoxycarbazone in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC and in the Commission review report for that substance.\n(4) Therefore it is justified to modify the specification of propoxycarbazone.\n(5) It is therefore appropriate to amend Directive 91/414/EEC accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAnnex I to Directive 91/414/EEC is amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive.\nMember States shall adopt and publish by 18 September 2006 at the latest the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 19 September 2006.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "herbicide" ], "distractor groups": [ "waste management", "Southern Transdanubia", "social impact", "mother's milk", "Upper House", "Arab Common Market", "African Court of Justice and Human Rights", "statistics", "concerted economic action", "information society", "computer system", "information processing" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2003/116/EC of 4 December 2003 amending Annexes II, III, IV and V to Council Directive 2000/29/EC as regards the harmful organism Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.\nCommission Directive 2003/116/EC\nof 4 December 2003\namending Annexes II, III, IV and V to Council Directive 2000/29/EC as regards the harmful organism Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community(1), as last amended by Council Directive 2003/47/EC(2), and in particular points (c) and (d) of the second paragraph of Article 14 thereof,\nAfter consulting the Member States concerned,\nWhereas:\n(1) The provisions against Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. should cover the whole range of host plants capable of spreading this harmful organism. Some known host plants for Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. are not covered by the current provisions. This list should therefore be extended to cover the whole range of host plants for Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.\n(2) The provisions on \"buffer zones\" should be improved to reduce the risk of short distance spreading of Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. To that end the \"buffer zones\" should be clearly delimited and a strict control regime should be applied which includes the removal of plants showing symptoms of Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.\n(3) Before plants from an area where Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. is known to occur may be introduced or moved into the relevant \"protected zones\", the fields of production of those plants and a zone surrounding those fields, should be found to be totally free from Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. during the last complete cycle of vegetation preceding the introduction or movement. This should be confirmed by visual inspections carried out at appropriate times and laboratory tests for the possible detection of latent infections.\n(4) The movement of beehives to and within protected zones should be regulated, because it may be an important factor of spreading Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.\n(5) Specific arrangements should be made for plants which are produced and maintained on fields located in officially designated \"buffer zones\" in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2000/29/EC, and which meet the relevant requirements as regards fields and \"buffer zones\" thereof, before 1 April 2004.\n(6) Directive 2000/29/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nAnnexes II, III, IV and V to Directive 2000/29/EC are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 March 2004 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health legislation" ], "distractor groups": [ "ACP-EU Joint Committee", "non-alcoholic beverage", "ruling", "offshoring", "administrative science", "economic contingency stock", "Centru (Romania)", "redevelopment aid", "UCITS fund", "Organisation of American States", "English-speaking Africa" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2007/72/EC of 13 December 2007 amending Council Directive 66/401/EEC as regards the inclusion of the species Galega orientalis Lam. (Text with EEA relevance)\n14.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 329/37\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2007/72/EC\nof 13 December 2007\namending Council Directive 66/401/EEC as regards the inclusion of the species Galega orientalis Lam.\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 66/401/EEC of 14 June 1966 on the marketing of fodder plant seed\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 2(1a) thereof,\nWhereas\n(1) Galega orientalis Lam. is a fodder plant largely grown in certain Member States and plays a significant role in improving the quality of feed for farm animals.\n(2) That species is currently not covered by uniform rules on seed certification under Directive 66/401/EEC and therefore the relevant seed cannot benefit from free circulation.\n(3) Since it meets all relevant conditions for certification, the species Galega orientalis Lam. should therefore be included in the list in Directive 66/401/EEC.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry,\nDirective 66/401/EEC is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 2(1)(A)(b), the following entry is inserted between the heading \u2018Leguminosae\u2019 and \u2018Hedysarum coronarium L. Sulla\u2019:\n2. in Article 3(1), the following entry is inserted between \u2018Festuca rubra L. x Festulolium\u2019 and \u2018Lolium multiflorum Lam.\u2019:\n3. Annexes II and III are amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive.\nTransposition\nMember States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 December 2008 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal feedingstuffs" ], "distractor groups": [ "16 ECONOMICS", "suburban transport", "olive oil", "44 EMPLOYMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS", "tax evasion", "Nepal", "Federation State", "transport price", "basic research", "insulator" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 493/93 of 3 March 1993 ending the charges against the tariff ceilings opened for 1992 in the framework of generalized tariff preferences by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3832/90 in respect of certain textile products originating in China, India, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, Pakistan, Indonesia and Mexico\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 493/93 of 3 March 1993 ending the charges against the tariff ceilings opened for 1992 in the framework of generalized tariff preferences by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3832/90 in respect of certain textile products originating in China, India, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, Pakistan, Indonesia and Mexico\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3832/90 of 20 December 1990 applying generalized tariff preferences for 1991 in respect of textile products originating in developing countries (1), and in particular the third paragraph of Article 12 thereof, extended for 1992 by Regulation (EEC) No 3587/91 (2), and in particular the second paragraph of Article 9 thereof,\nWhereas, pursuant to Articles 1 and 10 of Regulation (EEC) No 3832/90 suspension of customs duties in the context of preferential tariff ceilings is granted within the limits of the individual ceilings set out in column 8 of Annex I to that Regulation in respect of each of the categories of product under consideration; whereas as provided for in the third paragraph of Article 12 of the said Regulation, the Commission may, after 31 December 1992, take measures to stop quantities being charged against any particular preferential tariff limit if these limits were exceeded particularly as a result of regularizations of imports actually made during the preferential tariff period;\nWhereas, in respect of the products of order Nos, categories and origins indicated in the table below, the relevant ceilings were fixed at the levels indicated in that table:\n\"\" ID=\"1\">40.0170> ID=\"2\">17> ID=\"3\">India> ID=\"4\">81 000 pieces\"> ID=\"1\">40.0180> ID=\"2\">18> ID=\"3\">Brazil> ID=\"4\">112 tonnes\"> ID=\"1\">40.0180> ID=\"2\">18> ID=\"3\">Thailand> ID=\"4\">112 tonnes\"> ID=\"1\">40.0210> ID=\"2\">21> ID=\"3\">India> ID=\"4\">562 000 pieces\"> ID=\"1\">40.0220> ID=\"2\">22> ID=\"3\">Singapore> ID=\"4\">649 tonnes\"> ID=\"1\">40.0290> ID=\"2\">29> ID=\"3\">Pakistan> ID=\"4\">124 000 pieces\"> ID=\"1\">40.0290> ID=\"2\">29> ID=\"3\">Indonesia> ID=\"4\">124 000 pieces\"> ID=\"1\">40.0730> ID=\"2\">73> ID=\"3\">Pakistan> ID=\"4\">181 000 pieces\"> ID=\"1\">40.0900> ID=\"2\">90> ID=\"3\">China> ID=\"4\">15 tonnes\"> ID=\"1\">40.0970> ID=\"2\">97> ID=\"3\">Mexico> ID=\"4\">22 tonnes \">\nWhereas on 1 January 1993, the sum of the quantities charged during the 1992 preferential period exceeded the ceilings in question;\nWhereas it appears desirable to take measures to stop quantities being charged againsts the said ceilings for the order Nos, categories and origins in question,\nThe quantities charged against the tariff ceilings opened for 1992 by Regulation (EEC) No 3832/90 relating to the products and origins indicated in the table below, shall cease to be allowed from 7 March 1993.\n\"\" ID=\"1\">40.0170> ID=\"2\">17> ID=\"3\">Men's or boys' jackets excluding waister jackets and blazers, other than knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or of manmade fibres> ID=\"4\">India \"> ID=\"1\">40.0180> ID=\"2\">18> ID=\"3\">Men's or boys' singlets and other vests, underpants, briefs, nightshirts, pyjamas, bathrobes, dressing gowns and similar articles, other than knitted or crocheted;\nWomen's and girls' singlets and other vests, slips, petticoats, briefs, panties, nightdresses, pyjamas, n\u0102\u0160glig\u0102\u0160s, bathrobes, dressing gowns and similar articles, other than knitted or crocheted> ID=\"4\">Brazil\nThailand \"> ID=\"1\">40.0210> ID=\"2\">21> ID=\"3\">Parka's, anoraks, windcheaters, waister jackets and the like, other than knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or man-made fibres;\nupper parts of tracksuits with lining, other than of category 16 or 29, of cotton or of man-made fibres> ID=\"4\">India \"> ID=\"1\">40.0220> ID=\"2\">22> ID=\"3\">Yarn of staple or waste synthetic, fibres not put up for retail sale> ID=\"4\">Singapore \"> ID=\"1\">40.0290> ID=\"2\">29> ID=\"3\">Womens or girls suits and ensembles, other than knitted or crocheted, of wool, of cotton or man-made fibres, excluding ski suits;\nwomens or girls tracksuits with lining, with an outer shell of a single identical fabric, of cotton or of man-made fibres> ID=\"4\">Pakistan\nIndonesia \"> ID=\"1\">40.0730> ID=\"2\">73> ID=\"3\">Track suits of knitted or crocheted fabric, of wool, of cotton or of man-made textile fibres> ID=\"4\">Pakistan \"> ID=\"1\">40.0900> ID=\"2\">90> ID=\"3\">Twine, cordage, ropes and cables, of synthetic fibres, plaited or not> ID=\"4\">China \"> ID=\"1\">40.0970> ID=\"2\">97> ID=\"3\">Nets and netting made of twine, cordage or rope, and made up fishing nets of yarn, twine, cordage or rope> ID=\"4\">Mexico \">\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "textile product" ], "distractor groups": [ "recognition of studies", "illness", "East-West relations", "lead-free petrol", "capital transfer", "office worker", "Eurojust", "law relating to prisons", "parasitology", "bread-making", "institutional agreement", "waveband" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Directive (EU) 2015/121 of 27 January 2015 amending Directive 2011/96/EU on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States\n28.1.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 21/1\nCOUNCIL DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/121\nof 27 January 2015\namending Directive 2011/96/EU on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 115 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nAfter transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee\u00a0(2),\nActing in accordance with a special legislative procedure,\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Directive 2011/96/EU\u00a0(3) exempts dividends and other profit distributions paid by subsidiary companies to their parent companies from withholding taxes and eliminates double taxation of such income at the level of the parent company.\n(2) It is necessary to ensure that Directive 2011/96/EU is not abused by taxpayers who fall within the scope of its application.\n(3) Some Member States apply domestic or agreement-based provisions aimed at tackling tax evasion, tax fraud or abusive practices in a general or in a specific way.\n(4) However, those provisions may have different levels of severity and, in any case, they are designed to reflect the specificities of each Member State's tax system. Moreover, some Member States do not have any domestic or agreement-based provisions for the prevention of abuse.\n(5) Therefore, the inclusion of a common minimum anti-abuse rule in Directive 2011/96/EU would be very helpful to prevent misuse of that Directive and to ensure greater consistency in its application in different Member States.\n(6) The application of anti-abuse rules should be proportionate and should serve the specific purpose of tackling an arrangement or a series of arrangements which are not genuine, that is, which do not reflect economic reality.\n(7) To that end, when assessing whether an arrangement or a series of arrangements are abusive, Member States' tax administrations should undertake an objective analysis of all relevant facts and circumstances.\n(8) While Member States should use the anti-abuse clause to tackle arrangements which are, in their entirety, not genuine, there may also be cases where single steps or parts of an arrangement are, on a stand-alone basis, not genuine. Member States should be able to use the anti-abuse clause also to tackle those specific steps or parts, without prejudice to the remaining genuine steps or parts of the arrangement. That would maximise the effectiveness of the anti-abuse clause while guaranteeing its proportionality. The \u2018to the extent approach\u2019 can be effective in cases where the entities concerned, as such, are genuine but where, for example, shares from which the profit distribution arises are not genuinely attributed to a taxpayer that is established in a Member State, that is, if the arrangement based on its legal form transfers the ownership of the shares but its features do not reflect economic reality.\n(9) This Directive should not affect in any way Member States' ability to apply their domestic or agreement-based provisions aimed at preventing tax evasion, tax fraud or abuse.\n(10) Directive 2011/96/EU should therefore be amended accordingly,\nIn Directive 2011/96/EU, Article 1(2) is replaced by the following paragraphs:\n\u20182.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall not grant the benefits of this Directive to an arrangement or a series of arrangements which, having been put into place for the main purpose or one of the main purposes of obtaining a tax advantage that defeats the object or purpose of this Directive, are not genuine having regard to all relevant facts and circumstances.\nAn arrangement may comprise more than one step or part.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the purposes of paragraph 2, an arrangement or a series of arrangements shall be regarded as not genuine to the extent that they are not put into place for valid commercial reasons which reflect economic reality.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Directive shall not preclude the application of domestic or agreement-based provisions required for the prevention of tax evasion, tax fraud or abuse.\u2019\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 December 2015 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "corporation tax" ], "distractor groups": [ "penal code", "port traffic", "Plovdiv region", "San Marino", "examination", "gender mainstreaming", "tidal energy" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0816/2007 of 12 July 2007 opening annual tariff quotas for the importation from Turkey of certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products covered by Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a03448/93\n13.7.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 183/5\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 816/2007\nof 12 July 2007\nopening annual tariff quotas for the importation from Turkey of certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products covered by Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93 of 6\u00a0December 1993 laying down the trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products\u00a0(1), and in particular, Article 7(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Decision No 1/95 of the EC Turkey Association Council\u00a0(2) implements the final phase of the Customs Union. Its Section V establishes the trade arrangements for processed agricultural products.\n(2) Decision No 1/97 of the EC Turkey Association Council\u00a0(3) establishes arrangements applicable to certain processed agricultural products.\n(3) Decision No 1/2007 of the EC Turkey Association Council\u00a0(4) establishes new trade improvements applicable to certain processed agricultural products which aim to deepen and widen the Customs Union and to improve economic convergence as a result of the enlargement of the Community on 1 May 2004. These improvements lay down concessions in the form of duty free tariff quotas. For imports outside of the quotas the current trade provisions continue to apply.\n(4) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code\u00a0(5), lays down rules for the management of tariff quotas. It is appropriate to provide that the tariff quotas opened by this Regulation are to be managed in accordance with those rules.\n(5) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2026/2005 of 13 December 2005 opening tariff quotas for 2006 and the following years for the importation into the European Community of certain goods from Turkey resulting from the processing of agricultural products covered by Council Regulation (EC) No 3448/93\u00a0(6) should be repealed. Quantities imported under this Regulation between 1 January 2007 and the date of repealing should be deducted from the quantity of the corresponding new quota.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee on horizontal questions concerning trade in processed agricultural products not listed in Annex I,\nThe Community tariff quotas for the importation from Turkey of the goods set out in the Annex are opened for the period from 1 January to 31 December of each year from 2007 under the conditions set out in that Annex.\nAdmission to the benefit of those tariff quotas shall be subject to the presentation of an A.TR. movement certificate in accordance with Decision No 1/2006 of the EC-Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee.\nThe Community tariff quotas referred to in Article 1 shall be managed by the Commission in accordance with Articles 308a, 308b and 308c of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\nRegulation (EC) No 2026/2005 shall be repealed on the date of entering into force of this Regulation. The quantity of tariff quota with order number 09.0232 shall be reduced by the quantities of pasta imported under Regulation (EC) No 2026/2005 (order number 09.0205) between 1 of January 2007 and the date of entering into force of this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall be applicable from 1 January 2007.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [ "Speaker of Parliament", "pastry-making", "history", "ministerial responsibility", "statistical method", "heating" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 365/2010 of 28 April 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs as regards Enterobacteriaceae in pasteurised milk and other pasteurised liquid dairy products and Listeria monocytogenes in food grade salt (Text with EEA relevance)\n29.4.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 107/9\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 365/2010\nof 28 April 2010\namending Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs as regards Enterobacteriaceae in pasteurised milk and other pasteurised liquid dairy products and Listeria monocytogenes in food grade salt\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 4(4) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 of 15 November 2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs\u00a0(2) lays down microbiological criteria for certain micro-organisms and the implementing rules to be complied with by food business operators when implementing the general and specific hygiene measures referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.\n(2) According to the article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 microbiological criteria shall be reviewed taking into account progress in science, technology and methodology, emerging pathogenic micro-organisms in foodstuffs, and information from risk assessments.\n(3) Chapter 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 sets out food safety criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in certain ready-to-eat foods. Part 1.3 provides limits for ready-to-eat foods unable to support the growth of L. monocytogenes, other than those intended for infants and for special medical purposes. Food business operators are required to prove compliance with the criteria in products placed on the market during their shelf-life.\n(4) According to the Regulation (EC) 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety\u00a0(3), food grade salt is a ready-to-eat food. According to scientific evidence, presence and survival of L. monocytogenes in salt is unlikely in normal circumstances. Therefore, food grade salt should be added to footnote 4 of Chapter 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 which provides for the ready-to-eat foods in which regular testing of L. monocytogenes is not required.\n(5) According to Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005, a process hygiene criterion applies to Enterobacteriaceae in pasteurised milk and other pasteurised liquid dairy products including an analytical reference method and limits.\n(6) The analytical reference method set out for Enterobacteriaceae in pasteurised milk and other pasteurised liquid dairy products ISO 21528-1 has been shown to be difficult to use for routine analyses in own checks since it is very laborious and time consuming. Due to the methodological development the analytical reference method of Enterobacteriaceae in pasteurised milk and other pasteurised liquid dairy products should be changed to ISO 21528-2 which is quicker and easier to perform.\n(7) Analytical reference methods have an effect on test results. Therefore, the criterion limit of Enterobacteriaceae in pasteurised milk and other pasteurised liquid dairy products needs to be changed accordingly. The change would still guarantee sufficient detection limit for the process hygiene since likely problems in the manufacturing process would cause much higher growth of Enterobacteriaceae.\n(8) Given a recent change in taxonomy the name of Enterobacter sakazakii in Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 should be changed to Cronobacter spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii).\n(9) Some of the provisions were applicable until 1 January 2010 and new ones already laid down in the Regulation will apply thereafter. To facilitate readability of these provisions, it is appropriate to delete the old ones.\n(10) Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(11) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council has opposed them,\nAnnex I to Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 is amended as follows:\n1. Chapter 1 is amended as follows:\n(a) Row 1.5 is replaced by the following:\n\u20181.5 Minced meat and meat preparations made from poultry meat intended to be eaten cooked\n(b) Row 1.9 is replaced by the following:\n\u20181.9 Meat products made from poultry meat intended to be eaten cooked\n(c) Row 1.24 is replaced by the following:\n\u20181.24 Dried infant formulae and dried dietary foods for special medical purposes intended for infants below 6 months of age (14)\n2. In footnote 4 of Chapter 1 the following indent is added:\n\u2018\u2014 food grade salt\u2019\n3. Part 2.2. of Chapter 2 is amended as follows:\n(a) Row 2.2.1 is replaced by the following:\n\u20182.2.1 Pasteurised milk and other pasteurised liquid dairy products(4)\n(b) Footnote (2) is replaced by the following:\n\u2018(2) For points 2.2.1, 2.2.7, 2.2.9 and 2.2.10 m=M\u2019\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "food safety" ], "distractor groups": [ "heat-resisting materials", "principle of communitisation", "Burkina Faso", "qualified majority", "interim agreement (EU)", "linguistic group", "government policy", "COST", "less-favoured region" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "90/399/EEC: Commission Decision of 26 July 1990 terminating an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain single phase, two-speed electric motors originating in Bulgaria, Romania and Czechoslovakia\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 26 July 1990\nterminating an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain single phase, two-speed electric motors originating in Bulgaria, Romania and Czechoslovakia\n(90/399/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 9 thereof,\nAfter consultation within the Advisory Committee as provided for by Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88,\nWhereas:\nA. PROCEDURE\n(1) In July 1989 the Commission received a complaint lodged by Associazione Nazionale Industrie Elettrotechniche ed Elettroniche (ANIE), Italy, Groupement des Industries de Mat\u00e9riels d'Equipement Electrique et de L'Electronique Industrielle Associ\u00e9e (Gimelec), France and Asociaci\u00f3n Nacional de Fabricantes de B\u00edenes de Equipo (Sercobe), Spain, trade associations which represent the majority of the Community production of the electric motors concerned.\nThe complaint was accompanied by sufficient evidence of dumping and injury to justify the initiation of an investigation.\nConsequently, the Commission published a notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities (2) announcing the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports into the Community of certain single phase, two-speed electric motors originating in Bulgaria, Romania and Czechoslovakia falling within CN code 8501 40 90, and started an investigation.\nB. PRODUCT\n(2) The products allegedly being dumped are AC, single phase, two-speed, electric motors used in the construction of low-speed washing machines. These electric motors fall within CN code 8501 40 90.\nIt should be noted that electric motors of the type described are used only in washing machines destined for markets in the southern half of the Community, i.e. France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, owing to the fact that the washing machine motors that are produced and used in northern Community countries have different technical specifications and fall within different CN codes.\n(3) When considering the 'likeness' between the Community electric motors concerned and the exported electric motors which are the subject of this proceeding, the Commission established that these motors were alike in their essential character and identical in their use. None of those concerned commented on this question, within the meaning of Article 2 (12) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88.\nC. SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURE\n(4) The Commission officially notified the exporters and importers known to be concerned, representatives of the exporting countries and the complainants, giving those directly concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. Some of them asked for and received a hearing from the Commission. Some importers made their views known in writing.\n(5) The Commission collected and verified all the information it considered necessary to assess the evidence and carried out inspections at the premises of the following firms:\nCommunity producers\n- Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Electrom\u00e9canique du Nivernais (Selni),\nNevers,\nFrance,\n- Nuova IB-MEI spa,\nAsti,\nItaly,\n- Sole spa,\nPordenone,\nItaly,\n- IB-MEI,\nMostoles,\nSpain.\n(6) Pursuant to Article 7 (1) (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, the dumping investigation covered the period 1 January to 30 September 1989 (hereinafter the 'investigation period').\nD. INJURY\n(7) When deciding whether the allegedly dumped imports caused major injury to the Community industry, the Commission considered whether or not to regard these imports as a whole.\nAfter having eliminated Bulgaria from its study, since no exports from this country had been recorded in 1988 or during the investigation period, the Commission established that the imported products were alike, that they were competing on the Community market and that they were destined for the same customers, and decided to regard them as a whole.\nWhen assessing the situation of the Community industry, the Commission took account of the following:\n(a) Volume, market share and price of imports\nVolume and market share\n(8) Imports into the Community of the electric motors which are the subject of the procedure originating in Romania and Czechoslovakia rose from 984 086 units in 1986 to 1 084 523 in 1988, an increase of 10,2 %.\nDuring the investigation period 745 365 units were imported. When extrapolated for the whole of 1989, these imports are revealed to be 8,3 % down.\n(9) Compared with Community consumption, which rose from 3 703 871 units in 1986 to 4 206 932 in 1988, an increase of 13,6 %, the market share of motors imported from Romania and Czechoslovakia fell from 26,6 % to 25,7 %.\nDuring the investigation period, the market share of the imports concerned fell further to 23,9 %, Community consumption in 1989 being down 0,6 % on 1988.\nPrice\n(10) Evidence available to the Commission showed undercutting in Italy and Spain, the two main markets for the imports.\nOn the Italian market, the Romanian exporter was established to be undercutting by between 3 and 26 %, and the Czechoslovak exporter by between 5 and 26 %.\nIn Spain, the Czechoslovak exporter was established to have been undercutting by between 4 and 18 %. There were no Romanian exports to this market during the investigation period.\n(b) Situation of the Community industry\nThe Commission examined whether the imports alleged to have been dumped had had any serious effect on the Community industry.\nCommunity production\n(11) Community production increased by 19,6 % from 1986 to 1988, from 2 737 574 units to 3 275 226, while its consumption increased by only 13 %.\nDuring the investigation period, Community production was 2 484 652 units; extrapolating this figure for the whole of 1989 shows a slight increase in production of 1 % against a 0,6 % drop in Community consumption.\nUtilization of production capacity\n(12) Utilization of production capacity, which had increased from 69 % to 76,7 % between 1986 and 1988, fell noticeably during the investigation period (to 71,7 %) because Community producers had increased their production capacity during 1988 and the investigation period.\nCommunity sales and market share\n(13) From 1986 to 1988 the sales of the Community producers concerned increased by 14,8 %, from 2 719 785 units to 3 122 409. During the investigation period 2 378 048 units were sold. Extrapolating this figure for the whole of 1989 reveals an increase of 1,3 %. (14) The market share of Community sales rose from 73,4 % in 1986 to 74,6 % in 1988 and 76 % in the investigation period.\nSelling price and profit\n(15) Community producers raised their prices considerably during the investigation period. Some Community producers alleged, however, that competition from allegedly dumped imports had prevented them from raising their prices in line with increasing production costs.\n(16) Although the financial circumstances of Community producers seem overall to have deteriorated when the investigation period is compared with the preceding years, the Commission was not able to verify this trend because two undertakings accounting for almost half of Community production during the investigation period supplied no data on their financial situation in preceding years.\nWhatever the case may be, two producers are still showing a profit. One is a producer of electric motors integrated into a group making washing machines, and the other is an independent producer, i.e. one not linked to a washing machine manufacturer. Of the Community producers making losses, one is an integrated producer and the other the subsidiary of the abovementioned independent producer.\nThe Commission found that the losses recorded by the integrated producer were a consequence more of the group's purchasing policy than of the imports alleged to have been dumped. In the case of the independent producer's subsidiary and in the absence of data regarding its financial situation in preceding years, it was not possible to prove that the losses found during the investigation period were caused by the imports in question.\nConclusions concerning the injury\n(17) The above information shows that the imports of motors of Romanian and Czechoslovak origin increased less rapidly than Community consumption; the decline in these imports was particularly noticeable during the investigation period, falling by 8 % while Community consumption remained relatively stable. The market share of the imports concerned was down by almost 3 % on 1986.\nThe Community producers, for their part, were able to increase production and sales at a rate faster than that at which Community consumption grew, so increasing their market share. Any slight decline in their utilization of production capacity during the investigation period is the result of increases in production capacity during 1988 and the investigation period, which were out of line with trends in Community consumption.\nThe producers were able to increase their prices considerably in spite of undercutting. It was not possible to satisfactorily verify arguments that these increases were inadequate and these arguments seemed irrelevant in the case of two of the producers, whose prices are set by their washing machine-making parent companies.\nConsequently, the Commission is unable to attribute any deterioration in financial results during the investigation period to the imports in question.\nIn view of the above, the Commission has to conclude that imports of electric motors originating in Romania and Czechoslovakia have not caused significant injury to the Community industry in question.\nE. THREAT OF INJURY\n(18) It was alleged that the Spanish market was an exceptional case owing to higher customs duties than those applicable under the Common Customs Tariff and to quantitative restrictions covering the type of motor concerned by this proceeding, and that the lack of an anti-dumping measure would cause serious injury to this country when these protective measures were abolished in 1992.\nWhile considering this argument irrelevant since the customs duties and quantitative restrictions in question were not introduced to compensate for dumping, the Commission examined the argument in the light of Article 4 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, which provides that account may be taken, when determining threat of injury, of factors such as the rate of increase of the exports concerned to the Community and the export capacity of the country of origin. The Commission found that Romania had not exported to Spain in 1988 and 1989 and that Czechoslovak exports had fallen considerably during the investigation period, and also that there was nothing to indicate a probable expansion in the near future of the Czechoslovak undertaking's export capacity. On the contrary, the Czechoslovak exporter wrote saying that it had cut production and production capacity. The Commission therefore feels that the criteria for a threat of injury to the Spanish market in particular have not been fulfilled.\nF. DUMPING\n(19) In view of the above conclusions concerning the lack of injury or threat of injury, the Commission does not consider it necessary to continue the investigation concerning dumped imports of motors originating in Romania and Czechoslovakia.\nG. TERMINATION OF THE ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDING\n(20) The anti-dumping proceeding must therefore be terminated without the imposition of protective measures.\n(21) The Anti-Dumping Committee raised no objection to this conclusion.\n(22) The complainants have been informed of the grounds and essential considerations underlying the Commission's decision to terminate the proceeding,\nThe anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain single phase, two-speed electric motors originating in Bulgaria, Romania and Czechoslovakia, and falling within CN code 8501 40 90 is hereby terminated.", "answer groups": [ "import" ], "distractor groups": [ "genetically modified organism", "price of agricultural produce", "crop yield", "turnout of voters", "residence permit", "Uppsala county", "summarising", "free movement of programmes", "Marxism", "water requirements", "container" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2005/9/EC of 28 January 2005 amending Council Directive 76/768/EEC, concerning cosmetic products, for the purposes of adapting Annex VII thereto to technical progressText with EEA relevance\n29.1.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 27/46\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2005/9/EC\nof 28 January 2005\namending Council Directive 76/768/EEC, concerning cosmetic products, for the purposes of adapting Annex VII thereto to technical progress\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,\nAfter consulting the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-food Products intended for Consumers,\nWhereas:\n(1) Part 1 of Annex VII to Directive 76/768/EEC establishes a list of UV filters which cosmetic products may contain.\n(2) The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-food Products intended for consumers is of the opinion that the use of benzoic acid, 2-[4-(diethylamino) -2-hydroxybenzoyl]-, hexylester up to 10\u00a0% in sunscreen products, alone or in combination with other UV absorbers, is safe. Consequently, benzoic acid, 2-[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzoyl]-, hexylester should be included in Part 1 of Annex VII to Directive 76/768/EEC as reference number 28.\n(3) Directive 76/768/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Cosmetic Products,\nAnnex VII to Directive 76/768/EEC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 28 July 2005 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of the national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "cosmetic product" ], "distractor groups": [ "measure having equivalent effect", "withdrawal from the market", "water pollution", "land forces", "State farm", "sponsorship", "spot market", "Treaty of Lisbon", "public goods", "benchmarking" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2002/828/EC: Council Decision of 8 October 2002 authorising Sweden to apply a differentiated rate of energy tax to alkylate-based petrol for two-stroke engines in accordance with Article 8(4) of Directive 92/81/EEC\nCouncil Decision\nof 8 October 2002\nauthorising Sweden to apply a differentiated rate of energy tax to alkylate-based petrol for two-stroke engines in accordance with Article 8(4) of Directive 92/81/EEC\n(2002/828/EC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 92/81/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on mineral oils(1), and in particular Article 8(4) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) Sweden has applied for a differentiated rate of energy tax to be authorised on alkylate-based petrol for two-stroke engines. In Sweden the total excise duty on mineral oil products is composed of two elements, the energy tax and the CO2 tax.\n(2) The other Member States have been notified of this request.\n(3) The derogation requested by the Swedish authorities is in line with the Community's tax policy that, inter alia, must reinforce EU policies on innovation, health and consumer protection, sustainable development, environmental and energy.\n(4) The energy tax rate for alkylate-based petrol for two-stroke engines would be set at SEK 1,50 per litre below that for conventional environmental class 1 petrol. This equates to an energy tax duty of SEK 1,66 (EUR 0,18(2)) per litre of alkylate based petrol for two-stroke engines. The total excise duty rate (including CO2 tax) is then SEK 3,12 (EUR 0,339) per litre.\n(5) The effective total rates of excise duty are higher than the applicable Community minimum rates, in accordance with Council Directive 92/82/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the approximation of the rates of excise duties on mineral oils(3).\n(6) The requested energy tax reduction is foreseen for alkylate based petrol for two-stroke engines (Motorbr\u00e4nslen - Specialbensin f\u00f6r motordrivna arbetsredskap, Tv\u00e5taktsbr\u00e4nsle) that fulfils the criteria of Swedish Standard (SS) 15 54 61(second issue)(4) as well as the standards established in Council Directive 98/70/EC(5).\n(7) The differentiated rate would apply to alkylate based petrol for two-stroke engines at the point of production or import.\n(8) Production costs of alkylate-based petrol for two-stroke engines exceed those of conventional petrol, and its retail price would therefore be uncompetitive without the energy tax reduction. The energy tax reduction is intended to offset the additional production costs. It will enable for alkylate-based petrol for two-stroke engines to be sold at a pump price similar to conventional petrol.\n(9) The Government of Sweden intends to regularly review the production cost of alkylate-based petrol for two-stroke engines and thus monitor that no overcompensation takes place.\n(10) The accorded authorisation should apply for a period of six years.\n(11) The Commission regularly reviews reductions and exemptions to check that they do not distort competition or hinder the operation of the internal market and are not incompatible with Community policy on protection of the environment, health protection, energy and transport,\n1. Sweden is hereby authorised to apply a differentiated rate of energy tax to alkylate-based petrol for two-stroke engines.\n2. The rate of total excise duty applicable to the product referred to in paragraph 1 must comply with the terms of Directive 92/82/EEC, and in particular the minimum rate laid down in Article 4 thereof.\nBased on a regular review by the Swedish authorities, the reduction in energy tax shall be adjusted to avoid overcompensating for the extra costs involved in the manufacture of alkylate-based petrol.\nThis Decision shall expire on 30 June 2008.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Sweden.", "answer groups": [ "environmental tax" ], "distractor groups": [ "withdrawal price", "translation", "Canada", "Maghreb", "estuary", "access to a profession", "cork", "Southern Finland", "Doha Round" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2007/505/EC: Commission Decision of 24 January 2007 on the State aid: investment in an on-site environmental sugar beet cleaning method (demonstration project) (notified under document number C(2007) 121)\n18.7.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 186/35\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 24 January 2007\non the State aid: investment in an on-site environmental sugar beet cleaning method (demonstration project)\n(notified under document number C(2007) 121)\n(Only the German text is authentic)\n(2007/505/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 88(2) thereof,\nHaving called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provision(s) cited above\u00a0(1),\nWhereas:\nI.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0THE PROCEDURE\n(1) By letter of 6 May 1998, received on 11 May 1998, the German authorities notified the above mentioned aid pursuant to Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty. Additional information was provided by letters of 22 September 1998, 5 May 1999 and 19 August 1999, received on 28 September 1998, 7 May 1999 and 24 August 1999, respectively.\n(2) By letter No SG(99) D/8600 of 27 October 1999, the Commission opened the formal investigation procedure pursuant to Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty. Germany subsequently expressed comments by letter of 15 March 2000. No comments from interested parties were received by the Commission. The German authorities sent the Commission additional information by letter of 16 August 2006.\n(3) By letter of 16 August 2006, Germany informed the Commission that it was withdrawing the notified measure. In reply to a question from the Commission, Germany has also confirmed that the investment aid has not been paid.\nII.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0CONCLUSION\n(4) Up to the date on which it received the notification from Germany, the Commission had not taken any formal decision on the notification in question. In these circumstances, it accepts the withdrawal of the notification within the meaning of Article 8(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty\u00a0(2).\n(5) The formal investigation procedure should therefore be closed pursuant to Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 as it is now superfluous,\nThe formal investigation procedure regarding the investment aid of DEM 348\u00a0930 for the cleaning and filtering system for the Nordkristall GmbH sugar factory in G\u00fcstrow (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) is hereby closed pursuant to Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.", "answer groups": [ "State aid" ], "distractor groups": [ "universal service", "international waters", "mixed cropping", "fish oil", "police", "assessment", "forces abroad", "information industry", "political club" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2007/472/EC: Council Decision of 25 June 2007 amending the Decision of the Executive Committee set up by the 1990 Schengen Convention, amending the Financial Regulation on the costs of installing and operating the technical support function for the Schengen Information System (C.SIS)\n7.7.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 179/50\nCOUNCIL DECISION\nof 25 June 2007\namending the Decision of the Executive Committee set up by the 1990 Schengen Convention, amending the Financial Regulation on the costs of installing and operating the technical support function for the Schengen Information System (C.SIS)\n(2007/472/EC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to Article 119 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks at their common borders (the 1990 Schengen Convention),\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 119 of the 1990 Schengen Convention provides that the costs arising from the installation and operation of the C.SIS, referred to in Article 92(3) thereof, are to be borne jointly by the Contracting Parties.\n(2) The financial obligations arising from the installation and operation of the C.SIS are regulated by a specific Financial Regulation adopted by the Decision of the Schengen Executive Committee of 15 December 1997 concerning the modification of the C.SIS Financial Regulation (hereinafter the C.SIS Financial Regulation).\n(3) The C.SIS Financial Regulation applies to Denmark, Finland and Sweden, as well as to Iceland and Norway by virtue of Decision 2000/777/EC\u00a0(1).\n(4) The new Member States, with the exception of Cyprus, are to be integrated into the first generation Schengen Information System (SIS 1+) on a date to be set by the Council in accordance with Article 3(2) of the 2003 Act of Accession, within the framework of the SISone4ALL project.\n(5) From that date onwards those Member States should participate in the C.SIS Financial Regulation.\n(6) It is reasonable that those Member States contribute to historical C.SIS costs. However, since they only joined the European Union in 2004, it is considered appropriate that they should contribute to historical costs in relation to the installation of the C.SIS from 1 January 2005. It is also considered reasonable that they contribute to historical operating costs from 1 January 2007.\n(7) As regards Iceland and Norway, this Decision constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement concluded by the Council of the European Union and the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Norway concerning the association of those two States with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis\n\u00a0(2) which fall within the area referred to in Article 1, point G, of Decision 1999/437/EC\u00a0(3) on certain arrangements for the application of that Agreement.\n(8) As regards Switzerland, this Decision constitutes a development of provisions of the Schengen acquis within the meaning of the Agreement signed between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation concerning the association of the Swiss Confederation with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis which falls within the area referred to in Article 1, point G, of Decision 1999/437/EC read in conjunction with Article 4(1) of Decisions 2004/849/EC\u00a0(4) and 2004/860/EC\u00a0(5).\n(9) The United Kingdom is taking part in this Decision, in accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and Article 8(2) of Decision 2000/365/EC\u00a0(6).\n(10) Ireland is taking part in this Decision, in accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and Article 6(2) of Decision 2002/192/EC\u00a0(7).\n(11) As regards the Republic of Cyprus, this Decision constitutes a provision building on the Schengen acquis or otherwise related to it within the meaning of Article 3(2) of the 2003 Act of Accession.\n(12) This Decision constitutes a provision building on the Schengen acquis or otherwise related to it within the meaning of Article 4(2) of the 2005 Act of Accession,\nThe following indent shall be added to point 3 of Title I of the C.SIS Financial Regulation:\n\u2018\u2014 in the case of the States which became Members of the European Union in 2004, this amount shall only be calculated on the basis of the costs incurred for the installation of the C.SIS as of 1 January 2005. They shall also contribute to the operating costs of the C.SIS as of 1 January 2007.\u2019\nThis Decision shall take effect from the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "equipment cost" ], "distractor groups": [ "trade cooperation", "fourth Lom\u00e9 Convention", "kapok", "Iraq", "international division of labour", "budgetary specification", "small town", "fight against wastage", "discounting", "sociocultural group", "consumer society" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2248/85 of 25 July 1985 on detailed rules for administrative assistance with the exportation of Emmentaler cheese subject to quota restrictions that qualifies for special treatment on importation into the United States of America\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2248/85\nof 25 July 1985\non detailed rules for administrative assistance with the exportation of Emmentaler cheese subject to quota restrictions that qualifies for special treatment on importation into the United States of America\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2931/79 of 20 December 1979 on the granting of assistance for the exportation of agricultural products which may benefit from special import treatment in a third country (1), and in particular Article 1 (2) thereof,\nWhereas the Community and the United States of America have agreed under the GATT to allow importation into the United States of cheese of Community origin subject to quota restrictions with effect from 1 January 1980; whereas this agreement was approved by Council Decision 80/272/EEC (2);\nWhereas the United States of America has committed itself to take all necessary measures so that the management of the quota by the administration will be such as to permit its maximum utilization; whereas in the light of experience it appears to be appropriate to strengthen administrative cooperation with the United States of America to ensure that the quota of Emmentaler cheese of Community origin is fully utilized; whereas the cheese concerned should therefore be accompanied by a certificate issued by the competent authorities in the Community;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,\nFor exportation to the United States of America (including Puerto Rico and Hawaii) of Emmentaler cheese of subheading 04.04 A of the Common Customs Tariff and subheading No 117.60.25 of the Tariff Schedule of the United States that is subject to quota restrictions the competent authority of the exporting Member State shall issue at the exporter's request a certificate corresponding to the model given in the Annex hereto.\n1. Forms shall be printed on white paper of format 210 \u0102\u0097 296 millimetres and shall be worded in English. Each certificate shall be given a serial number by the issuing authority. Exporting Member States may require that the certificates issued on their territory be worded in their official language, or in one of their official languages, in addition to English.\n2. Each certificate shall be made out in an original and in at least two copies. The copies shall bear the same serial number as the original. The original and the copies shall be completed in typescript or by hand, in block letters in ink.\n1. The certificate and its copy shall be issued by the authority designated for this purpose by the exporting Member State.\n2. The issuing authority shall retain a copy of the certificate. The original and the other copy shall be presented at the Community customs office at which the export declaration is lodged.\n3. The customs office mentioned in paragraph 2 shall complete the appropriate section on the original and return it to the exporter or to his representative. It shall retain the copy.\nThe certificate shall not be valid until it has been duly stamped by the customs office. It shall cover the quantity of Emmentaler cheese indicated thereon and must be presented to the customs authorities of the United States of America. However, a quantity exceeding by no more than 5 % that indicated on the certificate shall be regarded as covered by it.\nThe Member States shall take all necessary measures to check the origin, type, composition and quality of the Emmentaler cheeses for which certificates are issued.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 September 1985.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "United States" ], "distractor groups": [ "Armenia", "human relations", "invention", "customs drawback", "Coreper", "counterfeiting", "ALADI", "access to education", "teacher training" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01679/2005 of 6 October 2005 amending Regulation (EEC) No\u00a02075/92 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco\n15.10.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 271/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1679/2005\nof 6 October 2005\namending Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee\u00a0(2),\nWhereas:\n(1) Titles I and II of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92\u00a0(3) establish a premium as well as a production limitation system for tobacco production.\n(2) Article 152 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003\u00a0(4), which has established common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and certain support schemes for farmers, provides for the deletion of Titles I and II of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 as of 1 January 2005 but specifies that they shall continue to apply in respect of the 2005 harvest. The premium and production limitation schemes provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 expire as from the end of the 2005 harvest.\n(3) Consequently a number of Articles of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 become obsolete and should be deleted for reasons of legal clarity and transparency.\n(4) It is therefore necessary to amend Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 accordingly,\nRegulation (EEC) No 2075/92 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 1 shall be replaced by the following:\n2. Articles 2, 12, 19, 25, 26 and 27 and the Annex shall be deleted;\n3. Article 13(2)(b) shall be replaced by the following:\n\u2018(b) specific measures to help tobacco growers to switch to other crops or other economic activities that create employment and studies of the possibilities for tobacco growers to do so,\u2019;\n4. Article 14 shall be deleted;\n5. Article 14a shall be replaced by the following:\n6. Article 17 shall be replaced by the following:\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\n(1), (2) and (6) shall apply from 1 January 2006.\nHowever, the provisions necessary for the management and control of the premium system shall continue to apply in respect of the 2005 harvest.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "common organisation of markets" ], "distractor groups": [ "franchising", "European passport", "resolution of parliament", "pharmaceutical expenses", "Contadora Group", "right to housing", "organic chemical", "Andean Community countries", "accession negotiations", "public consultation", "meat product", "Federation State", "telephone" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 2302/2001 of 15 November 2001 on the detailed rules for applying Article 12(2) of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 2302/2001\nof 15 November 2001\non the detailed rules for applying Article 12(2) of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra(1), and in particular Article 12(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Article 12(2) of the said Agreement, products covered by heading Nos 2402 and 2403 of the Harmonised System which are manufactured in the Community from raw tobacco and which meet the conditions of Article 3(1) of the said Agreement are eligible, when imported into the Principality of Andorra, for a preferential rate corresponding to 60 % of the rate applied, in the Principality of Andorra, for the same products vis-\u00e0-vis third countries.\n(2) Detailed rules for the application of Article 12(2) should be laid down in order to ensure uniform interpretation and application of that Article,\nScope\nThe products referred to in Article 12(2) of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra, hereinafter referred to as the \"Agreement\", shall be eligible for the preferential rate when imported into the Principality of Andorra on presentation of the certificate set out in the Annex.\nGeneral conditions for issue\n1. The certificate shall be issued by the customs authorities of the exporting state on application having been made by the exporter or, under the exporter's responsibility, by his authorised representative. For this purpose, the exporter or his authorised representative shall fill out the certificate, a specimen of which appears in the Annex, in one of the languages in which the Agreement is drawn up.\n2. A certificate shall be issued by the customs authorities of a Community Member State if the products covered by heading Nos 2402 and 2403 of the Harmonised System are manufactured in the Community from raw tobacco in free circulation in the Community.\n3. The issuing customs authorities shall take all steps necessary to verify compliance with the requirements. For this purpose, they shall have the right to call for any evidence and to make any check considered appropriate. The issuing customs authorities shall also ensure that the form is duly completed.\n4. The exporter applying for the issue of a certificate must be prepared to submit at any time, at the request of the customs authorities of the exporting state where the certificate is issued, all appropriate documents proving the necessary working and the Community status of the goods as required by Article 12(2) of the Agreement.\n5. The certificate shall be issued by the customs authorities and made available to the exporter as soon as actual exportation has been effected or ensured. The issuing authority shall keep a copy of the certificate.\n6. The issuing customs authorities shall give a number to each certificate. Copies shall bear the same number as the original.\nProhibition of drawback of, or exemption from, customs duties\n1. Raw tobacco in free circulation used in the manufacture of goods for which a certificate is issued or drawn up in accordance with Article 2 shall not be subject in the Community to drawback of, or exemption from, customs duties of whatever kind.\n2. The exporter of products covered by a certificate must be prepared to submit at any time, at the request of the Community customs authorities concerned, all appropriate documents proving that no drawback has been obtained in respect of the imported raw tobacco used in the manufacture of the products concerned and that all customs duties or charges having equivalent effect applicable to the raw tobacco have actually been paid.\nCertificates issued retroactively\n1. Notwithstanding Article 2(5), a certificate may in exceptional circumstances be issued after exportation of the products to which it relates within a maximum of three months from the date of export.\n2. For the purposes of implementing paragraph 1, the exporter shall indicate in his application the place and date of export of the products to which his application relates together with the reasons for his application.\n3. Certificates issued retroactively must bear one of the following endorsements in Box 8:\nESPEDIDO A POSTERIORI, /UDSTEDT EFTERF\u00d8LGENDE, /NACHTR\u00c4GLICH AUSGESTELLT, /\u0395\u039a\u0394\u039f\u0398\u0395\u039d \u0395\u039a \u03a4\u03a9\u039d \u03a5\u03a3\u03a4\u0395\u03a1\u03a9\u039d, /ISSUED RETROACTIVELY, /D\u00c9LIVR\u00c9 A POSTERIORI, /RILASCIATO A POSTERIORI, /ACHTERAF AFGEGEVEN, /EMITIDO A POSTERIORI, /ANNETTU J\u00c4LKIK\u00c4TEEN, /UTF\u00c4RDAT I EFTERHAND, /EMES A POSTERIORI.\nIssue of a duplicate of the certificate\n1. In the event of the theft, loss or destruction of a certificate, the exporter may apply to the customs authorities which issued it for a duplicate to be made on the basis of the export documents in their possession.\n2. The duplicate shall bear one of the following endorsements in Box 8 of the duplicate:\nDUPLICADO, /DUPLIKAT, /DUPLICATE, /DUPLICATA, /DUPLICATO, /DUPLICAAT, /SEGUNDA VIA, /KAKSOISKAPPALE, /DUPLICAT.\n3. The duplicate, which shall bear the date of the original certificate, shall take effect on that date.\nValidity of certificate\n1. A certificate shall be valid for four months from the date of issue in the exporting country and must be submitted within the said period to the customs authorities of the importing country.\n2. Certificates submitted to the customs authorities of the Principality of Andorra after the expiry of the time limit for presentation specified in paragraph 1 may be accepted for the purpose of applying the preference provided for in Article 12(2) of the Agreement where the failure to comply with the time limit is due to exceptional circumstances or where the products were submitted to them before the expiry of the said time limit.\nProduction of certificate\n1. Application of the preferential rate must be requested by the importer at the time when the customs debt is incurred.\n2. Certificates shall be submitted to the customs authorities of the Principality of Andorra in support of the customs declaration giving rise to the customs debt. The authorities shall have the right to request a translation of a certificate.\nSupporting documents\nThe documents referred to in Article 2(4) intended to establish that the products covered by the certificate are eligible for the preferential rate provided for in Article 12(2) of the Agreement and meet the other conditions of this Regulation may be submitted in the following forms:\n(a) proof of the Community status of the raw tobacco used, established in accordance with the relevant Community provisions;\n(b) direct evidence of the processes carried out by the exporter or the supplier to obtain the products concerned, contained for example in his accounts or internal bookkeeping.\nPreservation of certificates and supporting documents\n1. An exporter applying for the issue of a certificate shall keep for at least three years the documents referred to in Article 2(4).\n2. The customs authorities of the Principality of Andorra shall keep for at least three years the certificates submitted to them.\n0\nMutual assistance\n1. The customs authorities of the Member States of the Community shall communicate, via the Commission, specimens of the stamps used in their offices for the issue of certificates and the addresses of the customs authorities responsible for verifying the certificates.\n2. In order to ensure the proper application of this Regulation, the customs authorities of the Member States of the Community and Andorra shall mutually assist one another in checking the authenticity and accuracy of the documents and the regularity of the procedures set out in the previous Articles.\n1\nSubsequent verification\n1. The subsequent verification of the certificates shall be carried out at random or whenever the customs authorities of the Principality of Andorra have reasonable doubts as to the authenticity of the documents, the working required and the Community status of the goods concerned or the fulfilment of the other requirements of this Regulation.\n2. For the purposes of implementing the provisions of paragraph 1, the customs authorities of the Principality of Andorra shall return the certificate to the customs authorities of the exporting state, where appropriate giving the reasons of form or substance for an inquiry. In support of their request for subsequent verification, they shall provide all the documents or all the information obtained suggesting that the particulars given on the certificate are inaccurate.\n3. The verification shall be carried out by the customs authorities of the exporting country. For this purpose they shall have the right to call for any evidence and to carry out any inspection of the exporter's accounts or any other check they consider appropriate.\n4. The customs authorities requesting the verification shall be informed of the results of the verification as soon as possible. These results shall indicate clearly whether the documents are authentic and whether the products concerned fulfil the requirements of Article 12(2).\n5. In cases of reasonable doubt where there is no reply within 10 months of the date of the verification request or where the reply does not contain sufficient information to determine the authenticity of the document in question, the working required or the Community status of the raw tobacco used, the customs authorities of the Principality of Andorra shall refuse entitlement to the preferences.\n2\nPenalties\nPenalties shall be imposed on any person who draws up, or causes to be drawn up, a document which contains incorrect information for the purpose of obtaining a preferential rate for a product as provided for in Article 12(2) of the Agreement.\n3\nFinal provisions\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "trade agreement (EU)" ], "distractor groups": [ "constitution", "hunting", "Switzerland", "Sicily", "UN Research Institute for Social Development", "suspension of sentence", "medium-sized business", "development policy", "insurance occupation" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0595/2008 of 16\u00a0June 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01255/96 temporarily suspending the autonomous common customs tariff duties on certain industrial, agricultural and fishery products\n25.6.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 164/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 595/2008\nof 16 June 2008\namending Regulation (EC) No 1255/96 temporarily suspending the autonomous common customs tariff duties on certain industrial, agricultural and fishery products\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 26 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) It is in the Community's interest to suspend partially or totally the autonomous common customs tariff duties on a number of new products not listed in the Annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/96\u00a0(1).\n(2) The CN and TARIC codes 5603121020 and 8504408420 for two products which are listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1255/96 should be withdrawn from that list because it is no longer in the Community's interest to maintain suspension of autonomous common customs tariff duties.\n(3) In addition, the descriptions of eight products need to be altered in order to take account of technical product developments and economic trends on the market. Those products should be considered as withdrawn from the list and should as a consequence be inserted in it as new products.\n(4) Experience has shown the need to provide for an expiry date for the suspensions listed in Regulation (EC) No 1255/96 to ensure that account is taken of technological and economic changes. That should not exclude the premature termination of certain measures or their continuation beyond that period, if economic reasons are submitted, in accordance with the principles laid down in the Commission Communication of 1998 concerning autonomous tariff suspensions and quotas\u00a0(2).\n(5) Regulation (EC) No 1255/96 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) Having regard to the economic importance of this Regulation, it is necessary to rely on the grounds of urgency provided for in point 1.3 of the Protocol on the role of national parliaments in the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaties establishing the European Communities.\n(7) Since the suspensions laid down in this Regulation have to take effect from 1 July 2008, this Regulation should apply from the same date and enter into force immediately,\nThe Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1255/96 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. the rows for the products listed in Annex I to this Regulation shall be inserted;\n2. the rows for the products for which the CN and TARIC codes are given in Annex II to this Regulation shall be deleted.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 2008.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fishery product" ], "distractor groups": [ "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", "mode of production", "tax inspection", "performance measurement", "white-collar worker", "European tax cooperation", "administrative order", "continuing education", "diploma", "special tax" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Directive 2001/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2001 amending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners\nDirective 2001/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council\nof 12 February 2001\namending Directive 95/2/EC on food additives other than colours and sweeteners\nTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 89/107/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning food additives authorised for use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption(1), and in particular Articles 3(2) and 5(3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission(2),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),\nActing in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty(4),\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 95/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 1995 on food additives other than colours and sweeteners(5) lays down a list of food additives that may be used in the Community and the conditions for their use.\n(2) There have been technical developments in the field of food additives since the adoption of Directive 95/2/EC.\n(3) Directive 95/2/EC should be adapted to take account of these developments.\n(4) Food additives may be approved for use in foodstuffs only if they comply with the general criteria laid down in Annex II to Directive 89/107/EEC.\n(5) According to Article 5(1) of Directive 89/107/EEC, a Member State may authorise the use of a new food additive for a two-year period in its territory.\n(6) In accordance with requests from Member States, the following nationally authorised additives should be approved at Community level: propane, butane and iso-butane; these products should be labelled according to Council Directive 75/324/EEC of 20 May 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to aerosol dispensers(6).\n(7) The Scientific Committee on Food, established under Commission Decision 97/579/EC(7), has been consulted on the adoption of provisions liable to have an effect on public health, pursuant to Article 6 of Directive 89/107/EEC,\nThe Annexes to Directive 95/2/EC are hereby amended as follows:\n1. Annex I shall be amended as follows:\n(a) the following additive shall be inserted in the table: \"E 949 Hydrogen *\"\n(b) in point 3 of the note, the following shall be inserted in the text corresponding to the symbol *: \"E 949\"\n2. in Annex IV\n(a) the following shall be added in the third and fourth columns to the row for \"E 445: Glycerol esters of wood rosin\": \"\"\n(b) The following rows shall be added: \">TABLE>\"\n3. in Annex V the first row shall be replaced by the following: \">TABLE>\"\n1. Member States shall adopt the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 24 August 2002 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of domestic law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "food additive" ], "distractor groups": [ "administration headquarters", "tax on income", "freezing", "retired person", "fishing agreement", "political arbitration", "international human rights law", "cruel and degrading treatment", "social norm" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "71/57/Euratom: Commission Decision of 13 January 1971 on the reorganization of the Joint Nuclear Research Centre (JRC)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 13 January 1971 on the reorganization of the Joint Nuclear Research Centre (JRC) (71/57/Euratom)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and in particular Article 8 thereof;\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing a single Council and a single Commission of the European Communities, and in particular Article 16 thereof;\nHaving regard to the rules of procedure of the Commission, and in particular Article 27 thereof;\nHaving regard to the Opinion of the Scientific and Technical Committee;\nWhereas it is necessary to provide the Joint Research Centre with an organization and powers appropriate to its tasks.\nThe Joint Research Centre (JRC) shall consist of the research establishments set up by the Commission to carry out the Community's research and training programmes, and of the necessary ancillary services.\nThe administrative organs of the Joint Research Centre shall be: - the Director General,\n- the General Advisory Committee,\n- the Scientific Committee.\nThe Joint Research Centre shall be under the authority of a Director General appointed by the Commission on the basis of a contract of not more than four years' duration, which shall be renewable.\nThe Director General and the services directly under him shall be located in the Ispra establishment.\nThe Director General shall take all measures necessary for the efficient functioning of the JRC consistent with the regulations in force and the authority delegated to him. In accordance with the procedures hereinafter described: - he shall prepare and submit to the Commission the JRC's draft programmes indicating the financial as pects thereof,\n- within the total funds provided by the Council for the purpose, he shall negotiate and conclude research contracts, and in doing so shall conform to the tariff rules laid down by the Council on a proposal from the Commission,\n- he shall be responsible for the implementation of programmes and for financial administration,\n- he shall determine the internal organization of the JRC, taking particularly into account the requirements of a functional budget;\n- he shall exercise the powers conferred upon the appointing authority by the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants.\n1. A General Advisory Committee of the JRC consisting of representatives appointed by the Governments of Member States is hereby set up to assist the Director General ; it shall carry out the duties assigned to it by this Decision.\nThe participation of the Member States shall be governed by the Council Resolution of 17 December 1970.\nThe Committee shall elect one of its members as Chairman for a period of two years. The Director General of the JRC shall take part in the discussions but shall not vote.\n2. The General Advisory Committee shall be convened by its Chairman ; it must also be convened if the Director General of the JRC or three members of the Committee so request.\nProceedings of the Committee shall be valid only if at least two thirds of its members are present. Opinions shall be delivered by a majority of the votes of the members present.\n3. A summary record of each meeting shall be prepared under the Chairman's responsibility ; it shall include the opinions delivered and where the Committee is consulted, the views expressed. This record shall be forwarded to the Commission and to the Council.\nA scientific committee of the JRC is hereby set up to as sist the Director General.\nThe Scientific Committee shall be composed as to two thirds of the main heads of department and project managers and as to one-third of members of the scientific and technical staff elected by that staff as their representatives.\nThe Scientific Committee shall be duly consulted by the Director General on all questions of a scientific or technical nature relating to the activities of the JRC. In this connection, it shall take part in the preparation of draft programmes.\n1. The Commission shall provide the Director General with general guidelines on the composition of JRC programmes in the light of any general policy adopted by the Council.\n2. On this basis the Director General, on his own responsibility and in consultation with the General Advisory Committee, shall prepare draft programmes for the various fields of activity of the JRC and the Committee shall give its opinion thereon.\n3. The Commission shall examine in the light of the general policy and financial situation of the Community the draft programmes and the opinion thereon of the General Advisory Committee, which are laid before it.\nIt shall adopt the proposals in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty and lay them before the Council, adding the opinions of the General Advisory Committee and the original draft programmes prepared by the Director General of the JRC if these drafts have been amended by the Commission.\n1. The Director General shall be responsible for the proper execution of the programmes laid down for the JRC. He shall direct the activities of the departments and services, and in particular decide between the alternative methods of implementing the programme.\n2. He shall provide the Commission with all information which it needs to draw up the reports required by Article 11 of the Euratom Treaty.\n3. The Director General shall ensure, as necessary, that successive programmes are properly coordinated and inter-related, during implementation and preparation, with particular reference to the scientific and industrial infrastructure of the JRC. The Director General shall arrange to review the programmes every two years.\nThe Director General shall keep the General Advisory Committee duly informed concerning the activities of the Joint Research Centre, in particular as regards major contracts concluded, staff management policy, the detailed elaboration of the Centre's programme and any major amendments to programmes already approved. In the light of this information the General Advisory Committee may deliver opinions to the Director General.\n1. Each year the Director General shall make an estimate of the funds required for the implementation of the programme, for inclusion under the relevant head of the preliminary draft budget of the Communities. This estimate shall include a forecast of revenue and expenditure in respect of work done by the JRC under contract.\nshall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the preparation of preliminary draft budgets for research activities.\n2. Expenditure of the JRC shall be authorized by the Director General ; he shall sign payment orders and receipts ; he shall conclude contracts and authorize transfers of funds.\n3. The Director General shall make a quarterly financial report to the Commission. At the end of the financial year he shall forward to the Commission a statement of revenue and expenditure for that financial year.\n4. The Commission shall appoint the officer responsible for the control of the commitment and authorization of expenditure and for the supervision of revenue.\n5. The Commission shall appoint the accounting officer responsible for the payment of expenditure and receipt of revenue, for keeping the books and for the safe custody of funds and securities.\n0\n1. The Director General shall have such powers over the staff as are conferred upon the appointing authority, with the exception of those laid down in Articles 90 and 91 of the Staff Regulations which are the prerogative of the Commission.\n2. However, in respect of officials and other servants of grades A1 and A2, the powers laid down in Articles 29, 49, 50 and 51 and Title VI of the Staff Regulations shall be exercised by the Commission on a proposal from the Director General.\n3. The Director General shall, on behalf of the Commission, take all measures necessary to ensure the safety of persons and installations for which he is responsible.\n1\n1. The Director General shall ensure that there is an exchange of information between the services of the Commission and of the JRC for which purpose he shall periodically call together: - the director general or directors of the services of the Commission which are concerned with the activities of the JRC,\n- the representatives of the departments of the JRC,\n- the representatives of the staff of the JRC.\n2. The Director General shall lay down the rules of internal organization of the JRC after consulting the staff of the JRC and obtaining the opinion of the General Advisory Committee.\n3. Without prejudice to the provisions of the Staff Regulations, the rules shall in particular provide for the creation of representative staff organizations at JRC level and, as necessary, for each establishment and shall determine the conditions in which these organizations shall participate in formulating and implementing the general staff policy of the JRC.\n2\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.", "answer groups": [ "research programme" ], "distractor groups": [ "presidential r\u00e9gime", "uncultivated land", "arbitration clause", "non-secular State", "Eritrea", "detention before trial", "in-service training", "election campaign publicity", "Spain", "travel", "suspension of payments" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 164/2002 of 28 January 2002 amending Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of stainless steel wire having a diameter of 1 mm or more, originating in India\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 164/2002\nof 28 January 2002\namending Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of stainless steel wire having a diameter of 1 mm or more, originating in India\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2026/97 of 6 October 1997 on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Community(1), and in particular Article 20 thereof,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA. PREVIOUS PROCEDURE\n(1) By Regulation (EC) 1599/1999(2), the Council imposed a definitive countervailing duty on imports of stainless steel wire having a diameter of 1 mm or more (hereinafter referred to as \"the product concerned\") falling within CN code ex 7223 00 19 originating in India. The measures took the form of ad valorem duties of between 0 and 35,4 % on individual exporters with a residual duty of 48,8 %.\nB. CURRENT PROCEDURE\n1. Request for review\n(2) After the definitive measures had been imposed, the Commission received a request for the initiation of an accelerated review of Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999, pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 2026/97 (hereinafter referred to as \"the basic Regulation\"), from two Indian producers of the product concerned, Sindia Steels Limited and Nevatia Steel & Alloys Private Limited (\"Nevatia\"), both located in Mumbai. The companies concerned claimed that they were not related to any other exporting producers of the product concerned in India. Furthermore, they claimed that they had not exported the product concerned during the original period of investigation (1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998), but had exported the product concerned to the Community since then.\n2. Initiation of an accelerated review\n(3) The Commission examined the evidence submitted by the two Indian exporting producers concerned and considered it sufficient to justify the initiation of a review in accordance with the provisions of Article 20 of the basic Regulation. After consultation of the Advisory Committee and after the Community industry concerned had been given the opportunity to comment, the Commission initiated, by a notice in the Official Journal(3), an accelerated review of Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999 with regard to the companies concerned and commenced its investigation.\n3. Product concerned\n(4) The product covered by the current review is the same product as that under consideration in Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999.\n4. Parties concerned\n(5) The Commission officially advised the two companies concerned and the Government of India (GOI). Furthermore, it gave other parties directly concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. However, no such request was received by the Commission.\nThe Commission sent a questionnaire to the companies concerned and received full replies within the deadline. The Commission sought and verified all information it deemed necessary for the purpose of the investigation and carried out verification visits at the premises of the companies concerned.\n5. Investigation period\n(6) The investigation of subsidisation covered the period from 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 (hereinafter referred to as \"the investigation period\").\n6. Methodology\n(7) The same methodology as that used in the original investigation was applied in the current investigation.\nC. SCOPE OF THE REVIEW\n(8) As no request for a review of the findings on injury was made in this investigation, this review was limited to subsidisation.\n(9) The Commission examined the same subsidy schemes which were analysed in the original investigation. It was also examined whether the exporting producers had used any subsidy schemes which were alleged in the original complaint but not used during the original investigation.\nIt was finally examined whether the exporting producers had made use of any subsidy schemes which were established after the end of the original investigation period, or had received ad hoc subsidies after this date.\nD. RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION\n1. Withdrawal of request for review\n(10) During the investigation, one company, Nevatia, withdrew its request for an accelerated review. Therefore, the investigation regarding this company shall be terminated. Consequently, the further analysis only refers to the other request for an accelerated review, i.e. by Sindia Steels Limited.\n2. New exporter qualification\n(11) The investigation confirmed that Sindia Steels Limited had not exported the product concerned during the original period of investigation and that they had begun exporting to the Community after this period.\nFurthermore, Sindia Steels Limited was able to demonstrate satisfactorily that it did not have any links, direct or indirect, with any of the Indian exporting producers subject to the countervailing measures in force with regard to the product concerned.\nAccordingly, it is confirmed that Sindia Steels Limited should be considered as a new exporter in accordance with Article 20 of the basic Regulation, since it was not individually investigated during the original investigation for reasons other than a refusal to cooperate with the Commission, and thus an individual countervailing duty rate should be determined for it.\n3. Subsidisation\n(12) On the basis of the information contained in the replies to the Commission's questionnaire, the following five schemes were investigated:\n- Passbook Scheme,\n- Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme,\n- Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme,\n- Export Processing Zones/Export Oriented Units,\n- Income Tax Scheme.\n4. Passbook Scheme (PBS)\n(13) Sindia Steels Limited had not availed itself of the Passbook Scheme which, on 1 April 1997, i.e. during the original investigation period, was abolished and replaced by its successor, the Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme (DEPB).\n5. Duty Entitlement Passbook Scheme (DEPB)\nGeneral\n(14) It was established that Sindia Steels Limited had received benefits under this scheme. This company made use of the DEPB on a post-export basis.\nUnder this scheme, any eligible exporter can apply for credits which are calculated as a percentage of the value of exported finished products. Such DEPB rates have been established by the Indian authorities for most products, including the products concerned, on the basis of the Standard Input/Output Norms (SION). A licence stating the amount of credit granted is issued automatically.\nDEPB on post-export basis allows for the use of such credits for any subsequent imports (e.g. raw materials or capital goods) except for goods the importation of which is restricted or prohibited. Such imported goods can be sold on the domestic market (subject to sales tax) or used otherwise.\nDEPB credits are freely transferable. The DEPB licence is valid for a period of 12 months from the date on which the licence is granted.\n(15) The characteristics of the DEPB have not changed since the original investigation. The scheme is a subsidy contingent upon export performance, and it was therefore determined during the original investigation that it is deemed to be specific and countervailable under Article 3(4)(a) of the Basic Regulation.\nCalculation of the subsidy amount\n(16) It was established that Sindia Steels Limited did not use the licences to make duty-free imports. Instead this company sold some of its licences, and the benefit was calculated on the basis of the amount of credit in the licence regardless of the sale price of the licence. The company claimed that the benefit should be limited to the effective sale price of the licence, which is often less than the face value of the credits in the licence. However, in accordance with the findings in the initial investigation (Commission Regulation (EC) No 618/1999(4), recital 34, as confirmed by Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999), this claim cannot be granted since the sale of a licence at a price less than the face value is a purely commercial decision which does not alter the countervailable benefit from this scheme.\nAs in the original investigation, the total value of the subsidy has been allocated over total exports in the investigation period. Where the company made duly substantiated claims for deductions linked to the payment of fees for obtaining the DEPB Licence, these were granted.\nSindia Steels Limited benefited from this scheme during the investigation period and obtained subsidies of 15,5 %.\n6. Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme (EPCGS)\nGeneral\n(17) It was established that Sindia Steels Limited had availed itself of this scheme.\nTo benefit from the scheme, a company must provide to the relevant authorities details of the type and value of capital goods which are to be imported. Depending on the level of export commitment which the company is prepared to undertake, the company will be allowed to import capital goods at either a zero rate of duty or a reduced rate. A licence authorising the import at preferential rates is issued automatically.\nIn order to meet the export obligation, goods exported must have been produced using the imported capital goods.\nAn application fee is payable to obtain a licence.\n(18) The characteristics of the EPCGS have not changed since the original investigation. It was determined during the original investigation that the EPCGS is a countervailable subsidy, as the payment by an exporter of a reduced or zero rate of duty constitutes a financial contribution by the GOI, government revenue otherwise due being foregone, and a benefit is conferred on the recipient by lowering the duties payable or fully exempting him from paying the import duties.\nThe subsidy is contingent in law upon export performance within the meaning of Article 3(4)(a) of the basic Regulation, since it cannot be obtained without a commitment to export goods, and is therefore deemed to be specific and countervailable.\nCalculation of the subsidy amount\n(19) Using the same calculation methodology as in the original investigation, the benefit to the exporter has been calculated on the basis of the amount of unpaid customs duty due on imported capital goods by spreading this amount across a period which reflects the normal depreciation of such capital goods in the industry of the product concerned. This period has been established by using the weighted average (on the basis of production volume of the products concerned) of depreciation periods for capital goods actually imported under the EPCGS by Indian producers during the original investigation period, resulting in a normal depreciation period of 15,5 years. This amount has then been allocated over total exports during the investigation period.\n(20) Sindia Steels Limited obtained a benefit under this scheme of 0,3 %.\n7. Export Processing Zones (EPZ)/Export Oriented Units (EOU)\n(21) It was established that Sindia Steels Limited was not located in an EPZ and was not an EOU.\n8. Income Tax Exemption Scheme (ITES)\n(22) It was established that Sindia Steels Limited had not availed itself of the ITES.\n9. Other schemes\n(23) It was established that Sindia Steels Limited had neither made use of new subsidy schemes which were established after the end of the original investigation period, nor had it received any ad hoc subsidies after this date.\n10. Amount of countervailable subsidies\n(24) Taking account of the definitive findings relating to the various schemes as set out above, the amount of countervailable subsidies for Sindia Steels Limited is as follows:\n>TABLE>\nE. AMENDMENT OF THE MEASURES BEING REVIEWED\n(25) Based on the findings made during the investigation, it is considered that imports into the Community of stainless steel wire having a diameter of 1 mm or more produced and exported by Sindia Steels Limited should be subject to a level of countervailing duty corresponding to individual amounts of subsidies established for this company.\n(26) Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly.\nF. DISCLOSURE AND DURATION OF THE MEASURE\n(27) The company concerned has been informed on the facts and considerations on the basis of which it is intended to propose that Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999 be amended, and was given the opportunity to comment. No comments were received.\n(28) The review carried out does not affect the date on which Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999 will expire pursuant to Article 18(1) of the basic Regulation,\nThe following shall be inserted into the table in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999: \">TABLE>\"\nThe accelerated review of Regulation (EC) No 1599/1999 concerning imports by Nevatia Steel & Alloys Private Limited of stainless steel wires with a diameter of 1 mm or more originating in India is hereby terminated.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "wire" ], "distractor groups": [ "head-hunting", "mode of production", "proposal (EU)", "mother tongue", "research body", "real estate credit", "countries of the Pacific Community", "Canary Islands", "indirect election" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2014/527/EU: Decision of the European Central Bank of 9 July 2014 repealing Decision ECB/2013/22 on temporary measures relating to the eligibility of marketable debt instruments issued or fully guaranteed by the Republic of Cyprus and Decision ECB/2013/36 on additional temporary measures relating to Eurosystem refinancing operations and eligibility of collateral (ECB/2014/32)\n13.8.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 240/26\nDECISION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\nof 9 July 2014\nrepealing Decision ECB/2013/22 on temporary measures relating to the eligibility of marketable debt instruments issued or fully guaranteed by the Republic of Cyprus and Decision ECB/2013/36 on additional temporary measures relating to Eurosystem refinancing operations and eligibility of collateral\n(ECB/2014/32)\n(2014/527/EU)\nTHE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first indent of Article\u00a0127(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular the first indent of Article 3.1, Article 12.1, Article 18 and the second indent of Article 34.1 thereof,\nHaving regard to Guideline ECB/2011/14 of 20 September 2011 on monetary policy instruments and procedures of the Eurosystem\u00a0(1), and in particular Section 1.6 and Sections 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 of Annex I thereto,\nWhereas:\n(1) The content of Decisions ECB/2013/22\u00a0(2) and ECB/2013/36\u00a0(3) should be included in Guideline ECB/2013/4\u00a0(4), the core legal act governing temporary measures relating to Eurosystem refinancing operations and eligibility of collateral.\n(2) In the interest of clarity and consistency and with a view to simplifying the Eurosystem collateral framework, these steps are implemented by way of a recast of Guideline ECB/2013/4.\n(3) Decisions ECB/2013/22 and ECB/2013/36 should therefore be repealed,\nRepeal of Decisions ECB/2013/22 and ECB/2013/36\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Decisions ECB/2013/22 and ECB/2013/36 are repealed with effect from 20 August 2014.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0References to the repealed Decisions shall be construed as references to Guideline ECB/2014/31.\nEntry into force\nThis Decision shall enter into force on 9 July 2014.", "answer groups": [ "Cyprus" ], "distractor groups": [ "Hamburg", "European Institute of Public Administration", "carriage for hire or reward", "drawing up of the EU budget", "urban renewal", "producer's liability", "sustainable agriculture", "electorate" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "93/326/EEC: Commission Decision of 13 May 1993 establishing indicative guidelines for the fixing of costs and fees in connection with the Community eco- label\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 13 May 1993 establishing indicative guidelines for the fixing of costs and fees in connection with the Community eco-label\n(93/326/EEC)THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 of 23 March 1992 on a Community eco-label award scheme (1), and in particular Article 11 thereof,\nWhereas Article 11 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 provides that every application for the award of a label shall be subject to the payment of the costs of processing the application and that further the conditions of use of the label shall include the payment of a fee;\nWhereas Article 11 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92 further provides that indicative guidelines for the fixing of costs and fees should be established in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7 of the said Regulation;\nWhereas the measures set out in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92,\n1. Every application for the award of a label shall be subject to an application fee which shall cover the costs of processing the application.\n2. The guideline figure for the application fee shall be ECU 500.\n1. A fee for the use of the label shall be paid annually by each applicant who has been awarded an eco-label in accordance with Articles 10 and 12 of Regulation (EEC) No 880/92.\n2. The annual fee shall relate to a period of 12 months beginning with the date of the award of the eco-label to the applicant.\n3. The annual fee shall be calculated as a percentage of the annual volume of sales within the Community of the product to which the eco-label is awarded.\n4. The guideline figure for the percentage of the annual volume of sales shall be 0,15 %.\n5. The guideline minimum figure shall be ECU 500.\n1. Competent bodies shall have discretion to set actual fees at levels 20 % greater or smaller than the guideline figures specified above. This discretion shall be exercised so that, if a competent body chooses to set its fees at a different level from the guideline figures, the same variation in level shall apply to all the fees set by that competent body.\n2. If VAT is payable on these fees, the VAT element shall be contained within the discretionary increase which a competent body may apply.\nThe fixing of the application fee and the annual fee shall be subject to the additional guidelines set out in the Annex to this Decision.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EU environmental policy" ], "distractor groups": [ "insurance law", "live poultry", "accounting entry", "financial aid", "programmes industry", "organisation of health care", "North-West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation", "compulsory expenditure" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "82/379/EEC: Commission Decision of 19 May 1982 establishing that the apparatus described as 'Beckman - UV Spectrophotometer, model 24 with recorder and accessories' may not be imported free of Common Customs Tariff duties (Only the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Danish, English and Greek texts are authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 22 May 1985\nconcerning an aid scheme for potable spirits producers in France\n(Only the French text is authentic)\n(85/379/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 337/79 of 5 February 1979 on the common organization of the market in wine (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 798/85 (2),\nHaving given notice to the parties concerned to submit their comments in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) of the EEC Treaty,\nWhereas:\nI\nOn 3 October 1983, the French Government notified the Commission under Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty of a scheme to assist producers of potable spirits, to be implemented subject to the Commission's approval.\nBy telex dated 6 October 1983, followed by a telexed reminder on 17 November 1983, the Commission asked the French Government to supply further information about the scheme.\nIn a letter dated 7 December 1983, the French Government sent the Commission a brief reply.\nOn 31 January 1984, the Commission again contacted the French Government requesting further details.\nBy letter dated 13 March 1984 and by telex dated 30 March 1984, the French Government asked the Commission to give it more time to reply.\nBy telex dated 11 April 1984, the French Government sent the Commission additional information, pointing out, however, that the details of certain aids still had to be worked out.\nThe scheme provides for FF 12 million in grants to armagnac and calvados producers for storage and maturing operations. The anticipated duration of the scheme is three years.\nThe French Government gives as the main reason for awarding such aid the fact that the spirits producers in question are faced with structural and economic difficulties.\nII\nArmagnac and calvados are products which compete with spirits and alcoholic beverages produced in other Member States, notably whisky, brandies and gin. In 1982, intra-Community trade in all these products was worth approximately 800 million ECU.\nIn recent years, a fall in the consumption of these products has been recorded in most Member States.\nThis is due, on the one hand, to the general economic recession and, on the other, to the increase in the taxes and excise duties levied on such products.\nIn France, sales of alcoholic beverages other than wine and beer fell by 4 % in 1983 compared with 1980. Over the same period, sales of cognac fell by 26,5 %, of armagnac by 17 % and of calvados by 32 %. On the other hand, sales of grain spirits (whisky, gin, etc.) increased by 41 %. The considerable drop in cognac, armagnac and calvados sales is due especially to an increase in the taxes on those products.\nArmagnac production is dependent on production of the region's wines and sometimes varies considerably from year to year.\nExports to Community countries account for approximately 50 % of sales on the French market.\nAs with armagnac, calvados production varies greatly from one year to the next depending on the apple harvest in Normandy.\nIn 1982, exports to Community countries accounted for approximately 30 % of sales on the French market and 84 % of total calvados exports.\nIII\nFollowing scrutiny of the planned aid under Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty, effected on the basis of the analysis of the market in the products concerned on the one hand, and having regard to the additional information furnished by the French authorities on\nthe other, the Commission decided on 30 May 1984 to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 93 (2) EEC in respect of the aids for the private storage and maturing of armagnac and calvados on account of their effects on trade between Member States. The expected cost of financing these measures is FF 12 million.\nUnder the procedure provided for in Article 93 (2) of the EEC Treaty, the Commission gave the French Government and the other Member States and interested parties other than the Member States notice to submit their comments.\nThe French Government replied on 1 August 1984 to the Commission's letter of formal notice of 8 June 1984, arguing, among other things, that in respect of the aids for the private storage of armagnac and calvados those products are produced using traditional methods in rural areas giving rise to a high manufacturing cost for the producers concerned.\nOf the other Member States, the United Kingdom Government supports the Commission's action in initiating the Article 93 (2) EEC procedure; it points out in particular that United Kingdom spirits producers face serious difficulties in exporting their products and that the French aids cause distortions of competition in the spirits and comparable products sector.\nOf the interested parties other than the Member States, the Scotch Whisky Association expressed similar concern in its letter to the Commission dated 28 February 1984.\nIV\nBy notifying in good time its proposal to provide assistance to spirits producers, the French Government has fulfilled its obligation under Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty.\nIn the sector of alcoholic beverages, and more particularly of spirits, there are substantial trade flows between Member States and competition is intense, partly because there is surplus production capacity and partly because consumption of such products is either at a standstill or is declining. When State aids strengthen the competitive position of certain firms whose products for the subject-matter of intra-Community trade, the latter must be deemed to be affected by those aids. In the present case, by reducing certain costs or increasing the income of the recipient firms, the planned aids may affect trade between Member States and distort or threaten to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings within the meaning of Article 92 (1) of the EEC Treaty, which provides that such aids are incompatible with the common market.\nThe exceptions to this principle do not apply in this case in view of the features of the plannned aids and the fact that they do not seek to satisfy the conditions for application of those exceptions.\nArticle 92 (3) of the EEC Treaty specifies which aids may be considered compatible with the common market. Such compatibility is determined in the light of objectives pursued in the interest of the Community and not in that of a single Member State.\nIn order to safeguard the proper functioning of the common market, and having regard to the principle embodied in Article 3 (f) of the EEC Treaty, the exceptions to the incompatibility of aids provided for in Article 92 (3) of the EEC Treaty must be construed narrowly when any aid is scrutinized.\nIn particular, they may be invoked only where the Commission is satifsfied that, without the aid, market forces alone would be insufficient to guide the recipients towards patterns of behaviour that would serve one of the said objectives.\nTo apply the said exceptions in the case of aid that did not serve such an objective or where aid is not necessary for that purpose would be to place the industries or firms of certain Member States at an unfair advantage. Their financial position would be bolstered as a result, whereas trading conditions between Member States would be affected and competition distorted without any jusification on grounds of the common interest within the meaning of Article 92 (3).\nThe proposed assistance for the storage and maturing of armagnac and calvados spirits would relieve the recipients of certain costs inherent in those operations. In fact, the operations are intended to enable them to sell later a better quality product at a higher price. This means that the producer foregoes an immediate income and pays certains costs, which are covered, however, by a higher return at some point in the future. Both in France and in other Member States, however, spirits competing with armagnac and calvados undergo similar treatment without their producers qualifying for assistance to cover part of the cost.\nTo agree to such aid being granted to armagnac and calvados producers alone would, under the circumstances, be tantamount to inflicting on their competitors a disadvantage which might be reflected in an unwarranted drop in their sales.\nThe aid is operating aid involving no restructuring, redeployment or innovation. V\nIn view of the above, the prohibition provided for in Article 92 (1) cannot be waived under paragraph 2 of that Article, given that the exceptions provided for in that paragraph are clearly not applicable in the present case.\nNor do the aids for the private storage and maturing of armagnac and calvados satisfy the conditions for the application of one of the exceptions provided for in Article 92 (3) of the EEC Treaty.\nWith regard to the exceptions contained in subparagraphs (a) and (c) of Article 92 (3) for aids to promote the development of certain areas, the Armagnac and Calvados areas are not ones where the standard of living is abnormally low or where there is serious underemployment within the meaning of subparagraph (a).\nThe operating aids planned by the French Government are not likely to contribute to the development of certain economic areas within the meaning of subparagraph (c).\nAs regards the exceptions provided for in subparagraph (b) of Article 92 (3), it is obvious that the aids in question are not intended to support a project of common European interest or to remedy a serious disturbance in the French economy.\nLastly, as to the exception in subparagraph (c) of Article 92 (3) regarding aid to facilitate the development of certain economic activities, the aids in question, being intended to cover certain operating costs, cannot have a development effect within the meaning of that exception. Moreover, the fact that a substantial proportion of the products which are to qualify for assistance is exported to other Member States makes it impossible to take the view that trading conditions would not be affected to an extent contrary to the common interest.\nConsequently, the planned aids do not satisfy the conditions necessary for application of one of the exceptions in Article 92 (3) of the EEC Treaty,\nThe aids for the private storage and maturing of armagnac and calvados, notified to the Commission by letter dated 29 September 1983, are incompatible with the common market and France may not implement them.\nFrance shall take the measures necessary to comply with this Decision within one month of its notification and shall inform the Commission thereof within the same period.\nThis Decision is addressed to the French Republic.", "answer groups": [ "spectrometry" ], "distractor groups": [ "judicial reform", "norm price", "distributor", "turbine", "restoration of customs duties", "mining operation", "economic integration", "ground staff", "Nicaragua" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/731/EC: Commission Decision of 13 November 2002 on the State aid implemented by Italy for Pertusola Sud (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 4360)\nCommission Decision\nof 13 November 2002\non the State aid implemented by Italy for Pertusola Sud\n(notified under document number C(2002) 4360)\n(Only the Italian text is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2003/731/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof,\nHaving called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above(1), and having regard to those comments,\nWhereas:\nI. PROCEDURE\n(1) By letter dated 18 September 2000, Italy notified a draft contract to the Commission concerning the sale of Pertusola Sud SpA in liquidation to Zincocalabra SpA, a private group of companies headed by Cogefin SpA. The contract was notified in accordance with Article 3(1)(a) of Commission Decision 98/212/EC of 16 April 1997 on the aid granted by Italy to Enirisorse SpA(2) as the contract contained a suspensive clause that requires the Commission's approval in order to be valid.\n(2) By letter of 13 February 2001 the Commission notified Italy of its decision to initiate proceedings under Article 88(2).\n(3) The Commission decision to initiate proceedings was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(3). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments.\n(4) The Commission received comments from the United Kingdom as well as from Union Mini\u0102\u00a8re, Metaleurop and Nuova Solmine. The comments were forwarded to Italy for its views and its response was received on 22 October 2001.\nII. DESCRIPTION\n(5) By Decision 98/212/EC the Commission authorised Italy to grant aid totalling ITL 1819 billion to Enirisorse SpA for the restructuring of some of its subsidiaries, including Pertusola Sud SpA. The aid for Pertusola Sud SpA amounted to ITL 280 million and covered the period 1992 to 1996. Article 2 of the Decision required Italy to comply with its commitments as set out in the restructuring plan, i.e. to privatise the remaining companies and production sites of Enirisorse SpA by 31 December 1998. One of the two firms in question was Pertusola Sud.\n(6) The Decision also required Pertusola Sud to have been shut down and dismantled by the end of 1997, or to be sold to an interested buyer. In any event the firm could no longer produce zinc. The Commission had also taken the view that the 45 % cut in Enirisorse's zinc production capacity resulting from the closure of Pertusola Sud was an adequate counterpart to the aid granted to Pertusola. It had therefore concluded that the aid did not affect competition to an extent contrary to the common interest.\n(7) On 24 July 1997 Enirisorse invited offers for Pertusola Sud. On 31 March 1998 Pertusola entered into liquidation, and ceased production in February 1999. It had a capital of ITL 22 billion, wholly owned by Enirisorse.\n(8) In August 2000 Enirisorse SpA agreed to sell its entire share capital in Pertusola Sud to Zincocalabra.\n(9) Zincocalabra SpA is a new company owned by a private group of firms headed by Cogefin SpA, an Italian group whose companies operate chiefly in the zinc sector. Zincocalabra SpA planned to increase Pertusola's zinc output to 185000 tonnes a year and carry out an investment programme costing ITL 500 billion, to which it would contribute ITL 250 billion. The remaining 50 % would be granted in the form of regional aid, which would be notified to the Commission under the multisectoral framework. Another clause in the contract provided for the payment by Enirisorse SpA of the cost of making good past environmental damage, up to a maximum of ITL 180 million, a payment to which Enirisorse had already agreed.\n(10) The Italian authorities also informed the Commission that Pertusola Sud entered into liquidation on 31 March 1998 and that Enirisorse had therefore ceased contributing capital although it was continuing to cover Pertusola's financial requirements to allow its liquidation as a solvent company.\n(11) The Commission initiated proceedings for the following reasons:\n- possible misuse of the aid approved under the 1997 decision on Pertusola Sud,\n- the payments made by Enirisorse to cover Pertusola's financial commitments in order to ensure that it remained solvent even though it was in liquidation could be regarded as State aid and possibly as incompatible with the common market,\n- the payment by Enirisorse of the environmental costs borne by Pertusola Sud could be regarded as State aid and possibly as incompatible with the common market.\nIII. COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED PARTIES\n(12) The United Kingdom as well as Union Mini\u0102\u00a8re, Metaleurop and Nuova Solmine sent comments in support of the Commission's preliminary assessment.\nIV. COMMENTS FROM ITALY\n(13) By letter of 28 March 2001, Italy informed the Commission that the contract concluded with Zincocalabra had been rescinded.\n(14) By letters dated 5 April 2001 and 22 October 2001, Italy expressed its disagreement with the preliminary assessment made by the Commission as well as with the comments submitted by the interested parties.\n(15) By letter of 1 August 2002, Italy informed the Commission that:\n- on 14 December 2001 a contract for the dismantling of Pertusola's plant had been concluded. The dismantling was to be completed within 16 months of the start of work, as provided for in the contract,\n- at 31 December 2001 Pertusola was employing 24 persons to carry out the liquidation (dismantling, safety and administration), of whom nine would leave the firm in 2002,\n- on 1 February 2002 Pertusola merged with Singea SpA in liquidation (which is the current name of Enirisorse).\nV. CONCLUSIONS\n(16) The Commission concludes that the dismantling of the plant imposed by the 1997 decision, although delayed, will be completed.\n(17) The Commission also concludes that, following the cessation of activity and the ensuing dismantling of the plant, there are no longer any potential distortions of competition due to the measures that Italy would have implemented unlawfully for Pertusola Sud in liquidation, in breach of Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty.\nThe Commission accordingly concludes that the formal investigation procedure initiated under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the measure in question thus no longer serves any purpose, although Italy is still subject to the obligation in Article 3 of Decision 98/212/EC to provide the Commission with six-monthly reports between 1 October and 1 April of each year, until the dismantling of the plant at Pertusola Sud is completed,\nThe formal investigation procedure initiated under Article 88(2) of the Treaty on 13 February 2001 against the measures implemented by Italy for Pertusola Sud (State aid C 8/2001) is closed.\nItaly shall send the Commission the six-monthly reports provided for in Article 3 of Decision 98/212/EC until the dismantling of the Pertusola Sud plant has been completed.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Italian Republic.", "answer groups": [ "Italy" ], "distractor groups": [ "freedom of the skies", "supplementary trade mechanism", "social integration", "International Trade Centre", "clean development mechanism", "physical process", "cereals", "discounting", "glass", "telex" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0699/2006 of 5 May 2006 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No\u00a02092/91 as regards conditions of access for poultry to open-air runs\n6.5.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 121/36\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 699/2006\nof 5 May 2006\namending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 as regards conditions of access for poultry to open-air runs\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs\u00a0(1), and in particular the second indent of Article 13 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) According to the principles of organic farming, livestock should have access to open-air or grazing areas, whenever weather conditions permit.\n(2) Current rules on organic production provide an exception to this principle for mammals where Community or national requirements relating to specific animal health problems prevent access of these animals to outdoor areas. However, no exception is provided for organic poultry.\n(3) In the light of current concerns about the spread of avian influenza, it is necessary to take account of precautionary measures which may require poultry to remain indoors. For the sake of coherence and clarity and in order to guarantee the continuity of the organic poultry production system, it is also necessary to allow producers to keep their poultry indoors without losing organic status, where restrictions, including veterinary restrictions, which are taken on the basis of Community law for the purpose of protecting public or animal health, prevent poultry from having access to the open-air or to grazing areas.\n(4) Restricting access to outdoor runs for poultry used to permanent outdoor access may compromise their welfare. In order to reduce the negative impact of such measures the animals shall have permanent access to sufficient quantities of roughage and suitable material allowing each bird to take up roughage, scratch and dust bath according to its needs.\n(5) Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) There is an urgent need for the measures provided for in this Regulation, considering that restrictions are already being applied in certain Member States. This Regulation should therefore enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91,\nIn part B of Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 the following point 8.4.7 is added:\n\u20188.4.7. Notwithstanding the provisions laid down in points 8.4.2 and 8.4.5, poultry may be kept indoors where restrictions, including veterinary restrictions, which are taken on the basis of Community law for the purpose of protecting public or animal health, prevent or restrict access of poultry to open-air runs.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "organic farming" ], "distractor groups": [ "industrial enterprise", "temperate zone", "section", "Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance", "international arbitration", "grouping of farms", "Languedoc-Roussillon", "white-collar worker" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "91/284/EEC: Commission Decision of 15 May 1991 concerning applications for the refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of compact disc players originating in Japan (PIA Hi-Fi Vertriebs GmbH) (Only the German text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 15 May 1991 concerning applications for the refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of compact disc players originating in Japan (PIA Hi-Fi Vertriebs GmbH) (Only the German text is authentic) (91/284/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 16 thereof,\nWhereas:\nA. PROCEDURE\n(1) PIA Hi-Fi Vertriebs GmbH imports into the Community compact disc players originating in Japan, manufactured and exported by the firm Accuphase Laboratory.\n(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 112/90 (2) imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain compact disc players originating in Japan and the Republic of Korea. A duty of 32 % was imposed on products originating in Japan, save where otherwise provided. Since Accuphase Laboratory was not among the exporters to which a lower duty was applied, imports into the Community of its compact disc players are subject to a duty of 32 %.\n(3) Between February and July 1990, PIA Hi-Fi Vertriebs GmbH, an independent importer based in Weiterstadt, Germany, made five applications for the refund of definitive anti-dumping duties paid on the importation from July 1989 to July 1990 of compact disc players produced and exported by Accuphase Laboratory. The total amount requested is DM [. . .]. The applications, addressed to the German customs authorities, were forwarded to the Commission. The applicant was asked to present, for the first application, data permitting the calculation of normal value for a period of six months preceding each import operation, as provided for in point I (3) (B) (a) of the Commission notice concerning the reimbursement of anti-dumping duties (hereinafter referred to as 'the notice') (3). This information covered the period December 1988 to June 1989. The Commission decided to handle the applications submitted between 17 April and 19 July 1990 according to the rules on recurring applications laid down in point I (4) of the notice. The information required for judging the validity of the applications was provided for the period December 1989 to June 1990 inclusive.\n(4) The Commission asked the applicant for further information, which was submitted within the time limits. The Commission also visited the premises of Accuphase Laboratory, in Japan, to verify data concerning normal value and export prices, which Accuphase Laboratory had supplied to the Commission at the request of the applicant.\n(5) The applicant was informed of the preliminary results of this examination and given an opportunity to comment.\n(6) The Commission informed the Member States and gave its opinion on the matter. No Member State raised any objection.\nB. THE APPLICANT'S ARGUMENTS\n(7) Essentially, the applicant argued that it had paid export prices significantly in excess of normal value.\nC. ADMISSIBILITY\n(8) The applications are admissible.\nD. MERITS OF THE CLAIM\n(9) The applications must be accepted in part. Article 16 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 makes it the responsibility of the importer who has paid an anti-dumping duty and is applying for refund of that duty to show that the duties collected exceed the dumping margin calculated for the relevant reference period. This actual dumping margin must normally be calculated using the same method as that applied during the initial investigation.\n(10) Accuphase Laboratory did not cooperate in the initial Commission investigation. The Commission was therefore obliged to calculate the dumping margin for the compact disc players produced by this undertaking. The Commission considered that the information supplied by the applicant and the exporter regarding the normal value and export prices of the different models was sufficient for it to calculate correctly the average actual dumping margin.\n(11) The Commission calculated normal value on the basis of the price actually paid in normal commercial transactions for the like product intended for consumption in Japan. Accuphase Laboratory asked that the calculation be adjusted to allow for sales made at special prices to promote the launch of new models. The Commission was unable to grant this request, since the sales in question were not made in the course of normal trading.\n(12) For each reference period concerned, the Commission compared the average normal value of each model, ex-factory, with the ex-factory export price charged by Accuphase Laboratory for each of the consignments released for free circulation in the Community during the same period. The comparison was made in accordance with Article 2 (9) and (10) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88. Due account was taken of differences affecting price comparability. Adjustments requested by Accuphase Laboratory, concerning certain sales overheads, were granted.\n(13) With regard to normal value, the request that an adjustment be made for transport costs was granted where it was shown that these costs were directly related to the product and had been incurred in the course of transport from the premises of the exporter to the first independent buyer. An adjustment was also made for storage costs.\nA request for an adjustment to take account of credit costs was accepted at the level verified at the premises of Accuphase Laboratory.\nA request for an adjustment in respect of guarantees and after-sales service was rejected because it was based on an estimate. These costs could not be shown to be directly related within the meaning of Article 2 (10) (c) (iv) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88. It was clear from the investigation that these costs were general costs. Requests for account to be taken of other sales overheads, i.e. promotional and advertising costs and the general sales overheads, were rejected. These costs were not directly related to the sales in question, but were either general administrative costs or could not be described as deductible sales costs as listed in Article 2 (10) (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88.\nThe request that account be taken of the salaries paid to sales staff was rejected. This staff was not wholly engaged in direct selling, but was responsible primarily for promotional activities.\n(14) The export price was duly adjusted to take into account the transport and storage costs directly related to a product and borne by the exporter from the time the product left the exporter's premises to the time of arrival at its destination in the Community. The export price was also adjusted to take account of commission paid on the sales in question.\n(15) The Commission found the actual average dumping margin during the periods under consideration to be lower than the dumping margin used to calculate the level of the duties collected. While Accuphase Laboratory was found to have dumped exports, it had done so at levels lower than the highest dumping margin established in Regulation (EEC) No 112/90. The Commission therefore found the dumping margin to be 14,5 % for the period December 1988 to June 1989 inclusive and 21 % for that from December 1989 to June 1990 inclusive.\nE. AMOUNT TO BE REIMBURSED\n(16) The amount to be reimbursed to PIA Hi-Fi Vertriebs GmbH, representing the difference between the rate of duty collected and the actual dumping margin, comprises 17,5 % (32 % - 14,5 %) of the value used by the relevant authorities to calculate the level of anti-dumping duty in the case of the imports covered by the application submitted on 14 February 1990, and 11 % (32 % - 21 %) of the value used by the relevant authorities to calculate the level of anti-dumping duty in the case of imports covered by the applications submitted between 17 April and 19 July 1990,\n Article 1\nThe applications for the refund of anti-dumping duties submitted by PIA Hi-Fi Vertriebs GmbH are granted to the amount of 17,5 % of the value used by the relevant authorities to calculate the level of anti-dumping duty in the case of the imports covered by the application submitted on 14 February 1990, and 11 % of the value used by the relevant authorities to calculate the level of anti-dumping duty in the case of imports covered by the applications submitted between 17 April and 19 July 1990. Article 2\nThe amounts set out in Article 1 shall be refunded by the German authorities. Article 3\nThis Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany and PIA Hi-Fi Vertriebs GmbH, Rosenweg 6, 6108 Weiterstadt 2, Germany.", "answer groups": [ "Japan" ], "distractor groups": [ "Galati", "work study", "evidence", "European Union membership", "highway code", "planned economy", "employers' confederation", "social impact", "industrial capital", "Sahel" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2012/226/EU: Commission Decision of 23\u00a0April 2012 on the second set of common safety targets as regards the rail system (notified under document C(2012) 2084) Text with EEA relevance\n27.4.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 115/27\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 23 April 2012\non the second set of common safety targets as regards the rail system\n(notified under document C(2012) 2084)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2012/226/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 2004/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on safety on the Community\u2019s railways and amending Council Directive 95/18/EC on the licensing of railway undertakings and Directive 2001/14/EC on the allocation of railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure and safety certification (Railway Safety Directive)\u00a0(1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 7(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The Commission issued a mandate to the European Railway Agency (\u2018the Agency\u2019) in accordance with Directive 2004/49/EC to draw up draft common safety targets (\u2018CSTs\u2019) and the related draft common safety methods for the period from 2011 to 2015. The Agency submitted its recommendation on the second set of draft CSTs to the Commission. This Decision is based on the recommendation by the Agency.\n(2) According to the methodology established by Commission Decision 2009/460/EC of 5 June 2009 on the adoption of a common safety method for assessment of achievement of safety targets, as referred to in Article 6 of Directive 2004/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(2), and in order to establish the first and second set of CSTs in accordance with Directive 2004/49/EC, it is necessary to quantitatively identify the current safety performance of railway systems in Member States by means of national reference values (\u2018NRVs\u2019). Decision 2009/460/EC defines NRV as a reference measure indicating, for the Member State concerned, the maximum tolerable level for a railway risk category. However, if the NRV is higher than the corresponding CST calculated on the basis of the methodology, the maximum tolerable level of risk for a Member State is the corresponding CST derived from the NRVs, in accordance with the methodology set out in Section 2.2 of the Annex to Decision 2009/460/EC.\n(3) The values for the first set of CSTs, calculated on the basis of data from 2004 to 2007, were set out in Commission Decision 2010/409/EU of 19 July 2010 on Common Safety Targets as referred to in Article 7 of Directive 2004/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(3).\n(4) Directive 2004/49/EC provides for a second set of CSTs, which are to be based on the experience gained from the first set of common safety targets and their implementation. It should reflect any priority areas where safety needs to be further improved. The values for the second set of CSTs have been calculated on the basis of the data from 2004 to 2009, which have been supplied to Eurostat by Member States in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 91/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on rail transport statistics\u00a0(4). They have been calculated using the methodology set out in points 2.1.1 and 2.3.1 of the Annex to Decision 2009/460/EC.\n(5) Since the first set of CSTs was published in July 2010, there has not been enough time to gain sufficient experience to change the risk categories. The risk categories remain therefore the same as for the first set of CSTs. However, based on the number of accidents and fatalities in rail traffic, the two main risk categories are unauthorised persons on railway premises (60\u00a0% of fatalities) and level crossing users (29\u00a0% of fatalities).\n(6) The values for the second set of CSTs cover the Union rail system as a whole. There are no data available for calculating CSTs for the different parts of the rail system as laid down in point (e) of Article 3 of Directive 2004/49/EC. That provision defines CSTs as the safety levels that must at least be reached by different parts of the rail system (such as the conventional rail system, the high speed rail system, long railway tunnels or lines solely used for freight transport) and by the system as a whole, expressed in risk acceptance criteria. The development of CSTs for those parts of the rail system is at the moment not feasible due to the lack of harmonised and reliable data on safety performance of parts of rail systems which are in operation in the Member States. However, it is appropriate to adopt the second set of CSTs.\n(7) Decision 2010/409/EU should therefore be replaced by this Decision.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 27(1) of Directive 2004/49/EC,\nSubject matter and definitions\nThis Decision establishes the second set of common safety targets for the rail system in accordance with Directive 2004/49/EC and Decision 2009/460/EC.\nFor the purposes of this Decision, the definitions of Directive 2004/49/EC, Regulation (EC) No 91/2003 and Decision 2009/460/EC apply.\nNational reference values\nThe national reference values for the Member States and for the different risk categories used to calculate the common safety targets are set out in Part 1 of the Annex.\nCommon safety targets\nThe values, which cover the rail system as a whole, of the second set of common safety targets for the different risk categories are set out in Part 2 of the Annex.\nRepeal\nDecision 2010/409/EU is repealed.\nAddressees\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "transport staff" ], "distractor groups": [ "operational programme", "cereal-growing", "management techniques", "services contract", "audiovisual industry", "announcement of candidacy", "pay television", "EU situation", "video surveillance", "economic policy", "European Ombudsman" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2006/263/EC: Commission Decision of 27 March 2006 amending Decision 2005/648/EC concerning protection measures in relation to Newcastle disease in Bulgaria (notified under document number C(2006) 893) (Text with EEA relevance)\n4.4.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 95/3\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 27 March 2006\namending Decision 2005/648/EC concerning protection measures in relation to Newcastle disease in Bulgaria\n(notified under document number C(2006) 893)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2006/263/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 18(7) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 22(6) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral disease in poultry and birds and there is a risk that the disease agent might be introduced via international trade in live poultry and poultry products.\n(2) Commission Decision 2005/648/EC of 8 September 2005 concerning protection measures in relation to Newcastle disease in Bulgaria\u00a0(3) was adopted following an outbreak of Newcastle disease in the administrative region of Vratsa. That Decision suspends the importation of live poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game and hatching eggs, fresh meat and meat preparations and meat products from these species.\n(3) On 23 January 2006 Bulgaria confirmed an outbreak of Newcastle disease in the administrative district of Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria.\n(4) Taking account of the current epidemiology situation in Bulgaria in relation to Newcastle disease and the fact that that country has applied certain disease control measures and has sent further information on the disease situation to the Commission. On the basis of this information, it appears that the situation in Bulgaria, except for the regions of Vratsa and Blagoevgrad is still satisfactory. It is therefore appropriate to limit the suspension of imports to those regions and to prolong the period of application of Decision 2005/648/EC.\n(5) The Annex to Decision 2005/648/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) In order to authorise imports of meat products subjected to a heat treatment sufficient to inactivate any possible virus in the meat, it is necessary to specify the required treatment for poultry meat in the health certificates drawn up in accordance with Annexes III and IV to Commission Decision 2005/432/EC\u00a0(4).\n(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDecision 2005/648/EC is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 5 the date \u201823\u00a0August 2006\u2019 is replaced by \u201823 January 2007\u2019;\n2. the following paragraphs are added to Article 3:\n3. the Annex is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.\nMember States shall immediately take the necessary measures to comply with this Decision and publish those measures. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "meat product" ], "distractor groups": [ "water resources", "dumping of waste", "established right", "Leeward Islands", "customs inspection", "Marxism", "cultural object" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "87/86/EEC: Commission Decision of 7 January 1987 amending Decision 81/195/EEC setting up within the Advisory Committee on Seeds, a Special Section on the Approximation of Laws\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 7 January 1987 amending Decision 81/195/EEC setting up within the Advisory Committee on Seeds, a Special Section on the Approximation of Laws (87/86/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nWhereas the Special Section on the Approximation of Laws was set up within the Advisory Committee on Seeds by Commission Decision 81/195/EEC (1);\nWhereas the procedure for the replacement of members should be adjusted,\nArticle 5 of Decision 81/195/EEC is replaced by the following:\n'Article 5\n1. The term of office of a permanent member of the Section shall be three years. It shall be renewable. Members shall not be remunerated for their services.\nAfter expiry of the three-year period, permanent members of the Section shall remain in office until they are replaced or until their appointments are renewed.\n2. In the event of the resignation or decease of a member or a request from the body having proposed a member that he be replaced, he shall be replaced in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4.\n3. A list of the permanent members shall be published by the Commission for information purposes in the Official Journal of the European Communities.'\nThis Decision shall enter into force on 1 January 1987.", "answer groups": [ "EU agriculture committee" ], "distractor groups": [ "liqueur", "International Renewable Energy Agency", "destination of transport", "rural settlement", "fine", "media library", "xenophobia", "dentist", "tanker", "thesaurus", "motor vehicle", "cross-channel connection" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/867/EC: Commission Decision of 1 December 2003 authorising the placing on the market of salatrims as novel food ingredients under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document number C(2003) 4408)\nCommission Decision\nof 1 December 2003\nauthorising the placing on the market of salatrims as novel food ingredients under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council\n(notified under document number C(2003) 4408)\n(Only the Danish text is authentic)\n(2003/867/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients(1), and in particular Article 7 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 28 June 1999 Danisco, formerly Cultor Food Science, submitted to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom a request for placing salatrims on the market in the Community as novel food ingredients.\n(2) Salatrims are a group of reduced calorie triacylglycerides developed for use as alternative fats.\n(3) The competent authorities of the United Kingdom carried out the initial assessment. The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 22 November 1999.\n(4) Within the 60-day period laid down in Article 6(4) of the Regulation, reasoned objections to the marketing of the product were raised in accordance with that provision.\n(5) The Scientific Committee on Food was consulted on the matter in accordance with Article 11 of the Regulation. On 13 December 2001, the Scientific Committee on Food delivered its opinion that salatrims are safe for human consumption.\n(6) The Scientific Committee on Food noted the only adverse effects of salatrims observed in a number of human tolerance studies were gastro-intestinal complaints at high intakes (i.e. >30 g/day). Such inconveniences caused by gastro-intestinal intolerance are easily and commonly resolved by the individual abstaining from consumption when he or she becomes aware of the problem. It is therefore appropriate to provide a statement on the label which informs the consumer that excessive consumption may lead to gastro-intestinal problems.\n(7) The Scientific Committee on Food also noted that no data had been generated on the effect of consumption of foods containing salatrims by children under 16 years, as this population group was unlikely to consume products intended for use mainly by persons aiming to control their weight by choosing an energy restricted diet. Therefore it is appropriate to provide a statement on the label which informs the consumer that products containing salatrims are not for use by children.\n(8) The declaration of the energy value of foods and food ingredients is governed by Council Directive 90/496/EEC of 24 September 1990 on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs(2).\n(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nSalatrims as specified in the Annex may be placed on the market in the Community as novel food ingredients for use in bakery products and confectionery.\nThe designation \"reduced energy fat (salatrims)\" shall be displayed on the labelling of the product, as such, or in the list of ingredients of foodstuffs containing it.\nThere shall be a statement that excessive consumption may lead to gastro-intestinal disturbance.\nThere shall be a statement that the products are not intended for use by children.\nThis Decision is addressed to Danisco A/S, Langebrogade 1, PO Box 17, DK-1001 Copenhagen K, Denmark.", "answer groups": [ "bakery" ], "distractor groups": [ "olive oil", "76 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS", "resolution", "peace zone", "public health", "price of land", "Bremen", "Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01805/2004 of 14 October 2004 amending Regulation (EEC) No\u00a02273/93 determining the intervention centres for cereals\n19.10.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 318/9\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1805/2004\nof 14 October 2004\namending Regulation (EEC) No 2273/93 determining the intervention centres for cereals\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003, rye is excluded from the intervention system from the marketing year 2004/05.\n(2) The intervention centres are set out in a table in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2273/93\u00a0(2). The column concerning rye of that table should therefore be deleted. Moreover, certain Member States have submitted requests to make amendments to some of those centres.\n(3) Regulation (EEC) No 2273/93 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nThe Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 2273/93 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Saxony-Anhalt" ], "distractor groups": [ "sheet", "J\u00e4mtland county", "soil type", "buckwheat", "judicial power", "hospitalisation", "traffic regulations", "EU industrial policy", "fresh meat" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision 2004/791/CFSP of 22 November 2004 extending and amending Decision 2002/842/CFSP implementing Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe\n24.11.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 348/46\nCOUNCIL DECISION 2004/791/CFSP\nof 22 November 2004\nextending and amending Decision 2002/842/CFSP implementing Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP with a view to a European Union's contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP\u00a0(1) and in particular Article 6 thereof, in conjunction with the second indent of Article 23(2) of the Treaty on European Union,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 21 October 2002 the Council adopted Decision 2002/842/CFSP\u00a0(2) concerning a European Union contribution to combating the destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons in South East Europe, which was aimed at implementing Joint Action 2002/589/CFSP and which made available EUR\u00a0200\u00a0000 for this purpose.\n(2) Some objectives could not be fulfilled by 31 December 2004, the date on which Decision 2002/842/CFSP expires, and others should be consolidated and expanded after that date. The project in question is a multi-annual project.\n(3) Decision 2002/842/CFSP should therefore be extended and amended,\nDecision 2002/842/CFSP is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 2(1), the financial reference amount \u2018EUR 300\u00a0000\u2019 shall be replaced by \u2018EUR 330\u00a0000\u2019;\n2. In Article 4(1), the second sentence shall be replaced by the sentence \u2018It shall expire on 31 December 2005\u2019.\nThis Decision shall take effect on the day of its adoption.\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "Central and Eastern Europe" ], "distractor groups": [ "craft business", "international tariff", "European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument", "after-sales service", "programmed learning", "energy production", "joint action", "compulsory education" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2007/73/EC of 13 December 2007 amending certain Annexes to Council Directives 86/362/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards maximum residue levels for acetamiprid, atrazine, deltamethrin, imazalil, indoxacarb, pendimethalin, pymetrozine, pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid and trifloxystrobin (Text with EEA relevance)\n14.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 329/40\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2007/73/EC\nof 13 December 2007\namending certain Annexes to Council Directives 86/362/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards maximum residue levels for acetamiprid, atrazine, deltamethrin, imazalil, indoxacarb, pendimethalin, pymetrozine, pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid and trifloxystrobin\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 86/362/EEC of 24 July 1986 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on cereals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 10 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 90/642/EEC of 27 November 1990 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 7 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market\u00a0(3), and in particular Article 4(1)(f) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Directive 91/414/EEC, authorisations of plant protection products for use on specific crops are the responsibility of the Member States. Such authorisations have to be based on the evaluation of effects on human and animal health and influence on the environment. Elements to be taken into account in such evaluations include operator and bystander exposure and impact on the terrestrial, aquatic and aerial environments, as well as impact on humans and animals through consumption of residues on treated crops.\n(2) Maximum residue levels (MRLs) reflect the use of minimum quantities of pesticides to achieve effective protection of plants, applied in such a manner that the amount of residue is the smallest practicable and is toxicologically acceptable, in particular in terms of estimated dietary intake.\n(3) For atrazine temporary MRLs have been set in Directive 86/362/EEC by Commission Directive 2007/7/EC\u00a0(4), pending submission of data by the applicant. Upon further examination, it appeared that more time should be allowed for the generation of residue trials data. It is therefore appropriate to prolong the validity of temporary MRLs for atrazine.\n(4) MRLs for pesticides covered by Directive 90/642/EEC are to be kept under review and may be modified to take account of new or changed uses. Information about new or changed uses has been communicated to the Commission which should lead to changes in the residue levels of acetamiprid, deltamethrin, indoxacarb, pendimethalin, pymetrozine, pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid and trifloxystrobin.\n(5) For imazalil a Member State informed the Commission of its desire to revise national MRLs in accordance with Article 8 of Directive 90/642/EEC in the light of concerns about consumer intake. Proposals for the review of Community MRLs were submitted to the Commission.\n(6) The lifetime exposure of consumers to the pesticides referred to in this Directive via food products that may contain residues of those pesticides has been assessed and evaluated in accordance with the procedures and practices used within the Community, taking account of guidelines published by the World Health Organisation\u00a0(5). Based on those assessments and evaluations, the MRLs for those pesticides should be set so as to ensure that the acceptable daily intake is not exceeded.\n(7) An acute reference dose (ARfD) has been set for acetamiprid, deltamethrin, imazalil, indoxacarb, pymetrozine, pyraclostrobin and thiacloprid. The acute exposure of consumers via each of the food products that may contain residues of these pesticides has been assessed and evaluated in accordance with the procedures and practices currently used within the Community, taking account of guidelines published by the World Health Organisation. The opinions of the Scientific Committee on Plants (SCP), in particular advice and recommendations concerning the protection of consumers of food products treated with pesticides\u00a0(6), have been taken into account. Based on the dietary intake assessment, the MRLs for those pesticides should be fixed so as to ensure that the ARfD will not be exceeded. In the case of the other substances, an assessment of the available information has shown that no ARfD is required and that therefore a short term assessment is not needed.\n(8) Where authorised uses of plant protection products do not result in detectable levels of pesticide residues in or on the food product, or where there are no authorised uses, or where uses which have been authorised by Member States have not been supported by the necessary data, or where uses in third countries resulting in residues in or on food products which may enter into circulation in the Community market have not been supported with such necessary data, MRLs should be fixed at the lower limit of analytical determination.\n(9) The setting or modification at Community level of provisional MRLs does not prevent the Member States from establishing provisional MRLs for acetamiprid, indoxacarb, pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid and trifloxystrobin in accordance with Article 4(1)(f) of Directive 91/414/EEC and Annex VI to that Directive. It is considered that a period of four years is sufficient to permit further uses of these substances. The provisional Community MRLs should then become definitive.\n(10) It is therefore necessary to modify the MRLs set in Directives 86/362/EEC and 90/642/EEC, to allow proper surveillance and control of the uses of the plant protection products concerned and to protect the consumer. Where MRLs have already been defined in the Annexes to those Directives, it is appropriate to amend them. Where MRLs have not yet been defined, it is appropriate to set them for the first time.\n(11) Through the World Trade Organisation, the Community\u2019s trading partners have been consulted about the new MRLs and their comments on these levels have been taken into account.\n(12) Directives 86/362/EEC and 90/642/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(13) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDirective 86/362/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Directive.\nDirective 90/642/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Directive.\nMember States shall adopt and publish, by 14 June 2008 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive, except for deltamethrin and atrazine, for which they shall adopt and publish these by 18 December 2007 and for imazalil, for which they shall adopt and publish these by 14 September 2008. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 15 June 2008, except for deltamethrin and atrazine for which they shall be applied from 19 December 2007 and for imazalil, for which they shall be applied from by 15 September 2008.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health legislation" ], "distractor groups": [ "Western Thrace", "Syria", "United States", "rafting", "middle class", "Antarctica", "job vacancy" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Regulation (EC) No 1161/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6\u00a0July 2005 on the compilation of quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector\n22.7.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 191/22\nREGULATION (EC) No 1161/2005 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL\nof 6\u00a0July 2005\non the compilation of quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector\nTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article\u00a0285(1) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank\u00a0(1),\nActing in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article\u00a0251 of the Treaty\u00a0(2),\nWhereas:\n(1) The Action Plan on Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) Statistical Requirements endorsed by the Ecofin Council in September 2000 specifies that a limited set of quarterly sector accounts is urgently needed, and that these should be available within 90 days of the end of the quarter concerned.\n(2) The Joint Report of the Ecofin Council and the Commission to the European Council on Eurozone statistics and indicators, as adopted by the Ecofin Council on 18\u00a0February 2003, emphasises that high priority actions in several fields, including quarterly national accounts by institutional sector, should be fully implemented by 2005.\n(3) The analysis of cyclical movements in the European Union economy and the conduct of monetary policy within the EMU require macroeconomic statistics on the economic behaviour and the interrelationship of individual institutional sectors which are impossible to identify in data compiled at the level of the economy as a whole. There is, therefore, a need to produce quarterly accounts by institutional sector, for the European Union as a whole and for the euro area.\n(4) Production of these accounts is part of the overall aim to compile a system of annual and quarterly accounts for the European Union and for the euro area. The system includes the main macroeconomic aggregates and the financial and non-financial accounts by institutional sector. The aim is to achieve consistency across all these accounts and, with regard to the rest of the world accounts, between the balance of payments and the national accounts data.\n(5) The compilation of European accounts by institutional sector, in accordance with the principles of the European system of national and regional accounts in the Community as set out in Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a02223/96\u00a0(3), requires the transmission by Member States of quarterly national accounts by institutional sector. However, the European accounts must reflect the economy of the European area as a whole and may differ from the simple aggregation of Member States\u2019 accounts. In particular, the objective is to take account of the transactions of the institutions and bodies of the European Union in the accounts of the area concerned (the European Union or the euro-zone, whichever is applicable).\n(6) The production of specific Community statistics is governed by the rules set out in Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0322/97 of 17\u00a0February 1997 on Community Statistics\u00a0(4).\n(7) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely the compilation of quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector for the European Union and the euro area, cannot be achieved satisfactorily by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale and effects of the action, be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article\u00a05 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve that objective. In particular, where Member States make a negligible contribution to the European totals, they should not be required to report the full detail of data.\n(8) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28\u00a0June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission\u00a0(5).\n(9) The Statistical Programme Committee set up by Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom\u00a0(6) and the Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics set up by Council Decision 91/115/EEC\u00a0(7) have been consulted,\nPurpose\nThis Regulation provides a common framework for the contributions of the Member States to the compilation of quarterly European non-financial accounts by institutional sector.\nTransmission of quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall transmit to the Commission quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector, as specified in the Annex, except, in the first instance, items P.1, P.2, D.42, D.43, D.44, D.45 and B.4G.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A timetable for the transmission of items P.1, P.2, D.42, D.43, D.44, D.45, and B.4G, respectively, and any decision to require a breakdown of the transactions listed in the Annex by counterpart sector shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2). Any such decision shall not be adopted before the Commission has reported to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Regulation pursuant to Article\u00a09.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The quarterly data referred to in paragraph\u00a01 shall be delivered to the Commission at the latest 90 calendar days after the end of the quarter to which the data relate. During a transitional period of three years from the entry into force of this Regulation the quarterly data referred to in paragraph\u00a01 shall be delivered to the Commission at the latest 95 calendar days after the end of the quarter to which the data relate. Any revision of the data for previous quarters shall be transmitted at the same time.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The time of transmission specified in paragraph\u00a03 may be adjusted, by a maximum of five days, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2).\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The first transmission of quarterly data shall relate to data for the third quarter of 2005. Member States shall deliver these data no later than 3\u00a0January 2006. This first transmission shall include back data for the periods from the first quarter of 1999.\nReporting obligations\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All Member States shall transmit the data described in the Annex, with respect to the rest of the world sector (S.2) and the general government sector (S.13). A Member State for which gross domestic product at current prices normally represents more than 1\u00a0% of the corresponding Community total shall transmit the data described in the Annex for all institutional sectors.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall determine the percentage of Community total gross domestic product at current prices that a Member State\u2019s gross domestic product normally represents, as specified in paragraph\u00a01, on the basis of the arithmetic mean of the latest three years\u2019 annual data transmitted by Member States.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The proportion (1\u00a0%) of the Community total referred to in paragraph\u00a01 may be adjusted in accordance with the procedures referred to in Article\u00a08(2).\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Derogations from this Regulation may be accepted by the Commission if national statistical systems require major adaptation. Such derogations shall last not more than three years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, or that of the implementing measures adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2).\nDefinitions and standards\nThe standards, definitions, classifications, and accounting rules for data transmitted for the purposes of this Regulation shall be those laid down in Regulation (EC) No\u00a02223/96 (hereinafter referred to as the ESA Regulation).\nData sources and consistency requirements\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall compile the information requested in this Regulation using all sources they consider relevant, giving priority to direct information such as administrative sources or surveys of enterprises and households.\nWhen such direct information cannot be collected, in particular for the back data required under Article\u00a02(5), best estimates may be transmitted.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Data transmitted by Member States for the purposes of this Regulation shall be consistent with the quarterly non-financial accounts of the general government and the quarterly main aggregates of the total economy, transmitted to the Commission under the data transmission programme of the ESA Regulation.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The quarterly data transmitted by Member States for the purposes of this Regulation shall be aligned with the corresponding annual data transmitted under the data transmission programme of the ESA Regulation.\nQuality standards and reports\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that the quality of the data transmitted improves over time to meet the common quality standards to be defined in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2).\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall supply the Commission with an up-to-date description of the sources, methods and statistical treatments used within a year of their first transmission of data.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall inform the Commission of major methodological or other changes that would affect the data transmitted not later than three months after such change takes effect.\nImplementing measures\nThe implementing measures shall be laid down in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2). Such measures shall include:\n(a) determining the timetable for the transmission of the items P.1, P.2, D.42, D.43, D.44, D.45 and B.4G pursuant to Article\u00a02(2);\n(b) requiring the transactions shown in the Annex to be broken down by counterpart sector in accordance with Article\u00a02(2);\n(c) revising the timetable of quarterly transmissions pursuant to Article\u00a02(4);\n(d) adjusting the proportion (1\u00a0%) of the Community total to determine the obligation to transmit data for all institutional sectors pursuant to Article\u00a03(3);\n(e) defining data quality standards in accordance with Article\u00a06(1).\nCommittee procedure\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall be assisted by the Statistical Programme Committee.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles\u00a05 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article\u00a08 thereof.\nThe period referred to in Article\u00a05(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.\nReport on implementation\nWithin five years of the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on its implementation.\nIn particular, this report shall:\n(a) provide information on the quality of the statistics produced;\n(b) assess the benefits accruing to the Community, the Member States and the providers and users of statistical information of the statistics produced in relation to their costs;\n(c) identify areas for potential improvement and amendments considered necessary in light of the results obtained.\n0\nEntry into force\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "national accounts" ], "distractor groups": [ "general budget", "European Structural and Investment Funds", "Troika (EU)", "gas industry", "Zambia", "nationality of legal persons", "superconducting alloy", "English Channel", "ports policy" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01915/2005 of 24 November 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01982/2004 with regard to the simplification of the recording of the quantity and specifications on particular movements of goods\n25.11.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 307/8\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1915/2005\nof 24 November 2005\namending Regulation (EC) No 1982/2004 with regard to the simplification of the recording of the quantity and specifications on particular movements of goods\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on Community statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91\u00a0(1) and in particular Articles 3(4) and (5), 9, 10 and 12 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1982/2004 of 18 November 2004 implementing Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States and repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 1901/2000 and (EEC) No 3590/92\u00a0(2) determines provisions for some data elements and specific goods. These provisions should be adapted in order to facilitate data collection and to become more accurate on some particular trade transactions.\n(2) With a view to reducing the reporting burden for parties responsible for providing the information, Member States should have the possibility to exempt companies from providing information on the quantity in net mass for all the goods for which supplementary units have to be mentioned at the same time.\n(3) In order to meet national data requirements Member States should be given more flexibility on the collection of codes of the Nature of Transaction as long as information transmitted to the Commission is not affected.\n(4) With a view to harmonising Community statistics relating to the trading of vessels and aircraft between Member States, data transmission on trade with vessels and aircraft should be limited to transactions registered in the national ships or aircraft register and involving companies established in the reporting Member State.\n(5) Additional provisions on data sources should be specified in order to enable national authorities to collect more precise information on arrival and dispatches as regards trade with vessels and aircraft, sea products, electricity and natural gas.\n(6) Clarification is also needed regarding replacement parts which are used for repair.\n(7) Regulation (EC) No 1982/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States,\nRegulation (EC) No 1982/2004 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 9 is replaced by the following:\n2. In Article 10, the following sentence is added:\n3. Article 17 is amended as follows:\n(a) In paragraph 2, points (a) and (b) are replaced by following:\n\u2018(a) the transfer of ownership of a vessel or aircraft, from a natural or legal person established in another Member State to a natural or legal person established in the reporting Member State and registered in the national ships or aircraft register. This transaction shall be treated as an arrival;\n(b) the transfer of ownership of a vessel or aircraft from a natural or legal person established in the reporting Member State and registered in the national ships or aircraft register to a natural or legal person established in another Member State. This transaction shall be treated as a dispatch.\n(b) Paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:\n4. In Article 21 paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:\n5. In Article 22 paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:\n6. Article 23 is amended as follows:\n(a) The title is replaced by the following:\n(b) Paragraphs 1 and 2 are replaced by the following:\n7. In Annex I, point (h) is replaced by the following:\n\u2018(h) Goods for and after repair and the incorporated replacement parts. A repair entails the restoration of goods to their original function or condition. The objective of the operation is simply to maintain the goods in working order; this may involve some rebuilding or enhancements but does not change the nature of the goods in any way.\u2019\n8. Annex II is deleted.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall apply from 1 January 2006.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "export (EU)" ], "distractor groups": [ "measuring equipment", "Leinster", "sacred text", "soil analysis", "merchant fleet" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1243/2008 of 12 December 2008 amending Annexes III and VI to Directive 2006/141/EC as regards compositional requirements for certain infant formulae (Text with EEA relevance)\n13.12.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 335/25\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1243/2008\nof 12 December 2008\namending Annexes III and VI to Directive 2006/141/EC as regards compositional requirements for certain infant formulae\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 89/398/EEC of 3 May 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses\u00a0(1), and in particular the second indent of the third subparagraph of Article 4(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Directive 2006/141/EC of 22 December 2006 on infant formulae and follow-on formulae and amending Directive 1999/21/EC\u00a0(2) lays down inter alia compositional criteria for infant formulae.\n(2) Directive 2006/141/EC provides that only the substances listed in Annex III thereto may be used in the manufacture of infant formulae in order to satisfy the requirements on inter alia amino acids and other nitrogen compounds.\n(3) Annex III of that Directive should be amended to permit the use of L-arginine and its hydrochloride in the infant formulae.\n(4) Directive 2006/141/EC also provides that infant formulae manufactured from protein hydrolysates defined in point 2.2 of Annex I thereto with a protein content between the minimum and 0,56 g/100 kJ (2,25 g/100\u00a0kcal) are to be in accordance with the appropriate specifications set out in Annex VI. That Annex sets out specifications for the protein content and source and the processing of protein used in the manufacture of such infant formulae manufactured from hydrolysates of whey proteins derived from cows\u2032 milk protein.\n(5) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1609/2006 of 27 October 2006 authorising the placing on the market of infant formulae based on hydrolysates of whey protein derived from cows\u2032 milk protein for a two-year period\u00a0(3) authorises the placing on the market of infant formulae based on hydrolysates of cows\u2032 milk in accordance with specifications for the protein content, source, processing and quality set out in the Annex thereto. That authorisation expires on 27 October 2008.\n(6) Directive 2006/141/EC provides on a permanent basis for the authorisation laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1609/2006. Annex VI to Directive 2006/141/EC set out the specifications for the protein content, protein source and protein processing for the infant formulae in question. However, the particular compositional requirements relating to the protein quality were not included in that Annex. The absence of such requirements would prevent the placing on the market of infant formulae manufactured from protein hydrolysates following the expiry of Regulation (EC) No 1609/2006.\n(7) The missing specifications concerning protein quality, which were included in the authorisation laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1609/2006, should be added to Annex VI to Directive 2006/141/EC. That Annex should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(8) In order to avoid any disruption on the market for infant formulae, this Regulation should apply from 28 October 2008.\n(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAnnexes III and VI to Directive 2006/141/EC are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 28 October 2008.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "nitrogen" ], "distractor groups": [ "salted product", "housing cooperative", "Pacific Alliance", "discrimination on the basis of nationality", "occupational accident insurance", "Commission Delegation", "computer assisted design", "plant life" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01916/2006 of 18 December 2006 opening and providing for the management of Community tariff quotas for certain fish and fishery products originating in Albania\n21.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 365/78\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1916/2006\nof 18 December 2006\nopening and providing for the management of Community tariff quotas for certain fish and fishery products originating in Albania\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1616/2006 of 23 October 2006 on certain procedures for applying the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part, and for applying the Interim Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Albania\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 2 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) A Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part\u00a0(2), hereinafter referred to as \u2018the Stabilisation and Association Agreement\u2019, was signed in Luxembourg on 12 June 2006. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement is in the process of ratification.\n(2) On 12 June 2006 the Council concluded an Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part\u00a0(3), hereinafter referred to as \u2018the Interim Agreement\u2019. The objective of the Interim Agreement is to implement as speedily as possible the trade and trade-related provisions of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. The Interim Agreement will enter into force on 1 December 2006.\n(3) In the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the Interim Agreement it has been provided that certain fish and fishery products originating in Albania may be imported into the Community, within the limits of Community tariff quotas, at a reduced or a zero-rate customs duty.\n(4) The Community tariff quotas provided for in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and in the Interim Agreement are annual and cover an indeterminate period. It is appropriate to provide the opening and the management of those tariff quotas.\n(5) It is necessary to provide, in accordance with Article 308a of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code\u00a0(4), that the management system for tariff quotas laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 is to be applied.\n(6) Member States should ensure that all Community importers have equal and continuous access to the tariff quotas and that the rates laid down for the quotas are applied uninterruptedly to all imports of the products concerned into all Member States until the quotas are exhausted. To ensure the efficiency of the common management of these quotas, Member States should be able to draw from the quota volumes the necessary quantities corresponding to actual imports. Management should take place in close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission. The latter should be able to monitor the rate at which the quotas are used up and to inform the Member States accordingly. For reasons of speed and efficiency, communication between the Member States and the Commission should, as far as possible, be transmitted electronically.\n(7) In accordance with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the Interim Agreement, the quota volumes for the year 2006 should be fixed on the full amount of the basic quota volumes set out in Annex III to those Agreements.\n(8) This Regulation should apply on the date of entry into force of the Interim Agreement and should remain in application after the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.\n(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Products originating in Albania and listed in the Annex which are released for free circulation in the Community shall benefit from a reduced or a zero-rate customs duty, at the levels and within the limits of the annual Community tariff quotas specified in that Annex.\nThose products shall be accompanied by proof of origin as provided for in Protocol No 4 to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and to the Interim Agreement.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each Member State shall ensure that importers of the products referred to in paragraph 1 have equal and uninterrupted access to the tariff quotas as long as the balance of the relevant quota volume so permits.\n1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The tariff quotas referred to in Article 1 shall be managed by the Commission in accordance with Articles 308a, 308b and 308c of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\n2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Communications relating to the management of tariff quotas between the Member States and the Commission shall be transmitted as far as possible, electronically.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The individual tariff quota volume for prepared or preserved anchovies referred to in the Annex under order No 09.1505 may be increased every year and for the first time for 2007 until the yearly volume of the quota has reached 1\u00a0600 tonnes or the parties agree to apply other arrangements.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The annual increase referred to in paragraph 1 may be applied only if at least 80\u00a0% of the volume opened within the previous year has been used.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 December 2006.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Albania" ], "distractor groups": [ "codecision procedure", "forgery of documents", "obsolete technology", "publishing of prices", "military aircraft", "agro-industry", "Presidency trio", "calcium", "urban population", "special drawing rights", "assisting spouse" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2495/2001 of 19 December 2001 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2495/2001\nof 19 December 2001\namending Council Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 of 17 December 1999 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products(1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2406/96(2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2578/2000(3), introduced in particular a new scale of size categories for herring of the species Clupea harengus. In the case of Baltic herring this scale establishes a specific size for products taken and landed north of 59\u00b0 30', and a single specific size for products taken and landed south of 59\u00b0 30'.\n(2) The specific size for Baltic herring taken and landed north of 59\u00b0 30' no longer meets the real requirements of the market in this area and a larger number of size categories should be defined.\n(3) The average weight and length of herring in the Main Basin of the Baltic Sea have in fact fallen considerably over the past 15 years. As a result, the northern type of herring (small size but advanced age) constitutes the bulk of the stock and of catches in the Main Basin. The International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission (IBSFC) has not fixed a minimum size for Baltic herring.\n(4) Provision should therefore be made for the marketing of this herring, by fixing a larger number of size categories.\n(5) The sizes currently in force in the northern part of the Baltic Sea should therefore be amended. This amendment will constitute a change to the common marketing standards provided for in Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fishery Products,\nIn Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2406/96, the size categories applicable to Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) taken and landed north of 59\u00b0 30' are hereby amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2002.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing standard" ], "distractor groups": [ "carriage of goods", "contract of carriage", "common fisheries policy", "sugar levy", "advertising", "use of outer space", "referendum", "World Health Organisation", "nuclear physics", "producer co-responsibility", "tourist infrastructure" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1430/2007 of 5 December 2007 amending Annexes II and III to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications (Text with EEA relevance )\n6.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 320/3\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1430/2007\nof 5 December 2007\namending Annexes II and III to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications\u00a0(1), and in particular its Articles 11(c)(ii) and 13(2), third subparagraph,\nWhereas:\n(1) Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Italy have submitted reasoned requests for amendments to Annex II to Directive 2005/36/EC. The Netherlands has submitted a reasoned request for an amendment to Annex III to Directive 2005/36/EC.\n(2) Germany has requested the addition of the word \u2018health\u2019 (\u2018Gesundheit\u2019) to the title of paediatric nurse (\u2018Kinderkrankenschwester/Kinderkrankenpfleger\u2019). The Act of 16 July 2003 on nursing care, which entered into force on 1 January 2004, amended the content of the relevant training course and changed its title to \u2018healthcare and paediatric nurse\u2019 (\u2018Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpfleger(in)\u2019). The structure and conditions for access to the training remain unchanged.\n(3) Germany has requested the removal from Annex II of the profession of psychiatric nurse (\u2018Psychiatrische(r) Krankenschwester/Krankenpfleger\u2019) because this training complements the training programme for nurses responsible for general care and is therefore included in the definition of the diploma.\n(4) Germany has requested the addition of the profession of geriatric nurse (\u2018Altenpflegerin und Altenpfleger\u2019), which meets the conditions provided for in Article 11(c)(ii) of the Directive 2005/36/EC, as is apparent from the Act of 17 November 2000 on geriatric care and the Ordinance of 26 November 2002 concerning training and examinations for geriatric nursing.\n(5) Lastly, Germany has asked that the professions of surgical truss maker (\u2018Bandagist\u2019) and orthopaedic technician (\u2018Orthop\u00e4diemechaniker\u2019) be merged under the term orthopaedic technician (\u2018Orthop\u00e4dietechniker\u2019), in accordance with the Crafts Ordinance (Handwerksordnung in the version published on 24 September 1998 (BGBl. I p. 3074; 2006 I p. 2095), last amended by Article 146 of the Ordinance of 31 October 2006 (BGBl. I p. 2407)).\n(6) Luxembourg has requested the replacement of the titles \u2018paediatric nurse\u2019 (\u2018infirmier pu\u00e9riculteur\u2019) by \u2018infirmier en p\u00e9diatrie\u2019 (no amendment to the English translation), \u2018nurse \u2014 anaesthetics\u2019 (\u2018infirmier anesth\u00e9siste\u2019) by \u2018nurse \u2014 anaesthetics and intensive care\u2019 (\u2018infirmier en anesth\u00e9sie et r\u00e9animation\u2019) and \u2018qualified masseur/masseuse\u2019 (\u2018masseur dipl\u00f4m\u00e9\u2019) by \u2018masseur/masseuse\u2019 (\u2018masseur\u2019), following the amended Act of 26 March 1992 on the performance and revaluation of certain health professions. The training arrangements have not changed.\n(7) Austria has requested greater detail in the description of training for psychiatric nurses and paediatric nurses, as laid down in the Act on nursing care (BGBl. I No 108/1997).\n(8) Italy has requested the removal from Annex II of the professions of building surveyor (\u2018geometra\u2019) and land surveyor (\u2018perito agrario\u2019) because they require training which is covered by the definition of the diploma contained in Article 55 of Presidential Decree No 328 of 5 June 2001 and Annex I to Legislative Decree No 227 of 8 July 2003.\n(9) Germany, Luxembourg and Austria have requested the insertion in Annex II of a number of training programmes which lead to the title of Master (Meister/Ma\u00eetre). These training programmes are essentially regulated by the following legislation: for Germany: the Crafts Ordinance (Handwerksordnung, in the version published on 24 September 1998 (BGBl. I p. 3074; 2006 I p. 2095), last amended by Article 146 of the Order of 31 October 2006 (BGBl. I p. 2407)); for Luxembourg: the Act of 28 December 1988 (OJ of 28 December 1988 A No. 72) and the Grand-Ducal Regulation of 4 February 2005 (OJ of 10 March 2005 A \u2014 No 29); for Austria: the Trade and Industry Ordinance (Gewerbeordnung) of 1994 (BGBl. No 194/1994, as amended in BGBl. I No 15/2006). They meet the conditions set out in Article 11(c)(ii) of Directive 2005/36/EC.\n(10) The Netherlands has requested an amendment in Annex III of the description of the regulated training courses in order to take account of changes introduced by the Act on education and vocational training (WEB Act of 1996). These training courses meet the conditions set out in the\u00a0third subparagraph of Article 13(2) of Directive 2005/36/EC.\n(11) Directive 2005/36/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(12) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the recognition of professional qualifications,\nAnnexes II and III to Directive 2005/36/EC are hereby amended as set out in the Annex hereto.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "recognition of vocational training qualifications" ], "distractor groups": [ "EU police mission", "passenger rights", "work contract", "Targovishte region", "drivers", "school transport", "by-election", "negotiated contract", "food-borne disease" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Decision of 4 February 1994 relating to a procedure in application of the second paragraph of Article 53 of the Euratom Treaty (Only the German text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 4 February 1994 relating to a procedure in application of the second paragraph of Article 53 of the Euratom Treaty (Only the German text is authentic) (94/95/Euratom)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular the second paragraph of Article 53 thereof,\nHaving regard to the letter of 29 December 1993 from Kernkraftwerke Lippe-Ems GmbH,\nWhereas as follows:\nI. THE FACTS (1) The German Kernkraftwerke Lippe-Ems GmbH, hereinafter referred to as KLE, operates a nuclear power station and is, in this connection, a user of uranium. By letter of 25 November 1993, KLE submitted to the Euratom Supply Agency, hereinafter the Agency, under Article 52 of the Euratom Treaty, a supply contract for 400 tonnes of natural uranium UF6 between it and British Nuclear Fuels plc, hereinafter referred to as BNFL. The letter was received by the Agency on 29 November.\n(2) Before taking a decision under the Agency Rules of 5 May 1960 determining the manner in which demand is to balanced against the supply of ores, source materials and special fissile materials (1) as amended by the Regulation of 15 July 1975 (2), hereinafter referred to as the Agency Rules, the Agency asked the contrating parties by letter of 10 December 1993 to let it know the origin of the nuclear materials concerned. The request was done in the framework of a common supply policy regarding supplies from the republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States, hereinafter referred to as CIS, and aimed at ensuring security of supply for users in the Community.\n(3) BNFL replied, by letter of 14 December 1993, that the uranium to be supplied under the contract would be from the CIS probably from Russia.\n(4) By letter of 20 December 1993, the Agency - reiterating the reasons given in its letter of 10 December - expressed reservations, ensuing from the common supply policy, about the proposed contract and asked the parties to let it know their views before it took a final decision.\n(5) By letter of 29 December 1993, received by the Commission on 3 January 1994, KLE referred the matter to the Commission, under the terms of the second paragraph of Article 53 of the Treaty, requesting that the Commission:\n1. order the Euratom Supply Agency to conclude the contract of 10/22 November 1993 between KLE and BNFL for the supply of 400 tonnes of uranium;\n2. declare, in the event that the supply contract mentioned under 1, cannot enter into force because of the Agency's failure to act, that the Euratom Supply Agency must compensate KLE by paying it the higher purchase price and all the additional costs arising from the conclusion of a replacement contract,\n3. declare, in the event that its request under point 1 is refused, that the Euratom Supply Agency must pay damages to KLE in the form of a higher purchase price, in view of the fact that KLE can procede with a replacement contract only after the Agency has notified its decision under Article 5 bis (g) of the Agency Rules or after the Commission has refused the request made under point 1.;\n4. oblige the Agency to pay the costs of the procedure.\n(6) These requests were based on the assertion that the Agency had failed to comply with Article 5 bis (f) of its rules by not giving its decision on its conclusion of the contract within ten working days from the date of receipt thereof, i.e. 29 November 1993.\n(7) In accordance with its Decision No. 1/94 of 6 January 1994, the Agency has signed the contract that same day, on condition that the uranium to be supplied under the contract would not have its origin, either directly or indirectly, in any of the republics of the CIS.\nII. LEGAL ASSESSMENT (8) Under Article 52 (2) of the Treaty, the Agency has a right of option on ores, source materials and special fissile materials produced in the territories of the Member States and an exclusive right to conclude contracts relating to the supply of such materials from countries inside or outside the Community. The Agency Rules determine the manner in which demand is to be balanced against supply.\n(9) Article 5 bis of these Rules provides in particular that:\n'(c) The supply contract shall include at least the following information:\n1. . . . . .\n2. . . . . .\n3. . . . . .\n4. . . . . .\n5. country of origin of the materials to be supplied. If the supplier is unable to provide this information at the time of entering into the contract, he shall give the user and the Agency an undertaking that he will subsequently inform them in writing of the country of origin of each part delivery.'\n(. . . . .)\n'(f) the Agency shall act, either by concluding or refusing to conclude the contract, within 10 working days from the date of receipt thereof'.\n(10) Thus the origin of the materials constitues an important piece of information for the Agency in the exercise of its right to conclude a contract. This knowledge is particularly important in the present situation where natural uranium from the republics of the CIS is being sold on the world market in considerably greater quantities and at prices which bear no relation to production costs in a market economy. This has serious implications for the Community market because such supplies are a threat to the diversification of sources of supply and, as a result, to the objective of regular and equitable supply laid down in Article 2 (d) of the Treaty. Consequently, the Agency, in exercising its right to conclude contracts, ensures that the Community does not become unreasonably over-dependent on any one source of supply and that nuclear materials from the CIS are purchased at market-related prices.\n(11) In view of the foregoing, and given the large quantities of natural uranium from the CIS for which KLE has already concluded contracts, it was essential for the agency to ascertain the origin of the uranium concerned in this case, before it could make its decision on the conclusion of the contract. Since the items of information listed in Article 5 bis (c) of the Agency Rules are minimum requirements only, the Agency was justified to complete its information on the basis of which it took its decision as it did with the letter of 10 December 1993 to BNFL and KLE.\n(12) In its letters of 14 December 1993, BNL provided the information requested. Once it had received this information the Agency was in a position to give its ruling.\n(13) The period must be calculated in accordance with Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71 of the Council of 3 June 1971 determining the rules applicable to periods, dates and time limits (3). The public holidays for 1993 have been published (4). Accordingly, the abovementioned period of ten working days thus began on 15 December and the last day was 6 January 1994, the day on which the Agency took its decision.\n(14) The requests made to the Commission by KLE are based on the Agency's alleged failure to act. The above considerations show that there was no such failure on the part of the Agency. Accordingly, the requests made by KLE cannot be accepted,\nThe requests made by Kernkraftwerke Lippe-Ems GmbH in its letter of 29 December 1993 are hereby rejected.\nThis Decision is addressed to Kernkraftwerke Lippe-Ems GmbH, Rheinlanddamm 24, D-44139 Dortmund, Federal Republic of Germany.", "answer groups": [ "contract" ], "distractor groups": [ "Nepal", "income stabilisation", "disease vector", "municipal police", "export customs procedure", "word processing", "trade union confederation", "online game", "fuel reprocessing", "structural expenditure" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 385/2001 of 26 February 2001 amending Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 in the raw tobacco sector as regards the moisture content allowed on delivery of certain varieties of tobacco and the recognised production areas\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 385/2001\nof 26 February 2001\namending Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 in the raw tobacco sector as regards the moisture content allowed on delivery of certain varieties of tobacco and the recognised production areas\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in raw tobacco(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1336/2000(2), and in particular Article 7 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The first subparagraph of Article 15(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 of 22 December 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 as regards the premium scheme, production quotas and the specific aid to be granted to producer groups in the raw tobacco sector(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1249/2000(4), lays down that the fixed part of the premium and the quantity to be set off against the production quota statement are to be calculated on the basis of the weight of leaf tobacco. The second subparagraph of that Article lays down that the weight is to be adjusted on the basis of the moisture content laid down in Annex IV for the variety concerned up to a maximum of 4 %. Certain varieties of tobacco in groups II and III, cured by traditional air-drying methods in traditional dryers, are produced in regions which can have high levels of precipitation during the delivery period. Under these circumstances it is difficult to monitor the moisture content in traditional air-cured tobacco on delivery. The maximum moisture content for those varieties of tobacco should therefore be amended.\n(2) Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 lays down that the production areas referred to in Article 5(a) of Regulation (EEC) No 2075/92 are as laid down in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2848/98. Portugal has asked the Commission to include the region of Beiras in the list of traditional recognised production areas for the production of tobaccos in group I. Beiras is a recognised traditional production area for varieties in group II. Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2848/98 should therefore be amended to included this region as a recognised production area for group I.\n(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Tobacco,\nRegulation (EC) No 2848/98 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 15(2) is replaced by the following:\n\"2. The fixed part of the premium to be paid either to producer groups for distribution in full to each member of the group or to individual producers who are not members of a group and the quantity to be set off against the production quota statement of the party concerned shall be calculated on the basis of the weight of leaf tobacco of the group of varieties concerned corresponding to the minimum quality required and taken over by the first processor.\nWhere the moisture content differs from the level laid down in Annex IV for the variety concerned, the weight shall be adjusted for each percentage point of difference, within the tolerances laid down in that Annex.\"\n2. Annex II is replaced by Annex I to this Regulation.\n3. Annex III is replaced by Annex II to this Regulation.\n4. Annex IV is replaced by Annex III to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tobacco" ], "distractor groups": [ "port administration", "consumer protection", "antimony", "Arctic Ocean", "African Court of Justice and Human Rights", "integrated trade", "public hygiene", "illness", "organic certification" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 2702/87 of 4 September 1987 repealing a definitive anti-dumping duty on styrene monomer originating in the United States of America and terminating the investigation\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2702/87\nof 4 September 1987\nrepealing a definitive anti-dumping duty on styrene monomer originating in the United States of America and terminating the investigation\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2176/84 of 23 July 1984 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1761/87 (2), and in particular Article 14 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consultations within the Advisory Committee provided for in that Regulation,\nWhereas:\nA. Procedure\n(1) In June 1981 by Regulation (EEC) No 1570/81 (3) the Council imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on styrene monomer originating in the United States of America.\nIn December 1985 the Commission gave notice (4) of the impending expiry of the anti-dumping measure in question pursuant to Article 15 of Regulation (EEC) No 2176/84.\n(2) The Commission then received a review request from the Conseil Europ\u00e9en des F\u00e9d\u00e9rations de l'Industrie Chimique (CEFIC) representing the vast majority of production of the product concerned in the former Community of Ten Member States. In view of the enlargement of the Communities, the Spanish producer associated itself with the request.\nIn September 1986 the Commission, having decided that there was sufficient evidence to warrant a review, published (5) a notice of the re-opening of the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of styrene monomer falling within subheading 29.01 D II of the Common Customs Tariff and corresponding to NIMEXE code 29.01-71, originating in the United States of America.\n(3) The Commission officially so advised the exporters and importers known to be concerned, the representatives of the exporting country and the Community producers and gave the parties directly concerned the opportunity to make known their views in writing and to request a hearing.\nMost of the US producers/exporters and their main affiliates in the Community made their views known in writing. Some of them requested hearings, which were granted.\n(4) No submissions were made on behalf of the independent Community purchasers or processors of styrene monomer.\n(5) The Commission sought and verified all information it deemed to be necessary for the purposes of a preliminary determination and carried out investigations at the premises of the following Community producers:\n- France:\nATOCHEM (Paris);\n- Germany:\nBASF Aktiengesellschaft (Ludwigshafen);\n- Italy:\nMontedipe (Milano);\n- United Kingdom:\nBP Chemicals Ltd (London),\nShell International Chemical Company Ltd (London).\n(6) The investigation covered the period 1 September 1985 to 31 August 1986.\nB. Normal value\n(7) Normal value was provisionally determined on the basis of the domestic prices of the producers having exported to the Community who provided sufficient evidence and whose prices were considered to be representative of the domestic market concerned. It was calculated on the basis of monthly weighted averages.\nC. Export price\n(8) For those exports which were made directly to an independent importer in the Community the Commission used the prices actually paid or payable for the produce sold for export to the Community.\n(9) Where exports were made to subsidiary companies in the Community which resold the product in question on the free market in the Community, export prices were constructed on the basis of the prices at which the imported product was first resold to an independent buyer, a suitable allowance being made to take account of all costs incurred between importation and resale including customs duty and a profit margin of 4 % considered reasonable in the light of the profit margins of independent importers of the product in question.\n(10) Where exports were made to subsidiary companies in the Community which used the product only for their captive requirements, producing various other products derived from styrene monomer and which did not resell styrene to independent customers in the Community, the Commission disregarded these exports because of the problems involved in establishing a reliable export price for this product. This approach was also considered appropriate because certain US exports had been exempted from the application of the definitive anti-dumping duty for the same reasons.\nD. Comparison\n(11) In comparing normal value with each export transaction, the Commission took account, where appropriate, of differences affecting price comparability, in particular of differences in conditions and terms of sale such as credit terms, commission, transport, storage, handling and customs clearance.\nAll comparisons were made at ex-works level.\nE. Margins\n(12) The preliminary examination of the facts shows the existence of dumping, the margins of dumping being equal to the amount by which the normal value as established exceeds the export price to the Community. Depending on the exporter concerned, the weighted average dumping margins vary between 1,9 % and 5,9 %.\nF. Injury and threat of injury\n(13) With regard to injury caused by the dumped imports, the evidence available to the Commission shows that imports into the Community from the United States of America of styrene monomer which have been sold on the free market to independent buyers in the Community have decreased from 40 000 tonnes in 1982 to 27 000 tonnes in 1985 and stood at 17 500 tonnes in the first nine months of 1986. Their share of the free market fell in the same period from 6,4 % to 3,3 % and remained practically stable at this level during the first nine months of 1986. The Commission further took into account that during the investigation period certain quantities of the imported product had been purchased by Community producers themselves and/or exported by US producers exempt from anti-dumping duties. On the basis of the evidence available it is estimated that the market share of the dumped product which effectively entered the free market in the Community was less than 1,5 % during the investigation period.\n(14) The Commission also found no evidence indicating that the prices at which the dumped product was resold on the free Community market undercut the prices of Community producers or have caused price depression in the Community. Although prices for styrene monomer had decreased considerably during the first half of the investigation period, this could in no way be attributed to the imports under consideration but was due to cost savings from significantly decreasing raw material prices. These were partly passed on to consumers, leaving, nevertheless, most of the Community producers with increasing profit margins. The situation became even more favourable in the second half of 1986 when styrene prices started to climb strongly in the Community and world-wide. The outlook for the current year is for further price increases and strongly improving profit margins.\n(15) Total Community production of styrene monomer climbed from 2,25 million tonnes in 1982 to 2,90 million tonnes in 1986, corresponding to an increase of 28,8 %. The growth of production was in line with the increase in demand both in the Community and in the principal world markets. Styrene plant capacity has not been expanded in the Community since 1982 and utilization reached its technical maximum in 1986. Coinciding plant shut-downs and buoyant demand even led to distinct supply shortages in the Community in the second half of 1986.\n(16) The outlook for the styrene market in the Community for the current year and beyond continues to be very favourable for Community producers. In view of sustained demand and capacity limitations combined with the normal scheduled plant shut-downs for maintenance, in the Community as well as in the United States of America, it appears likely that, as in 1986, supply shortages will persist throughout the current year and beyond, and that styrene prices will remain at high levels as will the profitability of Community producers. (17) The very favourable market situation for styrene monomer in the Community and other parts of the world, which can be expected to persist in the foreseeable future, the significant improvement of the situation of the Community industry with regard to sales, production, capacity utilization, prices and profits, together with the decrease of the market share of the imported product, led the Commission to determine that the dumped imports of styrene monomer originating in the United States of America taken in isolation did not cause, nor are they threatening to cause, material injury to the Community industry concerned. It therefore was decided that the investigation may be terminated without the imposition of measures.\n(18) No objection to this course was raised in the Advisory Committee.\nRegulation (EEC) No 1570/81 is hereby repealed.\nThe anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of styrene monomer originating in the United States of America and falling within subheading 29.01 D II of the Common Customs Tariff and corresponding to NIMEXE code 29.01-71 is hereby terminated.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "United States" ], "distractor groups": [ "customs and traditions", "Samoa", "natural law", "price indexing", "Poitou-Charentes", "radioactive effluent", "Greenland", "crustacean", "implementing Regulation", "customs formalities", "weights and measures", "geophysical environment" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "79/818/ECSC: Commission Decision of 26 July 1979 authorizing British Steel Corporation to acquire the share capital of Dunlop Ranken Ltd, the Hall Brothers group of companies and Herringshaw Steels Ltd (Only the English text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 26 July 1979 authorizing British Steel Corporation to acquire the share capital of Dunlop & Ranken Ltd, the Hall Brothers group of companies and Herringshaw Steels Ltd (Only the English text is authentic) (79/818/ECSC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 66 thereof,\nHaving regard to High Authority Decision No 24-54 of 6 May 1954 laying down in implementation of Article 66 (1) of the Treaty a Regulation on what constitutes control of an undertaking (1),\nHaving regard to the application dated 12 April 1979 by British Steel Corporation, London, for authorization to acquire the entire share capital of Dunlop & Ranken, Ltd, the Hall Brothers group of companies and Herringshaw Steels Ltd,\nHaving obtained the comments of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,\nWHEREAS:\nI 1. The British Steel Corporation, London, (BSC) is an undertaking which is engaged in steel production and steel distribution within the meaning of Article 80 of the Treaty and which also controls a number of undertakings which are not subject to Article 80.\n2. British Steel Service Centres (BSSC) is that part of the BSC which carries out BSC's activities in the field of steel stockholding. BSSC is engaged in the distribution both of products covered by the Treaty and of products not so covered.\n3. Dunlop & Ranken Ltd, Leeds, (D & R) is an undertaking engaged in the distribution of steel products within the meaning of Article 80, with a capital of \u00a3 10 000. D & R is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The 600 Group Ltd, London, (600 Group) the holding company of a group engaged in scrap processing, the distribution of steel and other goods and the manufacture of plant and equipment. The 600 Group has the power to control D & R within the meaning of Decision 24-54 ; there is therefore a concentration within the meaning of Article 66 (1) of the Treaty between The 600 Group and D & R.\n4. BSC and The 600 Group exercise joint control over Six Hundred Metal Holdings Ltd, London (SHMH), a company engaged in the steel scrap industry. There is therefore a concentration between BSC and SHMH and a concentration between The 600 Group and SHMH (2). There is, however, no concentration between BSC on the one hand and The 600 Group and D & R on the other hand. (1)Official Journal of the European Coal and Steel Community, 11 May 1954, p. 345. (2)This concentration was authorized by Decision No C (76) 1160 of the Commission, dated 20 July 1976. See Bulletin of the European Communities No 7/8 of 1976, p. 31.\n5. The following undertakings are engaged in steel distribution and are concentrated with each other by virtue of interlocking shareholdings, common shareholders and common directors: >PIC FILE= \"T0014482\">\nThe abovementioned undertakings (Hall Brothers Group) have their registered office in Oldbury, West Midlands.\n6. Herringshaw Steels Ltd, Birmingham, (Herringshaw) is also an undertaking engaged in steel distribution. Herringshaw is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd (Thorn), which is mainly engaged in the manufacture and distribution of electrical, electronic and engineering goods. There is therefore a concentration between Thorn and Herringshaw.\n7. BSC is proposing to acquire the entire share capital of D & R, the Hall Brothers Group and Herringshaw. These transactions will give BSC control over D & R, the Hall Brothers Group and Herringshaw and will thus lead to a concentration between BSC and those undertakings within the meaning of Article 66 (1).\nII\n8. The majority of BSC's sales of Treaty steel products are made direct from its mills to steel consumers or to independent steel merchants, many of whom engage in stockholding and processing activities before reselling the steel to consumers. BSC's own stockholding and merchanting activities, carried out by BSSC, accounted for a turnover of \u00a3 93 million in 1977/78, which represented about 3 75 % of BSC's total turnover of \u00a3 2 600 million for iron and steel products.\n9. D & R, the Hall Brothers Group and Herringshaw are all steel stockholders. They had a combined turnover of about \u00a3 40 million in 1977/78 concerned mainly with general steel plates, bars and sections but also with sheets, alloy bars and non-Treaty products such as bright bars. Their deliveries of Treaty steel products amounted to 136 000 tonnes, dispatched from about 10 depots situated in England and Scotland.\n10. The steel stockholding trade in the United Kingdom is conducted by several hundred merchants who specialize in supplying steel mainly to small and medium-size customers whose requirements are not large enough to be supplied conveniently by producers. The existence of stockholders helps producers to concentrate on the larger orders which enable them to secure the economies derived from long mill runs. Also, stockholders can supply larger customers from buffer stocks. The trade is characterized generally by the ability to supply promptly from stock. Stockholders tend to operate mainly on a regional basis, delivering steel products to consumers who find it convenient to deal with a local supplier and to have direct contact with a stockholder. Because of this situation several stockholders have a certain number of depots geographically dispersed round the country so that they can cover a large part of the United Kingdom market. In 1978 total supplies of Treaty steel products to the UK market from UK production and imports were 11 78 million tonnes. Of this total about 5 72 million tonnes, or 44 %, was received by stockholders. Net deliveries of Treaty products by UK stockholders, i.e. after conversion by them of part of the tonnage into non-Treaty products such as cold-rolled strip or reinforcement mesh, are estimated at 4 73 million tonnes, or 42 % of total net deliveries of Treaty products in the UK. Exports by stockholders outside the UK are negligible. In these circumstances the relevant market can be regarded as that part of the UK steel market which is supplied by stockholders.\nIII\n11. The following table shows the BSSC shares of total UK stockholders' deliveries of the main Treaty product groups as they are now and as they would be after the proposed acquisition of D & R, Hall Brothers Group and Herringshaw - assuming that all the business of the acquired undertakings could be retained: >PIC FILE= \"T0014483\">\nIt can be seen from the above table that the BSC's share (through BSSC) of the UK stockholders' market would rise from 8 to 11 % as a result of the proposed transactions.\n12. The general effect of the proposed transactions will be to give BSC a more complete and better-balanced range of products to offer as a stockholder. The stockholding industry has increased its importance as a supplier of steel in the UK market during recent years, largely at the expense of BSC, which has lost contact with some of its former customers and end users of its products. Although the transactions will result in BSC having a share of 11 % in the UK stockholders' market, it will remain less important in this field than another British steel producer/stockholders, which already has an 18 % share of this market with a well-balanced range of products. There are three or four other stockholders with shares of 4 to 7 % (including two producer/stockholders) and there are several hundred other stockholders of medium or small size in the UK steel market.\n13. Having regard to the circumstances described the proposed transactions will not give the undertakings concerned the power to determine prices, to control or restrict production or distribution or to hinder effective competition in a substantial part of the market for Treaty steel products.\nIV\n14. As a result of the proposed transactions BSC can secure outlets for over 100 000 tonnes of Treaty steel products. In practice, however, the stockholding undertakings concerned already secure most of their supplies from BSC. This is not typical of the UK stockholding industry in general, which relies on imports for one third of its supplies and on UK private sector producers for about 17 % of its supplies. BSC no longer has the dominant position as supplier to UK consumers and stockholders that it had a few years ago. In 1973, BSC's deliveries accounted for 72 % of supplies to the UK market for Treaty steel products ; in 1978 this figure had dropped to 56 %. As regards supplies to the stockholding industry, whereas BSC was responsible for two-thirds in 1973, its share in 1978 was a half.\n15. Further, BSC will not be placed in an artificially privileged position as a result of the proposed transactions, bearing in mind the part of the British stockholding market acquired by BSC and the fact that most of the large producers elsewhere in the Community control their own steel distribution undertakings, some with ex-stock sales substantially exceeding those of BSC.\n16. Consequently, the proposed transactions will not give the undertakings concerned the power to evade the rules of competition instituted under the Treaty, in particular by establishing an artificially priviledged position involving a substantial advantage in access to supplies or markets.\n17. Accordingly the Commission finds that the proposed transactions satisfy the conditions for authorization set out in Article 66 (2) and may therefore be authorized,\nThe acquisition by the British Steel Corporation of the entire share capital of the following undertakings: - Dunlop & Ranken Ltd\n- Hall Brothers (West Bromwich) Ltd\n- William Hall Steel Stockholders Ltd\n- J. Arthur Farrington & Son Ltd\n- A. C. & S. Green Ltd\n- William Naylor Ltd.\n- Herringshaw Steels Ltd\nis hereby authorized.\nThis Decision is addressed to the British Steel Corporation, 33 Grosvenor Place, London SW1.", "answer groups": [ "subsidiary" ], "distractor groups": [ "advance", "European Community", "violence at school", "Southern Moravia", "underground storage of waste", "North Middle Sweden", "self-management", "UN resolution", "document management" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "80/789/EEC: Commission Decision of 22 July 1980 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/26.528 - The Distillers Co. Ltd - Victuallers) (Only the English text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 22 July 1980 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/26.528 - The Distillers Co. Ltd - Victuallers) (Only the English text is authentic) (80/789/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 85 thereof,\nHaving regard to Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962 (1), and in particular Articles 2 and 4 thereof,\nHaving regard to the notification of a standard agreement by the Distillers Company Ltd made on 4 September 1967 on behalf of 41 of its subsidiaries (listed in the Annex hereto),\nHaving regard to the publication in OJ No C 9 of 2 February 1971 and No C 65 of 15 March 1980 of the essential content of the notification as required by Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions obtained pursuant to Article 10 (3) of Regulation No 17 on 16 July 1975 and on 20 May 1980,\nI. The facts\nThe facts are as follows: 1. This Decision concerns the standard agreement on the basis of which subsidiaries of The Distillers Company Ltd supply victuallers in all common market countries with Scotch whisky intended exclusively for resale for tax and duty-free consumption.\n2. The relevant subsidiaries of the Distillers Company Ltd produce Scotch whisky which they sell under their own brands. They all have their registered offices in the United Kingdom.\nThey have made agreements of this kind with about 500 victuallers in various common market countries.\nWorld-wide sales by The Distillers Company Ltd group of Scotch whisky amounted to \u00c2\u0141 497 72 million (including duties and taxes) in the financial year 1978/79. In 1978/79 its world-wide sales of Scotch whisky for tax and duty-free consumption represented 11 73 % of its total sales world-wide, and its tax and duty-free sales in the common market amounted to 2 76 % of its total sales.\n3. Firms which receive supplies on the basis of the agreement notified are termed \"victuallers\". This word originally meant firms established in ports which supplied ships with on-board provisions of all kinds. Victuallers supply ships serving international routes with products like Scotch whisky, which, if they are consumed on board ship, are not subject to payment of duties and taxes in the normal way. As aviation developed, the term \"victualler\" was also applied to firms supplying aircraft with products to be consumed on board for tax and duty-free consumption.\nApart from international ship and aircraft operators, victuallers also supply other customers who are entitled to consume products such as Scotch whisky free of duty and taxes, particularly embassies, armed forces outside their own country and certain international organizations. To sum up, victuallers supply the duty-free trade.\n4. The terms on which duty-free concessions are granted are laid down by legal provisions and international conventions. The concessions are available to persons consuming the products on board a ship or aircraft serving an international route and to embassies, foreign armed forces and certain international organizations. The concessions apply to consumable products and for limited quantities only. Lastly, those eligible for the concessions are not allowed to transfer the duty-free products to other persons.\n5. Scotch whisky supplied to the victuallers on the basis of the relevant agreement is often labelled in such a way as to indicate its duty-free destination, typical words being \"for duty-free only\". (1)OJ No 13, 21.2.1962, p. 204/62.\n6. For many years the subsidiaries of The Distillers Company Ltd have imposed on victuallers uniform obligations which are contained in the standard agreement notified. Under the terms of this standard agreement, the victuallers undertake: (a) not to resell the products supplied except for the purpose of tax and duty-free consumption (in embassies or in aircraft or as ships' stores), and to resell them only to persons or firms which there is no reasonable cause to believe will resell or use such products otherwise than for duty-free consumption;\n(b) to impose an obligation similar in terms to (a) above on the resale of the products supplied and to use their best endeavours to ensure that the same obligation is accepted by all subsequent purchasers of the products supplied.\nThese agreements impose no sales restrictions other than those stated in (a) and (b).\n7. Observations addressed to the Commission after the first publication of the essential content of the standard agreement on 2 February 1971 in the Official Journal (1), pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17, demonstrated that dealers selling branded whiskies to ordinary customers have in some cases been supplied by victuallers in breach of their abovementioned obligations. No further observations were made to the Commission following the second publication, on 15 March 1980 (2), the main purpose of that new publication being to enable interested third parties in the new Member States (Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom) to present any observations they may have had.\nII. Applicability of Article 85 (1) of the EEC Treaty\n8. Negative clearance may be given under Article 2 of Regulation 17 if the Commission finds that on the basis of the facts in its possession there are no grounds for action under Article 85 (1) of the Treaty in respect of the agreement notified.\n9. Article 85 (1) prohibits all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices which may affect trade between the Member States and which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within the common market.\n10. The standard agreement notified is an agreement between undertakings which imposes certain obligations on victuallers as regards the resale of the whiskies supplied.\n11. Under the agreement the victualler may supply customers only if he knows or may reasonably suppose that they will use the products concerned for the purpose of duty-free consumption. He is also obliged to impose on his customers a similar obligation on the resale of the products supplied and to obtain an undertaking that the same conditions will be imposed on any subsequent purchasers.\n12. The effect of the agreement is to prevent victuallers in one Member State from reselling products supplied under the agreement to customers in other Member States for \"ordinary\" consumption, which is to say, to customers who sell or consume products on which duties and taxes must be paid. The wholesale and retail trades, large shops, supermarkets and the ordinary final consumer cannot obtain supplies from victuallers of products supplied under the agreement. However, these are customers who would not normally be supplied by the victualler or his customers.\n13. The victuallers mainly supply international ship and aircraft operators, embassies, foreign armed forces and international organisations with duty-free products in quantities limited by law. These customers pass these products on to consumers who are authorized by law to consume them without paying duties and taxes. The victuallers' business therefore consists of selling duty-free products, such as Scotch whisky, generally identified by words such as \"for duty-free only\", that is to say supplying the very category of customer to which the agreement in question obliges them to confine themselves. The victuallers' business is not oriented towards trade in products for ordinary consumption or towards supplying customers whom, as a result of the obligation at issue, they cannot supply. Moreover, the Commission's information is that, in practice, only in exceptional cases have victuallers supplied customers other than those entitled to make duty-free purchases and, duty having been paid, made deliveries to retailers who supply for ordinary consumption. (1)OJ No C 9, 2.2.1971, p. 3. (2)OJ No C 65, 15.3.1980, p. 4.\n14. Lastly, if the victuallers wish to set up in business for ordinary consumption and supply other sellers or final consumers, they are free to ask the producer, wholesalers or sole distributors to supply them with products for ordinary consumption, that is to say products not bearing special labels and on which tax and duty has been paid.\n15. Consequently it may be concluded that, although in theory the standard agreement notified appears to restrict the victualler's freedom to choose his customers and the terms of the sales agreements to be made with them, it does not in practice result in any real restriction on the victualler's freedom of action. It follows that the obligation imposed on victuallers does not have the effect of appreciably restricting competition in the common market. Moreover, the agreement notified restricts them in no other way, for it leaves the victuallers free to sell in all countries of the common market - and indeed in the world - without restrictions ; it does not prevent them from selling other brands of Scotch whisky which are not covered by the agreement, nor does it affect their freedom to determine their resale prices.\n16. Furthermore, the fact that the victuallers' successive customers are prohibited from reselling the products for ordinary consumption is likewise not such as to appreciably restrict competition. In fact, the victuallers sell only to other victuallers or to international operators of ships and aircraft, embassies, foreign armed forces and international organizations, for the account of persons who qualify for duty-free concessions. In so far as the obligation at issue relates to other victuallers, its effect is not appreciably to restrict competition, for the reasons already advanced. Moreover, the second category of customer is supplied by the victuallers only in limited quantities and provided that the products are not for ordinary consumption but for duty-free consumption. Moreover, if these customers, whose normal activity is not reselling Scotch whisky, were to sell any whisky duty-paid, they could in any case do so only very occasionally and in very limited quantities. Lastly, the current legal provisions prohibit final consumers qualifying for duty-free concessions from passing the goods on to other persons. Consequently the obligation imposed on successive customers does not have the effect of appreciably restricting competition on the common market.\n17. Consequently, on the basis of the information at its disposal, the Commission has no cause to find that the standard agreement notified by The Distillers Company Ltd has the object or effect of preventing, restricting or distorting competition to an appreciable extent within the common market. Since this condition for the application of Article 85 (1) of the Treaty is not present, negative clearance may be granted.\nOn the basis of the facts in its possession, the Commission has no grounds for action under Article 85 (1) of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community in respect of the standard agreement between the subsidiaries of The Distillers Company Limited and victuallers in the common market, which agreement relates to supplies of Scotch whisky for resale for consumption free of duties and taxes.\nThis Decision is addressed to The Distillers Company Ltd, 21 St James's Square, London SW1, which shall notify it to its 41 subsidiaries listed in the Annex hereto.", "answer groups": [ "subsidiary" ], "distractor groups": [ "health expenditure", "sectoral aid", "child", "production target", "survivor's benefit", "Gorenjska", "euro", "County of Zagreb", "EU military mission" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2001/61/EC: Commission Decision of 9 January 2001 on Finnish aid for seeds (notified under document number C(2000) 4424)\nCommission Decision\nof 9 January 2001\non Finnish aid for seeds\n(notified under document number C(2000) 4424)\n(Only the Finnish and Swedish texts are authentic)\n(2001/61/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71 of 26 October 1971 on the common organisation of the market in seeds(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2371/2000(2), and in particular Article 8 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71, Finland may, subject to authorisation by the Commission, grant aid for certain quantities of seeds produced solely in Finland because of its specific climatic conditions.\n(2) By letter dated 6 November 2000, the Finnish Government requested the Commission for authorisation to grant farmers the aid provided for in the abovementioned Article 8 for varieties of grass seed in order to ensure that appropriate quantities of the products in question continue to be available in that country.\n(3) Finland requests authorisation to grant aid per hectare for certain areas under red clover, timothy, meadow fescue, cocksfoot and rye-grass. The maximum amount of the aid varies between FIM 1350 and 2700 per hectare depending on the species.\n(4) The proposed aid meets the requirements laid down in the second subparagraph of Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71. It concerns grass seed varieties necessary for cultivation in Finland which are adapted to the weather conditions in that country and are not multiplied in the other Member States. The Commission authorisation is limited to the varieties included in the list of Finnish varieties which, with the exception of limited quantities cultivated in adjacent regions, are cultivated only in Finland.\n(5) The area covered by the Finnish application is that necessary for the production of quantities of grass seed corresponding to the country's domestic requirements and is the equivalent of that authorised for 1999. The amount of the aid is also equivalent to that authorised for 1999 and is justified in view of the objective pursued by the planned measure.\n(6) Provision should be made for the Commission to be informed of the measures taken by Finland to comply with the limits laid down in this Decision and, with a view to drawing up the report provided for in the last subparagraph of Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2358/71, of the practical results of those measures,\nFinland is authorised until 31 December 2005 to grant aid to growers established on its territory producing grass seeds within the limits of the areas and amounts laid down in the Annex for certified seeds of varieties of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis huds.), cocksfoot (Dactilis glomerata L.) and rye-grass (Lolium perenne L.).\nThe authorisation shall cover exclusively varieties listed in the Finnish national catalogue and which, except for small quantities cultivated in regions bordering on Finland, are grown solely in that Member State.\nFinland shall ensure, by an appropriate inspection system, that the aid is granted only in respect of the varieties and areas referred to in the Annex.\nFinland shall send the Commission each year a list of the certified varieties and any amendment thereto and inform it of the areas and quantities of seed for which the aid is granted.\nThis Decision shall apply from 1 January 2000.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Republic of Finland.", "answer groups": [ "State aid" ], "distractor groups": [ "financial supervision", "public statement", "production improvement", "organisation", "World Anti-Doping Agency", "Arab-African cooperation", "Deputy Speaker of Parliament", "additional benefit", "financial audit" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 851/2003 of 16 May 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90 laying down detailed rules for granting private storage aid for pigmeat\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 851/2003\nof 16 May 2003\namending Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90 laying down detailed rules for granting private storage aid for pigmeat\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organisation of the market in pigmeat(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1365/2000(2), and in particular Article 7(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90(3), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 3533/93(4), lays down the rules applying to the time limit for producing supporting evidence for the payment of aid, but does not make provision for cases where no supporting evidence is presented. The appropriate provisions should therefore be adopted.\n(2) Article 9(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90 provides for the possibility of curtailing the storage period in the case of exports of products under contract, regardless of whether they qualify for an export refund or not. Where the products qualify for a refund, proof of export is offered using the documents laid down in Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 of 15 April 1999 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on agricultural products(5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 444/2003(6). With a view to simplifying the monitoring operations, a similar procedure should be introduced for the proof to be offered when products are exported without a refund.\n(3) In order to ensure the proper operation of the private storage aid introduced pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2179/2002 of 6 December 2002 on special conditions for the granting of private storage aid for pigmeat(7), the proposed amendments should apply immediately to the contracts concluded under that Regulation.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Pigmeat,\nRegulation (EEC) No 3444/90 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. The following paragraph is added to Article 7:\n\"3. If the requirements laid down in paragraph 1 are not complied with, no aid shall be paid in respect of the contract concerned and the entire security for that contract shall be forfeit.\"\n2. The fourth subparagraph of Article 9(4) is replaced by the following:\"For the purposes of this paragraph, proof of export shall be offered in accordance with Articles 7 and 8 of Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 in the case of products qualifying for a refund.\nIn the case of products not qualifying for a refund, proof of export shall be offered in the cases provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 by producing the original T5 control copy, in accordance with Articles 912a, 912b, 912c, 912e and 912g of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93. One of the following entries must be made in box 107 of the control copy when it is being drawn up:\n- Reglamento (CEE) n\u00b0 3444/90\n- Forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 3444/90\n- Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 3444/90\n- \u039a\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2 (\u0395\u039f\u039a) \u03b1\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8. 3444/90\n- Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90\n- R\u00e8glement (CEE) n\u00b0 3444/90\n- Regolamento (CEE) n. 3444/90\n- Verordening (EEG) nr. 3444/90\n- Regulamento (CEE) n.o 3444/90\n- Asetus (ETY) N:o 3444/90\n- F\u00f6rordning (EEG) nr 3444/90\".\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply to all new private storage aid and to the contracts concluded under Regulation (EC) No 2179/2002.\nHowever, Article 1(2) shall apply only to exports that take place on or after the date of entry into force of this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "storage premium" ], "distractor groups": [ "heavy oil", "international relations", "emancipation", "political rights", "Sarawak", "government violence", "business tax", "central bank", "transitional justice", "slum" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2005/402/EC: Commission Decision of 23 May 2005 on emergency measures regarding chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil (notified under document number C(2005) 1454) (Text with EEA relevance)\n28.5.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 135/34\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 23 May 2005\non emergency measures regarding chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil\n(notified under document number C(2005) 1454)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2005/402/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 53(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 the Commission is to suspend the placing on the market or use of a food or feed that is likely to constitute a serious risk to human health, or take any other appropriate interim measure when such risk cannot be contained satisfactorily by means of measures taken by the Member States concerned.\n(2) Under Commission Decision 2004/92/EC of 21 January 2004 on emergency measures regarding chilli and chilli products\u00a0(2), Member States have carried out checks for the presence of the chemical substances Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan III and Scarlet Red (Sudan IV). Those substances have been found in chilli and chilli products as well as curcuma or palm oil. All findings were notified through the Rapid Alert System for food and feed pursuant to Article 50 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.\n(3) Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan III and Scarlet red (Sudan IV) have been classified as category 3 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).\n(4) The extent of the findings points to an adulteration constituting a serious health risk.\n(5) Given the seriousness of the health threat, it is necessary to maintain the measures provided for in Decision 2004/92/EC and to extend them to curcuma and palm oil. Moreover, account should be taken of the possibility of triangular trade, especially for food products for which there is no official certification of origin. In order to protect public health, it is appropriate to require that consignments of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil imported into the Community in whatever form, intended for human consumption, should be accompanied by an analytical report provided by the importer or food business operator concerned demonstrating that the consignment does not contain Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan III or Scarlet red (Sudan IV).\n(6) The analytical report accompanying the consignments of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil should be an original document endorsed by the competent authorities from the country emitting the document. These measures aim to improve the guarantees offered by the document.\n(7) Member States should also be required to carry out random sampling and analysis of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil presented for importation or already on the market.\n(8) It is appropriate to order the destruction of adulterated chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil to avoid their introduction into the food chain.\n(9) Since the measures provided for in this Decision have an impact on the control resources of the Member States, the results of these measures should be reviewed within 12 months in order to assess whether they are still necessary for the protection of public health.\n(10) That review should take account of the results of all analyses carried out by the competent authorities.\n(11) Transitional measures are necessary for consignments of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil imported before the date of publication of this Decision.\n(12) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDefinitions\nFor the purposes of this Decision the following definitions shall apply:\n(a) \u2018chilli\u2019, fruits of the genus Capsicum, dried and crushed or ground within CN Code 0904\u00a020\u00a090, in whatever form, intended for human consumption and\n(b) \u2018chilli products\u2019, curry powder within CN Code 0910\u00a050, in whatever form, intended for human consumption and\n(c) \u2018curcuma\u2019, curcuma dried and crushed or ground within CN Code 0910\u00a030, in whatever form, intended for human consumption and\n(d) \u2018palm oil\u2019, palm oil within CN Code 1511\u00a010\u00a090, intended for direct human consumption.\nImports conditions\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall prohibit the import of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil unless an original analytical report accompanying the consignment demonstrates that the product does not contain any of the following chemical substances:\n(a) Sudan I (CAS Number 842-07-9),\n(b) Sudan II (CAS Number 3118-97-6),\n(c) Sudan III (CAS Number 85-86-9),\n(d) Scarlet Red or Sudan IV (CAS Number 85-83-6).\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The analytical report shall be endorsed by a representative of the relevant competent authority.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The competent authorities in the Member States shall check that each consignment of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil presented for importation is accompanied by an analytical report as provided for in paragraph 1.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the absence of such an analytical report as provided for in paragraph 1, the importer established in the Community shall have the product tested to demonstrate that it does not contain one or more of the chemical substances referred to in paragraph 1. Pending availability of the analytical report, the product shall be detained under official supervision.\nSampling and analysis\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall take appropriate measures, including random sampling and analysis of chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil presented for importation or already on the market in order to verify the absence of the chemical substances referred to in Article 2(1).\nMember States shall inform the Commission through the Rapid Alert System for food and feed of all consignments which are found to contain those substances.\nMember States shall report to the Commission on a quarterly basis on the consignments which were found not to contain those substances. These reports shall be submitted before the end of the month following that quarter.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Any consignment subjected to official sampling and analysis may be detained before release onto the market for a maximum period of 15 working days.\nSplitting of a consignment\nIf a consignment is split, a certified copy of the analytical report provided for in Article 2(1) shall accompany each part of the split consignment.\nAdulterated consignments\nChilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil that are found to contain one or more of the chemical substances referred to in Article 2(1) shall be destroyed.\nRecovery of costs\nAll costs resulting from analysis, storage or destruction pursuant to Article 2(1) or (4) and Article 5 shall be borne by the importers or food business operators concerned.\nTransitional measures\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By derogation from Article 2(2), for consignments which left the country of origin before the date of publication of this Decision, Member States shall accept the analytical report for the products listed in Article 1(a) and 1(b) without the official endorsement referred to in that provision.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By derogation from Article 2(1), for consignments which left the country of origin before the date of publication of this Decision, Member States shall accept the imports for the products listed in Article 1(c) and 1(d) without the analytical report referred to in that provision.\nReview of the measures\nThis Decision shall be reviewed by 22 May 2006 at the latest.\nRepealing\nDecision 2004/92/EC is repealed.\n0\nAddressees\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "food safety" ], "distractor groups": [ "authorised catch", "iron and steel-working machinery", "sustainable forest management", "comic book", "fuel wood", "Community Plant Variety Office", "industrial espionage", "chemical salt", "open source software" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "86/154/EEC: Commission Decision of 25 March 1986 liberalizing as from 1 March 1986 trade in seeds and propagating material of certain species between Portugal and the other Member States\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 25 March 1986\nliberalizing as from 1 March 1986 trade in seeds and propagating material of certain species between Portugal and the other Member States\n(86/154/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Article 344 thereof,\nWhereas seed of certain species could already be introduced from Portugal into other Member States under Council Decision 85/355/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the equivalence of field inspections carried out in third countries on seed-producing crops (1), as amended by Decision 85/589/EEC (2), and Council Decision 85/356/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the equivalence of seed produced in third countries (3), as amended by Decision 85/588/EEC (4);\nWhereas trade in seed of those species between Portugal and other Member States should be permitted to continue, provided that either the conditions laid down in the provisions applicable to Community production or the conditions laid down in the abovementioned Decisions are met;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Seeds and Propagating Material for Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry,\n1. Trade in seed of the following species listed in Council Directive 66/401/EEC (5) from Portugal to other Member States shall be liberalized under the conditions laid down in paragraph 3 as from 1 March 1986:\n1.2 // - Lolium perenne L. // - Perennial ryegrass // - Lupinus albus L. // - White lupin // - Lupinus angustifolius L. // - Blue lupin // - Lupinus luteus L. // - Yellow lupin // - Trifolium resupinatum L. // - Persian clover // - Vicia sativa L. // - Common vetch // - Vicia villosa Roth // - Hairy vetch\n2. Trade in seed of the following species listed in Council Directive 66/402/EEC (6) from Portugal to other Member States shall be liberalized under the conditions laid down in paragraph 3 as from 1 March 1986:\n1.2 // - Avena sativa L. // - Oats // - Hordeum vulgare L. // - Barley // - Oryza sativa L. // - Rice // - Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori et Paol. // - Wheat // - Triticum durum Desf. // - Durum wheat // - Zea mays L. except Zea mays convar. microsperma (Koern) and Zea mays convar. saccharata (Koern) // - Maize except popcorn and sweetcorn\n3. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2, the following conditions shall be satisfied:\n(a) the seed shall belong to varieties listed either in the Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species or in one of the catalogues of varieties established by other Member States under Council Directive 70/457/EEC (7),\n(b) the seed shall either be intended for certification or be certified\n- as basic seed, certified seed (in the cases of Lolium perenne, Lupinus albus, Lupinus angustifolius, Lupinus luteus, Trifolium resupinatum, Vicia sativa, Vicia villosa and Zea mays) or certified seed of the first generation (in the other cases) in accordance with Directive 66/401/EEC or Directive 66/402/EEC, as is appropriate,\nor\n- as basic seed, certified seed first generation or (solely in the cases of Lupinus albus, Lupinus angustifolius, Lupinus luteus, Vicia sativa and Vicia villosa) certified seed second generation in accordance with the appropriate OECD scheme for the varietal certification of seed moving in international trade;\n(c) the field inspection of seed intended for certification, and the official control and certification of seed already certified, shall have been carried out by the Centro Nacional de Protec\u00e7\u00e3o da Produ\u00e7\u00e3o Agr\u00edcola, Minist\u00e9rio da Agricultura, Lisbon;\n(d) the seed and its packages and their marking and sealing shall comply with the provisions laid down either in Directives 66/401/EEC or 66/402/EEC, as is appropriate, or in Part II of the Annexes to Decisions 85/355/EEC and 85/356/EEC.\nThis Decision shall apply until:\n- 31 December 1988 with respect to Lolium perenne, Vicia sativa, Hordeum vulgare, Oryza sativa, Triticum aestivum, Triticum durum and Zea mays,\n- 31 December 1991 with respect to the other species listed in Article 1 (1) and (2).\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "seed" ], "distractor groups": [ "birth control", "parliament", "bar", "disclosure of information", "income stabilisation", "agricultural labour force", "political tendency", "triticale", "Olomouc", "work productivity", "diversification of exports", "experiment on humans" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2010/714/: Commission Decision of 25\u00a0November 2010 amending Decision 2004/4/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt (notified under document C(2010) 8185)\n26.11.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 310/14\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 25 November 2010\namending Decision 2004/4/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt\n(notified under document C(2010) 8185)\n(2010/714/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Commission Decision 2004/4/EC\u00a0(2), tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in Egypt, must not in principle be introduced into the Union. In line with a possibility to derogate from that Decision, the entry of such tubers into the Union was permitted from \u2018pest-free areas\u2019 and subject to specific conditions in previous years, including the 2009/2010 import season.\n(2) During the 2009/2010 import season, only one interception of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith was recorded in the Union.\n(3) As requested by Egypt, and in the light of the information provided by it, the Commission has established that the risk of spreading Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith with the entry into the Union of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. from \u2018pest-free areas\u2019 of Egypt has been sufficiently mitigated, provided that the specific conditions indicated in Decision 2004/4/EC are satisfied.\n(4) The entry into the Union of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in \u2018pest-free areas\u2019 of Egypt, should therefore be permitted for the 2010/2011 import season.\n(5) Decision 2004/4/EC established that it had to be reviewed by 30 September 2010. In light of the above findings, the deadline for the review should be extended.\n(6) Decision 2004/4/EC should be therefore amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nDecision 2004/4/EC is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 2(1), \u20182009/2010\u2019 is replaced by \u20182010/2011\u2019;\n2. in Article 4, \u201831 August 2010\u2019 is replaced by \u201831 August 2011\u2019;\n3. in Article 7, \u201830 September 2010\u2019 is replaced by \u201830 September 2011\u2019;\n4. the Annex is amended as follows:\n(a) in point 1(b)(iii), \u20182009/2010\u2019 is replaced by \u20182010/2011\u2019;\n(b) in the second indent of point 1(b)(iii), \u20181 January 2010\u2019 is replaced by \u20181 January 2011\u2019;\n(c) in point 1(b)(xii), \u20181 January 2010\u2019 is replaced by \u20181 January 2011\u2019.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import restriction" ], "distractor groups": [ "continuous working day", "common wheat", "information technology", "electronic waste", "parliamentary immunity", "detention before trial", "African organisation", "Hungary" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01475/2007 of 13 December 2007 opening a Community tariff quota from 2008 for manioc originating from Thailand\n14.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 329/15\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1475/2007\nof 13 December 2007\nopening a Community tariff quota from 2008 for manioc originating from Thailand\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1095/96 of 18 June 1996 on the implementation of the concessions set out in Schedule CXL drawn up in the wake of the conclusion of the GATT XXIV.6 negotiations\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 1(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) During the World Trade Organisation multilateral trade negotiations, the Community undertook to open a tariff quota restricted to 21 million tonnes of products falling within CN code 0714\u00a010 originating in Thailand per four-year period, with customs duty reduced to 6\u00a0%. This quota must be opened and administered by the Commission.\n(2) Taking into account the specifications of the product and the market, the use of the first-come first-served management method appears to be appropriate. In the interest of administrative simplification, the quota concerning manioc products under the application of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1342/2003 of 28 July 2003 laying down special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences for cereals and rice\u00a0(2), as regards the imports and export products in the cereal and rice sector, should be managed in conformity with Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(3). The management should be done in accordance with Articles 308a, 308b and 308c (1) of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code\u00a0(4).\n(3) Article 9 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 provides for a possible exemption from the requirement to submit an import licence for products having no significant appreciable impact on the supply situation of the cereals market. In the last years, the Community imports less than 10 percent of the annual quantity of manioc falling within CN code 0714\u00a010. This involves a limited quantity of very specific products, with no impact on the cereals market. The exemption from the import licence requirement provided for in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 can therefore be applied.\n(4) It is necessary to keep an administration system which ensures that only products originating from Thailand may be imported under the quota. It should be clarified which kind of proof certifying the origin of products has to be provided to benefit from the tariff quotas under the first-come, first served system. This is laid out in Articles 55 to 65 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\n(5) Given that equivalent tariff quotas have not been quickly exhausted in the last two years, tariff quotas under this Regulation should be regarded initially as non-critical within the meaning of Article 308c of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 when managed under the first-come first-served system. Therefore, customs authorities should be authorised to waive the requirement for security in respect of goods initially imported under those quotas in accordance with Articles 308c(1) and 248(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93. Due to the particularities of the transfer from one management system to the other Article 308c(2) and (3) of that Regulation should not apply.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for cereals,\nThis Regulation opens a Community tariff quota for manioc originating from Thailand. It shall be managed on a calendar-year basis, from 1 January 2008.\nThe quantity, expressed in net weight, for the import of manioc falling within the CN code 0714\u00a010, as well as the customs duty applicable shall be those laid down in the Annex.\nThe tariff quota set out in the Annex to this Regulation shall be managed by the Community on a first-come, first-served basis in accordance with Articles 308a, 308b and 308c(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93. Article 308c(2) and (3) of that Regulation shall not apply.\nImports of manioc under the tariff quota referred to Article 1 shall not require the submission of an import licence.\nRelease for free circulation within the quota referred to in Article 1 of this Regulation shall be subject to the presentation of a certificate of origin issued by the competent authorities of Thailand in accordance with Articles 55 to 65 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply as from 1 January 2008.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Thailand" ], "distractor groups": [ "psychological harassment", "Buddhist", "maximum price", "Berlin", "toxic substance", "Gorenjska", "strategic reserves", "lead-free petrol", "economic situation" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 1675/2003 of 22 September 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 1995/2000 imposing, inter alia, a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of solution of urea and ammonium nitrate originating in Algeria, Belarus, Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 1675/2003\nof 22 September 2003\namending Regulation (EC) No 1995/2000 imposing, inter alia, a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of solution of urea and ammonium nitrate originating in Algeria, Belarus, Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community(1), hereinafter referred to as \"the basic Regulation\", and in particular Article 8 and Article 11(3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA. EXISTING MEASURES\n(1) Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1995/2000(2), the Council imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of solutions of urea and ammonium nitrate, hereinafter referred to as \"UAN\", originating, inter alia, in Lithuania. The form of the duty set out in that Regulation was a specific duty of EUR 3,98 per tonne for all Lithuanian exporting producers.\nB. REQUEST FOR A REVIEW\n(2) In September 2002, a request for a partial interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation was lodged by SC Achema, hereinafter referred to as \"the applicant\", an exporting producer in Lithuania. The request was limited in scope to the examination of the form of the measure and, in particular, to the examination of the acceptability of an undertaking offered by the applicant.\n(3) The request was based on the grounds that the applicant committed itself to a price discipline in respect of UAN within the framework of another anti-dumping proceeding concerning urea and presented evidence that it was ready to provide, also in the framework of the UAN proceeding, an undertaking of a similar nature, which would remove the injurious effects of dumping and could be monitored.\n(4) Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence existed for the initiation of a partial interim review, the Commission published a notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities(3) and commenced an investigation.\nC. PROCEDURE\n(5) The Commission officially advised the authorities of the exporting country of the initiation of the interim review and gave all parties directly concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. The European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association, on behalf of the European complainant producers of the original investigation, hereinafter referred to as \"the Community industry\", requested, within the time limits, to take part in this investigation as an interested party.\n(6) The applicant made the Commission a formal offer of price undertaking.\n(7) The Commission further sought and verified all the information it deemed necessary for the purpose of examining the acceptance of this undertaking and all the aspects relating to the monitoring of it. A verification visit was carried out at the premises of the applicant.\n(8) The applicant and the Community industry were informed of the facts and considerations of the investigation and were given an opportunity to comment.\nD. INVESTIGATION\n(9) The applicant exports three kinds of nitrogen fertilisers to the EU: urea, ammonium nitrate, hereinafter referred to as \"AN\", and UAN. Urea and UAN originating in Lithuania are subject to anti-dumping measures in the form of specific duties, imposed by Regulations (EC) No 1995/2000 and (EC) No 92/2002(4) respectively.\n(10) Pursuant to Commission Decision 2002/498/EC(5), an undertaking offered by the applicant concerning imports of urea was accepted. By this undertaking, the applicant accepted, in order to avoid cross-compensation via exports of other fertilisers, to respect a pricing discipline and to report exports to the Community for its other two fertilisers, i.e. the ammonium nitrate and UAN as well. The applicant's exports of UAN were as a result found to be subject to both a minimum import price and an anti-dumping duty (by nature of Regulation (EC) No 1995/2000).\n(11) The undertaking offered by the applicant in the framework of the current investigation enables its exports of UAN to be subject to a sole minimum import price, hereinafter referred to as \"MIP\". The MIP is at a level that eliminates the injurious effects of dumping found in the original investigation. The reporting obligations are as strict as for urea, thus allowing an efficient monitoring in conjunction with the undertaking on urea. In addition, a clause on the breach of the relationship of trust between the Commission and the applicant guarantees the efficiency of both undertakings for urea and UAN.\n(12) The Community industry opposed the acceptance of an undertaking. It alleged that the actual quantities of UAN exported by the applicant for the period 2002 could not be supplied by its effective production capability. The Commission sought from the applicant, and the latter provided, detailed information concerning production capacity, sales and purchases of the three nitrogen fertilisers, i.e. urea, AN and UAN, for the last three calendar years. All of this information was verified on the spot and no irregularity of the nature alleged by the Community industry was found. Thus, the allegations of the Community industry were considered to be unfounded.\n(13) The Community industry further claimed that, in line with the principle of non-discrimination, the applicant should not be given more favourable treatment than other countries found to be dumping, since in the great majority of recent anti-dumping cases concerning nitrogen fertilisers, the Community has consistently argued that for reasons of efficiency and to avoid manipulation and malpractice, specific anti-dumping duties are the most appropriate measures to be applied. Regarding the discriminatory treatment, it should be noted that each undertaking offer has to be examined on its own merits on the basis of the criteria laid down in Article 8 of the basic Regulation. Thus, undertaking offers can be accepted only in cases where they have the effect of eliminating the injurious dumping and allow effective monitoring. In this respect, it is noted that the main problem for accepting undertakings from other countries was the risk of circumvention in the form of cross-compensation with other products. However, in this case this risk is seriously limited, since the applicant has offered and has been respecting MIPs for the other fertilisers that it exports to the Community with which cross-compensation could arguably take place. Regarding efficiency and effective monitoring of undertakings in respect of similar cases, the experience already obtained from two undertakings concerning urea (one from a Bulgarian exporting producer and one from the applicant) and one concerning UAN (from an Algerian exporting producer), which have been in place for certain time, did not indicate that they had been inefficient. In this respect, it should be noted that the Commission, during the on-the-spot visit at the premises of the applicant, verified all the reports submitted by it in the framework of its undertaking for urea and did not find any irregularity, manipulation or malpractice. Therefore, this claim was rejected.\n(14) Finally, the Community industry claimed that any price undertaking should stipulate both an ex-works and a cif frontier level in order for all normal costs between ex-works and cif frontier to be accounted for. Regarding this claim, it is noted that the MIP offered by the applicant is based on an ex-works level and that the applicant is obliged to report detailed costs associated with its exports when made at a different level (i.e. cif, fob, etc.). This means that indeed all costs between ex-works and cif level will be accounted for when sales are made at cif level. Therefore, the claim made by the Community industry was rejected.\nE. UNDERTAKING\n(15) In view of the foregoing, the offer of an undertaking was accepted by the Commission in Decision 2003/671/EC(6).\n(16) In order to ensure the effective respect and monitoring of the undertaking, when the request for release for free circulation pursuant to the undertaking is presented to the relevant customs authority, exemption from the duty should be conditional on presentation of a commercial invoice containing the information listed in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 617/2000(7), which is necessary for customs to ascertain that shipments correspond to the commercial documents at the required level of detail. Where no such invoice is presented, or when it does not correspond to the product concerned presented to customs, the appropriate rate of anti-dumping duty should instead be payable.\n(17) It should be noted that in the event of a breach or withdrawal of the undertaking or a suspected breach, an anti-dumping duty may be imposed, pursuant to Article 8(9) and (10) of the basic Regulation.\n(18) In view of the acceptance of the undertaking offer, it is necessary to amend Regulation (EC) No 1995/2000 accordingly.\nF. MODIFICATION OF NAME AND ADDRESS\n(19) In the course of this investigation, the applicant informed the Commission that it had changed its name and address. The name change was due to the fact that the previous company form of the applicant, i.e. Joint Stock Company, no longer exists in Lithuania. The new name of the applicant is Stock Company Achema. The change of its address was due to the change in the Lithuanian postal system.\n(20) The Commission has examined this information, which demonstrated that all the applicant's activities linked to the manufacturing, sales and exports of fertilisers (AN, UAN and urea) are unaffected by these changes,\nRegulation (EC) No 1995/2000 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 1(2), the row concerning Lithuania shall be replaced by the following:\n\">TABLE>\"\n2. Article 2(1), shall be replaced by the following:\n\"1. Imports declared for release into free circulation under the following TARIC additional codes which are produced and directly exported (i.e. shipped and invoiced) by a company named below to a company in the Community acting as an importer shall be exempt from the anti-dumping duty imposed by Article 1 provided that such imports are imported in conformity with paragraph 2 of this Article.\n>TABLE>\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import" ], "distractor groups": [ "threshold price", "Varmia-Mazuria province", "geographical information system", "mining extraction", "trade union confederation", "marriage" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 905/2009 of 28 September 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 537/2007 as regards the name of the holder of the authorisation of the fermentation product of Aspergillus oryzae (NRRL 458) (Amaferm) (Text with EEA relevance)\n29.9.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 256/30\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 905/2009\nof 28 September 2009\namending Regulation (EC) No 537/2007 as regards the name of the holder of the authorisation of the fermentation product of Aspergillus oryzae (NRRL 458) (Amaferm)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition\u00a0(1) and in particular Article 13(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Trouw Nutrition BV has submitted an application under Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 proposing to change the name of the holder of the authorisation as regards Commission Regulation (EC) No 537/2007 of 15 May 2007 concerning the authorisation of the fermentation product of Aspergillus oryzae (NRRL 458) (Amaferm)\u00a0(2) as a feed additive for dairy cows. The authorisation is linked to the holder of the authorisation. The holder is Trouw Nutrition BV.\n(2) The applicant claims that it transferred its marketing authorisation for that additive to Biozyme Incorporated which now owns the marketing rights for that additive. The applicant has submitted appropriate documents supporting its allegations.\n(3) The proposed change of the terms of the authorisation is purely administrative in nature and does not entail a fresh assessment of the additive concerned. The European Food Safety Authority was informed of the application.\n(4) To allow Biozyme Incorporated to exploit its marketing rights it is necessary to change the terms of the authorisations.\n(5) Regulation (EC) No 537/2007 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) It is appropriate to provide for a transitional period during which existing stocks may be used up.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nIn the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 537/2007, in column 2, the words \u2018Trouw Nutrition BV\u2019 are replaced by the words \u2018Biozyme Incorporated\u2019.\nExisting stocks which are in conformity with the provisions applying before the date of entry into force of this Regulation may continue to be placed on the market and used until 1 April 2010.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "food additive" ], "distractor groups": [ "administrative court", "building safety", "tidal energy", "vote on a text as a whole", "European Social Fund", "territorial law", "vertical agreement", "ballistic missile" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2010/142/: Commission Decision of 3 March 2010 exempting certain services in the postal sector in Austria from the application of Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2010) 1120) (Text with EEA relevance)\n6.3.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 56/8\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 3 March 2010\nexempting certain services in the postal sector in Austria from the application of Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council\n(notified under document C(2010) 1120)\n(Only the German text is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2010/142/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 30(5) and (6) thereof,\nHaving regard to the request submitted by \u00d6sterreichische Post AG (hereinafter referred to as \u2018Post\u2019) by e-mail received on 10 September 2009,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee for Public Contracts,\nWhereas:\nI.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0FACTS\n(1) On 10 September 2009, Post transmitted a request pursuant to Article 30(5) of Directive 2004/17/EC to the Commission by e-mail. In accordance with Article 30(5) first subparagraph, the Commission informed the Austrian authorities thereof by letter of 15 September 2009, to which the Austrian authorities answered by e-mail of 9 October 2009. The Commission also requested additional information of Post by e-mail of 22 October 2009, which, following a prolongation of the deadline was transmitted by Post by e-mail of 13 November 2009.\n(2) The request submitted by Post concerns certain postal services as well as certain services other than postal services in Austria. The services concerned are described as follows in the request:\n(a) standard consumer parcel services (consumer to consumer (C2C), consumer to business (C2B)), both domestic and international;\n(b) standard business to business (B2B) parcel services, both domestic and international;\n(c) standard business to consumer (B2C) parcel services, both domestic and international;\n(d) domestic express parcel services;\n(e) combined freight services, i.e. freight services relating to consignments consisting of individual parcels and palletised small packages; and\n(f) contract logistics, defined as including the storage of goods and associated stock management, finishing and/or commissioning, marshalling goods ready for dispatch and address management for the sender.\nII.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0LEGAL FRAMEWORK\n(3) Article 30 of Directive 2004/17/EC provides that contracts intended to enable the performance of one of the activities to which Directive 2004/17/EC applies shall not be subject to that Directive if, in the Member State in which it is carried out, the activity is directly exposed to competition on markets to which access is not restricted. Direct exposure to competition is assessed on the basis of objective criteria, taking account of the specific characteristics of the sector concerned. Access is deemed to be unrestricted if the Member State has implemented and applied the relevant EU legislation opening a given sector or a part of it. This legislation is listed in Annex XI to Directive 2004/17/EC, which, for the postal sector, refers to Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 1997 on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service\u00a0(2) as amended by Directive 2002/39/EC\u00a0(3).\n(4) Austria has implemented and applied Directive 97/67/EC as amended by Directive 2002/39/EC, using the possibility pursuant to its Article 7 to reserve certain addressed letters with a weight of up to 50\u00a0g for the designated universal service provider, Post\u00a0(4). None of the services concerned by the present request are reserved. As Austria has reached the level of market opening provided for under the legislation listed in Annex XI to Directive 2004/17/EC, access to the market should be deemed not to be restricted in accordance with the first subparagraph of its Article 30(3). Direct exposure to competition in a particular market should be evaluated on the basis of various criteria, none of which are, per se, decisive.\n(5) In respect of the markets concerned by this Decision, the market share of the main players on a given market constitutes one criterion which should be taken into account. Another criterion is the degree of concentration on those markets. As the conditions vary for the different activities that are concerned by this Decision, the examination of the competitive situation should take into account the different situations on different markets.\n(6) Although narrower market definitions might be envisaged in certain cases, the precise definition of the relevant market can be left open for the purposes of this Decision as far as a number of the services listed in the request submitted by Post are concerned to the extent that the result of the analysis remains the same whether it is based on a narrow or a broader definition.\n(7) This Decision is without prejudice to the application of the rules on competition.\nIII.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ASSESSMENT\n(8) Standard consumer parcel services must be considered apart, as they satisfy different needs of demand (universal postal service) in relation to commercial parcels, where the technological process of providing this service usually differs significantly. In respect of these services, Post\u2019s market position is quite strong with an estimated market share that has remained stable over the period 2006-2008 at the order of 91-93\u00a0% by volume\u00a0(5). While this may change in the coming years following the increase in the services provided by one of Post\u2019s competitors which is announced for 2010, it should be concluded that the category of services examined here is not directly exposed to competition in Austria. Therefore Article 30(1) of Directive 2004/17/EC does not apply to contracts intended to enable the pursuit of those activities in Austria.\n(9) In respect of B2B standard parcel services, Post\u2019s market share reached 9\u00a0% by volume in 2008, compared to an aggregate market share for the two biggest competitors that year amounting to 52-62\u00a0%. These factors should therefore be taken as an indication of direct exposure to competition for B2B standard parcel services.\n(10) On the international (outbound\u00a0(6)) market for B2C parcels, Post\u2019s market share fell from 83\u00a0% by volume in 2006 to 79\u00a0% by volume in 2008. It should be kept in mind that the aim of the present Decision is to establish whether the services concerned by the request are exposed to such a level of competition (on markets to which access is free) that this will ensure that, also in the absence of the discipline brought about by the detailed procurement rules set out in Directive 2004/17/EC, procurement for the pursuit of the activities concerned here will be carried out in a transparent, non-discriminatory manner based on criteria allowing purchasers to identify the solution which overall is the economically most advantageous one. In this context, the international market should not be seen in isolation, but in the framework of the overall market for B2C standard parcel services, given that the international market for B2C parcel services forms only 3\u00a0% by volume of the total market for B2C parcel services. On the latter market, Post\u2019s market share fell from 79\u00a0% by volume in 2006 to 57\u00a0% by volume in 2008. However, at 23-33\u00a0% by volume in 2008, the aggregate market share of the two biggest competitors amounts to about half of that of Post and at that level it can be considered that they would be able to exert a significant competitive pressure on Post, considering also that the biggest of the two competitors intends to strengthen his network. These factors should therefore be taken as an indication of direct exposure to competition.\n(11) Post\u2019s market share of the market for domestic express parcel services (including inbound\u00a0(7) express parcel services) has been steadily falling over the period from 2006 to 2008, from approx. 47\u00a0% by value\u00a0(8) in 2006, about 46\u00a0% in 2007 to around 43\u00a0% in 2008\u00a0(9). The aggregate market share of the two biggest competitors amounted to slightly over 28\u00a0% by value in 2008, i.e. almost two thirds of Post\u2019s market share, at which level they would be able to bring a significant competitive pressure to bear on Post\u00a0(10). These factors should therefore be taken as an indication of direct exposure to competition.\n(12) Post has started offering combined freight services as defined under recital 2(e) above, only towards the end of 2007. Faced with competition from big logistics companies, such as Dachser Austria GmbH, K\u00fchne & Nagel Ges.m.b.H., Logwin-Gruppe, Schachinger Paketdienst Gesellschaft m.b.H., Schenker & Co AG and Gebr\u00fcder Weiss GmbH, Post, Post has until now not succeeded in obtaining more than a negligible market share that it estimates as being \u2018considerably below 1\u00a0%\u2019. These factors should therefore be taken as an indication of direct exposure to competition.\n(13) Post started offering contract logistics services as defined under recital 2(f) above, only in 2008. On this market it is faced with competition not only from big logistics companies, such as in particular Gebr\u00fcder Weiss GmbH, Schachinger Paketdienst Gesellschaft m.b.H., Lagermax Internationale Spedition Ges.m.b.H./Lagermax Paketdienst GmbH & Co KG, CEVA Logistics Austria GmbH, Logwin-Gruppe, but also from the Austrian Federal Railways\u00a0(11) and the harbours of Linz and Vienna\u00a0(12). Here also, the market share obtained by Post is until now quite negligible (it is estimated as being \u2018considerably below 0,1\u00a0%\u2019). These factors should therefore be taken as an indication of direct exposure to competition.\nIV.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0CONCLUSIONS\n(14) In view of the factors examined in recitals 2 to 13, the condition of direct exposure to competition laid down in Article 30(1) of Directive 2004/17/EC should be considered to be met in Austria in respect of the following services:\n(a) standard B2B parcel services, both domestic and international;\n(b) standard B2C parcel services, both domestic and international;\n(c) domestic express parcel services;\n(d) combined freight services; and\n(e) contract logistics.\n(15) Since the condition of unrestricted access to the market is deemed to be met, Directive 2004/17/EC should not apply when contracting entities award contracts intended to enable the services listed in points (a) to (e) of recital 14 to be carried out in Austria, nor when design contests are organised for the pursuit of such an activity in Austria.\n(16) This Decision is based on the legal and factual situation as of May to November 2009 as it appears from the information submitted by Post and the Republic of Austria. It may be revised, should significant changes in the legal or factual situation mean that the conditions for the applicability of Article 30(1) of Directive 2004/17/EC are no longer met,\nDirective 2004/17/EC shall not apply to contracts awarded by contracting entities and intended to enable the following services to be carried out in Austria:\n(a) standard business to business parcel services, both domestic and international;\n(b) standard business to consumer parcel services, both domestic and international;\n(c) domestic express parcel services;\n(d) combined freight services; and\n(e) contract logistics.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Republic of Austria.", "answer groups": [ "award of contract" ], "distractor groups": [ "Protocol (EU)", "foreign language", "fats", "preliminary draft EC budget", "abandoned land", "work permit", "pay cut", "County of Zagreb", "rubber industry", "political institution" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 811/2000 of 17 April 2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 1577/96 introducing a specific measure in respect of certain grain legumes\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 811/2000\nof 17 April 2000\namending Regulation (EC) No 1577/96 introducing a specific measure in respect of certain grain legumes\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 36 and 37 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 1577/96(4) introduced a specific measure in respect of certain grain legumes.\n(2) The markets for the crops covered by the said measure are different, namely animal feed for vetches and human food for lentils and chickpeas. Because the maximum area system applied to those crops taken together hitherto has not made it possible to manage properly the development of land under crops by reason, in particular, of the increase in the area under vetches since application of the system started. As a result, the maximum guaranteed area should be subdivided so as better to direct grain-legume production in the Community.\n(3) The maintenance of crops of grain legumes such as lentils, chickpeas and vetches is in the Community economic interest, both as regards the use made of the products and their suitability for the production areas. Given the deficit in protein crops in the European Union, the Commission should examine the possibilities for improving the system without cutting the level of aid.\n(4) For the purposes of applying the system, the Management Committee for Dried Fodder set up by Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 603/95(5) should be replaced by the Management Committee for Cereals set up by Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92(6).\n(5) It is appropriate that before the end of the 2002/2003 marketing year, the Commission should produce a report on the application of the present system, accompanied, where necessary, by appropriate proposals.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 1577/96 should therefore be amended,\nRegulation (EC) No 1577/96 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 3 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"Article 3\n1. Where the areas for which aid is requested under this Regulation exceed the maximum guaranteed areas fixed in paragraph 2, the aid to be paid for the marketing year concerned shall be reduced proportionately.\n2. The maximum guaranteed areas shall be fixed at 160000 hectares for lentils and chickpeas, and 240000 hectares for the vetches referred to in point (c) of Article 1. Where a maximum area is not reached during a marketing year, the unused balance shall be reallocated to the other maximum guaranteed area for that marketing year before an overrun occurs.\"\n2. In Article 6:\n(a) paragraph 1 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"1. The Commission shall lay down detailed rules of application in accordance with the procedure defined in Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92(7). In accordance with that procedure, the Commission shall determine the overruns in the maximum guaranteed areas and shall fix the definitive aid by no later than 15 November of the marketing year in question.\";\n(b) paragraph 3 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"3. By the end of the marketing year 2002/2003 at the latest, the Commission shall submit a report on the application of this system, accompanied, if necessary, by appropriate proposals.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply with effect from the 2000/2001 marketing year.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "aid per hectare" ], "distractor groups": [ "European Monetary Cooperation Fund", "European Economic and Social Committee", "Kuyavia-Pomerania province", "Cedefop", "circular economy", "mining extraction", "mine action", "crisis management", "nuclear power station" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2000/299/EC: Commission Decision of 6 April 2000 establishing the initial classification of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and associated identifiers (notified under document number C(2000) 938) (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Decision\nof 6 April 2000\nestablishing the initial classification of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and associated identifiers\n(notified under document number C(2000) 938)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2000/299/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity(1), and in particular Article 4(1), thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Member States are to notify regulated interfaces, so that the equivalence between them can be established.\n(2) Given that it is already known that certain radio equipment interfaces are equivalent from a regulatory perspective, the equivalence between such interfaces should be provisionally established pending notification of regulated interfaces.\n(3) Experts from Member States and the sector have studied classification of interface regulations. From these studies it was concluded that it would not be in the interest of the consumer or surveillance authorities to have extensive classification or marking.\n(4) Member States have not yet notified the interfaces regulated in their territories.\n(5) Nonetheless a number of interfaces are known, notably those regulated through Common Technical Regulations adopted according to Directive 98/13/EC.\n(6) It is appropriate to classify equipment which can be placed on the market in the whole of the Community and which can be put into service without restriction in a single class.\n(7) It is appropriate for such equipment only to bear the CE mark.\n(8) It is however in the interest of market surveillance authorities and consumers to be alerted through its Equipment Class Identifier where there are limitations to the placing on the market or the putting into service of radio equipment.\n(9) Provisionally all equipment where there are such restrictions can be grouped in a single class.\n(10) However further classes may be envisaged after Member States have notified regulated interfaces.\n(11) It would be useful not to extensively describe classes in terms of equipment types in this Decision. The Commission will therefore, after consulting the Standing Committee of Directive 1999/5/EC (TCAM), publish and maintain on the web an indicative and non-exhaustive list of equipment per equipment class as guidance to manufacturers. Manufacturers are recommended to consult a notified body for products for which such guidance is not yet available.\n(12) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the TCAM Committee,\n1. Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment, which can be placed on the market and be put into service without restrictions, will constitute a class. This class will be referred to as \"Class 1\". An Equipment Class Identifier is not assigned for this class of equipment.\n2. Radio Equipment for which Member States apply restrictions on the putting into service as foreseen in Article 7(2) of Directive 1999/5/EC or for which Member States apply restrictions on the placing on the market as foreseen by Article 9(5) of Directive 1999/5/EC will constitute a class. This class will be referred to as \"Class 2\". The following Equipment Class Identifier is assigned to equipment within this class:\n>PIC FILE= \"L_2000097EN.001401.EPS\">\n3. The Commission will publish and maintain, in consultation with the Telecommunication Conformity Assessment and Market Surveillance Committee (TCAM), an indicative and non-exhaustive list of equipment falling within the above classes on the website containing information on Directive 1999/5/EC (http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/rtte).\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EC conformity marking" ], "distractor groups": [ "company with share capital", "services company", "flavouring", "peace zone", "English Channel", "CAIS countries", "employers' confederation", "infringement of EU law", "incompatibility" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01028/2006 of 19 June 2006 on marketing standards for eggs\n7.7.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 186/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1028/2006\nof 19 June 2006\non marketing standards for eggs\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2771/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organisation of the market in eggs\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) Marketing standards for eggs can contribute to the improvement in the quality of eggs and, consequently, facilitate their sale. It is therefore in the interest of producers, traders and consumers that marketing standards are applied in respect of eggs.\n(2) The experience gained from the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 of 26 June 1990 on certain marketing standards for eggs\u00a0(2) has made apparent the need for further amendments and simplification. Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 should therefore be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation.\n(3) The standards should in principle be applicable to all eggs of hens of the species Gallus gallus marketed in the Community. Nevertheless, it appears advisable to give to the Member States the possibility to exempt from the application of those standards eggs sold through certain forms of direct sale from the producer to the final consumer where small quantities are involved.\n(4) A clear distinction should be drawn between eggs suitable for direct human consumption and eggs not suitable for direct human consumption, which are for use in the food or non-food industry. Two quality classes of eggs, Class A and Class B, should therefore be distinguished.\n(5) It should be possible for the consumer to distinguish between eggs of different quality and weight grades and to identify the farming method used in accordance with Commission Directive 2002/4/EC of 30 January 2002 on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens, covered by Council Directive 1999/74/EC\u00a0(3). This requirement should be met by marking eggs and packs.\n(6) Class A eggs should be marked with the distinguishing number of the producer as provided for in Directive 2002/4/EC in order to enable the tracing of eggs placed on the market for human consumption. Class B eggs should also be marked in order to prevent fraudulent practices. However, it should also be possible for Class B eggs to be marked with an indication other than the producer code as long as it allows for the distinction between different quality gradings. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, the Member States should be allowed to provide for derogations where class B eggs are marketed exclusively on their territory.\n(7) In order to prevent fraudulent practices, eggs should be marked as early as possible after laying.\n(8) Packing centres that are approved in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin\u00a0(4) should grade eggs by quality and weight. Packing centres working exclusively for the food and non-food industry should not be required to grade eggs by weight.\n(9) In order to make sure that packing centres are adequately equipped to grade eggs and pack Class A eggs, they should also be authorised by the competent authorities and receive a packing centre code that facilitates the tracing of eggs placed on the market.\n(10) It is essential, in the interest of both producers and consumers, that eggs imported from third countries comply with Community standards. However, special provisions in force in certain third countries may justify derogations from those standards if the equivalence of legislation is guaranteed.\n(11) Member States should designate the inspection services responsible for supervising this Regulation. The procedures for such supervision should be uniform.\n(12) Member States should lay down rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation.\n(13) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission\u00a0(5),\nSubject-matter and scope\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Regulation lays down the conditions of marketing within the Community of the eggs produced in the Community or imported from third countries.\nThose conditions of marketing shall also apply to eggs intended for export outside the Community.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States may exempt from the requirements of this Regulation, with the exception of Article 4(3), eggs sold directly to the final consumer by the producer:\n(a) on the production site, or\n(b) in a local public market or by door-to-door selling in the region of production of the Member State concerned.\nWhere such exemption is granted, each producer shall be able to choose whether to apply such exemption or not. Where this exemption is applied, no quality and weight grading may be used.\nThe Member State may establish, according to national law, the definition of the terms local public market, door-to-door selling and region of production.\nDefinitions\nFor the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:\n1. \u2018eggs\u2019 means eggs in shell \u2014 other than broken, incubated or cooked eggs \u2014 that are produced by hens of the species Gallus gallus and are fit for direct human consumption or for the preparation of egg products;\n2. \u2018broken eggs\u2019 means eggs showing breaks of both the shell and the membranes, resulting in the exposure of their contents;\n3. \u2018incubated eggs\u2019 means eggs from the time of insertion in the incubator onwards;\n4. \u2018marketing\u2019 means holding eggs for the purpose of sale, including offering for sale, storage, packing, labelling, delivery, or any other form of transfer, whether free of charge or not;\n5. \u2018operator\u2019 means a producer and any other natural or legal person involved in the marketing of eggs;\n6. \u2018production site\u2019 means an establishment keeping laying hens registered in accordance with Directive 2002/4/EC;\n7. \u2018packing centre\u2019 means a packing centre within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 that is authorised according to Article 5(2) of this Regulation and where eggs are graded by quality and weight;\n8. \u2018final consumer\u2019 means the ultimate consumer of a foodstuff who will not use the food as part of any food business operation or activity;\n9. \u2018producer code\u2019 means the distinguishing number of the production site according to point 2 of the Annex to Directive 2002/4/EC.\nQuality and weight grading\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eggs shall be graded by quality as follows:\n\u2014 Class A or \u2018fresh\u2019,\n\u2014 Class B.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Class A eggs shall also be graded by weight. However, grading by weight shall not be required for eggs delivered to the food and non-food industry.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Class B eggs shall only be delivered to the food and non-food industry.\nMarking of eggs\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Class A eggs shall be marked with the producer code.\nClass B eggs shall be marked with the producer code and/or with another indication.\nMember States may exempt Class B eggs from this requirement where those eggs are marketed exclusively on their territory.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The marking of eggs in accordance with paragraph 1 shall take place at the production site or at the first packing centre to which eggs are delivered.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Eggs sold by the producer to the final consumer on a local public market in the region of production of the Member State concerned shall be marked in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article.\nHowever, Member States may exempt from this requirement producers with up to 50 laying hens, provided that the name and address of the producer are indicated at the point of sale.\nPacking centres\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Packing centres shall grade and pack eggs and label their packs.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The competent authority shall authorise packing centres to grade eggs and shall allot a packing centre code to any operator whose premises and technical equipment are suitable for grading eggs by quality and weight. No suitable technical equipment for grading eggs by weight shall be required for packing centres working exclusively for the food and non-food industry.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Such authorisation may be withdrawn whenever the required conditions laid down in the implementing rules adopted pursuant to Article 11 are no longer fulfilled.\nImport of eggs\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall evaluate marketing standards for eggs applicable in exporting third countries on request of the country concerned. This evaluation shall extend to the rules on marking and labelling, farming methods and controls as well as implementation. If it finds that the rules applied offer sufficient guarantees as to equivalence with Community legislation, eggs imported from the countries concerned shall be marked with a distinguishing number equivalent to the producer code.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall, where necessary, conduct negotiations with third countries aimed at finding appropriate ways of offering guarantees as referred to in paragraph 1 and concluding agreements on such guarantees.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If sufficient guarantees as to equivalence of rules are not provided, imported eggs from the third country concerned shall bear a code permitting the identification of the country of origin and the indication that the farming method is \u2018unspecified\u2019.\nChecks\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Member States shall appoint inspection services to check compliance with this Regulation.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The inspection services referred to in paragraph 1 shall check the products covered by this Regulation at all stages of marketing. Apart from random sampling, checks shall be carried out on the basis of a risk analysis, taking into account the type and throughput of the establishment concerned, as well as the operator's past records as regards compliance with the marketing standards for eggs.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For Class A eggs imported from third countries, checks provided for in paragraph 2 shall be made at the time of customs clearance and prior to the release for free circulation.\nClass B eggs imported from third countries shall be released for free circulation only after checking at the time of customs clearance that their final destination is the processing industry.\nPenalties\nThe Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.\nCommunications\nThe Member States and the Commission shall communicate to each other the information necessary for the application of this Regulation.\n0\nCommittee\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall be assisted by the Management Committee for Poultrymeat and Eggs.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where reference is made to this Article, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.\nThe period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at one month.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.\n1\nImplementing rules\nDetailed rules for the implementation of this Regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 10(2), in particular regarding:\n1. frequency of collection, delivery, preservation and handling of eggs;\n2. quality criteria, in particular the appearance of the shell, the consistency of the white and the yolk and the height of the air space;\n3. weight grading, including exceptions;\n4. marking of eggs and indications on packs, including further exceptions;\n5. checks;\n6. trade with third countries;\n7. communications referred to in Article 9;\n8. farming methods;\n9. records and keeping of registers.\n2\nRepeal\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Regulation (EEC) No 1907/90 is repealed with effect from 1 July 2007.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in the Annex.\n3\nEntry into force\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 2007.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing standard" ], "distractor groups": [ "rights of civil servants", "French overseas department and region", "conflict of powers", "trading operation", "business administration", "tourist guide", "transport lines", "political status", "election campaign", "anti-dumping measure", "Employment Committee (EU)", "airport", "harbour installation" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "98/348/EC: Council Decision of 19 May 1998 granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans for projects in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and amending Decision 97/256/EC granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans for projects outside the Community (Central and Eastern European countries, Mediterranean countries, Latin American and Asian countries and South Africa)\nCOUNCIL DECISION of 19 May 1998 granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans for projects in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and amending Decision 97/256/EC granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans for projects outside the Community (Central and Eastern European countries, Mediterranean countries, Latin American and Asian countries and South Africa) (98/348/EC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal of the Commission (1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),\nWhereas by its Decisions of 27 November 1997 the Council concluded a Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and a Transport Agreement between the same parties;\nWhereas the said Cooperation Agreement includes a Protocol on financial cooperation which provides for the European Investment Bank (EIB) to grant loans from its own resources up to a ceiling of ECU 150 million until 31 December 2000;\nWhereas Decision 97/256/EC (3) grants the EIB a budget guarantee for lending from its own resources in specified regions outside the Community; whereas the budget guarantee should be extended to cover the Bank loans agreed in the Protocol on financial cooperation with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;\nWhereas the Council is calling on the Bank to finance projects in that country according to the arrangements set out in the Protocol on financial cooperation by offering it the guarantee provided for in this Decision;\nWhereas Decision 97/256/EC should therefore be amended;\nWhereas the Treaty does not provide for the adoption of this Decision powers other than those of Article 235,\nDecision 97/256/EC is hereby amended as follows:\n1. in the title, '. . . Asian countries and South Africa.` shall be replaced by '. . . Asian countries, South Africa and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.`;\n2. in the first paragraph of Article 1(1), '. . . Asian countries, in the Republic of South Africa.` shall be replaced by '. . . Asian countries, in the Republic of South Africa and in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.`;\n3. in the second paragraph of Article 1(1):\n(a) 'ECU 7 105 million,` shall be replaced by 'ECU 7 255 million,`;\n(b) the following fifth indent shall be added:\n'- former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ECU 150 million,`;\n(c) in the final phrase of the second sentence, '. . . Asian countries, and on 1 July 1997 for the Republic of South Africa.` shall be replaced by '. . . Asian countries, on 1 July 1997 for the Republic of South Africa, and on 1 January 1998 for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.`;\n4. the following sixth indent shall be added to Article 1 (2):\n'- former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.`\nCorresponding amendments shall be made to the agreement concluded between the Commission and the EIB referred to in Article 5 of Decision 97/256/EC.\nThis Decision shall take effect on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.", "answer groups": [ "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" ], "distractor groups": [ "wind energy", "final consumption", "Antigua and Barbuda", "territorial dispute", "deadline for payment", "regions of Portugal", "WEU countries", "producer group", "census" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "81/1007/ECSC: Commission Decision of 30 November 1981 authorizing the joint formation of Zentralkokerei Saar GmbH, Dillingen, by two steel-producing undertakings and one coal-producing undertaking (Only the German text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 30 November 1981 authorizing the joint formation of Zentralkokerei Saar GmbH, Dillingen, by two steel-producing undertakings and one coal-producing undertaking (Only the German text is authentic) (81/1007/ECSC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 66 thereof,\nHaving regard to Decision No 24/54 of 6 May 1954 laying down, in implementation of Article 66 (1) of the Treaty, a Regulation on what constitutes control of an undertaking (1),\nHaving regard to the application made on 15 May 1981 by Stahlwerke R\u00f6chling-Burbach GmbH, V\u00f6lklingen, by Aktiengesellschaft der Dillinger H\u00fcttenwerke, Dillingen, and Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Saarbr\u00fccken, for authorization of the joint formation of \"Zentralkokerei Saar GmbH, Dillingen\",\nHaving obtained the comments of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany,\nWhereas:\nI 1. Stahlwerke R\u00f6chling-Burbach GmbH (R\u00f6chling-Burbach) is a steel-producing undertaking with a capital of DM 330 000 000 which is merged with other steel-producing undertakings to form the Arbed group.\nAktiengesellschaft der Dillinger H\u00fcttenwerke (Dillingen) is a steel-producing undertaking with a capital of DM 178 500 000 which is merged with other steel-producing undertakings to form the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Financi\u00e8re Sid\u00e9rurgique/Sacilor-Aci\u00e9ries et Laminoirs de Lorraine group (SFS/Sacilor).\nSaarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft (Saarberg) is an undertaking engaged in coal production and distribution, with a capital of DM 435 000 000. The Federal Republic of Germany has a 74 % holding in Saarberg's share capital. Although the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany also exerts direct or indirect control over other coal-producing and coal-distribution undertakings, these are not subject to any unified planning or decision-making authority. They operate as inter-linked but economically independent undertakings, so that the links between them do not involve any restriction of competition. Scrutiny of the effects of the proposed transaction can therefore be confined to Saarberg's involvement.\nThe applicants are therefore undertakings within the meaning of Article 80 of the Treaty.\n2. Zentralkokerei Saar GmbH (ZKS), the planned joint venture, will be a coke-producing undertaking which is to supply the blast-furnace coke requirements of Roheisengesellschaft Saar GmbH (Rogesa), a joint venture of its two steel-producing owners. Accordingly, ZKS is also an undertaking within the meaning of Article 80.\nSaarberg will have a 49 % holding in ZKS, and R\u00f6chling-Burbach and Dillingen each a 25 75 % holding.\nII\nThe planned transaction will bring about a concentration within the meaning of Article 66 (1) of the Treaty. The agreements on the shareholdings in ZKS and on its management prevent any of the parent companies from exercising individual control over the joint venture. Since ZKS will, in principle, serve to supply the blast-furnace coke requirements of Rogesa, it is also to be assumed that R\u00f6chling-Burbach and Dillingen will vote along identical lines in the organs of the joint venture. Under the circumstances, ZKS will be controlled jointly by the parent companies, who will operate as a group in the pursuit of the joint object of the business. The joint venture will therefore be merged with R\u00f6chling-Burbach and the rest of the Arbed group, with Dillingen and the rest of the SFS/Sacilor group and with Saarberg and the undertakings controlled by Saarberg, without those groups being merged with each other. (1) Official Journal of the ECSC No 9, 11.5.1954, p. 345.\n\"Zentralkokerei Saar Besitzgesellschaft mbH und Co. KG\" (an ad hoc enterprise) will be set up as the vehicle for financing the joint venture, either through a leasing arrangement or by way of conventional financing. Regardless of their respective shares in this enterprise's capital, R\u00f6chling-Burbach, Dillingen and Saarberg will hold 76 % of the voting rights at its general meeting. The enterprise will be the principal, owner and lessor to ZKS of the projected coking plant, but will not itself operate the plant. It will not therefore be an undertaking within the meaning of Article 80, and the concentration between the parties and the ad hoc enterprise is thus exempt from the requirements of prior authorization pursuant to Articles 2 and 3 of the amended text applicable with effect from 1 November 1978 (1) of Decision No 25-67 laying down in implementation of Article 66 of the ECSC Treaty a Regulation concerning exemption from prior authorization (2). Accordingly, scrutiny of the project is confined to the concentration between the parties concerned and Zentralkokerei Saar GmbH.\nIII\nThe planned concentration may be authorized if it does not give the undertakings concerned the power: - to determine prices, control or restrict production or distribution or to hinder effective competition in a substantial part of the relevant market, or\n- to evade the rules of competition instituted under the Treaty, in particular by establishing an artificially privileged position involving a substantial advantage in access to supplies or markets.\nThis condition is met for the following reasons: - Irrespective of the pattern of shareholdings in ZKS, the coking plant has the basic function of a steelworks coking plant and is designed for an eventual output of some 2 75 million tonnes a year. It will replace four existing coking plants which are owned by R\u00f6chling-Burbach and by Dillingen and which are to be closed down for technical reasons. It will meet some 90 % of Rogesa's blast-furnace coke requirements. The project will not involve any change in the pattern of supplies to the two steel-producing shareholders of ZKS where their use of blast-furnace coke produced from coal mined in the Saar is concerned.\nThis pooling of coking capacities will not have any appreciable effect on the conditions of competition on the market for hard coke since the coking plant's entire useful capacity will be devoted to meeting Rogesa's requirements. Only in the event of a temporary reduction in Rogesa's requirements is it intended to sell a fraction of ZKS coke output on the market. Measured against the quantity of coke sold on the German market in 1980 (some 14 million tonnes), these marginal supplies can be deemed not to have any significant effect on competition.\nNor does participation in an undertaking which can be regarded as having virtually the same function as a steelworks coking plant place the coal-producing undertaking Saarberg in an artificially privileged position with the prospect of a substantial advantage in access to markets. Admittedly, ZKS is committed to taking from Saarberg at least 60 % of the coal needed to supply Rogesa, with the remaining 40 % coming in principle from third suppliers, and Saarberg, through its participation, secures long-term use of its own coal for coking purposes and hence the sale of part of its output (some 10 100 000 tonnes in 1980). Saarberg's decision to participate in a coal-processing undertaking is only one of several ways in which coal-producing undertakings can safeguard output and sales in the long term. Long-term supply contracts or the acquisition of majority holdings in energy-consuming undertakings as a means of influencing their purchasing policies, and in particular the choice of fuels, serve the same purpose. By contrast, the link-up between Saarberg and a steelworks coking plant is one example of the various forms of integration between coal and steel established in the industry. Yet the advantage in access to markets that Saarberg will thus undoubtedly enjoy is not artificial within the meaning of Article 66 (2). A position established by vertical integration is deemed to be artificially privileged where it unjustifiably restricts the scope for competition from non-integrated undertakings. This is not the case here. Owing to its location, and blending components apart, Saarberg has traditionally supplied the needs of the iron and steel industry in the Saar. The proposed transaction will not appreciably affect its share of supplies;\n- In the case of R\u00f6chling-Burbach and Dillingen, which are also the shareholders of Rogesa, supplies of blast-furnace coke from ZKS to Rogesa rank as internal supplies. They do not exceed Rodesa's actual requirements or restrict the supply base of other competitors (consumers of blast-furnace coke). Competition on the market for steel products is not impaired either, since no (1) OJ No C 255, 27.10.1978, p. 2. (2) OJ No 154, 14.7.1967, p. 11. agreements have been concluded whereby the joint venture would be granted a preferential price for supplies of coal from the Saar, thereby reducing the costs of the smelting process;\n- A group effect between the two steel-producing parties to the concentration that will be detrimental to the conditions of competition on the steel market is not to be assumed. It is stated in the Decision concerning the joint creation of Roheisengesellschaft Saar mbH (Rogesa) (1) that, with regard to the joint venture's sphere of influence, R\u00f6chling-Burbach and Dillingen are operating on different markets for steel products and that, as a result, no group effect will materialize. Cooperation between the two groups within ZKS will not have any effects likely to alter this assessment.\nAny group effect between R\u00f6chling-Burbach and Dillingen on the one hand, and Saarberg on the other hand, may likewise be ruled out since the former operate on the steel market while Saarberg operates on the coal market.\nThe proposed transaction accordingly meets the requirements for authorization laid down in Article 66 (2) and may be authorized,\nThe joint formation of Zentralkokerei Saar GmbH, Dillingen, by Stahlwerke R\u00f6chling-Burbach GmbH, V\u00f6lklingen, Aktiengesellschaft der Dillinger H\u00fcttenwerke, Dillingen, and Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Saarbr\u00fccken, is hereby authorized.\nThis Decision is addressed to Stahlwerke R\u00f6chling-Burbach GmbH, V\u00f6lklingen, to Aktiengesellschaft der Dillinger H\u00fcttenwerke, Dillingen, and to Saarbergwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Saarbr\u00fccken.", "answer groups": [ "Germany" ], "distractor groups": [ "juvenile court", "Nauru", "theory of marketing", "freedom of self-determination", "provisional twelfth", "nomadism", "sales promotion", "BEUC", "Sud \u2014 Muntenia (Romania)", "code of conduct" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2000/58/EC: Commission Decision of 11 January 2000 authorising Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. as regards areas in Portugal, other than those in which Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. is known not to occur (notified under document number C(1999) 5193)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 11 January 2000\nauthorising Member States temporarily to take additional measures against the dissemination of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. as regards areas in Portugal, other than those in which Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. is known not to occur\n(notified under document number C(1999) 5193)\n(2000/58/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 77/93/EEC of 21 December 1976 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community(1), as last amended by Commission Directive 1999/53/EC(2), and in particular Article 15(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Where a Member State considers that there is an imminent danger of the introduction into its territory of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al., the pine wood nematode, from another Member State, it may temporarily take any additional measures necessary to protect itself from that danger.\n(2) Portugal informed the other Member States and the Commission on 25 June 1999 that some samples of pine trees originating in its territory were identified as infested by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. Complementary reports supplied by Portugal indicated that more samples of pine trees showed infestation by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al.\n(3) Sweden, on the basis of the abovementioned information from Portugal, adopted on 29 September 1999, certain additional measures including a special heat treatment and the use of a plant passport, for all wood leaving Portugal, with a view to strengthening protection against the introduction of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. from Portugal.\n(4) It has not yet been possible either to identify the source of contamination although elements indicate that packaging material is the most likely pathway, or to determine the full extent thereof in Portugal.\n(5) It is therefore necessary for Portugal to take specific measures. It may also be necessary for the other Member States to adopt additional measures to protect themselves against that danger.\n(6) The above measures should refer to movements of wood, isolated bark and host plants from Portugal to the other Member States. However it is necessary not to apply such measures to movements from area(s) in Portugal in which Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. is known not to occur, into the other Member States, and to Thuja L.\n(7) It is also necessary that Portugal take measures to control the spread of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. with the aim of eradication.\n(8) If it becomes apparent that the emergency measures referred to in the present Decision are not sufficient to prevent the entry of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al., or have not been complied with, more stringent or alternative measures should be envisaged.\n(9) The effect of the emergency measures will be assessed continually during 1999/2000, in particular on the basis of information to be provided by Portugal and the other Member States. Possible subsequent measures applicable to the introduction of wood, and isolated bark of Conifers (Coniferales), except that of Thuja L., and plants of Abies Mill., Cedrus Trew, Lariz Mill, Picea A. Dietr., Pinus L., Pseudotsuga Carr. and Tsuga Carr., other than fruit and seeds, caning from Portugal will be considered in the light of the results of that assessment.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nPortugal shall ensure for wood and isolated bark as specified in the Annex to this Decision and plants of Abies Mill., Cedrus Trew, Larix Mill., Picea A. Dietr., Pinus L., Pseudotsuga Carr. and Tsuga Carr., other than fruit and seeds, until 31 December 2000, that at least the conditions laid down in the Annex are met, if the said wood, isolated bark and/or plants are to be moved from areas(s) in Portugal, other than those in which Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. is known not to occur, established in accordance with the provisions of Article 4, either within Portugal or into other Member States.\nThe conditions specified in point (a) of the Annex to this Decision, shall apply only to consignments leaving Portugal after 31 January 2000.\nThe Member States of destination other than Portugal:\n- may subject consignments of wood, and isolated bark as specified in the Annex to this Decision and plants of Abies Mill., Cedrus Trew, Larix Mill., Picea A. Dietr., Pinus L., Pseudotsuga Carr. and Tsuga Carr., other than fruit and seeds, coming from Portugal and moved into their territory to testing for the presence of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al.,\n- may take further appropriate steps to carry out official monitoring in respect of wood, and isolated bark as specfied in the Annex to this Decision and of plants of Abies Mill., Cedrus Trew, Larix Mill., Picea A. Dietr., Pinus L., Pseudotsuga Carr. and Tsuga Carr., other than fruit and seeds, coming from Portugal and moved into their territory.\nMember States shall conduct official surveys for Bursaphelenchus xylopfilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al., on wood, and isolated bark as specified in the Annex to this Decision and of plants of Abies Mill., Cedrus Trew, Larix Mill., Picea A. Dietr., Pinus L., Pseudotsuga Carr. and Tsuga Carr., other than fruit and seeds, originating in their country, for the confirmation of absence of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al.\nThe results of the surveys provided for in the first paragraph shall be notified to the other Member States and to the Commission by 15 October 2000. However, by 15 January 2000, a first report of the results of the survey conducted in Portugal shall be submitted to the other Member States and to the Commission.\nThe survey conducted by Portugal in accordance with the first paragraph may be monitored by the experts referred to in Article 19a of Directive 77/93/EEC under the procedure laid down therein.\n1. Portugal shall establish areas in which Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al is known not to occur, taking into account the results of the surveys referred to in Article 3 carried out in these areas.\n2. The Commission shall compile a list of \"areas\" in which Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al is known not to occur and convey such a list to the Standing Committee on Plant Health and to the Member States.\nThe Member States shall adjust at the latest by 31 January 2000 the measures which they have adopted with a view to protecting themselves against the introduction and the spread of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et B\u00fchrer) Nickle et al. in such a manner that the measures comply with Articles 1 and 2.\nThis Decision shall be reviewed by 15 November 2000 at the latest.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health legislation" ], "distractor groups": [ "occupied territory", "maternity benefit", "environmental protection", "election programme", "fallow", "fish product", "exchange rate", "organic acid", "Cohesion Fund", "Ethiopia" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 403/96 of 5 March 1996 introducing additional management measures for imports of certain bovine animals for the first half of 1996\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 403/96 of 5 March 1996 introducing additional management measures for imports of certain bovine animals for the first half of 1996\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 of 22 December 1995 establishing certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for the adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements to take account of the Agreement on Agriculture concluded during the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations (1), and in particular Article 8 thereof,\nWhereas Regulation (EC) No 3066/95 provides for the first half of 1996 for the opening of a tariff quota for 89 000 live bovine animals weighing 80 kilograms or less originating in certain third countries and benefiting from an 80 % reduction in the rate of customs duties;\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 3018/95 of 20 December 1995 introducing management measures for imports of certain bovine animals for the first half of 1996 (2) provides for certain measures for the import of 62 250 head weighing 80 kilograms or less; whereas, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 3066/95, that quantity has been increased by 26 750 head for the first half of 1996; whereas, therefore, management measures should be established for the latter animals, following the import arrangements already provided for by Regulation (EC) No 3018/95;\nWhereas, however, in order to take better account of traditional trade under specific import arrangements for calves weighing not more than 80 kilograms, slightly changed criteria should be adopted for the so-called 'traditional` reference quantities;\nWhereas the arrangements should be managed using import licences; whereas, to this end, rules should be set on the submission of applications and the information to be given on applications and licences, where necessary by derogation from certain provisions of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 of 16 November 1988 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2137/95 (4), and of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95 of 26 June 1995 on rules of application for import and export licences in the beef and veal sector and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 (5), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2856/95 (6); whereas, moreover, it should be stipulated that licences are to be issued following a reflection period and where necessary with a fixed percentage reduction applied;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\nImports into the Community during the first half of 1996 of live bovine animals weighing 80 kilograms or less falling within CN code 0102 90 05 originating in the countries listed in Annex I and in addition to those provided for in Regulation (EC) No 3018/95 shall be subject to the management measures laid down in this Regulation.\n1. Import licences under this Regulation may be issued only for 26 750 animals falling within CN code 0102 90 05.\n2. For those animals, the ad valorem duty and the specific duties fixed in the Common Customs Tariff (CCT) shall be reduced by 80 %.\n3. The quantity referred to in paragraph 1 shall be divided into two parts, as follows:\n(a) the first part, equal to 70 %, i.e. 18 725 head, shall be allocated among:\n- importers from the Community as constituted on 31 December 1994 who can furnish proof of having imported animals falling within CN code 0102 90 05 during 1993, 1994 or 1995 in the context of the Regulations referred to in Annex II,\n- importers from the new Member States who can furnish proof of having imported, into the Member State where they are established, animals falling within the abovementioned CN code during 1993 and 1994 from countries which were for them third countries on 31 December 1994;\nand such animals during 1995 in the context of the Regulations referred to at (b) of Annex II;\n(b) the second part, equal to 30 %, i.e. 8 025 head, shall be allocated among importers who can furnish proof of having imported and/or exported during 1995 at least 100 live bovine animals falling within CN code 0102 90 apart from those under (a).\nImporters must be registered for VAT purposes in a Member State.\n4. The 18 725 head shall be allocated among the eligible importers in proportion to their imports of animals within the meaning of paragraph 3 (a) during 1993, 1994 and 1995 proven in accordance with paragraph 6.\n5. The 8 025 head shall be allocated in proportion to the quantities applied for by the eligible importers.\n6. Proof of import and export shall be provided exclusively by means of the customs document of release for free circulation or the export document duly stamped by the customs authorities.\nMember States may accept copies of the abovementioned documents duly certified by the issuing authority where the applicant can prove to the satisfaction of the competent authority that he was not able to obtain the original documents.\n1. Importers who on 1 January 1996 were no longer engaged in any activity in the beef and veal sector shall not qualify for the allocation pursuant to Article 2 (3) (a).\n2. Any company formed by the merger of companies each having rights under Article 2 (4) shall benefit from the same rights as the companies from which it was formed.\n1. Applications for the right to import may be presented only in the Member State in which the applicant is registered within the meaning of Article 2 (3).\n2. For the purposes of Article 2 (3) (a), importers shall present the applications for the right to import to the competent authorities together with the proof referred to in Article 2 (6) by 12 March 1996 at the latest.\nAfter verification of the documents presented, Member States shall forward to the Commission, by 25 March 1996 at the latest, the list of importers who meet the acceptance conditions, showing in particular their names and addresses and the number of eligible animals imported during each of the reference years.\n3. For the purposes of Article 2 (3) (b), applications for the right to import must be lodged by importers by 12 March 1996 at the latest, together with the proof referred to in Article 2 (6).\nOnly one application may be lodged by each applicant. Where the same applicant lodges more than one application, all applications from that person shall be inadmissible. Applications may not relate to a quantity larger than that available.\nAfter verification of the documents presented, Member States shall forward to the Commission, by 25 March 1996 at the latest, the list of applicants and the quantities requested.\n4. All notifications, including notifications of nil applications, shall be made by telex or fax, drawn up on the basis of the models in Annexes III and IV in the case where applications have been lodged.\n1. The Commission shall decide to what extent applications may be accepted.\n2. As regards the applications referred to in Article 4 (3), if the quantities in respect of which applications are made exceed the quantities available, the Commission shall reduce the quantities applied for by a fixed percentage.\nIf the reduction referred to in the preceding subparagraph results in a quantity of less than 100 head per application, the allocation shall be by drawing lots, by batches of 100 head, by the Member States concerned. If the remaining quantity is less than 100 head, a single licence shall be issued for that quantity.\n1. Imports of the quantities allocated in accordance with Article 5 shall be subject to the presentation of an import licence.\n2. Licence applications may be presented only in the Member State in which the application for the right to import was lodged.\n3. Licences shall be issued, at the request of importers, as from the date on which the decision referred to in Article 5 (1) takes effect.\nThe number of animals for which a licence is issued shall be expressed in units. Where necessary, numbers shall be rounded up or down as the case may be.\n4. Licence applications and licences shall contain the following entries:\n(a) in section 8, the indication of the countries referred to in Annex I; licences shall carry with them an obligation to import from one or more of the countries indicated;\n(b) in section 16, subheading CN 0102 90 05;\n(c) in section 20, one of the following:\nReglamento (CE) n\u00b0 403/96\nForordning (EF) nr. 403/96\nVerordnung (EG) Nr. 403/96\n\u00ca\u00e1\u00ed\u00ef\u00ed\u00e9\u00f3\u00ec\u00fc\u00f2 (\u00c5\u00ca) \u00e1\u00f1\u00e9\u00e8. 403/96\nRegulation (EC) No 403/96\nR\u00e8glement (CE) n\u00b0 403/96\nRegolamento (CE) n. 403/96\nVerordening (EG) nr. 403/96\nRegulamento (CE) n\u00ba 403/96\nAsetus (EY) N:o 403/96\nF\u00f6rordning (EG) nr 403/96.\n5. Import licences shall expire on 30 June 1996.\n6. Licences issued shall be valid throughout the Community.\n7. Article 8 (4) of Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 shall not apply.\nNo later than three weeks after the importation of the animals specified in this Regulation, the importer shall inform the competent authority which issued the import licence of the number and origin of the animals. That authority shall communicate the information in question to the Commission at the beginning of each month.\nThe security provided for in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1445/95 shall be lodged when the licence is issued.\nThe provisions of Regulations (EEC) No 3719/88 and (EC) No 1445/95 shall apply subject to the provisions of this Regulation.\n0\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 1996.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Central and Eastern Europe" ], "distractor groups": [ "sound insulation", "expatriate worker", "international investment", "complaint to the Commission", "outplacement", "sheep", "purchasing power", "mineral compound", "mode of production" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 3073/82 of 16 November 1982 amending Regulation (EEC) No 355/77 on common measures to improve the conditions under which agricultural products are processed and marketed and Regulation (EEC) No 1820/80 for the stimulation of agricultural development in the less-favoured areas of the west of Irelandc\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3073/82\nof 16 November 1982\namending Regulation (EEC) No 355/77 on common measures to improve the conditions under which agricultural products are processed and marketed and Regulation (EEC) No 1820/80 for the stimulation of agricultural development in the less-favoured areas of the west of Ireland\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 42 and 43 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),\nWhereas Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) No 355/77 (2), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3509/80 (3), states that the estimated time required for carrying out the common measures covered by Regulation (EEC) No 355/77 is five years from 1 January 1978;\nWhereas, in order to achieve the objective of these common measures, pursuant to Article 6 (2) (a) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (4), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3509/80, steps should be taken to extend, in accordance with Article 6 (2) (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70, the estimated time for carrying out this measure;\nWhereas Regulation (EEC) No 1820/80 (5) should therefore also be adopted,\nRegulation (EEC) No 355/77 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 16 (1) shall be replaced by the following:\n'1. The estimated time required for carrying out the common measures shall be seven years from 1 January 1978.';\n2. the following subparagraph shall be added to Article 16 (3):\n'The estimated cost for 1983 shall be 140 million ECU and for 1984, 140 million ECU.';\n3. the following paragraph shall be added to Article 24:\n'4. Applications for aid from the Fund under this Regulation may be submitted until 30 April 1984 at the latest.'\nRegulation (EEC) No 1820/80 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 19 (2) shall be replaced by the following:\n'2. The estimated cost of this aspect of the common measure financed by the Fund from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1984 under the provisions of paragraph 1 shall be 40 million ECU.';\n2. Article 20 (2) shall be replaced by the following:\n'2. The total contribution by the fund to the cost of the common measure, including that envisaged under Title VII, shall be estimated at 240 million ECU.'\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EAGGF Guidance Section" ], "distractor groups": [ "slaughter of animals", "financial occupation", "European Consumer Centres Network", "job creation", "industrial hazard", "chartering", "issue of securities", "intergovernmental cooperation (EU)", "Philippines" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "86/142/EEC: Commission Decision of 20 March 1986 on supplementary trade mechanism licences for milk and milk products applied from 3 to 7 March 1986\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 20 March 1986\non supplementary trade mechanism licences for milk and milk products applied from 3 to 7 March 1986\n(86/142/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 569/86 of 25 February 1986 laying down general rules for the application of the supplementary trade mechanism applicable to trade (1),\nHaving regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 574/86 of 28 February 1986 laying down detailed rules for the application of the supplementary trade mechanism (2), and in particular Articles 6 (4) and 12 (1) and (2) thereof,\nWhereas Regulation (EEC) No 569/86 provides for the use of STM licences and STM import licences in order to ensure that the marketed tonnage of certain products does not exceed that laid down in the Treaty of Accession; whereas, therefore, the Commission has to decide, in accordance with Articles 6 and 12 of Regulation (EEC) No 574/86, whether STM licences can be issued for all, some, or none of the tonnages applied for;\nWhereas Regulation (EEC) No 606/86 of 28 February 1986 laying down detailed rules for applying the supplementary trade mechanism to milk products imported into Spain from the Community of Ten (3) provides that the guide quantity should be broken down in respect of each month;\nWhereas examination of the quantities available and the applications for licences notified in respect of the period from 3 to 7 March 1986 has shown that for products subject to a guide quantity, licences may be issued only up to a percentage of the tonnages applied for, while for products which are not subject to a guide quantity, licences may be issued for the quantities applied for,\nSTM licences applied for and notified to the Commission in respect of the period from 3 to 7 March 1986 shall, for the following products, be issued up to the following percentages:\n1.2.3 // // // // CCT heading No // Description // % // // // // 04.01 // Other than in immediate packings of a net capacity of 2,5 litre or less // 71,46 // 04.01 // Other // 77,93 // 04.03 // // 13,28 // 04.04 // 1. Emmentaler, Gruy\u0102\u00a8re // 56,67 // // 2. Blue-veined cheese // 4,50 // // 3. Processed cheese // 21,74 // // 4. Parmiggiano Reggiano, Grana Padano // 83,33 // // 5. Havarti // 36,27 // // 6. Other // 0,867 // // //\nSTM licences for products falling within CCT heading No 04.02 shall, for applications submitted during the period from 3 to 7 March 1986, be issued in respect of the tonnages applied for.\nThis Decision is addressed to all the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "milk product" ], "distractor groups": [ "culture", "milk", "EU restrictive measure", "Windward Islands", "baby food", "Hamburg", "social integration", "forestry holding", "defence statistics", "rule of law", "indigenous population", "thermal water", "Fascism" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2006/800/EC: Commission Decision of 23 November 2006 approving the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs and the emergency vaccination of those pigs against that disease in Bulgaria (notified under document number C(2006) 5468) (Text with EEA relevance)\n24.11.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 325/35\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 23 November 2006\napproving the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs and the emergency vaccination of those pigs against that disease in Bulgaria\n(notified under document number C(2006) 5468)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2006/800/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular Article 42 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October 2001 on Community measures for the control of classical swine fever\u00a0(1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 16(1) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 20(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 2001/89/EC introduces minimum Community measures for the control of classical swine fever. Those measures include the provision that Member States are to submit to the Commission, following the confirmation of a primary case of classical swine fever in feral pigs, a plan of the measures to eradicate that disease. That Directive also contains provisions concerning the emergency vaccination of feral pigs.\n(2) Classical swine fever is present in feral pigs in Bulgaria.\n(3) Taking into account the accession of Bulgaria, the measures concerning the situation with regard to classical swine fever in that country should be laid down at Community level.\n(4) Bulgaria has put in place a programme to survey and control classical swine fever in the whole territory of that country. That programme is still ongoing.\n(5) Bulgaria also submitted to the Commission for approval on 31 May 2006 a plan for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs and a plan for the emergency vaccination of such pigs in the whole territory of Bulgaria.\n(6) Those plans submitted by Bulgaria have been examined by the Commission and found to comply with Directive 2001/89/EC.\n(7) With a view to the accession of Bulgaria, those plans should be approved as a transitional measure to be applicable from the date of accession and for a period of nine months.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nPlan for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs\nThe plan submitted by Bulgaria to the Commission on 31 May 2006 for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs, in the area as set out in point 1 of the Annex, is approved.\nPlan for the emergency vaccination against classical swine fever of feral pigs\nThe plan submitted by Bulgaria to the Commission on 31 May 2006 for the emergency vaccination against classical swine fever of feral pigs, in the area as set out in point 2 of the Annex, is approved.\nCompliance\nBulgaria shall take the necessary measures to comply with this Decision and publish those measures. It shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.\nApplicability\nThis Decision shall apply only subject to and from the date of entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania.\nIt shall apply for a period of nine months.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal plague" ], "distractor groups": [ "retail trade", "production standard", "intermediate goods", "commemoration", "criminal proceedings", "distribution of wealth", "Sliven region", "intervention policy", "right to health", "customs drawback" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "93/497/EEC: Commission Decision of 15 September 1993 amending Decision 93/364/EEC concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Germany\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 15 September 1993 amending Decision 93/364/EEC concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Germany\n(93/497/EEC)THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intracommunity trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC (2), and in particular Article 10 (4) thereof,\nWhereas as a result of outbreaks of classical swine fever in different parts of Germany, the Commission adopted Decision 93/364/EEC of 18 June 1993 concerning certain protection measures relating to classical swine fever in Germany (3);\nWhereas during recent months additional outbreaks of classical swine fever have been confirmed in Germany;\nWhereas the occurrence of classical swine fever is liable to present a serious threat to the herds of Member States in view of trade in live pigs, fresh meat and certain meat-based pork products;\nWhereas in the light of the new disease situation it is necessary to adjust the measures adopted by Decision 93/364/EEC;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,\nDecision 93/364/EEC is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 1 (2) is replaced by the following:\n'2. Germany shall not end to other Member States breeding pigs and production pigs originating from a holding situated outside the areas described in Annex I unless the pigs:\n- come from a holding where no live pigs have been introduced during the 21-day period immediately prior to the dispatch of the pigs in question,\n- have been subject to a test for antibodies to classical swine fever virus (HC virus) and found negative; this test shall include one pig per pen of the pigs intended for movement and the test shall have been carried out within 10 days of certification.';\n2. Article 1 (3) is replaced by the following:\n'3. The clinical examination required in Council Directive 64/432/EEC (*) shall be carried out for pigs referred to in paragraph 2 on the farm of origin in the case of pigs aged under three months. The examination shall comprise all pigs and related facilities on the holding of origin. The animals shall be identified in such a way that the holding of origin can be ascertained.\n4. Intra-Community movements of the animals referred to in paragraph 2 shall only be allowed following advance notification to the competent authority in the Member State of destination.\n(*) OJ No 121, 29. 7. 1964, p. 1977/64.';\n3. in Article 4 (1), (2) and (3) the certificate must be completed with the following:\n'as amended by Decision 93/497/EEC.';\n4. in Article 5 the last sentence is deleted;\n5. in Article 6, 'Annex III' is replaced by 'Annex II';\n6. in Annex I, point 1, 'Soltau-Fallingbostel' is inserted after 'Harburg';\n7. in Annex I the following point is added:\n'3. In Bundesland Rhineland Pfalz, Regierungsbezirk Rheinhessen-Pfalz, the Kreis: Germersheim and Suedliche Weinstrasse and the Stadt: Landau in der Pfalz.\nFrom 1 August 1993 as regards pigmeat and pigmeat products referred to in Article 3.';\n8. Annex II is deleted;\n9. Annex III is renumbered Annex II and in this Annex, point 1, the introductory phase is replaced by:\n'For the area listed in Annex I the following shall apply'.\nMember States shall amend the measures which they apply to trade so as to bring them into compliance with this Decision. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof. The Decision shall be reviewed not later than 15 December 1993 taking into account the disease situation.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Germany" ], "distractor groups": [ "collective bargaining", "institutional cooperation", "Joint European Torus", "Employment Committee (EU)", "secretarial allowance", "international merger", "railway station", "forestry statistics", "publication of tariffs", "information technology profession" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2006/933/EC: Commission Decision of 14 December 2006 on the continuation in the year 2007 of Community comparative trials and tests on propagating and planting material of Prunus domestica L. and of Malus Mill. under Council Directive 92/34/EEC started in 2003 and 2004\n15.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 355/103\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 14 December 2006\non the continuation in the year 2007 of Community comparative trials and tests on propagating and planting material of Prunus domestica L. and of Malus Mill. under Council Directive 92/34/EEC started in 2003 and 2004\n(2006/933/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 92/34/EEC of 28 April 1992 on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants, intended for fruit production\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to Commission Decision 2002/745/EC of 5 September 2002 setting out the arrangements for Community comparative trials and tests on propagating and planting material of fruit plants under Council Directive 92/34/EEC\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 3 thereof,\nHaving regard to Commission Decision 2003/894/EC of 11 December 2003 setting out the arrangements for Community comparative trials and tests on propagating and planting material of Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Malus Mill. and Rubus idaeus L. pursuant to Council Directive 92/34/EEC\u00a0(3), and in particular Article 3 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Decision 2002/745/EC sets out the arrangements for the comparative trials and tests to be carried out under Directive 92/34/EEC as regards Prunus domestica L. from 2003 to 2007.\n(2) Tests and trials carried out in 2003 to 2006 should be continued in 2007.\n(3) Decision 2003/894/EC sets out the arrangements for the comparative trials and tests to be carried out under Directive 92/34/EEC as regards Malus Mill. from 2004 to 2008.\n(4) Tests and trials carried out in 2004 to 2006 should be continued in 2007,\nCommunity comparative trials and tests which began in 2003 on propagating and planting material of Prunus domestica L. shall be continued in 2007 in accordance with Decision 2002/745/EC.\nCommunity comparative trials and tests which began in 2004 on propagating and planting material of Malus Mill. shall be continued in 2007 in accordance with Decision 2003/894/EC.", "answer groups": [ "testing" ], "distractor groups": [ "constitutional monarchy", "paramedical training", "Severozapaden (Bulgaria)", "budgetary amendment", "paid leave", "handling", "temporary layoff", "foreign tourism", "Yorkshire and The Humber" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2012/703/EU: Council Decision of 13\u00a0November 2012 amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland\n16.11.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 319/6\nCOUNCIL DECISION\nof 13 November 2012\namending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland\n(2012/703/EU)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Protocol (No 4) on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 27.1 thereof,\nHaving regard to the Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 14 September 2012 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland (ECB/2012/20)\u00a0(1),\nWhereas:\n(1) The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Eurosystem are to be audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union.\n(2) The mandate of the current external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland will expire after the audit for the financial year 2011. It is therefore necessary to appoint external auditors from the financial year 2012.\n(3) The Central Bank of Ireland has selected RSM Farrell Grant Sparks as its external auditors for the financial years 2012 to 2016.\n(4) The Governing Council of the ECB has recommended that RSM Farrell Grant Sparks be appointed as the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland for the financial years 2012 to 2016.\n(5) It is appropriate to follow the recommendation of the Governing Council of the ECB and to amend Council Decision 1999/70/EC\u00a0(2) accordingly,\nArticle 1(5) of Decision 1999/70/EC is replaced by the following:\n\u20185.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0RSM Farrell Grant Sparks is hereby approved as the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland.\u2019.\nThis Decision shall take effect on the day of its notification.\nThis Decision is addressed to the European Central Bank.", "answer groups": [ "accountant" ], "distractor groups": [ "milk", "cyclical unemployment", "plankton", "designation of origin", "Lower Saxony", "youth unemployment", "earths and stones", "legitimacy", "cross-border dimension", "eligible region", "price agreement", "secondary education" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2168/92 of 30 July 1992 laying down detailed implementing rules for the specific measures for the Canary Islands with regard to potatoes\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2168/92 of 30 July 1992 laying down detailed implementing rules for the specific measures for the Canary Islands with regard to potatoes\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92 (1), of 15 June 1992, introducing specific measures for the Canary Islands concerning certain agricultural products, and in particular Articles 20 (3) and 21 thereof,\nWhereas in application of Articles 2 and 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92 it is necessary to determine for seed potatoes quantities of the forecast supply balance which benefit from an exemption of the levy on direct imports from third countries or from aid for deliveries originating from the rest of the Community;\nWhereas this aid must be fixed taking into account the costs of supply from the world market, and the conditions due to the geographical situation of the Canary Islands;\nWhereas Article 20 of Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92 provides that aid per hectare is granted for the production of ware potatoes up to a ceiling of an area of 12 000 hectares per year, planted and harvested;\nWhereas Article 21 of Regulation 1601/92 provides for a restriction on deliveries of ware potatoes to the Canary Islands from third countries, or from the rest of the Community, in order to avoid disturbance of the market during the periods which are crucial for the marketing of the Canary Islands' production; whereas it is appropriate to fix the sensitive period as well as the maximum quantities of potatoes to be delivered to the Canary Islands during the second semester of 1992;\nWhereas the provisions provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92 are applicable as from 1 July 1992; it is appropriate to apply the terms of this Regulation as from the same date;\nWhereas the measures provided for in the present regulation are in conformity with the opinion of the Management Committee for seeds,\nTITLE I Specific supply arrangements\nPursuant to Articles 2 and 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92, the quantities of the forecast supply balance with seed potatoes falling under heading CN code 0701 10 00 which benefit from the exoneration from the import levy on products coming directly from third countries or which benefit from Community aid are fixed at 12 000 tonnes for the period from 1 July 1992 to 31 June 1993.\nThe aid provided for in Article 3 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92 for seed potatoes included in the forecast supply balance and which come from the Community market is fixed at ECU 3,50 per 100 Kg.\nSpain shall designate the competent authority for:\n(a) the delivery of exemption certificates as provided for in Article 3 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1695/92 (2);\n(b) the delivery of the aid certificate provided for in Article 4 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1695/92;\n(c) the payment of the aid to the operators concerned.\n1. Requests for certificates shall be presented to the competent authority during the first five working days of every month. A request for a certificate shall only be valid if:\n(a) it does not exceed the maximum quantity available for seed potatoes published by Spain;\n(b) before the expiry of the period provided for the presentation of requests for certificates, proof has been provided that the interested party has lodged a security of ECU 1,75 per 100 Kg.\n2. Certificates shall be delivered on the 10th working day of every month at the latest.\n3. Where certificates are issued for quantities which are less than those requested, the operator concerned can withdraw his request, in writing, within three working days following the issue of the certificate. The relative guarantee is also freed.\n4. The maximum quantity available shall be published by the competent body during the last week of the month preceding the month when the certificate is requested.\nThe duration of the validity of import certificates and aid certificates shall expire on the last day of the second month following that of their delivery.\nTITLE II Aid for the production of potatoes\n1. The aid for the production of ware potatoes falling under headings CN codes 0701 90 51, 0701 90 59 and 0701 90 90 as provided for by Article 20 of Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92 is only paid for areas:\n(a) which have been fully sown and had normal cultivation work carried out upon them;\n(b) for which an application has been submitted in accordance with Article 7, such application to be treated as equivalent to a declaration of the areas cultivated.\n2. Where cultivation has not been proceeded until the ripening of the product, the competent national authorities may accept cases of force majeure and natural disasters having a major effect on the area farmed by the declarant as justifying maintenance of the entitlement to aid.\nAll cases of force majeure or natural disasters as referred to in the proceding subparagraph shall be notified within three days of the event to the competent Spanish authority. Evidence thereof shall be provided within one month from such notification.\nSpain shall notify the Commission of cases which they recognize as cases of force majeure or as natural disasters.\n1. Any producer wishing to obtain aid shall submit an application to the competent agency before a date to be fixed by Spain. This date shall be fixed in a way that allows the necessary on-the-spot checks to be carried out.\n2. The application for aid shall at least include the following particulars:\n- the name, forenames and address of the applicant,\n- the areas cultivated in hectares and in ares, the cadastral reference of such areas or an indication recognized as equivalent by the agency responsible for checking the areas.\n3. Where the area for which the aid is requested exceeds the maximum area as referred to in Article 20 of Regulation (EEC) No 1601/92, the aid shall be granted to the applicants in proportion to the area as indicated in the request.\nSpain shall take the necessary control measures. These include the measurement of a minimum number of fields for which the aid is requested. Spain shall fix the minimum number of fields to be checked and the criteria for their selection, and inform the Commission thereof.\n1. If the check indicates an excess of up to 10 % but of not more than one hectare in the area declared, aid shall be calculated on the area measured, less that excess.\n2. If the excess exceeds the limits provided for in paragraph 1, the application for the marketing year in question shall be rejected. Morevoer, the areas forming part of the applicant's holding during the marketing year in question shall be ineligible for aid in the following marketing year.\n3. If, for reasons attributable to the applicant, a check cannot be carried out Article 9 (2) shall apply, except in cases of force majeure. Grounds for force majeure shall be supplied by the interested party in writing, within ten days from the planned date of the check.\nTITLE III Restrictions on deliveries during sensitive periods\n0\n1. During the period from 1 July to 31 October the delivery of potatoes from third countries and the rest of the Community, to the Canary Islands, as referred to in Article 6, shall be limited to 4 200 tonnes.\nDuring this period the deliveries of the above-mentioned products must be accompanied by a 'potato delivery certificate', hereafter referred to as a 'certificate'.\n2. The certificate shall be drawn up on the basis of the import form in the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 (3).\n(3) and (5) and Articles 9, 10, 13 to 16, 19 to 22, 24 to 31 and 33 to 37 of Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, subject to the provisions of this Regulation.\n3. The words 'potato delivery certificate' shall be printed or stamped in the upper left-hand corner of the certificate.\n4. The certificate shall be issued at the request of the parties concerned exclusively by the competent authorities designated by Spain, subject to the quantity provided for in Article 10 (1). Issue of the exemption certificate shall be subject to the lodging of a security, the amount of which shall be fixed for each of the products in question.\nThe authorities may lay down a time limit for the issue of the certificate.\n5. The request for the certificate must not concern a quantity which exceeds the quantity available as regularly published by the competent authorities.\n6. Where the quantity for which a certificate is requested exceeds the quantity referred to in Article 10 (1), the certificate shall be awarded to the applicants in proportion to the quantities available.\n7. Where certificates are issued for quantities which are less than those requested, the operator concerned can withdraw his request, in writing, within three working days following the issue of the certificate. The relative guarantee is also freed.\n8. The application for the certificate and the certificate itself, shall be marked in box No 24 with the words 'certificate to be used for the Canary Islands'.\n9. Proof of utilization of the certificate must be furnished within thirty days following expiry of the period of validity of the certificate, except in cases of force majeure.\n10. The competent authorities administer the system of restrictions on deliveries in a way that allows for the delivery of the quantity referred to in Article 10 (1) to the Canary Islands.\nTITLE IV Final provisions\n1\nThe rate to be applied for converting the aid per hectare into national currency, as referred to in Article 6, shall be the agricultural conversion rate in force on the date fixed for the submission of the application for aid, in conformity with Article 7 (1).\n2\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 1992. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "supply" ], "distractor groups": [ "carriage of goods", "balance-sheet analysis", "anti-racist movement", "traffic offence", "coastal protection", "primary education", "pasteurised milk", "storage capacity", "single market", "buckwheat" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01275/2005 of 26 July 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a02268/2004 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of tungsten carbide and fused tungsten carbide originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China\n3.8.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 202/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1275/2005\nof 26 July 2005\namending Regulation (EC) No 2268/2004 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of tungsten carbide and fused tungsten carbide originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community\u00a0(1) (the basic Regulation), and in particular Article 11(3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0MEASURES IN FORCE\n(1) By Regulation (EC) No 771/98\u00a0(2) the Council imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty of 33\u00a0% on imports of tungsten carbide and fused tungsten carbide originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC). Following an expiry review, the duty was re-imposed by Regulation (EC) No 2268/2004\u00a0(3).\nB.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PRESENT INVESTIGATION\n(2) While the abovementioned expiry review was ongoing, the Commission received a request for an interim review, pursuant to Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation. The request was lodged by the European Association of Metals (Eurometaux) (the applicant) on behalf of three producers, together representing a major proportion (more than 80\u00a0%) of the total Community production of tungsten carbide and fused tungsten carbide. The applicant alleged that a new product type, falling within the product scope of the existing measures on tungsten carbide and fused tungsten carbide, had appeared on the market. The applicant alleged that the new product type shared the same basic physical and chemical characteristics and end uses as the product covered by the measures in force. In these circumstances, the applicant alleged that both the product covered by the measures in force and the new product type should therefore be considered a single product and the measures in force should, also apply to imports of the new product type.\n(3) Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence existed for the initiation of a partial interim review, the Commission, on 31 March 2004, initiated an investigation in accordance with Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation\u00a0(4). The investigation was limited in scope to the definition of the product subject to the measures in force, in order to assess the need for the amendment of the scope of the measures in force.\n(4) The investigation period (IP) covered the period from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003.\n(5) The Commission advised the applicant Community producers as well as all known Community importers, all known Community users and all known exporters in the PRC of the initiation of the review.\n(6) The Commission requested information from all the abovementioned parties and from those other parties who made themselves known within the time limit set in the notice of initiation of the investigation. The Commission also gave the interested parties the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing.\n(7) No questionnaire replies were received from the importers, traders and exporters. However, the main five exporters of tungsten carbide and fused tungsten carbide made written comments.\n(8) The following three Community industry companies replied to the questionnaire sent by the Commission:\n\u2014 H.C. Starck GmbH, Germany,\n\u2014 Wolfram Bergbau- und H\u00fctten GmbH, Austria,\n\u2014 Eurotungst\u00e8ne Poudres SA, France.\n(9) The following seven users in the EU also replied to the questionnaire:\n\u2014 Boart Longyear GmbH & Co. KG, Germany,\n\u2014 Ceratizit SARL, Luxembourg,\n\u2014 Ceratizit GmbH, Germany,\n\u2014 F.I.L.M.S. SpA, Italy,\n\u2014 MISCELE Srl, Italy,\n\u2014 Harditalia Srl, Italy,\n\u2014 TRIBO Hartmetall GmbH, Germany.\nC.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PRODUCT CONCERNED\n(10) The product concerned, as defined in the regulation imposing the measures in force, is tungsten carbide and fused tungsten carbide originating in the PRC and falling within CN code 2849\u00a090\u00a030. Both are compounds of carbon and tungsten produced by heat treatment (carburisation in the first case, fusion in the second). Both products are intermediate products, used as input materials in the manufacture of hard metal components such as \u2018cemented carbide\u2019 cutting tools and high-wear components, in abrasion-resistant coatings, in bits for oil drilling and mining tools as well as in dies and tips for the drawing and forging of metals.\nD.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Preliminary comment\n(11) The exporters claimed in their written comments that the initiation of this investigation was a \u2018legal inconsistency\u2019, and, therefore, they did not reply to the questionnaire sent by the Commission. In their view, the allegation of a new product type appearing on the market could not be investigated within a review limited to the scope of the product concerned under Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation, but rather requires a full anti-dumping investigation under Article 5 of the basic Regulation. However, the very purpose of the current review is to assess whether the new product type and the product subject to the existing measures are to be considered as the product concerned, i.e. whether they both have the same characteristics and end uses and can therefore be considered as one single product. This assessment can only be made in the context of a review of the existing measures on imports of the product concerned. Any investigation under Article 5 of the basic Regulation could only be envisaged for a different product. The claim made by the exporters is therefore not valid and must be rejected. It should be noted that the non-cooperation of the exporters concerned resulted in a lack of certain relevant information and led to the use of available information in application of Article 18 of the basic Regulation.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0New product type\n(12) The new product type is mainly constituted of the product subject to the existing measures which is mixed with a small percentage of another metallic powder (mostly cobalt but other metallic powders such as nickel, chromium and other components, depending on specific properties required, can also be mixed with the product concerned). This new product type is currently classified within CN code 3824\u00a030\u00a000, a subheading described as \u2018non-agglomerated metal carbides mixed together or with metallic binders\u2019, which consists of a diversity of mixtures, at different stages of processing. Just as the product subject to the existing measures (see recital (10)), the new product type is an intermediate product, used as input material in the manufacture of hard metal components.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Comparison between the product subject to the existing measures and the new product type\n(13) In order to assess whether the new product type should be considered as the product concerned and therefore fall within the scope of the existing measures, it was examined whether the new product type and the product subject to the existing measures shared the same chemical and physical characteristics and end uses. It was also examined how the Community users perceived the new product type.\n(a)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Physical and chemical characteristics\n(14) The new product type, as explained above under recital (12), is an intermediate product, which consists of the product subject to the existing measures, simply mixed with another metallic powder.\n(15) The investigation demonstrated that simply mixing the product subject to the existing measures with a metallic powder does not change the characteristics of the product subject to the existing measures. While it is true that the new product type slightly differs in structure from the product subject to the existing measures due to the addition of a small amount of cobalt, it was established that both products keep the same physical and chemical characteristics and follow exactly the same processing stages leading to identical end use. Indeed, it is only in the subsequent processing stages (see also recital (18)), that e.g. cobalt serves as a binder, i.e. to ensure the adhesion of the carefully mixed components inserted. Only from that stage are new physical and chemical characteristics attained (see also recital (24)). It was also established that \u2014 similar to the addition of cobalt \u2014 the simple addition of other substances, e.g. nickel, chromium and/or other components, does not, merely by virtue of the substances themselves, change the properties of the product subject to the existing measures. The addition of these other substances in the milling stage depends on specific properties required (see recital (18)).\n(16) Furthermore, it was found that no Community producer manufactures the new product type.\n(17) As a consequence, there is no basic physical or chemical difference between the new product type and the product subject to the existing measures.\n(b)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0End uses\n(18) Both the product subject to the existing measures and the new product type enter into the same stage of the tungsten production chain. Like the product subject to the existing measures, the new product type needs to be carefully milled (together with other metallic or carbide additives and organic binders) and granulated by vacuum or spray drying (homogeneous particle shaping) before it reaches the state of a \u2018ready to press\u2019 powder. A ready to press powder is the precursor to the production of hard metal components (end product reached by pressing and sintering, i.e. high temperature moulding) where the added metallic powder finally becomes active as a binder matrix. Both the product subject to existing measures and the new product type have therefore to be transformed, through a similar process, into a ready to press powder. The ready to press powder has to correspond to very specific composition requirement by customers, i.e. the mining, metal-forging and coating industry.\n(19) It follows from the above that the product subject to the existing measures and the new product type both exclusively enter into the same stage of the production chain and that the simple addition of a small amount of cobalt or any other substance mentioned in recital (15) will not change the properties of the product subject to the existing measures. All serve the same end uses, i.e. they have to be further processed.\n(c)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0User perception\n(20) Users of the product concerned are mainly small producers of a wide range of hard metal components. The few cooperating users confirmed the abovementioned findings, i.e. that both the product subject to the existing measures and the new product type are processed on the EU market.\n(21) The investigation also showed that a limited number of users, of which only one fully cooperated, have imported the new product type from the PRC. The cooperating user stated that the new product type was used for exactly the same purposes as the product subject to the existing measures.\n(22) In view of the finding that the new product type imported from the PRC is applied for the same purposes as the product subject to the existing measures, it can be considered that users do not see a difference between both products.\n(d)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Distinction between the new product type and the other products within CN code 3824\u00a030\u00a000\n(23) The new product type falls within the same CN code as ready to press powders, namely CN code 3824\u00a030\u00a000, i.e. the further processed product.\n(24) To distinguish the new product type from ready to press powders within CN code 3824\u00a030\u00a000, the following criteria can be applied: macroscopic aspect, particle size, and chemical composition and flow properties. Concerning the macroscopic aspect, there is a clear difference in visibility. Particles of the new product type cannot be seen with the unaided eye while the particles of ready to press powders are visible. Concerning the chemical composition, contrary to the new product type, each particle of the ready to press powders is constituted by a well defined and homogeneous dispersion of all the chemical components. Furthermore, the particle shape of the new product type is irregular, while the shape of the particles of the other mixtures is spherical. Finally, the new product type has very poor flow properties, while ready to press powder is free flowing and has a homogeneous composition. The lack of fluidity can be measured and established by using a calibrated funnel, e.g. a HALL flow meter according to ISO standard 4490.\n(e)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Conclusion\n(25) The investigation demonstrated that the alleged new product type is fundamentally the same as the product subject to the existing measures. The addition of a metallic powder as described in recital (15) does not alter its properties or use.\n(26) On the basis of these results, and in particular as both products have the same main physical and chemical composition, and whereas the same applications are similarly perceived by users, it is considered that the product subject to the existing measures and the new product type are a single product, i.e. the latter product is a \u2018like product\u2019 with respect to the former within the meaning of Article 1(4) of the basic Regulation.\nE.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0MEASURES\n(27) In view of the above findings, it is considered appropriate to clarify that the existing anti-dumping measures on the product concerned also cover the new product type currently imported under CN code ex\u00a03824\u00a030\u00a000,\nArticle 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2268/2004 shall be replaced by the following:\n\u20181.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A definitive anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of tungsten carbide, tungsten carbide simply mixed with metallic powder and fused tungsten carbide originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China, falling within CN codes 2849\u00a090\u00a030 and ex\u00a03824\u00a030\u00a000\u00a0(5) (TARIC code 3824300010).\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "China" ], "distractor groups": [ "grubbing premium", "judicial power", "backlog of court cases", "texture agent", "approval of tariffs", "commentary on a law", "general legal principle", "donation", "encyclopaedia" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 2578/2000 of 17 November 2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 2578/2000\nof 17 November 2000\namending Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3759/92 of 17 December 1992 on the common organisation of the market in fishery and aquaculture products(1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 104/2000(2) adds five new species to the list of products eligible for intervention mechanisms under the common organisation of the markets.\n(2) Common marketing standards, harmonised throughout the Community market, therefore need to be laid down for those species by amending Regulation (EC) No 2406/96(3),\nRegulation (EC) No 2406/96 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 3:\n(a) in paragraph 1, the list under (a) shall be supplemented by the following indents:\n\"- Striped or red mullet (Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmuletus)\n- Black sea bream (Spondyliosoma cantharus)\";\n(b) in paragraph 1, a new point (d) shall be added:\n\"(d) Common scallop and other aquatic invertebrates falling within code NC 0307:\n- Common scallop (Pecten maximus)\n- Common whelk (Buccinum undatum)\".\n2. The first subparagraph of Article 4(3) shall be replaced by:\"3. The crab, common scallop and common whelk referred to in Article 3 shall not be classified according to specific standards of freshness.\"\n3. Article 7(1) shall be replaced by:\n\"1. The products referred to in Article 3 shall be sized by weight or by number per kilogram. Shrimps and crabs, however, shall be graded in size categories by width of shell; common scallops and common whelks shall be graded in size categories by width of shell.\"\n4. In Annex II, the table appearing in the Annex to this Regulation concerning the size categories applicable to striped or red mullet, black sea bream, common scallop and common whelk shall be added after the existing table.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2001.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing standard" ], "distractor groups": [ "Gelderland", "alternative investment", "reserve currency", "EU study report", "freedom of opinion", "International Federation for Documentation", "undisclosed partnership", "Benelux countries", "worker information", "tax harmonisation" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1121/2000 of 26 May 2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 2198/98 increasing to 6 050 123 tonnes the quantity of barley held by the German intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 1121/2000\nof 26 May 2000\namending Regulation (EC) No 2198/98 increasing to 6050123 tonnes the quantity of barley held by the German intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in cereals(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1253/1999(2), and in particular Article 5 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 39/1999(4), lays down the procedures and conditions for the disposal of cereals held by the intervention agencies.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2198/98(5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1036/2000(6), opened a standing invitation to tender for the export of 5350068 tonnes of barley held by the German intervention agency. Germany informed the Commission of the intention of its intervention agency to increase by 700055 tonnes the quantity for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened. The total quantity of barley held by the German intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened should be increased to 6050123 tonnes.\n(3) This increase in the quantity put out to tender makes it necessary to alter the list of regions and quantities in store. Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2198/98 must therefore be amended.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nRegulation (EC) No 2198/98 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 2 is replaced by the following: \"Article 2\n1. The invitation to tender shall cover a maximum of 6050123 tonnes of barley for export to third countries, with the exception of the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.\n2. The regions in which the 6050123 tonnes of barley are stored are stated in Annex I to this Regulation.\"\n2. Annex I is replaced by the Annex hereto.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Germany" ], "distractor groups": [ "cultivation under plastic", "AETR agreement", "cost of pollution", "European fisheries fund", "meslin", "national economy", "America", "organic fertiliser", "offshore oil", "worker adaptability" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 105/2003 of 21 January 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 1081/2002 increasing to 578820 tonnes the quantity of barley held by the French intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 105/2003\nof 21 January 2003\namending Regulation (EC) No 1081/2002 increasing to 578820 tonnes the quantity of barley held by the French intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in cereals(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1666/2000(2), and in particular Article 5 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1630/2000(4), lays down the procedure and conditions for the sale of cereals held by intervention agencies.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1081/2002(5) opened a standing invitation to tender for the export of 300000 tonnes of barley held by the French intervention agency. France informed the Commission of the intention of its intervention agency to increase by 278820 tonnes the quantity for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened. The total quantity of barley held by the French intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened should be increased to 578820 tonnes.\n(3) This increase in the quantity put out to tender makes it necessary to alter the list of regions and quantities in store. Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1081/2002 must therefore be amended.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nRegulation (EC) No 1081/2002 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 2 is replaced by the following:\n\"Article 2\n1. The invitation to tender shall cover a maximum of 578820 tonnes of barley to be exported to all third countries with the exception of the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.\n2. The regions in which the 578820 tonnes of barley are stored are stated in Annex I to this Regulation.\"\n2. Annex I is replaced by the Annex hereto.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "France" ], "distractor groups": [ "tariff reduction", "atheism", "price fixed in advance", "preservative", "documentary credit", "nuclear medicine", "public law", "paper money", "inland waterway transport", "cultural organisation" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2012/433/EU: Decision of the European Central Bank of 18\u00a0July 2012 repealing Decision ECB/2012/3 on the eligibility of marketable debt instruments issued or fully guaranteed by the Hellenic Republic in the context of the Hellenic Republic\u2019s debt exchange offer (ECB/2012/14)\n26.7.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 199/26\nDECISION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\nof 18 July 2012\nrepealing Decision ECB/2012/3 on the eligibility of marketable debt instruments issued or fully guaranteed by the Hellenic Republic in the context of the Hellenic Republic\u2019s debt exchange offer\n(ECB/2012/14)\n(2012/433/EU)\nTHE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first indent of Article 127(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular the first indent of Article 3.1, Article 12.1, Article 18 and the second indent of Article 34.1,\nHaving regard to Guideline ECB/2011/14 of 20 September 2011 on monetary policy instruments and procedures of the Eurosystem\u00a0(1), and in particular Section 1.6 and Sections 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 of Annex I thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Pursuant to Article 18.1 of the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the national central banks of Member States whose currency is the euro may conduct credit operations with credit institutions and other market participants, with lending being based on adequate collateral. The criteria determining the eligibility of collateral for the purposes of Eurosystem monetary policy operations are laid down in Annex I to the Guideline ECB/2011/14.\n(2) Pursuant to Section 1.6 of Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14, the Governing Council may, at any time, change the instruments, conditions, criteria and procedures for the execution of Eurosystem monetary policy operations. Pursuant to Section 6.3.1 of Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14, the Eurosystem reserves the right to determine whether an issue, issuer, debtor or guarantor fulfils its requirements for high credit standards on the basis of any information it may consider relevant.\n(3) In the context of the debt exchange offer launched by the Hellenic Republic to the holders of marketable debt instruments issued or guaranteed by the Greek Government, on 24 February 2012 a collateral enhancement in the form of a buy-back scheme to underpin the quality of marketable debt instruments issued or guaranteed by the Hellenic Republic was provided for the benefit of the national central banks.\n(4) As an exceptional measure, Decision ECB/2012/3 of 5 March 2012 on the eligibility of marketable debt instruments issued or fully guaranteed by the Hellenic Republic in the context of the Hellenic Republic\u2019s debt exchange offer\u00a0(2) temporarily suspended the Eurosystem\u2019s minimum requirements for credit quality thresholds applicable to marketable debt instruments issued or fully guaranteed by the Hellenic Republic, declaring them eligible for the duration of the collateral enhancement.\n(5) Upon termination of the collateral enhancement, given that the adequacy as collateral of marketable debt instruments issued or fully guaranteed by the Hellenic Republic is currently not ensured, the Governing Council has decided that the Eurosystem\u2019s credit quality threshold specified in Section 6.3.2 of Annex I to Guideline ECB/2011/14 should apply in respect of such instruments.\n(6) Decision ECB/2012/3 should therefore be repealed,\nRepeal of Decision ECB/2012/3\nDecision ECB/2012/3 is repealed.\nEntry into force\nThis Decision shall enter into force on 25 July 2012.", "answer groups": [ "European System of Central Banks" ], "distractor groups": [ "radiobiology", "European fisheries fund", "60 AGRI-FOODSTUFFS", "sexual freedom", "pollutant", "soft technology", "Eurojust", "Centru (Romania)", "EU budget" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 139/87 of 19 January 1987 on the emergency supply of beef to the most deprived persons\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 139/87\nof 19 January 1987\non the emergency supply of beef to the most deprived persons\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3768/85 (2), and in particular Article 7 (3) thereof,\nWhereas the sharp fall in temperatures in Europe has serious consequences for the most deprived persons; whereas Community resources should be urgently used to help these persons through the agency of the recognized charitable organizations in each Member State;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\nThe intervention agencies shall make available free of charge for relief work and to charitable organizations, that are recognized as such by the Member State in which they are established, beef for free distribution in that Member State to the most deprived persons in the form of prepared meals.\nBeef made available under the previous subparagraph shall be beef bought in by intervention under Article 6 of Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 that was taken into storage during 1986.\nMember States shall determine the implementing measures for Article 1, including those control measures they deem appropriate.\nMember States shall notify the Commission every week of the quantities removed from storage under this Regulation during the previous week.\nCommission Regulation (EEC) No 1687/76 (3) is hereby amended as follows:\nThe following point 39 and the footnote relating thereto are added to Part II of the Annex entitled 'Products subject to a use and/or destination other than that mentioned under I':\n'39. Commission Regulation (EEC) No 140/87 of 19 January 1987 on the emergency supply of beef to the most deprived persons (39)\n- Section 104:\n- destinados a las personas m\u00e1s desfavorecidas - Reglamento (CEE) no 140/87\n- til de socialt daarligst stillede - forordning (EOEF) nr. 140/87\n- bestimmt fuer stark benachteiligte Personen - Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 140/87\n- prooriz\u00f3meno gia ap\u00f3roys - kanonism\u00f3s (EOK) arith. 140/87\n- for distribution to the most deprived persons - Regulation (EEC) No 140/87\n- destin\u00e9s aux personnes les plus d\u00e9munies - r\u00e8glement (CEE) no 140/87\n- destinate al pi\u00f9 indigenti - regolamento (CEE) n. 140/87\n- bestemd voor hulpbehoevenden - Verordening (EEG) nr. 140/87\n- destinados \u00e0s pessoas mais desfavorecidas - Regulamento (CEE) n\u00ba 140/87.\n(39) OJ No L 17, 20. 1. 1987, p. 19.'\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply until 31 March 1987.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "beef" ], "distractor groups": [ "upper class", "sewage sludge", "anti-missile defence", "framework decision", "environmental policy", "criminal responsibility of minors", "regulatory policy", "Navarre", "gender identity", "homogenised milk", "South Sweden", "medicine", "econometrics" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1517/2002 of 23 August 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean islands, as regards the cultivation of certain agricultural products, potatoes for human consumption and seed potatoes\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 1517/2002\nof 23 August 2002\nlaying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean islands, as regards the cultivation of certain agricultural products, potatoes for human consumption and seed potatoes\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 of 19 July 1993 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean Islands concerning certain agricultural products(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 442/2002(2), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 states that aid per hectare is to be granted for the cultivation of potatoes for human consumption and seed potatoes up to a maximum area cultivated and harvested of 2200 hectares per year. Rules for the application of these arrangements were adopted by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3404/93(3) laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93. Some technical adjustments should be made to these provisions, in particular as regards the control procedures and the penalties for failure to comply with these provisions and, in the interests of clarity and administrative efficiency, these implementing rules should be replaced in full.\n(2) Before the aid provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 can be granted, applications for aid will have to be lodged by interested producers. A final date should be set for the lodging of applications so that the on-the-spot checks required to guarantee proper application of the rules can be carried out. This date should vary according to the purpose for which potatoes are cultivated. The length of the cultivation cycle of the potato dictates that three different final dates for lodging aid applications for this crop should be specified.\n(3) A system should be introduced to check that the implementing measures put in place by the Greek authorities have been properly carried out. These authorities should make periodic notifications to the Commission.\n(4) Regulation (EEC) No 3404/93 should therefore be repealed.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Hops,\n1. The aid provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 for the cultivation of potatoes for human consumption falling within CN codes 0701 90 50 and 0701 90 90 and of seed potatoes falling within CN code 0701 10 00 shall be paid on areas:\n(a) of a minimum size of 0,1 hectares;\n(b) sown and given all normal cultivation treatment; and\n(c) for which an aid application has been lodged as specified in Article 2 of this Regulation, the application serving as a declaration of area cultivated.\nThe amount of the aid shall be EUR 603 per hectare.\n2. Payment of the aid for seed potatoes shall also be conditional on certification of the harvested potatoes in accordance with the provisions of Council Directive 66/403/EEC(4). If certification is not obtained, the application is deemed to be an application for aid for the cultivation of potatoes for human consumption.\n3. In cases where crops do not reach the harvesting stage, the Greek authorities may authorise continuing entitlement to aid where force majeure or a natural disaster substantially affects the area cultivated by the applicant.\nCases of force majeure or natural disasters shall be notified to the competent Greek authority within ten working days of their occurrence. Proof shall be supplied within one month of that notification.\nGreece shall immediately notify the Commission of cases it recognises as being of force majeure or natural disaster such as to justify continuing entitlement to the aid.\n1. Producers wishing to receive aid shall lodge an application with the Greek authority.\n2. Applications shall be made during a period set by the Greek authority ending on:\n(a) 30 September of each year, for potatoes to be harvested between 1 November and 31 March of the following year;\n(b) 10 March of each year, for potatoes to be harvested between 1 April and 31 July of the same year;\n(c) 15 May of each year, for potatoes to be harvested between 1 August and 31 October of the same year.\n3. Except in cases of force majeure late application shall occasion a 20 % reduction in aid. Applications more than 20 days late shall be invalid.\n4. Applications shall give at least the following information:\n(a) the applicant's name, first name and address;\n(b) the area cultivated in hectares and ares and its land reference or an indication recognised as equivalent by the authority responsible for checking areas;\n(c) the date of planting;\n(d) the product concerned and in particular whether seed potatoes or potatoes for human consumption are involved;\n(e) the scheduled harvesting date.\n5. If the total area covered by aid applications exceeds the maximum area stipulated in Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93, the Greek authorities shall determine a uniform reduction coefficient to be applied to each application.\n1. Greece shall notify to the Commission, by 30 October of each year, its estimates of total areas for which aid will be applied for in respect of the following year, distinguishing between early, ware and seed potatoes.\n2. Greece shall notify to the Commission each year, by 30 August for early potatoes and by 31 December for maincrop and seed potatoes:\n(a) the total of the areas for which aid has been requested;\n(b) the reduction coefficient applied, if necessary;\n(c) the area checked;\n(d) the number of irregularities found and the area involved in each Nomos.\nThe national authorities shall take all the steps necessary to ensure that the conditions for granting the aid provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 are complied with.\nVerification shall be by administrative and on-the-spot checks. The administrative check shall be thorough and include, if appropriate, cross-checks with the data in the integrated administration and control system.\nBased on a risk analysis, the national authorities shall perform on-the-spot checks by sampling on a number of aid applications representing at least 10 % of the recipients in each Nomos.\nGreece shall determine and notify to the Commission criteria for selecting the areas to be checked. Those criteria must ensure selection of a representative sample.\nOn-the-spot checks shall include measurement of all areas covered by the application in question. Should a significant number of irregularities be discovered in a Nomos the competent authority shall make additional checks during the year in question and increase the percentage of applications to be checked in the following year in that Nomos.\n1. Where aid has been paid unduly the competent authorities shall take steps to recover the amount paid, with interest, calculated from the date of payment of the aid to the date of repayment by the beneficiary.\nWhere the undue payment has been made because of a false declaration, false documents or serious negligence on the part of the recipient, a penalty equal to the amount paid out unduly shall be imposed. The interest rate shall be that applied by the European Central Bank to its principal refinancing transactions published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Communities, in force on the date of the undue payment and increased by three percentage points.\n2. The aid recovered shall be paid to the paying authorities or agencies and deducted by them from the expenditure financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.\nCommission Regulation (EEC) No 3404/93 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "potato" ], "distractor groups": [ "Pacific Islands Forum", "environmental standard", "election financing", "energy research", "Sofia District region", "industrial investment", "hooliganism", "observation", "aromatic plant", "transport capacity" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2247/2003 of 19 December 2003 laying down detailed rules for the application in the beef and veal sector of Council Regulation (EC) No 2286/2002 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States)\n20.12.2003 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 333/37\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2247/2003\nof 19 December 2003\nlaying down detailed rules for the application in the beef and veal sector of Council Regulation (EC) No 2286/2002 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2286/2002 of 10 December 2002 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1706/98\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 5 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 2286/2002 implements the arrangements for imports from the ACP States made as a result of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000\u00a0(2) (hereinafter referred to as \u2018the Cotonou Agreement\u2019). Article 1(3) of that Regulation introduces general arrangements for reducing customs duties on the products listed in Annex I thereto and specific arrangements for reducing customs duties on certain products covered by tariff quotas listed in Annex II thereto. Provision is made for an annual quota of 52\u00a0100 tonnes of boneless meat.\n(2) Prior to the Cotonou Agreement, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1918/98 of 9 September 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application in the beef and veal sector of Council Regulation (EC) No 1706/98 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and repealing Regulation (EC) No 589/96\u00a0(3) laid down detailed rules for implementing the concessions in the beef and veal sector. For the sake of clarity, Regulation (EC) No 1918/98 should be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation.\n(3) That scheme should be managed using import licences. To this end rules should be set on the submission of applications and the information to be given on applications and licences, by way of derogation, if necessary, from certain provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products\u00a0(4), and of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95 of 26 June 1995 on rules of application for import and export licences in the beef and veal sector and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80\u00a0(5).\n(4) To allow optimum management of the tariff quotas, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2004 on a multiannual basis.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Import licences shall be issued for the products listed in the Annex originating in Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Namibia under the conditions laid down in this Regulation and within the limits of the quantities, expressed in tonnes of boneless meat, fixed in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 2286/2002. The country by country allocation, expressed in boneless meat, is as follows: Botswana: 18\u00a0916 tonnes, Kenya: 142 tonnes, Madagascar: 7\u00a0579 tonnes, Swaziland: 3\u00a0363 tonnes, Zimbabwe 9\u00a0100 tonnes and Namibia: 13\u00a0000 tonnes.\nThe annual quantities from the countries referred to in the first subparagraph shall bear the following serial numbers: the quota for Botswana: 09.4052; for Kenya: 09.4054; for Madagascar: 09.4051; for Swaziland: 09.4053; for Zimbabwe: 09.4055 and for Namibia: 09.4056.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the purposes of calculating the quantities referred to in Article 1(1), 100 kilograms of boneless beef shall be equal to:\n\u2014 130 kilograms of bone-in beef,\n\u2014 260 kilograms of live bovine animals,\n\u2014 100 kilograms of products falling within CN codes 0206, 0210 and 1602.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Within the limits of the quota, the specific amounts of customs duty fixed in the common customs tariff shall be reduced by 92\u00a0% and the ad valorem duty by 100\u00a0%, for products referred to in the Annex and being imported pursuant to the present Regulation.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, the reduction referred to in paragraph 1 shall not apply on quantities exceeding those indicated in the import licence.\nExcept as otherwise provided for in this Regulation, Regulations (EC) No 1291/2000 and (EC) No 1445/95 shall apply.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applications for import licences and import licences for products qualifying for a reduction of the specific rate of customs duties fixed in the Common Customs Tariff in accordance with Article 1(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2286/2002 shall contain:\n(a) under the heading \u2018notes\u2019 and in section 20 respectively, one of the following:\n\u2014 Producto ACP \u2014 Reglamentos (CE) no 2286/2002 y (CE) no 2247/2003\n\u2014 AVS-produkt \u2014 forordning (EF) nr. 2286/2002 og (EF) nr. 2247/2003\n\u2014 AKP-Erzeugnis \u2014 Verordnungen (EG) Nr. 2286/2002 und (EG) Nr. 2247/2003\n\u2014 \u03a0\u03c1\u03bf\u03ca\u03cc\u03bd \u0391\u039a\u0395 \u2014 \u039a\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03bf\u03af (\u0395\u039a) \u03b1\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8. 2286/2002 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 (\u0395\u039a) \u03b1\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8. 2247/2003\n\u2014 ACP product \u2014 Regulations (EC) No 2286/2002 and (EC) No 2247/2003\n\u2014 Produit ACP \u2014 r\u00e8glements (CE) no 2286/2002 et (CE) no 2247/2003\n\u2014 Prodotto ACP \u2014 regolamenti (CE) n. 2286/2002 e (CE) n. 2247/2003\n\u2014 ACS-product \u2014 Verordeningen (EG) nr. 2286/2002 en (EG) nr. 2247/2003\n\u2014 Produto ACP \u2014 Regulamentos (CE) n.o 2286/2002 e (CE) n.o 2247/2003\n\u2014 AKT-tuote \u2014 asetukset (EY) N:o 2286/2002 ja (EY) N:o 2247/2003\n\u2014 AVS-produkt \u2013 f\u00f6rordningarna (EG) nr 2286/2002 och (EG) nr 2247/2003\n(b) in Section 8, the name of the country in which the product originates; the licence shall carry with it an obligation to import from that country;\n(c) in Section 17, in addition to the number of animals, their live weight.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applications for licences may be lodged only during the first 10 days of each month.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall send the applications by fax or electronic mail to the Commission no later than the third working day following the end of the period for the submission of applications.\nSuch communications shall include the quantities applied for in respect of each third country concerned, broken down by CN code or group of CN codes, as necessary.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where no valid applications have been lodged, Member States shall so notify the Commission by fax or electronic mail within the deadline referred to in paragraph 3.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall decide for each third country concerned to what extent applications can be accepted. If the quantities of products originating in a third country for which licences are requested exceed the quantity available for that country, the Commission shall reduce the quantities requested by a fixed percentage.\nIf the total quantity requested in applications relating to a given third country is lower than is available for that country, the Commission shall calculate the remaining balance.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Subject to the Commission's decision to accept applications, licences shall be issued on the 21st day of each month.\nImportation under the arrangements for a reduction in import duties provided for in this Regulation may take place only if the origin of the products concerned is certified by the competent authorities of the exporting countries in accordance with the rules of origin applicable to the products in question pursuant to Protocol 1 of Annex V to the Cotonou Agreement.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The import licences issued in accordance with this Regulation shall be valid for 90 days from their actual date of issue within the meaning of Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000. However, no licence shall be valid beyond 31 December following the date of its issue.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The licences shall be valid throughout the Community.\nRegulation (EC) No 1918/98 is repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2004.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "agro-industry" ], "distractor groups": [ "economic governance (EU)", "noise protection", "Utena county", "analytical chemistry", "compulsory voting", "Saint Martin", "crop losses", "dyestuffs industry", "water policy" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 667/2003 of 11 April 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 716/96 adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market in the United Kingdom\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 667/2003\nof 11 April 2003\namending Regulation (EC) No 716/96 adopting exceptional support measures for the beef market in the United Kingdom\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2345/2001(2), and in particular Article 39 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 2(1) and (3) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 716/96(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1176/2000(4), lays down, respectively, the price to be paid per kilogram of animals going into the scheme provided by that Regulation, and the rate per animal at which the Community shall co-finance the purchases of the animals.\n(2) In order to establish the current estimated value of the relevant animals, account should be taken of the evolution in market prices in the United Kingdom since 1997, date of the last amendment of prices and rates. However, in that period no price quotations were registered for cows in that Member State and it is therefore appropriate instead to take account of the price evolution for such animals in neighbouring markets.\n(3) Consequently, the purchase price for cows should be reduced by 20 %, and the purchase price for other animals over 30 months, by 8 %. The rate of Community co-financing should be reduced accordingly.\n(4) Regulation (EC) No 716/96 should be amended accordingly.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\nArticle 2 of Regulation (EC) No 716/96 is amended as follows:\n1. Paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:\n\"1. The price to be paid to producers or their agents by the United Kingdom competent authority pursuant to Article 1(1) shall be:\n- EUR 0,64 per kilogram live weight for cows,\n- EUR 0,83 per kilogram live weight for other animals.\"\n2. The first subparagraph of paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:\n\"3. The Community shall cofinance the expenditure incurred by the United Kingdom for the purchases referred to under Article 1(1) at a rate of EUR 233 per head in the case of cows, and EUR 302 per head in the case of animals other than cows, for each purchased animal destroyed in accordance with the provisions of Article 1.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply to animals purchased from 28 April 2003.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "intervention buying" ], "distractor groups": [ "deregulation", "EEA Council", "information medium", "investment abroad", "meat processing industry", "deflation", "document acquisition", "cooperative bank", "rescheduling of public debt" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a01100/2010 of 26\u00a0November 2010 derogating from Regulation (EC) No\u00a0891/2009, as regards import duties for the CXL concessions sugar with order numbers 09.4317, 09.4318, 09.4319 and 09.4320, during the 2010/2011 marketing year\n27.11.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 312/14\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 1100/2010\nof 26 November 2010\nderogating from Regulation (EC) No 891/2009, as regards import duties for the CXL concessions sugar with order numbers 09.4317, 09.4318, 09.4319 and 09.4320, during the 2010/2011 marketing year\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)\u00a0(1), and in particular Articles 144(1) and 187, in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The world market prices for raw cane sugar have been at a constant high level since the beginning of the 2010/2011 marketing year. Forecasts of world market prices based on the New York's sugar futures exchange market for the terms of March, May and July 2011 further indicate a constant high world market price.\n(2) The forecasted EU sugar balance for the 2010/2011 marketing year identifies a negative difference of 0,2\u00a0million tonnes between utilisation and what should have been available. The cumulated negative difference between availability and utilisation over the last two marketing years, which is estimated at 0,6\u00a0million tonnes, would result in the lowest level of ending stocks since the implementation of the 2006 reform. Any further shortfall of imports threatens to disrupt the availability of supply of the European Union's sugar market and increase EU internal sugar market price.\n(3) Pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 of 25 September 2009 opening and providing for the administration of certain Community tariff quotas in the sugar sector\u00a0(2), imports for CXL concessions sugar with order numbers 09.4317, 09.4318, 09.4319 and 09.4320 shall be subject to an in-quota rate of 98\u00a0EUR per tonne. Given the high level of world market prices for raw cane sugar, importing raw cane sugar for refining at an in-quota rate of 98\u00a0EUR per tonne is becoming uneconomical and risks disrupting the availability of supply on the European market.\n(4) Considering that the situation is likely to continue, the in-quota rate of 98\u00a0EUR per tonne should be suspended for the remaining period of the 2010/2011 marketing year. It is accordingly appropriate to provide for the possibility for all interested operators to apply for licenses for the CXL concession at zero rate of import duties from 1 December 2010 until 31 August 2011.\n(5) Import licences, which were issued before 1 December 2010 for the CXL quotas, should remain valid under the conditions applicable during the application period. However, to protect their legitimate expectations, the concerned operators should have the possibility to return unused or partly used import licences to the competent authority without incurring the penalty provided for in Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 891/2009.\n(6) The Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its Chair,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By way of derogation from Article 3(1) and the second paragraph of Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 891/2009, the import duty for CXL concessions sugar with order numbers 09.4317, 09.4318, 09.4319 and 09.4320 shall be reduced to zero until 31 August 2011.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Licenses for the CXL concession sugar, that were issued before 1 December 2010 may continue to be used under the conditions valid at the time those licenses had been applied for. Alternatively, they may be returned, in which case the penalty provided in Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 shall not apply.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 December 2010.\nThis Regulation shall expire on 31 August 2011.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [ "preservative", "transgenic plant", "administrative structures", "financial transaction", "unitarian State", "budget policy", "Eurogroup (euro area)", "Halland county", "processing under customs control", "travel agency", "political integration" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/644/EC: Commission Decision of 8 September 2003 establishing additional guarantees regarding salmonella for consignments to Finland and Sweden of breeding poultry and day-old chicks for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 3190)\nCommission Decision\nof 8 September 2003\nestablishing additional guarantees regarding salmonella for consignments to Finland and Sweden of breeding poultry and day-old chicks for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry\n(notified under document number C(2003) 3190)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2003/644/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 90/539/EEC of 15 October 1990 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003(2), and in particular Article 9a(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Decision 95/160/EC of 21 April 1995 establishing additional guarantees regarding salmonella for consignments to Finland and Sweden of breeding poultry and day-old chicks for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry(3), has been substantially amended(4). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Decision should be codified.\n(2) The Commission has approved the operational programmes submitted by Finland and Sweden regarding salmonella controls. Those programmes include specific measures for breeding poultry and for day-old chicks for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry.\n(3) Guarantees should be established equivalent to those implemented by Finland and Sweden under their operational programmes.\n(4) The detailed guarantees are to be based in particular on a microbiological examination of the poultry to be sent to Finland and Sweden.\n(5) In this context different rules should be laid down for breeding poultry and day-old chicks.\n(6) Rules should be established for this microbiological examination of samples by laying down the sampling method, the number of samples to be taken and the microbiological methods for examining the samples.\n(7) Those guarantees should not be applicable to any flock that is subject to a programme recognised as equivalent to that implemented by Finland and Sweden.\n(8) With regard to consignments originating from third countries, Finland and Sweden should apply import requirements at least as stringent as those laid down in this Decision.\n(9) The methods described in this Decision take into account the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nBreeding poultry to be sent to Finland and Sweden shall be subject to a microbiological test, effected by sampling in the flock of origin.\nThe microbiological test referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out as laid down in Annex I.\n1. Breeding poultry to be sent to Finland and Sweden shall be accompanied by the certificate shown in Annex II.\n2. The certificate provided for in paragraph 1 may:\n- either be accompanied by the model 3 certificate of Annex IV to Directive 90/539/EEC,\n- or be incorporated in the certificate referred to in the first indent.\nDay-old chicks to be sent to Finland or Sweden for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry must come from hatching eggs from breeding poultry that have been subjected to the test provided for in Article 2.\n1. Day-old chicks to be sent to Finland or Sweden for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry must be accompanied by a certificate as shown in Annex III.\n2. The certificate provided for in paragraph 1 may:\n- either be accompanied by the model 2 certificate shown in Annex IV to Directive 90/539/EEC,\n- or be incorporated in the certificate referred to in the first subparagraph.\nThe additional guarantees provided for in this Decision shall not be applicable to flocks subject to a programme recognised, according to the procedure laid down in Article 32 of Directive 90/539/EEC, as equivalent to that implemented by Finland and Sweden.\nDecision 95/160/EC is repealed.\nReferences to the repealed Decision shall be construed as references to this Decision and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex V.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "health certificate" ], "distractor groups": [ "greenhouse effect", "Gorj", "conciliation procedure", "economic discrimination", "publication of a law", "European Union Institute for Security Studies", "finance house", "political propaganda", "renewal of an agreement" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01119/2007 of 27 September 2007 derogating from Regulation (EC) No\u00a0581/2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for export refunds concerning certain types of butter and from Regulation (EC) No\u00a0582/2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for exports refunds concerning skimmed milk powder\n28.9.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 253/23\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1119/2007\nof 27 September 2007\nderogating from Regulation (EC) No 581/2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for export refunds concerning certain types of butter and from Regulation (EC) No 582/2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for exports refunds concerning skimmed milk powder\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 31(3)(b) and 14 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The present situation on the market for milk and milk products has allowed Commission Regulation (EC) No 660/2007 of 14 June 2007 fixing the export refunds for milk and milk products\u00a0(2) not to provide for export refunds from 15 June 2007. This situation is likely to remain for some months.\n(2) Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 581/2004\u00a0(3) and Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 582/2004\u00a0(4), lay down the application period for tender export refund certificates for butter and skimmed milk powder. Given the current market situation and with a view to avoid unnecessary administrative procedures and charges it is appropriate and found sufficient to have one single tender application period per month in the last quarter of 2007.\n(3) It is therefore necessary to derogate from Regulations (EC) No 581/2004 and (EC) No 582/2004.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,\nBy way of derogation from Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 581/2004, the tendering periods for the months October to December 2007 shall be the following:\n(a) for October 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 9 and end on 16 October;\n(b) for November 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 6 and end on 13 November;\n(c) for December 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 4 and end on 11 December.\nIf the starting date is a public holiday, the period shall begin on the following working day. If the end date is a public holiday, it shall end on the previous working day.\nTendering periods shall start and end at 13:00 (Brussels time).\nBy way of derogation from Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 582/2004, the tendering periods for the months October to December 2007 shall be the following:\n(a) for October 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 9 and end on 16 October;\n(b) for November 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 6 and end on 13 November;\n(c) for December 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 4 and end on 11 December.\nIf the starting date is a public holiday, the period shall begin on the following working day. If the end date is a public holiday, it shall end on the previous working day.\nTendering periods shall start and end at 13:00 (Brussels time).\nMember States shall inform the operators of the new dates by the means which they consider the most appropriate.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "award of contract" ], "distractor groups": [ "sugar", "International Court of Justice", "recognition of diplomas", "public morality", "Speaker of Parliament", "geopolitics", "drugs classification", "Member of Parliament", "GATT", "Munster", "Council of Arab Economic Unity" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 823/2004 of 26 April 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate originating, inter alia, in Thailand\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 823/2004\nof 26 April 2004\namending Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate originating, inter alia, in Thailand\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community(1) (the basic Regulation), and in particular Article 11(4) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA. MEASURES IN FORCE\n(1) The measures currently in force are definitive anti-dumping duties imposed by Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000(2), according to which imports into the Community of certain polyethylene terephthalate (the product concerned) originating in Thailand are subject to a duty, in the form of the specific amount of EUR 83,2 per tonne. Pursuant to the same Regulation, anti-dumping duties were also imposed against imports of the product concerned from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.\n(2) It should be noted that the imports originating in Thailand are also subject to a definitive countervailing duty of EUR 49,1 per tonne, imposed by Regulation (EC) No 2603/2000(3). Countervailing duties were also imposed concerning imports from India and Malaysia.\nB. CURRENT INVESTIGATION\n1. Request for a review\n(3) The Commission subsequently received a request to initiate a \"new exporter\" review of Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000, pursuant to Article 11(4) of the basic Regulation, from the Thai producer Indo Pet (Thailand) Ltd (Indo Pet). This company claimed that it was not related to any of the exporting producers in Thailand subject to the anti-dumping measures in force with regard to the product concerned. Furthermore, it claimed that it had not exported the product concerned during the original period of investigation (i.e. from 1 October 1998 to 30 September 1999), but had exported the product concerned to the Community since then.\n(4) It should be noted that the Commission simultaneously received, from the same Thai producer, a request to initiate an accelerated review of Regulation (EC) No 2603/2000. This parallel proceeding is subject to a separate Council Regulation.\n2. Initiation of a \"new exporter\" review\n(5) The Commission examined the evidence submitted by the Thai exporting producer concerned and considered it sufficient to justify the initiation of a review in accordance with Article 11(4) of the basic Regulation. After consultation of the Advisory Committee and after the Community industry concerned had been given the opportunity to comment, the Commission initiated, by Regulation (EC) No 1292/2003, a review of Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 with regard to Indo Pet and commenced its investigation.\n(6) Pursuant to the regulation initiating the review, the anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 with regard to imports of the product concerned produced by the company concerned were repealed. Simultaneously, pursuant to Article 14(5) of the basic Regulation, customs authorities were directed to take appropriate steps to register such imports.\n3. Product concerned\n(7) The product covered by the current review is the same as in the original investigation, i. e. polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a coefficient of viscosity of 78 ml/g or higher, according to DIN (Deutsche Industrienorm) 53728. It is currently classifiable within CN code 3907 60 20.\n4. Parties concerned\n(8) The Commission officially advised the company concerned and the representatives of the exporting country of the initiation of the review. Furthermore, it gave other parties concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. No such request was however received.\n(9) The Commission also sent out a questionnaire to the company concerned and received a reply within the deadline. The Commission sought and verified all the information deemed necessary for the determination of dumping, and a verification visit was carried out at the premises of the company concerned.\n5. Investigation period\n(10) The investigation of dumping covered the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 March 2003 (the investigation period, or IP).\n6. Methodology\n(11) The same methodology as that used in the original investigation was applied in the current investigation.\nC. SCOPE OF THE REVIEW\n(12) As no request for a review of the findings on injury was made in the request for the investigation, the review was limited to dumping.\nD. RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION\n(13) The investigation confirmed that the company concerned had not exported the product concerned during the original period of investigation and that it had begun exporting to the Community only after this period.\n(14) Furthermore, according to documentary evidence submitted, Indo Pet was able to satisfactorily demonstrate that it did not have any direct or indirect links with any of the Thai exporting producers subject to the anti-dumping measures in force with regard to the product concerned.\n(15) By way of background, it should be noted that the exporter concerned is, however, related to another exporting producer located in Indonesia and which is, as mentioned above, also subject to anti-dumping duties on imports of the same product in the Community. The investigation revealed that after the current IP, this Indonesian exporting producer set up a factory in Thailand that became Indo Pet's exclusive source of supply for the essential raw material used to produce the product concerned. This raw material represents around 90 % of the total cost of manufacturing of the product concerned.\n(16) The Commission examined whether the quantities exported by the exporting producer concerned in Thailand and their corresponding prices were significant enough to constitute a representative basis for the assessment whether or not there is dumping.\n(17) In the course of the investigation, it was found that during the investigation period, only two sales transactions to the Community were recorded, for a respective volume of 40 and 20 tonnes. These two transactions represented, during the same period, 0,1 % of the total company sales volume and 0,4 % of its total export volume.\n(18) These sales transactions took place in February and March 2002, i.e. shortly before Indo Pet first contacted the Commission with a view to requesting this newcomer review. By way of background, it should be noted that Indo Pet did not record any further export sales to the Community between then and the on-the-spot investigation.\n(19) As to prices, the investigation revealed that, for the grade of PET most commonly sold both on domestic and export markets, the Community export price for the two abovementioned transactions was around 45 % higher than Indo Pet's average export price to non-EU countries.\n(20) If only the export sales to the EU neighbouring countries that will shortly join the Community and which are partly supplied by traders located in the Community are considered, it was even found that the price of the two Community transactions concerned was around 60 % higher than these exports. The sales transactions concerned in the case of the above countries were much more substantial in volume during the IP than the export transactions to the Community, and therefore likely better to reflect the level of the export price normally practised by Indo Pet.\n(21) Finally, the investigation showed that Indo Pet's overall export price was on average not only below its domestic price, but also below its cost of production.\n(22) For the above reasons, it is considered that the two export sales transactions to the Community during the IP were not significant enough to constitute a representative basis for the assessment of existence of dumping. Hence, it is considered that the level of the duty should therefore be maintained at the level established in the original investigation.\nE. AMENDMENT OF THE MEASURES BEING REVIEWED\n(23) In the light of the foregoing, it is considered that the individual definitive anti-dumping duty for the exporter concerned should be kept at the level of the definitive countrywide anti-dumping duty rate established in the original investigation, i.e. 14,2 %.\n(24) The original investigation, however, concluded that it was appropriate to impose duties in the form of a specific amount per tonne, since PET prices can fluctuate in line with fluctuations in crude oil prices, thus significantly affecting the level of the duty. The same methodology should be applied in the current investigation. Therefore, the rate of the definitive individual anti-dumping duty applicable to the net, free-at Community-frontier price, before duty, for the products manufactured by the exporting producer concerned should be EUR 83,2 per tonne.\n(25) In accordance with Article 14(1) of the basic Regulation, no product shall be subject to both anti-dumping and countervailing duties for the purposes of dealing with one and the same situation arising from dumping or from export subsidisation. As the anti-dumping duties should be imposed on imports of the product concerned, it is necessary to determine whether, and to what extent, the subsidy and the dumping margin arise from the same situation.\n(26) In the parallel investigation referred to in recital 4, the subsidies found for the exporting producer concerned are not export subsidies and are therefore considered not to have affected the export price and the corresponding dumping margin. Consequently, the countervailing duties can be imposed together with the anti-dumping duties, to the extent that, pursuant to Article 9(4) of the basic Regulation, both duties taken together do not exceed the injury elimination margin of 22,6 % established for Thailand in the framework of the original investigation. This situation does not arise in the present case and therefore both countervailing and anti-dumping duties should be imposed.\nF. RETROACTIVE LEVYING OF THE ANTI-DUMPING DUTY\n(27) As the review has resulted in a determination of dumping in respect of the company concerned, the anti-dumping duty applicable to this company shall also be levied retroactively from the date of initiation of this review on imports which have been made subject to registration pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1292/2003.\nG. DISCLOSURE AND DURATION OF THE MEASURES\n(28) The company concerned and all other interested parties were informed of the facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to impose the definitive anti-dumping duty on its imports of the product concerned into the Community.\n(29) This review does not affect the date on which Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 will expire pursuant to Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation.\n(30) Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 should therefore be amended accordingly,\n1. In the table of Article 1(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 the following is added:\n\">TABLE>\"\n2. The duty hereby imposed shall also be levied retroactively on imports of the product concerned which have been registered pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1292/2003.\n3. Unless otherwise specified, the provisions in force concerning customs duties shall apply.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import" ], "distractor groups": [ "public debt", "blood transfusion", "lift", "Province of Flemish Brabant", "broadcasting", "Peninsular Malaysia", "flood", "use of languages", "intergovernmental legal instrument", "Friuli-Venezia Giulia" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1170/92 of 6 May 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2630/81 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the sugar sector\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1170/92 of 6 May 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2630/81 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the sugar sector\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 of 30 June 1981 on the common organization of the markets in the sugar sector (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 61/92 (2), and in particular Article 13 (2) thereof,\nWhereas amounts quoted in tenders submitted in response to invitations to tender organized under an instrument forming part of the common agricultural policy are to be expressed in ecus in conformity with Article 1 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 653/92 of 16 March 1992 (3); whereas in accordance with those same provisions, the amounts quoted in tenders accepted are expressed in ecus in certificates or other documents specifying those amounts; whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2630/81 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1714/88 (5), should consequently be adapted;\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 920/92 of 10 April 1992 on a standing invitation to tender to determine levies and/or refunds on exports of white sugar (6) applies to the 1992/93 marketing year from 21 April 1992; whereas the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 653/92 have already been taken into account therein; whereas it is necessary therefore to make this Regulation applicable also from the same date; whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 963/91 (7), establishing a standing invitiation to tender for the 1991/92 marketing year similar to that provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 920/92, applies until 20 May 1992; whereas, in order to comply with the conditions governing the standing invitation to tender to determine levies and/or refunds on exports of white sugar as they are laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 963/91, provision should be made for this Regulation not to be applicable to the remaining 51st, 52nd, 53rd, and 54th tenders still to be held;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the Management Committee for Sugar,\nArticle 2 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2630/81 is replaced by the following:\n'The export licence shall be issued for the quantity entered on the relevant notice of award to tender. Section 18a shall indicate the rate of the export refund or export levy, as stated in that notice, expressed in ecus. To this end it shall contain one of the following endorsements:\n- tasa de la restituci\u00f3n aplicable: . . . . . .;\n- restitutionssats: . . . . . .;\n- gueltiger Erstattungssatz: . . . . . .;\n- efarmozomeno ypsos epistrofis: . . . . . .;\n- rate of applicable refund: . . . . . .;\n- taux de la restitution applicable: . . . . . .;\n- tasso di restituzione applicabile: . . . . . .;\n- toe te passen restitutievoet: . . . . . .;\n- taxa de restitu\u00e7ao \u00e0 exporta\u00e7ao aplic\u00e1vel: . . . . . .;\nor, eventually:\n- tasa de exacci\u00f3n reguladora a la exportaci\u00f3n aplicable: . . . . . .;\n- eksportafgiftssats: . . . . . .;\n- gueltiger Satz der Ausfuhrabschoepfung: . . . . . .;\n- efarmozomeno ypsos eisforas kata tin exagogi: . . . . . .;\n- rate of applicable export levy: . . . . . .;\n- taux du pr\u00e9l\u00e8vement \u00e0 l'exportation applicable: . . . . . .;\n- tasso del prelievo all'esportazione applicabile: . . . . . .;\n- toe te passen heffingsvoet bij uitvoer: . . . . . .;\n- taxa do direito nivelador \u00e0 exporta\u00e7ao aplic\u00e1vel: . . . . . .'.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 21 April 1992.\nHowever, it shall not apply to the export licences granted or to be granted under the standing invitation to tender to determine levies and/or refunds on exports of white sugar established by Regulation (EEC) No 963/91. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "award of contract" ], "distractor groups": [ "customs inspection", "electronic game", "medium-term forecast", "work-life balance", "gas", "business activity", "Grand Est", "research method", "UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute", "calcium", "opinion of the Court of Auditors" ] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/142/EC: Commission Decision of 25 September 2007 on State aid C 32/2006 (ex N 179/2006) implemented by Poland for Huta Cynku Miasteczko \u015al\u0105skie SA (notified under document number C(2007) 4310) (Text with EEA relevance)\n20.2.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 44/36\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 25 September 2007\non State aid C 32/2006 (ex N 179/2006) implemented by Poland for Huta Cynku Miasteczko \u015al\u0105skie\u00a0SA\n(notified under document number C(2007) 4310)\n(Only the Polish version is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2008/142/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof,\nHaving called on interested parties to submit their comments\u00a0(1) pursuant to the provisions cited above and having regard to their comments,\nWhereas:\nI.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PROCEDURE\n(1) On 17 March 2006, Poland notified restructuring aid for Huta Cynku Miasteczko \u015al\u0105skie SA (hereinafter \u2018HCM\u2019). This notification took place following a Commission decision raising no objections regarding rescue aid to HCM in the form of a guarantee for a loan of PLN 11,8 million (EUR 3,12 million\u00a0(2)).\n(2) On 19 July 2006, the Commission decided to initiate a procedure under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the notified aid because of doubts about its compatibility with the common market. The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 30 August 2006\u00a0(3). The Commission invited interested parties to submit comments on the measures. No such third party comments were submitted.\n(3) On 18 September 2006, Poland submitted an incomplete response concerning the initiation of the procedure. By letter dated 23 May 2007, Poland informed the Commission that it was withdrawing the notification.\nII.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Beneficiary of the aid\n(4) HCM is a state-owned company created in 1966. It is active in the market for the production and metallurgical processing of non-ferrous metals (production of zinc and lead). In 2004 the company had a 51\u00a0% share of the Polish refined zinc market and a 3\u00a0% share of the European market. It has about 1\u00a0100 employees and is based in a region eligible for regional aid under Article 87(3)(a) of the EC Treaty.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aid measures\n(5) The Polish authorities notified the Commission that Agencja Rozwoju Przemys\u0142u SA (Industrial Development Agency SA, hereinafter \u2018ARP\u2019) intended to provide a loan of PLN 21,8 million (EUR 5,76 million) for a period of five years. Reimbursement was to start one year after the date on which the loan was granted. The loan was to be based on a variable interest rate equal to the Commission\u2019s reference rate. PLN 10 million (EUR 2,64 million) was to be spent on investment related to technological restructuring. The remaining PLN 11,8 million (EUR 3,11 million) was to be used to finance reimbursement of the rescue loan, i.e. the loan for which ARP had provided a guarantee.\n(6) Poland also informed the Commission of a planned composition agreement to be signed with creditors enabling the company to regain solvency. To this end, the creditors, who had claims on HCM worth PLN 65,3 million (EUR 15,9 million), were divided according to the size of the amounts due and the security held. The composition agreement essentially provides for deferral of the repayment of private and public debts for several years. To this end, different groups were formed according to the security held. The debt was deferred for a specific period for each group.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Grounds for initiating the procedure\n(7) The loan was notified by the Polish authorities as state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.\n(8) The Commission decided to initiate the procedure under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty because it had doubts as to whether all the conditions for approving restructuring aid laid down in the Community Guidelines on state aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty\u00a0(4) (hereinafter \u2018the Guidelines\u2019) applicable at the time were fulfilled, and in particular whether:\n(a) the restructuring plan would result in the beneficiary's long-term viability being restored, as the restructuring was mainly financial and was based primarily on a composition agreement which had not been signed at the date on which the procedure was initiated. Moreover the problem of the major impact of exchange rate variations on the company\u2019s financial results had not been sufficiently addressed;\n(b) the own contribution of the beneficiary to the coverage of restructuring costs was significant;\n(c) the compensatory measures were sufficient, as they consisted in a decrease of production capacity of only 0,7\u00a0%.\n(9) In addition, the Commission raised doubts about whether the composition agreement in fact included elements of state aid.\nIII.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0POLAND\u2019S COMMENTS\n(10) The Polish authorities have informed the Commission that HCM successfully concluded the composition agreement after the procedure was initiated.\n(11) Moreover, the Polish authorities have informed the Commission that the company has now become profitable (it had a net profit of PLN 10,3 million (about EUR 2,72 million) for the first half of 2006); its liquidity has improved and it is able to secure financing on the market. Thus, as the guaranteed loan was no longer an advantage for the company, Poland withdrew the notification of the measure referred to in recital 6. Furthermore, the company has reimbursed the loan for which a state guarantee was provided as rescue aid and so this guarantee no longer serves any purpose.\nIV.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ASSESSMENT\n(12) Under Article 8 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty\u00a0(5), Member States may withdraw a notification after the initiation of a formal investigation procedure in due time before the Commission has taken a decision on the aid. In such cases, the Commission must take a decision closing that procedure without carrying out an assessment.\n(13) Poland withdrew the notification of the state aid measure described in recital 6 above. However, in order to be able to terminate the procedure under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission needs to assess whether the composition agreement mentioned in recital 6 involves state aid elements.\n(14) The Commission recognises that the composition agreement does not constitute state aid, as it fulfils the private creditor test and because it consists in a debt deferral which is more advantageous for the creditors than the liquidation of HCM. It is settled case law that a public creditor will balance the advantage to be derived from receiving the sum offered under the restructuring plan against the sum which it would be able to recover if the firm was liquidated. No advantage, and thus no state aid, exists where restructuring would yield better proceeds than liquidation\u00a0(6). Poland provided a study showing that even if one assumes the deferral to result in a loss of funds if calculated in net present value, such a loss would still put the public creditors in a better position than the company's liquidation would do. As a consequence of the composition agreement, the creditors will be able to recover 75,7\u00a0% of their claims on average and those in a less favourable position will obtain 72,9\u00a0%, which is still higher than the potential proceeds from the liquidation, which the study estimates to be 64,8\u00a0%. Moreover, the Commission sees no grounds for finding that the public creditors received less favourable treatment than the private ones, as creditors of the same ranking were treated alike.\n(15) The notification of the restructuring plan meant that the rescue aid could be extended beyond the six-month deadline. However, Poland later withdrew this notification. Point 26 of the Guidelines states clearly that the notification of a restructuring plan is a condition sine qua non for an extension of the rescue aid. Therefore, if a notified restructuring plan is later withdrawn, the extension allowed for the rescue aid has to be terminated\u00a0(7). This condition was respected here as the loan which the state guarantee was securing was repaid.\nV.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0CONCLUSION\n(16) The Commission had decided to close the formal investigation procedure under Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the notified aid measure, noting that Poland has withdrawn the notification and has not granted any unlawful state aid,\nThe aid measure which Poland was planning to implement for HCM in the form of a loan of PLN 21,8 million (about EUR 5,76 million), has been withdrawn since the Commission opened the formal investigation procedure. The formal investigation procedure is therefore now redundant.\nRegarding the composition agreement, the Commission concludes that it does not constitute state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Republic of Poland.", "answer groups": [ "Poland", "metallurgical industry", "control of State aid", "aid for restructuring", "State aid", "non-ferrous metal", "aid to undertakings" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2014/527/EU: Decision of the European Central Bank of 9 July 2014 repealing Decision ECB/2013/22 on temporary measures relating to the eligibility of marketable debt instruments issued or fully guaranteed by the Republic of Cyprus and Decision ECB/2013/36 on additional temporary measures relating to Eurosystem refinancing operations and eligibility of collateral (ECB/2014/32)\n13.8.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 240/26\nDECISION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\nof 9 July 2014\nrepealing Decision ECB/2013/22 on temporary measures relating to the eligibility of marketable debt instruments issued or fully guaranteed by the Republic of Cyprus and Decision ECB/2013/36 on additional temporary measures relating to Eurosystem refinancing operations and eligibility of collateral\n(ECB/2014/32)\n(2014/527/EU)\nTHE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first indent of Article\u00a0127(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular the first indent of Article 3.1, Article 12.1, Article 18 and the second indent of Article 34.1 thereof,\nHaving regard to Guideline ECB/2011/14 of 20 September 2011 on monetary policy instruments and procedures of the Eurosystem\u00a0(1), and in particular Section 1.6 and Sections 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 of Annex I thereto,\nWhereas:\n(1) The content of Decisions ECB/2013/22\u00a0(2) and ECB/2013/36\u00a0(3) should be included in Guideline ECB/2013/4\u00a0(4), the core legal act governing temporary measures relating to Eurosystem refinancing operations and eligibility of collateral.\n(2) In the interest of clarity and consistency and with a view to simplifying the Eurosystem collateral framework, these steps are implemented by way of a recast of Guideline ECB/2013/4.\n(3) Decisions ECB/2013/22 and ECB/2013/36 should therefore be repealed,\nRepeal of Decisions ECB/2013/22 and ECB/2013/36\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Decisions ECB/2013/22 and ECB/2013/36 are repealed with effect from 20 August 2014.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0References to the repealed Decisions shall be construed as references to Guideline ECB/2014/31.\nEntry into force\nThis Decision shall enter into force on 9 July 2014.", "answer groups": [ "financial instrument", "bond", "single monetary policy", "financing method", "euro area", "credit guarantee", "Cyprus" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a041/2008 of 14 January 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01371/2005 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of grain oriented flat-rolled products of silicon-electrical steel originating in the United States of America and Russia\n19.1.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 16/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 41/2008\nof 14 January 2008\namending Regulation (EC) No 1371/2005 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of grain oriented flat-rolled products of silicon-electrical steel originating in the United States of America and Russia\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community\u00a0(1) (the basic Regulation), and in particular Article 11(3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0MEASURES IN FORCE\n(1) By Regulation (EC) No 1371/2005\u00a0(2), the Council imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of grain oriented flat-rolled products of silicon-electrical steel (GOES) originating in the United States of America (USA) and Russia (the definitive Regulation).\n(2) By Decision 2005/622/EC\u00a0(3), the Commission accepted price undertakings offered by two cooperating exporting producers that were imposed a company specific duty of 31,5\u00a0% (AK Steel Corporation, USA) and 11,5\u00a0% (Novolipetsk Iron and Steel Corporation (NLMK), Russia) respectively. The country-wide anti-dumping duties applicable to all other companies, except Viz Stal, Russia, subject to a duty of 0\u00a0%, are 37,8\u00a0% for USA and 11,5\u00a0% for Russia.\nB.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PRESENT INVESTIGATION\n(3) The information at the Commission\u2019s disposal indicated that certain GOES which typically have a thickness of up to 0,1 mm and due, inter alia, to their high electromagnetic efficiency, low weight and low heat development associated with their use possess properties which are not present in other types of GOES. As a result of these characteristics, the use of these products is also considered different and found typically in the aircraft and medical engineering industries. Therefore, it was considered appropriate to review the case as far as the scope of the product is concerned.\n(4) Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence existed to justify the initiation of a partial interim review, the Commission, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union, initiated a partial interim review in accordance with Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation\u00a0(4). The investigation was limited in scope to the definition of the product subject to the measures in force in order to assess the need for amendment of the product scope.\nC.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PRODUCT UNDER REVIEW\n(5) The product under review is grain oriented flat-rolled products of silicon-electrical steel, currently classifiable within CN codes 7225\u00a011\u00a000 (of a width of 600 mm or more) and 7226\u00a011\u00a000 (of a width of less than 600 mm). These codes are given only for information.\n(6) GOES are produced from hot-rolled coils of silicon alloyed steel of different thicknesses of which the particular grain structure is uniformly directed in order to allow for magnetic conductivity with a high degree of efficiency. Inefficiency with regard to this magnetic conductivity is called \u2018core loss\u2019, which is the prime indicator of the quality of the product.\n(7) The market is typically divided into high conductivity or high permeability grades and regular grades. The high permeability grades allow achieving lower core losses for any given thickness of the sheets. Such characteristics are especially relevant for industrial producers of electrical power transformers.\nD.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0INVESTIGATION\n(8) The Commission advised the Community producers of GOES, all known Community importers and users as well as all known exporting producers in the USA and Russia of the initiation of the review.\n(9) The Commission requested information from all the abovementioned parties and from those other parties who made themselves known within the time limit set in the notice of initiation of the investigation. The Commission also gave the interested parties the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing.\n(10) The following companies cooperated in the investigation and provided relevant information to the Commission:\n\u2014 ThyssenKrupp Electrical Steel GmbH, Gelsenkirchen, Germany,\n\u2014 Orb Electrical Steels Limited \u2014 Cogent Power Limited, Newport, United Kingdom,\n\u2014 AK Steel Corporation, Butler, Pennsylvania,\n\u2014 Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,\n\u2014 Novolipetski Iron & Steel Corporation (NLMK), Lipetsk,\n\u2014 VIZ Stal, Ekaterinburg,\n\u2014 Arnold Magnetic Technologies, Marengo, Illinois,\n\u2014 Gebr\u00fcder Waasner GmbH, Forchheim, Germany,\n\u2014 Gebr\u00fcder Waasner GmbH, Forchheim, Germany,\n\u2014 Sangl GmbH, Erlangen, Germany,\n\u2014 Vacuumschmelze GmbH, Hanau, Germany.\nE.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Different identity of \u2018ordinary\u2019 versus \u2018thin\u2019 GOES producers\n(11) None of the producers of GOES, which were investigated in the framework of the procedure leading to the imposition of the measures in force, produce GOES of the thickness as targeted by the current product scope investigation.\n(12) Neither ThyssenKrupp Electrical Steel GmbH, nor Orb Electrical Steels Limited (Cogent) produce thin GOES and the same situation applies to the US producers, i.e. AK Steel Corporation and Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, and the Russian producers VIZ Stal and NLMK. Consequently, none of these producers had a direct interest and none of them objected to a possible exclusion of thin GOES from the scope of the measures.\n(13) The production of thin GOES requires a process of re-rolling, which is performed by specialised companies of which only two are known to the Commission in the countries concerned: the US producer Arnold Magnetic Technologies and the Russian producer Ileko (Asha), of which only the former company cooperated. As indicated in recitals 10 and 11, there is no such production known in the Community.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Product differentiation\n(14) AK Steel Corporation produced thin GOES until 1971, as so-called T-grades. The production process started from fully finished GOES grades (both regular and high permeability), from which the mill coating was removed and where the sheets were re-rolled, re-annealed and re-coated. Specific end-uses were found in the aircraft industry, transformers and a wide variety of electro-technical applications, for which size and the weight of the material is of a decisive importance. It was found that such thin GOES are not interchangeable with other GOES.\n(15) It was also examined whether such T-grades consisted of a product which could be distinguished from \u2018ordinary\u2019 GOES on the basis of technical characteristics. It was found that the re-rolling production process (consisting of a cold mechanical stretching and flattening process), with re-annealing and re-coating, fundamentally alters the technical specifications of the product, an observation that is corroborated by the disappearance of the original manufacturers\u2019 product guarantee.\n(16) It was also found that the physical characteristic of thickness is not limited to 0,10 mm which was the maximal thickness mentioned in the notice of initiation. Most commercially occurring thicknesses are 0,1016 mm and 0,1524 mm which in the USA are commonly referred to as 4 \u2018mil\u2019 and 6 \u2018mil\u2019. One \u2018mil\u2019 stands for a thousand of an inch or 0,0254 mm.\n(17) The product definition of thin GOES therefore has to be specified as GOES which are re-rolled to a thickness of maximum 0,16 mm, re-annealed and re-coated.\nF.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0RETROACTIVE APPLICATION\n(18) In view of the above findings that thin GOES have different basic physical and technical characteristics and end-uses than other GOES, it is considered appropriate to exempt imports of GOES of a thickness of maximum 0,16 mm from the anti-dumping measures in force.\n(19) Consequently, for goods not covered by Article 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1371/2005 as amended by this Regulation, the definitive anti-dumping duties paid or entered in the accounts pursuant to Article 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1371/2005 in its initial version should be repaid or remitted.\n(20) Repayment or remission must be requested from national customs authorities in accordance with applicable customs legislation.\n(21) Since the present review investigation is limited to the clarification of the product and since it was not intended this product type be covered by the original measures, in order to prevent any consequent prejudice to importers of the product, it is considered appropriate that the findings be applied from the date of the entry into force of the definitive Regulation. Moreover, in particular in view of the relatively recent entry into force of the original Regulation and of the expected limited number of requests for refunds, there is no overriding reason not to provide for such retro-active application.\n(22) This review does not affect the date on which Regulation (EC) No 1371/2005 will expire pursuant to Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation,\nArticle 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1371/2005 shall be replaced by the following:\n\u20181.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A definitive anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of grain oriented flat-rolled products of silicon-electrical steel of a thickness of more than 0,16 mm, originating in the United States of America and Russia, falling within CN codes ex\u00a07225\u00a011\u00a000 (products of a width of 600 mm or more) (TARIC code 7225110010) and ex\u00a07226\u00a011\u00a000 (products of a width of less than 600 mm) (TARIC codes 7226110011 and 7226110091).\u2019\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 28 August 2005.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plate", "steel", "anti-dumping duty", "originating product", "United States", "anti-dumping legislation", "Russia" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Regulation (EEC) No 606/71 of the Commission of 23 March 1971 amending Regulation (EEC) No 685/69 in particular as regards private storage aid for butter and cream\nREGULATION (EEC) No 606/71 OF THE COMMISSION of 23 March 1971 amending Regulation (EEC) No 685/69 in particular as regards private storage aid for butter and cream\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 1 of 27 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1253/70 2, and in particular Article 6 (7) thereof;\nWhereas Article 24 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 685/69 3 of 14 April 1969 on detailed rules of application for intervention on the market in butter and cream, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 878/70 4, fixed the amount of private storage aid for butter and cream ; whereas, in view of the trend of prices and the market situation, such amounts should be amended ; whereas a method for the payment of aid should be specified ; whereas the new amounts should be aligned with those laid down in Article 6 (2) (a) and (b);\nWhereas experience has shown that, when these amendments are being made, some of the conditions governing storage contracts determined in Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 685/69, as well as the beginning of the storage period provided for in Article 24, should also be amended;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the Opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products;\nThe amount of 9 units of account shall be substituted for the amount of 8 units of account in Article 6 (2) (a) of Regulation (EEC) No 685/69.\nThe following shall be substituted for Article 23 of Regulation (EEC) No 685/69:\n\"Article 23\n1. The butter or cream shall have been made during the fourteen days preceding the day of its entry into storage under the contract.\n2. The minimum quantity of butter or cream referred to in Article 9 (1) (e) of Regulation (EEC) No 985/68 shall be 1000 kilogrammes per lot.\n3. The measures for supervision of lots under contract, provided for in Article 9 (1) (f) of Regulation (EEC) No 985/68, shall form part of the contract conditions.\n4. The contract conditions shall provide, in respect of butter, that the packaging shall bear at least the following information, which may be coded: (a) identification number of the factory,\n(b) date of manufacture,\n(c) date of entry into store,\n(d) delivery number.\n5. The storage contract shall not be concluded before the entry of the butter into store.\" 1OJ No L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 13. 2OJ No L 143, 1.7.1970, p. 1. 3OJ No L 90, 15.4.1969, p. 12. 4OJ No L 105, 15.5.1970, p. 24.\nThe following shall be substituted for Article 24 of Regulation (EEC) No 685/69;\n\"Article 24\n1. The private storage aid provided for in Article 6 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 shall be calculated per metric ton of butter or butter equivalent as follows: (a) 9 units of account for fixed costs,\n(b) 0 760 units of account per day of storage for costs related to the duration of storage. The number of days shall be reckoned from the day of entry into store until the day of removal. The amount shall not, however, exceed 126 units of account.\n(c) 30 units of account for deterioration in quality for a product stored for at least four months.\n2. The aid referred to in Article 26 may be paid by instalments. The amount of the payment may in no case exceed the amount of the aid due on the date of payment.\"\nThe following shall be substituted for Article 28 (1):\n\"1. The storage period shall begin on 1 April and end on 15 September of the same year. The period for removal from storage shall begin on 16 September and end on 31 March of the following year.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "butter", "cream", "private stock", "EU aid", "storage premium" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0892/2005 of 14 June 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0462/2005 as regards the quantity covered by the standing invitation to tender for the export of barley held by the German intervention agency\n15.6.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 152/11\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 892/2005\nof 14 June 2005\namending Regulation (EC) No 462/2005 as regards the quantity covered by the standing invitation to tender for the export of barley held by the German intervention agency\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93\u00a0(2) lays down the procedure and conditions for the disposal of cereals held by intervention agencies.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 462/2005\u00a0(3) opened a standing invitation to tender for the export of 1\u00a0000\u00a0693 tonnes of barley held by the German intervention agency.\n(3) Germany has informed the Commission of the intention of its intervention agency to increase by 300\u00a0000 tonnes the quantity put out to tender for export. In view of the market situation, the request made by Germany should be granted.\n(4) This increase in the quantity put out to tender makes it necessary to alter the quantity stored by region of storage referred to in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 462/2005.\n(5) Regulation (EC) No 462/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nRegulation (EC) No 462/2005 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 2 is replaced by the following:\n2. Annex I is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "barley", "award of contract", "intervention agency", "Germany" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 1384/94 of 13 June 1994 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of large aluminium electrolytic capacitors originating in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1384/94 of 13 June 1994 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of large aluminium electrolytic capacitors originating in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 12 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consultation within the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA. Provisional measures\n(1) By Regulation (EC) No 371/94 (2), the Commission imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of large aluminium electrolytic capacitors (LAECs) originating in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan and falling within CN code ex 8532 22 00.\nB. Subsequent procedure\n(2) Following the imposition of the provisional anti-dumping duty, no comments were submitted to the Commission's services by the non-cooperating parties concerned, except a memorandum by Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. No parties requested an opportunity to be heard by the Commission.\n(3) The Taiwanese cooperating producer was informed of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it is intended to recommend the imposition of a definitive anti-dumping duty and the definitive collection of amounts secured by way of provisional duty. This company was also granted a period within which to make representations subsequent to the disclosure.\nC. Product under investigation and like product\n(4) Regarding the product under consideration, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office disputed the Commission's preliminary determination of dumping and injury in respect of LAECs originating in Taiwan. It was argued that the information on which this determination was made was doubtful because only a few Taiwanese companies manufactured the large capacitors subject to investigation and because it was not possible to distinguish between small and large capacitors from Community import statistics. However, no new evidence was submitted to put into question the basis on which the preliminary determination was made. In fact, the Commission's verification in Taiwan revealed the existence of several producers of large capacitors. As regard the like product, no new arguments have been presented. The findings of the Commission as set out in recitals 7 to 10 of Regulation (EC) No 371/94 are hereby confirmed.\nD. Dumping\n1. Normal value\n(5) No comments were received on the preliminary determination of the normal value. Therefore, for the purpose of definitive findings, normal value was established on the same basis and the same methods as those used in the provisional determination of dumping. Recitals 11 to 15 of Regulation (EC) No 371/94 are therefore confirmed.\n2. Export price\n(6) No arguments were presented on the preliminary determination of the export price. The method used to establish export price, as set out in recitals 16 and 17 of Regulation (EC) No 371/94, is hereby confirmed.\n3. Comparison\n(7) The cooperating producer disputed some figures regarding freight costs and the rejection of an adjustment for salaries paid to salesmen, but no evidence was received to warrant a change in the Commission's provisional findings and conclusions. The findings and conclusions set out in recitals 18 and 19 of Regulation (EC) No 371/94 are therefore confirmed.\n4. Dumping margins\n(8) No further arguments were submitted on the methodology used by the Commission in its preliminary determination. Therefore, the weighted average dumping margins definitively established and expressed as a percentage of the free-at-Community-frontier price, are as follows:\n>TABLE>\nE. Community industry\n(9) No arguments were presented regarding the definition of the Community industry. The findings of the Commission as set out in recitals 22 and 23 of Regulation (EC) No 371/94 are hereby confirmed.\nF. Injury\n(10) No new arguments were put forward to modify the Commission's preliminary conclusion on injury. Therefore, the findings and conclusion, as set out in recitals 24 to 42 of Regulation (EC) No 371/94, are confirmed.\nG. Causation of injury\n(11) No arguments were presented to dispute the Commission's preliminary conclusions on the effect of the dumped imports on the Community industry, as set out in recitals 44 to 47 of Regulation (EC) No 371/94. Therefore, the Commission's conclusions are confirmed.\nH. Community interest\n(12) As set out in recitals 49 to 51 of Regulation (EC) No 371/94, the interests of the Community industry and of the end users were considered. As no new arguments were put forward in this connection, the findings of Regulation (EC) No 371/94 in this respect are confirmed.\nI. Duty\n(13) Provisional measures took the form of an anti-dumping duty. The rates were set at the level of the dumping margins found since, as set out in recital 53 of Regulation (EC) No 371/94, the level necessary to remove injury was higher. As no new arguments were put forward in this respect, a definitive duty should be established at the levels of the dumping margins definitively determined in recital 8 of this Regulation.\nJ. Collection of the provisional duties\n(14) In view of the dumping margins established and the material injury caused to the Community industry, it is considered necessary that the amounts secured by way of the provisional anti-dumping duty should be definitively collected,\n1. A definitive anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of large electrical capacitors, non-solid, aluminium electrolytic with a CV product (capacitance multiplied by rated voltage) between 8 000 and 550 000 \u0102\u0179c (micro-coulombs) at a voltage of 160 V or more, falling within CN code ex 8532 22 00 (Taric codes: 8532 22 00 * 11, 8532 22 00 * 13, 8532 22 00 * 91 and 8532 22 00 * 93), and originating in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.\n2. The rate of duty applicable to the net free-at-Community-frontier price, before duty, shall be as follows:\n>TABLE>\n3. The provisions in force concerning customs duties shall apply.\nThe amounts secured by way of the provisional anti-dumping duty pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 371/94 shall be definitively collected in full.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "electronic component", "South Korea", "Taiwan", "anti-dumping duty", "import" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1764/76 of 22 July 1976 laying down certain detailed rules for granting the differential amount and the subsidy provided for the refinery of raw sugar produced in the French overseas departments\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1764/76 of 22 July 1976 laying down certain detailed rules for granting the differential amount and the subsidy provided for the refinery of raw sugar produced in the French overseas departments\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/74 of 19 December 1974 on the common organization of the market in sugar (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1487/76 (2), and in particular Articles 9 (6) and 34 thereof,\nWhereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 1490/76 of 22 June 1976 fixing, for the 1976/77 sugar marketing year, the differential charge to be levied on raw preferential sugar and the differential amount to be granted in respect of raw cane sugar from the French overseas departments (3), has fixed the differential amount referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 9 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 3330/74 at 1 720 units of account per 100 kilogrammes of white sugar for the 1976/77 sugar marketing year;\nWhereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 1491/76 of 22 June 1976 laying down, for the 1976/77 sugar marketing year, measures to facilitate the disposal of sugar produced in the French overseas departments (4) has for the 1976/77 sugar marketing year specified a subsidy per 100 kilogrammes white sugar of 1.29 units of account as an appropriate measure within the meaning of Article 9 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 3330/74;\nWhereas in order to grant these amounts it is necessary to convert the amounts applicable to raw sugar and to lay down appropriate measures for conversion and control;\nWhereas, in order that a regular check may be kept upon the quantities of sugar refined, provision should be made for periodic communication of those quantities;\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2821/75 of 30 October 1975 laying down certain detailed rules for granting the amounts provided for the refining of raw sugar produced in the French overseas departments (5) should be repealed;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar,\n1. The amounts referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 1490/76 and in Article 2 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1491/76, converted into amounts per 100 kilogrammes of standard quality raw sugar, shall be respectively: (a) 1 7104 units of accounts;\n(b) 1 7 187 units of account.\n2. Quantities of raw sugar of a quality other than the standard quality shall be adjusted by a conversion factor. This conversion factor shall be equal to the yield of such raw sugar, divided by 92. The yield shall be calculated in accordance with Article 1 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 431/68 of 9 April 1968 determining the standard quality for raw sugar and fixing the Community frontier crossing point for calculating cif prices for sugar (6).\nOn application by the person concerned, which shall be submitted before the sugar in question is refined, the amounts referred to in Article 1 shall be paid by the Member State in whose territory the raw sugar has been refined.\nThe applicant must prove that the raw sugar in question was produced in the French overseas departments. The Member State concerned shall put this sugar under customs control or under an administrative control offering equivalent guarantees. (1)OJ No L 359, 31.12.1974, p. 1. (2)OJ No L 167, 26.6.1976, p. 9. (3)OJ No L 167, 26.6.1976, p. 15. (4)OJ No L 167, 26.6.1976, p. 17. (5)OJ No L 280, 31.10.1975, p. 35. (6)OJ No L 89, 10.4.1968, p. 3.\nThe Member State referred to in Article 2 shall inform the Commission each month, within the two months following the month in question, of the quantities in respect of which the amount referred to in Article 1 has been granted. For the purpose of such communications these quantities shall be converted into quantities of standard quality raw sugar.\nRegulation (EEC) No 2821/75 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply with effect from 1 July 1976.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "raw sugar", "sugar refining", "sales aid", "economic support", "French overseas department and region" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "75/452/ECSC: Commission Decision of 7 April 1975 authorizing the formation of a holding company in the commercial vehicle, bus and articulator tractor industry (Only the German and Danish texts are authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 7 April 1975 authorizing the formation of a holding company in the commercial vehicle, bus and articulator tractor industry (Only the German and Italian texts are authentic) (75/452/ECSC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 66 thereof;\nHaving regard to High Authority Decision No 24/54 (1) of 6 May 1954 laying down in implementation of Article 66 (1) of the Treaty a Regulation on what constitutes control of an undertaking;\nHaving regard to the application submitted by Fiat on 12 September 1974;\nHaving obtained the views of the Italian and German Governments;\nWhereas: 1. Fiat SpA (Fiat), Turin, is a steel-producing undertaking within the meaning of Article 80 of the Treaty with a share capital of Lit 150 000 milllion;\n2. Kl\u00f6ckner-Humboldt-Deutz (KHD), Cologne, is a mechanical engineering undertaking, producing, among other things, commercial vehicles and buses, with a share capital of DM 182 million, 25 % of which is held by the commercial company Kl\u00f6ckner and Co., Duisburg, which apart from its other activities is one of the largest steel stockholders in the Community;\n3. By the agreement concluded on 10 July 1974, which is to enter into force as from 1 January 1975 if authorized by the Commission, Fiat and KHD propose to transfer to a holding company formed under Dutch law and known as Industrial Vehicle Corporation (IVECO) a given part of their assets relating to commercial vehicles and buses for on-highway and off-highway use;\n4. Initially, 80 % of the share capital in IVECO will be subscribed by Fiat and 20 % by KHD. Whenever the capital of IVECO is increased, Fiat and KHD will both subscribe in such a way as to preserve the four-to-one ratio in favour of Fiat. The parties will be represented on the board of directors in proportion to their shareholdings;\n5. As a result of its 80 % shareholding in IVECO and of its majority position on the board of directors, Fiat will be in a position to exercise sole control over IVECO's activities. It can therefore be assumed that Fiat will control IVECO within the meaning of Decision No 24/54. The transaction will therefore entail a concentration within the meaning of Article 66 (1) between Fiat and the firms transferred by KHD to the IVECO group;\n6. In 1973 Fiat produced 1 550 000 metric tons of finished rolled products. In manufacturing the vehicles involved in the transaction it used approximately 180 000 metric tons of steel, i.e. about 11 76 % of its total output. It used nearly 90 % of its output of rolled steel products in its own processing plants;\n7. During the same period KHD's steel input for the manufacture of vehicles was 11 600 metric tons - approximately 0 77 % of Fiat's total output of finished rolled products;\n8. A consequence of the transaction at issue is that it will be possible for Fiat to supply finished rolled products which KHD has hitherto purchased from other producers. However, any resulting expansion of FIAT's internal outlets is likely to be negligible and would not bring about any significant change in Fiat's market position as a supplier of finished rolled products;\n9. The proposed transaction then, will not give Fiat the power to determine prices, to control or restrict (1)OJ of the ECSC No 9, 11.5.1954, p. 345/54.\nproduction or distribution or to hinder effective competition in a substantial part of the market for finished rolled steel products, or to evade the rules of competition instituted under the Treaty, in particular by establishing an artificially privileged position involving a substantial advantage in access to supplies or markets;\n10. The transaction consequently satisfies the tests for authorization under Article 66 (2) of the Treaty and may be authorized;\n11. The effects of this concentration on the markets for commercial vehicles, buses and articulator tractors have been examined in the light of the competition rules of the EEC Treaty;\n12. Any agreement or concerted practice between the parties going beyond the scope of the transaction here at issue will have to be notified to the Commission for appraisal in the light of Article 65 of the ECSC Treaty or Article 85 of the EEC Treaty,\nThe formation of the holding company IVECO is hereby authorized.\nThis Decision is addressed to Fiat Societ\u00e0 per Azioni, Turin, and Kl\u00f6ckner-Humboldt-Deutz AG, Cologne.", "answer groups": [ "investment company", "Italy", "inter-company agreement", "bus", "Germany", "commercial vehicle" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "75/569/ECSC: Commission Decision of 3 July 1975 authorizing an agreement between several steel industry undertakings concerning the joint buying of prereduced iron ore (Only the French text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 3 July 1975 authorizing an agreement between several steel industry undertakings concerning the joint buying of prereduced iron ore (Only the French text is authentic) (75/569/ECSC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 65 thereof;\nHaving regard to the application submitted by the undertakings concerned on 10 December 1974,\nWHEREAS:\nI 1. On 10 December 1974, several French undertakings engaged in the production of steel within the meaning of Article 80 of the Treaty applied to the Commission for authorization of an agreement concerning, inter alia, the joint buying of prereduced iron ore through the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Fran\u00e7aise des Minerais Pr\u00e9r\u00e9duits S.A., Paris (SFMP), a company with a share capital of FF 1 000 000.\nThe undertakings concerned are the following: >PIC FILE= \"T0006874\">\n>PIC FILE= \"T0006875\">\n2. SFMP will have the following objects: (1) Studies : to keep its shareholders informed of current studies and research on the direct reduction of iron ore;\n(2) Supplies : to negotiate, whether in its own name or in the name and for the account of its shareholders or of other firms, medium and long-term supply contracts for prereduced iron ore;\n(3) Representation : to represent its shareholders in dealings with foreign undertakings interested in participating in setting up direct reduction plants;\n(4) Setting up plants : to study and possibly set up and operate direct reduction plants in its own name, or for account of all or some of its shareholders, acting either alone or with third parties.\n3. As regards supplies (object (2) above) SFMP will purchase prereduced material to the order and for the account of its members on a brokerage basis, the commission charged by SFMP going to cover its own costs. SFMP will not have the exclusive right to make such purchases, but any member undertakings intending to obtain supplies direct will inform SFMP's Chairman in advance.\n4. In principle, direct reduction plants (object (4) above) would be set up and operated in conjunction with SFMP by undertakings specially formed for the purpose.\n5. Subject to the possibility of earlier dissolution, reduction or extension, SFMP will be formed for a period of 99 years running from its incorporation.\n6. SFMP will be run by a Board of not less than three and not more than 12 Directors appointed for a maximum term of office of six years by the shareholders in General Meeting.\nII 7. The agreement restricts the normal play of competition between the undertakings involved in that they agree: - to share products and sources of supply by coordinating their purchases of prereduced iron ore through SFMP ; and\n- to control investment in and production of prereduced iron ore through SFMP, either alone or together with third parties.\n8. Accordingly, the agreement is caught by the prohibition in Article 65 (1), even if to some extent it only constitutes a declaration of intent to be clarified subsequently as regards the terms on which direct reduction plants will be set up and operated.\n9. Article 65 (2) empowers the Commission to authorize specialization agreements or joint buying or joint selling agreements and certain agreements strictly analogous in nature and effect, where it finds that the tests of that Article are satisfied.\n10. The coordination envisaged by the firms, in obtaining supplies of prereduced iron ore through SFMP, is strictly analogous to a joint buying agreement ; while coordination of investments and plant operation can be regarded as strictly analogous to specialization.\n11. The agreement may thus be authorized under Article 65 (2) if and to the extent that it makes for a substantial improvement in the production or distribution of the products in question, if it is essential in order to achieve these results and if it is not more restrictive than is necessary for that purpose. It must also be shown that the agreement is not liable to give the undertakings concerned the power to determine the prices or to control or to restrict the production or marketing of a substantial part of the products in question within the common market, or to shield them against effective competition from other undertakings within the common market.\nIII 12. The undertakings which are party to the agreement account for some 95 % of crude steel production in France.\n13. Prereduced iron ore constitutes a high quality substitute for scrap for all purposes, but particularly in electrical steel furnaces. Prereduction processes have been developed to an important extent only in recent times, with a number of projects being carried out or studied throughout the world, particularly in non-Community countries which are rich in iron ore and/or in hydrocarbons.\n14. So far the only Community country in which prereduction of iron ore has reached the stage of industrial production is the Federal Republic of Germany, although a number of major projects are being considered elsewhere in the Community.\n15. World production of prereduced iron ore is running at an annual rate of some six million metric tons ; of this total, only half a million metric tons are produced in the Community, where total crude steel production in 1973 was 150 million metric tons, using 100 million metric tons of pig iron and about 63 million metric tons of scrap. Consumption of prereduced iron ore in the Community has hitherto been insignificant as compared with total steel production.\n16. Taking account of the plants already planned in other Community countries, world prereduced iron ore production could reach some 30 million metric tons by 1980, although a major part of this production will probably be used in steel melting shops down-stream from the direct reduction plants themselves. Hence the tonnages available for export to Community countries are likely to remain relatively low.\n17. Both in the Community and elsewhere electrical steel melting shops and the continuous casting process are showing a particularly strong upsurge in popularity at a time when, as can be seen from \"Report on Investment in the Community coalmining and iron and steel industries\" published by the Commission in September 1974, the decline of the open hearth process is slowing down. As the continuous casting process is adopted by more and more steel works, the quantity of scrap arising in the works will fall noticeably. Both the electrical and open hearth processes are based primarily on scrap. These trends \"will not fail to influence the demand for scrap, a raw material for which supply is not particularly elastic. In addition, the direct reduction of iron ore does not seem likely to supply substitute products in appreciable quantities in the medium term\" (op. cit.).\n18. Accordingly, although economic pressures are lower in the present time of reduced business activity, it must be assumed that in the medium term there will be a serious shortage of scrap. It is therefore desirable for the largest possible quantities of prereduced iron ore to become available either from non-Community countries or from plants to be set up within the Community, to take the place of some of this scrap.\nIV 19. The joint buying of prereduced iron ore envisaged by the parties to this agreement will enable them to order larger tonnages and thus to claim higher bulk discounts and reduce their transport costs ; this will permit a cut in supply costs. Medium-term contracts will enable them to guarantee stability both of supplies and of prices, particularly at times of shortage.\n20. In view of the circumstances described above, the joint buying agreement must be regarded as making for a substantial improvement in the production of crude steel and steel products.\n21. The agreement is essential in order to achieve these results, for comparable improvements would be out of the question if each individual undertaking purchased prereduced iron ore separately.\n22. The joint buying agreement does not give SFMP exclusive control over such purchases. The fact that the member undertakings undertake to inform SFMP's Chairman in advance when they propose to make direct purchases does not give the Chairman any right of veto but simply assists the coordination which is necessary to ensure the improvements referred to in paragraph 19.\n23. In these circumstances, the joint buying agreement is no more restrictive than is required for its purpose and it satisfies the tests of Article 65 (2) (a) and (b).\n24. The joint buying agreement will not give the undertakings concerned the power to determine the general level of prices or production of prereduced iron ore, for this will be determined rather by the world supply and demand situation and by the current actual and relative prices for scrap and for pig iron (which in many cases can be replaced by scrap and prereduced iron). Joint buying does not give the undertakings concerned the power to determine the prices or to control or restrict the production or marketing of a substantial part of the products in question within the common market ; accordingly, as regards joint buying, the agreement satisfies the tests of Article 65 (2) (c).\nV 25. As regards the building and operating of prereduction plants, the agreement provides only a framework and the details will have to be filled in before a final decision can be given as to its compatibility with Article 65 (2) or, as the case may be, Article 66 (2). Among other things, it will have to be established with certainty that no proposals to cooperate on such plants would give the undertakings concerned the power to determine the prices or to control or restrict the production or marketing of a substantial part of prereduced iron ore in the common market.\n26. Consequently, SFMP and the member undertakings will be required to inform the Commission of any proposal for building or operating a direct reduction plant within the Community. Such a proposal may not become operational until the Commission has granted an authorization under Article 65 or 66 of the Treaty.\nVI 27. The objects of the studies and the representation function to be carried out by SFMP (objects (1) and (3) referred to in paragraph 2 above) will be to keep abreast of developments in the various prereduction processes, to study the technical and economic possibilities for siting plants, either in France or in other countries, to assess processes and products and to provide the necessary contacts with third parties for the attainment of these objects. On these points the agreement is not restrictive of competition.\nVII 28. The Commission needs to be in a position to monitor the development of cooperation between steel undertakings regarding the joint supply of prereduced iron ore. SFMP and the undertakings concerned will therefore have to notify the Commission without delay of any change in the number of shareholders of SFMP and of any change or addition to the agreement or to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of SFMP and to refrain from operating them until the Commission has stated that they are acceptable, or, as the case maybe, has authorized them under Article 65 of the Treaty.\n29. Having regard to the conditions imposed above the agreement is compatible with Article 65 (2) of the Treaty,\nThe agreement between the following undertakings:\nUSINOR - Union Sid\u00e9rurgique du Nord et de l'Est de la France S.A., Paris,\nSACILOR - Aci\u00e9ries et Laminoirs de Lorraine S.A., Hayange, Ch\u00e2tillon-Commentry-Biache, S.A., Paris, S.A. des hauts fourneaux de la Chiers, Longwy-Bas, Creusot-Loire S.A., Paris, Ugine Aciers S.A., Paris, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des aci\u00e9ries et tr\u00e9fileries de Neuves-Maisons, Ch\u00e2tillon S.A., Neuves-Maisons, Forges d'Allevard, Paris, S.A. Cockerill Ougr\u00e9e-Providence et Esp\u00e9rance-Longdoz, Seraing, S.A. Fabrique de fer de Maubeuge, Louvroil, S.A. Marrel Fr\u00e8res, Les \u00c9taings-Chateauneuf (Loire), Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 nouvelle des aci\u00e9ries de Pompey S.A., Neuilly-sur-Seine, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des aciers fins de l'Est (SAFE), Paris, Hauts fourneaux r\u00e9unis de Saulnes et Uckange, Paris, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 m\u00e9tallurgique de Normandie S.A., Paris, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 lorraine de laminage continu Sollac S.A., Paris, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 lorraine et m\u00e9ridionale de laminage continu (Solmer), Paris, Vallourec S.A., Paris, Pont-\u00e0-Mousson S.A., Paris,\nnotified to the Commission by letter of 10 December 1974 and concerning the joint buying of prereduced iron ore is hereby authorized.\nThe following conditions are attached to the authorization: 1. Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Fran\u00e7aise des Minerais Pr\u00e9r\u00e9duits S.A. and its member undertakings shall without delay inform the Commission of: (a) any proposal for building or operating a direct reduction plant within the Community;\n(b) any change in the number of shareholders of Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Fran\u00e7aise des Minerais Pr\u00e9r\u00e9duits S.A.;\n(c) any change or addition to their agreement or to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Fran\u00e7aise des Minerais Pr\u00e9r\u00e9duits S.A.\n2. The proposals, changes and additions to be notified pursuant to paragraph 1 may not become operational until the Commission has confirmed that they are within the terms of the authorization given by this Decision or has authorized them under Article 65 (2) or, as the case may be, Article 66 (2) of the Treaty.\nThis Decision is addressed to the undertakings named in Article 1 and to Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Fran\u00e7aise des Minerais Pr\u00e9r\u00e9duits S.A.", "answer groups": [ "inter-company agreement", "iron and steel industry", "iron ore", "purchase", "France", "restrictive trade practice" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2000/604/EC: Council Decision of 29 September 2000 on the composition and the statutes of the Economic Policy Committee\nCouncil Decision\nof 29 September 2000\non the composition and the statutes of the Economic Policy Committee\n(2000/604/EC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 209 thereof,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) The Economic Policy Committee (hereinafter \"the Committee\") was set up by Council Decision 74/122/EEC(1).\n(2) The Committee has exercised all the functions hitherto assigned to the Short-term Economic Policy Committee set up by Council Decision of 9 March 1960 on coordination of the conjunctural policies of the Member States(2), the Budgetary Policy Committee set up by Council Decision of 8 May 1964 on cooperation between the competent government departments of Member States in the field of budgetary policy(3), and the Medium-term Economic Policy Committee set up by Council Decision of 15 April 1964 setting up a Medium-term Economic Policy Committee(4).\n(3) The Committee is provided for in Article 272 of the Treaty.\n(4) The statutes of the Committee should reflect the new institutional environment created by entry into the third stage of economic and monetary union; it seems advisable to maintain the basic structure of the Committee while making the necessary adjustments to improve its functioning and to describe its tasks more precisely.\n(5) The task assigned to the Committee shall be without prejudice to the right of the Commission to formulate recommendations or deliver opinions on matters dealt with in the Treaty.\n(6) The introduction of the euro reinforces the need for a close coordination of economic policies and sustained convergence of the economic performances of the Member States; according to the resolution of the European Council of 13 December 1997 on economic policy coordination in stage 3 of economic and monetary union(5) enhanced economic policy coordination should include a closer monitoring of macroeconomic developments in Member States and of Member States structural policies in labour, product and services markets, as well as of cost and price trends, particularly in so far as they affect the chances of achieving sustained non-inflationary growth and job creation.\n(7) The broad economic policy guidelines and the multilateral surveillance procedure as provided for in Article 99 of the Treaty are at the centre of economic policy coordination; without prejudice to the tasks of the Economic and Financial Committee, the Committee should provide support for the formulation of the guidelines and contribute to the multilateral surveillance procedure in the areas mentioned in this Decision.\n(8) The European Council at its meeting in Cardiff on 16 June 1998 welcomed the decision of the Ecofin Council and the ministers meeting in that Council on 1 May 1998(6) to establish a light procedure, fully respecting the subsidiarity principle, for monitoring progress on economic reform.\n(9) The resolution of the European Council of 3 and 4 June 1999 launched a process of macroeconomic dialogue at Community level. This macroeconomic dialogue is aimed at improving the interaction between wage developments and macroeconomic policies. The European Council has concluded that the macroeconomic dialogue at technical level should take place in a working party set up in the framework of the Committee in collaboration with the Employment and Labour Market Committee, with the participation of representatives of both committees (including the European Central Bank), of the Commission and of the Macroeconomic Group of the Social Dialogue. The Committee should in particular organise the contribution of government representatives to the dialogue at this level.\n(10) The resolution of the European Council of 16 June 1997 on growth and employment(7) called for an enhanced coordination of economic policies to complement the procedure as envisaged in the new title on employment in the Treaty, and requested that the Employment Committee should work closely together with the Committee.\n(11) The Treaty provides for the establishment of an Economic and Financial Committee. The tasks of the Economic and Financial Committee are set out in Article 114(2) of the Treaty. The statutes of the Economic and Financial Committee have been adopted by Council Decision of 31 December 1998(8). The Committee should work in close cooperation with the Economic and Financial Committee when assisting the Council.\n(12) The Treaty calls for the establishment of an employment committee. Close cooperation with that committee is also required.\n(13) The description of the tasks of the Committee is to be without prejudice to any possible future secondary legislation on the multilateral surveillance procedure as provided for in Article 99(5) of the Treaty.\n(14) The Member States, the Commission and the European Central Bank should be adequately represented in the Committee. They should each nominate four members.\n(15) Members of the Committee should be appointed in their personal capacity and should be guided in performing their duties by the general interests of the Community.\n(16) The President of the Committee should be elected for a period of two years. As a rule, this term should not be renewable. It should be possible to extend the term if there is no other candidate for the Presidency.\n(17) The membership of the Committee of officials from the European Central Bank and national central banks is to be without prejudice to Article 108 of the Treaty,\nThe statutes of the Economic Policy Committee provided for in Article 272 of the Treaty (\"the Committee\") are hereby adopted.\nThe text of the statutes is set out in the Annex hereto.\nDecision 74/122/EEC is hereby repealed.\nThis Decision shall take effect from the day following its publication.", "answer groups": [ "European legal status", "comitology", "committee (EU)", "economic policy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Regulation (EEC) No 453/73 of the Commission of 31 January 1973 amending, following the enlargement of the Communities, Regulations (EEC) Nos 990/72, 1259/72, 1282/72, 1717/72, 2474/72 and 2537/72 concerning milk and milk products\nREGULATION (EEC) No 453/73 OF THE COMMISSION of 31 January 1973 amending, following the enlargement of the Communities, Regulations (EEC) Nos 990/72, 1259/72, 1282/72, 1717/72, 2474/72 and 2537/72 concerning milk and milk products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 (1) of 27 June 1968 establishing a common organization of the market in milk and milk products, as last amended by the Act (2) annexed to the Treaty (3) concerning the Accession of new Member States to the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, signed at Brussels on 22 January 1972, and in particular Articles 6 (7) and 10 (3) thereof;\nWhereas various Commission regulations concerning aids and interventions on the milk and milk products market provide for the apposition, either in customs documents or on the packaging of the products concerned, of particulars in the languages of the Member States;\nWhereas, following the enlargement of the Communities, provision should be made for adding particulars as above in English and Danish;\nWhereas the regulations involved are the following: - Commission Regulation (EEC) No 990/72 (4) of 15 May 1972 on detailed rules for granting aid for skimmed milk processed into compound feedingstuffs and for skimmed-milk powder for use as feed, as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1664/72 (5), in Article 7 (2);\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1259/72 (6) of 16 June 1972 on the disposal of butter at a reduced price to certain Community processing undertakings, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2815/72 (7), in Articles 14, 16 (2) and 17 (1) (a) and (b) and (2);\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1282/72 (8) of 21 June 1972 on the sale of butter at a reduced price to the army and similar forces, as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2369/72 (9), in Article 4 (2) and in Article 6 (2);\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1717/72 (10) of 8 August 1972 on the sale of butter at a reduced price to non-profit making institutions and organizations, as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2369/72, in Article 10;\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2474/72 (11) of 27 November 1972 on the sale at reduced prices of intervention butter for direct consumption in the Community, as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 206/73 (12), in Articles 4 (2), 5 (2) and 8 (2) (a) and (b);\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2537/72 (13) of 4 December 1972 on invitations to tender for the supply of butteroil for the World Food Programme, in Article 12 (a) and (b);\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the Opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products;\nThe following two indents are added to Article 7 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 990/72: (1)OJ No L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 13. (2)OJ No L 73, 27.3.1972, p. 14. (3)OJ No L 73, 27.3.1972, p. 5. (4)OJ No L 115, 17.5.1972, p. 1. (5)OJ No L 175, 2.8.1972, p. 48. (6)OJ No L 139, 17.6.1972, p. 18. (7)OJ No L 297, 30.12.1972, p. 3. (8)OJ No L 142, 22.6.1972, p. 14. (9)OJ No L 255, 11.11.1972, p. 9. (10)OJ No L 181, 9.8.1972, p. 11. (11)OJ No L 267, 28.11.1972, p. 13. (12)OJ No L 23, 29.1.1973, p. 19. (13)OJ No L 272, 5.12.1972, p. 15. - \"Pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 990/72 - compound feedingstuffs intended for a farm or breeding or fattening concern using compound feedingstuffs.\"\n- \"Anvendelse af forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 990/72 - foderblandinger til anvendelse i en landbrugsbedrift, en husdyravls- eller opfedningsvirksomhed.\"\nRegulation (EEC) No 1259/72 is amended as follows: 1. The following are added to the markings provided for in Article 14:\n\"Butter for processing (Regulation (EEC) No 1259/72).\"\n\"Sm\u00f8r bestemt til forarbejdning (forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 1259/72).\"\n2. The following are added to the markings provided for in Article 16 (2):\n\"Concentrated butter for processing into one of the products listed in Article 6 (1) (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 1259/72.\"\n\"Koncentreret sm\u00f8r bestemt til forarbejdning til et af de produkter, som er n\u00e6vnt i artikel 6, stk. 1, litra c) i forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 1259/72.\"\n3. The following additions are made to Article 17: - to the endorsements provided for in paragraph (1) (a):\n\"Butter intended: (1) for concentration and incorporation;\n(2) for processing thereafter into one of the products listed in Article 6 (1) (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 1259/72.\"\n\"Sm\u00f8r bestemt: (1) til at koncentreres eller til at indarbejdes;\n(2) til derpa at forarbejdes til et af de produkter, som er n\u00e6vnt i artikel 6, stk. 1, litra c), i forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 1259/72.\"\n- to the endorsements provided for in paragraph (1) (b):\n\"Concentrated butter for processing into one of the products listed in Article 6 (1) (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 1259/72\"\n\"Koncentreret sm\u00f8r bestemt til forarbejdning til et af de produkter, som er n\u00e6vnt i artikel 6, stk. 1, litra c) i forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 1259/72\"\n- to the endorsements provided for in paragraph (2):\n\"Butter for processing under Article 6 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1259/72\"\n\"Sm\u00f8r bestemt til forarbejdning i henhold til artikel 6, stk. 2, i forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 1259/72.\"\nRegulation (EEC) No 1282/72 is amended as follows: 1. The following are added to the markings provided for in Article 4 (2):\n\"Intervention butter sold to the army - Regulation (EEC) No 1282/72\"\n\"Interventionssm\u00f8r solgt til haeren - forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 1282/72.\"\n2. The following are added to the markings provided for in Article 6 (2):\n\"sold to the army and similar forces under Regulation (EEC) No 1282/72\"\n\"solgt til haeren og til dermed ligestillede enheder i henhold til forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 1282/72.\"\nIn Article 10 of Regulation (EEC) No 1717/72, the third marking shown in paragraph 1 and the third marking shown in paragraph 2 are deleted.\nRegulation (EEC) No 2474/72 is amended as follows: 1. In Article 4 (2) the following two indents are added: - \"Intervention butter\"\n- \"Interventionssm\u00f8r.\"\n2. The following are added to the markings provided for in Article 5 (2):\n\"Butter at reduced price (Regulation (EEC) No 2474/72)\"\n\"Sm\u00f8r til nedsat pris (forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 2474/72\".\n3. The following are added to the endorsements provided for in Article 8 (2) (a):\n\"Butter at reduced price for direct consumption (Regulation (EEC) No 2474/72)\"\n\"Sm\u00f8r til nedsat pris bestemt til umiddelbart forbrug (forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 2474/72).\"\n4. The following are added to the endorsements provided for in Article 8 (2) (b):\n\"Butter intended for special packaging for direct consumption (Regulation (EEC) No 2474/72)\"\n\"Sm\u00f8r bestemt til en saerlig behandling med henblik pa umiddelbart forbrug (forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 2474/72)\".\nArticle 12 of Regulation (EEC) No 2537/72 is amended as follows: 1. The following are added to the endorsements provided for in subparagraph (a):\n\"Butter intended: (1) for processing into butteroil,\n(2) for delivery thereafter fob to the WFP under Regulation (EEC) No 2537/72\"\n\"Sm\u00f8r bestemt: (1) til forarbejdning til butteroil,\n(2) til pa folgende levering fob til WFP i henhold til forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 2537/72.\"\n2. The following are added to the endorsements provided for in subparagraph (b):\n\"Butteroil for delivery to the WFP under Regulation (EEC) No 2537/72\"\n\"Butteroil bestemt til levering fob til WFP i henhold til forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 2537/72.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 February 1973.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "milk product", "common agricultural policy", "enlargement of the Union", "milk" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01498/2007 of 18 December 2007 laying down specific rules for issuing import licences for sugar and sugar and cocoa mixtures with ACP/OCTs or EC/OCTs cumulation of origin\n19.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 333/6\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1498/2007\nof 18 December 2007\nlaying down specific rules for issuing import licences for sugar and sugar and cocoa mixtures with ACP/OCTs or EC/OCTs cumulation of origin\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 2001/822/EC of 27 November 2001 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Community (Overseas Association Decision)\u00a0(1), and in particular the fifth subparagraph of Article 6(4) of Annex III thereto,\nWhereas:\n(1) Decision 2001/822/EC allows ACP/OCTs or EC/OCTs cumulation of origin for the quantities laid down in that Decision with regard to products falling within CN Chapter 17 and CN codes 1806\u00a010\u00a030 and 1806\u00a010\u00a090.\n(2) Specific rules for issuing import licences have been established for these products under Commission Regulation (EC) No 192/2002 of 31 January 2002 laying down detailed rules for issuing import licences for sugar and sugar and cocoa mixtures with ACP/OCTs or EC/OCTs cumulation of origin\u00a0(2) so as to permit the requisite controls on imports of the quantities provided for in Decision 2001/822/EC.\n(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules for the administration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences\u00a0(3) applies to import licences for the import tariff quota periods commencing from 1 January 2007. Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 lays down, in particular, detailed rules for applications for import licences, the status of applicants and the issue of licences. It limits the validity of licences to the final day of the tariff quota period. The provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 should apply, without prejudice to the additional rules laid down by this Regulation.\n(4) The rules laid down in the above Regulation should therefore apply to Regulation (EC) No 192/2002. However, certain rules should be adapted to reflect the specific characteristics of the trade covered by Regulation (EC) No 192/2002. In the interests of clarity and rationality, Regulation (EC) No 192/2002 should be repealed and replaced by a new Regulation.\n(5) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance-fixing certificates for agricultural products\u00a0(4) should also apply, subject to the specific measures provided for in this Regulation.\n(6) With a view to ensuring orderly management, preventing speculation and providing for effective controls, detailed rules should be laid down for submitting licence applications and the documents that the interested parties must produce. To this end, the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 should apply.\n(7) The specific features of the licence application form for importing the products in question should be laid down and, in order to ensure that such imports are managed strictly, it should be laid down that the rights deriving from licences are not transferable.\n(8) Rules should also be laid down regarding time limits for the submission of licence applications and the issue of licences by the competent authorities of the Member States,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Regulations (EC) No 1291/2000 and (EC) No 1301/2006 shall apply to the import at zero-rate customs duty of products falling within CN Chapter 17 and CN codes 1806\u00a010\u00a030 and 1806\u00a010\u00a090 with OCTs origin subject to cumulation with sugar of ACP and/or EC origin, unless otherwise provided for in this Regulation.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Import licences issued under this Regulation shall bear the serial number 09.4652.\nFor the purposes of this Regulation the concept of \u2018originating products\u2019 and the relevant administrative methods shall be those set out in Annex III to Decision 2001/822/EC.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Import licence applications shall relate to a quantity of not less than 25 tonnes.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Import licence applications shall be accompanied by the following documents:\n(a) the export licence issued by the OCTs authorities in accordance with the model form set out in Annex I, issued by the bodies responsible for issuing EUR 1 certificates;\n(b) proof that the applicant has lodged a security of EUR 12 per 100 kilograms.\nThe licence application and import licence shall show:\n(a) in section 7, the OCTs of provenance, the word \u2018yes\u2019 being marked with a cross;\n(b) in section 8, the OCTs of origin, the word \u2018yes\u2019 being marked with a cross;\n(c) in section 20 of the licence, one of the entries listed in Annex II.\nArticle 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 notwithstanding, the rights deriving from import licences shall not be transferable.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By way of derogation from Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006, licence applications shall be submitted in the first seven days of January, April, July and October of each year.\nAn applicant may submit only one licence application per month of submission of licence applications. Where, in a given month, applicants submit more than one application, all their applications in that month shall be rejected and the securities lodged when the applications were submitted shall be taken over by the Member State concerned.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Licence applications shall be notified no later than the twelfth day of the month of submission of licence applications and shall be broken down by eight-digit CN code and by OCTs of origin.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Import licences shall be issued by the Member States from the twenty-fifth and no later than the thirtieth day of the month of submission of licence applications.\nImport licences shall become valid on their actual day of issue, within the meaning of Article 23(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000.\nRegulation (EC) No 192/2002 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "overseas countries and territories", "import (EU)", "sugar", "originating product", "ACP countries", "import licence", "cocoa" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2006/355/EC: Commission Decision of 16 May 2006 setting up an expert group on customer mobility in relation to bank accounts\n19.5.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 132/37\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 16 May 2006\nsetting up an expert group on customer mobility in relation to bank accounts\n(2006/355/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 3 of the Treaty establishing the European Community assigned the European Community the task of ensuring the creation of an internal market characterised by the abolition, as between Member States, of obstacles to the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital.\n(2) The Commission wishes to identify any legal, regulatory, administrative and other obstacles to customer mobility in relation to bank accounts, and to be advised on how to address these obstacles.\n(3) The White Paper on the Financial Services Policy 2005-2010\u00a0(1) provides for the setting up of an expert group on customer mobility in relation to bank accounts.\n(4) The group must be made up of individuals having expertise in the area of customer mobility in relation to bank accounts.\n(5) The expert group on customer mobility in relation to bank accounts therefore has to be set up and its terms of reference and structures detailed,\nThe expert group on customer\u00a0(2) mobility in relation to bank accounts hereinafter referred to as \u2018the group\u2019 is hereby set up by the Commission.\nTask\nThe group's task is to:\n\u2014 Identify any legal, regulatory, administrative and other obstacles to customer mobility in relation to bank accounts. In particular, the group should identify any obstacles to open a bank account cross-border as well as to switch banks both at domestic and cross-border level (e.g. cost of opening, maintaining and closing a bank account, direct switching costs etc.).\n\u2014 Provide advice to the Commission on how the identified obstacles should be addressed.\n\u2014 Consider the merits of designing an EU optional standard bank account.\n\u2014 Issue a report containing its findings and advice.\nComposition \u2014 Appointment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The members of the group shall be appointed by the Commission from experts with competence in the area covered by the mandate of the group, on the basis of:\n\u2014 proposals from European or national associations, representing customer and financial services industry interests, which have responded to a call for expression of interest;\n\u2014 responses to a call for expression of interest by individuals with academic background.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall be composed of a maximum of 20 members.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The following provisions shall apply:\n\u2014 members proposed by European or national associations, representing customer and financial services industry interests, are appointed as representatives of interested parties;\n\u2014 members with academic background are appointed in a personal capacity;\n\u2014 the mandate of the members of the group shall start with the first meeting of the group and end with the issuance of the report, no later than 1 May 2007. They shall remain in office until such time as they are replaced or their mandate ends;\n\u2014 members who are no longer able to contribute effectively to the group\u2019s deliberations, who resign or who do not respect the conditions set out in the first, second or third dash of this paragraph or Article 287 of the Treaty establishing the European Community may be replaced for the remaining period of their mandate;\n\u2014 the names of the members will be published on the Internet site of the DG Internal Market and Services. The names of members are collected, processed and published in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of individuals with regards to the processing of personal data.\n\u2014 Members appointed in a personal capacity shall each year sign an undertaking to act in the public interest and a declaration indicating the absence or existence of any interest which may undermine their objectivity.\nOperation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group is chaired by the Commission.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In agreement with the Commission, sub-groups may be set up to examine specific questions under terms of reference established by the group; they shall be disbanded as soon as these have been fulfilled.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Observers with specific competence on a subject on the agenda may be invited by the Chairman to participate in the group's or sub-group's deliberations if this is useful and/or necessary.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Information obtained by participating in the group's or sub-group's deliberations may not be divulged if the Commission says that this relates to confidential matters.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group and its sub-groups normally meet on Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by it. The Commission provides secretarial services. Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the group and its sub-groups.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission\u00a0(3)\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may publish on the Internet site of DG Internal Market and Services, in the original language of the document concerned, any summary, conclusion, or partial conclusion or working document of the group.\nMeeting expenses\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall reimburse travel and subsistence expenses for members and observers in connection with the group's activities in accordance with the provisions in force at the Commission. The members shall not be remunerated for the services they render.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Meeting expenses are reimbursed within the limits of the appropriations allocated to the department concerned under the annual procedure for allocating resources.\nEntry into force\nThe decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption by the Commission. It shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "operation of the Institutions", "consumer protection", "bank deposit", "advisory committee (EU)", "free movement of capital" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2004/612/EC: Commission Decision of 28 July 2004 amending Decision 96/252/EC accepting undertakings offered in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain tube or pipe fittings, of iron or steel, originating in the People's Republic of China, Croatia and Thailand, and withdrawing the acceptance of undertakings offered by certain exporters in Thailand\n25.8.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 275/15\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 28 July 2004\namending Decision 96/252/EC accepting undertakings offered in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain tube or pipe fittings, of iron or steel, originating in the People's Republic of China, Croatia and Thailand, and withdrawing the acceptance of undertakings offered by certain exporters in Thailand\n(2004/612/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96\u00a0(1) of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (the basic Regulation), and in particular Articles 8(9) and 9 thereof,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PREVIOUS PROCEDURE\n(1) The Council, by Regulation (EC) No 584/96\u00a0(2), imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of certain tube or pipe fittings, of iron or steel originating in the People's Republic of China, Croatia and Thailand, as last confirmed by Council Regulation (EC) No 964/2003\u00a0(3). The measures applicable to these imports consist of an ad valorem duty, except for two Thai exporting producers from which undertakings were accepted by Commission Decision 96/252/EC\u00a0(4).\n(2) In April 2001 the Commission initiated an ex officio interim review in order to examine the appropriateness of the form of the measures concerning the imports originating in Thailand\u00a0(5). The review was initiated on the grounds that enforcement problems had been encountered in the monitoring of the undertakings accepted from the two exporters in Thailand: i.e. Awaji Sangyo (Thailand) Co. Ltd and TTU Industrial Corp. Ltd. The investigation was carried out in conjunction with the expiry review concluded by Regulation (EC) No 964/2003.\n(3) On the basis of the findings of this investigation, as explained in recitals 33, 34 and 35 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1496/2004\u00a0(6), it has been concluded that the form of the measures in force is no longer appropriate, as the undertakings in their present form are not considered appropriate and effective means of eliminating the injurious effect of dumping.\n(4) Therefore, and also in accordance with the relevant clauses of the undertakings in question, which authorise the Commission to unilaterally withdraw the acceptance of the undertakings, the Commission has concluded that the acceptance of the undertakings offered by Awaji Sangyo (Thailand) Co. Ltd and TTU Industrial Corp. Ltd should be withdrawn.\n(5) The exporters concerned were informed of the Commission's conclusions and given the opportunity to comment. Their comments were taken into account and, where appropriate, the findings modified accordingly. Both companies were invited to offer revised price undertakings in which, inter alia, minimum import prices would have to be respected. However, no offer has been received by the Commission.\n(6) It follows from the above that, as provided for by Article 8(9) of the basic Regulation, the undertakings accepted by Decision 96/252/EC should be withdrawn for both Thai companies concerned.\n(7) In parallel to this Decision, the Council, by Regulation (EC) No 1496/2004 has amended Regulation (EC) No 964/2003 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain tube and pipe fittings originating, inter alia, in Thailand and has imposed a definitive ad valorem anti-dumping duty on the imports of these products manufactured by the companies concerned,\nThe acceptance of the undertakings offered by Awaji Sangyo (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Samutprakarn and by TTU Industrial Corp. Ltd, Bangkok in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain tube or pipe fittings, of iron or steel, originating, inter alia, in Thailand, is hereby withdrawn.\nArticle 1(b) of Decision 96/252/EC shall be amended as follows:\nThe reference to Awaji Sangyo (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Samutprakarn and to TTU Industrial Corp. Ltd, Bangkok shall be deleted.\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "Thailand", "piping", "Croatia", "China", "originating product", "anti-dumping measure", "import", "anti-dumping legislation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "94/315/CFSP: Council Decision of 30 May 1994 concerning the Common Position defined on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union regarding the reduction of economic relations with Haiti\nCOUNCIL DECISION of 30 May 1994 concerning the common position defined on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union regarding the reduction of economic relations with Haiti (94/315/CFSP)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article J.2 thereof,\nHaving regard to resolution 917 (1994) adopted on 6 May 1994 by the United Nations Security Council,\n1. Economic relations with Haiti shall be reduced in accordance with the relevant mandatory provisions of resolution 917 (1994) adopted on 6 May 1994 by the United Nations Security Council.\n2. Member States shall adopt without delay the laws, regulations or administrative measures necessary to freeze the funds and financial resources referred to in pargraph 4 of that resolution.\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.", "answer groups": [ "economic sanctions", "economic relations", "UN resolution", "common position", "Haiti", "Treaty on European Union" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2000/574/EC: Commission Decision of 14 September 2000 on certain protective measures in respect of infectious salmon anaemia in salmonids in the Faeroe Islands (notified under document number C(2000) 2688) (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Decision\nof 14 September 2000\non certain protective measures in respect of infectious salmon anaemia in salmonids in the Faeroe Islands\n(notified under document number C(2000) 2688)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2000/574/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC(1), as last amended by Directive 96/43/EC(2), and in particular Article 18(7) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries(3), and in particular Article 22 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 2 April 2000 the diagnosis of infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) was confirmed in a group of salmon (Salmo salar) in a sea farm on Fuglafjordur in the Faeroe Islands. This is the first recorded outbreak of ISA on the Faeroe Islands.\n(2) According to initial information, preliminary steps have been taken by the Faeroe Islands authorities to avoid spreading the disease, including destruction of all the ISA-infected fish and slaughter of all remaining fish on the infected sea farm.\n(3) Epidemiological investigation of possible infection routes is taking place. Initially, no other aquaculture farms were suspected of being infected with ISA.\n(4) In the light of the situation, certain protective measures, in order to prevent the introduction of ISA in the Community, must be taken. These measures include a ban on the imports into the Community of live fish belonging to the family Salmonidae, as well as eggs and gametes thereof and specified conditions for the importation of slaughtered salmon.\n(5) The measures shall remain in force until 1 April 2001.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,\n1. Member States shall prohibit imports of slaughtered salmon (Salmo salar), sea trout and rainbow trout originating in Faeroe Islands, unless eviscerated.\n2. Member States shall prohibit imports from the Faeroe Islands of live fish belonging to the family Salmonidae, as well as eggs and gametes thereof.\nIn derogation to Article 1, Member States may allow the introduction of samples for scientific purposes.\nThe Member States shall alter the measures they apply in trade in order to bring them into line with this Decision. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.\nThis Decision shall apply until 1 April 2001.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal disease", "import", "veterinary inspection", "fish", "Faroe Islands" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0790/2005 of 25 May 2005 amending Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a02406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\n26.5.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 132/15\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 790/2005\nof 25 May 2005\namending Council Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 of 17 December 1999 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 provides that common marketing standards may be determined for the products or groups of these products listed in Article 1 of that Regulation.\n(2) Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 lists certain species which are subject to intervention mechanisms. The 2003 Act of Accession provided for sprat to be added to that Annex.\n(3) The setting of common marketing standards, harmonised throughout the Community, is of particular importance for the proper operation of the intervention mechanisms laid down in Regulation (EC) No 104/2000.\n(4) Council Regulation (EC) No 2406/96 of 26 November 1996 laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products\u00a0(2), does not fix standards for sprat. That Regulation should be amended in order to cover sprat.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fishery Products,\nRegulation (EC) No 2406/96 is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 3(1)(a), the following indent is added:\n\u2018\u2014 Sprat (Sprattus sprattus)\u2019;\n2. Annexes I and II are amended as follows:\n(a) in Annex I, point B (Bluefish), the word \u2018sprat\u2019 is added;\n(b) in Annex II, the entry set out in the text in the Annex to this Regulation is added.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fishery product", "sea fish", "European standard", "marketing standard" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 537/2009 of 19 June 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008, as regards the list of third countries from which certain agricultural products obtained by organic production must originate to be marketed within the Community (Text with EEA relevance)\n20.6.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 159/6\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 537/2009\nof 19 June 2009\namending Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008, as regards the list of third countries from which certain agricultural products obtained by organic production must originate to be marketed within the Community\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 33(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, Annex III to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 of 8 December 2008 laying down detailed rules for implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 as regards the arrangements for imports of organic products from third countries\u00a0(2) has established a list of third countries whose system of production and control measures for organic production are recognised as equivalent. In the light of new applications and information received by the Commission from third countries since the last publication of the list, certain modifications should be taken into consideration and added or inserted in the list.\n(2) The Australian and Costa Rican authorities have asked the Commission to include a new control and certification body. The Australian and Costa Rican authorities have provided the Commission with the necessary guarantees to satisfy it that the new control and certification bodies meet the criteria laid down in Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008.\n(3) The duration of inclusion of India in the list provided for in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 expires on 30 June 2009. In order to avoid trade disruption, there is a need to prolong the inclusion of India in that list for a further period. The Indian authorities have asked the Commission to include four new control and certification bodies. The Indian authorities have provided the Commission with the necessary guarantees to satisfy it that the new control and certification body meets the criteria laid down in Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008. The Indian authorities have informed the Commission that one control body has changed its name.\n(4) The Israeli authorities have informed the Commission that one control body has changed its name.\n(5) Certain agricultural products imported from Tunisia are currently marketed in the Community pursuant to the transitional rules provided for in Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008. Tunisia submitted a request to the Commission to be included in the list provided for in Annex III to that Regulation. It submitted the information required pursuant to Articles 7 and 8 of that Regulation. The examination of this information and consequent discussion with the Tunisian authorities have led to the conclusion that in that country the rules governing production and controls of agricultural products are equivalent to those laid down in Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. The Commission has carried out an on-the-spot check of the rules of production and the control measures actually applied in Tunisia, as provided for in Article 33(2) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the regulatory Committee on organic production,\nAnnex III to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Israel", "agricultural production", "food production", "import policy", "organic farming", "India", "Tunisia" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/100/EC: Commission Decision of 13 February 2003 laying down minimum requirements for the establishment of breeding programmes for resistance to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in sheep (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 498)\nCommission Decision\nof 13 February 2003\nlaying down minimum requirements for the establishment of breeding programmes for resistance to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in sheep\n(notified under document number C(2003) 498)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2003/100/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1494/2002(2), and in particular Article 23 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Scrapie poses a considerable animal health problem within the Community's ovine and caprine population.\n(2) There is no validated routine diagnostic method to distinguish between Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie infection in ovine and caprine animals. BSE infection has not been proven to exist in ovine and caprine animals under natural conditions. However, there is some uncertainty as to whether BSE may have infected the ovine and caprine population and may still be present in that population. Accordingly transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) infections in ovine and caprine animals also pose a potential risk to public health.\n(3) Research has shown that certain prion protein genotypes in sheep confer resistance to scrapie. Evidence to date indicates that a similar genetically determined resistance to BSE exists in sheep when challenged orally with BSE infection under experimental conditions.\n(4) The opinion of the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) of 4 and 5 April 2002 on safe sourcing of small ruminant materials laid down guidelines for the main points in a breeding programme for TSE resistance in sheep. The SSC considers that such a programme should be targeted at populations at risk or risk areas.\n(5) One requirement for such a breeding programme is an approximation of the frequency of ARR/ARR sheep for each important breed. To obtain this information, Commission Decision 2002/1003/EC(3) has introduced a survey of the sheep breeds in the Member States.\n(6) It should be possible to derogate from the requirement to establish a breeding programme in accordance with this Decision for certain breeds with a low natural level of resistance and for local breeds indigenous to the area and in danger of being lost to farming as referred to in Regulation (EC) No 445/2002 of 26 February 2002 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)(4).\n(7) In its opinion, the SSC recommended the establishment of the certification of flocks with a negligible risk of scrapie/BSE. One of the options recommended is the certification of flocks based on full genetic resistance to TSEs combined with regular TSE testing.\n(8) The SSC recommended a comprehensive list of tissues in ovine and caprine animals which might be considered to pose a risk to human and animal health in the event of BSE being confirmed or considered probable. However, the opinion considered that these tissues would not pose any significant risk when derived from resistant and semi-resistant animals under the age of 18 and 6 months respectively. It is appropriate to promote the development of certified flocks along these lines.\n(9) The Commission will propose to the Council and Parliament an amendment to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 to provide a legal basis in that Regulation for the measures contained in this Decision. In the meantime, it is appropriate to adopt this Decision as a transitional measure.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDefinitions\nFor the purposes of this Decision the definitions set out in Annex I to Commission Decision 2002/1003/EC shall apply.\nBreeding programme for TSE resistance in pure-bred sheep\n1. By 1 January 2004, on the basis of the outcome of the survey provided for in Decision 2002/1003/EC, each Member State shall introduce a breeding programme to select for resistance to TSEs in each of its sheep breeds which are native, or which form a significant population in its territory. The minimum requirements for such a programme shall be those set out in Annex I.\n2. The Member State may decide that participation by flock owners in the breeding programme referred to in paragraph 1 shall be voluntary until 1 April 2005. However, after that date, it shall be compulsory for all flocks of high genetic merit to participate in the breeding programme.\nDerogations\n1. Member States may be granted a derogation from the requirement to establish a breeding programme as provided for in Article 2:\n- on the basis of a national scrapie control programme submitted and approved in accordance with point (b) of Part I of Chapter A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, which includes continuous active monitoring of dead-on-farm ovine and caprine animals in all flocks in the Member State, or\n- when the Commission has recognised its territory as being free from scrapie in accordance with point (c) of Part I of Chapter A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, based on the results of a conclusive statistical survey.\n2. The derogation provided for in paragraph 1 shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24(2) of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.\nFramework to recognise the TSE-resistant status of certain sheep flocks\n1. By 1 January 2004, each Member State shall establish a framework for the recognition of the TSE-resistant status of certain sheep flocks.\nThis framework shall follow the criteria set out in Annex II.\n2. The recognition of the TSE-resistant status of a flock under the framework provided for in paragraph 1 shall not be considered a necessary criterion to exclude the presence of a TSE in that flock.\nReports to be provided to the Commission by the Member States\nMember States shall provide the Commission with the following reports:\n(a) report on the requirements of their breeding programmes as provided for in Article 2 by 1 April 2004;\n(b) an annual progress report to be provided for the first time by 1 April 2005, of the progress made in the breeding programmes.\nSummary of reports by the Commission to the Member States\nThe Commission shall present to the Member States a summary of the reports it receives under Article 5, within three months of the deadline for the receipt of the reports.\nReview\nThe requirements of this Decision shall be reviewed:\n(a) on the basis of reports referred to in Article 5,\n(b) in respect of breeds for which a serious negative genetic effect has been demonstrated during the course of the breeding programme,\n(c) in any event before 1 April 2005, to take account of any new scientific advice.\nAddressees\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "agricultural policy", "disease prevention", "sheep", "exchange of information", "veterinary legislation", "livestock farming" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2011/279/EU: Commission Decision of 13\u00a0May 2011 accepting an undertaking offered in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of zeolite A powder originating in Bosnia and Herzegovina\n14.5.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 125/26\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 13 May 2011\naccepting an undertaking offered in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of zeolite A powder originating in Bosnia and Herzegovina\n(2011/279/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community\u00a0(1) (the \u2018basic Regulation\u2019), and in particular Articles 8 and 9 thereof,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PROCEDURE\n(1) By Regulation (EU) No 1036/2010\u00a0(2), the Commission imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports into the Union of zeolite A powder originating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.\n(2) Following the adoption of the provisional anti-dumping measures, the Commission continued the investigation of dumping, injury and Union interest. The investigation confirmed the provisional findings of injurious dumping relating to these imports.\n(3) The definitive findings and conclusions of the investigation are set out in Council Regulation (EU) No 464 of 11 May 2011 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of zeolite A powder originating in Bosnia and Herzegovina\u00a0(3) (the \u2018product concerned\u2019).\nB.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0UNDERTAKING\n(4) Subsequent to the adoption of provisional anti-dumping measures, the cooperating exporting producer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alumina d.o.o. Zvornik, together with its related company in the Union, AB Kauno Tiekimas filialas \u2018Kauno Tiekimas\u2019, located in Kaunas, Lithuania, offered a price undertaking in accordance with Article 8(1) of the basic Regulation. In this undertaking offer, both companies offered to sell the product concerned at or above price levels which eliminate the injurious effects of dumping found during the investigation.\n(5) The minimum import price (MIP) offer from the companies was based on the normal value calculated for the investigation period.\n(6) The undertaking offer also contained the provision that the sales of the product concerned would be shipped directly from Alumina d.o.o. Zvornik to the first independent customer in the Union and invoiced either from Alumina d.o.o. Zvornik to the first independent customer in the Union or invoiced directly by Kauno. Furthermore, the companies offered to establish a link between the transfer invoices concerning the product concerned issued by Alumina d.o.o Zvornik to Kauno Tiekimas and the resale invoices to the first independent customer in the Union by Kauno Tiekimas.\n(7) Both companies also agreed to undertake to provide the Commission with regular and detailed information concerning their sales to the Union, allowing for the undertaking to be monitored effectively by the Commission.\nC.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0COMMENTS OF PARTIES AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE UNDERTAKING\n(8) The Union industry indicated that it disagrees with the acceptance of an undertaking offer, in particular with a fixed MIP. It was argued that prices of zeolite A powder depend on cost of raw materials, especially caustic soda, and energy and that the market prices are expected to rise. In this respect it is noted that available information concerning the evolution of the cost of production (which includes raw materials and energy costs) confirms that the evolution was linear. The information gathered throughout the investigation suggest that the prices of main raw materials did not change dramatically with exception to the caustic soda in the mid-2009, however this trend was reversed towards the end of 2009 and prices returned to long-time average. Furthermore, energy is not a raw material input and could not be linked with a MIP. The Union industry disputed whether the Bosnian exporting producer and its related company in the Union could be considered trustworthy, account taken of their financial situation. Nevertheless, no concrete and verifiable information was provided to corroborate this claim. The trustworthiness of the aforesaid parties was also questioned since it was argued that they declared on importation the product concerned under various CN codes. In this respect, it is noted that the product concerned is currently falling within CN code ex\u00a02842\u00a010\u00a000 and that the customs declaration is not carried out by the companies offering the undertaking. It was also argued that the Bosnian exporting producer may sell other products in the Union, thus, increasing the danger of cross compensation and that the related company in the Union may provide compensation to its Union clients when selling the product under MIP. In this respect, it is noted that the Commission has not established any systemic danger of cross compensation, in particular as the market and clients for zeolite A powder is well defined. Indeed, the clients that purchase zeolite A powder do not purchase any other products produced by Alumina d.o.o. Zvornik since they operate in completely different markets than the customers of the other products. In this respect, it is emphasised that all parties subject to this undertaking offer will be closely monitored. The Union industry also submitted that the undertaking offer was not submitted within the time period foreseen under the basic Regulation. In this respect, it is noted that the offer was indeed submitted within the time frame period foreseen under Article 8(2) of the basic Regulation. The Union industry submitted some additional comments concerning the calculation method of the MIP and the monitoring of such undertaking, which were however not considered pertinent or justified since the Commission ensured that the proposed MIP is in line with its administrative practices followed with respect to undertaking offers.\n(9) In view of the above, the undertaking offered by the two companies is acceptable.\n(10) In order to enable the Commission to effectively monitor the companies\u2019 compliance with the undertaking, when the request for release for free circulation is presented to the relevant customs authority, exemption from the anti-dumping duty will be conditional on (i) the presentation of an undertaking invoice containing at least the elements listed in the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 464; (ii) the fact that the imported goods are manufactured by Alumina d.o.o. Zvornik and shipped directly by it to the first independent customer in the Union and invoiced to the first independent customer in the Union either directly by Alumina d.o.o. Zvornik or Kauno Tiekimas and (iii) the fact that the goods declared and presented to customs correspond precisely to the description on the undertaking invoice. Where no such invoice is presented, or when it does not correspond to the product presented to customs, the appropriate rate of anti-dumping duty shall instead be payable.\n(11) To ensure that the undertaking is respected, importers have been made aware by the Council Regulation mentioned above in recital 3 that the non-fulfilment of the conditions provided for by that Regulation, or the withdrawal by the Commission of the acceptance of the undertaking, may lead to a customs debt being incurred for the relevant transactions.\n(12) In the event of a breach or withdrawal of the undertaking or in case of withdrawal of acceptance of the undertaking by the Commission, the anti-dumping duty imposed in accordance with Article 9(4) of the basic Regulation shall automatically apply pursuant to Article 8(9) of the basic Regulation,\nThe undertaking offered by the exporting producer, together with its related importer in the Union mentioned below in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of zeolite A powder originating in Bosnia and Herzegovina is hereby accepted.\nCountry Company Taric Additional Code\nBosnia and Herzegovina Manufactured, shipped and invoiced directly by Alumina d.o.o., Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the first independent customer in the Union B115\nBosnia and Herzegovina Manufactured and shipped directly by Alumina d.o.o., Zvornik, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the first independent customer in the Union and invoiced directly by AB Kauno Tiekimas filialas, Kaunas, Lithuania to the first independent customer in the Union B116\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "anti-dumping duty", "originating product", "chemical compound", "Bosnia and Herzegovina", "import" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "1999/142/EC: Commission Decision of 25 February 1998 on development aid granted by Germany for the construction of a dredger sold to Indonesia (notified under document number C(1998) 583) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 25 February 1998 on development aid granted by Germany for the construction of a dredger sold to Indonesia (notified under document number C(1998) 583) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (1999/142/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 90/684/EEC of 21 December 1990 on aid to shipbuilding (1), as extended by Council Regulation (EC) No 3094/95 of 22 December 1995 on aid to shipbuilding (2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2600/97 (3), and in particular Article 4(7) thereof,\nHaving, in accordance with Article 93 of the EC Treaty, given notice to the parties concerned to submit their comments, and having regard to those comments,\nWhereas:\nI\nBy letter dated 3 January 1996, the European Dredging Association lodged a complaint concerning the sale of three dredgers by Germany to Indonesia. The Association suspected that the aid granted in connection with the sale was in breach of Council Directive 90/684/EEC (Seventh Directive on aid to shipbuilding). According to the letter, the aid appeared to enable the supplier to charge a price below the market price in Taiwan and Thailand where the supplier participated in international tenders in competition with other companies supplying dredging services.\nBy letter SG(94) D/6533 of 17 May 1994 to Germany, the Commission had approved the granting of development aid in connection with the sale of three dredgers by Volkswerft Stralsund to the Indonesian public corporation Pengerukan ('Rukindo`). Rukindo is a State limited-liability corporation, 100 % of its shares being owned by the Ministry of Finance. The development aid was granted in the form of a loan from the Reconstruction Loan Corporation (Kreditanstalt f\u00fcr Wiederaufbau). The loan covered 90 % of the contract value for a period of 11 years at an interest rate of 3,5 %. The OECD aid equivalent was 25,35 %. The borrower was the Republic of Indonesia, represented by the Ministry of Finance.\nIn the German notification of the proposed aid submitted on 24 March 1994, it was stipulated in which locations in Indonesia the dredgers were to be used. In its letter to Germany approving the aid, the Commission stated that the dredgers were to be used only in Indonesia ('Die neuen Bagger sollen allein in Indonesien eingesetzt werden, . . .`).\nII\nSince the use of the dredgers appeared to differ from the conditions under which the aid was approved and since no amendments had been notified by Germany, the Commission sent a letter to the German Government on 31 July 1996 requesting information on the use made of the vessels, the level of aid granted and the financial situation of the Indonesian company.\nFollowing an extension of the time limit, the German Government provided the relevant information by letter dated 6 November 1996. The letter confirmed that one dredger had been used outside Indonesian territorial waters, in Malaysia. The letter did not mention any operations in Taiwan or Thailand, as reported by European Dredging Association.\nThe German Government claimed that the dredger could not operate optimally in Indonesian waters due to delays in a number of large harbour-building projects for which the dredger had originally been acquired. Furthermore, the use of the dredger in Malaysia formed part of a subcontracting order for an Indonesian firm, and Rukindo had not participated directly in international invitations to tender. Furthermore, the German authorities undertook that they would draw the Indonesian government's attention to the fact that the use of the dredgers must be in accordance with the purpose for which they had originally been acquired.\nThe German Government could not provide information on Rukindo's financial situation since this subordinated body did not draw up any certified and informative annual reports and since no direct loan relationships existed with the company.\nIII\nIn the light of the answer given by the German Government, the Commission took the view that the manner in which the dredgers had been used did not comply with the approval given by the Commission in its letter of 17 May 1994 and with the development aid conditions laid down in Article 4(7) of the Seventh Directive on aid to shipbuilding. At that stage it was not clear whether the project had a development content.\nAccordingly, the Commission decided to initiate Article 93(2) proceedings in order to allow it to examine whether the aid had been granted and used in line with its approval of 17 May 1994, and in particular whether the development content of the aid project and its overall compatibility with the common market were still in evidence. The German Government was informed of this by letter dated 15 April 1997.\nIV\nFollowing publication of a notice on the initiation of proceedings (4), the Danish Government and European Dredging Association submitted their comments. They took the view that the use of the dredgers was not in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Commission's approval and was in breach of the Seventh Directive on aid to shipbuilding.\nThe comments were transmitted to the German Government by letter dated 25 August 1997 in order to give the German Government the opportunity to submit a reply.\nV\nThe German Government reacted to the initiation of proceedings by letter dated 18 June 1997 and to the comments of the Danish Government and the European Dredging Association by letter dated 9 October 1997. Germany's comments can be summarised as follows:\nThe dredgers were purchased primarily for deepening the harbours at Tanjung Priok, Batam, Bojonogara, Surabaya, Belawan, Semarang, Panjang and Ujung Pandang. The harbour-deepening projects were delayed because of financing problems, with the result that dredging work could be carried out only in the harbours of Belawan, Tanjung Priok and Surabaya. Neither Rukindo nor the Kreditanstalt f\u00fcr Wiederaufbau could be held responsible for the delays.\nThe dredger KK Aru II was employed in Malaysia for 173 days in 1995 and for 156 days in 1996, although the actual operational time was considerably less than the overall time spent in Malaysian waters on account of damage to the dredging pumps and the sea valves. In 1996 KK Aru II was the only one of PT Rukindo's fleet of 32 dredgers employed abroad.\nIn initiating the proceedings, the Commission referred to information that one vessel had been used in Thailand. In the German Government's view, the vessel involved was none of the three dredgers in question, but rather the KK Irian Jaya, which had been employed in Thailand for 31 days between 21 April and 29 May 1994.\nThe German Government stated that the dredgers were designed specially for the work in Indonesia, which required a deeper draught than the dredgers in service at the time. To be able to work effectively, the dredgers need a water depth of about eight metres. It was argued that the greater draught of these dredgers restricted the possibilities for alternative use in other Indonesian harbours and waterways. In order to limit periods of inactivity as far as possible and to recoup at least a portion of the fixed costs (personnel costs, capital costs, etc.), Rukindo saw no option but to tender the services of the dredgers to other dredging firms which then used the vessels outside Indonesia. This action did not run counter to the primary objective of developing the Indonesian transport infrastructure. Furthermore, the German Government stated that the completion of work on domestic projects continued to have absolute priority. Periods of use abroad were only during slack periods when harbour extension projects were delayed. The leasing-out of the dredgers for use abroad should rather be seen as an effort to make efficient use of the development aid by generating additional capital for the project in the form of foreign currency. It was also argued that the temporary deployment of the dredgers in foreign waters provided experience which could help to increase efficiency and improve competitiveness in the domestic market.\nThe German Government also emphasised that Rukindo was not involved directly in any international tendering procedures, so that it was never in direct competition with other international dredging companies. Only twice had Rukindo requested tender documents, but in neither case had it participated in the tender. The vessels were hired out on a subcontract basis and only during slack periods when they would otherwise have been idle. Rukindo thus had no direct influence on the pricing of services by the main tendering contractor, especially since the usual practice was for the main contractor not to enter into negotiations with the various dredging companies until after being awarded the contract.\nFinally, the German Government said it would take the necessary steps to make clear to the Indonesian Government the problems involved in using the vessels abroad.\nVI\nAccording to Article 4(7) of the Seventh Directive on aid to shipbuilding, aid granted as development assistance to a developing country is not subject to the ceiling set by the Commission under Article 4(2). It may be deemed compatible with the common market if it complies with the terms laid down for that purpose by OECD Working Party No 6 in its Agreement concerning the interpretation of Articles 6 to 8 of the Understanding on Export Credits for Ships or with any corrigendum to the said Agreement (5). The Commission must be given prior notification of any such individual aid proposal. It is required to verify the particular development content of the proposed aid and satisfy itself that it falls within the scope of the Agreement.\nThe Court of Justice held in Case C-400/92 that 'it is precisely the examination of this particular content which enables the Commission to ensure that aid based on Article 4(7) and intended to reduce the cost of vessels for certain developing countries pursues, in the light of the specific conditions of its application, a genuine development objective and does not, despite the fact that it complies with the OECD criteria, constitute aid in favour of a shipyard in a Member State which must be subject to the ceiling . . .` (6).\nAt this stage the Commission is taking a decision only regarding the vessel KK Aru II. The manner in which the two other vessels CD Bantang Anai and FF Bali II were used is still under investigation. The German Government has confirmed that KK Aru II has not been deployed exclusively in Indonesia, but has been used for more than 300 days outside Indonesia since it was delivered. Consequently, the vessel has not been used in accordance with the Commission's approval of the development project (7) and the aid has therefore been misused.\nThe vessel has been employed commercially in Malaysia under contracts put out to tender. It should be noted that Malaysia is not on the list of countries eligible for development aid.\nGermany put forward a range of arguments to show that the development content of the aid was intact and that the aid had not been misused. The use outside Indonesia did not run counter to the primary objective of developing Indonesia's infrastructure. The deeper draught restricted the possibilities for alternative employment in other Indonesian harbours and waterways. The use outside Indonesia served to limit periods of inactivity and recoup a portion of the fixed costs. Such use occurred only during slack periods when the vessel would otherwise have been idle and was thus an effort to employ development funds as efficiently as possible.\nSuch arguments could perhaps have been accepted if it had been proven that the use outside Indonesia was absolutely exceptional, both in terms of the period of time covered and the commercial factors involved, and that it was due to developments beyond the control of the government and unforeseeable at the time when the aid was granted. However, KK Aru II has been employed outside Indonesia for more than 300 days since 1994. Such use cannot be considered to be exceptional. Furthermore, the vessel was utilised on a purely commercial basis in a country which is not eligible for development aid, and there is no clear link between the employment outside Indonesia and the use of the vessel for the development of Indonesia. Furthermore, the substantial use of the vessel outside Indonesia may have generated considerable financial returns which in themselves would make the aid unnecessary. In addition, had the Commission known at the time of the notification that the vessel would be used on a commercial basis in Malaysia, it would not have approved the aid. For all these reasons, the Commission considers that the development aid is unnecessary.\nThe German authorities further argue that the vessels were hired out on a subcontracting basis. Rukindo was not involved directly in any international tendering procedures and was never in direct competition with other dredging companies. Rukindo had no direct influence on the pricing of services by the main tendering contractor. The German Government would take the necessary steps to make clear to Indonesia the problems involved in using the vessels abroad.\nThe Commission considers that these arguments are irrelevant since the commercial use of the vessel in a country which is not eligible for development aid is unacceptable regardless of the fact that Rukindo was not directly involved in such activity. Furthermore, it must be borne in mind that the German Government does not contest the fact that the vessels were provided at below market price. The conclusion remains that the use of the vessel does not justify development aid.\nOn these grounds, the Commission considers that the aid granted in relation to the construction of the dredger KK Aru II by Volkswerft Stralsund and its sale to Rukindo has been misused. Furthermore, the aid cannot be considered to be genuine development aid within the meaning of Article 4(7) of the Seventh Directive. The aid distorts or threatens to distort competition within the common market and affects trade between Member States in relation to shipbuilding to an extent contrary to the common interest within the meaning of Article 92(3) of the EC Treaty and in particular to Article 4(7) of the Seventh Directive,\nThe aid granted by Germany for the construction of the dredger KK Aru II by Volkswerft Stralsund and its sale to Rukindo is incompatible with the common market since it has been misused in breach of the approval given by the Commission in its letter SG(94) D/6533. The aid cannot be considered to be genuine development assistance within the meaning of Article 4(7) of Directive 90/684/EEC.\nGermany shall revoke the aid referred to in Article 1 and shall ensure that it is recovered. Recovery shall be made in accordance with the procedures and provisions of German law with interest, based on the interest rate used as reference rate in the assessment of regional aid schemes, running from the date on which the aid was granted until such time as it is actually recovered.\nGermany shall inform the Commission, within two months of the date of notification of this Decision, of the measures taken to comply therewith.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.", "answer groups": [ "development aid", "Indonesia", "shipbuilding", "building subsidy", "Germany", "State aid" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/96/EC: Commission Decision of 20 December 2007 granting a derogation requested by Belgium referred to the region of Wallonia pursuant to Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (notified under document number C(2007) 6643)\n6.2.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 32/21\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 20 December 2007\ngranting a derogation requested by Belgium referred to the region of Wallonia pursuant to Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources\n(notified under document number C(2007) 6643)\n(Only the French text is authentic)\n(2008/96/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources\u00a0(1), and in particular the third subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III thereto,\nWhereas:\n(1) If the amount of manure that a Member State intends to apply per hectare each year is different from the one specified in the first sentence of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC and in point (a) thereof, that amount has to be fixed so as not to prejudice the achievement of the objectives specified in Article 1 of that Directive and has to be justified on the basis of objective criteria, such as, in the present case, long growing seasons and crops with high nitrogen uptake.\n(2) Belgium submitted to the Commission a request for a derogation under third subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC referred to the region of Wallonia.\n(3) The requested derogation concerns the intention of Belgium to allow the application in Wallonia of up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year from livestock manure in specific holdings with more than 48\u00a0% of acreage as grassland. The nitrogen application from livestock manure on grassland would not exceed 230 kg per hectare per year, while on arable crops of these farms it would not exceed 115 kg/ha nitrogen per hectare per year.\n(4) The designation of nitrates vulnerable zones in respect to Wallonia, in conformity with paragraphs 2 and 4 of Article 3 of Directive 91/676/EEC, covers approximately 42\u00a0% of this region\u2019s territory and 54\u00a0% of utilised agricultural land.\n(5) Approximately 500 farms, corresponding to 5,6\u00a0% of total number of farms in nitrate vulnerable zones, and 3\u00a0% of the Utilised Agricultural Land are estimated to be encompassed by the derogation.\n(6) The legislation implementing Directive 91/676/EEC in Wallonia \u2018Arr\u00eat\u00e9 du Gouvernement wallon du 15 f\u00e9vrier 2007 modifiant le Livre II du Code de l\u2019Environnement constituant le Code de l\u2019Eau en ce qui concerne la gestion durable de l\u2019azote en agriculture\u2019 has been adopted and applies equally to the requested derogation.\n(7) Water quality data submitted show that in Wallonia in 2005 average nitrate concentration in surface water in nitrate vulnerable zones was 16,7 mg/L, with stable or decreasing trends in 84\u00a0% of monitoring sites in the period from 2001 to 2005. Median groundwater concentration in 2005 was 24,8 mg/L nitrates, with stable or decreasing trends in 74\u00a0% of monitoring sites in the period from 2001 to 2005.\n(8) Average nitrogen input per hectare from livestock manure decreased by 12\u00a0% since 1990 and in 2004 was 101 kg/ha of Utilised Agricultural Land, of which 94\u00a0% from cattle manure, 3\u00a0% from pig manure and 2\u00a0% from poultry manure. Average application of chemical fertilisers decreased for both nitrogen and phosphate since 1990, respectively by 19\u00a0% and by 49\u00a0% and in 2004 was on average of 109 kg/ha and 28 kg/ha respectively for nitrogen and phosphate.\n(9) The supporting documents presented in the notification show that the proposed amount of 230 kg per hectare per year of nitrogen from manure is justified on the basis of objective criteria such as long growing seasons and crops with high nitrogen uptake.\n(10) The Commission after examination of the request considers that the proposed amount of 230 kg per hectare per year nitrogen from manure will not prejudice the achievement of the objectives of Directive 91/676/EEC, subject to certain strict conditions being met.\n(11) This Decision should be applicable in connection with the second action programme in force for the region of Wallonia for the period 2007 to 2010.\n(12) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Nitrates Committee set up pursuant to Article 9 of Directive 91/676/EEC,\nThe derogation requested by Belgium referred to the region of Wallonia by letter of 19 October 2006, for the purpose of allowing a higher amount of livestock manure than that provided for in the first sentence of the second subparagraph of paragraph 2 of Annex III to Directive 91/676/EEC and in point (a) thereof, is granted, subject to the conditions laid down in this Decision.\nDefinitions\nFor the purpose of this decision, the following definitions shall apply:\n(a) \u2018cattle farms\u2019 means holdings with more than three livestock units, where at least two-thirds of livestock are cattle;\n(b) \u2018grassland\u2019 means acreage of the cattle farm cultivated with permanent or temporary grassland (generally temporary lies less than four years).\nScope\nThis Decision applies on an individual basis and subject to the conditions set out in Articles 4, 5 and 6 to cattle farms.\nAnnual authorisation and commitment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Farmers who want to benefit from a derogation shall submit an application to the competent authorities annually.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Together with the annual application referred to in paragraph 1 they shall undertake in writing to fulfil the conditions provided for in Articles 5 and 6.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The competent authorities shall ensure that all the applications for derogation are subject to administrative control. Where the control carried out by the national authorities of the applications referred to in paragraph 1 demonstrates that the conditions provided for in Articles 5 and 6 are not fulfilled, the applicant shall be informed thereof and the application shall be considered to be refused.\nApplication of manure and other fertilisers\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The amount of livestock manure applied each year on cattle farms, including by the animals themselves, shall not exceed the amount of manure containing 230 kg of nitrogen per hectare, subject to the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2 to 8.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The amount of livestock manure applied on grassland each year shall not exceed 230 kg of nitrogen per hectare. The amount of livestock manure applied on other farmland each year shall not exceed 115 kg of nitrogen per hectare.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A fertilisation plan shall be kept for each farm describing the crop rotation, the planned application of manure and nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers. It shall be available in the farm each calendar year by 31 March at the latest.\nThe fertilisation plan shall include the following:\n(a) the number of livestock, a description of the housing and storage system, including the volume of manure storage available;\n(b) a calculation of manure nitrogen (less losses in housing and storage) and phosphorus produced in the farm;\n(c) the crop rotation and acreage for grassland and for each crop, including a sketch map indicating location of individual fields;\n(d) the foreseeable nitrogen and phosphorus crop requirements;\n(e) the amount and the type of manure delivered outside and to the farm;\n(f) nitrogen and phosphorus application from manure over each field;\n(g) application of nitrogen and phosphorus with chemical and other fertilisers over each field.\nPlans shall be revised no later than seven days following any changes in agricultural practices to ensure consistency between plans and actual agricultural practices.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fertilisation accounts shall be prepared by each farm. They shall be submitted to the competent authority for each calendar year.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each farm benefiting from an individual derogation shall accept that the application referred to in Article 4(1), the fertilisation plan and the fertilisation accounts can be subject to control.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Phosphorous analysis in soil shall be performed for each farm which benefits from an individual derogation at least once every four years for each homogeneous area of the farm, with regard to crop rotation and soil characteristics. At least one analysis every five hectares of farmland shall be required.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nitrate concentration in soil shall be measured every year in each farm which benefits from an individual derogation. At least five samples per year shall be analysed for each farm.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Manure shall not be spread in the autumn before grass cultivation.\nLand management\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a048\u00a0% or more of the acreage available for manure application on the cattle holding shall be cultivated with grass.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Farmers benefiting from an individual derogation shall carry out the following measures:\n(a) Temporary grassland shall be ploughed in spring.\n(b) Grassland shall not include leguminous or other plants fixing atmospheric nitrogen. This will however not apply to leguminous in grassland with less than 50\u00a0% leguminous.\nOther measures\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This derogation shall be applied without prejudice to the measures needed to comply with other Community environmental legislation.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each farmer benefiting from an individual derogation shall be provided with technical assistance through an advisory service, which shall ensure the evaluation of the results of soil analysis, fertilisation plans and fertilisation accounts. Results of evaluation shall be transmitted to the competent authorities in charge of compliance checking in respect to the conditions set out in Articles 5 and 6.\nMonitoring\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Maps showing the percentage of farms, percentage of livestock and percentage of agricultural land covered by individual derogation in each agricultural zone shall be drawn by the competent authority and shall be updated every year. Those maps shall be submitted to the Commission annually and for the first time by the end of 2007.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A monitoring network for sampling of surface and shallow groundwater shall be established and maintained to assess the impact of the derogation on water quality.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Survey and nutrient analysis shall provide data on local land use, crop rotations and agricultural practices on farms benefiting from individual derogations. Those data can be used for model-based calculations of the magnitude of nitrate leaching and phosphorus losses from fields where up to 230 kg nitrogen per hectare per year from livestock manure is applied.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Monitoring sites shall be established in order to provide data on nitrogen concentration in soil water and corresponding nitrogen losses through the root zone into groundwater, as well as on nitrogen losses by surface and subsurface runoff, both under derogation and non derogation conditions.\nReporting\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The competent authority shall submit the results of the monitoring every year to the Commission, with a concise report on water quality evolution, evaluation of nitrate residue in soil in autumn in farms benefiting from a derogation and evaluation practice. The report shall provide information on how the evaluation of the implementation of the derogation conditions is carried on through controls at farm level and include information on non compliant farms based on the results of administrative and field inspections. The first report shall be transmitted by June 2008 and subsequently every year by June.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The results thus obtained will be taken into consideration by the Commission with regard to an eventual new request for a derogation.\n0\nApplication\nThis Decision shall apply in the context of the second action programme 2007-2010 for the Region of Wallonia. \u2018Arr\u00eat\u00e9 du Gouvernement wallon du 15 f\u00e9vrier 2007 modifiant le Livre II du Code de l\u2019Environnement constituant le Code de l\u2019Eau en ce qui concerne la gestion durable de l\u2019azote en agriculture\u2019. It shall expire on 31 December 2010.\n1\nThis Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium.", "answer groups": [ "pollution from agricultural sources", "Walloon region (Belgium)", "chemical salt", "environmental protection", "organic fertiliser", "water pollution", "derogation from EU law" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a02172/2005 of 23 December 2005 laying down detailed rules for the application of an import tariff quota for live bovine animals of a weight exceeding 160\u00a0kg and originating in Switzerland provided for in the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products\n29.12.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 346/10\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2172/2005\nof 23 December 2005\nlaying down detailed rules for the application of an import tariff quota for live bovine animals of a weight exceeding 160\u00a0kg and originating in Switzerland provided for in the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal\u00a0(1), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 32(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Following the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation agreed to proceed with the adaptation of tariff concessions within the framework of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products\u00a0(2) (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement). The adaptation of these tariff concessions, by Decision No 3/2005 of the Joint Committee on Agriculture\u00a0(3) amending Annexes 1 and 2 of the Agreement, provides for the opening of a duty-free Community tariff quota for the import of 4\u00a0600 live bovine animals weighing more than 160\u00a0kg and originating in Switzerland. Detailed rules should be adopted for the opening and administration of this tariff quota on a multi-annual basis.\n(2) For the allocation of the tariff quota and given the products concerned it is appropriate to apply the method of simultaneous examination referred to in the second indent of Article 32(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999.\n(3) To be eligible for the benefit of this tariff quota, live animals should originate in Switzerland in conformity with the rules referred to in Article 4 of the Agreement.\n(4) With a view to preventing speculation, the quantities available within the quota should be made accessible to operators able to show that they are genuinely engaged in trade of a significant scale with third countries. In consideration of this and in order to ensure efficient management, the traders concerned should be required to have imported a minimum of 50 animals during the year previous to the annual quota period in question, as given that a consignment of 50 animals may be considered to be a normal load. Experience has shown that the purchase of a single consignment is a minimum requirement for a transaction to be considered real and viable.\n(5) If such criteria are to be checked, applications should be presented in the Member State where the importer is entered in a VAT register.\n(6) Also in order to prevent speculation, importers no longer involved in trade in live bovine animals at 1 January previous to the beginning of the annual quota period in question should be denied access to the quota. Moreover, a security should be fixed for import rights, licences should not be transferable and import licences should be issued to traders solely for the quantities for which they have been allocated import rights.\n(7) To provide a more equal access to the quota while ensuring a commercially viable number of animals per application, maximum and minimum limits should be fixed for the number of animals covered in each application.\n(8) It should be established that import rights are to be allocated after a reflection period and where necessary with a fixed allocation coefficient applied.\n(9) Pursuant to Article 29(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999, the arrangements have to be managed using import licences. To this end, rules should be laid down on the submission of applications and the information to be given on applications and licences, where necessary in addition to or by way of derogation from certain provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products\u00a0(4) and of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95 of 26 June 1995 on rules of application for import and export licences in the beef and veal sector and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80\u00a0(5).\n(10) To oblige operators to apply for import licences for all import rights allocated, it should be established that the application should constitute, with regard to the import rights security, a primary requirement within the meaning of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85 of 22 July 1985 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of securities for agricultural products\u00a0(6).\n(11) Experience shows that a proper management of the quota also requires that the titular holder of the licence is a genuine importer. Therefore, such importer should actively participate in the purchase, transport and import of the animals concerned. Presentation of proof of those activities should thus also be a primary requirement with regard to the licence security.\n(12) With a view to ensuring a strict statistical control of the animals imported under the quota, the tolerance referred to in Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 should not apply.\n(13) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A duty-free Community tariff quota is hereby opened on a multi-annual basis for periods from 1 January to 31 December for the import of 4\u00a0600 live bovine animals originating in Switzerland weighing more than 160\u00a0kg, falling within CN codes 0102\u00a090\u00a041, 0102\u00a090\u00a049, 0102\u00a090\u00a051, 0102\u00a090\u00a059, 0102\u00a090\u00a061, 0102\u00a090\u00a069, 0102\u00a090\u00a071 or 0102\u00a090\u00a079.\nThis tariff quota shall have the order number 09.4203.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The rules of origin applicable to the products referred to in paragraph 1 shall be those provided for in Article 4 of the Agreement.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To be eligible under the quota provided for in Article 1, applicants must be natural or legal persons and must prove to the satisfaction of the competent authorities of the Member State concerned, at the time they submit their applications, that they have imported at least 50 animals covered by CN codes 0102\u00a010 and 0102\u00a090 during the 12 months previous to the deadline for applications referred to in Article 3(3).\nApplicants must be listed in a national VAT register.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Proof of import shall be furnished exclusively by means of the customs document of release for free circulation, duly endorsed by the customs authorities and containing a reference to the applicant concerned.\nMember States may accept copies of the documents referred to in the first subparagraph, duly certified by the competent authority. Where such copies are accepted, notification hereof shall be made in the communication from Member States referred to in Article 3(5) in respect of each applicant concerned.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Operators who at 1 January previous to the annual quota period in question have ceased their activities in trade with third countries in the beef and veal sector shall not qualify for any allocation.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A company formed by the merger of companies each having reference imports complying with the minimum quantity referred to in paragraph 1 may use those reference imports as a basis for its application.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applications for import rights may be presented only in the Member State in which the applicant is registered for VAT purposes.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applications for import rights must cover at least 50 animals and may not cover more than 5\u00a0% of the quantity available.\nWhere applications exceed the percentage referred to in the first subparagraph, the excess shall be disregarded.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applications for import rights shall be lodged at the latest before 13:00, Brussels time, on 1 December preceding the annual quota period in question.\nHowever, for the quota period from the date of entry into force of the present Regulation until 31 December 2006, applications for import rights shall be lodged at the latest before 13.00, Brussels time, on the 10th working day following the date of publication of this Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applicants may lodge no more than one application in respect of the quota referred to in Article 1(1). Where the same applicant lodges more than one application, all applications from that applicant shall be inadmissible.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0After verification of the documents presented, Member States shall forward to the Commission, by the 10th working day following the end of the period for the submission of applications at the latest, the list of applicants and their addresses as well as the quantities applied for.\nAll notifications, including \u2018nil\u2019 returns, shall be forwarded by fax or e-mail using the model form in Annex I in cases where applications have actually been submitted.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Following the notification referred to in Article 3(5), the Commission shall decide as soon as possible to which extent the applications can be met.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the quantities covered by applications as referred to in Article 3 exceed those available, the Commission shall fix a single allocation coefficient to be applied to the quantities applied for.\nWhere application of the allocation coefficient provided for in the first subparagraph gives a figure of less than 50 head per application, the quantity available shall be awarded by the Member States concerned by drawing lots for import rights covering 50 head each. Where the remainder is less than 50 head, a single import right shall be awarded for that quantity.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The security relating to the import rights shall be EUR\u00a03 per head. It must be lodged with the competent authority together with the application for import rights.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Import licence applications must be made for the quantity allocated. This obligation shall constitute a primary requirement within the meaning of Article 20(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2220/85.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where application of the allocation coefficient referred to in Article 4(2) causes less import rights to be allocated than had been applied for, the security lodged shall be released proportionally without delay.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The quantities awarded shall be imported subject to presentation of one or more import licences.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Licence applications may be lodged solely in the Member State where the applicant has applied and obtained import rights under the quota.\nEach issuing of import licence shall result in a corresponding reduction of the import rights obtained.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Import licences shall be issued on application by and in the name of the operator who have obtained the import rights.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Licence applications and licences shall show the following:\n(a) in box 8, the country of origin;\n(b) in box 16, one or several of the following CN codes:\n(c) in box 20, the order number of the quota (09.4203) and at least one of the entries listed in Annex II.\nLicences shall carry with them an obligation to import from the country indicated in box 8.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By way of derogation from Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, import licences issued pursuant to this Regulation shall not be transferable and shall confer rights under the tariff quotas only if made out in the same name and address as the one entered as consignee in the customs declaration of release for free circulation accompanying them.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No import licences shall be valid after 31 December of the annual quota period in question.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The grant of the import licence shall be conditional on the lodging of a security of EUR\u00a020 per head which shall be composed of:\n(a) the security of EUR\u00a03 referred to in Article 5(1); and\n(b) an amount of EUR\u00a017 which the applicant shall lodge together with the licence application.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Licences issued shall be valid throughout the Community.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pursuant to Article 50(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, the full Common Customs Tariff duty applicable on the date of acceptance of the customs declaration for free circulation shall be collected in respect of all quantities imported in excess of those shown on the import licence.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 of Title III of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, the security shall not be released until proof has been produced that the titular holder of the licence has been commercially and logistically responsible for the purchase, transport and clearance for free circulation of the animals concerned. Such proof shall at least consist of:\n(a) the original commercial invoice or authenticated copy made out in the name of the titular holder by the seller or his representative, both established in the third country of export, and proof of payment by the titular holder or the opening by the titular holder of an irrevocable documentary credit in favour of the seller;\n(b) the transport document, drawn up in the name of the titular holder, for the animals concerned;\n(c) proof that the goods have been declared for release for free circulation with the indication of the name and address of the titular holder as consignee.\nRegulations (EC) No 1291/2000 and (EC) No 1445/95 shall apply, subject to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import licence", "import (EU)", "Switzerland", "live animal", "agricultural trade", "tariff quota", "cattle" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Directive 2005/15/EC of 28 February 2005 amending Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\n2.3.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 56/12\nCOUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2005/15/EC\nof 28 February 2005\namending Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular point (d) of the second paragraph of Article 14 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal of the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 2004/102/EC\u00a0(2) amends Annexes II, III, IV and V to Directive 2000/29/EC and is to be implemented by the Member States by 1 March 2005.\n(2) Directive 2004/102/EC contains provisions related to wood and wood products. The measures related to pallets, boxes and dunnage align Community measures with the FAO International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No 15 on \u2018Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade\u2019 which was adopted in March 2002 by the Fourth Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM).\n(3) Standard No 15 describes that wood packaging (including dunnage) made of coniferous and non-coniferous raw wood, should be subjected to approved measures such as heat treatment (56\u00a0\u00b0C for a minimum of 30 minutes) or fumigation with Methyl Bromide. Moreover the wood should display a specified mark to certify that the wood has been subjected to an approved measure.\n(4) The Standard also provides that countries may require that imported wood packaging material subjected to an approved measure be made from debarked wood and display a mark subject to \u2018technical justification\u2019.\n(5) Third countries have requested that the Community consider alternative methods of achieving the same goal. To this end, research is under way on technical aspects of debarking wood, in particular the efficiency of \u2018pest risk reduction\u2019 of debarking in addition to treatment measures.\n(6) While awaiting the results of that research, it is appropriate to postpone for debarked wood, the application of the requirement to be used.\n(7) Directive 2000/29/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(8) The Standing Committee on Plant Health has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its Chairman,\nDirective 2000/29/EC is amended as follows:\n1. In Annex IV, Part A, section I, point 2, the following paragraph shall be added at the end of the right hand column:\n2. In Annex IV, Part A, section I, point 8, the following paragraph shall be added at the end of the right hand column:\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, not later than 28\u00a0February 2005, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between these provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply these provisions from 1 March 2005.\nWhen Member States adopt these provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by the Member States.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "packaging product", "plant health legislation", "plant health control", "protection of plant life", "import" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Regulation (EU) 2015/476 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 on the measures that the Union may take following a report adopted by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body concerning anti-dumping and anti-subsidy matters\n27.3.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 83/6\nREGULATION (EU) 2015/476 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL\nof 11 March 2015\non the measures that the Union may take following a report adopted by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body concerning anti-dumping and anti-subsidy matters\n(codification)\nTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nAfter transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee\u00a0(1),\nActing in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure\u00a0(2),\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1515/2001\u00a0(3) has been substantially amended\u00a0(4). In the interests of clarity and rationality, that Regulation should be codified.\n(2) By Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009\u00a0(5), common rules were laid down for protection against dumped imports from countries which are not members of the European Union.\n(3) By Council Regulation (EC) No 597/2009\u00a0(6), common rules were laid down for protection against subsidised imports from countries which are not members of the European Union.\n(4) Under the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation (\u2018WTO\u2019), an Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (\u2018DSU\u2019) was reached. Pursuant to the DSU, the Dispute Settlement Body (\u2018DSB\u2019) was established.\n(5) With a view to permitting the Union, where it considers this appropriate, to bring a measure taken under Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 or Regulation (EC) No 597/2009 into conformity with the recommendations and rulings contained in a report adopted by the DSB, specific provisions should be laid down.\n(6) The Commission may consider it appropriate to repeal, amend or adopt any other special measures with respect to measures taken under Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 or Regulation (EC) No 597/2009, including measures which have not been the subject of dispute settlement under the DSU, in order to take account of the legal interpretations made in a report adopted by the DSB. In addition, the Commission should be able, where appropriate, to suspend or review such measures.\n(7) Recourse to the DSU is not subject to time limits. The recommendations in reports adopted by the DSB only have prospective effect. Consequently, it is appropriate to specify that any measures taken under this Regulation will take effect from the date of their entry into force, unless otherwise specified, and, therefore, do not provide any basis for the reimbursement of the duties collected prior to that date.\n(8) The implementation of this Regulation requires uniform conditions for adopting measures following a report adopted by the DSB concerning anti-dumping and anti-subsidy matters. Those measures should be adopted in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(7).\n(9) The advisory procedure should be used for the suspension of measures for a limited period of time given the effects of such measures,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Whenever the DSB adopts a report concerning a Union measure taken pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009, to Regulation (EC) No 597/2009 or to this Regulation (\u2018disputed measure\u2019), the Commission may take one or more of the following measures, whichever it considers appropriate, in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 4(3):\n(a) repeal or amend the disputed measure; or\n(b) adopt any other special implementing measure deemed to be appropriate in the circumstances in order to bring the Union into conformity with the recommendations and rulings contained in the report.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the purpose of taking a measure under paragraph 1, the Commission may request interested parties to provide all necessary information in order to complete the information obtained during the investigation that resulted in the adoption of the disputed measure.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Insofar as it is appropriate to conduct a review before or at the same time as taking any measure under paragraph\u00a01, that review shall be initiated by the Commission. The Commission shall provide information to the Member States once it decides to initiate a review.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Insofar as it is appropriate to suspend the disputed or amended measure, such suspension shall be granted for a limited period of time by the Commission, acting in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article\u00a04(2).\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may also take any of the measures mentioned in Article 1(1) in order to take into account the legal interpretations made in a report adopted by the DSB with regard to a non-disputed measure, if it considers this appropriate.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the purpose of taking a measure under paragraph 1, the Commission may request interested parties to provide all necessary information in order to complete the information obtained during the investigation that resulted in the adoption of the non-disputed measure.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Insofar as it is appropriate to conduct a review before or at the same time as taking any measure under paragraph\u00a01, that review shall be initiated by the Commission. The Commission shall provide information to the Member States once it decides to initiate a review.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Insofar as it is appropriate to suspend the non-disputed or amended measure, that suspension shall be granted for a limited period of time by the Commission, acting in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article\u00a04(2).\nAny measures adopted pursuant to this Regulation shall take effect from the date of their entry into force and shall not serve as a basis for the reimbursement of the duties collected prior to that date, unless otherwise provided for.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee established by Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009. That Committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.\nThe Commission shall include information on the implementation of this Regulation in its annual report on the application and implementation of trade defence measures presented to the European Parliament and to the Council pursuant to Article 22a of Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009.\nRegulation (EC) No 1515/2001 is repealed.\nReferences to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex II.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "anti-dumping measure", "anti-subsidy proceeding", "import (EU)", "codification of EU law", "interpretation of the law", "Dispute Settlement Body" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/427/EC: Commission Decision of 5 June 2003 authorising the placing on the market of oil rich in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp. as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document number C(2003) 1790)\nCommission Decision\nof 5 June 2003\nauthorising the placing on the market of oil rich in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp. as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council\n(notified under document number C(2003) 1790)\n(Only the English text is authentic)\n(2003/427/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients(1), and in particular Article 7 thereof,\nHaving regard to the request by Martek Biosciences Corporation, formerly OmegaTech GmbH to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom of 13 February 2001 for placing oil rich in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp. on the market as a novel food ingredient,\nHaving regard to the initial assessment report drawn up by the competent authorities of the United Kingdom,\nWhereas:\n(1) In their initial assessment report the United Kingdom's competent food assessment body came to the conclusion that DHA-rich oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp. is safe for human consumption.\n(2) The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 20 June 2002.\n(3) Within the 60-day period laid down in Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97, reasoned objections to the marketing of the product were raised in accordance with that provision.\n(4) In response to the comments and objections raised, OmegaTech GmbH amended the specifications and the applications of the DHA-rich oil. These amendments were discussed with Member States' experts on 21 October 2002.\n(5) On the basis of the initial assessment report, it is established that DHA-rich oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp. complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of the Regulation.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDHA-rich oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp. as specified in Annex 1, may be placed on the market in the Community as a novel food ingredient for the uses and at the maximum levels as listed in Annex 2.\nThe designation \"DHA-rich oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp.\" shall be displayed on the labelling of the product as such or in the list of ingredients of foodstuffs containing it.\nThis Decision is addressed to Martek Biosciences Corporation, 6480 Dobbin Road, Columbia, Maryland 21045 USA.", "answer groups": [ "consumer protection", "marketing", "consumer information", "labelling", "vegetable oil" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2001/328/CFSP: Council Decision of 24 April 2001 supplementing Decision 98/627/CFSP concerning a specific action of the European Union in the field of assistance for mine clearance\nCouncil Decision\nof 24 April 2001\nsupplementing Decision 98/627/CFSP concerning a specific action of the European Union in the field of assistance for mine clearance\n(2001/328/CFSP)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to Council Joint Action 96/588/CFSP of 1 October 1996 on anti-personnel landmines(1), and in particular Article 8 thereof, in conjunction with Article 23(2) of the Treaty on European Union,\nWhereas:\n(1) The Council decided in Decision 98/627/CFSP(2) that the European Union should launch a specific action of the Union in the field of assistance for mine clearance.\n(2) By Decision 98/628/CFSP(3) the Council requested the Western European Union (WEU) to implement this action.\n(3) With a view to concluding the mission, an extension of the mission's financing will allow it to support the Croatian demining operations for 2001 and give it time to be gradually scaled down while completing its ongoing programmes and projects.\n(4) It is therefore appropriate to provide additional financing to continue the implementation of Decision 98/627/CFSP until November 2001, the date at which the mission should be closed down,\n1. The financial reference amount to cover the operational expenditure to which the implementation of Decision 98/627/CFSP gives rise shall be EUR 111782 for the year 2001.\n2. This amount is additional to that provided for in Decision 98/627/CFSP, as supplemented by Decision 2000/231/CFSP(4).\nThis Decision shall be notified to the WEU in accordance with the conclusions adopted by the Council on 14 May 1996 on the transmission to the WEU of documents of the European Union.\nThis Decision shall take effect on the date of its adoption.\nIt shall expire on 30 November 2001.\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.", "answer groups": [ "Western European Union", "arms limitation", "operational expenditure", "Croatia", "conventional weapon", "EU aid" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 2089/84 of 19 July 1984 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain ball bearings originating in Japan and Singapore\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2089/84\nof 19 July 1984\nimposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain ball bearings originating in Japan and Singapore\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79 of 20 December 1979 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Community (1), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1580/82 (2), and in particular Article 12 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consultations within the Advisory Committee as provided for under the above Regulation,\nWhereas:\nA. Provisional action\n(1) The Commission, by Regulation (EEC) No 744/84 (3), imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with greatest external diameter not more than 30 mm, originating in Japan and Singapore.\nB. Subsequent procedures\n(2) Following the imposition of the provisional antidumping duty, all parties involved in the investigations leading to the preliminary determinations requested and were granted on opportunity to be heard by the Commission and also presented written submissions making known their views on the duty.\n(3) The same parties also requested to be informed of certain facts and essential considerations on the basis of which it was intended to recommend definitive action and these requests were granted.\n(4) In addition to the investigations leading to preliminary determinations, the Commission carried out an investigation at the premises of NMB Italia Srl, Barreggio, Italy.\n(5) Within the time limit laid down by Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 744/84, nine Japanese manufacturers of the ball bearings in question who, in their own estimation, were of minor importance and who had not reacted to the notice of initiation of the anti-dumping proceeding made themselves known to the Commission. They all requested to be exempted from anti-dumping measures and were given, where appropriate, the opportunity to make known their views orally. None of them availed itself of this opportunity.\n(6) Four of the manufacturers, namely:\n- Inoue Jikuuke Kogyo Co. Ltd, Osaka,\n- SMT Nankai Seiko Co. Ltd, Osaka,\n- ISC NSK Micro Precision Co. Ltd, Tokyo,\n- Kitanihon Seiko Co. Ltd, Ashihetsu,\nclaimed not to be exporting to the Community and were, therefore, not investigated.\n(7) Three of these manufacturers, namely:\n- MMM Matsuo Bearing Co. Ltd, Osaka,\n- Izumoto Seiko Co. Ltd, Osaka,\n- WTW Wada Seiko Co. Ltd, Osaka,\nclaiming to have exported to the Community during the period investigated, submitted written information to the Commission. This was examined but found to be incomplete.\n(8) Two of these manufacturers, namely:\n- Tottori Yamakei Bearing Ltd, Seisakusho,\n- TOK Bearing Co. Ltd, Tokyo,\ndid not submit any information within the time limit laid down and therefore had to be disregarded.\n(9) An additional Japanese manufacturer, Asahi Seiko Co., Osaka, made itself known outside the time limit laid down.\n(10) Two importers of the ball bearings in question namely:\n- Kugellager Fiedler, Seevetal, Germany,\n- Findling Waelzlager, Karlsruhe, Germany,\nmade their views duly known to the Commission either in writing or orally.\nC. Normal value\nJAPAN\n(11) Normal value was finally determined on the basis of the average price paid by unrelated purchasers on the domestic market. In those cases where the producer/exporter sold both directly to these purchasers and through wholly-owned or controlled sales companies, the combined weighted average of sales prices to unrelated purchasers was, with one exception in unusual circumstances, taken.\nSINGAPORE\n(12) Normal value for exports by the Minebea group was finally established on the basis of the method adopted for the provisional determination i.e. by using the only cost of production data available from the Minebea group in spite of continuing reservations as to its appropriateness.\n(13) The Minebea group requested that special consideration be given in respect of one of its production units in an expansion phase. It was claimed that, for the establishment of normal value, cost of production data pertaining to a period subsequent to that under investigation should be used because then costs per piece were lower due to increased capacity and improved capacity utilization. Furthermore it was claimed that, contrary to Article 2 (3) (b) (ii) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79, no profit element should have been incorporated in the constructed normal value since, given the circumstances, profitable sales were not expected to be made during the expansion period.\n(14) While Community producers and other foreign exporters have to accept normal competition from other producers enjoying comparative advantages, this request had to be refused because inter alia:\n(i) neither Article VI of the GATT nor the GATT Anti-Dumping Code nor yet Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79 provide for a different set of rules to be applied to exporters in a start-up or expansion phase;\n(ii) more favourable treatment to one exporter would constitute a discrimination against others which are not in a start-up or expansion phase;\n(iii) producers who have only recently invested and who have not yet reached their expected economies of scale should not engage in 'pre-emptive pricing', i.e. selling below both their current normal value and the prices charged by the Community industry, on a scale large enough to cause material injury, whether to try to generate future economies of scale, or to break into and capture part of the Community market, or for any other purpose.\nIt has therefore been decided that no deviation from the period of investigation adopted for all other aspects of the dumping determination should be made and that, as in all other cases under Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79, a reasonable profit margin should be taken into consideration for the determination of normal value pursuant to Article 2 (3) (b) (ii).\n(15) The Commission had, for the imposition of the provisional duty, considered a profit margin of 6 % to be reasonable for the computation of the constructed normal value. The Community industry submitted that, for Singapore, a minimum profit margin of 8 % before tax is necessary to allow for re-investment. The Minebea group claimed, for its other production unit in Singapore, that a profit margin of 6,56 % should be applied. In view of this and other profits realized by the Minebea group, a profit margin of 6 % for both production units is considered to be reasonable.\nD. Dumping margins\n(16) Dumping margins were finally established by comparing the normal value determined as described under paragraph 11 above with export prices on a transaction-by-transaction method, exports at identical prices being grouped together, taking into consideration new evidence submitted by all the parties mentioned in paragraph 2 above.\n(17) In this context some exporters maintained that the method described under paragraph 16 did not take account of the fact that dumping in some cases was compensated by 'negative' dumping in others, i.e. by those transactions where the export price exceeds the normal value. It was further maintained that the Commission unjustifiably applied a method different from that used in previous anti-dumping proceedings concerning imports of ball bearings originating in Japan and that this method did not take account of the fact that sales of different quantities were involved.\n(18) Since the first anti-dumping proceedings concerning ball bearings, the Commission has been well aware of the phenomenon of 'negative' dumping which not only occurs in respect of different transactions within a specific type of this product but also between different types. At that time it was already argued that 'negative' dumping margins should compensate for positive margins which, as a result, would have allowed for dumping to continue on a substantial scale. In order to clarify the situation, the Council, by Regulation (EEC) No 1681/79 (1), modified the then existing legislation by laying down that the dumping margin was the amount by which the normal value exceeded the export price, thus ruling out the concept of a 'negative' dumping margin.\nA comparison of the normal value with a weighted average export price, comprising dumped and non-dumped sales, would be in contradiction with the Council's amendment of the Community's anti-dumping legislation. Therefore, it has been a consistent practice of the Commission not to use weighted average export prices for the determination of the dumping margin, except in cases where, for administrative reasons, it was not considered feasible to employ the transaction-by-transaction method or where the averaging of export prices would have had no effect on the overall outcome of the proceedings. It is correct that in former ball bearings proceedings, the application of the transaction-by-transaction method was considered to be neither feasible for foreign exporters nor for the Commission services because of the numerous individual sales transactions involved. However, experience has shown in the meantime that, in view of, inter alia, the technological progress made in office equipment and systems, this method is feasible.\nAs to the problem of quantities involved, the Regulation lays down certain conditions for quantity adjustments and places the burden of proof on each interested party claiming an allowance. Although criticism was levelled at the method adopted by the Commission, no duly justified claim for an allowance was made, In fact, the investigation revealed that, on the Japanese market, transactions or long-term contracts were individually negotiated and that the quantities involved, big or small, constituted only one factor amongst several in the determination of the price. It was established that there existed no quantity discount scheme within the meaning of Article 2 (10) (b), nor were savings in costs, due to large volume sales, even claimed.\n(19) One exporter, NTN Toyo Bearing Co. Ltd, in the course of the investigation leading to the preliminary determination, had refused verification of certain information relating to one of its subsidiaries in the Community. In consequence, the Commission had based its preliminary determination on the best evidence available. Following the imposition of the provisional duty, NTN Toyo Bearing Co. Ltd, allowed verification to take place. The data thus verified resulted in a reduced dumping margin. No other factor contributed to this reduction.\n(20) Consequently, the preliminary determinations are modified as follows:\nJAPAN\n- Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd 4,03 %,\n- Minebea Co. Ltd, 10,91 %,\n- Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp. 9,65 %,\n- Nippon Seiko KK 14,71 %,\n- NTN Toyo Bearing Co. Ltd 11,97 %,\nSINGAPORE\n- Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd 29,77 %\n- Minebea Co. Ltd 33,89 %.\nE. Injury\n(21) No fresh evidence regarding injury to the Community industry has been submitted. The Commission has therefore confirmed the conclusions on injury reached in Regulation (EEC) No 744/84. In the Commission's view, the facts as finally determined show that the injury being caused by dumped imports of single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with greatest external diameter not more than 30 mm originating in Japan and Singapore, taken in isolation from that caused by other factors, has to be considered as material.\nF. Community interest\n(22) No Community purchaser of the said ball bearings has reacted to the proceedings within the time limit laid down in Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 744/84.\n(23) The Council has considered the interest of the Community. In view of the particularly serious difficulties facing the Community industry, its economic, social and strategic importance and the relatively low incidence of a price increase on manufactured goods, the Council has come to the conclusion that it is in the Community's interest that action be taken. In these circumstances, protection of the Community's interest calls for the imposition of a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with greatest external diameter not more than 30 mm originating in Japan and Singapore.\nG. Undertakings\n(24) All exporters against which an individual provisional anti-dumping duty had been imposed offered price undertakings. However, after consultation, it was decided that these undertakings were not acceptable because past experience with price undertakings in the ball bearings sector has shown that undertakings, even if generally respected, do not constitute a satisfactory solution, seem likely to cause controversy and are difficult to monitor, thereby requiring a considerable amount of time and expense.\nH. Definitive duty and collection of provisional duty\n(25) Two exporters claimed that an imposition of a definitive duty and the collection of the amounts secured by way of provisional duty would be illegal in view of the fact that - as they claimed - they had increased their sales prices on the Community market without, however, in the case of one exporter, giving an exact amount of the increase. This claim had to be refused because it referred to an event which has allegedly occurred after the end of the reference period. When investigating, the Commission decides on a so-called investigation period (see paragraph 10 of Regulation (EEC) No 744/84), for which the dumping margin is established. Where preliminary examination shows that dumping exists and that there is sufficient evidence of injury caused thereby and the interests of the Community call for immediate intervention, a provisional duty may be imposed. After the imposition of this duty the facts are finally established and account is taken of comments submitted by interested parties. The final determination of the facts, however, always refers to the investigation period; for the purposes of definitive anti-dumping measures developments which occurred after the imposition of the provisional duty have to be ignored, just as developments between the end of the investigation period and the date of imposition of the provisional duty have to be ignored. Any other method would render an investigation virtually permanent, allow exporters to manipulate the results by short-lived price increases and is warranted neither by Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79 nor the GATT.\nFor many years it has been the Community's standard and unchallenged practice not to deviate from the investigation period unless the circumstances were exceptional and did not necessitate further lengthy investigations. The claim to have increased prices is not such an exceptional circumstance, because it is not unusual for an exporter whose goods are subject to an anti-dumping duty to increase his sales prices, especially when the importer is related to the exporter.\nIn addition, if anti-dumping duties were automatically removed or never definitively imposed when higher export prices are claimed by the exporter to have been achieved, there would be no guarantee that dumping would not be resumed. In fact, the structure of the anti-dumping legislation does not provide for an exemption of duties or a non-collection of the amounts secured by way of provisional anti-dumping duties in such cases as claimed but provides for a refund procedure.\nFurthermore, the evidence submitted by one exporter to support the general claim of an unspecified price increase is incomplete. In view of the results of the investigation carried out at the premises of the two exporters in question, there are in fact serious doubts as to the correctness of the claim. These doubts are confirmed by the fact that one refund application under Article 15 of Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79 has been made, in which dumping at a rate of 13,23 % during the period between the imposition of the provisional duty and 31 May 1984 is explicitly admitted.\n(26) In the case of exports from Singapore by Koyo Seiko, it has been established that following the termination of an arrangement with a Singaporean producer, exports by Koyo Seiko, Singapore have ceased. It is therefore not necessary to impose an individual duty on this exporter.\n(27) In the light of all the above findings, the rates of definitive anti-dumping duty should be lower than those of the provisional anti-dumping duty with the exception of exports from Japan by Minebea.\n(28) The amounts secured by way of provisional anti-dumping duties should be collected to a maximum of the duty definitively imposed,\n1. A definitive anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with greatest external diameter not more than 30 mm, falling within heading No ex 84.62 of the Common Customs Tariff, corresponding to NIMEXE code ex 84.62-01 and originating in Japan and Singapore.\n2. The rates of the anti-dumping duty shall be as set out below expressed as a percentage of the price net, free-at-Community-frontier, before duty.\n1.2 // Manufacturers/exporters // Rate of anti-dumping duty // JAPAN // // - Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd // 4,03 %, // - Minebea Co. Ltd // 10,91 %, // - Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp. // 9,65 %, // - Nippon Seiko KK // 14,71 %, // - NTN Toyo Bearing Co. Ltd // 11,97 %, // - Others // 14,71 %. // SINGAPORE // // - Minebea Co. Ltd // 33,89 %, // - Others // 33,89 %.\n3. The provisions in force with regard to customs duties shall apply to the said duty.\nThe sums secured by way of provisional anti-dumping duty under Regulation (EEC) No 744/84 shall be definitively collected up to a maximum of the respective rates of the definitive anti-dumping duty.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "bearing", "trading margin", "export price", "Singapore", "Japan", "anti-dumping duty" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2011/41/EU: Council Decision of 18\u00a0January 2011 appointing three Dutch members and six Dutch alternate members of the Committee of the Regions\n22.1.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 19/17\nCOUNCIL DECISION\nof 18 January 2011\nappointing three Dutch members and six Dutch alternate members of the Committee of the Regions\n(2011/41/EU)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 305 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Dutch Government,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 22 December 2009 and 18 January 2010, the Council adopted Decisions 2009/1014/EU and 2010/29/EU appointing the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions for the period from 26 January 2010 to 25 January 2015\u00a0(1).\n(2) Three members\u2019 seats on the Committee of the Regions have become vacant following the end of the term of office of Ms Annemarie JORRITSMA-LEBBINK, Ms Luzette WAGENAAR-KROON and Mr Rob BATS.\n(3) Four alternate members\u2019 seats have become vacant following the end of the term of office of Ms Ellie FRANSSEN, Mr Job COHEN, Ms Rinda DEN BESTEN and Mr Hendrikus DE LANGE.\n(4) Two alternate members\u2019 seats will become vacant following the appointment of Mr Hans KOK and Mr Henk KOOL as members of the Committee of the Regions,\nThe following are hereby appointed to the Committee of the Regions for the remainder of the current term of office, which runs until 25 January 2015:\n(a) as members:\n\u2014 Mr H.A.J. (Hans) KOK, Burgemeester (Mayor of \u2018t Hof van Twente),\n\u2014 Mr H.P.M (Henk) KOOL, Wethouder (alderman of The Hague),\n\u2014 Mr S.B. (Sipke) SWIERSTRA, Gedeputeerde (member of the Executive Council) of the Province of Drenthe;\n(b) as alternate members:\n\u2014 Mr H.A.J. (Henk) AALDERINK, Burgemeester (Mayor of Bronckhorst),\n\u2014 Mr J.P. (Jean Paul) GEBBEN, Burgemeester (Mayor of Renkum),\n\u2014 Mr J.P.W. (Jan Willem) GROOT, Wethouder (alderman of Amstelveen),\n\u2014 Ms L.W.C.M. (Loes) van der MEIJS, Wethouder (alderman of Doetinchem),\n\u2014 Mr N.A. (Andr\u00e9) van de NADORT, Burgemeester (Mayor of Ten Boer),\n\u2014 Mr F. (Frank) de VRIES, Wethouder (alderman of Groningen).\nThis Decision shall take effect on the day of its adoption.", "answer groups": [ "European Committee of the Regions", "alternate", "appointment of members", "Netherlands" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 382/2010 of 5 May 2010 refusing to authorise certain health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children\u2019s development and health (Text with EEA relevance)\n6.5.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 113/1\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 382/2010\nof 5 May 2010\nrefusing to authorise certain health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children\u2019s development and health\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 18(5) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 health claims made on food are prohibited unless they are authorised by the Commission in accordance with that Regulation and included in a list of permitted claims.\n(2) Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 also provides that applications for authorisations of health claims may be submitted by food business operators to the national competent authority of a Member State. The national competent authority is to forward valid applications to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), hereinafter referred to as the Authority.\n(3) Following receipt of an application the Authority is to inform without delay the other Member States and the Commission and to deliver an opinion on a health claim concerned.\n(4) The Commission is to decide on the authorisation of health claims taking into account the opinion delivered by the Authority.\n(5) Following an application from The Natural Push-Up Company, submitted on 28 November 2008 pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the Authority was required to deliver an opinion on a health claim related to the effects of Natural Push-Up\u00ae Tablets and Natural Push-Up\u00ae Capsules on female breast enhancement (Question No EFSA-Q-2008-784)\u00a0(2). The claim proposed by the applicant was worded as follows: \u2018NPU Tablets imitate female breasts enhancement process by 8-PN (8-Prenylnaringenin)\u2019.\n(6) On 5 June 2009, the Commission and the Member States received the scientific opinion from the Authority, which concluded that on the basis of the data presented, a cause and effect relationship had not been established between the consumption of Natural Push-Up\u00ae Tablets and Natural Push-Up\u00ae Capsules and the claimed effect. Accordingly, as the claim does not comply with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, it should not be authorised.\n(7) Following an application from Clasado Ltd., submitted on 29 December 2008 pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the Authority was required to deliver an opinion on a health claim related to the effects of BimunoBT (BGOS) Prebiotic on maintaining a healthy gastro-intestinal function (Question No EFSA-Q-2009-00231)\u00a0(3). The claim proposed by the applicant was worded as follows: \u2018Helps maintain a healthy gastro-intestinal (GI) function\u2019.\n(8) On 7 July 2009, the Commission and the Member States received the scientific opinion from the Authority, which concluded that on the basis of the data presented, a cause and effect relationship had not been established between the consumption of BimunoBT (BGOS) Prebiotic and the claimed effect. Accordingly, as the claim does not comply with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, it should not be authorised.\n(9) Following an application from Clasado Ltd., submitted on 15 July 2008 pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the Authority was required to deliver an opinion on a health claim related to the effects of BimunoBT (BGOS) Prebiotic on support of the immune system (Question No EFSA-Q-2009-00230)\u00a0(4). The claim proposed by the applicant was worded as follows: \u2018Supports your natural defences\u2019.\n(10) On 7 July 2009, the Commission and the Member States received the scientific opinion from the Authority which concluded that on the basis of the data presented, a cause and effect relationship had not been established between the consumption of BimunoBT (BGOS) Prebiotic and the claimed effect. Accordingly, as the claim does not comply with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, it should not be authorised.\n(11) Following an application from Sunstar Suisse S.A., submitted on 4 February 2009 pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the Authority was required to deliver an opinion on a health claim related to the effects of Gum PeriobalanceTM tablets and chewing gum on oral health (Question No EFSA-Q-2009-00373)\u00a0(5). The claim proposed by the applicant was worded as follows: \u2018Gum PeriobalanceTM, combined with a correct oral hygiene, helps re-balancing the oral microflora and improving oral health\u2019.\n(12) On 20 July 2009, the Commission and the Member States received the scientific opinion from the Authority, which concluded that on the basis of the data presented, a cause and effect relationship had not been established between the consumption of Gum PeriobalanceTM tablets and chewing gum and the claimed effect. Accordingly, as the claim does not comply with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, it should not be authorised.\n(13) The comments from the applicants and the members of the public received by the Commission, pursuant to Article 16(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, have been considered when setting the measures provided for in this Regulation.\n(14) Health claims referred to in Article 13(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 are subject to the transition measures laid down in Article 28(5) of that Regulation only if they comply with the conditions therein mentioned, among which that they have to comply with the Regulation. As for the four claims subject to the present Regulation, the Authority concluded that a cause and effect relationship had not been established between the consumption of the foods and the claimed effects and thus they do not comply with the Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, they could not benefit from the transition period foreseen in Article 28(5) of that Regulation. A transition period of six months is provided for to enable food business operators to adapt to the requirements laid down in this Regulation.\n(15) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council have opposed them,\nHealth claims set out in the Annex to this Regulation shall not be included in the Community list of permitted claims as provided for in Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.\nHowever, they may continue to be used for six months after the entry into force of this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "disease prevention", "foodstuff", "scientific report", "labelling", "foodstuffs legislation", "public health", "nutrition", "consumer information" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Directive 2001/112/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption\nCouncil Directive 2001/112/EC\nof 20 December 2001\nrelating to fruit juices and certain similar products intended for human consumption\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),\nWhereas:\n(1) Certain vertical Directives relating to foodstuffs should be simplified in order to take account only of the essential requirements to be met by the products they cover in order that those products may move freely within the internal market, in accordance with the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council on 11 and 12 December 1992, as confirmed by those of the Brussels European Council on 10 and 11 December 1993.\n(2) Council Directive 93/77/EEC of 21 September 1993 relating to fruit juices and certain similar products(4) was intended to codify Directive 75/726/EEC(5) on the same subject.\n(3) Directives 75/726/EEC and 93/77/EEC had been justified by the fact that differences between national laws concerning fruit juices and nectars intended for human consumption could result in conditions of unfair competition likely to mislead consumers, and thereby have a direct effect on the establishment and functioning of the common market.\n(4) The said Directives had consequently laid down common rules governing the composition, use of reserved descriptions, manufacturing specifications and labelling of the products concerned, in order to ensure their free movement within the Community.\n(5) For the sake of clarity, Directive 93/77/EEC should be recast in order to make the rules on manufacturing and marketing conditions for fruit juices and certain similar products more accessible.\n(6) Directive 93/77/EEC should also be brought into line with general Community legislation on foodstuffs, particularly legislation on labelling, colouring matter, sweeteners and other authorised additives.\n(7) Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs(6), and in particular Article 7(2) and (5) thereof, should apply subject to certain conditions. It should be clearly indicated when a product is a mixture of fruit juice and fruit juice from concentrate, and, for fruit nectar, when it is obtained entirely or partly from a concentrated product. The list of ingredients in the labelling bears the names of both the fruit juices and fruit juices from concentrate used.\n(8) Subject to Council Directive 90/496/EEC of 24 September 1990 on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs(7), the addition of vitamins to the products defined by this Directive is permitted in some Member States. However, the extension of this possibility to the whole of the Community is not envisaged. Therefore, Member States are free to authorise or prohibit the addition of vitamins and also minerals as part of the manufacturing process. In all circumstances, however, the principle of the free movement of products within the Community should be observed in accordance with the rules and principles laid down in the Treaty.\n(9) In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality established by Article 5 of the Treaty, the objective of laying down common definitions and rules for the products concerned and bringing the provisions into line with general Community legislation on foodstuffs cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the nature of this Directive, be better achieved by the Community. This Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve the said objective.\n(10) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(8).\n(11) To avoid creating new barriers to free movement, Member States should refrain from adopting, for the products in question, national provisions not provided for by this Directive,\nThis Directive shall apply to the products defined in Annex I.\nMember States may, subject to Directive 90/496/EEC, authorise the addition of vitamins and minerals to the products defined in part I of Annex I hereto.\nDirective 2000/13/EC shall apply to the products defined in Annex I, subject to the following conditions:\n1. (a) The product names listed in Annex I shall apply only to the products referred to therein and shall, without prejudice to subparagraph (b), be used in trade to designate them.\n(b) As an alternative to the product names referred to in subparagraph (a), Annex III provides a list of particular designations. These designations may be used in the language and under the conditions laid down in Annex III.\n2. If the product comes from a single kind of fruit, the name of the latter shall be substituted for the word \"fruit\".\n3. For products manufactured from two or more fruits, except where lemon juice is used under the conditions laid down in part II.1 of Annex I, the product names shall be supplemented by a list of the fruits used, in descending order of the volume of the fruit juices or pur\u00e9es included. However, in the case of products manufactured from three or more fruits, the indication of the fruits used may be replaced by the words \"several fruits\" or a similar wording, or by the number of fruits used.\n4. For fruit juices which have been sweetened by the addition of sugars, the sales name shall include the word \"sweetened\" or \"with added sugar\", followed by an indication of the maximum quantity of sugar added, calculated as dry matter and expressed in grams per litre.\n5. The restoration of the products defined in part I of Annex I to their original state, by means of the substances strictly necessary for this operation, shall not entail an obligation to enter on the labels a list of the ingredients used for this purpose.\nThe addition to fruit juice of extra pulp or cells as defined in Annex II shall be indicated on the labelling.\n6. Without prejudice to Article 7(2) and (5) of Directive 2000/13/EC for mixtures of fruit juice and fruit juice from concentrate, and for fruit nectar obtained entirely or partly from one or more concentrated products, the labelling shall bear the words \"made with concentrate(s)\" or \"partially made with concentrate(s)\", as appropriate. That information shall be entered close to the product name, standing out well from any background, in clearly visible characters.\n7. For fruit nectars, the labelling shall indicate the minimum content of fruit juice, fruit pur\u00e9e or any mixture of those ingredients, by the declaration \"fruit content: ... % minimum\". That information shall be located in the same field of vision as the product name.\nThe labelling of concentrated fruit juice referred to in part I point 2 of Annex I not intended for delivery to the final consumer shall bear a reference indicating the presence and quantity of added sugars, or added lemon juice or acidifying agents as permitted by Directive 95/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 1995 on food additives other than colours and sweeteners(9). This reference shall appear on the packaging, on a label attached to the packaging or on an accompanying document.\nFor the products defined in Annex I, Member States shall not adopt national provisions not provided for by this Directive.\nWithout prejudice to Council Directive 89/107/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning food additives authorised for use in foodstuffs intended for human consumption(10), only the treatments and substances listed in part II of Annex I and the raw materials complying with Annex II may be used to manufacture the products defined in part I of Annex I. Moreover, fruit nectars shall comply with the provisions of Annex IV.\nThe measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive relating to the matters referred to below shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 8(2):\n- bringing this Directive into line with general Community legislation on foodstuffs,\n- adaptations to technical progress.\n1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs (hereinafter referred to as \"the Committee\") set up by Article 1 of Decision 69/414/EEC(11).\n2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.\nThe period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.\n3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.\nDirective 93/77/EEC is hereby repealed with effect from 12 July 2003.\nReferences to the repealed Directive shall be construed as references to this Directive.\n0\nMember States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 12 July 2003. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nThe measures shall be applied so as to:\n- authorise the marketing of the products defined in Annex I if they comply with the definitions and rules laid down in this Directive, with effect from 12 July 2003,\n- prohibit the marketing of products which fail to comply with this Directive, with effect from 12 July 2004.\nHowever, the marketing of products which fail to comply with this Directive but which were labelled before 12 July 2004 in accordance with Directive 93/77/EEC may continue until stocks run out.\nWhen Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States.\n1\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\n2\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing", "fruit juice", "product designation", "consumer information", "labelling", "human nutrition", "food additive" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 105/2003 of 21 January 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 1081/2002 increasing to 578820 tonnes the quantity of barley held by the French intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 105/2003\nof 21 January 2003\namending Regulation (EC) No 1081/2002 increasing to 578820 tonnes the quantity of barley held by the French intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in cereals(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1666/2000(2), and in particular Article 5 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1630/2000(4), lays down the procedure and conditions for the sale of cereals held by intervention agencies.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1081/2002(5) opened a standing invitation to tender for the export of 300000 tonnes of barley held by the French intervention agency. France informed the Commission of the intention of its intervention agency to increase by 278820 tonnes the quantity for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened. The total quantity of barley held by the French intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened should be increased to 578820 tonnes.\n(3) This increase in the quantity put out to tender makes it necessary to alter the list of regions and quantities in store. Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1081/2002 must therefore be amended.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nRegulation (EC) No 1081/2002 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 2 is replaced by the following:\n\"Article 2\n1. The invitation to tender shall cover a maximum of 578820 tonnes of barley to be exported to all third countries with the exception of the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.\n2. The regions in which the 578820 tonnes of barley are stored are stated in Annex I to this Regulation.\"\n2. Annex I is replaced by the Annex hereto.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "intervention agency", "award of contract", "barley", "export", "France" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2010/77/EU of 10\u00a0November 2010 amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC as regards the expiry dates for inclusion in Annex I of certain active substances Text with EEA relevance\n11.11.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 293/48\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2010/77/EU\nof 10 November 2010\namending Council Directive 91/414/EEC as regards the expiry dates for inclusion in Annex I of certain active substances\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The inclusions in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC of the active substances listed in the Annex to this Directive expire between 31 May 2011 and 31 December 2012.\n(2) Article 5(5) of Directive 91/414/EEC provides that the inclusion of an active substance can be renewed, upon request, provided an application is made at the latest two years before the inclusion period is due to lapse. The Commission has received requests regarding renewals of inclusions for all the substances referred to in recital 1.\n(3) Detailed rules will be needed concerning the submission and evaluation of further information necessary for the renewal of Annex I inclusion. Therefore, it is justified to renew the inclusion of the active substances referred to in recital 1 for a period necessary to enable the applicants to prepare their applications and to enable the Commission to evaluate and decide upon such applications.\n(4) It is therefore appropriate to amend Directive 91/414/EEC accordingly.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAnnex I to Directive 91/414/EEC is amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive.\nMember States shall adopt and publish, by 31 March 2011 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1 April 2011.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\nEntry into force\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health product", "plant health control", "chemical product", "toxic substance", "marketing", "administrative formalities" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision 2013/124/CFSP of 11\u00a0March 2013 amending Decision 2011/235/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran\n12.3.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 68/57\nCOUNCIL DECISION 2013/124/CFSP\nof 11 March 2013\namending Decision 2011/235/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 12 April 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/235/CFSP\u00a0(1).\n(2) On the basis of a review of Decision 2011/235/CFSP, the restrictive measures should be renewed until 13 April 2014.\n(3) Furthermore, in view of the gravity of the human rights situation in Iran, additional persons and an additional entity should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures as set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP.\n(4) Decision 2011/235/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,\nArticle 6(2) of Decision 2011/235/CFSP is replaced by the following:\n\u20182.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Decision shall apply until 13 April 2014. It shall be kept under constant review. It shall be renewed or amended, as appropriate, if the Council deems that its objectives have not been met.\u2019.\nThe persons and the entity listed in the Annex to this Decision shall be added to the list set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP.\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication.", "answer groups": [ "economic sanctions", "international sanctions", "removal", "Iran" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2382/97 of 28 November 1997 opening tariff quotas under one year for imports of rice originating in the United States of America as provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1522/96\n29.11.1997 EN XM Official Journal of the European Communities L 329/36\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2382/97\nof 28 November 1997\nopening tariff quotas under one year for imports of rice originating in the United States of America as provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1522/96\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3093/95 of 22 December 1995 laying down the rates of duty to be applied by the Community resulting from negotiations under GATT Article XXIV.6 consequent upon the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 5 thereof,\nWhereas Council Regulation (EC) No 1522/96\u00a0(2), as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 112/97\u00a0(3), provides for the opening of tariff quotas for imports of rice from the United StaOJ tes of America; whereas, however, the opening of two of those quotas was postponed until the consultations with the United States of America were brought to an end; whereas, without waiting for those consultations to be concluded, with the agreement of the exporting country, two tariff quotas should be opened under one year for imports of milled or semi-milled rice and husked rice;\nWhereas special rules should be adopted for managing those tariff quotas;\nWhereas the Management Committee for Cereals has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,\nFor 1997 the following tariff quotas for rice originating in the United States of America as laid down in Article 1 (3) of Regulation (EC) No 1522/96 shall be opened for imports into the Community:\n(a) 38\u00a0721 tonnes of milled or semi-milled rice covered by CN code 1006\u00a030 at zero duty.\n(b) 7\u00a0642 tonnes of husked rice covered by CN code 1006\u00a020 at a duty of ECU 88 per tonne.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Licence applications shall be lodged with the competent authority in the Member State concerned during the first five working days following the entry into force of this Regulation.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Licence applications in respect of the quantities for which no application for licences was made during the period laid down in paragraph 1 may be lodged during a further period beginning 20 working days after the date of publication of this Regulation and expiring five working days later.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1162/95, the security for the import licences shall be:\n\u2014 ECU 46 per tonne for the quota provided for in Article 1 (a),\n\u2014 ECU 22 per tonne for the quota provided for in Article 1 (b).\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The country of origin shall be entered in Section 8 of licence aplications and of the import licences and the word \u2018yes\u2019 shall be marked with a cross.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Section 24 of the licences shall bear one of the following entries:\n(a) in the case of the quota referred to in Article 1 (a):\n\u2014 Exenci\u00f3n del derecho de aduana [Reglamento (CE) no 2382/97]\n\u2014 Toldfri (Forordning (EF) nr. 2382/97)\n\u2014 Zollfrei (Verordnung (EG) Nr. 2382/97)\n\u2014 \u0391\u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03ce\u03c2 [\u039a\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2 (\u0395\u039a) \u03b1\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8. 2382/97]\n\u2014 Exemption from customs duty (Regulation (EC) No 2382/97)\n\u2014 Exemption du droit de douane [R\u00e8glement (CE) no 2382/97]\n\u2014 Esenzione dal dazio doganale [Regolamento (CE) n. 2382/97]\n\u2014 Vrijgesteld van douanerecht (Verordening (EG) nr. 2382/97)\n\u2014 Isen\u00e7\u00e3o do direito aduaneiro [Regulamento (CE) n\u1ecd 2382/97]\n\u2014 Tullivapaa (asetus (EY) N:o 2382/97)\n\u2014 Tullfri (f\u00f6rordning (EG) nr 2382/97);\n(b) in the case of the quota referred to in Article 1 (b):\n\u2014 Derecho de aduana reducido a 88 ecus/t [Reglamento (CE) no 2382/97]\n\u2014 Nedsat told 88 ECU/t (Forordning (EF) nr. 2382/97)\n\u2014 Erm\u00e4\u00dfigter Zollsatz von 88 ECU/t (Verordnung (EG) Nr. 2382/97)\n\u2014 \u0394\u03b1\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u03b9\u03c9\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c3\u03b5 88 Ecu/\u03c4\u03cc\u03bd\u03bf [\u039a\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2 (\u0395\u039a) \u03b1\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8. 2382/97]\n\u2014 Reduced duty to ECU 88 per tonne (Regulation (EC) No 2382/97)\n\u2014 Droit r\u00e9duit \u00e0 88 \u00e9cus par tonne [R\u00e8glement (CE) no 2382/97]\n\u2014 Dazio ridotto a 88 ECU/t [Regolamento (\u0421\u0415) \u043f. 2382/97]\n\u2014 Verminderd douanerecht van 88 ecu/ton (Verordening (EG) nr. 2382/97)\n\u2014 Direito reduzido a 88 ecus/t [Regulamento (CE) n\u1ecd 2382/97]\n\u2014 Tulli, joka on alennetu 88 ecuun/t (asetus (EY) N:o 2382/97)\n\u2014 Tullsatsen nedsatt till 88 ecu/ton (f\u00f6rordning (EG) nr 2382/97).\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Import licence applications shall be admissible only where the following conditions are fulfilled:\n\u2014 applications must be submitted by natural or legal persons who have, in at least one of the three years preceding the date of submission of the application, been engaged in trade in rice or submitted import licence applications covering rice and were entered in a public register of a Member State,\n\u2014 applicants must submit a single application in the Member State where they are entered in a public register. Where applications are submitted by the same person in one or more Member States, none of those applications shall be admissible,\n\u2014 the application must not relate to a quantity which is greater than the quantity available for the tranche and the quota concerned. However, the quantity applied for may not exceed 5\u00a0000 tonnes per quota.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Within two working days of the closing date for the submission of licence applications, the Member States shall notify the Commission, by telex or fax and in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation, of the quantities covered by import licence applications, broken down by eight-digit CN code and country of origin, the number of the licence applied for and the name and address of the applicant.\nSuch notification shall also be made where no application has been submitted in a Member State.\nThe above information must be notified separately from that relating to other import licence applications covering rice and in accordance with the same procedure.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Within 10 days of the closing date for notification, the Commission shall:\n\u2014 decide to what extent applications may be accepted. Where the quantities applied for exceed those available in respect of the tranche in question, it shall set a single percentage reduction to be applied to those quantities,\n\u2014 fix the quantities available under the following tranche.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the reduction referred to in the first indent of paragraph 2 of this Article results in one or more quantities of less than 20 tonnes per application, the Member State shall allocate the total of these quantities by drawing lots among the importers concerned in 20-tonne lots and, where applicable, the remaining lot.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Within three working days of the entry into force of the decision referred to in Article 4 (2), import licences shall be issued for the quantities resulting from the application of that decision.\nWhere the quantity covered by the import licence issued is lower than that applied for, the security fixed in Article 3 (1) shall be reduced proportionately.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding Article 9 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88\u00a0(4), rights accruing under import licences shall not be transferable.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The fourth indent of Article 5 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 shall not apply.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding Article 8 (4) of Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88, the quantity released for free circulation may not exceed that set out in Sections 17 and 18 of the import licence. To that end the figure \u20180\u2019 shall be entered in Section 19 of the licence.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Article 33 (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 shall apply.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The term of validity of the licences shall be fixed in accordance with Article 6 (1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1162/95\u00a0(5).\nAccess to the tariff quota shall be conditional on presentation, when the goods are released for free circulation, of a rice inspection services certificate completed in accordance with the model set out in Annex II and issued by the Federal Grain Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.\nThe Member States shall notify the Commission, by telex or fax and in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation:\n\u2014 within two working days of their issue, of the quantities, broken down by eight-digit CN code and country of origin, covered by the import licences issued, with the date of issue, the number of the licence and the name and address of the holder,\n\u2014 on the last working day of each month following the month of release for free circulation, of the quantities, broken down by eight-digit CN code, package and country of origin, actually released for free circulation, with the date of release, the number of the licence and the name and address of the holder.\nSuch notifications must also be made where no licence has been issued and no imports have taken place.\nArticle 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1522/96 shall apply.\n0\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the second day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "rice", "tariff quota", "import licence", "CCT duties", "GATT", "United States" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EU) No\u00a01360/2013 of 2\u00a0December 2013 fixing the production levies in the sugar sector for the 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 marketing years, the coefficient required for calculating the additional levy for the 2001/2002 and 2004/2005 marketing years and the amount to be paid by sugar manufacturers to beet sellers in respect of the difference between the maximum levy and the levy to be charged for the 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2005/2006 marketing years\n19.12.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 343/2\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 1360/2013\nof 2 December 2013\nfixing the production levies in the sugar sector for the 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 marketing years, the coefficient required for calculating the additional levy for the 2001/2002 and 2004/2005 marketing years and the amount to be paid by sugar manufacturers to beet sellers in respect of the difference between the maximum levy and the levy to be charged for the 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2005/2006 marketing years\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001\u00a0(1), and in particular the first indent of Article 15(8), Article 16(5), and Article 18(5), empowered the Commission to adopt detailed rules on the basic production levy and the B levy to be collected from quota holders operating in the framework of the common organisation of markets in the sugar sector, the coefficient for the calculation of an additional levy, and the repayment or recovery of part of the levies from beet sellers.\n(2) The Commission established the production levies for the 2001/2002\u00a0(2), 2002/2003\u00a0(3), 2003/2004\u00a0(4), 2004/2005\u00a0(5) and 2005/2006\u00a0(6) marketing years.\n(3) Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 provided that when a basic production levy was lower than the maximum amount referred to in Article 15(3) or when the B levy referred to in that Article was lower than the maximum amount referred to in Article 15(4) of that Regulation, adjusted, where necessary, in accordance with Article 15(5), sugar manufacturers were to pay back beet sellers 60\u00a0% of the difference between the maximum amount of the levy concerned and the levy to be charged.\n(4) In accordance with Article 9(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 314/2002\u00a0(7), the amount to be paid by sugar manufacturers to beet sellers in respect of the difference between the maximum basic production levy and the B levy and the chargeable levy, were set for the 2002/2003\u00a0(8), 2003/2004\u00a0(9) and 2005/2006\u00a0(10) marketing years.\n(5) In the framework of the reform of the common market organisation for the sugar sector, Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006\u00a0(11) repealed and replaced Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 as of the 2006/2007 marketing year. Regulation (EC) No 318/2006, which was subsequently repealed and incorporated into Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007\u00a0(12), replaced the variable sugar production levy system of self-financing the production quota regime by a new production charge aimed at contributing to the financing of the expenditure occurring in the sugar sector under the common market organisation for sugar.\n(6) On 8 May 2008, in joined cases C-5/06 and C-23/06 to C-36/06, the Court of Justice declared Commission Regulations (EC) No 1762/2003\u00a0(13) and (EC) No 1775/2004\u00a0(14) invalid. In its judgment, the Court held that all quantities of sugar in exported products, regardless of whether or not export refunds were actually paid, were to be taken into account for the purpose of calculating the estimated average loss per tonne of product.\n(7) The Court, in joined cases C-175/07 to C-184/07, and in cases C-466/06 and C-200/06, also declared Commission Regulation (EC) No 1686/2005\u00a0(15) invalid.\n(8) In order to comply with the Court\u2019s rulings, the Commission adopted Regulation (EC) No 1193/2009\u00a0(16).\n(9) On 29 September 2011, the General Court delivered its judgment in case T-4/06, in which it stated that there was no proper legal basis for a differentiated coefficient for the additional levy in the sugar sector and annulled Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1686/2005, as amended by Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1193/2009.\n(10) On 27 September 2012, in joined cases C-113/10, C-147/10 and C-234/10, the Court declared Regulation (EC) No 1193/2009 invalid, stating that, for the purpose of calculating the estimated average loss per tonne of product, Article 15(1)(d) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 was to be interpreted as meaning that the total refund amount includes the total amount of export refunds effectively paid.\n(11) Consequently, levies in the sugar sector should be fixed at the appropriate level. For exports defined in accordance with Article 6(5) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 314/2002, the \u2018average loss\u2019, within the meaning of Article 15(1)(d) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001, should be calculated by dividing the refunds effectively paid by the exported quantities, regardless of whether or not a refund has been paid. The \u2018exportable surplus\u2019, within the meaning of Article 15(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001, should also be calculated by using all exports, regardless of whether or not a refund has been paid.\n(12) Considering that the method used to calculate the levies for the 2001/2002 marketing year was the same as that invalidated by the Court, the production levies and the coefficient for the additional levy for the 2001/2002 marketing year should also be corrected accordingly.\n(13) It follows from the Court\u2019s judgement that the corrected levies should apply from the same dates as the levies which were declared invalid.\n(14) As a result of the fixing of the sugar levies in accordance with the method referred to in recital 11, the amount to be paid by sugar manufacturers to beet sellers in respect of the difference between the maximum levy and the levy chargeable for the 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2005/2006 marketing years should also be newly set, and should be applicable retroactively.\n(15) For the 2001/2002 marketing year, the uncovered overall loss calculated following the method referred to in recital 11 amounts to EUR 14\u00a0123\u00a0937. The coefficient referred to in Article 16(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 should be set accordingly and should be applicable retroactively for that marketing year.\n(16) For the 2002/2003 marketing year, the application of the method referred to in recital 11 results in 2\u00a0% for the basic production levy and 16,371\u00a0% for the B levy, which should be applicable retroactively for that marketing year. The recalculated overall loss is covered in its entirety by the receipts from the basic production levy and the B levy. Therefore, there is no need to fix the additional coefficient referred to in Article 16(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 for that marketing year.\n(17) For the 2002/2003 marketing year, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1440/2002\u00a0(17) set the maximum amount of the B levy at 37,5\u00a0% of the intervention price for white sugar. However, the B levy applicable for that marketing year, revised according to the method referred to in recital 11 is 16,371\u00a0% of the intervention price for white sugar. This difference requires that the amount payable by sugar manufacturers to beet sellers be fixed per tonne of beet of standard quality for that marketing year, in accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001.\n(18) For the 2003/2004 marketing year, the application of the method referred to in recital 11 results in 2\u00a0% for the basic production levy and 17,259\u00a0% for the B levy. The recalculated overall loss is covered in its entirety by the receipts from the basic production levy and the B levy. Therefore, there is no need to fix the additional coefficient referred to in Article 16(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 for that marketing year.\n(19) For the 2003/2004 marketing year, Regulation (EC) No 1440/2002 set the maximum amount of the B levy at 37,5\u00a0% of the intervention price for white sugar. However, the B levy applicable for that marketing year, revised according to the method referred to in recital 11, is 17,259\u00a0% of the intervention price for white sugar. This difference requires that the amount payable by sugar manufacturers to beet sellers be fixed per tonne of beet of standard quality for that marketing year, in accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001.\n(20) For the 2004/2005 marketing year, the application of the method referred to in recital 11 does not change the basic production levy and the B levy. For that marketing year, the uncovered overall loss calculated following the method referred to in recital 11 amounts to EUR 57\u00a0648\u00a0788. The coefficient referred to in Article 16(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 should therefore be set. It follows from the Court\u2019s judgement referred to in recital 9 that the coefficient should be uniform for the Member States of the Union as constituted on 30 April 2004 and the Member States of the Union as constituted on 1 May 2004.\n(21) For the 2005/2006 marketing year, the application of the method referred to in recital 11 results in an amount of 1,2335\u00a0% for the basic production levy without the need for a B levy. The recalculated overall loss is covered in its entirety by the receipts from the basic production levy and there is no need to fix the additional coefficient referred to in Article 16(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001 for that marketing year.\n(22) For the 2005/2006 marketing year, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1296/2005\u00a0(18) set the maximum amount of the B levy at 37,5\u00a0% of the intervention price for white sugar. While the basic production levy applicable for that marketing year, revised in accordance with the method referred to in recital 11, is 1,2335\u00a0% of the intervention price for white sugar, there is no need for any B levy to be fixed. Due to these differences, it is necessary to fix the amounts per tonne of beet of standard quality payable by sugar manufacturers to beet sellers for that marketing year, in accordance with Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/2001.\n(23) For reasons of legal certainty and to ensure uniform treatment of the operators concerned in different Member States, it is necessary to set a common date upon which the levies fixed by this Regulation should be established, within the meaning of the second subparagraph of Article 2(2) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1150/2000\u00a0(19). However, this deadline should not apply where Member States are required, under national law, to reimburse the operators concerned after that date,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The production levies in the sugar sector for the 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2003/2004, 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 marketing years shall be those set out in point 1 of the Annex.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The coefficients required for calculating the additional levy for the 2001/2002 and 2004/2005 marketing years shall be those set out in point 2 of the Annex.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The amounts payable by sugar manufacturers to beet sellers in respect of the A or B levies for the 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2005/2006 marketing years shall be those set out in point 3 of the Annex.\nThe date of establishment, as referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1150/2000, of the levies fixed by this Regulation shall be no later than 30 September 2014, except where Member States are prevented from respecting that deadline due to the application of national law on the recovery by economic operators of sums paid but not due.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\n(1) shall apply from:\n\u2014 16 October 2002 for the 2001/2002 marketing year,\n\u2014 8 October 2003 for the 2002/2003 marketing year,\n\u2014 15 October 2004 for the 2003/2004 marketing year,\n\u2014 18 October 2005 for the 2004/2005 marketing year, and\n\u2014 23 February 2007 for the 2005/2006 marketing year.\n(2) shall apply from:\n\u2014 16 October 2002 for the 2001/2002 marketing year, and\n\u2014 18 October 2005 for the 2004/2005 marketing year.\n(3) shall apply from:\n\u2014 8 October 2003 for the 2002/2003 marketing year,\n\u2014 15 October 2004 for the 2003/2004 marketing year, and\n\u2014 23 February 2007 for the 2005/2006 marketing year.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "sugar levy", "redemption", "sugar", "market stabilisation", "production aid", "marketing", "sugar beet" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/96 of 24 July 1996 terminating the investigation concerning the circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed by Regulation (EEC) No 2861/93 on imports of certain magnetic disks (3,5\" microdisks) originating in Japan, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China by imports of the same product from Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and ceasing registration of this product\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1445/96 of 24 July 1996 terminating the investigation concerning the circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed by Regulation (EEC) No 2861/93 on imports of certain magnetic disks (3,5″ microdisks) originating in Japan, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China by imports of the same product from Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and ceasing registration of this product\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (1), and in particular Articles 9, 13 and 14 thereof,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA. PROCEDURE\n(1) By Regulation (EC) No 2451/95 (2) the Commission initiated an investigation concerning the circumvention of the anti-dumping duties imposed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2861/93 (3) on imports of certain magnetic disks (3,5″ microdisks) originating in Japan, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China by the same product from Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand and instructed customs authorities, pursuant to Articles 13 (3) and 14 (5) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 to register the imports covered by the investigation. The investigation was initiated following a request lodged by the Committee of European Diskette Manufacturers (Diskma).\n(2) The request contained prima facie evidence of a change in the pattern of trade between the countries concerned and the Community which sole due cause or justification was the existence of anti-dumping duties, and of transhipments through these countries to the Community of 3,5″ microdisks manufactured in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. The request also showed that the imports from the countries concerned were being dumped in relation to the normal values previously established and were undermining the remedial effects of the anti-dumping duties imposed on imports of 3,5″ microdisks originating in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. This evidence was considered to be sufficient to justify the initiation of an investigation.\n(3) The product concerned is 3,5″ microdisks, used to record and store encoded digital computer information, currently classifiable within CN code ex 8523 20 90.\n(4) The Commission officially advised the exporters known to be concerned and the representatives of the exporting countries about the initiation of the investigation and sent questionnaires to known exporters.\n(5) The investigation covered the period 1 July 1994 to 30 June 1995.\nB. INVESTIGATION\n(6) The Commission received replies from the following exporters:\n(a) Canada:\nKAO Infosystems Canada Inc., Ontario;\n(b) Hong Kong:\nJackin Magnetic Company Ltd,\nHong Kong Plantron (HK) Ltd,\nHong Kong Magnetic Ltd,\nBenelux Manufacturing Limited,\nPrime Standard Ltd;\n(c) India:\nAllied Electronics & Magnetics Ltd, Udaipur,\nMoser-Baer India Ltd, New Delhi,\nSujata Data Products Ltd, Bombay;\n(d) Indonesia:\nP.T. Beneluxindo, Djakarta;\n(e) Malaysia:\nDiscomp, Kuala Lumpur,\nKUB Microeletronics Sdn. Bhd, Kuala Lumpur,\nMega High-Tech Corp. (M) Sdn. Bhd, Penang;\n(f) Philippines:\nMaxi Data Philippines Inc., Manila;\n(g) Singapore:\nDatapulse Technology Ltd, Singapore,\nGeneral Magnetics Limited, Singapore,\nGoldtron Magmedia Pte. Ltd, Singapore,\nMJC (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, Singapore;\n(h) Thailand:\nGeneral Mediatech Co. Ltd, Bangkok,\nV-SA Cast Co. Ltd, Bangkok,\nV-SA Magnetic Co. Ltd, Bangkok.\nV-SA Magnetic was a subsidiary of V-SA Cast which held more than 50 % of the shares of V-SA Magnetic.\nNo exporter from Macao replied to the Commission's questionnaire.\nWith the exception of the companies located in Canada and the Philippines the Commission verified all the information submitted at the premises of the exporters mentioned above.\nC. RESULTS\nCanada, India, Philippines and Singapore\n(7) The Community industry alleged in its request to initiate the circumvention investigation that the combined market share of Canada, India, Philippines and Singapore was 4,5 % of Community consumption in 1994. However, based on the latest external trade statistics of the Community (Comext), the Commission established that the market share of these countries only amounted to 2,8 % during the investigation period, and thus it was less than the de minimis import volume referred to in Article 9 (3) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 for which injury shall normally be regarded as negligible. Furthermore, it was established that the imported quantities from these countries were also below the de minimis thresholds of Article 5 (8) of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of GATT 1994 of 3 % of total imports of the like product into the Community on a per country basis, and of 7 % for all four countries taken together.\n(8) On this basis, the Commission considered it unlikely in this case that the imports from the four countries concerned could undermine in terms of quantities the remedial effects of the anti-dumping duties imposed on imports of the product concerned originating in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan.\nHong Kong\n(9) Jackin Magnetic and Plantron (HK) were found to be genuine producers of microdisks which accounted for about 90 % of total Hong Kong's export volume to the Community during the investigation period. No evidence of transhipments of the finished product concerned originating in the People's Republic of China or Taiwan was found in respect of these two companies. Furthermore, it was established that for each company the parts imported from the countries subject to the anti-dumping duties constituted less than 60 % of the total value of the parts of the assembled product.\n(10) Hong Kong Magnetic is a trading company which sold microdisks to the Community. However, no evidence of transhipments to the Community of the finished product concerned originating in the People's Republic of China or Taiwan was found in respect of this company.\n(11) Benelux Manufacturing and its subsidiary Prime Standard were found to be related to the Indonesian producer/exporter P. T. Beneluxindo (see recital 14) and to have sold microdisks to the Community. However, no evidence of transhipments to the Community of the finished product concerned originating in the People's Republic of China or Taiwan was found in respect of these two companies in Hong Kong.\n(12) Another company which was related to the Thai exporter V-SA Magnetic, refused to cooperate in the investigation (see recital 18). The Commission services will continue to monitor closely the situation in this respect.\n(13) In view of these findings, it was established that the companies investigated did not fulfil the criteria set out in Article 13 (1) and (2) (b) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 according to which imports of the product concerned transhipped through or assembled in third countries respectively could be considered to constitute circumvention. Furthermore, in view of the development of the imports of microdisks from Hong Kong into the Community which decreased from 2 816 tonnes in 1993 to 1 212 tonnes during the investigation period, it seems unlikely that these imports could undermine in terms of quantities the remedial effects of the anti-dumping duties imposed on the People's Republic of China and Taiwan.\nIndonesia\n(14) The sole exporter/producer investigated in Indonesia, P. T. Beneluxindo, accounted for the vast majority of the recorded imports into the Community during the investigation period. P. T. Beneluxindo is a subsidiary of Benelux Manufacturing Limited, Hong Kong which supplied P. T. Beneluxindo with all the parts used for the assembly of microdisks. All finished microdisks were then sent back to Hong Kong and sold from there by the sales subsidiary of Benelux Manufacturing Limited, Prime Standard Ltd, to independent customers in the Community. The company was found to be a genuine producer and it was established that the parts imported from the People's Republic of China and Taiwan constituted far less than 60 % of the total value of the parts of the assembled product. Furthermore, no evidence of transhipments of the finished product concerned originating in the People's Republic of China or Taiwan was found in respect of P. T. Beneluxindo.\nTherefore, the conditions for circumvention outlined in Article 13 (1) and (2) (b) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 have not been met in respect of the companies investigated.\nMacao\n(15) No company in Macao cooperated in the investigation. In these circumstances the Commission would normally be entitled to propose the extension of the anti-dumping measures to this country in order to avoid that circumvention continues. However, following an investigation by the anti-fraud services of the Commission (Uclaf), anti-dumping duties will be applied retroactively on imports of Chinese microdisks exported from Macao. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the remedial effects of the anti-dumping measures will not be significantly undermined by imports from Macao, the quantities which have fallen sharply following the anti-circumvention investigation period. In any event, the Commission will continue to monitor closely the development of imports into the Community of microdisks from Macao.\nMalaysia\n(16) The three exporters/producers investigated in Malaysia accounted for nearly all the recorded imports from this country into the Community during the investigation period. While two of these producers were not related to any exporter/producer in the countries subject to the anti-dumping duties, the third one (Mega High-Tech Corp.) was a subsidiary of a Taiwanese company. All three were found to be genuine producers and it was established that the parts imported from the People's Republic of China and Taiwan constituted far less than 60 % of the total value of the parts of the product assembled by each producer. Moreover, no evidence of transhipments of the finished product concerned originating in the People's Republic of China or Taiwan was found in respect of any of the Malaysian producers concerned.\nConsequently the conditions for circumvention outlined in Article 13 (1) and (2) (b) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 have not been met in respect of the companies investigated.\nThailand\n(17) The three companies investigated in Thailand accounted for the vast majority of all the recorded imports into the Community from this country during the investigation period. The subsidiary of V-SA Cast, V-SA magnetic (see recital 6 (h)), and General Mediatech were found to be genuine producers and the parts of Chinese or Taiwanese origin used in the assembly of microdisks constituted less than 60 % of the total value of the parts of the assembled product by each of these companies. In addition, no evidence of transhipment of the finished product from the People's Republic of China or Taiwan was found in respect to these two companies.\n(18) V-SA Cast was found to have transhipped 28 million microdisks supplied by a company located in Hong Kong which held 15 % of V-SA Magnetic shares. However, given the lack of cooperation of the related company in Hong Kong, no evidence could be found which indicated that the microdisks concerned were of Chinese or Taiwanese origin. The presumption of such origin would seem to be excessively punitive for the Thai company, taking account of its efforts to persuade the Hong Kong company to cooperate in the investigation and the small shareholding by this latter company in the V-SA group.\nIn view of the above the Commission considers that the conditions for circumvention outlined in Article 13 (1) and (2) (b) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 have not been met in respect of the companies investigated.\nD. TERMINATION OF THE INVESTIGATION\n(19) In the light of the above findings and considerations made in respect of the nine countries subject to the circumvention investigation, it appears appropriate that the latter be terminated without extension to any of those countries of the anti-dumping duties imposed on imports of microdisks originating in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. The registration of imports of microdisks from these countries introduced by Regulation (EC) No 2451/95 shall cease.\n(20) The Advisory Committee has been consulted and has raised no objection.\n(21) Interested parties were informed of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which the Commission intended to terminate the investigation and have been given the opportunity to comment,\nThe investigation concerning the circumvention of the anti-dumping duties imposed by Regulation (EC) No 2861/93 on imports of certain magnetic disks (3,5″ microdisks) originating in Japan, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China by imports of the same product originating in Canada, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand initiated by Regulation (EC) No 2451/95 is hereby terminated.\nRegulation (EC) No 2451/95 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "customs regulations", "anti-dumping legislation", "third country", "magnetic medium", "import", "anti-dumping duty" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision of 22 July 1997 continuing the application of Joint Action 96/676/CFSP adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union in relation to the nomination of an EU special envoy for the Middle East peace process\nCOUNCIL DECISION of 22 July 1997 continuing the application of Joint Action 96/676/CFSP adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union in relation to the nomination of an EU special envoy for the Middle East peace process (97/475/CFSP)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union and, in particular, Articles J.3 and J.11 thereof,\nWhereas Joint Action 96/676/CFSP of 25 November 1996 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union in relation to the nomination of a special envoy for the Middle East peace process (1) expires on 25 November 1997;\nWhereas in its conclusions of 26 June 1997 the Council considered that this Joint Action should be continued for a further year,\nThe application of Joint Action 96/676/CFSP shall be continued until 25 November 1998.\nIn order to cover the expenses connected with Joint Action 96/676/CFSP, an additional amount of ECU 2 051 million shall be charged to the general budget of the European Communities for the financial year 1997.\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.", "answer groups": [ "joint action", "Middle East", "diplomatic profession", "Community budget", "peacekeeping", "the EU's international role" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2012/76/EU: Commission Implementing Decision of 9\u00a0February 2012 on the recognition of Uruguay pursuant to Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the systems for the training and certification of seafarers (notified under document C(2012) 619) Text with EEA relevance\n11.2.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 38/46\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION\nof 9 February 2012\non the recognition of Uruguay pursuant to Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the systems for the training and certification of seafarers\n(notified under document C(2012) 619)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2012/76/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the minimum level of training of seafarers\u00a0(1), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 19(3) thereof,\nHaving regard to the request from Spain on 14 February 2006,\nWhereas:\n(1) According to Directive 2008/106/EC Member States may decide to endorse seafarers\u2019 appropriate certificates issued by third countries, provided that the third country concerned is recognised by the Commission. Those third countries have to meet all the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW Convention)\u00a0(2), as revised in 1995.\n(2) The request for the recognition of Uruguay was submitted by Spain by letter of 14 February 2006. Following this request, the Commission assessed the training and certification system in Uruguay in order to verify whether Uruguay meets all the requirements of the STCW Convention and whether the appropriate measures have been taken to prevent fraud involving certificates. That assessment was based on the results of an inspection carried out by experts of the European Maritime Safety Agency in June 2007. During that inspection certain deficiencies in the training and certification systems were identified.\n(3) The Commission provided the Member States with a report on the results of the assessment.\n(4) By letters of 16 February 2009 and 8 December 2010, the Commission requested Uruguay to provide evidence demonstrating that the deficiencies identified had been corrected.\n(5) By letters of 30 April 2009 and 18 March 2011, Uruguay provided the requested information and evidence concerning the implementation of appropriate and sufficient corrective action to address most of the deficiencies identified during the assessment of compliance.\n(6) Two shortcomings remain. The first refers to the fact that the quality standards system does not cover some of the activities of the administration, such as the approval of training programmes. The other shortcoming relates to the format of certificates. Uruguay has therefore been invited to implement further corrective actions in this respect. However, these shortcomings do not warrant calling into question the overall level of compliance of Uruguay with STCW requirements on training and certification of seafarers.\n(7) The outcome of the assessment of compliance and the evaluation of the information provided by Uruguay demonstrates that Uruguay complies with the relevant requirements of the STCW Convention, while this country has taken appropriate measures to prevent fraud involving certificates.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships,\nFor the purposes of Article 19 of Directive 2008/106/EC, Uruguay is recognised as regards the systems for the training and certification of seafarers.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Uruguay", "crew", "recognition of diplomas", "recognition of vocational training qualifications", "maritime shipping" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 410/2003 of 5 March 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 953/2002 increasing to 58081 tonnes the quantity of barley held by the Belgian intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 410/2003\nof 5 March 2003\namending Regulation (EC) No 953/2002 increasing to 58081 tonnes the quantity of barley held by the Belgian intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 of 30 June 1992 on the common organisation of the market in cereals(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1666/2000(2), and in particular Article 5 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1630/2000(4), lays down the procedures and conditions for the disposal of cereals held by the intervention agencies.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 953/2002(5), opened a standing invitation to tender for the export of 30000 tonnes of barley held by the Belgian intervention agency. Belgium informed the Commission of the intention of its intervention agency to increase by 28081 tonnes the quantity for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened. The total quantity of barley held by the Belgian intervention agency for which a standing invitation to tender for export has been opened should be increased to 58081 tonnes.\n(3) This increase in the quantity put out to tender makes it necessary to alter the list of regions and quantities in store. Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 953/2002 must therefore be amended.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nRegulation (EC) No 953/2002 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 2 is replaced by the following:\n\"Article 2\n1. The invitation to tender shall cover a maximum of 58081 tonnes of barley to be exported to all third countries with the exception of the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.\n2. The regions in which the 58081 tonnes of barley are stored are stated in Annex I to this Regulation.\"\n2. Annex I is replaced by the Annex hereto.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Belgium", "barley", "intervention agency", "export", "award of contract" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01786/2006 of 4 December 2006 amending Annexes III B, IV, and VI to Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0517/94 as regards textile quotas for 2007\n5.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 337/12\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1786/2006\nof 4 December 2006\namending Annexes III B, IV, and VI to Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 as regards textile quotas for 2007\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 of 7\u00a0March 1994 on common rules for imports of textile products from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agreements, protocols or other arrangements, or by other specific Community import rules\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 5(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 517/94 establishes the annual quantitative limits for certain textile products originating in Montenegro, Kosovo\u00a0(2) and North Korea.\n(2) As from 1 January 2007, the European Union will include two new Member States, Romania and Bulgaria. Article 6(7) of the Act of Accession provides that the quantitative restrictions applied by the Community on imports of textile and clothing products are to be adjusted to take account of the accession of the new Member States to the Community. The quantitative restrictions applicable to imports of certain textile products from third countries into the enlarged Community should consequently be adjusted so as to cover imports into the two new Member States. This requires the amendment of certain Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 517/94.\n(3) In order to prevent the enlargement of the Community from having restrictive effects on trade, it is appropriate, when amending the quantities, to use a methodology which takes into account, for the purpose of adjusting the new quota levels, the traditional imports into the new Member States. A formula consisting of the average of the last three years\u2019 imports into the two new Member States originating in third countries provides an adequate measurement of those historical flows. Due to the fact that Montenegro became independent on 3 June 2006, the Commission has no separate figures of the trade flow between Montenegro and Kosovo, on one hand, and the new Member States on the other hand. Therefore, the new quota levels have been established using the most appropriate criterion for doing so, namely the population ratios of the two new Member States. A growth rate has been added in both cases.\n(4) Annexes III B, IV and VI to Regulation (EC) No 517/94 should therefore be amended so as to list quota levels applicable for the year 2007. The detailed rules governing 2007 quota allocation are those contained in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1785/2006\u00a0(3) on the management of textile quotas established under Regulation (EC) No 517/94 for the year 2007.\n(5) All provisions of Regulation (EC) No 517/94 are to apply to imports into the new Member States. Regulation (EC) No 517/94 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Textile Committee established by Article 25 of Regulation (EC) No 517/94,\nAnnexes III B, IV and VI to Regulation (EC) No 517/94 are replaced as shown in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2007.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "North Korea", "textile product", "quantitative restriction", "import policy", "Montenegro", "inward processing", "Kosovo" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to honey\nCouncil Directive 2001/110/EC\nof 20 December 2001\nrelating to honey\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(3),\nWhereas:\n(1) Certain vertical directives relating to foods should be simplified in order to take account only of the essential requirements to be met by the products they cover in order that those products may move freely within the internal market, in accordance with the conclusions of the European Council held in Edinburgh on 11 and 12 December 1992, confirmed by those of the European Council in Brussels on 10 and 11 December 1993.\n(2) Council Directive 74/409/EEC of 22 July 1974 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to honey(4) was justified by the fact that differences between national laws on the definition of honey, the various types of honey and the characteristics required of it could result in conditions of unfair competition likely to mislead consumers, and thereby have a direct effect on the establishment and functioning of the common market.\n(3) Directive 74/409/EEC and its subsequent amendments consequently established definitions, specified the different types of honey which could be placed on the market under appropriate names, laid down common rules on composition and determined the main labelling information so as to ensure the free movement of these products within the Community.\n(4) For the sake of clarity Directive 74/409/EEC should be recast, in order to make rules on the conditions for the production and marketing of honey more accessible and to bring it into line with general Community legislation on foodstuffs, particularly legislation on labelling, contaminants and methods of analysis.\n(5) The general food-labelling rules laid down in Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(5) should apply subject to certain conditions. In view of the close link between the quality of honey and its origin, it is indispensable that full information on those matters be available so that the consumer is not misled regarding the quality of the product. The particular consumer interests as regards the geographical characteristics of honey and full transparency in this regard necessitate that the country of origin where the honey has been harvested should be included in the labelling.\n(6) No pollen or other individual ingredient of honey is to be removed, unless that is inevitable when organic and inorganic foreign materials are removed. That process may be carried out by filtering. Where such filtering leads to the removal of a significant quantity of pollen, the consumer must be correctly informed to that effect by means of an appropriate indication on the label.\n(7) Honey the name of which includes indications concerning floral, vegetable, regional, territorial or topographical origin or specific quality criteria may not have filtered honey added to it. So that the transparency of the market may be improved, the labelling of filtered honeys and baker's honeys must be mandatory for every transaction on the bulk market.\n(8) As the Commission stressed in its communication to the European Parliament and the Council of 24 June 1994 on European apiculture, the Commission may adopt methods of analysis to ensure compliance with the compositional characteristics and additional specific statements for all honey marketed in the Community.\n(9) It is desirable to take account of the work achieved on a new Codex standard for honey, adjusted, as appropriate, to the specific requirements of the Community.\n(10) In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality established by Article 5 of the Treaty, the objective of laying down common definitions and rules for the products concerned and bringing the provisions into line with general Community legislation on foodstuffs cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the nature of this Directive, be better achieved by the Community. This Directive does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the said objective.\n(11) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(6).\n(12) To avoid creating new barriers to free movement, Member States should refrain from adopting, for the products in question, national provisions not provided for by this Directive,\nThis Directive shall apply to the products defined in Annex I. These products shall meet the requirements set out in Annex II.\nDirective 2000/13/EC shall apply to the products defined in Annex I, subject to the following conditions:\n1. the term \"honey\" shall be applied only to the product defined in Annex I, point 1, and shall be used in trade to designate that product;\n2. the product names referred to in Annex I, points 2 and 3, shall apply only to the products defined therein and shall be used in trade to designate them. These names may be replaced by the simple product name \"honey\", except in the case of filtered honey, comb honey, chunk honey or cut comb in honey and baker's honey.\nHowever,\n(a) in the case of baker's honey, the words \"intended for cooking only\" shall appear on the label in close proximity to the product name;\n(b) except in the case of filtered honey and baker's honey, the product names may be supplemented by information referring to:\n- floral or vegetable origin, if the product comes wholly or mainly from the indicated source and possesses the organoleptic, physico-chemical and microscopic characteristics of the source,\n- regional, territorial or topographical origin, if the product comes entirely from the indicated source,\n- specific quality criteria;\n3. where baker's honey has been used as an ingredient in a compound foodstuff, the term \"honey\" may be used in the product name of the compound food instead of the term \"baker's honey\". However, in the list of ingredients, the term as referred to in Annex I, point 3, shall be used;\n4. (a) the country or countries of origin where the honey has been harvested shall be indicated on the label.\nHowever, if the honey originates in more than one Member State or third country that indication may be replaced with one of the following, as appropriate:\n- \"blend of EC honeys\",\n- \"blend of non-EC honeys\",\n- \"blend of EC and non-EC honeys\".\n(b) For the purpose of Directive 2000/13/EC and in particular Articles 13, 14, 16 and 17 thereof, the particulars to be indicated according to subparagraph (a) shall be considered as indications according to Article 3 of that Directive.\nIn the case of filtered honey and baker's honey, bulk containers, packs and trade documents shall clearly indicate the full product name, as referred to in Annex I, point 2(b)(viii), and point 3.\nThe Commission may adopt methods to permit verification of compliance of honey with the provisions of this Directive. These methods shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7(2). Until the adoption of such methods, Member States shall, whenever possible, use internationally recognised validated methods such as those approved by Codex Alimentarius to verify compliance with the provisions of this Directive.\nFor the products defined in Annex I, Member States shall not adopt national provisions not provided for by this Directive.\nThe measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive relating to the matters referred to below shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 7(2):\n- bringing this Directive into line with general Community legislation on foodstuffs,\n- adaptations to technical progress.\n1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs (hereinafter referred to as \"the Committee\") set up by Article 1 of Decision 69/414/EEC(7).\n2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.\nThe period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.\n3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.\nDirective 74/409/EEC is hereby repealed with effect from 1 August 2003.\nReferences to the repealed Directive shall be construed as references to this Directive.\nMember States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive before 1 August 2003. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nThe measures shall be applied so as to:\n- authorise the marketing of the products defined in Annex I if they conform to the definitions and rules laid down in this Directive, with effect from 1 August 2003;\n- prohibit the marketing of products which fail to conform to this Directive, with effect from 1 August 2004.\nHowever, the marketing of products which fail to conform to this Directive and labelled before 1 August 2004 in accordance with Directive 74/409/EEC shall be permitted until stocks run out.\nWhen Member States adopt these measures, these shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States.\n0\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\n1\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "originating product", "honey", "marketing standard", "product designation", "consumer information", "labelling" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2013/393/CFSP: Council Decision 2013/393/CFSP of 22\u00a0July 2013 amending Decision 2013/382/CFSP extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Afghanistan\n23.7.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 198/47\nCOUNCIL DECISION 2013/393/CFSP\nof 22 July 2013\namending Decision 2013/382/CFSP extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Afghanistan\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28, 31(2) and 33 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 22 March 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/168/CFSP\u00a0(1) appointing Mr Vygaudas U\u0160ACKAS as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) in Afghanistan.\n(2) On 15 July 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/382/CFSP\u00a0(2) extending the mandate of the EUSR until 30 June 2014.\n(3) A new EUSR in Afghanistan should be appointed for the period from 1 September 2013 to 30 June 2014.\n(4) Decision 2013/382/CFSP should be amended accordingly.\n(5) The EUSR will implement his mandate in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could impede the achievement of the objectives of the Union\u2019s external action as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty,\nArticle 1 of Decision 2013/382/CFSP is replaced by the following:\n\u2018Article 1\nEuropean Union Special Representative\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The mandate of Mr Vygaudas U\u0160ACKAS as the EUSR in Afghanistan is hereby extended until 31 August 2013.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mr Franz-Michael SKJOLD MELLBIN is hereby appointed as EUSR in Afghanistan for the period from 1 September 2013 to 30 June 2014.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The mandate of the EUSR may be terminated earlier, if the Council so decides, on a proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR).\u2019\nEntry into force\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.", "answer groups": [ "diplomatic representation", "Afghanistan", "appointment of members" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a0790/2010 of 7\u00a0September 2010 amending Annexes VII, X and XI to Regulation (EC) No\u00a01774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption Text with EEA relevance\n8.9.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 237/1\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 790/2010\nof 7 September 2010\namending Annexes VII, X and XI to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption\u00a0(1), and in particular the first and second subparagraphs of Article 32(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 lays down animal and public health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption.\n(2) Article 19 of that Regulation provides that processed animal protein and other processed products that could be used as feed material are to be placed on the market only if they comply with certain requirements. In this respect, Annex VII to that Regulation sets out specific hygiene requirements for the processing and placing on the market of such products.\n(3) In addition, Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 provides that the importation into, and the transit through the Union of the products referred to in Annex VII may take place only if such products comply with certain requirements. Those requirements include that the products must come from a third country or parts of third countries on a list to be drawn up and updated in accordance with the procedure referred to in that Article, except where Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 provides otherwise.\n(4) Colostrum is a feed material of animal origin, within the meaning of the definition laid down in point 23 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002.\n(5) Part A of Chapter V of Annex VII to that Regulation does not set out any specific requirements for the production of colostrum or colostrum products. That Part only sets out the general principle that colostrum must be produced under conditions offering adequate guarantees as regards animal health.\n(6) In addition, Part B of Chapter V of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 does not set out specific requirements for the importation of colostrum and colostrum products and the Commission has not laid down any list of third countries or parts of third countries from which imports of colostrum are accepted. Accordingly, the importation of colostrum or colostrum products into the European Union is currently not authorised.\n(7) There is an interest to import into the Union colostrum and colostrum products as feed material for farmed animals and for technical purposes. Economic operators have indicated their interest in the use of colostrum and colostrum products for the production of feed material and for technical purposes.\n(8) The demand for such products from economic operators should be met and rules should therefore be laid down for the importation of such animal by-products. However, colostrum is an animal by-product which may pose a risk for the transmission of certain diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, tuberculosis, brucellosis and enzootic-bovine-leukosis to susceptible animals. In order to safeguard animal health, the importation of colostrum and colostrum products should therefore be subject to certain conditions.\n(9) In accordance with the first paragraph of Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 the provisions applicable to the importation of products referred to in Annex VII to that Regulation from third countries are not to be more favourable or less favourable than those applicable to the production and marketing of those products in the Union. The specific requirements set out for the importation of whey and colostrum or colostrum products should therefore also apply to the production and placing on the market of those animal by-products in the Union.\n(10) The opinion of the European Food Safety Authority, adopted on 29 March 2006, related to the animal health risks of feeding animals with ready-to-use dairy products without further treatment\u00a0(2), confirmed that specific hygiene requirements and treatments for milk and milk-based products are to be established to limit the risk of transmitting infectious diseases, in particular through feeding of milk or milk products to animals of species susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease. In the absence of suitable scientific data, the aforementioned opinion does not recommend any treatment which would provide the necessary guarantees that the considered pathogens are effectively inactivated in colostrum while preserving antibodies contained therein.\n(11) In the absence of approved treatments and in order to prevent the transmission of possible animal diseases through colostrum and colostrum products, it is appropriate to establish health requirements for those animal by-products based on guarantees at origin.\n(12) In particular, as regards foot-and-mouth disease prevention, colostrum and colostrum products should be obtained from animals free of foot-and-mouth disease and not at risk of contracting this disease. Imports of colostrum and colostrum products should therefore be limited to bovine colostrum and its products from countries approved for imports of raw milk. Imports of colostrum and colostrum products should be limited to bovine colostrum and its products from countries where the risk of foot-and-mouth disease is limited.\n(13) Commission Decision 2004/438/EC of 29 April 2004 laying down animal and public health and veterinary certifications conditions for introduction in the Community of heat-treated milk, milk-based products and raw milk intended for human consumption\u00a0(3) provides that Member States are to authorise imports of raw milk and raw milk-based products only from the third countries listed in column A of Annex I thereto. The list of third countries from which the importation into the Union of colostrum and colostrum products should be authorised should therefore be the same as the list of third countries set out in column A of Annex I to Decision 2004/438/EC. Chapter V of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 should therefore refer to that list.\n(14) The health status with regard to bovine tuberculosis, bovine brucellosis and enzootic-bovine-leukosis of the herds from which colostrum and colostrum products originate should also be taken into account, in particular where such animal by-products are intended for feeding animals or the production of certain technical products. The herds from which colostrum and colostrum products originate should be free of those diseases.\n(15) Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine\u00a0(4) applies to intra-Union trade in bovine animals and sets out provisions for recognising herds as being disease-free. It lays down the definitions for officially tuberculosis-free bovine herds, officially brucellosis-free bovine herds and officially enzootic-bovine-leukosis-free herds. The requirements for placing on the market and importation of colostrum and colostrum products should therefore take account of those definitions.\n(16) Colostrum and colostrum products should have undergone a primary high temperature short term treatment for their preservation. In addition, the placing on the market, including the importation, of such animal by-products should only be allowed if they originate from animals that do not show clinical signs of any disease communicable through colostrum to humans or animals. Colostrum and colostrum products should therefore be produced from bovine animals kept in areas for which guarantees can be provided that foot-and-mouth disease has not occurred within at least one incubation period of 21 days after the collection and before such colostrum or colostrum products are placed on the market in Member States.\n(17) Part A of Chapter V of Annex VII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 provides that whey to be fed to animals of species susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease and produced from milk treated in accordance with the rules set out therein must be collected at least 16 hours after milk clotting and its pH must be recorded as below 6,0 before transport to animal holdings.\n(18) Chapter 2 of Annex X to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 sets out a single model health certificate for milk and milk products not intended for human consumption originating in third countries for dispatch to or for transit through the European Union. That model certificate should be amended in order to cover also colostrum and colostrum products, as well as to reflect the new rules concerning whey.\n(19) Annex XI to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 sets out lists of third countries from which Member States may authorise imports of certain animal by-products not intended for human consumption. Part I of that Annex should be amended to take account of the rules for the importation of colostrum and colostrum products.\n(20) Cameroon applied for the authorisation for imports of apiculture animal by-products. Cameroon is already authorised for the imports of honey for human consumption. Part XII of Annex XI should be amended appropriately and Cameroon should be authorised for the imports of apiculture animal by-products.\n(21) Annexes VII, X and XI to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(22) A transitional period should be provided for after the date of entry into force of this Regulation, in order to provide the necessary time for stakeholders to comply with the new rules and to allow for the continued importation into the European Union of the animal by-products concerned, as provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002, before the amendments introduced by this Regulation.\n(23) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAnnexes VII, X and XI to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nConsignments of milk and milk products not intended for human consumption accompanied by a health certificate completed and signed in accordance with the appropriate model set out in Chapter 2 of Annex X to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 before the date of entry into force of this Regulation shall continue to be accepted for importation into the Union until 30\u00a0September 2010, where those certificates were completed and signed before 31 August 2010.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "animal product", "foodstuffs legislation", "health control", "consumer protection", "veterinary inspection", "by-product" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/644/EC: Commission Decision of 8 September 2003 establishing additional guarantees regarding salmonella for consignments to Finland and Sweden of breeding poultry and day-old chicks for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 3190)\nCommission Decision\nof 8 September 2003\nestablishing additional guarantees regarding salmonella for consignments to Finland and Sweden of breeding poultry and day-old chicks for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry\n(notified under document number C(2003) 3190)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2003/644/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 90/539/EEC of 15 October 1990 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in, and imports from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003(2), and in particular Article 9a(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Decision 95/160/EC of 21 April 1995 establishing additional guarantees regarding salmonella for consignments to Finland and Sweden of breeding poultry and day-old chicks for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry(3), has been substantially amended(4). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Decision should be codified.\n(2) The Commission has approved the operational programmes submitted by Finland and Sweden regarding salmonella controls. Those programmes include specific measures for breeding poultry and for day-old chicks for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry.\n(3) Guarantees should be established equivalent to those implemented by Finland and Sweden under their operational programmes.\n(4) The detailed guarantees are to be based in particular on a microbiological examination of the poultry to be sent to Finland and Sweden.\n(5) In this context different rules should be laid down for breeding poultry and day-old chicks.\n(6) Rules should be established for this microbiological examination of samples by laying down the sampling method, the number of samples to be taken and the microbiological methods for examining the samples.\n(7) Those guarantees should not be applicable to any flock that is subject to a programme recognised as equivalent to that implemented by Finland and Sweden.\n(8) With regard to consignments originating from third countries, Finland and Sweden should apply import requirements at least as stringent as those laid down in this Decision.\n(9) The methods described in this Decision take into account the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nBreeding poultry to be sent to Finland and Sweden shall be subject to a microbiological test, effected by sampling in the flock of origin.\nThe microbiological test referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out as laid down in Annex I.\n1. Breeding poultry to be sent to Finland and Sweden shall be accompanied by the certificate shown in Annex II.\n2. The certificate provided for in paragraph 1 may:\n- either be accompanied by the model 3 certificate of Annex IV to Directive 90/539/EEC,\n- or be incorporated in the certificate referred to in the first indent.\nDay-old chicks to be sent to Finland or Sweden for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry must come from hatching eggs from breeding poultry that have been subjected to the test provided for in Article 2.\n1. Day-old chicks to be sent to Finland or Sweden for introduction into flocks of breeding poultry or flocks of productive poultry must be accompanied by a certificate as shown in Annex III.\n2. The certificate provided for in paragraph 1 may:\n- either be accompanied by the model 2 certificate shown in Annex IV to Directive 90/539/EEC,\n- or be incorporated in the certificate referred to in the first subparagraph.\nThe additional guarantees provided for in this Decision shall not be applicable to flocks subject to a programme recognised, according to the procedure laid down in Article 32 of Directive 90/539/EEC, as equivalent to that implemented by Finland and Sweden.\nDecision 95/160/EC is repealed.\nReferences to the repealed Decision shall be construed as references to this Decision and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex V.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Sweden", "import", "veterinary inspection", "poultry", "Finland", "health certificate" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Regulation (EC) No 1161/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6\u00a0July 2005 on the compilation of quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector\n22.7.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 191/22\nREGULATION (EC) No 1161/2005 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL\nof 6\u00a0July 2005\non the compilation of quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector\nTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article\u00a0285(1) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank\u00a0(1),\nActing in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article\u00a0251 of the Treaty\u00a0(2),\nWhereas:\n(1) The Action Plan on Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) Statistical Requirements endorsed by the Ecofin Council in September 2000 specifies that a limited set of quarterly sector accounts is urgently needed, and that these should be available within 90 days of the end of the quarter concerned.\n(2) The Joint Report of the Ecofin Council and the Commission to the European Council on Eurozone statistics and indicators, as adopted by the Ecofin Council on 18\u00a0February 2003, emphasises that high priority actions in several fields, including quarterly national accounts by institutional sector, should be fully implemented by 2005.\n(3) The analysis of cyclical movements in the European Union economy and the conduct of monetary policy within the EMU require macroeconomic statistics on the economic behaviour and the interrelationship of individual institutional sectors which are impossible to identify in data compiled at the level of the economy as a whole. There is, therefore, a need to produce quarterly accounts by institutional sector, for the European Union as a whole and for the euro area.\n(4) Production of these accounts is part of the overall aim to compile a system of annual and quarterly accounts for the European Union and for the euro area. The system includes the main macroeconomic aggregates and the financial and non-financial accounts by institutional sector. The aim is to achieve consistency across all these accounts and, with regard to the rest of the world accounts, between the balance of payments and the national accounts data.\n(5) The compilation of European accounts by institutional sector, in accordance with the principles of the European system of national and regional accounts in the Community as set out in Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a02223/96\u00a0(3), requires the transmission by Member States of quarterly national accounts by institutional sector. However, the European accounts must reflect the economy of the European area as a whole and may differ from the simple aggregation of Member States\u2019 accounts. In particular, the objective is to take account of the transactions of the institutions and bodies of the European Union in the accounts of the area concerned (the European Union or the euro-zone, whichever is applicable).\n(6) The production of specific Community statistics is governed by the rules set out in Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0322/97 of 17\u00a0February 1997 on Community Statistics\u00a0(4).\n(7) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely the compilation of quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector for the European Union and the euro area, cannot be achieved satisfactorily by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale and effects of the action, be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article\u00a05 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve that objective. In particular, where Member States make a negligible contribution to the European totals, they should not be required to report the full detail of data.\n(8) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28\u00a0June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission\u00a0(5).\n(9) The Statistical Programme Committee set up by Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom\u00a0(6) and the Committee on Monetary, Financial and Balance of Payments Statistics set up by Council Decision 91/115/EEC\u00a0(7) have been consulted,\nPurpose\nThis Regulation provides a common framework for the contributions of the Member States to the compilation of quarterly European non-financial accounts by institutional sector.\nTransmission of quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall transmit to the Commission quarterly non-financial accounts by institutional sector, as specified in the Annex, except, in the first instance, items P.1, P.2, D.42, D.43, D.44, D.45 and B.4G.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A timetable for the transmission of items P.1, P.2, D.42, D.43, D.44, D.45, and B.4G, respectively, and any decision to require a breakdown of the transactions listed in the Annex by counterpart sector shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2). Any such decision shall not be adopted before the Commission has reported to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Regulation pursuant to Article\u00a09.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The quarterly data referred to in paragraph\u00a01 shall be delivered to the Commission at the latest 90 calendar days after the end of the quarter to which the data relate. During a transitional period of three years from the entry into force of this Regulation the quarterly data referred to in paragraph\u00a01 shall be delivered to the Commission at the latest 95 calendar days after the end of the quarter to which the data relate. Any revision of the data for previous quarters shall be transmitted at the same time.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The time of transmission specified in paragraph\u00a03 may be adjusted, by a maximum of five days, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2).\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The first transmission of quarterly data shall relate to data for the third quarter of 2005. Member States shall deliver these data no later than 3\u00a0January 2006. This first transmission shall include back data for the periods from the first quarter of 1999.\nReporting obligations\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All Member States shall transmit the data described in the Annex, with respect to the rest of the world sector (S.2) and the general government sector (S.13). A Member State for which gross domestic product at current prices normally represents more than 1\u00a0% of the corresponding Community total shall transmit the data described in the Annex for all institutional sectors.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall determine the percentage of Community total gross domestic product at current prices that a Member State\u2019s gross domestic product normally represents, as specified in paragraph\u00a01, on the basis of the arithmetic mean of the latest three years\u2019 annual data transmitted by Member States.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The proportion (1\u00a0%) of the Community total referred to in paragraph\u00a01 may be adjusted in accordance with the procedures referred to in Article\u00a08(2).\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Derogations from this Regulation may be accepted by the Commission if national statistical systems require major adaptation. Such derogations shall last not more than three years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, or that of the implementing measures adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2).\nDefinitions and standards\nThe standards, definitions, classifications, and accounting rules for data transmitted for the purposes of this Regulation shall be those laid down in Regulation (EC) No\u00a02223/96 (hereinafter referred to as the ESA Regulation).\nData sources and consistency requirements\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall compile the information requested in this Regulation using all sources they consider relevant, giving priority to direct information such as administrative sources or surveys of enterprises and households.\nWhen such direct information cannot be collected, in particular for the back data required under Article\u00a02(5), best estimates may be transmitted.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Data transmitted by Member States for the purposes of this Regulation shall be consistent with the quarterly non-financial accounts of the general government and the quarterly main aggregates of the total economy, transmitted to the Commission under the data transmission programme of the ESA Regulation.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The quarterly data transmitted by Member States for the purposes of this Regulation shall be aligned with the corresponding annual data transmitted under the data transmission programme of the ESA Regulation.\nQuality standards and reports\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that the quality of the data transmitted improves over time to meet the common quality standards to be defined in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2).\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall supply the Commission with an up-to-date description of the sources, methods and statistical treatments used within a year of their first transmission of data.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall inform the Commission of major methodological or other changes that would affect the data transmitted not later than three months after such change takes effect.\nImplementing measures\nThe implementing measures shall be laid down in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article\u00a08(2). Such measures shall include:\n(a) determining the timetable for the transmission of the items P.1, P.2, D.42, D.43, D.44, D.45 and B.4G pursuant to Article\u00a02(2);\n(b) requiring the transactions shown in the Annex to be broken down by counterpart sector in accordance with Article\u00a02(2);\n(c) revising the timetable of quarterly transmissions pursuant to Article\u00a02(4);\n(d) adjusting the proportion (1\u00a0%) of the Community total to determine the obligation to transmit data for all institutional sectors pursuant to Article\u00a03(3);\n(e) defining data quality standards in accordance with Article\u00a06(1).\nCommittee procedure\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall be assisted by the Statistical Programme Committee.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles\u00a05 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article\u00a08 thereof.\nThe period referred to in Article\u00a05(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.\nReport on implementation\nWithin five years of the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on its implementation.\nIn particular, this report shall:\n(a) provide information on the quality of the statistics produced;\n(b) assess the benefits accruing to the Community, the Member States and the providers and users of statistical information of the statistics produced in relation to their costs;\n(c) identify areas for potential improvement and amendments considered necessary in light of the results obtained.\n0\nEntry into force\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Economic and Monetary Union", "economic statistics", "data transmission", "EU Member State", "Eurostat", "national accounts" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2006/135/EC of 11 December 2006 amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include carbendazim as active substance Text with EEA relevance\n12.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 349/37\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2006/135/EC\nof 11 December 2006\namending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include carbendazim as active substance\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92 of 11 December 1992 laying down the detailed rules for the implementation of the first stage of the programme of work referred to in Article 8(2) of Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market\u00a0(2), establishes a list of active substances to be assessed, with a view to their possible inclusion in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC. That list includes carbendazim.\n(2) For carbendazim the effects on human health and the environment have been assessed in accordance with the provisions laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92 for a range of uses proposed by the notifier. By Commission Regulation (EC) No 933/94 of 27 April 1994 laying down the active substances of plant protection products and designating the Rapporteur Member State for the implementation of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92\u00a0(3), Germany was designated as Rapporteur Member State. Germany submitted the relevant assessment report and recommendations to the Commission on 10 February 1998 in accordance with Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92.\n(3) The assessment report has been reviewed by the Member States and the Commission within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.\n(4) The review of carbendazim revealed a number of open questions which were addressed by the Scientific Committee on Plants. The Scientific Committee was asked to comment on the advisability of establishing an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) and Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (AOEL) having regard particularly to the results of mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and reproductive studies for benomyl, carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl. The Committee\u00a0(4) noted that carbendazim is the biologically active substance common to these three substances. Benomyl in particular, but also thiophanate-methyl, is metabolised to carbendazim and all three substances produce numerical chromosomal aberrations (aneuploidy) in mammalian cells, exposed in vivo. There is no evidence that any other form of damage to genetic material is induced by any of these substances. Carcinogenicity is not a concern. The known effects of these fungicides upon reproduction are explicable by interaction with the microtubules of the spindle apparatus. The mechanism of aneuploidy induction is well understood and consists of inhibition of polymerisation of tubulin, the protein that is essential for the segregation of chromosomes during cell division: it does not involve any interaction with DNA. Since multiple copies of tubulin molecules are present in proliferating cells, in the presence of low concentration of the fungicides a limited number of tubulin molecules will be affected and consequently no toxicologically adverse effects will ensue. Consequently, a clear no adverse effect level is recognisable and both an ADI and an AOEL can be established.\n(5) Articles 5(4) and 6(1) of Directive 91/414/EEC provide that inclusion of a substance in Annex I may be subject to restrictions and conditions. In this case, restrictions on the inclusion period and on the authorised crops are deemed necessary. The original measures presented to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, proposed the restriction of the inclusion period to seven years, so that Member States would give priority to reviewing plant protection products already on the market containing carbendazim. In order to avoid discrepancies in the high level of protection sought, the inclusion in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC was intended to be limited to the uses of carbendazim that have been actually assessed within the Community evaluation and for which the proposed uses were considered to comply with the conditions of Directive 91/414/EEC. This implies that other uses, which were not or only partially covered by this assessment, had first to be subject to a complete assessment, before their inclusion in Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC could be considered. Finally, due to the hazardous nature of carbendazim, it was considered necessary to provide for a minimum harmonisation at Community level of certain risk mitigation measures that were to be applied by Member States when granting authorisations.\n(6) Under the procedures laid down by Directive 91/414/EEC, the approval of active substances, including the definition of risk management measures, is decided by the Commission. Member States bear the responsibility for the implementation, application and control of the measures intended to mitigate the risks generated by plant protection products. Concerns expressed by several Member States reflect their judgment that additional restrictions are necessary to reduce the risk to a level that can be considered acceptable and consistent with the high level of protection that is sought within the Community. At present, it is a question of risk management to set the adequate level of safety and protection for the continued production, commercialisation and use of carbendazim.\n(7) As a consequence of the above, the Commission re-examined its position. In order to correctly reflect the high level of protection of human and animal health and a sustainable environment sought in the Community, it considered appropriate, in addition to the principles set out in Recital 5, to further reduce the period of inclusion to three instead of seven years. This further reduces any risk by ensuring a priority re-assessment of this substance.\n(8) It may be expected that plant protection products containing carbendazim satisfy the requirements laid down in Article 5(1)(a) and (b) of Directive 91/414/EEC, with regard to the uses which were examined and detailed in the Commission review report and providing that the necessary risk mitigation measures are applied.\n(9) Without prejudice to the conclusion that plant protection products containing carbendazim may be expected to satisfy the requirements laid down in Article 5(1)(a) and (b) of Directive 91/414/EEC, it is appropriate to obtain further information on certain specific points. Member States should require authorisation holders to provide information on the use of carbendazim including any information on incidences on operator health.\n(10) As with all substances included in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC, the status of carbendazim could be reviewed under Article 5(5) of that Directive in the light of any new data becoming available. Equally, the fact that the inclusion of this substance in Annex I expires on a particular date does not prevent the inclusion being renewed according to the procedures laid down in the Directive.\n(11) The experience gained from previous inclusions in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC of active substances assessed in the framework of Regulation (EEC) No 3600/92 has shown that difficulties can arise in interpreting the duties of holders of existing authorisations in relation to access to data. In order to avoid further difficulties it therefore appears necessary to clarify the duties of the Member States, especially the duty to verify that the holder of an authorisation demonstrates access to a dossier satisfying the requirements of Annex II to that Directive. However, this clarification does not impose any new obligations on Member States or holders of authorisations compared to the directives which have been adopted until now amending Annex I.\n(12) A reasonable period should be allowed to elapse before an active substance is included in Annex I in order to permit Member States and the interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements which will result from the inclusion.\n(13) Without prejudice to the obligations defined by Directive 91/414/EEC as a consequence of including an active substance in Annex I, Member States should be allowed a period of six months after inclusion to review existing authorisations of plant protection products containing carbendazim to ensure that the requirements laid down by Directive 91/414/EEC, in particular in its Article 13 and the relevant conditions set out in Annex I, are satisfied. Member States should vary, replace or withdraw, as appropriate, existing authorisations. in accordance with the provisions of Directive 91/414/EEC. By derogation from the above deadline, a longer period should be provided for the submission and assessment of the complete Annex III dossier of each plant protection product for each intended use in accordance with the uniform principles laid down in Directive 91/414/EEC. Given the hazardous properties of carbendazim, the period for Member States to verify whether the plant protection products, which contain carbendazim as the only active substances or in combination with other authorised active substances, comply with the provisions of Annex VI should not exceed three years.\n(14) It is therefore appropriate to amend Directive 91/414/EEC accordingly.\n(15) The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health did not deliver an opinion within the time limit laid down by its Chairman and the Commission therefore submitted to the Council a proposal relating to these measures. On the expiry of the period laid down in the second subparagraph of Article 19(2) of Directive 91/414/EEC, the Council had neither adopted the proposed implementing act nor indicated its opposition to the proposal for implementing measures and it is accordingly for the Commission to adopt these measures,\nAnnex I to Directive 91/414/EEC is amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive.\nMember States shall adopt and publish by 30 June 2007 at the latest the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1 July 2007.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall in accordance with Directive 91/414/EEC, where necessary, amend or withdraw existing authorisations for plant protection products containing carbendazim as an active substance by 30 June 2007. By that date they shall in particular verify that the conditions in Annex I to that Directive relating to carbendazim are met, with the exception of those identified in part B of the entry concerning that active substance, and that the holder of the authorisation has, or has access to, a dossier satisfying the requirements of Annex II to that Directive in accordance with the conditions of Article 13.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By derogation from paragraph 1, for each authorised plant protection product containing carbendazim, Member States shall re-evaluate the product in accordance with the uniform principles provided for in Annex VI to Directive 91/414/EEC, on the basis of a dossier satisfying the requirements of Annex III to that Directive and taking into account part B of the entry in Annex I to that Directive concerning carbendazim. On the basis of that evaluation, they shall determine whether the product satisfies the conditions set out in Article 4(1)(b), (c), (d) and (e) of Directive 91/414/EEC.\nFollowing that determination Member States shall for products containing carbendazim, where necessary, amend or withdraw the authorisation by 31 December 2009.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on 1 January 2007.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "pharmaceutical product", "marketing standard", "pesticide", "plant health product", "plant health legislation", "derogation from EU law" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Regulation (EC) No 1523/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2007 banning the placing on the market and the import to, or export from, the Community of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur (Text with EEA relevance )\n27.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 343/1\nREGULATION (EC) No 1523/2007 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL\nof 11\u00a0December 2007\nbanning the placing on the market and the import to, or export from, the Community of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles\u00a095 and 133 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee\u00a0(1),\nActing in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article\u00a0251 of the Treaty\u00a0(2),\nWhereas:\n(1) In the perception of EU citizens, cats and dogs are considered to be pet animals and therefore it is not acceptable to use their fur or products containing such fur. Evidence exists of the presence in the Community of non-labelled fur from cats and dogs and of products containing such fur. As a consequence, consumers have become concerned about the possibility that they could buy cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur. On 18\u00a0December 2003\u00a0(3), the European Parliament adopted a declaration expressing its concerns about the trade in such fur and products and requesting that it be ended so as to restore the confidence of EU consumers and retailers. During its meetings of 17\u00a0November 2003 and 30\u00a0May 2005, the Agriculture and Fisheries Council also highlighted the need to adopt rules on the trade in cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur as soon as possible.\n(2) It is appropriate to clarify that only fur of species of domestic cats and dogs should be covered by this Regulation. However, as it is scientifically impossible to differentiate fur of domestic cats from fur of other non-domestic cat subspecies, a definition of cat as \u2018felis silvestris\u2019, which includes also non-domestic cat subspecies, should be adopted in this Regulation.\n(3) In response to consumer concern, several Member States have adopted legislation aiming at preventing the production and marketing of fur from cats and dogs.\n(4) There are differences between Member States' provisions governing the trade, import, production and labelling of fur and fur products, with the aim of preventing cat and dog fur from being put on the market or otherwise used for commercial purposes. Whilst some Member States have adopted a total ban on the production of fur from cats and dogs by banning the rearing or the slaughter of such animals for fur production purposes, others have adopted restrictions on the production or import of fur and products containing such fur. In some Member States, labelling requirements have been introduced. Citizens' increasing awareness of the issue is likely to prompt more Member States to adopt further restrictive measures at national level.\n(5) As a result, certain EU fur traders introduced a voluntary code of conduct to refrain from trading in cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur. However, this code has proved insufficient to prevent the importation and sale of cat and dog fur, particularly where fur traders deal in fur whose species of origin is not indicated and not easily recognizable, or purchase products containing such fur and are confronted with the risk either that the products in question cannot legally be traded in one or more of the Member States or that trade in one or more Member States is subject to additional requirements aimed at preventing the use of cat and dog fur.\n(6) The differences between national measures as regards cat and dog fur constitute barriers to the fur trade in general. Those measures impede the smooth operation of the internal market, since the existence of diverse legal requirements hamper fur production in general and make it more difficult for fur legally imported to, or produced in, the Community to circulate freely within the Community. The diverse legal requirements across the Member States lead to additional burdens and costs for fur traders.\n(7) Moreover, the public is confused by the diversity of legal requirements in the Member States, which itself creates an impediment to trade.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation should therefore harmonise the rules across the Member States as regards banning the sale, offer for sale and distribution of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur, and thereby prevent the disturbance of the internal market for all other similar products.\n(9) To eliminate the present fragmentation of the internal market there is a need for harmonisation where the most effective and proportionate instrument to counter the barriers to trade resulting from diverging national requirements would be a ban on the placing on the market and on the import to, or export from, the Community of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur.\n(10) A labelling requirement would not be suitable to achieve the same result since it would disproportionately burden the garment industry, including traders who specialise in faux fur, and would also be disproportionately costly in cases where fur represents only a tiny part of the product.\n(11) There is no tradition of rearing cats and dogs for fur production purposes in the Community, although instances of manufacturing cat and dog fur have been noted. It appears in fact that the vast majority of cat and dog fur products in the Community originate from third countries. Thus, in order to be more effective, the ban on intra-Community trade should be accompanied by a ban on imports of the same products into the Community. Such an import ban would also respond to concerns expressed by consumers as to the possible introduction into the Community of fur from cats and dogs, especially since there are indications that those animals may be kept and slaughtered inhumanely.\n(12) A ban on exports should also ensure that cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur are not produced in the Community for export.\n(13) However, it is appropriate to provide for the possibility of limited derogations from the general ban on the placing on the market and on the import to or export from the Community of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur. Such is the case in relation to cat and dog fur imported and placed on the market for educational or taxidermy purposes.\n(14) Regulation (EC) No\u00a01774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(4) lays down animal and public health rules for the placing on the market and the import or export of animal by-products, including cat and dog fur. It is therefore appropriate to clarify the scope of this Regulation, which should be the only act to apply to the placing on the market and the import or export of cat and dog fur at all stages of production, including raw fur. However, this Regulation should not affect the obligations under Regulation (EC) No\u00a01774/2002 concerning the disposal of cat and dog fur for public health reasons.\n(15) Measures for the ban of the use of cats and dogs for fur production should be enforced uniformly across the Community. However, the techniques currently used to identify cat and dog fur, such as DNA testing, microscopy and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry, vary from one Member State to another. It is appropriate for information regarding such techniques to be made available to the Commission, so that enforcement bodies are kept abreast of innovations in this field and so that the possibilities for prescribing a uniform technique can be assessed.\n(16) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28\u00a0June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission\u00a0(5).\n(17) In particular, the Commission should be empowered to establish analytical methods to identify the species of origin of fur and exceptionally to adopt measures which derogate from the prohibitions laid down in this Regulation. Since those measures are of general scope and are designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation, inter alia, by supplementing it with new non-essential elements, they must be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny provided for in Article\u00a05a of Decision 1999/468/EC.\n(18) Member States should lay down rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation and ensure that they are implemented. Those penalties should be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. In particular, Member States which seize consignments of cat and dog fur following the application of this Regulation should adopt laws allowing the confiscation and destruction of such consignments and the suspension or revocation of the import or export licences granted to the traders concerned. Member States should be encouraged to apply criminal sanctions where this is possible under their national law.\n(19) Since the objective of this Regulation, namely the elimination of obstacles to the functioning of the internal market by harmonising at Community level national bans concerning the trade in cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore be better achieved at Community level, the Community may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article\u00a05 of the Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve that objective,\nObjective\nThe purpose of this Regulation is to ban the placing on the market and the import to, or export from, the Community of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur in order to eliminate obstacles to the functioning of the internal market and to restore consumer confidence in the fact that the fur products which consumers buy do not contain cat and dog fur.\nDefinitions\nFor the purpose of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:\n1. \u2018cat\u2019 shall mean an animal of the species felis silvestris;\n2. \u2018dog\u2019 shall mean an animal of the subspecies canis lupus familiaris;\n3. \u2018placing on the market\u2019 shall mean the holding of cat and/or dog fur or a product containing such fur for the purpose of sale, which includes offer for sale, sale and distribution;\n4. \u2018import\u2019 shall mean the release for free circulation within the meaning of Article\u00a079 of Council Regulation (EEC) No\u00a02913/92 of 12\u00a0October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code\u00a0(6), with the exception of imports of a non-commercial nature within the meaning of Article\u00a045(2)(b) of Council Regulation (EEC) No\u00a0918/83 of 28\u00a0March 1983 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty\u00a0(7);\n5. \u2018export\u2019 shall mean an export procedure allowing Community goods to leave the customs territory of the Community within the meaning of Article\u00a0161 of Regulation (EEC) No\u00a02913/92.\nProhibitions\nThe placing on the market and the import to, or export from, the Community of cat and dog fur, and products containing such fur shall be prohibited.\nDerogations\nBy way of derogation from Article\u00a03, the Commission may exceptionally adopt measures allowing the placing on the market or the import or export of cat and dog fur or products containing such fur for educational or taxidermy purposes.\nThose measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation and stipulating the conditions under which such derogations shall apply, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article\u00a06(2).\nMethods for identifying the species of origin of fur\nMember States shall inform the Commission of the analytical methods they use to identify the species of origin of fur by 31\u00a0December 2008, and subsequently whenever required in the light of new developments.\nThe Commission may adopt measures establishing analytical methods to be used to identify the species of origin of fur. Those measures, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Regulation by supplementing it with new elements, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article\u00a06(2) and included in an annex to this Regulation.\nCommittee\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health established by Article\u00a058(1) of Regulation (EC) No\u00a0178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28\u00a0January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety\u00a0(8).\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article\u00a05a(1) to (4), and Article\u00a07 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article\u00a08 thereof.\nReports\nMember States shall report to the Commission on their efforts to enforce this Regulation.\nThe Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation, including customs activities relating thereto, no later than 31\u00a0December 2010.\nThe Commission's report shall be made available to the public.\nPenalties\nMember States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Member States shall notify the Commission of those provisions by 31\u00a0December 2008, and shall notify it without delay of any subsequent amendment thereto.\nEntry into force and applicability\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 31\u00a0December 2008.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import restriction", "domestic animal", "export restriction", "hides and furskins industry", "marketing restriction", "fur-bearing animal" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 220/83 of 25 January 1983 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2767/75 laying down general rules for the system of 'pilot products and derived products' enabling additional amounts to be fixed for pigmeat\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 220/83\nof 25 January 1983\namending Regulation (EEC) No 2767/75 laying down general rules for the system of 'pilot products and derived products' enabling additional amounts to be fixed for pigmeat\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organization of the market in pigmeat (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2966/80 (2), and in particular Article 13 (4) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas, for certain pigmeat products, the Common Customs Tariff has been amended by Regulations (EEC) No 2791/82 (3) and (EEC) No 3602/82 (4); whereas Regulation (EEC) No 2767/75 (5) should be correspondingly amended,\nRegulation (EEC) No 2767/75 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 1 shall be replaced by the following:\n'Article 1\nThe pilot products and the derived products relating to each of these products shall be as shown in the Annex.'\n2. Article 4 shall be deleted.\n3. Annex I shall be replaced by the Annex to this Regulation.\n4. Annex II shall be deleted.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 February 1983.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "common customs tariff", "meat product", "pigmeat", "agricultural levy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Decision of 19\u00a0August 2011 establishing the European Research and Innovation Area Board\n20.8.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 243/12\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 19 August 2011\nestablishing the European Research and Innovation Area Board\n(2011/0000/)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community,\nWhereas:\n(1) In order to advise the Commission on the realisation of the European Research Area, taking into account the objectives set out in the Commissions Green Paper \u2018The European Research Area: New Perspectives\u2019\u00a0(1), the European Research Area Board (ERAB) was set up by Commission Decision 2008/111/EC, Euratom\u00a0(2).\n(2) Decision 2008/111/EC, Euratom will expire on 29 February 2012.\n(3) Following the Commission Communication \u2018Europe 2020: a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth\u2019\u00a0(3), the Council gave its political endorsement on the new strategy on 17 June 2010.\n(4) The Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative \u2014 Innovation Union\u00a0(4), adopted by the European Commission on 6 October 2010, brings research and innovation policies into a single framework and is a critical component of the overall Europe 2020 strategy and a contributor to each of its three pillars, namely growth that is smart, sustainable and inclusive.\n(5) In the Commission Communication on Innovation Union Flagship Initiative the Commission announced to expand the remit of the ERAB as set out in its Decision 2008/111/EC, Euratom, to evaluate the Innovation Union on a continuous basis, reflect on new trends and provide recommendations on priorities and actions.\n(6) The European Research and Innovation Area Board (the Board) should support the Commission in its efforts to achieve the objectives specified in Decision No 1982/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)\u00a0(5), and in Council Decision 2006/970/Euratom of 18 December 2006 concerning the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities (2007 to 2011)\u00a0(6), as well as in the subsequent European Union and Euratom framework programmes.\n(7) The Chairperson and the members of the Board shall be proposed to the Commission by an Independent High-Level Identification Committee composed of representatives from business and academia.\n(8) In order to strengthen the Board's capacity and to ensure its continuity, the Commission services may appoint honorary members to the Board, on the basis of the merit and services rendered by members who have completed their terms.\n(9) Rules on disclosure of information by members of the Board should be provided for, without prejudice to the rules on security annexed to the Commission Rules of Procedure, by Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom\u00a0(7).\n(10) Personal data relating to members of the Board should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data\u00a0(8).\n(11) It is appropriate to fix a period for the application of this Decision. The Commission will in due time consider the advisability of an extension,\nEuropean Research and Innovation Area Board\nThe European Research and Innovation Area Board, hereinafter referred to as \u2018the Board\u2019, is established with effect from 1 March 2012.\nTasks\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The tasks of the Board shall be the following:\n(a) to advise the European Commission on European Research Area Issues, to provide recommendations on priorities and actions and in particular on how to increase the innovation impact and to evaluate the relevant part of Innovation Union Flagship initiatives on a continuous basis;\n(b) to deliver opinions on the development and realisation of the European Research Area and the Innovation Union at the request of the Commission, or on the Board\u2019s own initiative;\n(c) to provide the Commission with an annual report on the development of the European Research Area and of the Innovation Union;\n(d) to reflect on new trends in the European Research Area and the Innovation Union.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Board shall be regularly informed on relevant developments and actions.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Board's opinions shall be given within the time limit set by the Commission.\nConsultation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may consult the Board on any matter relating to the realisation of the European Research Area and the Innovation Union.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Chairperson of the Board may advise the Commission to consult the Board on a specific question.\nComposition \u2014 appointment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Board shall comprise 11 members.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Chairperson and the members of the Board shall be appointed by the Commission. The set of criteria to be applied throughout the selection and nomination process of the Board members is the following:\n\u2014 prominent research and/or innovation profile, including expertise in non-technological innovation,\n\u2014 experience in the design, management and implementation of research and/or innovation policy,\n\u2014 advisory experience on a European or international level,\n\u2014 balance among research and technology disciplines including persons with specific university-industry experience,\n\u2014 geographical balance, taking into account the countries associated to the framework programmes,\n\u2014 appropriate gender balance.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applicants deemed suitable for membership but not appointed may be placed on a reserve list, which the Commission may use for replacements.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members are appointed by the Commission in a personal capacity and shall advise the Commission independently of any external influence.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members shall inform the Commission in good time of any conflict of interest which might undermine their objectivity.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members shall be appointed for a four-year term of office and shall remain in office until their term of office ends or they are replaced in accordance with paragraph 7.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office in any of the following cases:\n(a) where the member resigns;\n(b) where the member is no longer capable of contributing effectively to the Board's deliberations;\n(c) where the member does not comply with Article 339 of the TFUE on disclosure of information;\n(d) where, contrary to paragraph 4, the member is not independent of all external influence;\n(e) where, contrary to paragraph 5, the member has failed to inform the Commission in good time of a conflict of interests.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The names of the Board's members shall be published on the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities (\u2018the Register\u2019) and on the Internet website of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. The names of the members shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\nHonorary members\nThe Commission services may appoint members who have completed their terms on the Board as honorary members of the Board without voting rights. The status of honorary members is equal to the one of observers. Such appointments are made on the basis of merits and services rendered. Honorary members shall be appointed for up to a four-year term of office.\nOperation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Board shall elect two Vice-Chairpersons from amongst its members by a simple majority to form collectively with the designated Chairperson the Bureau of the Board.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Bureau shall organise the work of the Board, in cooperation with the Commission.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Board may, with the agreement of the Commission, set up subgroups to examine specific questions under terms of reference established by the Board. Such subgroups shall be dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may ask experts or observers with specific competence on a subject on the agenda to participate in the work of the Board, or in the deliberations or work of a subgroup, if, in the opinion of the Commission, this is necessary or useful.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the Board, as well as invited experts and observers, shall comply with the obligations of professional secrecy laid down by the Treaties and their implementing rules, as well as with the Commission's rules on security regarding the protection of EU classified information, laid down in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom\u00a0(9). Should they fail to respect these obligations, the Commission may take all appropriate measures.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Board and its subgroups usually meet at the Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by the Board. The Commission shall provide the secretariat.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may provide information and expert support necessary for the work of the Board, allowing it to operate under conditions of autonomy and independence. The expert support is provided through grants or public procurement foreseen in the relevant work programme.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Commission representatives shall attend the meetings of the Board and of its subgroups.\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Board shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of a draft presented by the Commission.\n10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission publishes relevant information on the activities carried out by the Board either by including it in the Register or via a link from the Register to a dedicated website.\nHonoraria and meeting expenses\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Board members shall be compensated for the tasks they perform by means of an honorarium for their attendance at Board plenary meetings, reflecting their responsibilities and benchmarked against similar provisions in similar entities and Member States. The amount of honoraria and related implementation rules are set out in Annex to this Decision.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Observers and honorary members shall not be remunerated for the services they render.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As regards meetings necessary for the conduct of the Board's work other than plenary meetings including those foreseen under Article 6, the Commission, following its prior approval, shall reimburse travel expenses and, where appropriate, subsistence expenses for members and invited experts in connection with the Board\u2019s activities, in accordance with the Commission's rules on the compensation of external experts.\nExpiry\nThis Decision shall expire on 29 February 2016.", "answer groups": [ "research", "innovation", "EU research policy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a0835/2011 of 19\u00a0August 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01881/2006 as regards maximum levels for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in foodstuffs Text with EEA relevance\n20.8.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 215/4\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 835/2011\nof 19 August 2011\namending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01881/2006 as regards maximum levels for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in foodstuffs\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No\u00a0315/93 of 8\u00a0February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in food\u00a0(1), and in particular Article\u00a02(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs\u00a0(2) sets maximum levels for benzo(a)pyrene in a range of foodstuffs.\n(2) Benzo(a)pyrene belongs to the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and is used as a marker for the occurrence and effect of carcinogenic PAH in food based on a scientific opinion of the former Scientific Committee on Food (SCF)\u00a0(3). In its opinion of December 2002, the SCF recommended that further analyses of the relative proportions of these PAH in foods would be necessary for a future review of the suitability of maintaining benzo(a)pyrene as a marker.\n(3) New data on occurrence of carcinogenic PAH in foodstuffs have been collected by the Member States in the framework of Commission Recommendation 2005/108/EC\u00a0(4). The Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to review the SCF opinion taking into account the new occurrence data, other relevant new scientific information as well as the Margin of Exposure (MOE) approach. Within this review, EFSA was asked to re-assess the suitability of maintaining benzo(a)pyrene as a marker.\n(4) The Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) of EFSA adopted an opinion on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Food on 9 June 2008\u00a0(5). In this opinion EFSA concluded that benzo(a)pyrene is not a suitable marker for the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in food and that a system of four specific substances (PAH4\u00a0(6)) or eight specific substances (PAH8\u00a0(7)) would be the most suitable indicators of PAH in food. EFSA also concluded that a system of eight substances (PAH8) would not provide much added value compared to a system of four substances (PAH4).\n(5) Furthermore, the CONTAM Panel concluded, using the Margin of Exposure (MOE) approach, that there is low concern for consumer health at the average estimated dietary exposures. However, for high level consumers the MOEs were close to or less than 10\u00a0000, which indicates a potential concern for consumer health.\n(6) Based on the conclusions of EFSA, the current system of using benzo(a)pyrene as the only marker for the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, can not be maintained. An amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 is therefore necessary.\n(7) New maximum levels for the sum of four substances (PAH4) (benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene) should be introduced, whilst maintaining a separate maximum level for benzo(a)pyrene.\n(8) Such system would ensure that PAH levels in food are kept at levels that do not cause health concern and that the amount of PAH can also be controlled in those samples in which benzo(a)pyrene is not detectable, but where other PAH are present.\n(9) The separate maximum level for benzo(a)pyrene is maintained to ensure comparability of previous and future data. After a certain time of implementation of this amendment and on basis of new data that will be generated in future, the need for retaining a separate maximum level for benzo(a) pyrene should be re-assessed.\n(10) As regards the sum of the four substances (PAH4), lower bound concentrations should be used as the basis for compliance decisions.\n(11) Maximum levels for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons must be safe and as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) based upon good manufacturing and agricultural/fishery practices. The new PAH occurrence data show that background levels of PAH are lower than previously thought in some food commodities. Benzo(a)pyrene maximum levels have therefore been adapted to reflect more realistic lower background levels in fresh and smoked bivalve molluscs.\n(12) Data for smoked fish and smoked meat have also shown that lower maximum levels are achievable. Nevertheless, adaptations of current smoking technology may be necessary in some cases. Therefore, a two step procedure should be established for smoked meat and smoked fish which grants a transition of two years from the date of application of this Regulation before lower maximum levels become applicable.\n(13) Smoked sprats and canned smoked sprats have been found to contain higher levels of PAH than other smoked fish. Specific maximum levels should be established for smoked sprats and canned smoked sprats in order to reflect what is achievable in these foodstuffs.\n(14) Previously a maximum level for benzo(a)pyrene in \"muscle meat of fish other than smoked fish\" was established as an indicator for potential environmental pollution. Nevertheless, it has been shown that PAH are quickly metabolised in fresh fish and do not accumulate in the muscle meat. Therefore, maintaining a maximum level for PAH in fresh fish is no longer appropriate.\n(15) High levels of PAH have been found in some types of heat treated meat and heat treated meat products sold to the final consumer. These levels are avoidable if appropriate processing conditions and equipment are used. It is therefore appropriate to establish maximum levels for PAH in meat and meat products that have undergone a heat treatment process known to potentially result in formation of PAH, i.e. only grilling and barbecuing.\n(16) Cocoa butter was temporarily exempted from the existing maximum level for benzo(a)pyrene in oils and fats under Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 and a review of the appropriateness of setting a maximum level for PAH in cocoa butter was foreseen by 1 April 2007. The review was then postponed pending the result of the then ongoing scientific re-assessment of PAH by EFSA.\n(17) Cocoa butter contains higher levels of PAH than other oils and fats. This is mainly due to inappropriate drying practices of the cocoa beans and the fact that cocoa butter can not be refined as other vegetable oils and fats. Cocoa butter is a main constituent of cocoa raw products (e.g. cocoa beans, cocoa mass, cocoa nibs or cocoa liquor) and is present in chocolate and other cocoa products often consumed by children. It thereby contributes to human exposure, in particular to exposure of children. It is therefore necessary to establish maximum levels for PAH in cocoa beans and derived products, thereby also including cocoa butter.\n(18) Maximum levels for PAH in cocoa beans should be established at levels as low as reasonably achievable and taking into account the current technological possibilities of producing countries. They should be established on a fat basis since PAH concentrate in the fat fraction, the cocoa butter. To allow producing countries to make technological improvements in order to adapt to these maximum levels, the date of application of the maximum levels for cocoa beans and derived products should be deferred. Furthermore, initially a higher maximum level for the sum of the four substances should apply to these products. After a transition period of two years a lower maximum level should apply. The levels of PAH in cocoa beans and derived products should be regularly monitored with a view to assessing the possibility for further decreasing the maximum levels in future.\n(19) Data have shown that coconut oil can contain higher amounts of PAH4 than other vegetable oils and fats. This is due to the proportionally higher presence of benz(a)anthracene and chrysene which can not be easily removed during refinement of coconut oil. Specific maximum levels for coconut oil should therefore be set at levels as low as reasonably achievable and taking into account the current technological possibilities of producing countries. As technological improvements in producing countries are expected, the levels of PAH in coconut oil should be regularly monitored with a view to assessing the possibility for setting lower levels in future.\n(20) Current occurrence data on PAH in cereals and vegetables are limited. The available data indicate that cereals and vegetables contain rather low levels of PAH. The low levels seen in the currently available occurrence data do not justify the immediate setting of maximum levels. Nevertheless, EFSA identified cereals and vegetables as being important contributors to human exposure due to their high consumption. Therefore, PAH levels in these two product groups should be further monitored. On the basis of further data, the need for setting maximum levels will be evaluated.\n(21) High levels of PAH have been found in some food supplements. Nevertheless, the levels are variable and depend on the specific type of food supplements. Further data on food supplements are needed and should be collected. Once these data become available, the need for setting maximum levels for PAH in food supplements will be evaluated.\n(22) Member States and food business operators should be allowed time to adapt to the maximum levels established by this Regulation. The date of application of this Regulation should therefore be deferred. A transitional period should be provided for the products already placed on the market before the date of application of the amendments introduced by this Regulation.\n(23) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council have opposed them,\nThe Annex to Regulation (EC) No\u00a01881/2006 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Foodstuffs not complying with the maximum levels applicable from 1 September 2012 pursuant to Section 6 \"Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons\" of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No\u00a01881/2006, as amended by this Regulation, which are lawfully placed on the market prior to 1 September 2012, may continue to be marketed after that date until their date of minimum durability or use-by-date.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Foodstuffs not complying with the maximum levels applicable from 1 September 2014 pursuant to points 6.1.4 and 6.1.5 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No\u00a01881/2006, as amended by this Regulation, which are lawfully placed on the market prior to 1 September 2014, may continue to be marketed after that date until their date of minimum durability or use-by-date.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Foodstuffs not complying with the maximum levels applicable from 1 April 2013 pursuant to point 6.1.2 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No\u00a01881/2006, as amended by this Regulation, which are lawfully placed on the market prior to 1 April 2013, may continue to be marketed after that date until their date of minimum durability or use-by-date.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Foodstuffs not complying with the maximum level applicable from 1 April 2015 pursuant to point 6.1.2 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No\u00a01881/2006, as amended by this Regulation, which are lawfully placed on the market prior to 1 April 2015, may continue to be marketed after that date until their date of minimum durability or use-by-date.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 September 2012.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "foodstuff", "health risk", "market approval", "food safety", "food contamination", "chemical compound", "food standard", "marketing standard" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01695/2005 of 17 October 2005 opening a standing invitation to tender for the export of common wheat held by the French intervention agency\n18.10.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 272/3\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1695/2005\nof 17 October 2005\nopening a standing invitation to tender for the export of common wheat held by the French intervention agency\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93\u00a0(2) lays down the procedure and conditions for the disposal of cereals held by intervention agencies.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3002/92\u00a0(3) lays down common detailed rules for verifying the use and/or destination of products from intervention.\n(3) Given the current market situation, a standing invitation to tender should be opened for the export of 500\u00a0000 tonnes of common wheat held by the French intervention agency.\n(4) Special rules must be laid down to ensure that the operations are properly carried out and monitored. To that end, securities should be lodged to ensure that the goals of the operation are achieved without excessive cost to the operators. Derogations should accordingly be made to certain rules, in particular those laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93.\n(5) To forestall reimportation, exports under this invitation to tender should be limited to certain third countries.\n(6) With a view to modernising the management of the system, provision should be made for the electronic transmission of the information required by the Commission.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nSubject to this Regulation, the French intervention agency shall issue a standing invitation to tender in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 for the export of common wheat held by it.\nThe invitation to tender shall cover a maximum of 500\u00a0000 tonnes of common wheat for export to third countries with the exception of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Liechtenstein, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro\u00a0(4) and Switzerland.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0No export refund or tax or monthly increase shall be granted on exports carried out under this Regulation.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Article 8(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 shall not apply.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding the third paragraph of Article 16 of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93, the price to be paid for the export shall be that quoted in the tender, without monthly increase.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Export licences shall be valid from their date of issue within the meaning of Article 9 of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 until the end of the fourth month thereafter.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tenders submitted in response to this invitation to tender need not be accompanied by export licence applications submitted under Article 49 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000\u00a0(5).\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding Article 7(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93, the time limit for submission of tenders under the first partial invitation to tender shall be 09.00 (Brussels time) on 26 October 2005.\nThe time limit for submitting tenders under subsequent partial invitations to tender shall be 09.00 (Brussels time) each Thursday thereafter, with the exception of 3 November and 29 December 2005 and 13 April and 25 May 2006, there being no invitation to tender in the weeks concerned.\nThe last partial invitation to tender shall expire at 09.00 (Brussels time) on 22 June 2006.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tenders must be lodged with the French intervention agency:\nOffice national interprofessionnel des c\u00e9r\u00e9ales\n21, avenue Bosquet\nF-75007 Paris\nFax (33) 1 44 18 20 08/80\nThe intervention agency, the storer and a successful tenderer shall, at the request of the latter and by common agreement, either before or at the time of removal from storage as the tenderer chooses, take reference samples for counter-analysis at the rate of at least one sample for every 500 tonnes and shall analyse the samples. The intervention agency may be represented by a proxy, provided this is not the storer.\nReference samples for counter-analysis shall be taken and analysed within seven working days of the date of the successful tenderer's request or within three working days if the samples are taken on removal from storage.\nIn the event of a dispute, the analysis results shall be forwarded electronically to the Commission.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The successful tenderer must accept the lot as established if the final result of the sample analyses indicates a quality:\n(a) higher than that specified in the notice of invitation to tender;\n(b) higher than the minimum characteristics laid down for intervention but below the quality described in the notice of invitation to tender, providing that the differences having regard to those criteria do not exceed the following limits:\n\u2014 one kilogram per hectolitre as regards specific weight, which must not, however, be less than 75\u00a0kg/hl,\n\u2014 one percentage point as regards moisture content,\n\u2014 half a percentage point as regards the impurities specified in points B.2 and B.4 of the Annex to Commission Regulation (EC) No 824/2000\u00a0(6), and half a percentage point as regards the impurities referred to in point B.5 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 824/2000, the admissible percentages for noxious grains and ergot remaining unchanged, however.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the final result of the analyses carried out on the samples indicates a quality higher than the minimum characteristics laid down for intervention but below the quality described in the notice of invitation to tender and the difference exceeds the limits set out in paragraph 1(b), the successful tenderer may:\n(a) accept the lot as established, or\n(b) refuse to take over the lot concerned.\nIn the case of (b) above, the successful tenderer shall be discharged of all obligations relating to the lot in question and the securities shall be released provided the Commission and the intervention agency are immediately notified using the form in Annex I.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where the final result of sample analyses indicates a quality below the minimum characteristics laid down for intervention, the successful tenderer may not remove the lot in question. The successful tenderer shall be discharged of all obligations relating to the lot in question and the securities shall be released provided the Commission and the intervention agency are immediately notified using the form in Annex I.\nShould the cases mentioned in Article 7(2)(b) and 7(3) arise, the successful tenderer may ask the intervention agency to supply an alternative lot of common wheat of the requisite quality, at no extra cost. In that case, the security shall not be released. The lot must be replaced within three days of the date of the successful tenderer\u2019s request. The successful tenderer shall immediately inform the Commission thereof using the form in Annex I.\nIf, following successive replacements, the successful tenderer has not received a replacement lot of the quality laid down within one month of the date of the request for a replacement, the successful tenderer shall be discharged of all obligations and the securities shall be released, provided the Commission and the intervention agency have been immediately informed using the form in Annex I.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the common wheat is removed before the results of the analyses provided for in Article 6 are known, all risks shall be borne by the successful tenderer from the time the lot is removed, without prejudice to any means of redress the tenderer might have against the storer.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The costs of taking the samples and conducting the analyses provided for in Article 6, with the exception of those referred to in Article 7(3), shall be borne by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) for up to one analysis per 500 tonnes, with the exception of the cost of inter-bin transfers. The costs of inter-bin transfers and any additional analyses requested by a successful tenderer shall be borne by that tenderer.\n0\nNotwithstanding Article 12 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3002/92, the documents relating to the sale of common wheat under this Regulation, and in particular the export licence, the removal order referred to in Article 3(1)(b) of Regulation (EEC) No 3002/92, the export declaration and, where applicable, the T5 copy shall carry one of the entries set out in Annex II.\n1\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The security lodged under Article 13(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93 shall be released once the export licences have been issued to the successful tenderers.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding Article 17(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2131/93, the obligation to export shall be covered by a security equal to the difference between the intervention price applying on the day of the award and the price awarded, but not less than EUR\u00a025 per tonne. Half of the security shall be lodged when the licence is issued and the balance shall be lodged before the cereals are removed.\n2\nWithin two hours of the expiry of the time limit for the submission of tenders, the French intervention agency shall electronically notify the Commission of tenders received. This notification shall be made by e-mail, using the form in Annex III.\n3\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "common wheat", "award of contract", "intervention agency", "export", "France" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a0707/2010 of 5\u00a0August 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0891/2009 opening and providing for the administration of certain Community tariff quotas in the sugar sector\n6.8.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 205/3\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 707/2010\nof 5 August 2010\namending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0891/2009 opening and providing for the administration of certain Community tariff quotas in the sugar sector\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 148 in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part\u00a0(2) entered into force on 1\u00a0April 2009. Article 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 of 25\u00a0September 2009 opening and providing for the administration of certain Community tariff quotas in the sugar sector\u00a0(3) should refer to this Stabilisation and Association Agreement.\n(2) An Interim Agreement on trade and trade related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part\u00a0(4), entered into force on 1\u00a0February 2010. Articles 1 and 2 of Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 should refer to this new trade arrangement.\n(3) Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 provides that import licence applications shall be submitted during the first seven days of each of the 12 sub-periods, provided for in Article 3(2) of that Regulation. In order to facilitate trade, operators should be allowed to import from the day on which the tariff quota is opened. Consequently they should be allowed to apply for import licences in the month preceding the first sub-period. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the time periods for the application, notification and issuing of import licences for the first sub-period.\n(4) Article 15(2) of Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 provides penalties if imported sugar, which is not intended for refining, is refined. However, these penalties should not apply if justified and exceptional technical reasons are approved by Member States.\n(5) Regulation (EC) No 891/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,\nRegulation (EC) No 891/2009 is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 1, point (e) is replaced by the following:\n\u2018(e) Article 27(2) of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part;\u2019;\n2. in Article 1, the following point (g) is added to the first paragraph:\n\u2018(g) Article 11(4) of the Interim agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part\u00a0(5).\n3. in Article 2, point (b), the words \u2018points (b) to (f)\u2019 are replaced by the words \u2018points (b) to (g)\u2019;\n4. in Article 5(1), a second subparagraph is added:\n5. Article 8 is replaced by the following:\n6. in Article 9, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:\n(a) no later than on the 14th day of the month during which the applications are submitted, in case of applications referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 5(1);\n(b) no later than on the 21st day of the month during which the applications are submitted, in case of applications referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 5(1).\u2019;\n7. in Article 15(2), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "sugar product", "import licence", "sugar", "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1170/92 of 6 May 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2630/81 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the sugar sector\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1170/92 of 6 May 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2630/81 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the sugar sector\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1785/81 of 30 June 1981 on the common organization of the markets in the sugar sector (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 61/92 (2), and in particular Article 13 (2) thereof,\nWhereas amounts quoted in tenders submitted in response to invitations to tender organized under an instrument forming part of the common agricultural policy are to be expressed in ecus in conformity with Article 1 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 653/92 of 16 March 1992 (3); whereas in accordance with those same provisions, the amounts quoted in tenders accepted are expressed in ecus in certificates or other documents specifying those amounts; whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2630/81 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1714/88 (5), should consequently be adapted;\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 920/92 of 10 April 1992 on a standing invitation to tender to determine levies and/or refunds on exports of white sugar (6) applies to the 1992/93 marketing year from 21 April 1992; whereas the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 653/92 have already been taken into account therein; whereas it is necessary therefore to make this Regulation applicable also from the same date; whereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 963/91 (7), establishing a standing invitiation to tender for the 1991/92 marketing year similar to that provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 920/92, applies until 20 May 1992; whereas, in order to comply with the conditions governing the standing invitation to tender to determine levies and/or refunds on exports of white sugar as they are laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 963/91, provision should be made for this Regulation not to be applicable to the remaining 51st, 52nd, 53rd, and 54th tenders still to be held;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the Management Committee for Sugar,\nArticle 2 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2630/81 is replaced by the following:\n'The export licence shall be issued for the quantity entered on the relevant notice of award to tender. Section 18a shall indicate the rate of the export refund or export levy, as stated in that notice, expressed in ecus. To this end it shall contain one of the following endorsements:\n- tasa de la restituci\u00f3n aplicable: . . . . . .;\n- restitutionssats: . . . . . .;\n- gueltiger Erstattungssatz: . . . . . .;\n- efarmozomeno ypsos epistrofis: . . . . . .;\n- rate of applicable refund: . . . . . .;\n- taux de la restitution applicable: . . . . . .;\n- tasso di restituzione applicabile: . . . . . .;\n- toe te passen restitutievoet: . . . . . .;\n- taxa de restitu\u00e7ao \u00e0 exporta\u00e7ao aplic\u00e1vel: . . . . . .;\nor, eventually:\n- tasa de exacci\u00f3n reguladora a la exportaci\u00f3n aplicable: . . . . . .;\n- eksportafgiftssats: . . . . . .;\n- gueltiger Satz der Ausfuhrabschoepfung: . . . . . .;\n- efarmozomeno ypsos eisforas kata tin exagogi: . . . . . .;\n- rate of applicable export levy: . . . . . .;\n- taux du pr\u00e9l\u00e8vement \u00e0 l'exportation applicable: . . . . . .;\n- tasso del prelievo all'esportazione applicabile: . . . . . .;\n- toe te passen heffingsvoet bij uitvoer: . . . . . .;\n- taxa do direito nivelador \u00e0 exporta\u00e7ao aplic\u00e1vel: . . . . . .'.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 21 April 1992.\nHowever, it shall not apply to the export licences granted or to be granted under the standing invitation to tender to determine levies and/or refunds on exports of white sugar established by Regulation (EEC) No 963/91. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import levy", "export levy", "white sugar", "award of contract" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01544/2007 of 20 December 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a02707/2000 laying down rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01255/1999 as regards Community aid for supplying milk and certain milk products to pupils in educational establishments\n21.12.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 337/64\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1544/2007\nof 20 December 2007\namending Regulation (EC) No 2707/2000 laying down rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards Community aid for supplying milk and certain milk products to pupils in educational establishments\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 15 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 14(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1152/2007 of 26 September 2007 sets up the aid level for milk supplied to pupils in educational establishments, regardless of its fat content and provides for the adaptation of the aid level for other eligible products.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2707/2000\u00a0(2) should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,\nRegulation (EC) No 2707/2000 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 3 is replaced by the following:\n2. Article 4(1) is replaced by the following:\n3. Article 5(2) is replaced by the following:\n(a) category II: 100 kg = 300 kg of milk;\n(b) category III: 100 kg = 765 kg of milk;\n(c) category IV: 100 kg = 850 kg of milk;\n(d) category V: 100 kg = 935 kg of milk;\n(e) category VI: 100 kg = 750 kg of milk.\u2019;\n4. Annexes I and II are replaced by the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2008.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EU aid", "milk product", "aid recipient", "educational institution", "milk" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2004/31/EC of 17 March 2004 amending Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nCommission Directive 2004/31/EC\nof 17 March 2004\namending Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community(1), and in particular points (c) and (d) of the second paragraph of Article 14 thereof,\nAfter consulting the Member States concerned,\nWhereas:\n(1) From information supplied by Sweden based on surveys, it appears that areas in Sweden should not longer be recognised as \"protected zones\" in respect of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus.\n(2) Under Directive 2000/29/EC, the introduction into the Community of plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, originating in third countries is prohibited.\n(3) From information supplied by Switzerland, it appears that the measures Switzerland applies as regards the introduction into and movement within its territory of plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, are equivalent to the measures laid down in Directive 2000/29/EC. Therefore, plants of Vitis L., other than fruits, originating in Switzerland should be allowed to enter the Community.\n(4) Under Directive 2000/29/EC, the introduction into the areas within the Community recognised as protected zones as regards Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. of the host plants, other than fruit and seeds, of this harmful organism, originating in third countries other than those recognised as being free from this harmful organism, or in which pest free areas have been established in relation to this harmful organism, is prohibited.\n(5) From information supplied by Switzerland, it appears that the measures Switzerland applies as regards the introduction into and movement within its territory of host plants of Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al., other than fruits and seeds, are largely equivalent to the measures laid down in Directive 2000/29/EC. Therefore, host plants of Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al., other than fruits and seeds, and other than plants of Cotoneaster Ehrh. and Photinia davidiana (Dcne.) Cardot, originating in Switzerland should be allowed to enter the Community.\n(6) From information supplied by Italy based on surveys, it appears that some areas in Italy should not longer be recognised as \"protected zones\" in respect of Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.\n(7) Due to a clerical error in the preparation of Directive 2003/116/EC, current point 21.1 of Part B of Annex IV to Directive 2000/29/EC was erroneously numbered.\n(8) The current provisions against Tilletia indica Mitra should be amended to take into account the updated information on the presence of this harmful organism in Iran.\n(9) Directive 2000/29/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nAnnexes I, II, III, IV and V to Directive 2000/29/EC are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 20 April 2004 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "parasitology", "plant disease", "plant health control", "protection of plant life", "plant health legislation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1937/90 of 4 July 1990 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics originating in the people's Republic of China, and accepting an undertaking offered by the exporter\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1937/90\nof 4 July 1990\nimposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics originating in the People's Republic of China, and accepting an undertaking offered by the exporter\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Articles 10 and 11 thereof,\nAfter consultations within the Advisory Committee as provided for in the above Regulation,\nWhereas:\nA. PROCEDURE\n(1) In September 1989, the Commission received a complaint lodged by the International Association of Users of Yarn of Man-made Fabrics and of Natural Silk (Aiuffass) on behalf of Spinnhuette GmbH & Co., KG Seidentechnik, a company representing the entire Community production of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics.\nThe complaint contained evidence of dumping and of resulting material injury, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. The Commission accordingly announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (2) the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports into the Community of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics, falling within CN codes ex 5007 10 00, ex 5007 20 10, and ex 5007 20 21 and originating in the People's Republic of China, and commenced an investigation.\n(2) The Commission officially so advised the exporters and importers known to be concerned, the representatives of the exporting country and the complainant. It sent questionnaires to the parties directly concerned and also gave them the opportunity to make known their views in writing and to request a hearing.\n(3) All of the known interested parties, the Community producer, an independent importer and the exporter, returned the questionnaire duly completed to the Commission. The exporter and the importer also made known their views in writing. The exporter requested and was granted a hearing.\n(4) The Commission verified the information received to the extent it deemed to be necessary for the purposes of a preliminary determination and carried out investigations at the premises of the following companies:\n(a) Community producer:\nSpinnhuette GmbH & Co., KG Seidentechnik, Celle, Germany;\n(b) Community importer:\nH. Delacamp GmbH & Co., KG, Hamburg, Germany.\n(5) The investigation of dumping covered the period from 1 January 1989 to 30 September 1989.\nB. PRODUCT UNDER CONSIDERATION\n(6) The product subject to investigation is a plain woven silk fabric made out of raw silk of a weight of 40 g/m2 or more but not exceeding 50 g/m2. The product is used by the office supplies industry for inking and for the further manufacture of typewriter ribbon spools.\n(7) With respect to the physical and technical characteristics, the uses and the markets for this product, the Commission has concluded that the Chinese imports are like products to those produced in the Community, within the meaning of Article 2 (12) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88.\nC. DUMPING\n(8) In order to establish whether the imports originating in the People's Republic of China were dumped, the Commission had to take account of the fact that this country does not have a market economy and the Commission therefore had to base its determination on the normal value in a market economy country.\n(9) The complainant had claimed that the Community producer and the Chinese producer are the only producers of the product in question in the world. This information has not been contested by any interested party during the investigation and so the normal value was determined, in accordance with Article 2 (5) (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, by reference to the prices actually paid or payable in the Community, duly adjusted to include a profit margin of 5 %, considered to be reasonable for this product.\n(10) Export prices were determined on the basis of the prices actually paid or payable for the products sold for export to the Community.\n(11) In comparing normal value with export prices, the Commission took account, where appropriate, of differences affecting price comparability. Such as physical characteristics, payment terms, transport and insurance costs. All comparisons were trade at an ex-works level.\n(12) The examination of the facts shows that imports of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics originating in the People's Republic of China were being dumped, the margin of dumping being equal to the amount by which the normal value as established exceeds the price for export to the Community. The weighted average dumping margin for the exporter, as a percentage of the cif price of the product at the Community frontier, was 47,2 %.\nD. INJURY\n(a) Volume and price of imports\n(13) With regard to the injury, the Commission has established that imports into the Community from the People's Republic of China of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics, in volume terms, fell during the period 1986 to 1988 but that in the first nine months of 1989 the level of imports was equivalent to that for all the preceeding year 1988. As a result, the market share of the exporter, which had remained almost constant during 1986 to 1988, increased in absolute terms by 6 % during the first nine months of 1989. These products are imported into the Federal Republic of Germany by an importer, who subsequently re-sells throughout the Community, although the Federal Republic of Germany is the main market for these products, representing over 80 % of total Community consumption.\n(14) The weighted average resale prices of these imports undercut the prices of the Community producer during the investigation period by between 10 to 15 % and were lower than those required to cover the costs of the Community producer and to provide a reasonable profit. The level of the import prices also deprived the Community producer of price increases which normally would have occurred during this same time period from the increasing costs of its raw materials.\n(b) Impact on the Community industry\n(15) Over the period from 1986 to 1988, production, capacity utilization and sales declined for the Community industry although market share remained stable. However, for the first nine months of 1989, there was a significant deterioration in all these factors with a reduction of market share of 6 %. The Community producer, which had operated with reasonable profit margins in 1987 and 1988, began to generate financial losses in 1989 and had therefore to reduce its level of employment with the introduction of short time working for its remaining employees.\n(c) Causality\n(16) Given the development of the increase in volume and the gain of market share of the dumped imports, the decline in sales and loss of market share of the Community industry during the first nine months of 1989 and the fact that prices of the dumped imports have undercut and suppressed the prices of the Community industry, the Commission has concluded that the injury suffered by the Community industry was caused by the effect of dumped imports, originating in the People's Republic of China, into the Community.\n(17) The Commisson examined whether other factors might have been responsible for the injury to the Community industry. There are no imports originating in other third countries. Consumption in the Community of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics has been falling steadily in the Community by approximately 10 % per annum. Whereas this trend in consumption can explain the decrease in sales of the Community producer during the period in which injury has been examined, it cannot explain the significant loss of market share in the first nine months of 1989, which is clearly paralleled by an increase in market share by the exporter. Equally the Community producer was profitable in the years 1987 and 1988 when consumption was also declining, and therefore the Commission does not consider that falling consumption has contributed to the injury found.\n(d) Conclusion\n(18) In these circumstances, the Commission has concluded that the volume of Chinese dumped imports, and the prices at which they are offered for sale in the Community, taken in isolation, have to be considered as causing material injury to the Community industry concerned.\nE. COMMUNITY INTEREST\n(19) Although the requirements of the Community for silk typewriter ribbon are not great and are diminishing, there is and will continue to be a demand for this product in the Community. It would not be in the Community's interest for there to be a sole supplier of this product. The material injury caused to the Community producer by the dumped imports puts its survival at risk. Any protective measures should not however lead to the withdrawal of Chinese imports from the market or eliminate competition between these imports and Community production. The Community producer is in the weaker competitive position, quite apart from the fact that it is suffering from the dumping from China, since it is dependent on China for its supplies of raw silk. The Commission considers that the Community interest would best be protected by the imposition of a provisional anti-dumping duty and the acceptance of a price undertaking which should ensure the maintenance of effective competition between the two suppliers.\n(20) The Commission considers that the situation warrants the imposition of provisional measures at this stage of the proceeding in order to prevent further injury being caused during the remainder of the proceeding.\nF. MEASURES\nPrice undertaking\n(21) The only known exporter of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics, China National Silk Import and Export Corporation - Zhejiang Branch, requested and was informed of the main conclusions of the investigation; it submitted its comments and subsequently offered a price undertaking.\n(22) This undertaking has the effect of raising prices by an amount which in no case exceeds the dumping margin established but which is sufficient to remove the injury caused to the Community industry, since the price of the imports plus the importer's costs and profit is thereby raised to the level of a selling price at which the Community producer can make a reasonable profit. It is, moreover, possible to monitor and control that this undertaking is respected. Under these circumstances, the undertaking offered is considered acceptable and the investigations can be terminated for the exporter concerned without imposing an anti-dumping duty.\nIn addition, where there is reason to believe that the undertaking has been violated, provisional and definitive duties may be imposed based on the facts established before the acceptance of the undertaking.\nThis solution met with no objection within the Advisory Committee.\nDuty\n(23) On the basis of the information available, the Commission believes that the exporter, who has offered an undertaking, currently represents all Chinese exports of the pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics to the Community. However, in order to safeguard the effectiveness of the undertaking and to prevent possible circumvention by the appearance of other exporters in the future, a provisional anti-dumping duty should be imposed.\n(24) The Commission considered that this duty should be based on the facts established in the investigation period for the exporter who fully cooperated in the investigation. Consequently, having regard to the extent of the injury caused, the rate of such a duty should be less than the dumping margin provisionally established but adequate to remove the injury caused. Having taken into account the selling price needed to provide an adequate profit (5 % margin on the sales price for this product) for the Community producer and the purchase price of the Community importer and their costs and profit margin, the Commission determined the amount of duty necessary to eliminate the injury to be 24,6 % of the net free-at-Community-frontier price, not cleared through customs. The Commission considered that, to ensure the effectiveness of the protective measures and to facilitate customs clearance, the provisional duty should take the form of an ad valorem duty.\nG. TIME LIMIT\n(25) Following the imposition of the provisional anti-dumping duty, a period should be fixed within which the interested parties may make their views known and apply to be heard orally by the Commission.\n1. A provisional anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics falling within CN codes ex 5007 10 00 (Taric code: 5007 10 00 91), ex 5007 20 10 (Taric code: 5007 20 10 91) and ex 5007 20 21 (Taric code: 5007 20 21 91) and originating in the People's Republic of China.\n2. The rate of duty shall be 24,6 % of the net free-at-Community-frontier price, not cleared through customs (Taric additional code: 8466).\n3. The duty shall not apply to the products referred to in paragraph 1, produced and exported by China National Silk Import & Export Corporation - Zhejiang Branch (Taric additional code: 8465). 4. For the purposes of this Regulation, a pure silk typewriter ribbon fabric means a plain woven silk fabric made out of raw silk of a weight of 40 g/m2 or more but not exceeding 50 g/m2.\n5. The provisions in force with regard to customs duties shall apply.\n6. The release for free circulation in the Community of the product originating in the People's Republic of China referred to in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the provision of a security equivalent to the amount of the provisional duty.\nThe undertaking offered by China National Silk Import and Export Corporation - Zhejiang Branch, in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of pure silk typewriter ribbon fabrics fallen within CN codes ex 5007 10 00 ex 5007 20 10 and ex 5007 20 21 and originating in the People's Republic of China is hereby accepted.\nThe investigation in connection with the anti-dumping proceeding referred to in Article 2 is hereby terminated in respect of the Company China National Silk Import & Export Corporation - Zhejiang Branch.\nWithout prejudice to Article 7 (4) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, the parties concerned may make their views known in writing and request a hearing from the Commission within one month from the entry into force of this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nSubject to Articles 11, 12 and 13 of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, Article 1 of this Regulation shall apply for a period of four months, unless the Council adopts definitive measures before the expiry of that period.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "dumping", "silk", "China", "office equipment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No\u00a0480/2009 of 25\u00a0May 2009 establishing a Guarantee Fund for external actions (Codified version)\n10.6.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 145/10\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC, EURATOM) No 480/2009\nof 25 May 2009\nestablishing a Guarantee Fund for external actions\n(Codified version)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 203 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament\u00a0(1),\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2728/94 of 31 October 1994 establishing a Guarantee Fund for external actions\u00a0(2) has been substantially amended several times\u00a0(3). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be codified.\n(2) The general budget of the European Union is exposed to increased financial risk as a result of the guarantees covering loans to third countries.\n(3) The European Council on 11 and 12 December 1992 concluded that considerations of prudent budgetary management and financial discipline called for the establishment of a new financial mechanism, and that accordingly a Guarantee Fund should be set up in order to cover the risks related to loans and guarantees covering loans granted to third countries or for projects executed in third countries. This need can be met by the establishment of a Guarantee Fund which may be drawn on to pay the Communities\u2019 creditors direct.\n(4) Pursuant to the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management, adopted on 17 May 2006\u00a0(4), the funding of the Guarantee Fund is provided for as an obligatory expenditure from the general budget of the European Union for the period from 2007 to 2013.\n(5) Mechanisms exist for honouring guarantees when they are activated, in particular by drawing provisionally on cash resources, as provided for in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1150/2000 of 22 May 2000 implementing Decision 2000/597/EC, Euratom on the system of the Communities\u2019 own resources\u00a0(5).\n(6) The Guarantee Fund should be constituted by the gradual payment of resources. The Fund should subsequently also receive interest on its invested resources and amounts recovered from defaulting debtors where the Fund has already honoured the guarantee.\n(7) Experience of the functioning of the Guarantee Fund indicates that a ratio of 9\u00a0% between the Fund\u2019s resources and guaranteed liabilities in principal, increased by unpaid interest due, would be adequate.\n(8) Payments to the Guarantee Fund equal to 9\u00a0% of the amount of each operation would seem sufficient to attain the target amount. The arrangements for making such payments should be defined.\n(9) If the Guarantee Fund exceeds the target amount, the surplus should be paid back to the general budget of the European Union.\n(10) The financial management of the Guarantee Fund should be entrusted to the European Investment Bank (hereinafter referred to as the \u2018EIB\u2019). The financial management of the Fund should be subject to audit by the Court of Auditors in accordance with procedures agreed upon by the Court of Auditors, the Commission and the EIB.\n(11) The Communities have granted loans and guaranteed loans to accession countries or for projects executed in those countries. Those loans and guarantees are covered by the Guarantee Fund and will remain outstanding or in force after the date of accession. From that date, they will cease to be external actions of the Communities and should therefore be covered directly by the general budget of the European Union and no longer by the Guarantee Fund.\n(12) The Guarantee Fund covers defaults under loans issued by the EIB for which the Communities provide a guarantee under the EIB\u2019s external mandate. In addition, in line with the EIB\u2019s external mandate which took effect from 1 February 2007, the Fund should also cover defaults under loan guarantees issued by the EIB for which the Communities provide a guarantee.\n(13) The Treaties do not provide any powers other than those pursuant to Article 308 of the EC Treaty and Article 203 of the Euratom Treaty for the adoption of this Regulation,\nA Guarantee Fund (hereinafter referred to as the \u2018Fund\u2019) shall be established, the resources of which shall be used to repay the Communities\u2019 creditors in the event of default by the beneficiary of a loan granted or guaranteed by the Communities or of a loan guarantee issued by the European Investment Bank (hereinafter referred to as the \u2018EIB\u2019) for which the Communities provide a guarantee.\nThe lending and guarantee operations referred to in the first paragraph (hereinafter referred to as operations) shall be those carried out for the benefit of a third country or for the purpose of financing projects in third countries.\nAll operations carried out for the benefit of a third country or for the purpose of financing projects in a third country shall fall outside the scope of this Regulation, with effect from the date on which that country accedes to the European Union.\nThe Fund shall be endowed by:\n\u2014 one annual payment from the general budget of the European Union pursuant to Articles 5 and 6,\n\u2014 interest on Fund resources invested,\n\u2014 amounts recovered from defaulting debtors where the Fund has already honoured the guarantee.\nThe Fund shall rise to an appropriate level (hereinafter referred to as the target amount).\nThe target amount shall be 9\u00a0% of the Communities\u2019 total outstanding capital liabilities arising from each operation, increased by unpaid interest due.\nOn the basis of the year-end n\u20131 difference between the target amount and the value of the Fund\u2019s net assets, calculated at the beginning of the year n, any surplus shall be paid in one transaction to a special heading in the statement of revenue in the general budget of the European Union of the year n + 1.\nFollowing the accession of a new Member State to the European Union, the target amount shall be reduced by an amount calculated on the basis of the operations referred to in the third paragraph of Article 1.\nIn order to calculate the amount of the reduction, the percentage rate referred to in the second paragraph of Article 3 applicable on the date of accession shall be applied to the amount of those operations outstanding on that date.\nThe surplus shall be paid back to a special heading in the statement of revenue in the general budget of the European Union.\nBased on the year-end n\u20131 difference between the target amount and the value of the Fund\u2019s net assets, calculated at the beginning of the year n, the required provisioning amount shall be paid into the Fund in one transaction in the year n + 1 from the general budget of the European Union.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If, as a result of one or more defaults, the activation of guarantees during year n\u20131 exceeds EUR 100 million, the amount exceeding EUR 100 million shall be paid back into the Fund in annual tranches starting in year n + 1 and continuing over the following years until full repayment (smoothing mechanism). The size of the annual tranche shall be the lesser of the following:\n\u2014 EUR 100 million, or,\n\u2014 the remaining amount due in accordance with the smoothing mechanism.\nAny amount resulting from the activation of guarantees in years preceding year n\u20131, that has not yet been repaid in full due to the smoothing mechanism, shall be paid back before the smoothing mechanism for defaults occurring in year n\u20131 or subsequent years can take effect. Such remaining amounts shall continue to be deducted from the maximum annual amount to be recovered from the general budget of the European Union under the smoothing mechanism until such time as the full amount has been paid back into the Fund.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The calculations based on the smoothing mechanism shall be made separately from the calculations referred to in the third paragraph of Article 3 and in Article 5. Nevertheless, they shall together result in one annual transfer. The amounts to be paid from the general budget of the European Union under the smoothing mechanism shall be treated as net assets of the Fund for the calculation pursuant to Articles 3 and 5.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If, as a result of the activation of guarantees following one or more major defaults, resources in the Fund fall below 80\u00a0% of the target amount, the Commission shall inform the budgetary authority thereof.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If, as a result of the activation of guarantees following one or more major defaults, resources in the Fund fall below 70\u00a0% of the target amount, the Commission shall submit a report on exceptional measures that may be required to replenish the Fund.\nThe Commission shall entrust the financial management of the Fund to the EIB under a mandate on behalf of the Communities.\nThe Commission shall, by 31 May of the following financial year, send to the European Parliament, the Council and the Court of Auditors an annual report on the situation of the Fund and the management thereof in the previous year.\nThe revenue and expenditure account and the balance sheet relating to the Fund shall be attached to the Communities\u2019 revenue and expenditure account and balance sheet.\n0\nRegulation (EC, Euratom) No 2728/94, is repealed.\nReferences to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and be read in accordance with the correlation table set out in Annex II.\n1\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Community loan", "credit guarantee", "financial management", "European Investment Bank", "fund (EU)", "codification of EU law" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2519/93 of 13 September 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 729/92 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain thermal paper originating in Japan\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2519/93 of 13 September 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 729/92 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain thermal paper originating in Japan\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 14 thereof,\nAfter consultations within the Advisory Committee as provided for by the said Regulation,\nWhereas:\nA. Previous procedure (1) The Council, by Regulation (EEC) No 729/92 (2), imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain thermal paper (i.e. telefax paper) originating in Japan.\n(2) No duties were imposed on goods manufactured by Jujo Paper Co., Ltd, Tokyo (hereafter called 'Jujo') as this company was found not to be dumping.\nB. Change of legal entity (3) In January 1993 the Commission was advised of an impending merger between Jujo and a company called Sanyo-Kokusaku Pulp Co., Ltd, (hereafter calles 'Sanyo-Kokusaku'). These two companies were to merge, on 1 April 1993, into one called Nippon Paper Industries Company Limited.\n(4) It was alleged that Sanyo-Kokusaku did not make the product in question during the investigation reference period (1 April to 31 December 1990). In view of this, Jujo and Sanyo-Kokusaku considered that the exclusion from the dumping duties for Jujo should also be applied to the company resulting from the merger.\nC. Procedure (5) On the basis of the information supplied initially, the Commission took the view that there were sufficient grounds concerning changed circumstances to warrant a partial review of the measures.\n(6) Having requested and received supplementary information from the parties concerned and other sources, the Commission is satisfied that Sanyo-Kokusaku was not a producer of telefax paper during the investigation reference period. As such, it is considered that the exclusion from anti-dumping duty for Jujo should be transferred to the new company, Nippon Paper Industries Company Limited, with effect from 1 April 1993. This will have the effect that any anti-dumping duties paid in respect of telefax paper manufactured by Nippon Paper Industries Company Limited will be refundable under the applicable customs legislation. The Council confirms this view.\n(7) No objections were raised when the findings of the proceeding were disclosed to the Community industry.\nD. Amendment (8) Regulation (EEC) No 729/92, as it concerns imports of certain thermal paper originating in Japan and manufactured by Jujo Paper Co., Ltd, should accordingly be amended,\nArticle 1 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 729/92 is hereby replaced by the following:\n'3. No anti-dumping duties shall apply to goods manufactured by Nippon Paper Industries Company Limited or Tomoegawa Paper Co., Ltd, Tokyo (Taric additional code 8600).'\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply with effect from 1 April 1993.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "facsimile", "Japan", "paper", "anti-dumping duty", "import", "dumping" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a01094/2013 of 4\u00a0November 2013 on the allocation to France and the United Kingdom of additional days at sea within ICES division VIIe\n6.11.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 294/30\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1094/2013\nof 4 November 2013\non the allocation to France and the United Kingdom of additional days at sea within ICES division VIIe\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 of 21 January 2013 fixing for 2013 the fishing opportunities available to EU vessels for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks which are not subject to international negotiations or agreements\u00a0(1), and in particular point 7 of Annex IIC thereof,\nHaving regard to the requests made by France and the United Kingdom,\nWhereas:\n(1) Table I of Annex IIC to Regulation (EU) No 39/2013 specifies the maximum number of days at sea on which EU vessels of overall length equal to or greater than 10 metres carrying on board or deploying beam trawls of mesh size equal to or greater than 80\u00a0mm or static nets, including gill-nets, trammel-nets and tangle-nets, with mesh size equal to or less than 220\u00a0mm may be present in ICES division VIIe from 1 February 2013 to 31 January 2014.\n(2) Point 7.5 of that Annex enables the Commission to allocate an additional number of days at sea on which a vessel may be present in that area when carrying on board or deploying such beam trawls or static nets, on the basis of permanent cessations of fishing activities that have taken place since 1 January 2004.\n(3) In view of the data on beam trawlers withdrawn from the fishing fleet presented in the request submitted by France in accordance with points 7.1 and 7.4 of Annex IIC and applying the calculation method provided for in point 7.2 of that Annex, 11 additional days at sea should be allocated to France for the period between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2014 for vessels carrying on board or deploying such beam trawls.\n(4) In view of the data on vessels with static nets withdrawn from the fishing fleet presented in the request submitted by France in accordance with points 7.1 and 7.4 of Annex IIC and applying the calculation method provided for in point 7.2 of that Annex, 14 additional days at sea should be allocated to France for the period between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2014 for vessels carrying on board or deploying such static nets.\n(5) In view of the data on beam trawlers withdrawn from the fishing fleet presented in the request submitted by the United Kingdom in accordance with points 7.1 and 7.4 of Annex IIC and applying the calculation method provided for in point 7.2 of that Annex, 43 additional days at sea should be allocated to the United Kingdom for the period between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2014 for vessels carrying on board or deploying such beam trawls.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,\nAdditional fishing days for France\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the period between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2014 the maximum number of days a fishing vessel flying the flag of France and carrying on board or deploying beam trawls of mesh size equal to or greater than 80\u00a0mm may be present in ICES division VIIe, as laid down in Table I of Annex IIC to Regulation (EU) No 39/2013, is increased to 175 days per year.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the period between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2014 the maximum number of days a fishing vessel flying the flag of France and carrying on board or deploying static nets, including gill-nets, trammel-nets and tangle-nets, with mesh size equal to or less than 220\u00a0mm may be present in ICES division VIIe, as laid down in Table I of Annex IIC to Regulation (EU) No 39/2013, is increased to 178 days per year.\nAdditional fishing days for the United Kingdom\nFor the period between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2014 the maximum number of days a fishing vessel flying the flag of the United Kingdom and carrying on board or deploying beam trawls of mesh size equal to or greater than 80\u00a0mm may be present in ICES division VIIe, as laid down in Table I of Annex IIC to Regulation (EU) No 39/2013, is increased to 207 days per year.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "ship's flag", "United Kingdom", "fishing rights", "EU waters", "English Channel", "fishing area", "France", "fishery management" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 792/2014 of 22 July 2014 implementing Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 204/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya\n23.7.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 217/9\nCOUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 792/2014\nof 22 July 2014\nimplementing Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 204/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 204/2011 of 2 March 2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 2 March 2011, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 204/2011.\n(2) The Council considers that there are no longer grounds for keeping one person on the list set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 204/2011.\n(3) Regulation (EU) No 204/2011 should therefore be amended accordingly,\nThe entry for the following person shall be deleted from the list set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 204/2011:\n23. ZIDANE, Mohamad Ali.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "international sanctions", "Libya", "economic sanctions" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2011/95/EU: Commission Decision of 11\u00a0February 2011 authorising a method for grading pig carcasses in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (notified under document C(2011) 750)\n12.2.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 38/40\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 11 February 2011\nauthorising a method for grading pig carcasses in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg\n(notified under document C(2011) 750)\n(Only the French text is authentic)\n(2011/95/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 43, point (m), in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Point B.IV, paragraph 1, of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides that, for the classification of pig carcasses, the lean-meat content has to be assessed by means grading methods authorised by the Commission, which methods may only be statistically proven assessment methods based on the physical measurement of one or more anatomical parts of the pig carcass. The authorisation of grading methods is subject to compliance with a maximum tolerance for statistical error in assessment. This tolerance is defined in Article 23(3) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1249/2008 of 10 December 2008 laying down detailed rules on the implementation of the Community scales for the classification of beef, pig and sheep carcasses and the reporting of prices thereof\u00a0(2).\n(2) The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is of the opinion that the update of the national formula is absolutely necessary in order to take into account the breeding progress during the past 20 years. The last update of the lean meat equation of the grading instrument (HGP-2) dates back to 1989 and was authorised by Commission Decision 89/51/EEC\u00a0(3).\n(3) The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has therefore asked the Commission to authorise one method for grading pig carcasses on its territory and has presented a detailed description of the dissection trial, indicating the principles on which this method is based, the results of its dissection trial and the equation used for assessing the percentage of lean meat in the protocol provided for in Article 23(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1249/2008.\n(4) Examination of this request has revealed that the conditions for authorising this grading method are fulfilled. This grading method should therefore be authorised in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.\n(5) No modification of the apparatus or grading method may be authorised except by means of a new Commission Decision adopted in the light of experience gained. For this reason, the present authorisation may be revoked.\n(6) Decision 89/51/EEC should therefore be repealed. However, in view of technical circumstances while introducing new devices and new equation the method for grading pig carcasses authorised under Decision 89/51/EEC should continue to apply up to 28 February 2011.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets,\nThe use of the following method is hereby authorised for grading pig carcasses pursuant to point B.IV, paragraph 1, of Annex V to Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg: the apparatus termed \u2018Hennessy Grading Probe (HGP 4)\u2019 and the assessment method related thereto, details of which are given in the Annex.\nModifications of the apparatus or the assessment method shall not be authorised.\nDecision 89/51/EEC is repealed.\nHowever, up to 28 February 2011, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg may continue to apply the method for grading pig carcasses authorised under Decision 89/51/EEC.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.", "answer groups": [ "scientific apparatus", "Luxembourg", "statistical method", "pigmeat", "meat processing industry", "carcase" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 311/76 of 9 February 1976 on the compilation of statistics on foreign workers\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 311/76 of 9 February 1976 on the compilation of statistics on foreign workers\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 213 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),\nWhereas statistics should be made available concerning the number of foreign workers and the first employment taken up by such workers in the Member States of the Community,\n1. Member States shall, in respect of workers who are nationals of another Member State or of a third country, compile statistics on: - the number of workers,\n- the first employment taken up by the worker concerned in its territory in a given year.\nThe statistics shall comprise the following information: - nationality,\n- sex,\n- age,\n- branch of activity or occupational group,\n- region.\n2. Member States shall compile statistics once a year from the various sources normally available to them, in particular social security data, censuses, statistics supplied by employers or residence or work permits.\n1. Upon the entry into force of this Regulation, Member States shall forward to the Commission all available data on the information referred to in Article 1 (1).\nWithin a maximum period of five years following the entry into force of this Regulation, Member States shall forward to the Commission all the data on the information referred to in Article 1 (1).\n2. Member States, when forwarding the data to the Commission, shall state the sources used.\n1. In implementing this Regulation, Member States shall collaborate closely with the Commission.\n2. Member States shall inform the Commission not later than 31 March each year of progress made in applying the second subparagraph of Article 2 (1).\nThe Commission shall report to the Council on the basis of the information obtained.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the first day of the month following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "migrant worker", "employment statistics", "disclosure of information" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01643/2006 of 7 November 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of granting of assistance for the export of beef and veal products which may benefit from a special import treatment in a third country (Codified Version)\n8.11.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 308/7\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1643/2006\nof 7 November 2006\nlaying down detailed rules for the application of granting of assistance for the export of beef and veal products which may benefit from a special import treatment in a third country\n(Codified Version)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 29(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2931/79 of 20 December 1979 on the granting of assistance for the exportation of agricultural products which may benefit from a special import treatment in a third country\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 1(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2973/79 of 21 December 1979 laying down detailed rules for the application of granting of assistance for the export of beef and veal products which may benefit from a special import treatment in a third country\u00a0(3) has been substantially amended several times\u00a0(4). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be codified.\n(2) The United States of America applies special arrangements for an annual quantity of 5\u00a0000 tonnes of beef and veal originating in the Community and meeting certain requirements. One of the requirements is that this meat must be accompanied by a certificate of identity issued by the exporting Member State.\n(3) The certificates of identity are to be issued solely for the 5\u00a0000 tonnes qualifying for the special arrangements. It is therefore necessary to provide for Commission authorisation before the issue of an export licence for the meat in question. Furthermore, the tolerance provided for in Article 8(4) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products\u00a0(5) should not be applied for the quantity exceeding that for which the licence has been issued.\n(4) It is necessary to define the nature of the identity certificates, and the necessary procedures for using them.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Regulation establishes detailed rules of application in respect of exports to the United States of America of 5\u00a0000 tonnes per year of beef and veal of Community origin, fresh, chilled or frozen, qualifying for special treatment.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The meat referred to in paragraph 1 must comply with the health protection requirements laid down by the importing third country and relate to animals slaughtered not more than two months in advance of clearance through customs for export.\nWhen the meat is being cleared through customs for export, the certificate of identity defined in Article 3 shall be issued, at the applicant\u2019s request, on presentation of the export licence referred to in Article 12 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95\u00a0(6) and a veterinary certificate showing the date of slaughter of the animals from which the meat applied for under Article 12 of that Regulation derives.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The certificate of identity shall be made out, with at least one copy, on a form corresponding to the specimen in Annex I.\nThe certificate shall be printed in English on white paper measuring 210 \u00d7 297 mm. Each certificate shall have an individual serial number assigned by the customs office referred to in Article 4.\nThe exporting Member State may require any certificates used on its territory to be printed in one of its official languages as well as in English.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Copies shall bear the same serial number as the original. Any particulars entered on the original and on the copies shall be typewritten, or, if handwritten, printed in block letters in ink.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The certificate of identity and the copies shall be issued by the customs office where the meat is cleared through customs for export.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The customs office referred to in paragraph 1 shall endorse the original certificate in the appropriate section and transmit the certificate to the party concerned, retaining a copy.\nMember States shall take the necessary measures to check the origin and nature of products for which certificates of identity are issued.\nRegulation (EEC) No 2973/79 is repealed.\nReferences to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex III.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "beef", "fresh meat", "export aid", "United States", "export (EU)", "codification of EU law", "frozen product", "refrigerated product" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 823/2004 of 26 April 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate originating, inter alia, in Thailand\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 823/2004\nof 26 April 2004\namending Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate originating, inter alia, in Thailand\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community(1) (the basic Regulation), and in particular Article 11(4) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA. MEASURES IN FORCE\n(1) The measures currently in force are definitive anti-dumping duties imposed by Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000(2), according to which imports into the Community of certain polyethylene terephthalate (the product concerned) originating in Thailand are subject to a duty, in the form of the specific amount of EUR 83,2 per tonne. Pursuant to the same Regulation, anti-dumping duties were also imposed against imports of the product concerned from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.\n(2) It should be noted that the imports originating in Thailand are also subject to a definitive countervailing duty of EUR 49,1 per tonne, imposed by Regulation (EC) No 2603/2000(3). Countervailing duties were also imposed concerning imports from India and Malaysia.\nB. CURRENT INVESTIGATION\n1. Request for a review\n(3) The Commission subsequently received a request to initiate a \"new exporter\" review of Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000, pursuant to Article 11(4) of the basic Regulation, from the Thai producer Indo Pet (Thailand) Ltd (Indo Pet). This company claimed that it was not related to any of the exporting producers in Thailand subject to the anti-dumping measures in force with regard to the product concerned. Furthermore, it claimed that it had not exported the product concerned during the original period of investigation (i.e. from 1 October 1998 to 30 September 1999), but had exported the product concerned to the Community since then.\n(4) It should be noted that the Commission simultaneously received, from the same Thai producer, a request to initiate an accelerated review of Regulation (EC) No 2603/2000. This parallel proceeding is subject to a separate Council Regulation.\n2. Initiation of a \"new exporter\" review\n(5) The Commission examined the evidence submitted by the Thai exporting producer concerned and considered it sufficient to justify the initiation of a review in accordance with Article 11(4) of the basic Regulation. After consultation of the Advisory Committee and after the Community industry concerned had been given the opportunity to comment, the Commission initiated, by Regulation (EC) No 1292/2003, a review of Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 with regard to Indo Pet and commenced its investigation.\n(6) Pursuant to the regulation initiating the review, the anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 with regard to imports of the product concerned produced by the company concerned were repealed. Simultaneously, pursuant to Article 14(5) of the basic Regulation, customs authorities were directed to take appropriate steps to register such imports.\n3. Product concerned\n(7) The product covered by the current review is the same as in the original investigation, i. e. polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a coefficient of viscosity of 78 ml/g or higher, according to DIN (Deutsche Industrienorm) 53728. It is currently classifiable within CN code 3907 60 20.\n4. Parties concerned\n(8) The Commission officially advised the company concerned and the representatives of the exporting country of the initiation of the review. Furthermore, it gave other parties concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. No such request was however received.\n(9) The Commission also sent out a questionnaire to the company concerned and received a reply within the deadline. The Commission sought and verified all the information deemed necessary for the determination of dumping, and a verification visit was carried out at the premises of the company concerned.\n5. Investigation period\n(10) The investigation of dumping covered the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 March 2003 (the investigation period, or IP).\n6. Methodology\n(11) The same methodology as that used in the original investigation was applied in the current investigation.\nC. SCOPE OF THE REVIEW\n(12) As no request for a review of the findings on injury was made in the request for the investigation, the review was limited to dumping.\nD. RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION\n(13) The investigation confirmed that the company concerned had not exported the product concerned during the original period of investigation and that it had begun exporting to the Community only after this period.\n(14) Furthermore, according to documentary evidence submitted, Indo Pet was able to satisfactorily demonstrate that it did not have any direct or indirect links with any of the Thai exporting producers subject to the anti-dumping measures in force with regard to the product concerned.\n(15) By way of background, it should be noted that the exporter concerned is, however, related to another exporting producer located in Indonesia and which is, as mentioned above, also subject to anti-dumping duties on imports of the same product in the Community. The investigation revealed that after the current IP, this Indonesian exporting producer set up a factory in Thailand that became Indo Pet's exclusive source of supply for the essential raw material used to produce the product concerned. This raw material represents around 90 % of the total cost of manufacturing of the product concerned.\n(16) The Commission examined whether the quantities exported by the exporting producer concerned in Thailand and their corresponding prices were significant enough to constitute a representative basis for the assessment whether or not there is dumping.\n(17) In the course of the investigation, it was found that during the investigation period, only two sales transactions to the Community were recorded, for a respective volume of 40 and 20 tonnes. These two transactions represented, during the same period, 0,1 % of the total company sales volume and 0,4 % of its total export volume.\n(18) These sales transactions took place in February and March 2002, i.e. shortly before Indo Pet first contacted the Commission with a view to requesting this newcomer review. By way of background, it should be noted that Indo Pet did not record any further export sales to the Community between then and the on-the-spot investigation.\n(19) As to prices, the investigation revealed that, for the grade of PET most commonly sold both on domestic and export markets, the Community export price for the two abovementioned transactions was around 45 % higher than Indo Pet's average export price to non-EU countries.\n(20) If only the export sales to the EU neighbouring countries that will shortly join the Community and which are partly supplied by traders located in the Community are considered, it was even found that the price of the two Community transactions concerned was around 60 % higher than these exports. The sales transactions concerned in the case of the above countries were much more substantial in volume during the IP than the export transactions to the Community, and therefore likely better to reflect the level of the export price normally practised by Indo Pet.\n(21) Finally, the investigation showed that Indo Pet's overall export price was on average not only below its domestic price, but also below its cost of production.\n(22) For the above reasons, it is considered that the two export sales transactions to the Community during the IP were not significant enough to constitute a representative basis for the assessment of existence of dumping. Hence, it is considered that the level of the duty should therefore be maintained at the level established in the original investigation.\nE. AMENDMENT OF THE MEASURES BEING REVIEWED\n(23) In the light of the foregoing, it is considered that the individual definitive anti-dumping duty for the exporter concerned should be kept at the level of the definitive countrywide anti-dumping duty rate established in the original investigation, i.e. 14,2 %.\n(24) The original investigation, however, concluded that it was appropriate to impose duties in the form of a specific amount per tonne, since PET prices can fluctuate in line with fluctuations in crude oil prices, thus significantly affecting the level of the duty. The same methodology should be applied in the current investigation. Therefore, the rate of the definitive individual anti-dumping duty applicable to the net, free-at Community-frontier price, before duty, for the products manufactured by the exporting producer concerned should be EUR 83,2 per tonne.\n(25) In accordance with Article 14(1) of the basic Regulation, no product shall be subject to both anti-dumping and countervailing duties for the purposes of dealing with one and the same situation arising from dumping or from export subsidisation. As the anti-dumping duties should be imposed on imports of the product concerned, it is necessary to determine whether, and to what extent, the subsidy and the dumping margin arise from the same situation.\n(26) In the parallel investigation referred to in recital 4, the subsidies found for the exporting producer concerned are not export subsidies and are therefore considered not to have affected the export price and the corresponding dumping margin. Consequently, the countervailing duties can be imposed together with the anti-dumping duties, to the extent that, pursuant to Article 9(4) of the basic Regulation, both duties taken together do not exceed the injury elimination margin of 22,6 % established for Thailand in the framework of the original investigation. This situation does not arise in the present case and therefore both countervailing and anti-dumping duties should be imposed.\nF. RETROACTIVE LEVYING OF THE ANTI-DUMPING DUTY\n(27) As the review has resulted in a determination of dumping in respect of the company concerned, the anti-dumping duty applicable to this company shall also be levied retroactively from the date of initiation of this review on imports which have been made subject to registration pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1292/2003.\nG. DISCLOSURE AND DURATION OF THE MEASURES\n(28) The company concerned and all other interested parties were informed of the facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to impose the definitive anti-dumping duty on its imports of the product concerned into the Community.\n(29) This review does not affect the date on which Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 will expire pursuant to Article 11(2) of the basic Regulation.\n(30) Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 should therefore be amended accordingly,\n1. In the table of Article 1(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2604/2000 the following is added:\n\">TABLE>\"\n2. The duty hereby imposed shall also be levied retroactively on imports of the product concerned which have been registered pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1292/2003.\n3. Unless otherwise specified, the provisions in force concerning customs duties shall apply.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "customs duties", "plastics", "originating product", "Thailand", "import" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2007/184/EC: Commission Decision of 23 March 2007 concerning the publication of the reference of the standard EN 71-1:2005 Safety of Toys \u2014 Part 1: mechanical and physical properties regarding the technical requirements on hemispheric toys in accordance with Council Directive 88/378/EEC on the safety of toys (notified under document number C(2007) 1256) (Text with EEA relevance )\n27.3.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 85/7\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 23 March 2007\nconcerning the publication of the reference of the standard EN 71-1:2005 \u2018Safety of Toys \u2014 Part 1: mechanical and physical properties\u2019 regarding the technical requirements on hemispheric toys in accordance with Council Directive 88/378/EEC on the safety of toys\n(notified under document number C(2007) 1256)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2007/184/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 88/378/EEC of 3 May 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the safety of toys\u00a0(1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 6(1) thereof,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Standing Committee established by Article 5 of Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations and on Information Society Services\u00a0(2), as amended by Directive 98/48/EC (Committee on standards and technical regulations),\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 2 of Directive 88/378/EEC provides that toys must be placed on the market only if they do not jeopardise the safety and/or health of users or third parties when they are used as intended or in a foreseeable way, bearing in mind the normal behaviour of children.\n(2) Pursuant to the Article 5(1) second subparagraph of Directive 88/378/EEC, toys are presumed to comply with the essential safety requirements referred to in Article 3 of the Directive if they conform to the national standards applicable to them transposing the harmonised standards, the reference numbers of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\n(3) In accordance with the Article 5(1) second subparagraph of Directive 88/378/EEC, Member States are required to publish the reference numbers of national standards transposing harmonised standards, the reference numbers of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\n(4) The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), under mandate from the Commission, drew up and adopted the harmonised standard EN 71-1:1998 \u2018Safety of toys \u2014 Part 1: mechanical and physical properties\u2019 on 15 July 1998, the references numbers of which were published for the first time in the Official Journal of the European Communities of 28 July 1999\u00a0(3).\n(5) On 16 September 2004, the European Committee for Standardisation adopted amendment 10 to the harmonised standard EN 71-1:1998 \u2018Safety of toys \u2014 Part 1: mechanical and physical properties\u2019. The references numbers of this amendment were published for the first time in the Official Journal of the European Union of 2 August 2005\u00a0(4).\n(6) On 19 September 2005, the European Committee for Standardisation adopted the standard EN 71-1:2005 \u2018Safety of toys \u2014 Part 1: mechanical and physical properties\u2019 which is a consolidated version of the harmonised standard EN 71-1:1998 and its 11 amendments. Amendment 10 is incorporated in the standard EN 71-1:2005.\n(7) Amendment 10 aims to address the risks of suffocation presented by cup-shaped, bowl-shaped or one half of an egg-shaped toys having a nearly round, oval or elliptical opening which young children could place in front of their face when playing, therefore forming an airtight seal. The amendment excludes from its scope toys intended for drinking, such as tea sets cups.\n(8) Pursuant to Article 6(1) of Directive 88/378/EEC, the French authorities have raised a formal objection in respect to the requirements on hemispheric toys, in particular, the exclusion of toys intended for drinking laid down in the standard EN 71-1:2005.\n(9) The French authorities claim that the aim of the technical requirements provided for in the harmonised standard on hemispherical toys is to address the suffocation risks presented by certain toy shapes that can be placed over a child\u2019s nose and mouth forming an airtight seal. Among these products are toys intended for drinking. These are toys which children are most likely to place over their mouths when playing and pretending to drink. Consequently, the French authorities claim that toys intended for drinking should be covered by the requirements on hemispheric toys of the harmonised standard EN 71-1:2005.\n(10) According to the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) the standardisation on hemispheric toys was justified by incidents with infants playing with such toys in self-service restaurants. The work was based on a comprehensive investigation carried out in order to find the critical size and shapes of items to be addressed by the standardisation in relation to the children to be protected. As regards objects intended for drinking, e.g. tea set cups, CEN concluded that no incidents with these toys nor with real drinking cups have been registered. On the basis of these investigations CEN decided that there were no grounds to extend the standardisation work to this particular type of toys.\n(11) At the request of the Commission, the Member States experts on the safety of toys informed the Commission of incidents caused by similar toys. The incidents are mentioned in a report published in the magazine \u2018Pediatrics\u2019, vol. 111, No 1, January 2003. In accordance with this report a total of 17 incidents were identified. In all cases investigated, children were found with the semi rigid object strongly adhering to their faces. Of the 17 incidents involved, 13 involved toys. These incidents concerned children between the ages of 4 and 36 months.\n(12) Furthermore, the Commission was also informed of one non-fatal incident in USA, registered on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission on 27 October 2000. A two and a half year old child was found with a hard plastic toy cup stuck in her mouth and nose. This toy was included in a toy tea set.\n(13) On the basis of the information submitted by the French authorities, the other national authorities and the Committee on standards and technical regulations it is founded that toys intended for drinking may present a risk of suffocation. Taking into account that these toys are excluded from the scope of the above mentioned standard, in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive 88/378/EEC, Member States shall presume that the abovementioned toys satisfy the essential safety requirements only if they have an EC type examination certificate issued by a notified body,\nCup-shaped, bowl-shaped or one half of an egg-shaped toys having a nearly round, oval or elliptical opening which are intended for drinking are excluded from the scope of the standard EN 71-1:2005. However, they may present the same risk of suffocation that is presented by toys covered by the standard. Therefore, the Commission will mandate the European Standardisation Organisation concerned to review the standard in question.\nThe publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of the reference of the standard EN 71-1:2005 \u2018Safety of toys \u2014 Part 1: mechanical and physical properties\u2019 shall be accompanied by the following additional notice:\n\u2018Cup-shaped, bowl-shaped or one half of an egg-shaped toys having a nearly round, oval or elliptical opening which are intended for drinking, such as toy tea sets, may present a risk for children health. These toys are not covered by the standard, therefore, these products must have an EC type examination certificate and the conformity with the approved model must have been certified by the affixation of the EC marking\u2019.\nA notice identical to that provided for in Article 2 of this Decision shall accompany the reference to a national standard transposing standard EN 71-1:2005 \u2018Safety of toys \u2014 Part 1: mechanical and physical properties\u2019, to be published by the Member States pursuant to Article 5(1) second subparagraph of Directive 88/378/EEC.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "product safety", "European standard", "harmonisation of standards", "technical standard", "toy industry" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2009/124/EC of 25 September 2009 amending Annex I to Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum levels for arsenic, theobromine, Datura sp., Ricinus communis L., Croton tiglium L. and Abrus precatorius L. (Text with EEA relevance)\n26.9.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 254/100\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2009/124/EC\nof 25 September 2009\namending Annex I to Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum levels for arsenic, theobromine, Datura sp., Ricinus communis L., Croton tiglium L. and Abrus precatorius L.\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7\u00a0May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 8(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 2002/32/EC provides that the use of products intended for animal feed which contain levels of undesirable substances exceeding the maximum levels laid down in Annex I to that Directive is prohibited.\n(2) As regards feedingstuffs obtained from the processing of fish or other marine animals, recent information provided by competent authorities of the Member States on the presence of total arsenic (sum of organic and inorganic arsenic) indicates that it is necessary to increase certain maximum levels for total arsenic. By-products of the fish filleting industry are valuable raw materials for the production of fish meal and fish oil for use in compound feed, in particular fish feed.\n(3) The increase of the maximum levels for total arsenic in feedingstuffs obtained from the processing of fish or other marine animals and feedingstuffs for fish entails no change in the maximum levels for inorganic arsenic. Since the potential adverse effects of arsenic to animal and human health are determined by the inorganic fraction in a given feed or food product and the organic arsenic compounds exhibit a very low toxic potential\u00a0(2), the increased levels for total arsenic do not affect the protection of animal and public health.\n(4) In Annex I to Directive 2002/32/EC, arsenic refers to total arsenic for the purpose of setting maximum levels, since there is no standardised routine method for the analysis of inorganic arsenic. But for cases in which the competent authorities request an analysis of the content of inorganic arsenic, that Annex sets out a maximum level for inorganic arsenic.\n(5) As the extraction method has in some cases a significant influence on the analytical result on total arsenic, it is appropriate to specify an extraction procedure for reference to be used for official control.\n(6) Information provided by competent authorities and stakeholder organisations indicate significant levels of arsenic in additives belonging to the functional group of compounds of trace elements, authorised in application of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(3). It is appropriate to establish maximum levels for arsenic in these additives to protect animal and public health.\n(7) As regards theobromine, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in its opinion of 10 June 2008\u00a0(4) that the current maximum levels for theobromine may not fully protect some animal species. It pointed out possible adverse effects on pigs, dogs and horses and on milk production in dairy cows. It is therefore appropriate to establish lower maximum levels.\n(8) As regards alkaloids in Datura sp., EFSA concluded in its opinion of 9 April 2008\u00a0(5) that, since tropane alkaloids are present in all Datura sp., it is appropriate for the protection of animal health, in particular for pigs, to extend the maximum levels for Datura stramonium L., as set out in Annex I to Directive 2002/32/EC, to all Datura\u00a0sp.\n(9) As regards ricin (from Ricinus communis L.), EFSA concluded in its opinion of 10\u00a0June 2008\u00a0(6) that, given the similar toxic effects of the toxins from Ricinus communis L. (ricin), Croton tiglium L. (crotin) and Abrus precatorius L. (abrin), it is appropriate to apply the maximum levels for Ricinus communis L., as set out in Annex I to Directive 2002/32/EC, also to Croton tiglium L. and Abrus precatorius L., separately or in combination.\n(10) Directive 2002/32/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(11) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council has opposed them,\nAnnex I to Directive 2002/32/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\nMember States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 1 July 2010 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "health risk", "foodstuffs legislation", "health control", "semi-metal", "animal nutrition", "dangerous substance" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision of 28 November 1997 concerning the extension of Common Position 95/544/CFSP on Nigeria\nCOUNCIL DECISION of 28 November 1997 concerning the extension of Common Position 95/544/CFSP on Nigeria (97/821/CFSP)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article J.2 thereof,\nWhereas, on 4 December 1995 the Council defined, on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union, Common Position 95/544/CFSP on Nigeria (1);\nWhereas that common position expires on 4 December 1997; whereas, in the light of the considerations in paragraph 3 thereof, it should be further extended,\nCommon Position 95/544/CFSP shall be extended until 1 November 1998.\nThis Decision shall published in the Official Journal.", "answer groups": [ "international sanctions", "Nigeria", "military regime", "common position", "migration control", "human rights" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 95/41/EC of 19 July 1995 amending certain Annexes to Council Directive 77/93/EEC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 95/41/EC of 19 July 1995 amending certain Annexes to Council Directive 77/93/EEC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 77/93/EEC of 21 December 1976 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community (1), as last amended by Commission Directive 95/4/EC (2), and in particular Article 13, second subparagraph, third indent thereof,\nWhereas certain provisions on protective measures in France against Cephalcia lariciphila (Klug.), Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. and Gilpinia hercyniae (Hartig), in Italy against Anthonomus grandis (Boh.) and Glomerella gossypii Edgerton, in Portugal against Bemisia tabaci Genn. (European populations), and in the United Kingdom against Cephalcia lariciphila (Klug.) Gilpinia hercyniae (Hartig), Gremminiella abietina (Lag.) Morelet and Hypoxylon mammatum (Wahl.) J. Miller should be modified because it is no longer appropriate to maintain the current provision set out in the said Directive;\nWhereas similarly, certain provisions on protective measures in Portugal against certain bark beetles, i.e. Dendroctonus micans Kugelan, Ips amitinus Eichhof, Ips cembrae Heer, Ips duplicatus Sahlberg and Ips typographus Heer, in Greece against the bark beetle Ips sexdentatus Boerner and in the United Kingdom against the bark beetles Dendroctonus micans Kugelan and Pissodes spp. (European), should be modified because it is no longer appropriate to maintain the current provisions set out in the said Directive;\nWhereas certain provisions on protective measures in Sweden against Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say should be modified because it has been determined that the said organism is not present in a much larger area than originally recognized; whereas furthermore certain provisions on protective measures in some part of Finland against Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say should be improved;\nWhereas these amendments are in agreement with the requests of the Member States concerned;\nWhereas therefore the relevant Annexes of the said Directive 77/93/EEC should be amended accordingly;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nDirective 77/93/EEC is hereby amended as indicated in the Annex to this Directive.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive with effect from 1 July 1995. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The procedure for such a reference shall be adopted by the Member States.\n2. The Member States shall immediately communicate to the Commission the essential provisions of domestic law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "parasitology", "plant disease", "plant health control", "protected area", "plant health legislation", "EU Member State" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2014/826/EU: Council Decision of 10 November 2014 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the International Maritime Organization during the 94th session of the Maritime Safety Committee on the adoption of amendments to the 2011 Enhanced Survey Programme Code\n22.11.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 335/17\nCOUNCIL DECISION\nof 10 November 2014\non the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the International Maritime Organization during the 94th session of the Maritime Safety Committee on the adoption of amendments to the 2011 Enhanced Survey Programme Code\n(2014/826/EU)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 100(2) and 218(9) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) Action by the European Union in the sector of maritime transport should aim to improve maritime safety.\n(2) The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting at its 93rd session approved amendments to the 2011 Enhanced Survey Programme (ESP) Code. Those amendments are expected to be adopted at the 94th session of the MSC, to be held in November 2014.\n(3) The amendments to the 2011 ESP Code bring it in line with the practices of classification societies and also allow, under certain conditions, hydrostatic testing of cargo tanks by the ship's crew, under the direction of the master, in lieu of carrying out such testing in the presence of a surveyor.\n(4) Articles 5 and 6 of Regulation (EU) No 530/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(1) provide for the mandatory application of the IMO's Condition Assessment Scheme (CAS). The CAS is complemented by the 2011 ESP Code, adopted by the IMO Assembly by Resolution A.1049(27). Annex B, part B, of the 2011 ESP Code concerns inspections during surveys of oil tankers other than double-hull oil tankers and specifies how to undertake the intensified assessment. As a consequence, any changes to the 2011 ESP Code, as far as single-hull oil tankers above 15 years of age are concerned, will automatically be applicable through Regulation (EU) No\u00a0530/2012.\n(5) The Union is neither a member of the IMO nor a contracting party to the conventions and codes concerned. It is therefore necessary for the Council to authorise the Member States to express the position of the Union and express their consent to be bound by the amendments to the 2011 ESP Code,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The position of the Union at the 94th session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee shall be to agree to the adoption of the amendments to the 2011 ESP Code, as laid down in Annex 22, Annex B, part B, of the IMO document MSC\u00a093/22/Add.3, for the purposes referred to in Articles 5 and 6 of Regulation (EU) No 530/2012.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The position of the Union as set out in paragraph 1 shall be expressed by the Member States, which are members of IMO, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Formal and minor changes to this position may be agreed without requiring that position to be amended.\nMember States are hereby authorised to give their consent to be bound, in the interest of the Union, by the amendments referred to in Article 1(1).\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "vessel", "International Maritime Organisation", "roadworthiness tests", "maritime safety", "shipbuilding" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 185/2004 of 2 February 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 94/2002 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 185/2004\nof 2 February 2004\namending Regulation (EC) No 94/2002 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 of 19 December 2000 on information and promotion actions for agricultural products on the internal market(1), and in particular Article 12 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 94/2002(2) provides for the drawing up of lists of themes and products for which information and/or promotion measures may be carried out.\n(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1907/1990 of 26 June 1990 on certain marketing standards for eggs(3) requires, inter alia, that eggs for human consumption be marked with a code indicating the producer and allowing identification of the type of farming, as from 1 January 2004.\n(3) It would be useful to inform consumers about these new rules on the marking of eggs.\n(4) Eggs for human consumption should therefore be included in the list of products which may be covered by information and/or promotion measures, and general guidelines should be defined for the campaigns to be carried out in this sector.\n(5) Taking account of the date for drawing up these guidelines, it will not be possible to comply with the dates set for transmitting and approving the first series of programmes presented in 2004 for eggs intended for human consumption. In view of the need to inform consumers as soon as possible, a special deadline should be set for transmitting and approving that first series.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 94/2002 should be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion delivered at the joint meeting of the management committees on agricultural product promotion,\nRegulation (EC) No 94/2002 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. in the second subparagraph of Article 5(1), the following is added:\"The first series of programmes relating to eggs for human consumption to be submitted in 2004 shall be received by the Member State concerned no later than 29 February 2004.\";\n2. Article 7 is amended as follows:\n(a) in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, the following is added:\"The first series of programmes relating to eggs for human consumption to be submitted in 2004 shall be notified to the Commission no later than 31 March 2004.\";\n(b) in the second subparagraph of paragraph 3, the following is added:\"The first series of programmes relating to eggs intended for human consumption to be submitted in 2004 shall be decided on by the Commission no later than 31 May 2004.\";\n3. in Annex I(b), the following indent is added:\n\"- Eggs for human consumption.\"\n4. The text contained in the Annex to this Regulation is added to Annex III.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "sales promotion", "consumer information", "agricultural product", "single market", "EU financing" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 165/2010 of 26 February 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs as regards aflatoxins (Text with EEA relevance)\n27.2.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 50/8\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 165/2010\nof 26 February 2010\namending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs as regards aflatoxins\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in food\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs\u00a0(2) sets maximum levels for aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin total (aflatoxin B1\u00a0+\u00a0G1\u00a0+\u00a0B2\u00a0+\u00a0G2) in a range of foodstuffs.\n(2) It is necessary to amend certain maximum levels for aflatoxins in certain foodstuffs to take into account developments in Codex Alimentarius and new information contained in recent scientific advice.\n(3) Codex Alimentarius established a level of 15\u00a0\u03bcg/kg aflatoxin total in almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios intended for further processing and a level of 10\u00a0\u03bcg/kg aflatoxin total in almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios \u2018ready-to-eat\u2019\u00a0(3).\n(4) The Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (Contam Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted on 25 January 2007 an opinion on the potential increase of consumer health risk by a possible increase of the existing maximum levels for aflatoxins in almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios and derived products\u00a0(4). The Contam Panel concluded that changing the maximum levels for total aflatoxins from 4 to 8 or 10\u00a0\u03bcg/kg in almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios would have minor effects on the estimates of dietary exposure, cancer risk and the calculated margins of exposure (MOEs). The Panel furthermore concluded that exposure to aflatoxins from all sources should be as low as reasonably achievable, because aflatoxins are genotoxic and carcinogenic. The data indicate that reduction of total dietary exposure to aflatoxins could be achieved by reducing the number of highly contaminated foods reaching the market through more effective enforcement and reducing exposure from food sources other than almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios.\n(5) The Contam Panel adopted on 16 June 2009 a statement on the effects on public health of an increase of the levels for aflatoxin total from 4\u00a0\u03bcg/kg to 10\u00a0\u03bcg/kg for tree nuts other than almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios\u00a0(5). The Panel concluded that based on the information which was available in 2007 public health would not be adversely affected by increasing the levels for total aflatoxins from 4\u00a0\u03bcg/kg to 10\u00a0\u03bcg/kg for other tree nuts, including Brazil nuts. Given the current discussions in Codex Alimentarius on the maximum levels for aflatoxins in Brazil nuts, it is appropriate to align the level for aflatoxins in Brazil nuts with the Codex level for almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios.\n(6) Codex Alimentarius established only a maximum level for aflatoxin total. The corresponding aflatoxin B1 level was determined by making use of the database on occurrence of aflatoxins in food used by EFSA for the exposure assessment.\n(7) In the EFSA opinion on aflatoxins it is observed that oilseeds and derived products are an important contributor to the human aflatoxin exposure. EFSA concluded that exposure to aflatoxins from all sources should be as low as reasonably achievable. Furthermore, notifications in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) indicate high levels of aflatoxins in oilseeds such as sunflower seeds, melon seeds etc. It is therefore proposed to also set a maximum level for oilseeds other than groundnuts (peanuts), in line with the existing maximum levels for groundnuts (peanuts). However, as aflatoxins are nearly completely removed by the process for producing refined vegetable oils, it is appropriate to exclude oilseeds, including groundnuts (peanuts), intended for crushing for refined vegetable oil and refined vegetable oil.\n(8) A maximum level of 2\u00a0\u03bcg/kg for aflatoxin B1 and 4\u00a0\u03bcg/kg aflatoxin total has been established in all cereals and all products derived from cereals with the exception of maize to be subjected to sorting or other physical treatment before human consumption for which a maximum level of 5\u00a0\u03bcg/kg for aflatoxin B1 and 10\u00a0\u03bcg/kg for aflatoxin total has been established. Rice in husk regularly contains levels of aflatoxins slightly above the maximum levels. After milling, a process which removes the husk, the levels of aflatoxins in the white milled rice are below the maximum levels. It is therefore appropriate to apply the same approach for rice as the existing approach for maize, and to set a higher maximum level of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin total for rice to be subjected to sorting or other physical treatment before human consumption or use as an ingredient in foodstuffs.\n(9) The maximum levels refer to the edible part of the tree nuts. However, recent scientific evidence has demonstrated that a part of the aflatoxin contamination can be found on the shell of Brazil nuts. Therefore, it is appropriate to modify the footnote in the Annex, indicating the procedure to be followed in case tree nuts \u2018in shell\u2019 are analysed, to take into account this recent scientific information.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nRegulation (EC) No 1881/2006 is amended as follows:\n1. Article 4 is replaced by the following:\n(a) are not intended for direct human consumption or use as an ingredient in foodstuffs;\n(b) comply with the appropriate maximum levels laid down in points 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.1.9 and 2.1.12 of the Annex;\n(c) are subjected to a treatment involving sorting or other physical treatment and that after this treatment the maximum levels laid down in points 2.1.5, 2.1.6, 2.1.7, 2.1.8, 2.1.10 and 2.1.11 of the Annex are not exceeded, and this treatment does not result in other harmful residues;\n(d) are labelled clearly showing their use, and bearing the indication \u201cproduct shall be subjected to sorting or other physical treatment to reduce aflatoxin contamination before human consumption or use as an ingredient in foodstuffs\u201d. The indication shall be included on the label of each individual bag, box etc. and on the original accompanying document. The consignment/batch identification code shall be indelibly marked on each individual bag, box etc. of the consignment and on the original accompanying document.\u2019;\n2. Article 5 is replaced by the following:\n3. the Annex is amended as follows:\n(a) subsection 2.1 (Aflatoxins) is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation;\n(b) footnote 5 is replaced by the following:\n\u2018(5) The maximum levels refer to the edible part of groundnuts (peanuts) and tree nuts. If groundnuts (peanuts) and tree nuts \u201cin shell\u201d are analysed, it is assumed when calculating the aflatoxin content all the contamination is on the edible part, except in the case of Brazil nuts.\u2019;\n(c) the following footnotes are added:\n\u2018(40) Oilseeds falling under codes CN 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, 1207 and derived products CN 1208; melon seeds fall under code ex\u00a01207\u00a099.\n(41) In case derived/processed products thereof are derived/processed solely or almost solely from the tree nuts concerned, the maximum levels as established for the corresponding tree nuts apply also to the derived/processed products. In other cases, Article 2(1) and 2(2) apply for the derived/processed products.\u2019\nThis Regulation shall not apply to apricot kernels, oilseeds, other than groundnuts (peanuts) and processed products thereof, which were placed on the market at a date prior to the date of application in conformity with the provisions applicable at such date.\nThe burden of proving when the products were placed on the market shall be borne by the food business operator.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 10th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from the date of entry into force.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "toxic substance", "food contamination", "foodstuff", "health risk", "food standard", "food safety" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a02125/2004 of 14 December 2004 amending Regulation (EEC) No\u00a0890/78 laying down detailed rules for the certification of hops\n15.12.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 368/8\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2125/2004\nof 14 December 2004\namending Regulation (EEC) No 890/78 laying down detailed rules for the certification of hops\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1696/71 of 26 July 1971 on the common organisation of the market in hops\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 2(5) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Having regard to the accession to the European Union of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (hereinafter referred to as \u2018the new Member States\u2019), Commission Regulation (EEC) No 890/78\u00a0(2) should be updated in certain respects.\n(2) Regulation (EEC) No 890/78 specifies the texts to be entered on the certificates in the official languages of the Community. Such texts should be specified in the languages of the new Member States.\n(3) Regulation (EEC) No 890/78 lays down the deadlines by which Member States must notify the Commission of hop production zones and regions, and certification centres. Deadlines should therefore be laid down for the new Member States.\n(4) Regulation (EEC) No 890/78 should be amended accordingly.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Hops,\nRegulation (EEC) No 890/78 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 5a is replaced by the following:\n2. In Article 6(3) the following subparagraph is inserted after the second subparagraph:\n3. In Article 11, the following paragraph is added:\n4. Annex I to this Regulation is added as Annex IIa.\n5. Annex III is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing standard", "hops", "food inspection", "analytical chemistry", "accession to the European Union", "Community certification" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 2966/92 of 12 October 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 in respect of the definitive anti-dumping duty on certain imports of monosodium glutamate originating, inter alia, in Indonesia and the Republic of Korea\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2966/92 of 12 October 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 in respect of the definitive anti-dumping duty on certain imports of monosodium glutamate originating, inter alia, in Indonesia and the Republic of Korea\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 14 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consultation within the Advisory Committee as provided for under the above Regulation,\nWhereas:\nA. Previous procedure\n(1) In Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 (2), the Council imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty of ECU 0,510 per kilogram and ECU 0,189 per kilogram on imports of monosodium glutamate originating, inter alia, in Indonesia and in the Republic of Korea respectively, with the exception of imports from one Indonesian company and two companies in the Republic of Korea from which price undertakings were accepted by the Commission.\nB. Review\n(2) By a notice published on 5 November 1991 (3), the Commission, after consultation within the Advisory Committee and in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, initiated a review of Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 as it concerned three Indonesian companies, PT Indomiwon Citra Inti, PT Cheil Samsung Astra and PT Miwon Indonesia and reopened the investigation.\n(3) Having completed its investigation, the Commission disclosed its findings to the companies concerned, the details of which are set out in Decision 92/493/EEC (4). Price undertakings were subsequently offered by PT Indomiwon Citra Inti and PT Cheil Samsung Astra in respect of their exports of monosodium glutamate to the Community. Having consulted the Advisory Committee, the Commission accepted these undertakings by Decision 92/493/EEC.\n(4) As regards the situation of PT Miwon Indonesia, since this company had neither exported to the Community during the investigation period nor shown any firm intention to do so in the future, it should continue to be subject to the anti-dumping duty at present in force concerning imports of monosodium glutamate originating in Indonesia.\nC. Amendment of Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 as a consequence of the review in respect of certain imports of the product concerned originating in Indonesia\n(5) Accordingly, the Council considers it appropriate that Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 should be amended in order that PT Indomiwon Citra Inti and PT Cheil Samsung Astra be exempted from the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of monosodium glutamate originating in Indonesia.\n(6) The Community Industry concerned was informed of the main facts and considerations on the basis of which the Commission intended to recommend the amendment of Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 and did not object to them.\n(7) Since Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 has been only partially reviewed as regards certain imports of the product concerned originating in Indonesia, its validity is not prolonged in so far as Article 15 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 is concerned.\nD. Amendment of Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 in respect of certain imports of the product concerned originating in the Republic of Korea\n(8) In May 1992 a company in the Republic of Korea, Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul, requested the Commission to correct a misspelling of the company's name in Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 in order to avoid problems faced by this company at the time of clearing its exports of the product concerned through Community customs.\n(9) By the same request, Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul, informed the Commission that it exports the product concerned to the Community through its fully controlled trading company, Miwon Trading and Shipping Co. Ltd. It also informed the Commission that since Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 only excludes from the anti-dumping duty direct imports from Miwon Co. Ltd, imports of the product concerned produced by this company and exported by Miwon Trading and Shipping Co. Ltd were not considered by the custom authorities in some Member States as direct imports subject to the said exclusion. Consequently, Miwon Co. Ltd has requested an amendment of the Regulation to take account of this situation.\n(10) In support of its request, Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul, has submitted evidence that Miwon Trading and Shipping Co. Ltd is the trading company of Miwon Group to which they both belong, that there is a common management control of both companies and that Miwon Trading and Shipping Co. Ltd exports to the Community exclusively monosodium glutamate produced by Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul. Furthermore, under the terms of the undertaking offered by Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul, and accepted by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 547/90 (5), this company undertakes not to export either directly or indirectly through a subsidiary, a branch or an agent of the company below the minimum price agreed upon. Consequently, the price undertaking given by Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul, which justifies the exemption from the anti-dumping duty, also covers exports to the Community of monosodium glutamate produced by this company and made by Miwon Trading and Shipping Co. Ltd.\n(11) In these circumstances, the Council considers it appropriate that Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 be amended in order to bring it into line with the price undertaking given by Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul and to specify the correct name of this company.\n(12) To ensure uniform application of Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90, the amendment in respect of certain imports of the product concerned originating in the Republic of Korea should take effect as from 4 March 1990, the date on which Regulation (EEC) No 547/90, accepting undertakings in this proceeding, entered into force. The validity of Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 is not, however, prolonged in so far as Article 15 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 is concerned,\nThe first and second indents of Article 1 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 are hereby replaced by the following:\n'- ECU 0,510 per kilogram for imports originating in Indonesia (Taric additional code 8400).\nDirect imports from PT Sasa, Jakarta, PT Indomiwon Citra Inti and PT Cheil Samsung Astra shall be excluded from the duty (Taric additional code 8401),\n- ECU 0,189 per kilogram for imports originating in the Republic of Korea (Taric additional code 8402).\nDirect imports from Cheil Foods and Chemicals Inc., Seoul, Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul and imports produced by Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul and exported by Miwon Trading and Shipping Co. Ltd, Seoul, shall be excluded from the duty (Taric additional code 8403).'\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply with effect from 4 March 1990 as regards the exclusion from the definitive anti-dumping duty of imports produced by Miwon Co. Ltd, Seoul and exported by Miwon Trading and Shipping Co. Ltd, Seoul. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "chemical product", "South Korea", "tariff exemption", "Indonesia" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 2177/87 of 20 July 1987 amending Regulations (EEC) No 4043/86, (EEC) No 4022/86 and (EEC) No 3513/86 opening, allocating and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for fish and fish fillets originating in Norway or Sweden\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2177/87\nof 20 July 1987\namending Regulations (EEC) No 4043/86, (EEC) No 4022/86 and (EEC) No 3513/86 opening, allocating and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for fish and fish fillets originating in Norway or Sweden\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas, by Regulations (EEC) No 4043/86 (1), (EEC) No 4022/86 (2) and (EEC) No 3513/86 (3), the Council opened and allocated among the Member States Community tariff quotas for certain fishery products originating in Norway or Sweden;\nWhereas, in order to contribute to the development of trade, as stipulated under the preferential arrangements between the Community, on the one hand, and Norway and Sweden, on the other, the volume of certain tariff quotas opened for Norway and Sweden should be increased unilaterally by quantities that will not affect traditional trade flows; whereas the Regulations referred to above should be amended accordingly;\nWhereas, in view of the small quantities involved in the proposed increases and in order to safeguard the Community nature of the quotas conccerned, they should not be allocated among the Member States. without prejudice to the drawing, by the Member States, against the quota volumes of such quantities as they may need, under the conditions and according to the procedure provided for in the Regulations in question,\nRegulation (EEC) No 4043/86 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. The table given in Article 1 (1) shall be replaced by the following:\n1.2.3.4.5 // // // // // // 'Order No // CCT heading No // Description // Amount of tariff quota (tonnes) // Rate of duty (%) // // // // // // // // // // // // 03.02 // Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process: // // // // // A. Dried, salted or in brine // // // // // I. Whole, headless or in pieces: // // // // // ex b) Cod (Gadus morhua, Boreogadus saida, Gadus ogac) // // // 09.0703 // // - Dried and salted // 13 250 // 0 // 09.0705 // // - Wet, salted or in brine // 13 000 // 0 // 09.0707 // // - Dried and 1986, p. 16. (3) OJ No L 325, 20. 11. 1986, p. 1.\n2. Article 2 (3) shall be replaced by the following:\n'3. The second instalment of each quota, being respectively 1 100, 2 000 and 4 500 tonnes, shall constitute the corresponding reserve.'\nRegulation (EEC) No 4022/86 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. The table given in Article 1 (1) shall be replaced by the following:\n1.2.3.4.5 // // // // // // 'Order No // CCT heading No // Description // Amount of tariff quota (tonnes) // Rate of duty (%) // // // // // // // // // // // 09.0709 // 03.02 // Fish, dried, salted or in brine; smoked fish, whether or not cooked before or during the smoking process: // // // // // A. Dried, salted or in brine // // // // // II. Fillets: // // // // // a) of cod (Gadus morhua, Boreogadus saida, Gadus ogac) // 3 250 // 0' // // // // //\n2. Article 2 (3) shall be replaced by the following:\n'3. The second instalment of the quota, being 850 tonnes, shall constitute the reserve.'\nRegulation (EEC) No 3513/86 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 1 (1) the volume of 3 500 tonnes given against Order No 09.0601 shall be replaced by 9 500 tonnes.\n2. In the first indent of Article 2 (3) the volume of 1 400 tonnes shall be replaced by 7 400 tonnes.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "sea fish", "Norway", "Sweden", "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision of 13 October 1998 appointing the members of the Scientific and Technical Committee\nCOUNCIL DECISION of 13 October 1998 appointing the members of the Scientific and Technical Committee (98/C 324/01)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 134 thereof,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Commission,\nWhereas, by its Decision of 7 February 1994 (1), as supplemented by its Decisions of 6 October 1997 (2), the Council appointed the members of the Scientific and Technical Committee for the period 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1998,\nThe following are hereby appointed members of the Scientific and Technical Committee for the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March 2003:\nMr Th. VAN RENTERGEM\nMr Cl. A. TRUFFIN\nMr H. B. M\u00d8LLER\nProfessor Dr A. BIRKHOFER\nProfessor Dr H.-H. HENNIES\nProfessor Dr Ch. STREFFER\nProfessor Dr M. KAUFMANN\nMr W. B\u00dcRKLE\nMr A. KATSANOS\nMr R. CARO MANSO\nMr A. GRAU MALONDA\nMr J. M. MART\u00cdNEZ-VAL\nMr B. BARR\u00c9\nMr L. PATARIN\nMr P. CASEAU\nMr J.-F. LACRONIQUE\nMr P. LALLEMAND\nDr F. J. MULLIGAN\nMr C. MANCINI\nDr A. AIRAGHI\nMr R. ANDREANI\nDr G. DAMIANI\nMr R. DE FELICE\nMr H. WAGENER\nMr H. VAN DER LAAN\nMr A. H. M. VERKOOIJEN\nProfessor Dr M. HEINDLER\nProfessor Dr P. HILLE\nProfessor J. M. RIBEIRO MOREIRA DE ARA\u00daJO\nProfessor J. CARVALHO SOARES\nProfessor A. VUORINEN\nMr L. H\u00d6GBERG\nMr S. BJURSTR\u00d6M\nDr D. POOLEY\nDr S. ION\nDr A. DUNCAN\nDr S. A. HARBISON\nMr D. ANDERSON\nThe appointment of each of the persons listed in Article 1 of this Decision shall take effect on the date on which the Council received acceptance of that person's appointment.", "answer groups": [ "scientific committee (EU)", "EAEC Treaty", "technical committee (EU)", "appointment of staff" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "87/232/EEC: Commission Decision of 27 March 1987 concerning the application submitted by Vita-tex Ltd, Slough, United Kingdom, for refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of polyester yarn originating in the United States of America (Only the English text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 27 March 1987\nconcerning the application submitted by Vita-tex Ltd, Slough, United Kingdom, for refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of polyester yarn originating in the United States of America\n(Only the English text is authentic)\n(87/232/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2176/84 of 23 July 1984 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 16 thereof,\nWhereas:\nA. Procedure\n(1) The Council, by Regulation (EEC) No 3439/80 (2), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2585 (3), imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain polyester yarn originating in the United States of America.\n(2) On 23 November 1984 Vita-tex Ltd, Slough, United Kingdom, an importer of polyester yarn from the United States, submitted an application to the United Kingdom authorities for a refund of an amount totalling \u00a3 . . . (4) sterling which it had definitively paid in anti-dumping duties on its imports of polyester yarn from the USA. The United Kingdom authorities forwarded the application to the Commission.\n(3) The Commission examined the application and informed the applicant of the preliminary result of this examination and gave it an opportunity to comment. The comments made were taken into consideration prior to this Decision.\n(4) The Commission informed the Member States and gave its opinion on the matter. The Commission altered its opinion following new representations made and information supplied by the applicant and the United Kingdom authorities. The Member States were informed of the Commission's revised opinion. None of the Member States disagreed with the revised opinion of the Commission.\nB. Argument of the applicant\n(5) The applicant has based its application on a comparison between the export prices concerned and the prices of goods sold in the United States of America.\nC. Admissibility\n(6) Initially the Commission informed the applicant and the Member States that it considered the application inadmissible as it appeared to have been submitted outside the time limit specified in Article 16 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2176/84. Following further representations made by the applicant and the United Kingdom authorities the\nCommission now accepts that the application was submitted in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Community's anti-dumping legislation, in particular those concerning time limits.\nD. Merits of the claim\n(7) The applicant included in its application detailed information on the normal values in the United States at the time the imports concerned in the application took place. The Commission is satisfied with the representativeness and completeness of the information presented and therefore the normal values submitted by the applicant have been accepted.\n(8) A comparison of the normal values mentioned in paragraph 7 above with the export prices concerned shows that the application is justified.\nE. Amount of refund\n(9) The amount to be refunded should be equal to the amount by which the duty collected exceeded the difference between the normal values and the export prices. The total difference for the shipments in question amounts to \u00a3 . . ..\nThe refund application for a total of \u00a3 . . . submitted by Vita-Tex Ltd, Slough, United Kingdom, is hereby granted.\nThe amount set out in Article 1 shall be refunded by the authorities of the United Kingdom.\nThis Decision is addressed to the United Kingdom and to Vita-Tex Ltd, Slough, United Kingdom.", "answer groups": [ "anti-dumping duty", "redemption", "United Kingdom", "United States", "plastics", "textile fibre" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 565/2002 of 2 April 2002 establishing the method for managing tariff quotas and introducing a system of certificates of origin for garlic imported from third countries\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 565/2002\nof 2 April 2002\nestablishing the method for managing tariff quotas and introducing a system of certificates of origin for garlic imported from third countries\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 911/2001(2), and in particular Article 31(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 2001/104/EC of 28 May 2001 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Community and Argentina pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 for the modification of concessions with respect to garlic provided for in Schedule CXL annexed to GATT(3), and in particular Article 2 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Following negotiations conducted in accordance with Article XXVIII of GATT 1994, the Community amended the conditions for the import of garlic. Since 1 June 2001 the normal customs duty for imports of garlic falling within CN code 0703 20 00 has consisted of an ad valorem customs duty of 9,6 % and a specific amount of EUR 1200 per tonne net. However, a quota of 38370 tonnes free of specific duty was opened by the Agreement concluded with Argentina, approved by Decision 2001/404/EC, hereafter called the \"GATT quota\". The Agreement stipulates that the quota is to be divided up into 19147 tonnes for imports from Argentina (serial number 09.4104), 13200 tonnes for imports from China (serial number 09.4105) and 6023 tonnes for imports from other countries (serial number 09.4106).\n(2) Imports of garlic may also be carried out, outside the GATT quota or the normal duty, on preferential terms, under agreements concluded between the Community and certain third countries.\n(3) The method for managing the GATT quota was established by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1047/2001(4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1865/2001(5). Experience shows however that this management could be improved and simplified. In particular, the need for import licences for imports carried out outside the GATT quota should be abolished, and the conditions for access by importers to this quota should be adapted to take better account of traditional trade flows.\n(4) Imports of garlic can be monitored in accordance with Article 308d of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code(6), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 444/2002(7).\n(5) In view of the existence of a specific duty for non-preferential imports outside the GATT quota, management of the quota requires the introduction of a system of import licences. The detailed rules of that system must be complementary to, or derogate from, those laid down by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 of 9 June 2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products(8), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2299/2001(9).\n(6) Measures are needed to keep to a minimum speculative applications for import licences which are not linked to a genuine commercial activity on the fruit and vegetable market. To that end special rules should be laid down on applications for and the validity of licences.\n(7) Given that the Agreement concluded with Argentina provides for the management of the GATT quota on the basis of a system of traditional and new importers, the concept of traditional importers should be defined and the quota allocated between the two categories of importer, while allowing optimum use of the quota.\n(8) To guarantee correct management of the GATT quota, the measures to be taken by the Commission in the event that licence applications exceed, for a specific origin or in a specific quarter, the quantities fixed by Decision 2001/404/EC plus the unused quantities from licences previously issued, should be determined. Where such measures involve a reduction coefficient to be applied at the time of issue of licences, the possibility should be granted for applications for those licences to be withdrawn with immediate release of the security.\n(9) To improve controls and prevent any risk of a deflection of trade based on inaccurate documentation, the existing system of certificates of origin for garlic imported from certain third countries and the requirement for this garlic to be transported direct from the third country of origin to the Community should be retained. That certificate of origin is to be issued by the competent national authorities in accordance with Articles 56 to 62 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\n(10) Regulation (EC) No 1047/2001 should be repealed.\n(11) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,\nCHAPTER I\nTARIFF QUOTAS\nPurpose and fixing of customs duty applicable to the quota\n1. This Chapter lays down the rules for managing tariff quotas for garlic falling within CN code 0703 20 00, opened by Decision 2001/404/EC.\n2. The ad valorem duty applicable to products imported under the quotas referred to in paragraph 1 shall be 9,6 %.\nDefinitions\nFor the purposes of this Regulation:\n(a) \"import period\" means a period of one year running from 1 June of one year to the following 31 May;\n(b) \"importers\" means operators, natural or legal persons, individuals or groups having imported into the Community, in at least one of the previous two calendar years, at least 50 tonnes per year of fruit and vegetables as referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2200/96;\n(c) \"traditional importers\" mean importers who have imported garlic into the Community in at least two of the three previous import periods, irrespective of the origin and date of these imports;\n(d) \"reference quantity\" means the maximum quantity of annual imports of garlic carried out by a traditional importer during the 1998, 1999 and 2000 calendar years. Where the importer in question has not imported any garlic during at least two of these three years, the reference quantity shall be the maximum quantity of annual imports of garlic during the three import periods preceding that for which a licence application has been presented;\n(e) \"new importers\" mean importers who are not traditional importers.\nThe reference quantity calculated for a period shall remain valid for the whole of that period.\nSystem of import licences\n1. All imports under the quotas referred to in Article 1(1) shall be subject to the presentation of an import licence, hereafter called the \"licence\", issued in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, subject to the provisions of this Regulation.\n2. Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 shall not apply to the licences. Box 19 of licences shall be marked \"0\".\n3. Notwithstanding Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000, the rights accruing from licences shall not be transferable.\n4. The amount of the security referred to in Article 15(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1291/2000 shall be EUR 15 per tonne net.\nValidity of licences\n1. Box 8 of licence applications and licences shall indicate the country of origin of the product. The word \"yes\" in box 8 shall be marked with a cross. Licences shall be valid only for the products originating in the country indicated in that box.\n2. Licences shall be valid only for the quarter for which they have been issued. Box 24 thereof shall contain one of the following entries:\n- certificado expedido y v\u00e1lido solamente para el trimestre comprendido entre el 1 ... y el 28/29/30/31 ...\n- licens, der kun er udstedt og gyldig for kvartalet fra 1. ... til 28./29./30./31. ...\n- Lizenz nur erteilt und g\u00fcltig f\u00fcr das Quartal vom 1. ... bis 28./29./30./31. ...\n- \u03a0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b7\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03b5\u03ba\u03b4\u03bf\u03b8\u03ad\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b9\u03c3\u03c7\u03cd\u03bf\u03bd \u03bc\u03cc\u03bd\u03bf \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c4\u03c1\u03af\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd\u03bf \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd 1\u03b7 ... \u03ad\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 28/29/30/31 ...\n- licence issued and valid only for the quarter from 1 [month] to 28/29/30/31 [month]\n- certificat \u00e9mis et valable seulement pour le trimestre du 1er ... au 28/29/30/31 ...\n- titolo rilasciato e valido unicamente per il trimestre dal 1o ... al 28/29/30/31 ...\n- voor het kwartaal van 1... tot en met 28/29/30/31 ... afgegeven en uitsluitend in dat kwartaal geldig certificaat.\n- certificado emitido e v\u00e1lido apenas para o trimestre de 1 de ... a 28/29/30/31 de ...\n- todistus on my\u00f6nnetty 1 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n ... ja 28/29/30/31 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n ... v\u00e4liselle vuosinelj\u00e4nnekselle ja se on voimassa ainoastaan kyseisen\u00e4 vuosinelj\u00e4nneksen\u00e4\n- licens utf\u00e4rdad och giltig endast f\u00f6r trem\u00e5nadersperioden den 1 ... till den 28/29/30/31 ...\nLicence applications\n1. Licence applications may be lodged only by importers.\nTo support their applications, importers, and in particular traditional importers, shall provide information verifying to the satisfaction of the competent national authorities compliance with Article 2(b) and (c).\nWhere new importers have obtained licences pursuant to this Regulation or to Regulation (EC) No 1047/2001 during the previous import period, they must produce proof that at least 90 % of the quantity allocated to them has actually been released into free circulation.\n2. For each of the quarters referred to in Annex I, licence applications may be lodged only from the second Monday of the month before the month preceding the quarter in question until the last Friday inclusive of that quarter.\nBox 20 of those applications shall contain one of the following entries:\n- certificado solicitado para el trimestre comprendido entre el 1 ... y el 28/29/30/31 ...\n- licens, der er ans\u00f8gt om for kvartalet fra 1. ... til 28./29./30./31. ...\n- Lizenz beantragt f\u00fcr das Quartal vom 1. ... bis 28./29./30./31. ...\n- \u03a0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b7\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u03c0\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b6\u03b7\u03c4\u03ae\u03b8\u03b7\u03ba\u03b5 \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c4\u03c1\u03af\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd\u03bf \u03b1\u03c0\u03cc \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd 1\u03b7 ... \u03ad\u03c9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 28/29/30/31. ...\n- licence sought for the quarter from 1 [month] to 28/29/30/31 [month]\n- certificat demand\u00e9 pour le trimestre du 1er ... au 28/29/30/31 ...\n- titolo richiesto per il trimestre dal 1o ... al 28/29/30/31 ...\n- voor het kwartaal van 1... tot en met 28/29/30/31 ... aangevraagd certificaat.\n- certificado pedido para o trimestre de 1 de ... a 28/29/30/31 de ...\n- todistus on haettu 1 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n ... ja 28/29/30/31 p\u00e4iv\u00e4n ... v\u00e4liselle vuosinelj\u00e4nnekselle\n- licens beg\u00e4rd f\u00f6r trem\u00e5nadersperioden den 1 ... till den 28/29/30/31 ...\n3. Licence applications lodged by traditional importers may cover, by import period, a quantity no more than the reference quantity for those importers.\n4. For each of the three origins and for each of the quarters indicated in Annex I, licences applications lodged by new importers may cover no more than 10 % of the quantity referred to in Annex I for that quarter and for that origin.\n5. No licence applications may be lodged for a specific quarter and for a specific origin where no quantity is indicated in Annex I for that quarter and for that origin.\n6. Box 20 of licence applications shall indicate \"traditional importer\" or \"new importer\" as appropriate.\nMaximum quantity to be issued\n1. For each of the three origins and for each of the quarters indicated in Annex I, licences shall be issued only up to a maximum quantity equal to the sum of:\n(a) the quantity indicated in Annex I for that quarter and for that origin;\n(b) the quantities not applied for during the previous quarter for that origin;\n(c) the unused quantities notified to the Commission from licences previously issued for that origin.\nHowever, quantities not applied for or not used during an import period may not be transferred to the following import period.\n2. For each of the three origins and for each of the quarters indicated in Annex I, the maximum quantity calculated in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be allocated as follows:\n(a) 70 % to traditional importers,\n(b) 30 % to new importers.\nHowever, the quantities available shall be allocated to each of the two categories of importers without discrimination from the first Monday of the second month of each quarter.\nMember State communications to the Commission\n1. The Member States shall notify the Commission of:\n(a) the quantities covered by licence applications;\n(b) the quantities covered by unused or partly used licences, corresponding to the difference between the quantities entered on the back of the licences and the quantities for which they were issued;\n(c) the quantities relating to applications for licences withdrawn pursuant to Article 8(4).\n2. The information referred to in paragraph 1(a) shall be notified each Thursday in respect of applications lodged on the Monday and Tuesday of that week and each Monday in respect of applications lodged on the previous Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.\nThe information referred to in paragraph 1(b) and (c) shall be notified each Thursday in respect of information received the previous week.\nThe communications referred to in paragraph 1 shall be made by 12 noon (Brussels time) at the latest.\nIf no import licence application has been lodged or if there are no unused or withdrawn quantities within the meaning of paragraph 1(b) and (c), the Member State concerned shall notify the Commission thereof on the days indicated in this paragraph.\nIf the day for the communication of information provided for in this paragraph is a national holiday, the Member State concerned shall send the said communication by 3 p.m. (Brussels time) at the latest on the previous working day.\n3. The communications referred to in paragraph 1 shall be effected by electronic means on the form sent for that purpose by the Commission to the Member States.\nThey shall be broken down by day of licence application, by third country of origin, by quarter and by type of importer within the meaning of Article 2.\nIssue of licences\n1. Licences shall be issued on the fifth working day following the day on which applications are lodged unless the Commission takes measures within that time pursuant to paragraph 2.\nWhere measures are adopted pursuant to paragraph 2, licences shall be issued on the third working day following the entry into force of those measures.\n2. Where the Commission finds, on the basis of the information notified by the Member States pursuant to Article 7, that licence applications exceed the available balance of one of the maximum quantities established in accordance with Article 6, it shall, if necessary, adopt by means of a regulation a single reduction percentage for the applications in question and shall stop the issue of licences until the date referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 6(2) or for the rest of that quarter for subsequent applications.\n3. For the purposes of the examination referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission shall take account of the licences already issued or to be issued for the quarter and the origin in question.\n4. Where, pursuant to paragraph 2, the quantity for which a licence is issued is less than the quantity requested, the licence application may be withdrawn within three working days of the entry into force of the measures adopted pursuant to paragraph 2. In the event of such a withdrawal the security shall be released immediately.\n5. No licence may be issued with a view to importing products originating in countries listed in Annex II which have not forwarded to the Commission the information needed to set up an administrative cooperation procedure in accordance with Articles 63 to 65 of Regulation (EC) No 2454/93. The information shall be deemed to have been forwarded on the date of its publication as provided for in Article 11.\nCHAPTER II\nCERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN\nGeneral provisions\nAny release into free circulation in the Community of garlic originating in a third country listed in Annex II shall be subject to:\n(a) presentation of a certificate of origin issued by the competent national authorities of that country in accordance with Articles 55 to 65 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93, and\n(b) the condition that the product has been transported directly, within the meaning of Article 10, from that country to the Community.\n0\nDirect transport\n1. The following shall be considered as transported direct to the Community from the third countries listed in Annex II:\n(a) products transported without passing through the territory of any other third country;\n(b) products transported through one or more third countries other than the country of origin, with or without transhipment or temporary warehousing in those countries, provided that such passage is justified for geographical reasons or exclusively on account of transport requirements and provided that the products:\n(i) have remained under the supervision of the customs authorities of the country or countries of transit or warehousing,\n(ii) have not entered into commerce or been released for consumption there, and\n(iii) have not undergone operations there other than unloading and reloading or any other operation to keep them in good condition.\n2. Proof that the conditions referred to in paragraph 1(b) have been satisfied shall be submitted to the Community authorities. That proof may be provided, in particular, in the form of one of the following documents:\n(a) a single transport document issued in the country of origin covering passage through the country or countries of transit;\n(b) a certificate issued by the customs authorities of the country or countries of transit containing:\n(i) a precise description of the goods;\n(ii) the dates of their unloading and reloading or their lading or unlading, identifying the vessels used;\n(iii) certification of the conditions in which they were kept.\n1\nAdministrative cooperation\nAs soon as the information needed to set up an administrative cooperation procedure pursuant to Articles 63 to 65 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 has been forwarded by each third country listed in Annex II, a communication concerning the forwarding of that information shall be published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Communities(10).\nCHAPTER III\nFINAL PROVISIONS\n2\nRepeal\nRegulation (EC) No 1047/2001 is hereby repealed with effect from 1 June 2002.\n3\nEntry into force\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply to licences applied for from 8 April 2002, for the quarter from 1 June to 31 August 2002, and to releases into free circulation effected from 1 June 2002. It shall not apply to releases into free circulation carried out, until 31 May 2002, under import licences issued in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1047/2001.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "third country", "tariff quota", "import licence", "originating product", "bulb vegetable" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2011/31/EU of 7\u00a0March 2011 amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC as regards a restriction of the use of the active substance pirimiphos-methyl Text with EEA relevance\n8.3.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 61/18\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2011/31/EU\nof 7 March 2011\namending Council Directive 91/414/EEC as regards a restriction of the use of the active substance pirimiphos-methyl\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Article 5(5) of Directive 91/414/EEC an inclusion may be reviewed at any time if there are indications that the criteria referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of that Article are no longer satisfied.\n(2) By Commission Directive 2007/52/EC\u00a0(2) pirimiphos-methyl was included as active substance in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC. The specific provision concerning that substance required the notifier however, to submit further studies confirming the operator exposure assessment.\n(3) On 22 September 2009 the notifier submitted such studies to the United Kingdom, which had been designated rapporteur Member State by Commission Regulation (EC) No 451/2000\u00a0(3).\n(4) The United Kingdom evaluated those studies and submitted to the Commission an addendum to the draft assessment report on 25 February 2010, which was circulated for comments to the other Member States, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the notifier. Account being taken of the draft assessment report, that addendum was reviewed by the Member States and the Commission within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and finalised on 28 January 2011 in the format of a revision of the Commission review report for pirimiphos-methyl of 16 March 2007.\n(5) The studies included in the review report, as finalised on 28 January 2011, show that the risk to operators is not acceptable when hand-held equipment is used.\n(6) Taking into account the draft assessment report, its addendum and the comments received from Member States, from EFSA and from the notifier, the conclusion continues to apply that plant protection products containing pirimiphos-methyl may be expected to satisfy, in general, the requirements laid down in Article 5(1)(a) and (b) of Directive 91/414/EEC, in particular with regard to the uses which have been examined and detailed in the Commission review report. It is, however, necessary to restrict the inclusion of pirimiphos-methyl by excluding hand-held applications.\n(7) It is therefore appropriate to amend Directive 91/414/EEC accordingly.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAnnex I to Directive 91/414/EEC is amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive.\nMember States shall adopt and publish by 31 October 2011 at the latest the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1 November 2011.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\nMember States shall in accordance with Directive 91/414/EEC, where necessary, amend or withdraw existing authorisations for plant protection products containing pirimiphos-methyl as active substance by 31 October 2011.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing standard", "toxic substance", "administrative formalities", "chemical product", "insecticide", "plant health control", "plant health product", "marketing", "health legislation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2002/36/EC of 29 April 2002 amending certain Annexes to Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nCommission Directive 2002/36/EC\nof 29 April 2002\namending certain Annexes to Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community(1), as last amended by Commission Directive 2002/28/EC(2), and in particular the second paragraph, subparagraphs (c) and (d) of Article 14, thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Measures should be taken to protect the Community against Anisogramma anomala (Peck) E. M\u0102\u017aller, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) and Naupactus leucoloma Boheman, harmful organisms which have not hitherto been known to occur in the Community.\n(2) The current provisions against Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach) should be modified by restricting them to protected zones in Ireland and the United Kingdom (North Ireland) where it has been determined that this organism is not present.\n(3) The list of host plants of Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) and Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) should be modified to take into account of the updated information on the relationship between these harmful organisms and their host plants.\n(4) Due to continued interceptions of Bemisia tabaci Genn., Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard), Amauromyza maculosa (Malloch), Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard), Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) and Thrips palmi Karny on commodities, the current provisions on protective measures against the introduction into and spread within the Community, with a view to ensuring more effective protection, should be improved.\n(5) These improved protective measures should include the use of a plant passport for plants or plant products originating in the Community and a phytosanitary certificate for plants or plant products originating in third countries.\n(6) The current provisions against beet necrotic yellow vein virus should be modified in order to reflect the conclusions of a Commission Working Group having assessed the phytosanitary risk associated with this harmful organism in the relevant protected zones recognised in the Community.\n(7) The current provisions against Tilletia indica Mitra should be modified to take into account of the updated information on the presence of this harmful organism in South Africa.\n(8) The incorrect listing of Malta and Cyprus as non-European countries should be rectified in Annex IV, Part A, Section I, point 34, and Annex V, Part B, Section I, point 7(b), to Directive 2000/29/EC.\n(9) The amendments are in accordance with the requests of the Member States concerned.\n(10) Therefore the relevant annexes to Directive 2000/29/EC should be amending accordingly.\n(11) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nAnnexes I, II, IV and V to Directive 2000/29/EC are hereby amended as indicated in the Annex to this Directive.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive on 1 April 2003. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen Member States adopt these measures, these shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for such reference shall be adopted by Member States.\n2. The Member States shall immediately communicate to the Commission the main provisions of domestic law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive. The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.", "answer groups": [ "parasitology", "plant disease", "plant health control", "protection of plant life", "plant health legislation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2007/433/EC: Commission Decision of 18 June 2007 on provisional emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of Gibberella circinata Nirenberg O\u2019Donnell (notified under document number C(2007) 2496)\n22.6.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 161/66\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 18 June 2007\non provisional emergency measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of Gibberella circinata Nirenberg & O\u2019Donnell\n(notified under document number C(2007) 2496)\n(2007/433/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(3), third sentence thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Directive 2000/29/EC, where a Member State considers that there is a danger of introduction into or spread within its territory of a harmful organism not listed in Annex I or Annex II to that Directive, it may temporarily take any additional measures necessary to protect itself from that danger.\n(2) As a result of the presence of the fungus Gibberella circinata Nirenberg & O\u2019Donnell, under the anamorph form also known as Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O\u2019Donnell, in forest reproductive material in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain informed the Member States and the Commission on 16 June 2006 that it had adopted on 26 May 2006 official measures through a national eradication and control programme to prevent the further introduction into and spread within its territory of that organism.\n(3) Gibberella circinata Nirenberg & O\u2019Donnell (\u2018the specified organism\u2019) is not listed in Annex I or II to Directive 2000/29/EC. However, a report of a pest risk assessment based on limited available scientific information has demonstrated that the specified organism can cause significant mortality on Pinus spp. and tree damage on Pseudotsuga menziesii. These plants are widely distributed in Europe and the susceptibility of several species is high. It is therefore necessary to take forthwith provisional measures against the introduction into and spread within the Community of the specified organism.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Decision should apply to the introduction or the spread of the specified organism, the demarcation of infested areas within the Community and the control of the specified organism in these areas, the import, production and movement of the specified plants, including seeds, within the Community, and a survey for the presence or continued absence of the specified organism in the Member States.\n(5) It is appropriate that the results of the measures be regularly assessed in 2007 and 2008 in particular on the basis of information to be provided by the Member States. Possible subsequent measures will be considered in the light of the results of that assessment.\n(6) Member States should adapt, if necessary, their legislation in order to comply with this Decision.\n(7) The results of the measures should be reviewed by 1 April 2008.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nDefinitions\nFor the purpose of this Decision:\n1. \u2018specified organism\u2019 means Gibberella circinata Nirenberg & O\u2019Donnell;\n2. \u2018specified plants\u2019 means plants of the genus Pinus L. and the species Pseudotsuga menziesii, intended for planting, including seeds and cones for propagation purposes;\n3. \u2018place of production\u2019 means:\n\u2014 any premises or collection of fields operated as a single production unit of plants; this may include production sites which are separately managed for phytosanitary purposes, or\n\u2014 a demarcated forestry stand.\nMeasures against the specified organism\nThe introduction into and spread within the Community of the specified organism shall be prohibited.\nImport of the specified plants\nThe specified plants may be introduced into the Community only if:\n(a) they comply with the requirements laid down in section I of Annex I, and\n(b) they are, on entry into the Community, inspected and, where appropriate, tested for the presence of the specified organism, in accordance with Article 13a(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC, and found free from it.\nMovement of the specified plants within the Community\nWithout prejudice to the provisions of Annex II, section II of this Decision, the specified plants originating in the Community or imported into the Community pursuant to Article 3 of this Decision may only be moved within the Community, if they meet the conditions laid down in section II of Annex I.\nSurveys and notifications\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall conduct official annual surveys for the presence of the specified organism or evidence of infection by this organism in their territory.\nWithout prejudice to Article 16(2) of Directive 2000/29/EC, the results of those surveys, together with the list of demarcated areas referred to in Article 6 and the measures referred to in section II of Annex II, shall be notified to the Commission and to the other Member States by 15 December of each year.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Any suspected occurrence or confirmed presence of the specified organism shall immediately be notified to the responsible official bodies.\nEstablishment of demarcated areas\nWhen the results of the surveys referred to in Article 5.1 or the notification referred to in Article 5.2 confirm the presence of the specified organism in an area, or there is evidence of the establishment of this organism by other means, Member States shall define demarcated areas and take official measures as laid down in sections I and II respectively of Annex II.\nCompliance\nMember States shall, if necessary, amend the measures which they have adopted to protect themselves against the introduction and spread of the specified organism in such a manner that those measures comply with this Decision and shall forthwith inform the Commission of those measures.\nReview\nThis Decision shall be reviewed by 31 March 2008 at the latest.\nAddressees\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "crop production", "conifer", "import restriction", "plant health control" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2004/391/EC: Commission Decision of 23 April 2004 on the advisory groups dealing with matters covered by the common agricultural policy\nCommission Decision\nof 23 April 2004\non the advisory groups dealing with matters covered by the common agricultural policy\n(2004/391/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nWhereas:\n(1) The Commission should seek the views of socio-economic sectors and consumers on matters arising in connection with the operation of the various common organisations of the market and other areas covered by the common agricultural policy and by the policy of rural development.\n(2) All the economic sectors directly involved in the operation of the market organisations and affected by agricultural policy decisions, as well as consumers, should have an opportunity to participate in drafting the opinions requested by the Commission.\n(3) Relevant socio-economic federations and consumer groups in the Member States have set up organisations at Community level, which are thus in a position to represent those concerned in all the Member States.\n(4) An advisory structure dealing with agricultural issues exists since 1962. Following the reform of the common agricultural policy in 1999 and 2003, and in the light of the enlargement of the European Union in 2004, it is necessary to review that structure. Commission Decision 98/235/EC of 11 March 1998 on the advisory groups dealing with matters covered by the common agricultural policy(1) should therefore be repealed and replaced by a new Decision.\n(5) In order to avoid confusion with the wording used in Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(2) for the advisory committees, it is appropriate not to use the term \"committees\" for designating the bodies to be set up by this Decision,\nArticle 1\n1. The following groups are set up under the auspices of the Commission:\n(a) the advisory groups listed in Annex I;\n(b) the working groups as provided for in Article 4 (1).\n2. The advisory groups may be consulted by the Commission on all matters relating to the common agricultural policy and to the policy of rural development and its implementation, and in particular the common organisations of the market and the measures which the Commission is called on to take in that context.\n1. The groups provided for in Article 1 shall represent the following socio-economic interest groups under the conditions provided for in Article 3:\n- agricultural producers and agricultural cooperatives,\n- agricultural and food-manufacturing industries,\n- agricultural products and foodstuffs trade,\n- farm workers and workers in the food industry, consumers and environmentalists.\nIn specific cases, other interest groups may be represented.\n2. The composition of the advisory groups in terms of number of seats allocated to each socio-economic interest group is set out in Annex II.\n1. The Commission shall invite the socio-economic organisations established at Community level and listed in the Commission's register of interest groups (hereinafter referred to as \"the socio-economic organisations\") to designate experts. The socio-economic organisations must be those that are most representative of the interests specified in Article 2(1), including the social partners, and their activities must be connected with the common agricultural policy and rural development.\n2. In designating experts, the socio-economic organisations shall endeavour to ensure that the various interests in their sector are represented.\n3. The Commission may refuse the expert designated by the socio-economic organisation when this designation does not seem appropriate, notably in the case of a conflict of interest. In such a case, the Commission promptly informs the socio-economic organisation, which as a result designates another expert.\n1. At the request of an advisory group and in agreement with the Commission, one or more working groups may be set up to examine specific questions. Such groups shall consist of experts in the field designated by the socio-economic organisations. The provisions of Article 3 (3) apply.\n2. The Commission shall designate and invite experts to attend meetings of the working groups referred to in paragraph 1 when appropriate.\n3. The Commission shall chair the meetings of working groups referred to in paragraph 1.\n1. After consultation of the Commission, each advisory group at its first meeting, after the date of application of this decision and at its first meeting after the term of two years provided for in paragraph 3, shall elect a chairperson among its experts as follows:\n(a) in the case of the first ballot, by a two thirds majority of the experts present;\n(b) in the case of subsequent ballots, by a simple majority of the experts present; in the event of a tie, the Commission shall provide a chairperson on a temporary basis.\n2. Each advisory group at its first meeting shall elect two vice chairpersons, in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 1. The vice chairpersons shall be chosen among the representatives of other socio-economic sectors than the one to which the chairperson belongs, subject to derogations to be provided for by the Commission.\n3. The chairperson and the two vice-chairpersons shall serve a term of two years which shall be renewable. The chairperson shall not serve more than two consecutive terms.\n4. When choosing a new chairperson, the group should ensure that he/she does not originate from the same socio-economic sector as his/her predecessor.\n5. The chairperson is responsible for the compilation in a report of an accurate summary record of the meetings.\nThe Commission may amend the chairperson's draft report prior to its distribution and subsequent approval by the group.\n1. Participation in meetings of groups listed in Annex I shall be limited to experts designated by the socio-economic organisations in accordance with Article 3, within the limit of seats allocated to each organisation as set out in Annex II. Commission representatives and persons invited in accordance with paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of this article may also attend. The chairperson and the two vice-chairpersons attend the meetings as a matter of course.\n2. The socio-economic organisations shall inform the Commission about their designation of experts at least three working days before the meeting.\n3. At the request of an organisation to which one or more seats in a group are allocated, the chairperson of the group may, in agreement with the Commission, invite the general secretary of that organisation to attend meetings as an observer.\nHowever, if the general secretary of an organisation is unable to attend, he may assign his observer's seat to another person designated by him.\n4. Observers in meetings shall not have the right to speak. They may, however, be invited to do so by the chairperson in agreement with the Commission.\n5. At the request of an organisation to which one or more seats are allocated, and when the matters on the agenda are of a highly technical nature, the chairperson of a group may, in agreement with the Commission, invite experts other than those referred in paragraph 1 to take part in the deliberations of the group.\nThe Commission may, on its own initiative, invite any person suitably qualified in one of the subjects on the agenda to take part in the deliberations of the group on that subject as an expert.\nExperts invited pursuant to this paragraph shall participate only in the discussion and deliberations on the matter for which they are invited.\n6. Travelling expenses incurred by experts in the context of group meetings are refunded by the Commission in accordance with the regulations in force. The Commission reserves the right to derogate from this rule. Experts and observers shall not be remunerated for their services.\n1. Meetings of groups shall be convened by the Commission and shall generally take place at the Commission's main offices.\n2. The Commission provides secretarial services for the groups.\nThe chairperson in cooperation with the Commission, and in consultation with the other interests represented on the group, shall determine the items to be included on the agenda for the advisory groups at least 25 working days before the group meets. The Commission shall send out agendas to the socio-economic organisations as a general rule 20 working-days before the meeting, preferably by electronic means.\nThe chairperson of each group may propose, on his own initiative or at the request of any of the interest groups represented, that the Commission consult his/her group on any matter within its competence.\nThe advisory groups shall discuss the matters on which the Commission has requested an opinion. When seeking an opinion of a group, the Commission may set a time limit within which the opinion shall be given.\nNo vote shall take place at the end of the discussion of the advisory groups. If a group reaches unanimous agreement on the opinion to be given, it shall formulate joint conclusions and attach them to the summary report.\nThe Commission shall communicate the outcome of a group's discussions to the Council if proposed by the group.\n0\nWithout prejudice to Article 287 of the Treaty, where the Commission indicates that the opinion requested or question raised involves a matter of a confidential nature, participants in meetings shall be required not to disclose information which has come to their knowledge through the work of the group in question.\n1\nDecision 98/235/EC is repealed.\n2\nThis Decision shall apply from 1 May 2004.", "answer groups": [ "advisory committee (EU)", "common agricultural policy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/867/EC: Commission Decision of 1 December 2003 authorising the placing on the market of salatrims as novel food ingredients under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document number C(2003) 4408)\nCommission Decision\nof 1 December 2003\nauthorising the placing on the market of salatrims as novel food ingredients under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council\n(notified under document number C(2003) 4408)\n(Only the Danish text is authentic)\n(2003/867/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients(1), and in particular Article 7 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 28 June 1999 Danisco, formerly Cultor Food Science, submitted to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom a request for placing salatrims on the market in the Community as novel food ingredients.\n(2) Salatrims are a group of reduced calorie triacylglycerides developed for use as alternative fats.\n(3) The competent authorities of the United Kingdom carried out the initial assessment. The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 22 November 1999.\n(4) Within the 60-day period laid down in Article 6(4) of the Regulation, reasoned objections to the marketing of the product were raised in accordance with that provision.\n(5) The Scientific Committee on Food was consulted on the matter in accordance with Article 11 of the Regulation. On 13 December 2001, the Scientific Committee on Food delivered its opinion that salatrims are safe for human consumption.\n(6) The Scientific Committee on Food noted the only adverse effects of salatrims observed in a number of human tolerance studies were gastro-intestinal complaints at high intakes (i.e. >30 g/day). Such inconveniences caused by gastro-intestinal intolerance are easily and commonly resolved by the individual abstaining from consumption when he or she becomes aware of the problem. It is therefore appropriate to provide a statement on the label which informs the consumer that excessive consumption may lead to gastro-intestinal problems.\n(7) The Scientific Committee on Food also noted that no data had been generated on the effect of consumption of foods containing salatrims by children under 16 years, as this population group was unlikely to consume products intended for use mainly by persons aiming to control their weight by choosing an energy restricted diet. Therefore it is appropriate to provide a statement on the label which informs the consumer that products containing salatrims are not for use by children.\n(8) The declaration of the energy value of foods and food ingredients is governed by Council Directive 90/496/EEC of 24 September 1990 on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs(2).\n(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nSalatrims as specified in the Annex may be placed on the market in the Community as novel food ingredients for use in bakery products and confectionery.\nThe designation \"reduced energy fat (salatrims)\" shall be displayed on the labelling of the product, as such, or in the list of ingredients of foodstuffs containing it.\nThere shall be a statement that excessive consumption may lead to gastro-intestinal disturbance.\nThere shall be a statement that the products are not intended for use by children.\nThis Decision is addressed to Danisco A/S, Langebrogade 1, PO Box 17, DK-1001 Copenhagen K, Denmark.", "answer groups": [ "foodstuffs legislation", "confectionery product", "biotechnology", "foodstuff", "market approval", "food inspection", "bakery" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2798/81 of 28 September 1981 amending for the third time Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the beef and veal sector\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2798/81 of 28 September 1981 amending for the third time Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the beef and veal sector\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal (1), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Greece, and in particular Article 15 (2) and Article 25 thereof,\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2378/80 (2), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1727/81 (3), laid down additional special detailed rules concerning the issue of export licences, which were made necessary by the world market situation for agricultural products ; whereas the said detailed rules apply only until 30 September 1981;\nWhereas some of the detailed rules have been found to be useful for giving better indications concerning the market, particularly in respect of exports of beef and veal to non-member countries ; whereas they should therefore be retained by including them in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2137/81 (5);\nWhereas the Management Committee for Beef and Veal has not delivered an opinion within the time limit set by its chairman,\nRegulation (EEC) No 2377/80 is hereby amended as follows. 1. The following Article 8a is inserted:\n\"Article 8a\n1. For products falling within subheading 02.01 A II of the Common Customs Tariff, the application for an export licence and the licence itself shall contain, in Section 13, the name of the country of destination of the product.\n2. For products falling within subheading 02.01 A II of the Common Customs Tariff, the export licence with advance fixing of the refund, as referred to in Article 3 (a), shall be issued on the fifth working day following the day on which the application is lodged, unless special measures are taken during that period.\n3. By way of derogation from Article 5 (b), the export licence with advance fixing of the refund, as referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, shall be valid for 90 days from its actual day of issue.\"\n2. Article 16 is replaced by the following:\n\"Article 16\n1. The Member States shall communicate, by telex, to the Commission on the Monday and Thursday of each week, before 4 p.m., for the products falling within subheading 02.01 A II of the Common Customs Tariff, and specifying, by product, the quantities and countries of destination: - a list of export licences with advance fixing of refunds applied for since the previous communication, and\n- a list of export licences issued since the previous communication.\n2. Before the fifth day of each month, the Member States shall communicate to the Commission by telex the quantity of products for which import or export licences were issued during the previous calendar month.\n3. The communications provided for in this Article shall be made in accordance with Annex I and using the codes indicated therein.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 October 1981. (1) OJ No L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 24. (2) OJ No L 241, 13.9.1980, p. 19. (3) OJ No L 172, 30.6.1981, p. 21. (4) OJ No L 241, 13.9.1980, p. 5. (5) OJ No L 209, 29.7.1981, p. 15.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "export refund", "import licence", "meat product", "beef", "export licence" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 98/74/EC of 1 October 1998 amending Council Directive 93/75/EEC concerning minimum requirements for vessels bound for or leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods (Text with EEA relevance)\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 98/74/EC of 1 October 1998 amending Council Directive 93/75/EEC concerning minimum requirements for vessels bound for or leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods (Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 93/75/EEC of 13 September 1993 concerning minimum requirements for vessels bound for or leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods (1), as last amended by Directive 98/55/EC (2), and in particular Article 11 thereof,\nWhereas, for the purposes of Directive 93/75/EEC, Article 2(e), (g) and (h) thereof specify that the Marpol Convention and the IBC and IGC Codes are those in force on 1 January 1996;\nWhereas since that date amendments have been made to the Marpol Convention and to the IBC and IGC Codes within the framework of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO);\nWhereas the amendments to the Marpol Convention adopted with Resolution MEPC.68(38) entered into force on 1 January 1998; whereas the amendments to the IBC Code adopted by Resolution MEPC.69(39), MSC.50(66), and MSC.58(67) and to the IGC Code via Resolution MSC.32(63) and MSC.59(67) entered into force on 1 July 1998; whereas the amendments made to the IBC Code by Resolution MEPC.73(39) entered into force on 10 July 1998;\nWhereas IMO Resolution A.648(16) specifying general principles for ship reporting has been superseded by Resolution A.851(20) adopted by the Assembly of the IMO on the 27 November 1997;\nWhereas it is appropriate to apply these amendments for the purposes of the Directive;\nWhereas the provisions of this Directive are in line with the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 12 of Directive 93/75/EEC;\nDirective 93/75/EEC is amended as follows:\n1. the expression 'in force on 1 January 1996` in Article 2(e) shall be replaced by 'in force on 1 January 1998`;\n2. the expression 'in force on 1 January 1996` in Article 2(g) shall be replaced by 'in force on 10 July 1998`;\n3. the expression 'in force on 1 January 1996` in Article 2(h) shall be replaced by 'in force on 1 July 1998`;\n4. Article 2(j) is replaced by the following:\n'(j) \"IMO Resolution A.851(20)\" means the International Maritime Organisation Resolution 851(20) adopted by the Assembly at its 20th session on 27 November 1997 and entitled \"General principles for ship reporting systems and ship reporting requirements, including guidelines for reporting incidents involving dangerous goods, harmful substances and/or marine pollutants\"`;\n5. in Article 6(2), the expression 'IMO Resolution A.648(16)` is replaced by the expression 'IMO Resolution A.851(20)`.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not later than 12 months following the date of its entry into force and forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen these provisions are adopted by Member States, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for making such a reference shall be laid down by Member States.\n2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "transport of dangerous goods", "International Maritime Organisation", "pollution from ships", "maritime transport", "harbour installation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/64/EC: Commission Decision of 28 January 2003 on provisional measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of pepino mosaic virus as regards tomato plants, intended for planting (notified under document number C(2003) 339)\nCommission Decision\nof 28 January 2003\non provisional measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of pepino mosaic virus as regards tomato plants, intended for planting\n(notified under document number C(2003) 339)\n(2003/64/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community(1), as last amended by Directive 2002/89/EC(2), and in particular the third sentence of Article 16(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In late 1999 and early 2000, Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom informed the other Member States and the Commission of outbreaks of pepino mosaic virus on tomato crops in their respective countries and of the measures taken to control it.\n(2) By Commission Decision 2001/536/EC(3), Member States were provisionally required to take measures against the introduction into and the spread within the Community of pepino mosaic virus as regards tomato plants, intended for planting, other than seeds.\n(3) In official surveys carried out by Member States pursuant to Decision 2001/536/EC, new outbreaks have been detected. Moreover, pepino mosaic virus is present in several third countries.\n(4) Pepino mosaic virus is currently not listed in Annex I or Annex II to Directive 2000/29/EC. However, a preliminary pest risk analysis carried out by several Member States based on available scientific information has demonstrated that pepino mosaic virus and its damaging effects could be of significant plant health concern to the Community, in particular for protected tomato production. The risk to out-door production of tomatoes and of other solanaceae crops, especially potatoes, has not yet fully been established. The Commission has asked the Member States to continue scientific research work and to deliver an opinion on the risk of pepino mosaic virus to out-door production of tomatoes and of other solanaceae crops. At this stage, the scientific work performed on the pepino mosaic virus has not provided sufficient clarification to revise that preliminary pest risk analysis.\n(5) Accordingly, as Decision 2001/536/EC has expired, it is necessary to provide for provisional measures against pepino mosaic virus.\n(6) The source of contamination on premises involved in tomato fruit production has not been identified to date. The Member States should therefore conduct official surveys to determine the sources of contamination as well as the pathway of introduction.\n(7) Although the role of tomato seed as source of infection is not yet fully clarified, it is likely that seed plays an important role. Consequently the measures set out in this Decision should also apply to tomato seeds.\n(8) Those measures should apply to the introduction or the spread within the Community of pepino mosaic virus, the inspection of tomato plants intended for planting, originating in third countries and the movement of tomato plants, intended for planting. They should also include more general monitoring for the presence of pepino mosaic virus in the Member States.\n(9) It is appropriate that the results of such measures be continually assessed, and possible subsequent measures be considered in the light of the results of that assessment. The subsequent measures should also take into account the information to be provided and the scientific opinion to be delivered by the Member States.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nThe introduction into and movement within the Community of plants of tomato, Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten ex Farw., intended for planting, contaminated by pepino mosaic virus shall be prohibited.\nPlants of tomato, intended for planting, originating in third countries, shall meet the conditions laid down in points 1 or 2 of the Annex. They shall be inspected on entry into the Community for the presence of pepino mosaic virus, in accordance with Article 13(1)(a) of Directive 2000/29/EC, mutatis mutandis.\n1. Plants of tomato, intended for planting, may not be moved from their place of production unless they meet the conditions laid down in points 3 or 4 of the Annex.\n2. The first paragraph shall not apply to movement of plants intended for sale to final consumers not involved in professional plant production, provided that the packaging of the plants or other indications clearly show that they are intended for sale to such consumer.\nMember States shall conduct official surveys at least on premises involved in the production of tomato plants and tomato fruit, for the presence of pepino mosaic virus.\nWithout prejudice to Article 16(2) of Directive 2000/29/EC, the results of the surveys provided for in the first paragraph shall be notified to the Commission and to the other Member States by 30 September 2003.\nThe Commission shall review the operation of this Decision by 31 October 2003 at the latest.\nThis Decision shall cease to apply on 31 January 2004.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fruit vegetable", "plant health control", "parasitology", "plant disease", "protection of plant life", "plant health legislation", "seedling" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3074/89 of 11 October 1989 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of welded tubes originating in Yugoslavia and Romania\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3074/89\nof 11 October 1989\nimposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of welded tubes originating in Yugoslavia and Romania\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 11 thereof,\nAfter consultations within the Advisory Committee as provided for by the abovementioned Regulation,\nWhereas:\nA. PROCEDURE\n(1) In February 1988 the Commission received a complaint lodged by the Liaison Committee of the European Community Steel Tube Industry on behalf of manufacturers representing the majority of the Community production of the products in question.\n(2) The complaint contained evidence of dumping and of injury caused thereby which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding.\nThe Commission accordingly announced, by notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communites (2) the initiation of an anti-dumping concerning imports into the Community of certain welded tubes of iron or non-alloy steel falling within CN codes 7306 30 51, 7306 30 59, ex 7306 30 71 and ex 7306 30 79.\n(3) The Commission officially advised the producers/exporters and importers known to the Commission to be concerned and the complainant and gave the parties directly concerned the opportunity to make known their views in writing and to request a hearing.\nDuring the investigation, the Commission was informed that more Yugoslavian producers than previously known were involved in the case. The Commission additionally gave them the opportunity to make known their views.\nFurthermore the exporters concerned asked for extensions for replying to the Commission's questionnaires.\nConsequently, the Commission was forced to overdraw the set time limits.\n(4) Most of the Community producers, some of the importers, a Yugoslavian producer/exporter and the Romanian exporter made known their views in writing. Some of them requested and were granted hearings.\n(5) The Commission sought and verified all information it deemed to be necessary for the purposes of establishing the facts and carried out inspections at the premises of the following:\n(a) EC producers:\n- Mannesmannroehren-Werke AG, Duesseldorf, Germany,\n- IBS (United Tube Mills), Athens, Greece,\n- Dalmine SpA, Dalmine, Italy,\n- Arbed SA, Luxembourg, Luxembourg;\n(b) Non EC-producer/exporter:\n- Zeljezara Sisak, Sisak, Yugoslavia;\n(c) EC importers:\n- Mannesmann Handel AG, Duesseldorf, Germany,\n- Montan Handel Peter Richter & Co., Duesseldorf, Germany.\n(6) The investigation of dumping covered the period from 1 July 1987 to 30 June 1988.\nB. DUMPING\n(a) Normal value\n(7) Yugoslavia\nNormal value was established on the basis of the comparable prices actually paid or payable in the ordinary course of trade for the like product on the Yugoslavian market.\nDomestic sales considered for calculation of normal value were made to independent customers at a profit in substantial quantities. The weighted average of the prices of these sales were therefore considered to be representative of the Yugoslavian domestic market.\nDue to the high inflation rate in Yugoslavia during the investigation period normal values were calculated month by month. The exchange rates used for calculation are the official Yugoslavian rates, published by the Yugoslavian administration.\n(8) Romania\nAs Romania is a non-market economy country, the normal value had to be determined on the price at which the like product is sold for domestic consumption in a third country with a market economy. Under these circumstances it was considered appropriate and not unreasonable to establish the normal value for Romania on the basis of the prices at which the like product was sold on the Yugoslavian domestic market.\nThe Commission is satisfied that between Romania and Yugoslavia there are no significant differences in the production processes, the supplies of raw materials, the scale of production and the quality of the finished products. The Commission has further considered that cost of production and the price level in Yugoslavia are in a reasonable proportion. The Commission therefore concluded that it was not unreasonable to apply the normal value established for Yugoslavia also for the Romanian products.\nThe Romanian exporter did not object to this determination.\n(b) Export prices\n(9) Export prices for both Yugoslavia and Romania were established on the basis of the prices actually paid or payable for the like product sold for export to the Community.\n(c) Comparison\n(10) In comparing value with export prices, the Commission took account, where appropriate, of differences affecting price comparability, such as discounts, commissions, credit terms, transport and insurance, handling, packing and related costs.\n(11) All comparisons were made at an ex-works level.\n(d) Dumping margins\n(12) The preliminary comparison of the above facts showed that imports had been dumped. The dumping margins were equal to the difference between normal value and the export price to the Community duly adjusted. The weighted average dumping margins, as percentage rate of the free at Community frontier prices, were provisionally established as follows:\n- Yugoslavia: 40,6 %;\n- Romania: 31,7 %.\nC. INJURY\n(13) Imports from Yugoslavia increased from 20 720 tonnes in 1986 to 45 560 tonnes in 1988 and from Romania from 7 230 tonnes in 1986 to 19 986 tonnes in 1988. Cumulated imports from Yugoslavia and Romania climbed from 27 950 tonnes in 1986 to 65 546 tonnes in 1988 corresponding to an increase of about 135 % over that period.\n(14) The corresponding market share increased from 2,8 % in 1986 to 5,1 % in 1988 for Yugoslavia and from 1 % to 2,2 % for Romania in the same period. The cumulated market shares of the imports under consideration increased from 3,8 % in 1986 to 7,3 % in 1988. In the most affected Member States, the cumulated market shares reached 23,6 % in the Federal Republic of Germany and 15,1 % in Italy respectively during the first semester of 1988.\n(15) The evidence available to the Commission also indicates that the prices at which the dumped imports from Yugoslavia and Romania were sold in the Community undercut the prices of Community producers during the investigation period significantly. The average prices of the Romanian and Yugoslavian products were 22,6 % and 18,6 % below the prices of comparable products of Community producers.\n(16) The sharp increase of dumped imports of the products under consideration originating in Romania and Yugoslavia has significantly contributed to dampen the recovery of Community production. The moderate increase of Community production of 4,2 % between 1986 and 1988 is to be measured against a growth of Community consumption of 19,8 % over the same period.\n(17) The inflow of dumped imports prevented Community producers to benefit adequately from the increasing demand. Instead of achieving a reasonable improvement of their capacity utilization from the already relatively low level in 1986, Community producers suffered from a further reduction of their utilization rate in 1987 and could reach in 1988 only in some cases a small improvement distinctly below the level in 1985.\n(18) The low prices at which the dumped products were sold in the Community, undercutting Community producer's prices by between 18 % and 22 %, combined with a substantial increase in market share in a market for a standardized product in commercial qualities caused price suppression in the Community. Community producers were forced either to accept sales at a loss or to reduce their sales. The consequent impact was a decline of the market share of Community producers and increasing financial losses or a reduction of profits.\n(19) The Commission has also considered whether injury might have been caused by other factors than the dumped imports. It was found that imports from other third countries than Romania and Yugoslavia also increased significantly in the period between 1986 and 1988. The analysis of this factor revealed that the majority of this increase stemmed from imports of the products under consideration originating in Turkey and Venezuela. The Commission has in the meantime received evidence that imports from Turkey and Venezuela are also being dumped and are causing injury to the Community industry. A corresponding complaint has been lodged by the Community industry and the Commission has initiated an anti-dumping proceeding concerning the imports of the products concerned originating in Turkey and Venezuela (1).\n(20) However, because of the increase of the dumped imports from Yugoslavia and Romania and their significant price undercutting outlined under recital (13) to (18), the Commission has come to the conclusion that the imports from Romania and Yugoslavia taken in isolation are causing material injury to the Community industry regardless of the fact that imports from Turkey and Venezuela have probably also contributed to the deterioration of the situation of the Community industry.\nD. COMMUNITY INTEREST\n(21) Iron and steel tube production is an important basic industry in the Community closely linked upstream to the steel industry. It is the most important customer for the transformation of primary ECSC steel products. In 1988 about 15 % of total EEC raw steel production was absorbed by the manufacture of tubes.\nBecause of overcapacities the sector has gone through a severe restructuring process which is still going on. In 1988 the sector employed 74 500 people in the Community down from 123 500 in 1981. Regionally the plants are located in the vicinity of the steel producing centers which are already suffering from employment problems linked to the downturn in the steel industry.\n(22) Downstream the sector is an important supplier of all branches of the manufacturing industry. The most important customer groups are mechanical engineering, vehicle building, construction, structural steel works and the energy sector. In order to be in a position of manufacturing the whole range of products at competitive costs the industry depends on a reasonable utilization rate of its equipment which is basically provided for by the production of standardized commercial quality tubes which are in direct competition with the dumped products imported from Romania and Yugoslavia and account for a major part of the revenue generated by the industry. In view of these facts it is considered in the Community's interest to maintain a viable and healthy steel tube manufacturing industry and to take action against unfair trade practices. In the opinion of the Commission such action in the form of provisional anti-dumping duties should eliminate the disturbing effects of the price undercutting by the imports from Romania and Yugoslavia which would contribute to more stable prices for welded steel tubes in the Community. It is considered that the secondary effects of the limited price increases for the imported products in respect of the output of the main downstream branches mentioned above will be insignificant. No submissions to the contrary were made by or on behalf of Community purchasers or processors of the welded steel tubes concerned.\nE. PROVISIONAL DUTIES\n(23) As a result of the preliminary findings on dumping and injury with regard to the imports from Romania and Yugoslavia under consideration and in order to prevent further injury being caused by these imports it is considered that the interests of the Community require the imposition of provisional anti-dumping duties.\n(24) The provisional duties should be less than the dumping margins found but adequate to remove the injury. Under this condition and because it was established that price undercutting was the decisive factor of injury, the Commission considers sufficient a rate of duty ad valorem which eliminated the margins of the price undercutting found.\nOn this basis the Commission determined the provisional antidumping duties to be\n18 % for weided steel tubes imported from Yugoslavia,\n22 % for those imported from Romania,\ncalculated on the net price, free-at-Community-frontier, customs uncleared.\n(25) A period should be fixed within which the parties concerned may make their views known and request a hearing,\n1. A provisional anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of welded tubes, of iron or non-alloy steel, threaded or threadable, zinc coated or not, of circular cross-section, of an external diameter of not more than 168,3 mm, falling within CN codes 7306 30 51, 7306 30 59, ex 7306 30 71, ex 7306 30 79, originating in Yugoslavia and Romania.\n2. The rate of the duty shall be 18 % for products originating in Yugoslavia and 22 % for products originating in Romania. The duty shall be calculated on the net price, free-at-Community-frontier, customs uncleared.\n3. The provisions in force concerning customs duties shall apply.\n4. The release for free circulation in the Community of the products referred to in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the provision of a security, equivalent to the amount of the provisional duty.\nWithout prejudice to Article 7 (4) (b) and (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, the parties concerned may make known their views in writing and apply to be heard by the Commission within one month of the entry into force of this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nSubject to Articles 11, 12 and 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, it shall apply for a period of four months, unless the Council adopts definitive measures before the expiry of that period.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Yugoslavia", "tube", "dumping", "Romania" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a0886/2011 of 5\u00a0September 2011 concerning the authorisation of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Trichoderma reesei (CBS 122001) as a feed additive for sows (holder of authorisation Roal Oy) Text with EEA relevance\n6.9.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 229/5\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 886/2011\nof 5 September 2011\nconcerning the authorisation of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Trichoderma reesei (CBS 122001) as a feed additive for sows (holder of authorisation Roal Oy)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No\u00a01831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 9(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No\u00a01831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition and for the grounds and procedures for granting such authorisation.\n(2) In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No\u00a01831/2003, an application was submitted for the authorisation of the enzyme preparation 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Trichoderma reesei (CBS 122001). The application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No\u00a01831/2003.\n(3) The application concerns the authorisation of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Trichoderma reesei (CBS 122001) as a feed additive for sows, to be classified in the additive category \u2018zootechnical additives\u2019.\n(4) The use of that preparation was authorised for 10 years for poultry for fattening and breeding other than turkeys for fattening, for poultry for laying and for pigs other than sows by Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a0277/2010\u00a0(2), and for turkeys by Commission Regulation (EU) No\u00a0891/2010\u00a0(3).\n(5) New data were submitted in support of the application for the authorisation of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Trichoderma reesei (CBS 122001) for sows. The European Food Safety Authority (\u2018the Authority\u2019) concluded in its opinion of 15 March 2011\u00a0(4) that, under the proposed conditions of use, 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Trichoderma reesei (CBS 122001) does not have an adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment, and that its use can improve the calcium and phosphorus digestibility in sows. The Authority does not consider that there is a need for specific requirements of post-market monitoring. It also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additive in feed submitted by the Community Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No\u00a01831/2003.\n(6) The assessment of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Trichoderma reesei (CBS 122001) shows that the conditions for authorisation, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No\u00a01831/2003, are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of this preparation should be authorised as specified in the Annex to this Regulation.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nThe preparation specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category \u2018zootechnical additives\u2019 and to the functional group \u2018digestibility enhancers\u2019, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "food additive", "swine", "market approval", "zootechnics", "animal feedingstuffs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Decision of 3\u00a0September 2011 setting up a Commission stakeholder expert group on public procurement and replacing Decision 87/305/EEC setting up an advisory committee on the opening-up of public procurement Text with EEA relevance\n4.10.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 291/2\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 3 September 2011\nsetting up a Commission stakeholder expert group on public procurement and replacing Decision 87/305/EEC setting up an advisory committee on the opening-up of public procurement\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n2011/C 291/02\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nWhereas:\n(1) The Europe 2020 strategy stresses that public procurement policy should ensure the most efficient use of public funds, keep procurement markets open Union wide, especially in the context of severe budgetary constraints and economic difficulties in many Member States.\n(2) The Europe 2020 strategy underlines that public procurement rules should improve the business environment, especially with respect to innovative small and medium sized enterprises in order to support the shift towards a resource efficient economy. Public procurement policy should also contribute to the achievement of common societal goals, including the fight against climate change and the promotion of innovation, which are important new challenges facing Europe.\n(3) Within this context, the framework created by Commission Decision 87/305/EEC, of 26 May 1987, setting up an advisory committee on the opening-up of public procurement\u00a0(1), is no longer suitable for providing the Commission with the expertise and practical input needed in order to shape a public procurement policy which meets the evolving challenges of the Union's public procurement policy.\n(4) It is therefore necessary to set up a group of experts on public procurement within a new legal framework which will allow, on the one hand, to adapt the functioning of the group to the new Commission framework for expert groups\u00a0(2), and, on the other hand, to provide the Commission with the necessary expertise, experience and insight in order to meet the new challenges in the field of public procurement.\n(5) The group should therefore help the Commission to develop high quality procurement debate and policy. The group shall, where appropriate, prepare reports or issue opinions to help the Commission in developing and implementing Union policy and legislation on public procurement.\n(6) Furthermore, such a forum would also enable the sectors concerned to be informed about the design and application of Union rules on procurement.\n(7) In view of the above, the group should have a mixed composition of members chosen on the basis of their personal capacity and/or of the interests they represent, and from organisations. Those members should come from different backgrounds including, for instance, legal practitioners, technical experts involved in procurement contracts, academia, industry or trade organisations, associations of contracting authorities or entities.\n(8) The composition of the group should be balanced both with regard to gender and geographical origin as far as possible.\n(9) All members should satisfy high standards of active and quality participation during the meetings and in their preparation and follow up if needed.\n(10) Personal data should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data\u00a0(3).\n(11) Therefore, Decision 87/305/EEC should be repealed,\nCommission stakeholder expert group on public procurement\nA stakeholder expert group on public procurement (hereinafter referred to as \u2018the group\u2019) is hereby set up.\nThis group replaces the advisory committee on the opening-up of public procurement set up by Decision 87/305/EEC.\nTasks of the group\nThe tasks of the group shall be to provide the Commission with high quality legal, economic, technical and/or practical insight and expertise with a view to assisting it in shaping the public procurement policy of the Union.\nThose tasks may involve:\n(a) providing legal and economic analysis and comments on important developments or structural trends of public procurement, and their implications for the Union policy framework;\n(b) providing feedback to the Commission services on the challenges and developments in specific sectors which may require public procurement response and to propose adequate solutions;\n(c) providing input aimed at improving the effectiveness of the Union's public procurement policy;\n(d) providing input in the framework of preparatory legislative work of the Commission in the field of public procurement;\n(e) assisting the Commission services in analysing the relevant case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.\nThe opinions of the group shall not be binding on the Commission or its services.\nConsultation\nThe Commission or its services may consult the group on any matter relating to the Union's public procurement policy, law and practice.\nMembership \u2014 Appointment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall be composed of a maximum of 20 members.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members shall be individuals appointed in a personal capacity, individuals representing a common interest, and/or organisations as referred to in Rule 8 of the horizontal rules for Commission expert groups.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All members and their representatives shall satisfy high standards of active and quality participation during the meetings and in their preparation and follow up if needed.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A call for applications shall be published by the services of the Commission with a view to selecting the members of the group.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members shall be appointed by the Director General of DG Internal Market and Services. Those members shall be chosen from individuals and organisations with competence in the areas referred to in Article 2 and Article 3 and which have responded to the call for applications.\nOrganisations shall nominate their representatives. The Director General of DG Internal Market and Services may refuse a representative proposed by an organisation on the basis that the representative does not meet the profile required in the call for applications. In such cases, the organisation concerned shall be asked to appoint another representative.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members are appointed for three years by the Director General of DG MARKT. Their term of office may be renewed for a maximum of three years. The The Director General of DG MARKT shall decide on the renewal of one or several members on the basis of the quality, regularity and relevance of their contributions as defined in Article 3.\nMembers shall remain in office and active until replaced.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Provision may be made for the same number of alternates as members to be appointed. Alternates shall be appointed in accordance with the same conditions as members; alternates automatically replace any members who are absent or indisposed.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members who are no longer capable of contributing effectively to the group\u2019s deliberations, who resign or who do not comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 5 of this Article, or Article 339 of the Treaty, may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office.\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Individuals appointed in a personal capacity shall act independently and in the public interest. Individuals appointed to represent a common interest shared by stakeholders shall not represent an individual stakeholder.\n10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The names of individuals appointed in a personal capacity, of individuals representing a common interest, and of organisations, shall be published in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities (\u2018the Register\u2019). The interests represented by individuals shall also be published in the Register.\nIndividuals who do not wish to have their names disclosed may apply for a derogation from the obligation of publication set out in the first subparagraph. A derogation shall only be granted if disclosure of the expert's name could endanger his or her security or integrity or unduly prejudice his or her privacy.\n11.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Personal data shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001\u00a0(4).\nOperation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall be chaired by a representative of the Commission services.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall act at the request of those services.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission services shall set the Agenda of the meetings in advance. To this effect, those services may take into account suggestions from the members of the group.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission services may decide that the group meets in full or in subgroup(s) which shall be composed of those members whose expertise and/or interests are of specific relevance to the points of the agenda of the specific meeting.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission services may invite experts from outside the group with specific competence in a subject on the agenda to participate in the work of the group on an ad hoc basis. In addition, the Commission services may give observer status to individuals, organisations as defined in Rule 8(3) of the horizontal rules on expert groups and candidate countries.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All members of the group and their representatives, as well as experts and observers invited for a specific meeting, shall comply with the obligations of professional secrecy laid down by the Treaties and their implementing rules, as well as with the Commission's rules on security regarding the protection of EU classified information, laid down in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom\u00a0(5). Should they fail to respect these obligations, the the Director General of Internal Market may take all appropriate measures.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The meetings of the group or subgroup(s) shall be held on Commission premises. The Commission shall provide secretarial services. Other Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the group.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The rules of procedure of the group shall be the standard rules of procedure for expert groups, unless the group adopts specific rules.\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall publish the relevant information on the activities carried out by the group either by including it in the Register or via a link from the Register to a dedicated website.\nMeeting expenses\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Participants in the activities of the group shall not be remunerated for the services they render.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by participants in the activities of the group shall be reimbursed by the Commission in accordance with the provisions in force within the Commission.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Those expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the available appropriations allocated under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources.\nRepeal\nDecision 87/305/EEC\u00a0(6) is repealed.", "answer groups": [ "advisory committee (EU)", "self-employed person", "European Commission", "appointment of members", "public contract" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 851/2003 of 16 May 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90 laying down detailed rules for granting private storage aid for pigmeat\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 851/2003\nof 16 May 2003\namending Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90 laying down detailed rules for granting private storage aid for pigmeat\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2759/75 of 29 October 1975 on the common organisation of the market in pigmeat(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1365/2000(2), and in particular Article 7(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90(3), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 3533/93(4), lays down the rules applying to the time limit for producing supporting evidence for the payment of aid, but does not make provision for cases where no supporting evidence is presented. The appropriate provisions should therefore be adopted.\n(2) Article 9(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90 provides for the possibility of curtailing the storage period in the case of exports of products under contract, regardless of whether they qualify for an export refund or not. Where the products qualify for a refund, proof of export is offered using the documents laid down in Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 of 15 April 1999 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on agricultural products(5), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 444/2003(6). With a view to simplifying the monitoring operations, a similar procedure should be introduced for the proof to be offered when products are exported without a refund.\n(3) In order to ensure the proper operation of the private storage aid introduced pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2179/2002 of 6 December 2002 on special conditions for the granting of private storage aid for pigmeat(7), the proposed amendments should apply immediately to the contracts concluded under that Regulation.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Pigmeat,\nRegulation (EEC) No 3444/90 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. The following paragraph is added to Article 7:\n\"3. If the requirements laid down in paragraph 1 are not complied with, no aid shall be paid in respect of the contract concerned and the entire security for that contract shall be forfeit.\"\n2. The fourth subparagraph of Article 9(4) is replaced by the following:\"For the purposes of this paragraph, proof of export shall be offered in accordance with Articles 7 and 8 of Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 in the case of products qualifying for a refund.\nIn the case of products not qualifying for a refund, proof of export shall be offered in the cases provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 by producing the original T5 control copy, in accordance with Articles 912a, 912b, 912c, 912e and 912g of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93. One of the following entries must be made in box 107 of the control copy when it is being drawn up:\n- Reglamento (CEE) n\u00b0 3444/90\n- Forordning (E\u00d8F) nr. 3444/90\n- Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 3444/90\n- \u039a\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2 (\u0395\u039f\u039a) \u03b1\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8. 3444/90\n- Regulation (EEC) No 3444/90\n- R\u00e8glement (CEE) n\u00b0 3444/90\n- Regolamento (CEE) n. 3444/90\n- Verordening (EEG) nr. 3444/90\n- Regulamento (CEE) n.o 3444/90\n- Asetus (ETY) N:o 3444/90\n- F\u00f6rordning (EEG) nr 3444/90\".\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply to all new private storage aid and to the contracts concluded under Regulation (EC) No 2179/2002.\nHowever, Article 1(2) shall apply only to exports that take place on or after the date of entry into force of this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "pigmeat", "quantitative restriction", "private stock", "export", "storage premium" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1822/86 of 30 May 1986 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1061/69 as regards the methods of analysis for the determination of starch in soya protein concentrates and in goods containing such products\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 1822/86\nof 30 May 1986\namending Regulation (EEC) No 1061/69 as regards the methods of analysis for the determination of starch in soya protein concentrates and in goods containing such products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 97/69 of 16 January 1969 on measures to be taken for uniform application of the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff (1), as last amended by Regulation No 2055/84 (2) and in particular Article 3 thereof;\nWhereas Article 1 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1061/69 (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 419/77 (4), defines the methods of analysis to be used to implement Council Regulation (EEC) No 3033/80 of 11 November 1980 laying down the trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products (5);\nWhereas, in the light of the studies carried out, it is necessary to replace by a more appropriate method the method of analysis laid down for the determination of starch as applied to soya protein concentrates and in goods containing such products;\nWhereas the method set out in the Annex is more reliable;\nWhereas it is desirable to change certain chemical names;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Common Customs Tariff Nomenclature,\nRegulation (EEC) No 1061/69 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 1 is replaced by the following:\n'Article 1\n1. Where classification of goods referred to in Article 1 of Regulation (EEC) No 3033/80 under one or other of the subheadings of the Common Customs Tariff depends on the starch content by weight, such content shall be determined by reference to the quantity of starch in the anhydrous state contained in such goods.\n2. The starch content by weight of soya protein concentrates and of goods containing such products shall be ascertained by the enzymatic method set out in Annex V.\n3. The starch content by weight of goods other than those referred to in paragraph 2 shall be ascertained by the modified Ewers method set out in the first chapter of Annex I to the third Commission Directive 72/199/EEC (1).\nHowever, where the goods in question contain starches other than native starches but do not also contain sucrose or invert sugar, the starch content by weight of such goods shall be ascertained by the saccharification method set out in Annex I to the abovementioned Directive.\nFor the purposes of implementing this paragraph, dextrines shall be treated as starches other than native starches.\n(1) OJ No L 123, 29. 5. 1972, p. 6.'\n2. Article 4 is replaced by the following:\n'Article 4\nThe D-mannitol content of products falling within subheadings 29.04 C III and 38.19 T of the Common Customs Tariff, calculated by reference to the D-glucitol (sorbitol) content, shall be ascertained by the methods set out in Annex IV.'\n3. Annex IV is amended as follows:\n(a) The title is replaced by the following:\n'DETERMINATION OF THE D-MANNITOL CONTENT OF GOODS FALLING WITHIN SUBHEADINGS 29.04 C III AND 38.19 T OF THE COMMON CUSTOMS TARIFF, CALCULATED ON THE D-GLUCITOL CONTENT';\n(b) Paragraph I is replaced by the following:\n'I. Principle\nGas chromatography is used to determine the D-mannitol content of goods falling within subheadings 29.04 C III and 38.19 T of the Common Customs Tariff, calculated on their D-glucitol content. For that purpose, non-volatile products must first be processed into their acetylated derivatives.';\n(c) Paragraph III (b) is replaced by the following:\n'(b) Conditions required for carrying out chromatography:\nInjection temperature: 300 \u00b0C;\nTemperature of the column: 210 \u00b0C;\nFlow rate of carrier gas stream (e.g. nitrogen): 25 ml/minute;\nHydrogen flow rate: 25 ml/minute;\nQuantity injected: 1 microlitre.\nThe D-mannitol peak appears first, then the D-glucitol peak.\nTo determine the D-mannitol content of the goods under analysis, calculated on their D-glucitol content, simply calculate the ratio of the areas of the two peaks.'\n4. The Annex to this Regulation is added as Annex V.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 21st day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "vegetable protein", "starch" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2003/13/EC of 10 February 2003 amending Directive 96/5/EC on processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Directive 2003/13/EC\nof 10 February 2003\namending Directive 96/5/EC on processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 89/398/EEC of 3 May 1989 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses(1), as last amended by Directive 1999/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(2), and in particular Article 4(1) thereof,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food,\nWhereas:\n(1) Article 6 of Commission 96/5/EC(3), as last amended by Directive 1999/39/EC(4), stipulates that processed cereal-based foods and baby foods shall not contain any substance in such quantity as to endanger the health of infants and young children.\n(2) On the basis of opinions given by the Scientific Committee on Food on 19 September 1997 and 4 June 1998, Directive 96/5/EC established a general maximum residue level of 0,01 mg/kg for any individual pesticide in processed cereal-based foods and baby foods.\n(3) In the case of a small number of pesticides or metabolites of pesticides even a maximum residue level of 0,01 mg/kg might, under worst-case intake conditions, allow infants and young children to exceed the acceptable daily intake. This is the case for pesticides or metabolites of pesticides with an acceptable daily intake lower than 0,0005 mg/kg body weight.\n(4) Directive 96/5/EC establishes the principle of the prohibition of the use of these pesticides in the production of agricultural products intended for processed cereal-based foods and baby foods. The pesticides in question should be listed in Annex VIII to Directive 96/5/EC. However, this prohibition does not necessarily guarantee that products are free from such pesticides, since some pesticides contaminate the environment and their residues may be found in the products concerned.\n(5) The health of infants and young children can be better protected by applying additional requirements which can be enforced by analysis regardless of a product's origin.\n(6) Most of the pesticides which have acceptable daily intake values lower than 0,0005 mg/kg body weight are already prohibited in the Community or will be prohibited by July 2003. The prohibited pesticides should not be detectable in processed cereal-based foods and baby foods by state of the art analytical methods. However, some pesticides degrade slowly and still contaminate the environment. They might be present in processed cereal-based foods and baby foods even if they have not been used. For the purposes of control, a harmonised approach has to be followed.\n(7) Pending Commission decisions on whether they satisfy the safety requirements of Article 5 of Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market(5), as last amended by Commission Directive 2003/5/EC(6), the continued use of authorised pesticides should be permitted as long as their residues comply with the maximum residue levels established in the present Directive. The latter should be set at levels ensuring that their respective acceptable daily intake values are not exceeded by infants and young children under worst-case intake conditions.\n(8) Directive 96/5/EC should be amended accordingly.\n(9) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDirective 96/5/EC is amended as follows:\n1. Article 6 is amended as follows:\n- Paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:\n\"1. Processed cereal-based foods and baby foods shall not contain any substance in such quantity as to endanger the health of infants and young children. Necessary maximum levels for substances other than those referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be established without delay.\"\n- Paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:\n\"3. (a) Those pesticides listed in Annex VIII shall not be used in agricultural products intended for the production of processed cereal-based foods and baby foods. However, for the purpose of control:\n(i) pesticides listed in Table 1 of Annex VIII are considered not to have been used if their residues do not exceed a level of 0,003 mg/kg. This level which is considered to be the limit of quantification of the analytical methods shall be kept under regular review in the light of technical progress;\n(ii) pesticides listed in Table 2 of Annex VIII are considered not to have been used if their residues do not exceed a level of 0,003 mg/kg. This level shall be kept under regular review in the light of data on environmental contamination.\nThe levels referred to in (i) and (ii) shall apply to the products as proposed ready for consumption or as reconstituted according to the instructions of the manufacturers.\n(b) For pesticides listed in Annex VII, where a decision concerning the non-inclusion of an active substance in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC is taken, Annex VII and Annex VIII to this Directive shall be amended accordingly.\"\n2. Annex VII is replaced by Annex I to this Directive.\n3. Annex VIII is replaced by Annex II to this Directive.\n1. The Member States shall authorise trade in products which comply with Article 6(3) of Directive 96/5/EC by 6 March 2004 at the latest.\n2. The Member States shall prohibit trade in products which do not comply with Article 6(3) of Directive 96/5/EC by 6 March 2005.\nMember States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 6 March 2004 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "nutrition", "food inspection", "foodstuffs legislation", "food hygiene", "cereal product", "baby food", "marketing standard" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2002/550/EC: Council Decision of 27 June 2002 authorising the United Kingdom to apply a differentiated rate of excise duty to fuels containing biodiesel in accordance with Article 8(4) of Directive 92/81/EEC\nCouncil Decision\nof 27 June 2002\nauthorising the United Kingdom to apply a differentiated rate of excise duty to fuels containing biodiesel in accordance with Article 8(4) of Directive 92/81/EEC\n(2002/550/EC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 92/81/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duties on mineral oils(1), and in particular Article 8(4) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) The United Kingdom has requested authorisation to apply a differentiated rate of excise duty to biodiesel used as road fuel either as pure fuel or blended into diesel fuels up to 5 per cent volume in accordance with EN 590.\n(2) The other Member States have been informed of the United Kingdom's request.\n(3) The development of renewable energies and biofuels in particular has been encouraged in the Community since 1985. Most recently, on 7 November 2001, the Commission adopted an action plan and two proposals for directives on encouraging the use of substitute fuels in the transport sector, starting with regulatory and tax measures designed to promote biofuels.\n(4) The derogation requested by the United Kingdom authorities is therefore in line with the Community's policy of developing the biofuel sector, in the interests of protecting the environment and ensuring security of energy supply.\n(5) The rate for biodiesel would be set at 20 pence per litre below that for ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD). This equates to an excise duty of 25,82 pence (41,4 eurocents) per litre of biodiesel at current rates. Furthermore, the reduction in excise duty proposed by the United Kingdom is proportional to the percentage of biofuel contained in the final product.\n(6) The effective rates of excise duty are higher than the applicable Community minimum rates, in accordance with Council Directive 92/82/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the approximation of the rates of excise duties on mineral oils(2):\n>TABLE>\n(7) The requested reduction should concern biodiesel, a fuel made from biomass within the meaning of Article 2(b) of Directive 2001/77/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market(3), or made from used fried oils, to be used as a road fuel.\n(8) The differentiated rate would apply to pure biodiesel at the point of production or import. The biodiesel can then be used either as pure fuel or be blended into diesel fuels. Duty on imported blends would be payable at the appropriate rates for the constituent parts in the relevant proportion.\n(9) Production costs of biodiesel exceed those of conventional diesel, and its retail price would therefore be uncompetitive without the duty reduction. The duty reduction is intended to offset the additional production costs. It will enable biodiesel to be sold at a similar pump price to conventional diesel.\n(10) The Government of the United Kingdom should annually review the production cost of biodiesel and thus monitor that no overcompensation takes place.\n(11) The authorisation granted should apply for a period of five years.\n(12) The Commission regularly reviews reductions and exemptions to check that they do not distort competition or hinder the operation of the internal market and are not incompatible with Community policy on protection of the environment, energy and transport,\n1. The United Kingdom is hereby authorised to apply differentiated rates of excise duty to road fuel containing biodiesel and on biodiesel used as pure road fuel.\nBiodiesel is a fuel made from biomass, within the meaning of Article 2(b) of Directive 2001/77/EC, or made from used fried oils to be used as a road fuel.\n2. The reduction in excise duty shall not be greater than the amount of excise duty payable on the volume of biodiesel present in the products referred to in paragraph 1 eligible for the reduction.\n3. The rates of duty applicable to the products referred to in paragraph 1 shall comply with the terms of Directive 92/82/EEC and in particular the minimum rate laid down in Article 5 thereof.\nBased on an annual review by the United Kingdom, the reduction in excise duty shall be adjusted to avoid overcompensating for the extra costs involved in the manufacture of biofuels.\nThis Decision shall expire on 31 March 2007.\nThis Decision is addressed to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.", "answer groups": [ "environmental protection", "diesel fuel", "United Kingdom", "tariff reduction", "substitute fuel", "excise duty", "security of supply" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Directive 2001/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 amending Council Directive 91/68/EEC as regards scrapie\nDirective 2001/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council\nof 22 May 2001\namending Council Directive 91/68/EEC as regards scrapie\nTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 152(4)(b) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(2),\nHaving consulted the Committee of the Regions,\nActing in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(3),\nWhereas:\n(1) The animal health conditions for scrapie, covering placing on the market of animals, are laid down in Council Directive 91/68/EEC of 28 January 1991 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in ovine and caprine animals(4).\n(2) The Commission has obtained scientific opinions, in particular from the Scientific Steering Committee, on several aspects of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). The rules laid down in Directive 91/68/EEC should be reviewed in the light of those opinions.\n(3) Provisions should be laid down for all matters concerning TSEs to apply, in particular, to the production and placing on the market of live animals and products of animal origin referred to in Article 1(1) of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down the rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies(5).\n(4) This Directive concerns public health directly and relates to the operation of the internal market. It is consequently appropriate to take Article 152(4)(b) of the Treaty as the legal basis for the adoption of rules for the prevention and control of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.\n(5) Directive 91/68/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly,\nDirective 91/68/EEC is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Article 2(7), \"as listed under Sections I and II of Annex B\" shall be replaced by \"as listed under Section I of Annex B\".\n2. Article 6(b) shall be deleted.\n3. In Article 7(1), \"referred to in Annex B, Sections II and III\" shall be replaced by \"referred to in Annex B, Section III\".\n4. In Article 8(1), \"listed in Annex B, Sections II and III\" shall be replaced by \"listed in Annex B, Section III\".\n5. Section II of Annex B shall be deleted.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive not later than 30 June 2001. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.\nThey shall apply these provisions from 1 July 2001.\nWhen Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by Member States.\n2. The Member States shall communicate to the Commission the provisions of domestic law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. The Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "goat", "health control", "sheep", "intra-EU trade", "animal disease" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3298/80 of 18 December 1980 adapting certain Regulations in the customs field to take account of the accession of Greece\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3298/80\nof 18 December 1980\nadapting certain Regulations in the customs field to take account of the accession of Greece\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to the Act of Accession of Greece, and in particular Article 146 thereof,\nWhereas a number of Community Acts adopted after the signature of the Act of Accession contain provisions in which there are phrases given in all the official languages of the Community; whereas the following Regulations should therefore be adapted in order to include the text in Greek of the phrases concerned:\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 223/77 of 22 December 1976 on provisions for the implementation of the Community transit procedure and for certain simplifications of that procedure (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 902/80 (2);\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2783/79 of 12 December 1979 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1028/79 on the importation free of Common Customs Tariff duties of articles for the use of handicapped persons (3),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2784/79 of 12 December 1979 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1798/75 on the importation free of Common Customs Tariff duties of educational, scientific or cultural materials (4),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3034/79 of 20 December 1979 laying down conditions for the entry of fresh table grapes of the variety Emperor (Vitis vinifera c.v.) falling within subheading 08.04 A I a) 1 of the Common Customs Tariff (5),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3035/79 of 20 December 1979 laying down conditions for the entry of flue cured Virginia type and light air cured Burley type (including Burley hybrids), light air cured Maryland type and fire cured tobacco, falling within subheading 24.01 A of the Common Customs Tariff (6), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1466/80 (7),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3039/79 of 21 December 1979 laying down conditions for the entry of natural sodium nitrate and natural potassic sodium nitrate falling within subheading 31.02 A and 31.05 A III a) respectively of the Common Customs Tariff (8),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 37/80 of 9 January 1980 laying down measures applying the system of certificates of origin provided for under the International Coffee Agreement 1976 when quotas are in effect (9),\nThe Regulations cited below are hereby amended as follows:\n1. Regulation (EEC) No 223/77:\n(a) Article 13a is amended as follows:\n- the following is added to the second subparagraph of paragraph 4:\n'- Ap\u00f3spasma toy antit\u00fdpoy el\u00e9nchoy: . . . . . . (arithm\u00f3s, imeromin\u00eda, Telone\u00edo kai ch\u00f3ra ekd\u00f3seos)',\n- the following is added to paragraph 5:\n'- . . . . . . (arithm\u00f3s) ekdoth\u00e9nta aposp\u00e1smata - synimm\u00e9na ant\u00edgrafa';\n(b) the following is added to Article 50 g:\n'Telone\u00edo'.\n2. Regulation (EEC) No 2783/79:\nThe following is added to Article 2 (2):\n'E\u00eddi eisag\u00f3mena atel\u00f3s prooriz\u00f3mena gia anap\u00edroys (UNESCO). Efarmog\u00ed toy \u00e1rthroy 6 par\u00e1grafos 2 d\u00e9ftero ed\u00e1fio toy kanonismo\u00fd (EOK) arith. 1028/79'.\n3. Regulation (EEC) No 2784/79:\nThe following is added to Article 2 (2):\n'E\u00eddi eisag\u00f3mena atel\u00f3s (UNESCO). Efarmog\u00ed toy \u00e1rthroy 6 par\u00e1grafos 2 toy kanonismo\u00fd (EOK) arith. 1798/75'.\n4. Regulation (EEC) No 3034/79:\nThe following is added to item 13 of Annex I:\n'Vevaio\u00fdtai \u00f3ti ta perigraf\u00f3mena sto par\u00f3n pistopoiitik\u00f3 staf\u00fdlia e\u00ednai fr\u00e9ska epitrap\u00e9zia staf\u00fdlia tis poikil\u00edas \"Empereur\" (vitis vinifera c.v.)'.\n5. Regulation (EEC) No 3035/79:\nThe following is added to item 12 of Annex I:\n'Vevaio\u00fdtai \u00f3ti o perigraf\u00f3menos sto par\u00f3n pistopoiitik\u00f3 kapn\u00f3s e\u00ednai kapn\u00f3s \"flue cured\" t\u00fdpoy Virginia - kapn\u00f3s \"light air cured\" t\u00fdpoy Burley (perilamv\u00e1non tis poikil\u00edes Burley - kapn\u00f3s \"light air cured\" t\u00fdpoy Maryland -kapn\u00f3s \"fire cured\" (1 ) s\u00fdmfona me tin \u00e9nnoia toy \u00e1rthroy 1 (2) toy kanonismo\u00fd (EOK) arith. 3035/79'.\n6. Regulation (EEC) No 3039/79:\nThe following is added to Annex I:\n' 1. Apostol\u00e9fs\n2. Arithm\u00f3s\n3.\n4. Paral\u00edptis\n5. PISTOPOIITIKO POIOTITOS\n6. Lim\u00edn fort\u00f3seos\n7. NITRON CHILIS\n8. Plo\u00edo\n9. Fortotik\u00ed\n10. Se s\u00e1kkoys\nSime\u00eda\nArithmo\u00ed\nPos\u00f3tis\nCh\u00fdma\n11. Pos\u00f3tis se arithmo\u00fds\n12. Pos\u00f3tis ologr\u00e1fos\n13. THEORISIS EKDOYSIS ARCHIS\nSfrag\u00eds\nYpograf\u00ed\nVl\u00e9pe met\u00e1frasi No 14\n14. To kratik\u00f3 ergast\u00edrio tis ypires\u00edas oryche\u00edon pistopoie\u00ed \u00f3ti to os \u00e1no perigraf\u00f3meno fort\u00edo n\u00edtroy syn\u00edstatai ap\u00f3:\n- fysik\u00f3 nitrik\u00f3 n\u00e1trio Chil\u00eds periektik\u00f3titos se \u00e1zoto mi ypervaino\u00fdsis 16,3 % kat\u00e1 v\u00e1ros,\n- fysik\u00f3 nitrik\u00f3 kalion\u00e1trio Chil\u00eds to opo\u00edo apotele\u00edtai ap\u00f3 \u00e9na fysik\u00f3 m\u00edgma nitriko\u00fd natr\u00edoy kai nitriko\u00fd kal\u00edoy (i analog\u00eda toy telefta\u00edoy afto\u00fd stoiche\u00edoy d\u00fdnatai na fth\u00e1sei 44 %) olik\u00eds periektik\u00f3titos se \u00e1zoto \u00f3chi anot\u00e9ras toy 16,3 % kat\u00e1 v\u00e1ros, paraskevaz\u00f3meno sti Chil\u00ed kai lamvan\u00f3meno dia pl\u00fdseos toy orykto\u00fd toy n\u00edtroy kalo\u00fdmeno \"caliche\" se ydatik\u00f3 di\u00e1lyma, akoloythoym\u00e9nis ap\u00f3 m\u00eda klasmatik\u00ed kryst\u00e1llosi dia ps\u00fdxeos \u00ed iliak\u00eds exatm\u00edseos.\n(1) Diagr\u00e1psate ti mi chrisimopoio\u00fdmeni \u00e9ndeixi.\n(2) Se metriko\u00fds t\u00f3noys.\n7. Regulation (EEC) No 37/80:\nThe following is added to the second paragraph of Article 2:\n'- Diethn\u00eds organism\u00f3s kaf\u00e9 - pistopoiitik\u00f3 R oeepanexagog\u00eds'.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1981.\nHowever, Article 1 (1) (b) shall apply with effect from 1 July 1981.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "accession to the European Union", "Greece", "common customs tariff" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 308/2004 of 20 February 2004 redistributing unused portions of the 2003 quantitative quotas for certain products originating in the People's Republic of China\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 308/2004\nof 20 February 2004\nredistributing unused portions of the 2003 quantitative quotas for certain products originating in the People's Republic of China\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 520/94(1) of 7 March 1994 establishing a Community procedure for administering quantitative quotas, and in particular Article 2(5) and Articles 14 and 24 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 427/2003(2) of 3 March 2003 on a transitional product-specific safeguard mechanism and amending Regulation (EC) No 519/94 on common rules for imports from certain third countries provided for annual quantitative quotas for certain products originating in the People's Republic of China listed in Annex I to that Regulation. The provisions of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 are applicable to those quotas.\n(2) The Commission adopted Regulation (EC) No 738/94(3), laying down general rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 520/94. These provisions apply to the administration of the above quotas subject to the provisions of this Regulation.\n(3) In accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94, the competent authorities of the Member States notified the Commission of the quantities of quotas assigned in 2003 and not used.\n(4) The unused quantities could not be redistributed in time to be used before the end of the 2003 quota year.\n(5) Examination of the data received for each of the products in question indicates that the quantities not used in the 2003 quota year should be redistributed in 2004, up to a limit of the amounts set out in Annex I to this Regulation.\n(6) The different administrative methods provided for by Regulation (EC) No 520/94 have been analysed and it is considered that the method based on traditional trade flows should be adopted. Under this method quota tranches are divided into two portions, one of which is reserved for traditional importers and the other for other applicants.\n(7) This has proved to be the best way of ensuring the continuity of business for the Community importers concerned and avoiding any disturbance of trade flows.\n(8) Quantities redistributed under this Regulation should be divided using the same criteria as for the allocation of the 2003 quotas.\n(9) It is necessary to simplify the formalities to be fulfilled by traditional importers who already hold import licences issued when the 2004 Community quotas were allocated. The competent administrative authorities already possess the requisite evidence of either 1998 or 1999 imports for all traditional importers. The latter need therefore only enclose a copy of their previous licences with their new licence applications.\n(10) Measures should be taken to provide the best conditions for the allocation of that portion of the quota reserved for non-traditional importers with a view to optimum use of quotas. To this end, it is appropriate to provide for that portion to be allocated in proportion to the quantities requested, on the basis of a simultaneous examination of import licence applications actually lodged, and grant access only to importers who can prove that they obtained and made use of at least 80 % of an import licence for the product in question during the 2003 quota year. The amount that any non-traditional importer may request should also be restricted to a set volume or value.\n(11) For the purposes of quota allocation, a time limit must be set for the submission of licence applications by importers.\n(12) With a view to optimum use of quotas, licence applications for imports of footwear under quotas which refer to several CN codes must specify the quantities required for each code.\n(13) The Member States must inform the Commission of the import licence applications received, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94. The information about traditional importers' previous imports must be expressed in the same units as the quota in question.\n(14) In view of the fact that the quota system will expire on 31 December 2004, the expiry date of the redistribution import licences is set at 31 December 2004.\n(15) These measures are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the administration of quotas set up under Article 22 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94,\nThis Regulation lays down specific provisions for the redistribution in 2004 of portions of the 2003 quantitative quotas referred to in Council Regulation (EC) No 427/2003 which were not used in the 2003 quota year.\nThe quantities not used in the 2003 quota year shall be redistributed up to the limit of the volumes or values set out in Annex I to this Regulation.\nRegulation (EC) No 738/94 shall apply subject to the specific provisions of this Regulation.\n1. The quantitative quotas referred to in Article 1 shall be allocated using the method based on traditional trade flows, referred to in Article 2(2)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 520/94.\n2. The portions of each quantitative quota set aside for traditional importers and non-traditional importers are set out in Annex II to this Regulation.\n3. (a) The portion set aside for non-traditional importers shall be apportioned using the method based on allocation in proportion to quantities requested; the volume requested by a single importer may not exceed that shown in Annex III. Only importers who can prove that they imported at least 80 % of the volume of the product for which they were granted an import licence pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2077/2002(4) shall be entitled to apply for import licences.\n(b) Operators that are deemed to be related persons as defined by Article 143 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93(5) may only submit single licence application for the portion of the quota set aside for non-traditional importers regarding the goods described in the application. In addition to the statement required by Article 3(2)(g) of Regulation (EC) No 738/94, the licence application for the non-traditional quota shall state that the applicant is not related to any other operator applying for the non-traditional quota line in question.\nApplications for import licences shall be lodged with the competent authorities listed in Annex IV to this Regulation from the day following the day of publication of this Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union until 15.00, Brussels time, on 10 March 2004.\n1. For the purposes of allocating the portion of each quota set aside for the traditional importers, \"traditional\" importers shall mean importers who can show that they have imported goods in the calendar year 1998 or 1999.\n2. The supporting documents referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 shall relate to the release for free circulation during either calendar year 1998 or 1999, as indicated by the importer, of products originating in the People's Republic of China which are covered by the quota in respect of which the application is made.\n3. Instead of the documents referred to in the first indent of Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 520/94 applicants may enclose with their licence applications documents drawn up and certified by the competent national authorities on the basis of available customs information as evidence of the imports of the product in question during calendar year 1998 or 1999 carried out by themselves or, where applicable, by the operator whose activities they have taken over.\nApplicants already holding import licences issued for 2004 under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1956/2003(6) or under Commission Regulation (EC) No 215/2004(7) for products covered by the licence application may enclose a copy of their previous licences with their licence applications. In that case they shall indicate in their licence application the aggregate quantity of imports of the product in question during the chosen reference period.\nMember States shall inform the Commission no later than 1 April 2004 at 10.00, Brussels time, of the number and aggregate quantity of import licence applications and, in the case of applications from traditional importers, of the volume of previous imports carried out by traditional importers during the chosen reference period referred to in Article 4(1) of this Regulation.\nNo later than 30 days after having received all the information required under Article 5, the Commission shall adopt the quantitative criteria to be used by the competent national authorities for the purpose of meeting importers' applications.\nImport licences shall be valid up to 31 December 2004.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "originating product", "tariff quota", "toilet article", "ceramics", "footwear industry", "China" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2005/359/EC: Commission Decision of 29 April 2005 providing for a derogation from certain provisions of Council Directive 2000/29/EC as regards oak (Quercus L.) logs with bark attached, originating in the United States of America (notified under document number C(2005) 1298)\n4.5.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 114/14\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 29 April 2005\nproviding for a derogation from certain provisions of Council Directive 2000/29/EC as regards oak (Quercus L.) logs with bark attached, originating in the United States of America\n(notified under document number C(2005) 1298)\n(2005/359/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Directive 2000/29/EC, oak (Quercus L.) logs with bark attached, originating in the United States of America, may, in principle, not be introduced into the Community because of the risk of introducing Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt, the cause of oak wilt.\n(2) Experience has shown that in respect of the United States of America, the risk of spreading Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt can be eliminated by applying certain measures.\n(3) One of these measures is fumigation. Certain Member States have requested that import of fumigated oak logs takes place only through specified ports where the appropriate handling and inspection facilities are available.\n(4) It is also possible to dispense with fumigation, as regards oak wood belonging to the white oak group, under certain technical conditions. Certain Member States have requested a further derogation to allow importations of white oak during certain months of the year. This second derogation should be limited to those parts of the Community where potential vectors of Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt have little or no activity during the winter, i.e. to areas north of 45o latitude.\n(5) The Commission will ensure that the United States of America makes available all technical information necessary to monitor the functioning of the protective measures required.\n(6) The Member States should therefore be granted a derogation, for a limited period of time, for the introduction of oak (Quercus L.) logs with bark from the United States of America.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nBy way of derogation from Article 5(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC and from the third indent of Article 13(1)(i) of that Directive with regard to Annex IV(A)(I)(3) to that Directive, Member States shall be authorised, with effect from 1 January 2005, to permit the introduction into their territory of oak (Quercus L.) logs with bark attached, originating in the United States of America (hereinafter the logs), if the conditions provided for in Articles 2 to 7 are complied with.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In order to benefit from this exemption the logs must have been fumigated and identified as set out in Annex I.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States may exempt fumigated logs from the requirements provided for in Articles 5(1) as regards wet storage, 5(2) and 6(2).\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The logs shall only be unloaded in ports listed in Annex II.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Upon request by the Member State concerned, the list of ports of unloading in Annex II may be amended by the Commission, after consultation with the other Member States.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The inspections required pursuant to Article 13 of Directive 2000/29/EC shall be made by officials specially instructed or trained for the purposes of this Decision with the assistance of the experts referred to in Article 21 of Directive 2000/29/EC under the procedure laid down therein, either in the ports listed in Annex II or at the first place of storage referred to in Article 5.\nIf the port of unloading and the first place of storage are located in different Member States, those Member States shall make arrangements covering the place where the inspections are to be carried out, and the exchange of information about the arrival and storage of the consignments.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The inspections shall include the following:\n(a) an examination of each phytosanitary certificate;\n(b) an identity check consisting of comparing the marking on each log and the number of logs with the information given in the related phytosanitary certificate;\n(c) a fumigation colour reaction test, as specified in Annex III, on an appropriate number of the logs selected at random from each consignment.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the inspections do not show that the consignment fully complies with the conditions provided for in Article 2(1), the whole consignment shall be rejected and removed from the Community.\nThe Commission and the responsible official bodies of all other Member States shall immediately be informed of the details of the consignment concerned.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The logs shall only be stored in places which have been notified to and approved by the responsible official bodies of the Member State concerned and which have appropriate wet storage facilities, available for the period provided for in paragraph 2.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The logs shall be kept in continuous wet storage, starting at the latest at the time of flushing in the neighbouring oak stands.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Neighbouring oak stands shall regularly be inspected for symptoms of Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt at appropriate intervals by the responsible official bodies.\nIf symptoms which may have been caused by Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt are found, further official testing shall be carried out in accordance with appropriate methods to confirm whether or not the fungus is present.\nIf the presence of Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt is confirmed, the Commission shall immediately be informed.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The logs shall only be processed at plants which have been notified to and approved by the said responsible official bodies.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The bark and other waste arising from processing shall immediately be destroyed at the place of processing.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Prior to importation, the importer shall notify each consignment sufficiently in advance to the responsible official bodies of the Member State of the envisaged first place of storage, providing the following information:\n(a) quantity of logs,\n(b) country of origin,\n(c) port of shipment,\n(d) port or ports of unloading,\n(e) place or places of storage,\n(f) place or places where processing will be carried out.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When an importer notifies the intended import of a consignment as referred to in paragraph 1 he or she shall be informed by the responsible official body, prior to import, of the conditions provided for in this Decision.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Copies of the information provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be conveyed by the responsible official body of the Member State concerned to the competent authority of the port of unloading.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States may exempt logs of Quercus L. species belonging to the white oak group from the fumigation provided for in Article 2(1), if the following conditions are satisfied:\n(a) the logs shall be in consignments composed solely of logs belonging to species of the white oak group;\n(b) the logs shall be identified in accordance with Annex IV;\n(c) the logs shall be dispatched from the ports of shipment on 15 October at the earliest and reach the place of storage on 30 April of the following year at the latest;\n(d) the logs shall be kept in wet storage;\n(e) the logs shall not be introduced into or through areas south of 45o latitude; however, Marseilles may be used as port of unloading, provided that it is ensured that the consignment is moved immediately to areas north of 45o latitude;\n(f) the inspections referred to in Article 4 shall comprise, in place of the fumigation colour reaction test, a white oak log identification colour test as specified in Annex IV, on at least 10\u00a0% of the logs selected at random from each consignment.\nBy way of derogation from point (c), the plant protection organisation of the Member State of storage may permit consignments to be unloaded and put into wet storage after 30 April of the following year, as provided for in that point, if their arrival at the port of unloading has been unforeseeably delayed.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paragraph 1 shall not apply to Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Malta and Portugal.\nMember States shall communicate to the Commission and the other Member States the text of the provisions which they adopt under the authorisation provided for in Article 1.\n0\nMember States which have made use of the derogation provided for in this Decision shall report to the Commission on its operation by 30 June 2007. The report shall include details of the quantities imported.\nWhere appropriate a similar report shall be provided by 30 June 2009.\n1\nThis Decision shall expire on 31 December 2010.\n2\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health treatment", "deciduous tree", "plant health control", "derogation from EU law", "originating product", "import (EU)", "United States", "wood product", "import licence", "plant disease" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2007/410/EC: Commission Decision of 12 June 2007 on measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of Potato spindle tuber viroid (notified under document number C(2007) 2451)\n15.6.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 155/71\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 12 June 2007\non measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within the Community of Potato spindle tuber viroid\n(notified under document number C(2007) 2451)\n(2007/410/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(3),\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Directive 2000/29/EC, where a Member State considers that there is a danger of introduction into or spread within its territory of a harmful organism listed in Annex I or Annex II to that Directive, it is to take any measures necessary to protect itself from that danger.\n(2) As a result of the presence of Potato spindle tuber viroid, The Netherlands informed the Member States and the Commission on 14 February 2007 that it had adopted on 14 February 2007 official measures to prevent the further introduction into and spread within its territory of this harmful organism.\n(3) Potato spindle tuber viroid is listed in Section I of Part A of Annex I to Directive 2000/29/EC, and as an organism whose introduction into and spread within all Member States is to be prohibited.\n(4) Potato spindle tuber viroid has been found on plants of Solanum jasminoides Paxton and Brugmansia Pers. spp. As regards this harmful organism, there are at present no special requirements for these plants originating in the Community.\n(5) It is necessary to take measures against the introduction into and spread within the Community of the harmful organism, since the available scientific information has shown that the presence of that organism on those plants can lead to further spreading of it.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision should apply to the introduction or the spread of the harmful organism, the import, production and movement of the plants of the genus Brugmansia Pers. spp., and the species Solanum jasminoides Paxton, intended for planting, including seeds, within the Community. In addition, a survey for the presence or continued absence of the harmful organism in the Member States should be prepared.\n(7) It is appropriate that the results of the measures be assessed, in particular on the basis of information to be provided by the Member States, as a basis for possible future measures.\n(8) Member States should adapt, if necessary, their legislation in order to comply with this Decision.\n(9) The results of the taken measures should be reviewed by 29 February 2008.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nImport of the specified plants\nThe plants of the genus Brugmansia Pers. spp., and the species Solanum jasminoides Paxton, intended for planting, including seeds (hereinafter \u2018specified plants\u2019), may be introduced into the Community only if:\n(a) they comply with the requirements laid down in point 1 of the Annex; and\n(b) they are, on entry into the Community, inspected and tested by the responsible official body for the presence of Potato spindle tuber viroid, in accordance with Article 13a(1) of Directive 2000/29/EC, and found free from it.\nMovement of the specified plants within the Community\nThe specified plants originating in the Community or imported into the Community pursuant to Article 1 may be moved within the Community only if they meet the conditions laid down in point 2 of the Annex.\nSurveys and notifications\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall conduct official surveys, and where appropriate, testing, for the presence of Potato spindle tuber viroid on host plants or evidence of infection by this harmful organism in their territory.\nWithout prejudice to Article 16(2) of Directive 2000/29/EC, the results of those surveys, shall be notified to the Commission and to the other Member States by 10 January 2008.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Any suspected occurrence or confirmed presence of Potato spindle tuber viroid shall be immediately notified to the responsible official bodies.\nCompliance\nMember States shall, if necessary, amend the measures which they have adopted to protect themselves against the introduction and spread of Potato spindle tuber viroid in such a manner that those measures comply with this Decision. They shall immediately inform the Commission of those measures.\nReview\nThis Decision shall be reviewed by 29 February 2008 at the latest.\nAddressees\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "parasitology", "plant disease", "plant health control", "potato", "import licence", "import restriction" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2248/85 of 25 July 1985 on detailed rules for administrative assistance with the exportation of Emmentaler cheese subject to quota restrictions that qualifies for special treatment on importation into the United States of America\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2248/85\nof 25 July 1985\non detailed rules for administrative assistance with the exportation of Emmentaler cheese subject to quota restrictions that qualifies for special treatment on importation into the United States of America\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2931/79 of 20 December 1979 on the granting of assistance for the exportation of agricultural products which may benefit from special import treatment in a third country (1), and in particular Article 1 (2) thereof,\nWhereas the Community and the United States of America have agreed under the GATT to allow importation into the United States of cheese of Community origin subject to quota restrictions with effect from 1 January 1980; whereas this agreement was approved by Council Decision 80/272/EEC (2);\nWhereas the United States of America has committed itself to take all necessary measures so that the management of the quota by the administration will be such as to permit its maximum utilization; whereas in the light of experience it appears to be appropriate to strengthen administrative cooperation with the United States of America to ensure that the quota of Emmentaler cheese of Community origin is fully utilized; whereas the cheese concerned should therefore be accompanied by a certificate issued by the competent authorities in the Community;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,\nFor exportation to the United States of America (including Puerto Rico and Hawaii) of Emmentaler cheese of subheading 04.04 A of the Common Customs Tariff and subheading No 117.60.25 of the Tariff Schedule of the United States that is subject to quota restrictions the competent authority of the exporting Member State shall issue at the exporter's request a certificate corresponding to the model given in the Annex hereto.\n1. Forms shall be printed on white paper of format 210 \u0102\u0097 296 millimetres and shall be worded in English. Each certificate shall be given a serial number by the issuing authority. Exporting Member States may require that the certificates issued on their territory be worded in their official language, or in one of their official languages, in addition to English.\n2. Each certificate shall be made out in an original and in at least two copies. The copies shall bear the same serial number as the original. The original and the copies shall be completed in typescript or by hand, in block letters in ink.\n1. The certificate and its copy shall be issued by the authority designated for this purpose by the exporting Member State.\n2. The issuing authority shall retain a copy of the certificate. The original and the other copy shall be presented at the Community customs office at which the export declaration is lodged.\n3. The customs office mentioned in paragraph 2 shall complete the appropriate section on the original and return it to the exporter or to his representative. It shall retain the copy.\nThe certificate shall not be valid until it has been duly stamped by the customs office. It shall cover the quantity of Emmentaler cheese indicated thereon and must be presented to the customs authorities of the United States of America. However, a quantity exceeding by no more than 5 % that indicated on the certificate shall be regarded as covered by it.\nThe Member States shall take all necessary measures to check the origin, type, composition and quality of the Emmentaler cheeses for which certificates are issued.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 September 1985.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "quantitative restriction", "export licence", "export (EU)", "customs inspection", "hard cheese", "United States" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1918/98 of 9 September 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application in the beef and veal sector of Council Regulation (EC) No 1706/98 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 589/96\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1918/98 of 9 September 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application in the beef and veal sector of Council Regulation (EC) No 1706/98 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 589/96\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1706/98 of 20 July 1998 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States) and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 715/90 (1), and in particular Article 30 thereof,\nWhereas Articles 2, 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1706/98 fix the concessions applying to imports of certain beef and veal products originating in the ACP States;\nWhereas the detailed rules for implementing these concessions must be laid down;\nWhereas the scheme in question should be managed using import licences; whereas to this end rules should be set on the submission of applications and the information to be given on applications and licences, by way of derogation, if necessary, from certain provisions of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88 of 16 November 1988 laying down common detailed rules for application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products (2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1044/98 (3), and of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1445/95 of 26 June 1995 on rules of application for import and export licences in the beef and veal sector and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 759/98 (5);\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/96 of 2 April 1996 laying down detailed rules for the application in the beef and veal sector of Council Regulation (EEC) No 715/90 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States or in the overseas countries and territories (6), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 260/98 (7), should be repealed;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\n1. Import licences shall be issued for the products listed in the Annex to this Regulation originating in Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Namibia under the conditions laid down in this Regulation and within the limits of the quantities, expressed in tonnes of boneless meat, fixed in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1706/98.\nThe annual quantities from the various countries referred to above shall bear the following serial numbers: the quota for Botswana: 09.4052; for Kenya: 09.4054; for Madagascar: 09.4051; for Swaziland: 09.4053; for Zimbabwe: 09.4055 and for Namibia: 09.4056.\n2. For the purpose of calculating the quantities referred to in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1706/98, 100 kilograms of boneless beef shall be equal to:\n- 130 kilograms of bone-in beef,\n- 260 kilograms of live bovine animals,\n- 100 kilograms of products falling within CN codes 0206, 0210 and 1602.\n1. The specific amounts of customs duty fixed in the common customs tariff shall be reduced by 92 % for products referred to in the Annex and being imported pursuant to the present Regulation.\n2. Notwithstanding Article 8(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88, the reduction referred to in paragraph 1 shall not apply on quantities exceeding those indicated in the import licence.\n1. Applications for import licences and the licences for products qualifying for a reduction of the specific rate of customs duties fixed in the common customs tariff in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1706/98 shall contain:\n(a) under the heading 'notes` and in Section 20 respectively, one of the following:\n- Producto ACP - Reglamentos (CE) n\u00b0 1706/98 y (CE) n\u00b0 1918/98\n- AVS-produkt - forordninger (EF) nr. 1706/98 og (EF) nr. 1918/98\n- AKP-Erzeugnis - Verordnungen (EG) Nr. 1706/98 und (EG) Nr. 1918/98\n- \u00d0\u00f1\u00ef\u00fa\u00fc\u00ed \u00c1\u00ca\u00c5 - \u00ca\u00e1\u00ed\u00ef\u00ed\u00e9\u00f3\u00ec\u00ef\u00df (\u00c5\u00ca) \u00e1\u00f1\u00e9\u00e8. 1706/98 \u00ea\u00e1\u00e9 (\u00c5\u00ca) \u00e1\u00f1\u00e9\u00e8. 1918/98\n- ACP product - Regulations (EC) No 1706/98 and (EC) No 1918/98\n- Produit ACP - r\u00e8glements (CE) n\u00b0 1706/98 et (CE) n\u00b0 1918/98\n- Prodotto ACP - regolamenti (CE) n. 1706/98 e (CE) n. 1918/98\n- ACS-product - Verordeningen (EG) nr. 1706/98 en (EG) nr. 1918/98\n- Produto ACP - Regulamentos (CE) n\u00ba 1706/98 e (CE) n\u00ba 1918/98\n- AKT-tuote - asetukset (EY) N:o 1706/98 ja (EY) N:o 1918/98\n- AVS-produkt - f\u00f6rordningarna (EG) nr 1706/98 och (EG) nr 1918/98;\n(b) in Section 8, the name of the State in which the product originates; the licence shall carry with it an obligation to import from the State in question;\n(c) in Section 17, in addition to the number of animals, their live weight.\n2. Applications for licences may be lodged only during the first 10 days of each month.\n3. Member States shall send the applications to the Commission no later than the second working day following the end of the period for the submission of applications.\nSuch communications shall include the quantities applied for in respect of each third country concerned, broken down by CN code or group of CN codes, as necessary.\n4. Where no valid applications have been lodged, Member States shall so notify the Commission by telex or fax within the deadline referred to in paragraph 3.\n1. The Commission shall decide for each third country concerned to what extent applications can be accepted. If the quantities of products originating in a third country for which licences are requested exceed the quantity available for that country, the Commission shall reduce the quantities requested by a fixed percentage.\nIf the total quantity requested in applications relating to a given third country is lower than is available for that country, the Commission shall calculate the remaining balance.\n2. Subject to the Commission's decision to accept applications, licences shall be issued on the 21st day of each month.\nImportation under the arrangements for a reduction in import duties provided for in this Regulation may take place only if the origin of the products concerned is certified by the competent authorities of the exporting countries in accordance with the rules of origin applicable to the products in question pursuant to Protocol 1 to the Fourth ACP-EEC Convention signed at Lom\u00e9 on 15 December 1989.\n1. Regulations (EEC) No 3719/88 and (EC) No 1445/95 shall apply, subject to the provisions of this Regulation.\n2. The import licences issued in accordance with this Regulation shall be valid for 90 days from their actual date of issue within the meaning of Article 21(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3719/88. However, no licence shall be valid beyond 31 December following the date of its issue.\n3. The licences shall be valid throughout the Community.\nRegulation (EC) No 589/96 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nArticles 1 and 2 shall apply with effect from 1 January 1996.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "beef", "quantitative restriction", "CCT duties", "cattle", "import licence", "ACP countries" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/94 of 19 September 1994 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1781/93 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of ball bearings with a greatest external diameter not exceeding 30 mm, originating in Thailand but exported to the Community from another country\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2271/94 of 19 September 1994 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1781/93 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of ball bearings with a greatest external diameter not exceeding 30 mm, originating in Thailand but exported to the Community from another country\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Articles 12 and 14 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission after consultation within the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA. Background (1) In July 1993, the Council, by Regulation (EEC) No 1781/93 (2), imposed a definitive countervailing duty of 6,7 % on imports of ball bearings with a greatest external diameter not exceeding 30 mm, originating in Thailand but exported to the Community from another country.\n(2) This duty was imposed following a review of Commission Decision 90/266/EEC (3) accepting an undertaking offered by the Royal Thai Government, in connection with the countervailing duty proceeding concerning imports of the abovementioned ball bearings. This involved the Royal Thai Government levying an export tax to offset the subsidies granted. No countervailing duty was imposed at the time of adoption of this Decision. The review investigation revealed, however, that a duty was necessary in order to prevent indirect imports into the Community avoiding the export tax levied by the Royal Thai Government on direct imports and to safeguard the effectiveness of the undertaking.\n(3) The definitive duty rate of 6,7 % was based on the revised rate of export tax of 0,91 baht per piece, as determined by Decision 93/381/EEC (4) following the above review.\nB. Reopening of investigation (4) In October 1993, the Commission initiated a review of Decision 93/381/EEC and Regulation (EEC) No 1781/93, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (5).\n(5) The purpose of this review was to examine the amount of subsidy granted by the Royal Thai Government, with a view to allowing a modification of the rate of export tax established by Decision 93/381/EEC, and to determine whether the subsidies granted were still countervailable. Since the rate of countervailing duty on indirect imports directly reflects the export tax rate, the review also covers Regulation (EEC) No 1781/93 imposing the definitive duty.\n(6) The Commission officially advised the Royal Thai Government, the exporters and importers known to be concerned, as well as the complainant in the original investigation (Febma) and gave the parties directly concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and request a hearing. The Royal Thai Government, the exporters located in Thailand and the Community producers, represented by Febma, made their views known in writing.\n(7) The Commission sought and verified all information it deemed to be necessary for the purposes of a determination and carried out an investigation at the premises of the following:\n(a) Royal Thai Government:\nDepartement of Foreign Trade, Bangkok,\nBoard of Investment, Bangkok,\nDepartment of Revenue, Bangkok.\n(b) Thai exporters:\nNBM Thai Ltd, Ayutthaya, Thailand,\nPelmec Thai Ltd, Bang Pa-In, Thailand,\nNMB Hi-Tech Ltd, Bang Pa-In, Thailand.\nAll these exporting companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Minebea Co. Ltd, Japan.\n(8) Upon request, parties were informed of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to recommend the amendment to the rate of definitive countervailing duty. They were also granted a period within which to make representations subsequent to the disclosure.\nThe written comments submitted by the parties were, where appropriate, taken into consideration.\nC. Countervailability of subsidies and recalculation of subsidy amount (9) The Commission has determined that the subsidies granted to the exporters in Thailand are still countervailable, and that the subsidy granted in the period 1 October 1992 to 30 September 1993 amounts to 0,72 baht per piece. The Council confirms these findings. The Royal Thai Government has accordingly amended the export tax rate on ball bearings exported directly to the Community to 0,72 baht per piece, and has offered a modified version of the undertaking to this effect. This has been accepted by Commission Decision 94/639/EC (6), which also explains in detail the reasoning with regard to the countervailability and the calculation of the amount of subsidy.\nD. Injury and Community interest (10) No new evidence was supplied with regard to injury or Community interest. The Council therefore maintains its conclusions set out in Regulation (EEC) No 1781/93 concerning these matters.\nE. Amendements to definitive duty (11) In view of the change in the export tax rate from 0,91 to 0,72 baht per piece, the rate of definitive countervailing duty on indirect imports should be amended according to an amount equivalent to the new export tax rate. When expressed as a percentage of the net, free-at-Community-frontier, price of product, the new rate of countervailing duty amounts to 5,3 %.\nF. Collection of anti-dumping and countervailing duties (12) As explained in recital (10) of Regulation (EEC) No 1781/93, the countervailing duty should continue to be collected in addition to the anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EEC) No 2934/90 (7).\nThe combined amount of anti-dumping and countervailing duty to be collected in this case is, therefore, 12 % (6,7 % anti-dumping duty plus 5,3 % countervailing duty).\nThe basis for calculating the amount of both anti-dumping and countervailing duty should be the same net, free-at-Community-frontier, price of the product,\nArticle 1 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1781/93 shall be replaced by the following:\n'2. The countervailing duty expressed as a percentage of the net, free-at-Community-frontier, price of product, shall be 5,3 %'.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import tax", "re-export", "bearing", "countervailing charge", "third country", "Thailand" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Decision of 14\u00a0December 2012 amending Commission Decision 2006/210/EC setting up a group of high-level national regulatory experts and extending the terms of office of the High Level Group and the period of application of Decision 2006/210/EC until 31\u00a0October 2014\n18.12.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 390/7\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 14 December 2012\namending Commission Decision 2006/210/EC setting up a group of high-level national regulatory experts and extending the terms of office of the High Level Group and the period of application of Decision 2006/210/EC until 31 October 2014\n2012/C 390/09\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nWhereas:\n(1) The High-Level Group of National Regulatory Experts (hereinafter \u2018the Group\u2019) set up by Commission Decision 2006/210/EC\u00a0(1) as amended by Commission Decision 2010/63/EU\u00a0(2) is a consultative group of high-level national experts on Smart Regulation.\n(2) The President of the Commission has indicated that Smart Regulation\u00a0(3) will remain high on the Commission\u2019s political agenda\u00a0(4).\n(3) A forum for discussing Smart Regulation and for promoting cooperation with Member States on Smart Regulation issues has an important role to play in taking that agenda forward.\n(4) The mandate of the Group should therefore be extended until the end of this Commission\u2019s mandate.\n(5) In November 2010, the Commission established a new framework for Commission expert groups\u00a0(5). This framework should be taken into account.\n(6) Decision 2006/210/EC should be amended and extended accordingly,\nArticle 3 of Decision 2006/210/EC shall be replaced by the following text:\n\u2018Article 3\nMembership \u2014 Appointment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Group shall be composed of Member States\u2019 authorities. Member States will each have one representative in the group. In exceptional cases, if there is shared competency at the level of the administration in that Member State, a second representative may be appointed.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall appoint their representatives from specialists who have competence in the areas referred to in Article 2.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States\u2019 representatives are appointed for a two-year renewable mandate. They shall remain in office until such time as they are replaced or their mandate ends. Their term of office may be renewed.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Provision may be made for appointing the same number of alternates as there are Member State representatives. Alternates shall be appointed in accordance with the same conditions as Member States\u2019 representatives; they shall automatically replace any representatives who are absent or indisposed.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States\u2019 representatives who are no longer capable of contributing effectively to the group\u2019s deliberations, who resign or who do not comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of this Article, or in Article 339 of the Treaty, may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Personal data shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\u2019.\nIn Article 4 of Decision 2006/210/EC, paragraph 4 is replaced by the following text:\n\u20184.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of expert groups and their representatives, as well as other invited experts and observers, shall comply with the obligations of professional secrecy laid down by the Treaties and their implementing rules, and with the Commission\u2019s rules on security regarding the protection of EU classified information, laid down in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom. Should they fail to respect these obligations, the Commission may take all appropriate measures.\u2019.\nIn the same Article, paragraph 8 is replaced by the following text:\n\u20188.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission will publish all relevant documents (such as agendas, minutes and participants\u2019 submissions) either in the Register of Commission expert groups and other similar entities or via a link from the Register to a dedicated website where information can be found. Exceptions to publication should be foreseen where disclosure of a document would undermine the protection of a public or private interest as defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.\u2019.\nIn Decision 2006/210/EC, the existing text of Article 5 is replaced by the following text:\n\u2018Article 5\nMeeting expenses\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Participants in the activities of the Group shall not be remunerated for the services they render.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by participants in the activities of the Group shall be reimbursed by the Commission in accordance with the provisions in force within the Commission.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Those expenses shall be reimbursed insofar as funds are available under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources.\u2019,\nIn Article 6 of Decision 2006/210/EC, the second sentence is replaced by the following:\n\u2018It shall apply until 31 October 2014.\u2019,\nThis Decision enters into force on 31 December 2012.", "answer groups": [ "advisory committee (EU)", "drafting of EU law", "observer", "simplification of legislation", "self-employed person", "appointment of members" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision 2007/238/CFSP of 19 April 2007 appointing the European Union Special Representative for Sudan\n20.4.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 103/52\nCOUNCIL DECISION 2007/238/CFSP\nof 19 April 2007\nappointing the European Union Special Representative for Sudan\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union and, in particular, Article 18(5) in conjunction with Article 23(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 18 July 2005, the Council adopted Joint Action 2005/556/CFSP\u00a0(1) appointing Mr Pekka HAAVISTO as the Special Representative of the European Union (EUSR) for Sudan.\n(2) On 5 July 2006, the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/468/CFSP\u00a0(2) renewing and revising the mandate of the EUSR for Sudan.\n(3) On 15 February 2007, the Council adopted Joint Action 2007/108/CFSP\u00a0(3) extending, until 30 April 2007, the mandate of Mr Pekka HAAVISTO as the EUSR for Sudan. The Council also agreed that the mandate of the EUSR for Sudan should, in principle, be extended for a period of 12 months.\n(4) Mr Pekka HAAVISTO has informed the Secretary-General/High Representative of his intention to resign at the end of April 2007. A new EUSR for Sudan should therefore be appointed as from 1 May 2007 for the remaining period of the mandate.\n(5) The Secretary-General/High Representative has recommended that Mr Torben BRYLLE be appointed as the new EUSR for Sudan.\n(6) Article 49(3) of the Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities\u00a0(4) provides that basic acts may notably take the form of a decision pursuant to Article 18(5) of the Treaty.\n(7) The EUSR will implement his mandate in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could harm the Common Foreign and Security Policy objectives set out in Article 11 of the Treaty,\nAppointment\nMr Torben BRYLLE is hereby appointed as European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Sudan from 1 May 2007 to 29 February 2008. He shall exercise his functions in accordance with the mandate and the detailed arrangements set out in Joint Action 2007/108/CFSP.\nFinancing\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to the mandate of the EUSR in the period from 1 May 2007 to 29 February 2008 shall be EUR 1\u00a0700\u00a0000.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The management of the expenditure shall be subject to a contract between the EUSR for Sudan and the Commission. The expenditure shall be eligible as from 1 May 2007.\nReview\nThe EUSR for Sudan shall present the Secretary-General/High Representative, the Council and the Commission with a comprehensive report on the implementation of his mandate by mid-November 2007.\nTaking of effect\nThis Decision shall take effect on the day of its adoption.\nPublication\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "administrative expenditure (EU)", "appointment of staff", "Sudan", "common foreign and security policy", "diplomatic representation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Directive 96/16/EC of 19 March 1996 on statistical surveys of milk and milk products\nCOUNCIL DIRECTIVE 96/16/EC of 19 March 1996 on statistical surveys of milk and milk products\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),\nWhereas Council Directive 72/280/EEC of 31 July 1972 on the statistical surveys to be made by the Member States on milk and milk products (3) has been amended on several occasions; whereas, in the light of new amendments, it is in the interest of transparency to reformulate the provisions of the said Directive;\nWhereas in order to carry out its duties under the Treaty and under Community provisions on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products the Commission needs reliable information about the production and use of milk and regular, reliable, short-term information about the delivery of milk to enterprises which treat or process milk and about the production of milk products in the Member States;\nWhereas surveys on the production and use of milk on the farm should be conducted in accordance with uniform criteria and in greater detail, and monthly surveys should be made in all Member States in enterprises which process milk;\nWhereas, in order to obtain comparable results, common criteria should be fixed as regards the scope of the survey, the characteristics to be noted and the survey procedure;\nWhereas experience acquired in implementing the previous rules has shown that it would be useful to simplify the provisions, in particular by abolishing the requirement to provide weekly results;\nWhereas, in view of the growing importance of the milk-protein content of milk products the appropriate steps must be taken;\nWhereas, in order to facilitate implementation of the provisions of this Directive, it is appropriate to continue the close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission, particularly in the Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics established by Decision 72/279/EEC (4),\nMember States:\n1. shall survey the survey units specified in Article 2 for the data specified in Article 4, and shall inform the Commission of the monthly, annual and triennial results;\n2. shall carry out annual surveys of the production of milk and its use among agricultural holdings as defined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7;\n3. subject to the Commission's agreement, may use data from other official sources.\nThe surveys referred to in Article 1 (1) shall cover:\n1. undertakings or agricultural holdings which purchase whole milk or, in certain cases, milk products, either directly from agricultural holdings or from the undertakings referred to in point 2, with a view to transforming them into milk products;\n2. undertakings which collect milk or cream in order to transfer it in whole or in part, without any processing, to the undertakings referred to in point 1.\nMember States shall take all appropriate measures to prevent duplication of results as far as possible.\n1. For the purpose of this Directive, 'milk` means the milk of cows, ewes, goats and buffaloes. The monthly surveys provided for in Article 4 (1) (a) shall cover only cow's milk and products manufactured exclusively from cow's milk.\n2. The list of milk products covered by the surveys shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7. That list may be amended in accordance with the same procedure.\n3. The standard definitions to be used for communicating the results for the various products shall be drawn up in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7.\n1. The surveys referred to in Article 1 (1) must permit at least the information mentioned in points (a), (b) and (c) below to be provided.\nQuestionnaires must be compiled in such a way as to avoid duplication.\nThe information shall relate to:\n(a) monthly:\n(i) the quantity and fat content of the milk and cream collected and the protein content of the cows' milk collected;\n(ii) the quantity of certain fresh milk products processed and available for delivery and of certain manufactured dairy products;\n(b) annually:\n(i) the quantity, fat content and protein content of the available milk and cream;\n(ii) the quantity of fresh milk products which have been processed and which are available for delivery, and of other manufactured dairy products, broken down by type;\n(iii) the use of raw materials in the form of whole milk and skimmed milk and the amount of fats used in the manufacture of dairy products;\n(c) triennially (as from 31 December 1997):\nthe number of the survey units referred to in Article 2, broken down by size class.\n2. With a view to analyzing, within three years of the entry into force of this Directive the possibility of extending the annual statistical information referred to in point (b) to include the protein content of the main milk products, Member States shall during that period conduct pilot surveys or studies on achieving that objective. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7, the Commission shall establish a work programme for each of these three years.\nMember States shall submit annually to the Commission a report on the implementation of this programme, including the statistical data available and the information necessary for interpreting it.\n1. Without prejudice to the second subparagraph, the surveys referred to in Article 1 (1) shall be exhaustive in the case of dairies accounting for at least 95 % of the cow's milk collected by the Member State, with the balance being estimated on the basis of representative samples or other sources.\nMember States may carry out the monthly surveys mentioned in Article 4 (1) (a) in the form of sample surveys. In that case the sampling error must not exceed 1 % of total national collection (with a confidence interval of 68 %).\n2. Member States shall take all appropriate measures to obtain comprehensive and sufficiently accurate results. They shall forward to the Commission in the form of a methodological report all information enabling the accuracy of the results transmitted to be assessed, in particular:\n(a) the questionnaires used;\n(b) the precautions taken to avoid double counting;\n(c) the methods used for transposing the data obtained from the questionnaire to Community tables.\nThe methodological reports, the availability and reliability of data and any other matter related to the implementation of this Directive shall be examined once a year in the relevant working party of the Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics. The first methodological report shall be forwarded to the Commission at the latest by the end of the year following the entry into force of this Directive.\n1. Tables for the transmission of data shall be prepared in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 7.\nThese tables may be amended in accordance with the same procedure.\n2. Member States shall transmit the results referred to in paragraph 3, including data which are deemed confidential under national legislation or rules applied with regard to statistical confidentiality, in accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation (Euratom, EEC) No 1588/90 of 11 June 1990 on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the Statistical Office of the European Communities (5).\n3. Member States shall send to the Commission as soon as possible after summarizing the information, and at the latest:\n(a) forty-five days after the end of the return month, the monthly results referred to in Article 4 (1) (a);\n(b) in June of the year following the return year:\n- the annual results referred to in Article 4 (1) (b);\n- the implementation report referred to in Article 4 (2);\n(c) in September of the year following the year of the return date, the results referred to in Article 1 (2) and Article 4 (1) (c).\n4. The Commission shall collate the information sent by the Member States and notify them of the overall results.\n1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be followed, the Chairman of the Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics (hereinafter called 'the Committee`) shall refer the matter to the Committee, either on his own initiative or at the request of a representative of a Member State.\n2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The Committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the Chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States within the Committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The Chairman shall not vote.\n3. (a) The Commission shall adopt the measures envisaged if they are in accordance with the opinion of the committee.\n(b) If the measures envisaged are not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee, or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall without delay submit to the Council a proposal relating to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority.\n(c) If, on the expiry of a period of three months from the date of referral of the proposal to the Council, the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission.\nNo later than 1 July 1999, the Commission shall submit to the Council a report on experience acquired in implementing this Directive. At the same time it shall submit, in particular, the results of the analysis referred to in Article 4 (2) accompanied where appropriate by proposals regarding the definitive period.\n1. Directive 72/280/EEC shall be repealed with effect from 1 January 1997.\n2. The references to the repealed Directive 72/280/EEC shall be construed as referring to this Directive.\n0\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 1 January 1997. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen Member States adopt these provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States.\n2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of domestic law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.\n1\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\n2\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EU statistics", "production statistics", "agricultural statistics", "exchange of information", "milk", "agricultural holding" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2011/38/EU: Council Implementing Decision of 18\u00a0January 2011 authorising France to apply differentiated levels of taxation to motor fuels in accordance with Article 19 of Directive 2003/96/EC\n22.1.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 19/13\nCOUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION\nof 18 January 2011\nauthorising France to apply differentiated levels of taxation to motor fuels in accordance with Article 19 of Directive 2003/96/EC\n(2011/38/EU)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2003/96/EC of 27 October 2003 restructuring the Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 19 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Decision 2005/767/EC\u00a0(2) authorises France to apply, for a period of 3 years, differentiated levels of taxation to gas oil and unleaded petrol. France had requested the authorisation in the context of an administrative reform involving the decentralisation of certain specific powers previously exercised by central government. Decision 2005/767/EC expired on 31 December 2009.\n(2) By letter dated 12 August 2009, France requested authorisation to continue to apply differentiated rates of taxation under the same conditions for a further 6 years after 31 December 2009.\n(3) Decision 2005/767/EC was adopted on the basis that the measure requested by France met the requirements set out in Article 19 of Directive 2003/96/EC. In particular, it was considered that that measure would not hinder the proper functioning of the internal market. It was also considered that it was in conformity with the relevant Community policies.\n(4) The national measure is part of a policy designed to increase administrative effectiveness by improving the quality and reducing the cost of public services, as well as a policy of subsidiarity. It offers regions an additional incentive to improve the quality of their administration in a transparent fashion. In this respect, Decision 2005/767/EC requires that the reductions be linked to the socioeconomic circumstances of the regions in which they are applied. Overall, the national measure is based on specific policy considerations.\n(5) The tight limits set for the differentiation of rates on a regional basis as well as the exclusion of gas oil used for commercial purposes from the measure imply that the risk of competitive distortions in the internal market is very low. Moreover, the application of the measure so far has shown a strong tendency on behalf of regions to levy the maximum rate allowable, which has further decreased any potential for competitive distortions.\n(6) No obstacles to the proper functioning of the internal market have been reported as regards, more particularly, the circulation of the products in question in their capacity as products subject to excise duty.\n(7) When originally requested, the national measure had been preceded by a tax increase equal to the margin for regional reductions. Against this background and in light of the conditions of the authorisation as well as experience gathered, the national measure does not, at this stage, appear to be in conflict with Union energy and climate policies.\n(8) It follows from Article 19(2) of Directive 2003/96/EC that each authorisation granted under that Article must be strictly limited in time. Due to the possible future developments of the Union framework on energy taxation, this authorisation should be limited to a period of 3 years. It is furthermore appropriate to avoid any time gap with respect to the application of the authorisation,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0France is hereby authorised to apply reduced rates of taxation to unleaded petrol and gas oil used as fuel. Gas oil for commercial use within the meaning of Article 7(2) of Directive 2003/96/EC shall not be eligible for any such reductions.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Administrative regions may be permitted to apply differentiated reductions provided the following conditions are fulfilled:\n(a) the reductions are no greater than EUR 35,4 per 1\u00a0000 litres of unleaded petrol or EUR 23,0 per 1\u00a0000 litres of gas oil;\n(b) the reductions are no greater than the difference between the levels of taxation of gas oil for non-commercial use and gas oil for commercial use;\n(c) the reductions are linked to the objective socio-economic conditions of the regions in which they are applied;\n(d) the application of regional reductions does not have the effect of granting a region a competitive advantage in intra-Union trade.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The reduced rates must comply with the requirements of Directive 2003/96/EC, and in particular the minimum rates laid down in Article 7.\nThis Decision shall take effect on the day of its notification.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2010.\nIt shall expire on 31 December 2012.\nThis Decision is addressed to the French Republic.", "answer groups": [ "tax relief", "diesel fuel", "fuel tax", "derogation from EU law", "restriction on competition", "lead-free petrol", "tax system", "France" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1335/95 of 13 June 1995 amending Regulation (EC) No 1897/94 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 774/94 as regards import licences for brans, sharps and other residues\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1335/95 of 13 June 1995 amending Regulation (EC) No 1897/94 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 774/94 as regards import licences for brans, sharps and other residues\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 774/94 of 29 March 1994 opening and providing for the administration of certain Community tariff quotas for high-quality beef, and for pigmeat, poultrymeat, wheat and meslin, and brans, sharps and other residues (1), and in particular Article 7 (c) thereof,\nWhereas Commission Regulation (EC) No 1897/94 (2) lays down detailed rules for the application of Regulation (EC) No 774/94 as regards import licences for brans, sharps and other residues; whereas the implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture calls for major changes in the import arrangements; whereas the abovementioned detailed rules of application must therefore be adapted accordingly;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nThe sixth indent of Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1897/94 is hereby replaced by the following:\n'- section 24 must contain one of the following:\n- \"Derecho del arancel aduanero com\u00fan reducido. Contingente abierto por el Reglamento (CE) n\u00b0 774/94 del Consejo\",\n- \u00bbNedsat sats i den faelles toldtarif. Kontingent aabnet i henhold til Raadets forordning (EF) nr. 774/94\u00ab,\n- 'Verringerter Satz des Gemeinsamen Zolltarifs. Mit der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 774/94 des Rates eroeffnetes Kontingent',\n- \"\u00ccaa\u00e9\u00f9\u00ec\u00dd\u00ed\u00ef\u00f2 ae\u00e1\u00f3\u00ecue\u00f2 \u00f4\u00ef\u00f5 \u00ea\u00ef\u00e9\u00ed\u00ef\u00fd ae\u00e1\u00f3\u00ec\u00ef\u00eb\u00ef\u00e3ss\u00ef\u00f5. \u00b6\u00ed\u00ef\u00e9\u00e3\u00ec\u00e1 \u00f0\u00ef\u00f3ue\u00f3\u00f4\u00f9\u00f3\u00e7\u00f2 \u00e1\u00f0ue \u00f4\u00ef\u00ed \u00ea\u00e1\u00ed\u00ef\u00ed\u00e9\u00f3\u00ecue (AA\u00ca) \u00e1\u00f1\u00e9\u00e8. 774/94 \u00f4\u00ef\u00f5 \u00d3\u00f5\u00ec\u00e2\u00ef\u00f5\u00ebss\u00ef\u00f5\",\n- \"Common Customs Tariff duty reduced. Quota opened by Council Regulation (EC) No 774/94\",\n- \"Droit du tarif douanier commun r\u00e9duit. Contingent ouvert par le r\u00e8glement (CE) n\u00b0 774/94 du Conseil\",\n- \"Dazio della tariffa doganale comune ridotto. Contingente indetto dal regolamento (CE) n. 774/94 del Consiglio\",\n- \"Verlaagd recht van het gemeenschappelijk douanetarief. Contingent geopend bij Verordening (EG) nr. 774/94 van de Raad\",\n- \"Direito da Pauta Aduaneira Comum reduzido. Contingente aberto pelo Regulamento (CE) n\u00ba 774/94 do Conselho\",\n- `Alennettu yhteisen tullitariffin tulli. Kiintioe avattu neuvoston asetuksella (EY) N :o 774/94`,\n- `Reducerad gemensam tulltaxa. Kvot oeppnad genom raadets foerordning (EG) nr 774/94``.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 1995.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "cereal product", "tariff quota", "import licence", "tariff reduction", "import" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1321/2001 of 29 June 2001 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1913/92 laying down detailed rules for implementing the specific arrangements for supplying the Azores and Madeira with beef and veal sector products\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 1321/2001\nof 29 June 2001\namending Regulation (EEC) No 1913/92 laying down detailed rules for implementing the specific arrangements for supplying the Azores and Madeira with beef and veal sector products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 of 15 June 1992 concerning specific measures for the Azores and Madeira relating to certain agricultural products(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000(2), and in particular Article 10 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92, the quantities of the specific supply balances for the beef and veal sector should be established for supplies to the Azores and Madeira of beef and veal and pure-bred breeding animals.\n(2) The quantities in the forecast supply balance for fresh or chilled meat of bovine animals are laid down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1913/92(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1370/2000(4).\n(3) Pending the entry into force of the reform of the specific supply arrangements and in order to avoid any break in the application of the specific supply arrangements in force, the supply balance should be established for the period 1 July to 31 December 2001.\n(4) The aid for the products in the forecast supply balance coming from the Community market is laid down in Regulation (EEC) No 1913/92.\n(5) Application of the criteria for fixing the amount of Community aid to the current market situation in the sector in question and, in particular, to the exchange rates and prices for those products in the European part of the Community and on the world market, gives rise to aid for the supply of Madeira and the Azores with beef and veal products at the levels laid down in the Annex hereto.\n(6) Pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92, the supply arrangements are applicable from 1 July. This Regulation should therefore apply immediately.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\nRegulation (EEC) No 1913/92 is amended as follows:\n1. Annex I is replaced by Annex I to this Regulation.\n2. Annex II is replaced by Annex II to this Regulation.\n3. Annex III is replaced by Annex III to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 2001.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "breeding animal", "beef", "supply balance sheet", "supply", "Azores", "Madeira", "cattle" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2007/200/EC: Commission Decision of 6 December 2006 on State aid for research and development implemented by Belgium for Techspace Aero (notified under document number C(2006) 5799) (Text with EEA relevance )\n30.3.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 90/79\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 6 December 2006\non State aid for research and development implemented by Belgium for Techspace Aero\n(notified under document number C(2006) 5799)\n(Only the French and Dutch versions are authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2007/200/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 7 thereof,\nHaving regard to the Commission Decision of 22 June 2006\u00a0(2) initiating the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of aid C 28/2006 (ex NN 23/2004),\nHaving called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to that Article,\nWhereas:\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PROCEDURE\n(1) By letter of 13 February 2004, registered as received by the Commission on 18 February, Belgium notified the Commission of aid for research and development (R\u00a0&\u00a0D) to Techspace Aero. By letters of 23 December 2004, 1 July 2005 and 8 March 2006, registered as received by the Commission on 3 January 2005, 5 July 2005 and 13 March 2006 respectively, Belgium provided the Commission with further information.\n(2) This notification was sent together with the notification of an aid scheme for research and development in the aircraft industry since the aid in question was granted under that scheme and individual notification was therefore required under point 4.7 of the Community framework on State aid for research and development\u00a0(3) (R\u00a0&\u00a0D framework). This aid scheme has been examined individually as scheme No C 27/2006 (ex NN 22/2004).\n(3) By letter of 22 June 2006, the Commission informed Belgium that it had decided to initiate the procedure provided for in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the individual aid granted to Techspace Aero.\n(4) By letter dated 11 September 2006, registered as received on the same date, Belgium submitted its comments to the Commission.\n(5) By letter of 2 October 2006, the Commission asked Belgium for additional information, which was provided by letters of 23 and 24 November 2006, registered as received on the same dates.\n(6) The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union\n\u00a0(4). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments.\n(7) The Commission received no comments from interested parties.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0DESCRIPTION OF THE AID\n2.1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Beneficiary\n(8) Techspace Aero is a Belgian company that specialises in the manufacture of subassemblies for aircraft and spacecraft engines. According to the information on its website, the company is owned by the French group Safran (51\u00a0%), by the Walloon region (28,4\u00a0%), by the US firm Pratt & Whitney (19\u00a0%) and by Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Wallonne d\u2019Investissement (1,6\u00a0%). In 2004 it employed 1\u00a0230 staff and had a turnover of EUR 271 million.\n(9) Techspace Aero specialises in low-pressure compressors. It has taken part in numerous developments of major civil aircraft engines with integrators such as General Electric, Pratt & Whitney and the company SNECMA.\n2.2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0R\u00a0&\u00a0D project for which the aid has been granted\n(10) Techspace Aero is participating in the GP7000 civil aviation engine project. The GP7000 engine is produced by a collaboration between General Electric and Pratt & Whitney. Other European firms, such as MTU (Germany) and SNECMA (France), are also taking part in this project.\n(11) Techspace Aero is in charge of developing the low-pressure compressor for the GP7000. The company\u2019s total eligible costs for the R\u00a0&\u00a0D work for this project amount to [\u2026]\u00a0(5), spread over the period 2002 to 2006. According to the Belgian authorities, the total cost of the project breaks down as follows: [\u2026] for industrial research (IR) activities plus [\u2026] for pre-competitive development (PCD) activities within the meaning of Annex I to the R\u00a0&\u00a0D framework.\n(12) The activities classified as IR correspond to the project phases prior to the first engine tests. The PCD activities correspond to the engine test phases. Certification costs are not eligible for aid.\n2.3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aid arrangements\n(13) Techspace Aero requested the aid for the aforementioned project from the Belgian Government in 2000. It was granted by the authorities on 1 October 2003.\n(14) The aid is granted in the form of a repayable advance of a maximum amount of EUR 41\u00a0274\u00a0000, of which 65\u00a0% is for IR costs and 45\u00a0% for PCD costs.\n(15) The advance is repaid in stages in the form of a contribution per finished component sold based on the importance of the component, plus contributions based on the turnover generated by sales of replacement parts and by repairs. Under the agreement between the Belgian Government and Techspace Aero, the company will not under any circumstances have to pay interest on the amount advanced. Repayments will cease when the principal of the advance has been reimbursed.\n(16) According to the scenario described by the Belgian authorities in letters to the Commission and based, among other projections, on projected sales of [\u2026] shipsets by 2018, Techspace Aero is to repay the advance in full by 2019.\n2.4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Incentive effect of the aid\n(17) According to the Belgian authorities, Techspace Aero\u2019s R\u00a0&\u00a0D expenditure increased from [\u2026] per annum prior to the launch of the programme to [\u2026] per annum in 2005. Similarly, the ratio of R & D expenditure to turnover rose from [\u2026] to [\u2026].\n2.5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Grounds for initiating the procedure\n(18) In its decision of 22 June 2006 the Commission examined the aid in the light of the R\u00a0&\u00a0D framework and raised doubts regarding its compatibility with this framework.\n(19) The Commission noted that the aid was granted in the form of an advance repayable on the basis of sales of the product resulting from the research activity. Advances of this kind, repayable in the event of a successful outcome of research activities, are very common in the aircraft industry.\n(20) Point 5.6 of the R\u00a0&\u00a0D framework makes specific provision for this type of advance. It indicates that the allowable level of aid intensity for such aid instruments (25\u00a0% for PCD and 50\u00a0% for IR) may be increased based on a case-by-case assessment of the repayment conditions.\n(21) Since the entry into force of the R\u00a0&\u00a0D framework, the Commission has received notification of numerous cases of aid in the form of advances repayable in the event of a successful outcome. It has developed a body of practice for interpretating point 5.6 of the framework\u00a0(6).\n(22) In the cases analysed by the Commission to date, the beneficiary has, in the event of the success of a programme, been required to repay, in addition to the advance principal, interest based on the reference and discount rate set by the Commission for the Member State concerned at the time the aid was granted. For particularly successful programmes, the repayment rates have been even higher.\n(23) Under the circumstances, the Commission\u2019s practice has been to limit the advance to a maximum of 40\u00a0% of eligible costs for PCD activities and 60\u00a0% for IR activities. These basic rates may be exceeded by the extra percentage points (bonuses) provided for in point 5.10 of the R\u00a0&\u00a0D framework.\n(24) In the aid scheme in question, however, the Commission notes that the Belgian authorities have applied these maximum levels of 40\u00a0% and 60\u00a0% (plus a bonus of 5\u00a0% in accordance with point 5.10.2 of the R\u00a0&\u00a0D framework), whereas the arrangements for repayment of the advance do not envisage payment of any interest, even in the event of the success of the programme.\n(25) As indicated in the Commission decision of 22 June 2006, the arrangements for repaying of the aid are considerably more favourable for Techspace Aero than the traditional arrangements for aid beneficiaries in the cases hitherto examined by the Commission. Since they do not have to pay any interest, the beneficiary companies are guaranteed to benefit from the aid whatever the outcome of the project, whereas under traditional repayment arrangements the aid may not be granted at all in the event of a successful outcome (and may even be negative in cases of highly successful projects where the enterprise may enable the government to earn money, including in real terms).\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0COMMENTS FROM BELGIUM\n(26) The Belgian authorities have modified the arrangements for granting aid to Techspace Aero by means of an amendment to the contract signed by the parties and sent to the Commission on 24 November 2006. This amendment provides for recovery of part of the aid granted in order to reduce its intensity level to that stipulated by the R & D framework (50\u00a0% maximum for IR activities and 25\u00a0% maximum for PCD activities, increased by 5\u00a0% if the project is carried out in one of the regions covered by Article 87(3)(c)). The Belgian authorities will recover the surplus amount of the aid by 31 March 2007 and will charge interest on this amount at the Commission\u2019s reference and discount rate in force at the time the aid was granted. As provided for in the grant agreement, in the event of the success of the project the Belgian authorities will, in addition to this initial recovery, require repayment, free of interest, of the part of the aid kept by the enterprise.\nBeneficiary Eligible costs (EUR \u2018000) Final intensity Advance paid Recovery with interest Rate\nIR PCD IR PCD\nTechspace Aero [\u2026] [\u2026] 55\u00a0% 30\u00a0% 34\u00a0800 8\u00a0397 3,95\u00a0%\n(27) The advance finally granted to Techspace Aero amounts to EUR 31\u00a0978\u00a0850, corresponding to an intensity level of [\u2026], which is the weighted average of the intensities applicable to the relative costs of IR and PCD activities.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ASSESSMENT\n4.1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Existence of State aid\n(28) The advance was granted by the Belgian Federal Government to a single company. It is repaid only in the event of the success of the product being researched. This makes the advance more advantageous than a loan at market rates. Lastly, Techspace Aero is engaged in an area in which there is significant trade between Member States. It therefore meets the cumulative criteria for determining the existence of State aid as defined in Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.\n4.2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unlawfulness of State aid\n(29) The aid was granted on 1 October 2003, even before it was notified to the Commission and therefore necessarily before it had been approved by the Commission. There is no suspension clause whereby payment of the advance is subject to analysis of the scheme by the Commission in accordance with Community State aid rules. Since the scheme has already been implemented, it must be considered to be unlawful within the meaning of Article 1(b) and (f) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999.\n4.3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Compatibility of State aid\n(30) Modification of the aid scheme as described in paragraphs 26 and 27 takes away the advantage initially conferred on the beneficiary by reducing the aid intensity to the level stipulated in the R\u00a0&\u00a0D framework (50\u00a0% for IR activities and 25\u00a0% for PCD activities, increased by 5\u00a0% if the project is carried out in one of the regions covered by Article 87(3)(c)). In addition to recovery, with interest, of the surplus aid, repayment of the remaining aid goes beyond the requirements of the R\u00a0&\u00a0D framework. The aid thus modified is therefore compatible with that framework.\n(31) The Belgian authorities undertake to take away the additional advantage temporarily granted to Techspace Aero relative to the beneficiaries of aid in the form of repayable advances in the cases hitherto examined by the Commission.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0CONCLUSION\n(32) The Commission notes that Belgium has unlawfully implemented the R\u00a0&\u00a0D aid for Techspace Aero in breach of Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty. However, Belgium has adapted State aid granted so as to bring it into line with the Community framework on State aid for research and development,\nThe aid for research and development implemented by Belgium for Techspace Aero for an initial amount of EUR 41\u00a0274\u00a0000 and modified as described in paragraphs 26 and 27 is compatible with the common market.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium.", "answer groups": [ "research and development", "engine", "Belgium", "control of State aid", "aeronautical industry", "State aid" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2382/2002 of 30 December 2002 amending Regulation (EEC) No 94/92 laying down detailed rules for implementing the arrangements for imports from third countries provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2382/2002\nof 30 December 2002\namending Regulation (EEC) No 94/92 laying down detailed rules for implementing the arrangements for imports from third countries provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 473/2002(2), and in particular Article 11(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The list of third countries from which certain agricultural products obtained by the organic production method must originate in order to be marketed within the Community, provided for in Article 11(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, is set out in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 94/92(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1162/2002(4). That list was drawn up in accordance with Article 11(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.\n(2) The duration of inclusion of Switzerland in the list provided for in Article 11(1) of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 expires on 31 December 2002. The duration of inclusion of Argentina, Australia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Israel expires on 30 June 2003. In order to avoid trade disruption, there is a need to prolong the inclusion of these countries for a further period.\n(3) The third countries concerned have provided the Commission with appropriate information regarding the implementation of rules equivalent to those laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. In addition, the effective implementation has been verified during on-the-spot examinations in those third countries carried out by the Commission.\n(4) The Hungarian authorities have informed the Commission that one inspection and certificate issuing body has ceased its activity in Hungary. Therefore, the name of the said body should be deleted from the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 94/92.\n(5) Regulation (EEC) No 94/92 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee mentioned in Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91,\nThe Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 94/92 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2003.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import policy", "foodstuff", "access to information", "agricultural product", "mode of production", "marketing", "organic farming" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a0167/2011 of 21\u00a0February 2011 terminating the partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate originating, inter alia , in the Republic of Korea\n24.2.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 49/1\nCOUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 167/2011\nof 21 February 2011\nterminating the partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate originating, inter alia, in the Republic of Korea\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community\u00a0(1) (the basic Regulation), and in particular Article 11(3) and (6) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the European Commission after consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PROCEDURE\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Measures in force\n(1) The measures currently in force are a definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 192/2007\u00a0(2) on imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate originating, inter alia, in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). For the Korean companies with individual duties, the duties in force are zero. The residual duty is 148,3 EUR/tonne.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Request for a review\n(2) A request for a partial interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation was lodged by the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Committee of PlasticsEurope (the applicant), representing seven Union producers.\n(3) The request was limited in scope to the examination of dumping as far as the exporting producer KP Chemical Group, composed of Honam Petrochemicals Corp. and KP Chemical Corp. (KP Chemical Group), is concerned, and of certain injury aspects.\n(4) The applicant provided prima facie evidence showing that, as far as KP Chemical Group is concerned, the continued imposition of the measure at the current level of zero, is no longer sufficient to counteract the current injurious dumping.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Initiation of a partial interim review\n(5) Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence existed to justify the initiation of a partial interim review, the Commission announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union\n\u00a0(3) the initiation of a partial interim review in accordance with Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation, limited to the examination of dumping and of certain injury aspects insofar as the KP Chemical Group is concerned.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Product concerned and like product\n(6) The product under review is polyethylene terephthalate having a viscosity number of 78\u00a0ml/g or higher, according to the ISO Standard 1628-5, currently falling within CN code 3907\u00a060\u00a020 and originating in South Korea (the product concerned).\n(7) The product concerned and sold on the Korean domestic market and that exported to the Union has the same basic physical, technical and chemical characteristics and uses and is therefore considered to be alike within the meaning of Article 1(4) of the basic Regulation.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Parties concerned\n(8) The Commission officially advised the exporting producer, representatives of the exporting country, Union producers and the applicant of the initiation of the partial interim review. Interested parties were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time-limit set in the notice of initiation. All interested parties who so requested and showed that there were particular reasons why they should be heard, were granted a hearing.\n(9) The Commission sent questionnaires to the exporting producer and the Union industry and received replies within the deadlines set for that purpose. The Commission sought and verified all information deemed necessary. The Commission carried out verification visits at the premises of the KP Chemical Corp., South Korea; Honam Petrochemicals Corp, South Korea; Novapet SA, Spain; Equipolymers Srl, Italy; UAB Orion Global PET (Indorama), Lithuania; UAB Indorama Polymers Europe, Lithuania; UAB Neo Group, Lithuania; La Seda de Barcelona, S.A., Spain and M&G Polimeri Italia SpA, Italy.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Review investigation period\n(10) The investigation of dumping covered the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009 (review investigation period).\nB.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION\n(11) As far as the determination of normal value is concerned, the Commission first established whether the total domestic sales of the product concerned made by KP Chemical Group were representative in comparison with its total export sales to the Union. In accordance with Article 2(2) of the basic Regulation, domestic sales are considered representative when the total domestic sales volume is at least 5\u00a0% of the total export sales volume to the Union. The Commission established that the product concerned, which was considered a homogenous product and not subdivided into different product types, was sold domestically by KP Chemical Group in overall representative volumes.\n(12) An examination was also made as to whether the sales of the product concerned sold domestically in representative quantities could be regarded as having been made in the ordinary course of trade, by establishing the proportion of profitable sales to independent customers on the domestic market. As it was found that there were sufficient sales in the ordinary course of trade, normal value was based on the actual domestic price of profitable sales.\n(13) As the product concerned was exported directly to independent customers in the Union, the export price was established in accordance with Article 2(8) of the basic Regulation, i.e. on the basis of the export price actually paid or payable.\n(14) The comparison between normal value and export price was made on an ex-works basis.\n(15) For the purpose of ensuring a fair comparison between the normal value and the export price, due allowance in the form of adjustments was made for differences affecting prices and price comparability in accordance with Article 2(10) of the basic Regulation. Allowances for differences in transport costs, freight and insurance costs, bank charges, packing costs and credit costs were granted where they were found to be reasonable, accurate and supported by verified evidence.\n(16) Pursuant to Article 2(11) and (12) of the basic Regulation, the dumping margin was established on the basis of a comparison of the weighted average normal value with the weighted average export price as established above.\n(17) The dumping margin thus calculated is less than 2\u00a0%, expressed as a percentage of the net, free-at-Union-frontier price, duty unpaid, and shall therefore be considered de minimis in accordance with Article 9(3) of the basic Regulation.\nC.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0LASTING NATURE OF CIRCUMSTANCES\n(18) Like the previous interim review which resulted in Regulation (EC) No 192/2007, the present interim review showed a dumping margin at a de minimis level for the KP Chemical Group.\n(19) No indications were found that this de minimis margin would not be of a lasting nature, as the KP Chemical Group has been found to operate at a very high capacity utilisation rate (almost 100\u00a0%). In addition, the KP Chemical Group has no plans to increase their production capacity in South Korea. Indeed, the KP Chemical Group has acquired a production plant within the Union and is more likely to decrease its exports from South Korea.\n(20) Therefore the circumstances under which the dumping margin has been calculated in this investigation can be considered to be of a lasting nature.\nD.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0TERMINATION OF THE REVIEW\n(21) In light of the above findings, the present review should be terminated without amending the level of the duty applicable to KP Chemical Group. In these circumstances, the injury aspects do not need to be addressed.\nE.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0DISCLOSURE\n(22) Interested parties were informed of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to terminate the present partial interim review. All parties were given the opportunity to comment. Comments were received from the Union industry, which however, were not of a nature to change the above conclusions.\nF.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0FINAL PROVISION\n(23) This review should therefore be terminated without any amendment to Regulation (EC) No 192/2007,\nThe partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate originating, inter alia, in the Republic of Korea, is hereby terminated without amending the measures in force.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "anti-dumping legislation", "South Korea", "originating product", "plastics", "anti-dumping measure", "import", "anti-dumping duty" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 409/2003 of 5 March 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 2879/2000 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999 on measures to provide information on, and to promote, agricultural products in third countries\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 409/2003\nof 5 March 2003\namending Regulation (EC) No 2879/2000 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999 on measures to provide information on, and to promote, agricultural products in third countries\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999 of 14 December 1999 on measures to provide information on, and to promote, agricultural products in third countries(1), and in particular Articles 5 and 11 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) For the purpose of implementing measures forming part of the programmes referred to in Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2702/1999, Article 9(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2879/2000(2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1854/2002(3), lays down 30 April of each year as the deadline for Member States to notify the Commission of programmes and implementing bodies.\n(2) Given the low uptake of the funding available under support measures for information and promotion in previous applications, the bodies concerned should be permitted to present new programmes of measures twice a year.\n(3) The list of target markets should be revised to take account of the coming enlargement of the Union. In view of the date for the adoption of programmes in 2003, those countries due to join the Union the following year should be removed from the list.\n(4) The list of products that may be covered by promotional measures in third countries should be revised. The list should be extended to cover fibre flax, past promotional measures for which have been evaluated positively.\n(5) Regulation (EC) No 2879/2000 should consequently be amended.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Joint Meeting of Management Committees - Promotion of Agricultural Products,\nRegulation (EC) No 2879/2000 is hereby amended as follows.\n1. Article 9 is amended as follows:\n(a) in paragraph 1, the first sentence is replaced by the following:\"No later than 15 June and 15 December of each year, the Member States shall send the Commission the provisional list of programmes and implementing bodies they have selected and a copy of each programme.\";\n(b) in the first subparagraph of paragraph 3, \"30 September\" is replaced by \"15 September and 28 February\".\n2. The Annex is replaced by the Annex hereto.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "foodstuff", "third country", "agricultural product", "sales promotion", "consumer information", "EU aid" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/857/EC: Commission Decision of 10\u00a0November 2008 amending Decision 2004/4/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt (notified under document number C(2008) 6583)\n13.11.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 302/28\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 10 November 2008\namending Decision 2004/4/EC authorising Member States temporarily to take emergency measures against the dissemination of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith as regards Egypt\n(notified under document number C(2008) 6583)\n(2008/857/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Commission Decision 2004/4/EC\u00a0(2), tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in Egypt, must not in principle be introduced into the Community. However, in previous years including the 2007/2008 import season the entry into the Community of such tubers was permitted from \u2018pest-free areas\u2019 and subject to specific conditions.\n(2) During the 2007/2008 import season, no interception of Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith was recorded.\n(3) In the light of the request and technical information provided by Egypt, the Commission has established that there is no risk of spreading Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith with the entry into the Community of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. from \u2018pest-free areas\u2019 of Egypt, provided that certain conditions are satisfied.\n(4) The entry into the Community of tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., originating in \u2018pest-free areas\u2019 of Egypt, should therefore be permitted for the 2008/2009 import season.\n(5) Decision 2004/4/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nDecision 2004/4/EC is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 2 paragraph 1 \u20182007/2008\u2019 is replaced by \u20182008/2009\u2019;\n2. in Article 4, \u201831 August 2008\u2019 is replaced by \u201831 August 2009\u2019;\n3. in Article 7, \u201830 September 2008\u2019 is replaced by \u201830 September 2009\u2019;\n4. the Annex is amended as follows:\n(a) in point 1(b)(iii), \u20182007/2008\u2019 is replaced by \u20182008/2009\u2019;\n(b) in the second indent of point 1(b)(iii), \u20181 January 2008\u2019 is replaced by \u20181 January 2009\u2019;\n(c) in point 1(b)(xii), \u20181 January 2008\u2019 is replaced by \u20181 January 2009\u2019.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "originating product", "plant disease", "potato", "import refund", "plant health legislation", "Egypt" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Regulation (EC) No 1880/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 extending Council Regulation (EC) No 443/97 on operations to aid uprooted people in Asian and Latin American developing countries\nRegulation (EC) No 1880/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council\nof 17 July 2000\nextending Council Regulation (EC) No 443/97 on operations to aid uprooted people in Asian and Latin American developing countries\nTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 179(1) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),\nActing in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(2),\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 443/97 of 3 March 1997 on operations to aid uprooted people in Asian and Latin American developing countries(3) expired on 31 December 1999.\n(2) It would appear appropriate to extend this Regulation until 31 December 2000 and at the same time to amend the financial framework and the relevant period referred to in Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 443/97.\n(3) The extension of Regulation (EC) No 443/97 is dependent on the Commission submitting the annual reports to the European Parliament and to the Council, as required by that Regulation.\n(4) The measures necessary for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 443/97 should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commision(4),\nRegulation (EC) No 443/97 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Article 6(1) is replaced by the following:\n\"1. Community financing of the operations referred to in Article 1 covers a period of five years (1996 to 2000).\nThe financial framework for the implementation of this programme for the period 1996 to 2000 is EUR 280 million.\nAnnual appropriations are authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective.\"\n2. Article 10(2) is replaced by the following paragraphs:\n\"2. Where reference is made to this Article, Articles 4 and 7 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(5) apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.\nThe period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC is one month.\n3. The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.\"\n3. The following Article shall be inserted:\n\"Article 13a\nThe Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council, at least four months before the expiry of this Regulation, an overall assessment report appraising the management of the programme, identifying strengths and weaknesses and making recommendations to improve the impact of the programme.\"\n4. The second subparagraph of Article 14 shall be replaced by the following:\"It applies until 31 December 2000.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "development aid", "humanitarian aid", "aid to refugees", "EU aid", "Latin America" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0572/2008 of 19\u00a0June 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01238/95 as regards the level of the annual fee and the fees relating to technical examination, payable to the Community Plant Variety Office, and the manner of payment\n20.6.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 161/7\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 572/2008\nof 19 June 2008\namending Regulation (EC) No 1238/95 as regards the level of the annual fee and the fees relating to technical examination, payable to the Community Plant Variety Office, and the manner of payment\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 of 27 July 1994 on Community plant variety rights\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 113 thereof,\nAfter consulting the Administrative Council of the Community Plant Variety Office,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1238/95 of 31 May 1995 establishing implementing rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 as regards the fees payable to the Community Plant Variety Office\u00a0(2), sets out the fees payable to the Community Plant Variety Office (\u2018the Office\u2019), and the levels of those fees.\n(2) The financial reserve of the Office had reached a level which exceeded the level necessary to safeguard the continuity of its operations. For this reason the annual fee and the fees relating to technical examination were reduced. The financial reserve of the Office has now decreased to an appropriate level and the revenue should therefore be raised again to a level which is sufficient for the budget of the Office to be balanced. To achieve this, the annual fee and the fees relating to technical examination should be increased.\n(3) As regards new species, the experience gathered with the fee groups for the technical examination of ornamentals, has shown that there is a need to amend some of those fee groups.\n(4) To facilitate the payment of fees and charges, payment by payment cards should be allowed subject to conditions and limitations to be determined by the President of the Office.\n(5) At the same time the terms \u2018ecus\u2019 and \u2018ECU\u2019 should be respectively replaced by the terms \u2018euros\u2019 and \u2018EUR\u2019 throughout Regulation (EC) No 1238/95.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 1238/95 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Community Plant Variety Rights,\nRegulation (EC) No 1238/95 is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 1(2), the word \u2018ecus\u2019 is replaced by \u2018euros\u2019;\n2. in Article 3(2), points (a), (b) and (c) are replaced by the following:\n\u2018(a) delivery or remittance of certified cheques which are made payable in euros to the Office;\n(b) transfer in euros to a giro account held by the Office;\n(c) payment into a charge account held in euros with the Office; or\n(d) payment by payment card.\u2019\n3. in Article 7(1), Article 8(1), Article 10(1), points (a), (c) and (d), Article 11(1), Article 13(3) and Article 14(2) and (4), the word \u2018ECU\u2019 is replaced by \u2018EUR\u2019;\n4. Article 9(1) is replaced by the following:\n5. Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1238/95 is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2009.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "patent law", "payment", "European patent", "Community Plant Variety Office", "tax system", "plant variety right" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0785/2005 of 23 May 2005 terminating the partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of silicon originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China\n26.5.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 132/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 785/2005\nof 23 May 2005\nterminating the partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of silicon originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community\u00a0(1) (basic Regulation), and in particular Articles 11(3) and 22(c) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission, after consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PROCEDURE\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Measures in force\n(1) In March 2004 following an expiry review, the Council, by Regulation (EC) No 398/2004\u00a0(2), imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of silicon metal (silicon) originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China (the PRC). The rate of the definitive duty applicable to the net, free-at-Community frontier price, before duty, was 49\u00a0%.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Initiation\n(2) On 20 March 2004 the Commission announced through the publication of a notice\u00a0(3) in the Official Journal of the European Union, the initiation of a partial interim review of the measures applicable to, inter alia, imports of silicon originating in the PRC pursuant to Articles 11(3) and 22(c) of the basic Regulation.\n(3) The review was launched on the initiative of the Commission in order to examine whether, as a consequence of the enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004 (enlargement), and bearing in mind the aspect of Community interest, there was a need to adapt the measures in order to avoid a sudden and excessively negative effect on interested parties, including users, distributors and consumers.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Product under consideration\n(4) The product under consideration is the same as in the investigation which led to the imposition of the existing measures, i.e. silicon metal originating in the PRC, classifiable within CN code 2804\u00a069\u00a000 (silicon content less than 99,99\u00a0% by weight). Purely by reason of the current classification set out in the Customs nomenclature, it should read \u2018silicon\u2019. Silicon with a higher purity, that is containing by weight not less than 99,99\u00a0% of silicon, used mostly in the electronic semiconductor industry, falls under a different CN code and is not covered by this proceeding.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Investigation\n(5) The Commission officially advised the importers, the users and the exporters known to be concerned and their associations, the representatives of the exporting country concerned and the Community producers about the initiation of the investigation. Interested parties were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set out in the notice of initiation.\n(6) China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters (CCCMC), the Community industry association (Euroalliages), importers/traders, the authorities of some new Member States which joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 (the EU-10) and users of silicon in the EU-10 made their views known in writing. All parties which so requested within the time limit, and which demonstrated that there were particular reasons why they should be heard, were granted the opportunity to be heard.\n(7) The Commission sought and verified all the information it deemed necessary for the purpose of a determination of the appropriateness of the measures in force.\nB.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION AND TERMINATION OF THE PARTIAL INTERIM REVIEW\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Imports of silicon from the PRC to the EU-10\n(8) The investigation has shown that an average yearly increase in import volumes of silicon from the PRC into the EU-10, as reported by Eurostat, was around 13\u00a0% in 2001 and 2002. In 2003 import volumes increased by around 54\u00a0% due to the significant increase in the period October to December.\n(9) Furthermore, an abnormal increase in import volumes of around 120\u00a0% as compared to the same period of the previous year was found just before enlargement, that is to say January to April 2004.\n(10) The investigation has further shown that imports of silicon from the PRC into the EU-10 have decreased after enlargement. The decrease could be explained by the abnormal increases in import volumes prior to enlargement.\n(11) Moreover, statistics on imports into the EU-10 in the post-enlargement period show that the decrease of import volumes from the PRC coincides with a progressive increase of imports originating in Norway and Brazil, as well as sales from the 15 Member States which composed the European Union before enlargement (the EU-15).\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Demand of silicon in the EU-10\n(12) Demand for silicon in the EU-10 has been established on the basis of the total imports less total exports. It is to be noted that there is no declared production of silicon in the EU-10.\n(13) Taking into account the abnormal increases in import volumes from the PRC before enlargement, it was considered necessary to make some adjustments to the import volumes during 2003 and 2004 in order to determine what would normally be the import levels during these periods in the absence of enlargement.\n(14) In this regard, an average yearly increase in import volumes from the PRC in 2001 and 2002 was found to have been 13\u00a0%. On this basis, the level of normal imports from the PRC in 2003 and 2004 was determined by applying a 13\u00a0% yearly increase to the import volumes in the previous years, which could normally have been expected to be the import levels during these periods in the absence of enlargement.\n(15) Following the same methodology, exports from the EU-10 in 2004 were estimated by adding to the total exports in 2003 a normal increase of 80\u00a0% which was found to be the average yearly increase in export volumes in 2002 and 2003.\n(tonnes)\nYear 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 (estimated)\nImport to the EU-10 18\u00a0815 19\u00a0802 22\u00a0661 23\u00a0855 (estimated) 26\u00a0957\nExport from the EU-10 37 6 84 153 275\nTotal demand in the EU-10 18\u00a0778 19\u00a0795 22\u00a0576 23\u00a0703 26\u00a0682\nSource: Eurostat and estimated data for 2003 and 2004.\n(16) In the light of the above, it was found that demand in the EU-10 is around 6\u00a0% of the level of demand in the EU-15 as estimated in the last expiry review investigation of the anti-dumping measures on imports of silicon originating in the PRC made in Regulation (EC) No 398/2004.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Alternative sources of supply to meet the demand in the EU-10\n(17) The investigation has shown that there are enough potential sources of supply, alternative to the supply from the PRC, available to meet the demand in the EU-10 even if the extension of the anti-dumping duty from the EU-15 to the 10 new Member States would completely eliminate or result in a decrease in imports from the PRC.\n(18) There are around 18\u00a0000 tones of potential supply of silicon from the EU-15. This calculation has been made on the basis of the last expiry review investigation of the anti-dumping measures on imports of silicon originating in the PRC. It was found that production in the EU-15 of silicon amounted to around 148\u00a0000 tonnes in 2001. The same expiry review investigation found that there were around 166\u00a0000 tonnes of production capacity in the EU-15, indicating spare capacities of around 18\u00a0000 tonnes.\n(19) Furthermore, other potential sources of supply of silicon (not subject to anti-dumping duties) are, among others, Norway (with spare capacity of 18\u00a0000 tonnes), Brazil, Canada and the USA.\n(20) As outlined in recital 11, it was also found that in the post-enlargement period, that is to say May to November 2004, for which reliable data has already been reported by Eurostat, imports from other sources, in particular Norway and Brazil, as well as sales from the EU-15 gradually increased. Sales from the EU-15 increased four-fold, import volumes from Norway increased five-fold and from Brazil six-fold, as compared to the same period in 2003.\n(tonnes)\nPeriod of the year Sales from the EU-15 Import volumes from Norway Import volumes from Brazil\nMay-November 2003 2\u00a0070 238 152\nMay-November 2004 7\u00a0772 1\u00a0144 975\n(21) In the light of the above, there is no compelling reason to believe that there will be a shortage of silicon on the EU-10 market.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cost impact assessment\n(22) As stated by various interested parties, silicon is an intermediary product used by only a handful of processing industries in the new Member States, in particular for the production of secondary aluminium alloys.\n(23) Aluminium producers in the EU-10 confirm that the average proportion of silicon consumed in the production process of secondary aluminium alloys ranges between 3\u00a0% and 13,5\u00a0%.\n(24) The investigation has shown that the increase in the price of silicon in the EU-10 or a switch to other alternative sources of supply is likely to have a minor effect on the production cost for the users in the EU-10.\n(25) In light of the abovementioned percentages of consumption of silicon in the production of secondary aluminium alloys and given that the anti-dumping duty on imports of silicon from the PRC is 49\u00a0%, the cost impact on secondary aluminium alloys producers would only range from 1,47\u00a0% to 6,6\u00a0% of the total cost of production of secondary aluminium alloys.\n(26) Some interested parties indicated that, by extending the anti-dumping measures to imports in the EU-10, alternative sources of supply of silicon had been sought but that such alternative sources had resulted in an increase of silicon prices of around 34\u00a0%. In this regard, it was found that the cost impact for secondary aluminium alloys producers would be even less and would fall in the range of 1\u00a0% to 4,6\u00a0% of the total cost of secondary aluminium alloys production.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Comments received from the interested parties\n(27) Several importers and users argued that there will be a lack of supply of silicon on the EU-10 market. However, as outlined in recitals 11, 19 and 20, after enlargement import volumes from the PRC into the EU-10 are progressively being replaced by silicon originating in the EU-15, Norway and Brazil. There is therefore no reason to believe that there will be a shortage of silicon on the EU-10 market.\n(28) One of the users in the EU-10 as well as the Slovakian and Slovene authorities claimed that silicon from other sources is different in terms of quality to that of the PRC. In this regard it is noted that Regulation (EC) No 398/2004 in concluding the expiry review of the anti-dumping measures imposed on imports of silicon originating in the PRC stated that the silicon produced in the PRC and exported to the Community, as well as the silicon produced in Norway and that manufactured in the Community by the Community producers had the same basic physical and chemical characteristics, and the same basic uses. Therefore they are considered to be like products within the meaning of Article 1(4) of the basic Regulation. It was noted that no adjustments in the terms of quality of the product had to be made. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that Chinese imports to the EU-10 replaced by the countries named above would differ in terms of quality. In addition, the increase of the imports from other countries, as outlined in recitals 11, 19 and 20 of this Regulation, indicates that the products are substitutable.\n(29) The same user also argued that the cost impact for secondary aluminium alloys producers is not negligible given the low profit margins of the same industry. In this regard it is recalled that in recital 25 and 26 it was concluded that there will be a limited impact of the extension of anti-dumping measures on the users of silicon metal in the EU-10 with a maximum 6,6\u00a0% increase in the total cost of secondary aluminium alloys production. However, this was not a compelling reason to such extent as to modify the existing measures by introducing transitional arrangements. Indeed, this impact was not materially different from the impact estimated in the EU-15 during the investigation leading to the imposition of the definitive measures in 2004, where it was concluded that the measures in force would not have a significant effect on users.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Conclusion\n(30) Given the limited impact of the duty on the cost of manufacturing of aluminium alloys in the EU-10 and the existence of alternative sources of supply to the EU-10, it is concluded that the extension of the existing measures from the EU-15 to the EU-10 would not likely cause a sudden and excessively negative effect on interested parties, including users, distributors and consumers. Therefore, no transitional arrangements are warranted,\nThe partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of silicon originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China, initiated pursuant to Article 11(3) and 22(c) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96, is hereby terminated.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "semi-metal", "anti-dumping legislation", "China" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01544/2006 of 5 October 2006 laying down special measures to encourage silkworm rearing (Codified version)\n17.10.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 286/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1544/2006\nof 5 October 2006\nlaying down special measures to encourage silkworm rearing\n(Codified version)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee\u00a0(2),\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 845/72 of 24 April 1972 laying down special measures to encourage silkworm rearing\u00a0(3) has been substantially amended several times\u00a0(4). In the interests of clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be codified.\n(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 827/68 of 28 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market in certain products listed in Annex II to the Treaty\u00a0(5) lays down the measures governing trade in silkworms and silkworm eggs without, however, providing for support measures within the Community. Silkworm rearing is of some importance to the economies of certain regions of the Community. This activity is a source of additional income for farmers in those regions. Measures should therefore be adopted to help to ensure a fair income for silkworm rearers.\n(3) To that end, provision should be made for measures to facilitate the adjustment of supply to market requirements, and an aid replacing all national silkworm aids should be granted for silkworm rearing. In view of the characteristic features of silkworm rearing, this aid should take the form of a fixed sum per box of silkworm eggs used.\n(4) Expenses incurred by the Member States as a result of the obligations resulting from this Regulation should be financed by the Community in accordance with the provisions relating to the financing of the common agricultural policy.\n(5) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission\u00a0(6),\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Aid shall be granted for silkworms falling within CN code 0106\u00a090\u00a000 and for silkworm eggs falling within CN code 0511\u00a099\u00a090 reared within the Community.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The aid shall be granted to silkworm rearers for each box of silkworm eggs used, on conditions that the boxes contain a minimum quantity of eggs, to be determined, and that the worms have been successfully reared.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The aid per box of silkworm eggs used shall be EUR\u00a0133,26.\nDetailed rules shall be adopted for the application of this Regulation in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 4(2).\nThe detailed rules shall cover in particular the minimum quantity referred to in Article 1(2), the information to be forwarded to the Commission by the Member States and any inspection measures to protect the Community's financial interests from fraud or other irregularities.\nThe silkworm rearing year shall begin on 1 April of each calendar year and end on 31 March of the following calendar year.\n1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall be assisted by the Management Committee for Natural Fibres established by Article 10 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1673/2000 of 27 July 2000 on the common organisation of the markets in flax and hemp grown for fibre\u00a0(7), hereinafter referred to as \u2018the Committee\u2019.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.\nThe period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at one month.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.\nThe provisions governing the financing of the common agricultural policy shall apply to the products mentioned in Article 1.\nRegulation (EEC) No 845/72 shall be repealed.\nReferences to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex II.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "economic support", "codification of EU law", "EU aid", "sericulture" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2004/832/EC: Commission Decision of 3 December 2004 approving the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs and the emergency vaccination of such pigs in the Northern Vosges, France (notified under document number C(2004) 4538)Text with EEA relevance\n4.12.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 359/62\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 3 December 2004\napproving the plans for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs and the emergency vaccination of such pigs in the Northern Vosges, France\n(notified under document number C(2004) 4538)\n(Only the French version is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2004/832/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October 2001 on Community measures for the control of classical swine fever\u00a0(1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 16(1) and Article 20(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In 2002, classical swine fever was confirmed in the feral pig population in the departments of Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle in France. At that time, only the area of Thionville in the northern part of Moselle was concerned by the disease. In this area the disease now appears to be fully under control.\n(2) By Commission Decision 2002/626/EC\u00a0(2), the plan submitted by France for the eradication of the classical swine fever in feral pigs in Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle was approved.\n(3) France put also in place an intensive programme to survey classical swine fever in feral pigs in the departments of Ardennes, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle and Bas-Rhin, bordering Belgium, Germany and Luxemburg. That programme is still ongoing.\n(4) Classical swine fever was later also confirmed in feral pigs in Bas-Rhin and it spread to the north-eastern part of Moselle, in the area of the Northern Vosges. It was established that this second epidemic was caused by a different virus strain and evolved in a distinct manner from the one confirmed in the area of Thionville.\n(5) Accordingly, France has now submitted for approval a plan for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs in the area of the Northern Vosges. In addition, as that Member State intends to introduce vaccination of the feral pigs in that area, it has also submitted a plan for emergency vaccination for approval.\n(6) The French authorities have authorised the use of a live attenuated vaccine against classical swine fever (C strain) to be used for the immunisation of feral pigs by means of oral baits.\n(7) The plans for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs and the emergency vaccination of such pigs in the area of the Northern Vosges, as submitted by France, have been examined and found to comply with Directive 2001/89/EC.\n(8) For the sake of transparency it is appropriate to set out in this Decision the geographical areas where the eradication and emergency vaccination plans are to be implemented.\n(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nThe plan submitted by France for the eradication of classical swine fever in feral pigs in the area as set out in point 1 of the Annex is approved.\nThe plan submitted by France for the emergency vaccination of feral pigs in the area as set out in point 2 of the Annex is approved.\nFrance shall immediately take the necessary measures to comply with this Decision and publish those measures. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.\nThis Decision is addressed to the French Republic.", "answer groups": [ "wildlife", "animal plague", "swine", "vaccination", "France" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2002/674/EC: Commission Decision of 22 August 2002 recognising Slovakia as being free from Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. (notified under document number C(2002) 3121)\nCommission Decision\nof 22 August 2002\nrecognising Slovakia as being free from Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.\n(notified under document number C(2002) 3121)\n(2002/674/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community(1), as last amended by Commission Directive 2002/36/EC(2), and in particular Annex III, Part B, point 1 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Directive 2000/29/EC, plants and live pollen for pollination of: Chaenomeles Lindl., Cotoneaster Ehrh., Crataegus L., Cydonia Mill., Eriobotrya Lindl., Malus Mill., Mespilus L., Pyracantha Roem., Pyrus L., Sorbus L. other than Sorbus intermedia (Ehrh.) Pers., Stranvaesia Lindl., other than fruit and seeds, originating in third countries other than those recognised as being free from Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al. (hereinafter: \"the harmful organism\") may not be introduced into certain protected zones of the Member States.\n(2) In 1999, Slovakia requested to be recognised as being free from the harmful organism.\n(3) It appears from official information supplied by Slovakia, and from information collected during a mission carried out there in April 2000 by the Food and Veterinary Office, that the harmful organism does not occur in Slovakia, and that Slovakia has maintained a strict control, inspection and testing procedure for the harmful organism.\n(4) It can therefore be established that there is no risk of the harmful organism spreading.\n(5) This Decision is without prejudice to any subsequent findings that may show that the harmful organism is present in Slovakia. The Commission will request Slovakia to supply on a yearly basis all technical information available that is necessary to assess the aforementioned situation.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nSlovakia is recognised as being free from Erwinia amylovora (Burr.) Winsl. et al.\nThe Commission will request Slovakia to supply on a yearly basis all technical information available that is necessary to assess the aforementioned situation.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant disease", "parasitology", "protection of plant life", "plant health control", "exchange of information", "plant health legislation", "Slovakia" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2011/94/EU of 28\u00a0November 2011 amending Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences\n29.11.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 314/31\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2011/94/EU\nof 28 November 2011\namending Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on driving licences\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 8 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Annex I to Directive 2006/126/EC sets out the model on the basis of which Member States are required to introduce national driving licences. With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the reference to the Community on the driving licence should be replaced with a reference to the European Union. The model should also be updated to reflect the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.\n(2) In accordance with Annex I of Directive 2006/126/EC the European Union model driving licence should indicate the category of vehicle the holder is entitled to drive\n(3) It is necessary to update the European Union model driving licence in the light of the new categories of vehicles introduced by Directive 2006/126/EC. In particular driving licences for category AM (mopeds) and category A2 (motorcycles) have been introduced and will be applicable as from 19 January 2013. Therefore, the European Union model driving licence should be adjusted.\n(4) Directive 2006/126/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(5) Member States are encouraged to draw up, for themselves and in the interests of the Union, their own table illustrating, as far as possible, the correlation between this Directive and the transposition measures, and to make them public.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on driving licences,\nAnnex I to Directive 2006/126/EC is amended as set out in the Annex.\nTransposition\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 30 June 2012 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 19 January 2013.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "technical specification", "approximation of laws", "two-wheeled vehicle", "European driving licence" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "87/45/EEC: Commission Decision of 10 December 1986 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (IV/29.688 - The London Grain Futures Market) (Only the English text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 10 December 1986\nrelating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EEC Treaty\n(IV/29.688 - The London Grain Futures Market)\n(Only the English text is authentic)\n(87/45/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, First Regulation implementing Article 85 and 86 of the Treaty (1), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Article 2 thereof,\nHaving regard to the notification and application for negative clearance submitted on 22 August 1978 relating to the articles of association and the regulations of the London Grain Futures Market,\nHaving regard to the summary of the notification published (2) pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions,\nWhereas:\nI. FACTS\n(1) The London Grain Futures Market (LGFM) was set up and is run under the auspices of the Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA) and is one of many commodity markets established in London. The commodity markets are self-regulatory organizations run by committees of management, aided by secretariats and using powers given to them by their members in market rule books. The LGFM Committee consists of 13 members of whom four are elected by the members of the LGFM, seven are nominated by the Council of GAFTA (which is in turn largely elected from among the members of GAFTA), and two are nominated annually by the UK Agricultural Supply Trade Association Limited. Although the markets are self-regulating, there is an element of supervision by the Bank of England and, increasingly, supervision of the members by the Association of Futures Brokers and Dealers Limited (AFBD).\n(2) The object of the LGFM is to set up and administer a terminal market in London for grain. A terminal market, or a futures market, provides organized facilities for concluding contracts for the purchase and sale of a commodity to be delivered at named future dates. Futures markets have been developed primarily to enable persons involved in commodity trading to protect themselves from the risks of adverse price movements.\n(3) The LGFM provides a market floor for trading and price-making, determines various technical questions, such as allowable delivery months and standard contract terms, and procures the provision of clearing and settlement facilities. Trading is done on the floor of the market where dealers face each other in a ring, making bids and offers through the system known as 'open outcry'.\n(4) The International Futures Markets in London are among the principal markets used in international commodity merchandising and they contribute to the stability and smooth operation of world trade and to world pricing mechanisms. The relative size of the LGFM compared with its most important competitors is shown below:\nAnnual volumes of trade in barley\n(1980 to 1985)\n(metric tonnes)\n1.2.3 // // // // Year // London (1) // Winnipeg (2) // // // // 1980/81 // 5 766 230 // // 1981/82 // 3 489 183 // // 1982/83 // 3 497 718 // // 1983/84 // 3 567 316 // 9 596 140 // 1984/85 // 2 276 438 // 5 737 400 // // //\n(1) One tonne contract.\n(2) 20 tonnes contract.\nAnnual volumes of trade in wheat (1980 to 1985)\n(metric tonnes)\n1.2.3.4.5.6 // // // // // // // Year // London (1) // Winnipeg (2) // Minneapolis (3) // Mid-America (3) // Chicago (3) // // // // // // // 1980/81 // 6 432 448 // // // // // 1981/82 // 4 855 147 // // // // // 1982/83 // 5 763 182 // // 1 405 016 // 1 237 736 // 14 386 624 // 1983/84 // 6 810 414 // 2 270 880 // 1 252 832 // 1 497 224 // 11 010 968 // 1984/85 // 6 018 310 // 2 169 960 // 1 101 192 // 1 285 608 // 7 876 304 // // // // // //\n(1) One tonne contract.\n(2) 20 tonnes contract.\n(3) 5 000 bushels contract (one tonne = 36,7437 bushels).\n(5) There are currently two contracts being traded on the LGFM:\n(a) The barley contract which is for barley of EEC origin, of a standard and quality specified in detail in Regulation 21 of the Regulations of the LGFM, for delivery to the buyer's lorry in bulk from a store registered by the Committee of the LGFM on the mainland of Great Britain;\n(b) A wheat contract for grade B wheat of EEC origin, of a standard and quality specified in detail in Regulations 21b of the Regulations of the LGFM, for delivery to the buyer's lorry in bulk from a store registered by the Committee on the mainland of Great Britain.\nUnless otherwise determined by the Committee, trading is for delivery in the months of September, November, January, March and May for both barley and wheat and also for July in the case of wheat.\n(6) All contracts traded on the LGFM must be registered with the clearing house of GAFTA. The clearing house was set up by GAFTA for the purpose of regulating transactions in futures contracts and its principal purpose is to facilitate the transmission of documents, payments, settlements, notices and other relevant matters between members on the terms of the Regulations of the LGFM. Subject to certain conditions set out in the Articles of GAFTA, GAFTA operates a guarantee system for the due fulfilment of contracts made by members of the LGFM in whose name such contracts are registered.\n(7) There are two classes of membership of the LGFM. The first class consists of full members who are allowed to trade on the floor of the market. The Regulations provide that full membership shall be limited to 58 members. The second class of member consists of associate members. Their number is not limited.\n(8) The criteria specified in the Regulations for full members require an applicant for membership to meet certain financial requirements. To become a full member the applicant must satisfy the Committee that it is actively interested in the trading of grain and has a genuine place of business, as approved by the Committee.\n(9) Associate members must have a genuine place of business, as approved by the Committee, within a Member State of the EEC.\n(10) All members must be members of GAFTA, but any person who is engaged (or who has been engaged) in the grain trade and any corporation wheresoever situated, engaged in the grain trade, is eligible for membership of GAFTA and there may be up to 1 000 members of GAFTA at any one time, which number may be increased.\n(11) A member may generally sell his membership certificate provided that the purchaser is elected in accordance with the Regulations of the LGFM.\n(12) The Committee is now required to give reasons when it takes decisions affecting the members' rights of membership. An appeal procedure applies if the Committee refuses an application for membership, refuses to grant permission for the sale of a membership certificate, suspends a member for more than seven days, expels a member or if a member is deemed to have resigned upon ceasing to meet the criteria for his class of membership. In these cases, if the candidate or member is dissatisfied with the Committee's decision, that candidate or member may ask the Committee to reconsider its decision, making such representations and supplying such information as it considers relevant. (13) The regulations require that a member must generally be a member of the Association of Futures Brokers and Dealers Limited (AFBD). However, this requirement is not mandatory for all members. A member is excused from this obligation if he is (a) not a full member and has no place of business in the UK, or (b) engages in business exclusively on his own account or on behalf of a related company, or (c) falls within a category of member which is excused membership of the AFBD by the AFBD itself. The AFBD is one of seven self-regulatory organizations (SROs) which it is expected will be recognized by the Securities and Investments Board (SIB), which was set up in anticipation of the Financial Services Act, which stipulates that the only persons allowed to carry on investment business in the UK are 'authorized persons' or certain 'exempted persons'. Members of the LGFM will be so authorized by virtue of being members of the AFBD. In order to become a member of the AFBD, applicants have to fulfil certain qualitative criteria which reflect the AFBD's primary object, i. e. to promote and maintain a system of supervision of the conduct of business by commodity, financial and other futures brokers and dealers, particularly with a view to the protection of the interests of their clients. These criteria relate to the suitability of members' financial and business standing, and eligibility in other respects such as reliability, training, experience and financial resources.\n(14) The regulations of the LGFM provide that 'a' charge of commission shall be made by every member in respect of every London grain futures transaction affected for another party, whether or not a member, but the rates of commission are freely negotiable. Both transactions of a 'straddle' may be executed for one commission provided that both are closed simultaneously (a 'straddle' arises where a purchase is made under one contract against a simultaneous sale under another contract for the same kind of grain for a different delivery month or for a different kind of grain for the same or a different delivery month).\nII. LEGAL ASSESSMENT\n(15) The notified regulations of the LGFM are to be considered as agreements within the meaning of Article 85 of the EEC Treaty.\n(16) The regulations of the LGFM take into account the representations of the Commission in relation to various other terminal markets in London. The Commission has already granted negative clearance in respect of the rules of these associations by Decisions 85/563/EEC (1) (sugar), 85/564/EEC (2) (cocoa), 85/565/EEC (3) (coffee) and 85/566/EEC (4) (rubber).\n(17) The regulations as originally notified specified the minimum net rates of commission which were chargeable in respect of grain futures. The rules specified rates of commission which varied according to the nature of the client. The rates were higher for associate members than for full members, and were still higher for non-members. A special rate could be obtained where a 'day trade' took place, where the buying and selling trade took place on the same day and was closed out on that day. The regulations prohibited any form of deductions from the minimum commissions, and any arrangement effecting or intended to effect, directly or indirectly, a deduction from the minimum rates was deemed to be a violation of the regulations.\n(18) The Commission considered that the above system of specified minimum commission rates was a form of price-fixing that violated Article 85 (1) of the EEC Treaty. The LGFM was requested to abandon the system of fixed minimum rates. The system has now been completely abolished and references to the system in the regulations have been deleted. The regulations no longer contain any form of minimum commission but simply provide that 'a charge' of commission must be made by every member in respect of every contract for third parties (whether or not that third party is a member). Complete freedom exists to negotiate the actual commission rates and accordingly the Commission believes that this obligation is not appreciably restrictive of competition.\n(19) Furthermore, as a result of representations by the Commission, amendments have been made to the regulations concerning membership so that membership is now open and that the criteria by which applications for membership are judged are objective. The Committee is required to give reasons when it takes decisions affecting the members' rights of membership. To protect the rights of actual or potential members, an appeal procedure has been introduced.\n(20) The publications in the Official Journal of the European Communities, pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17, did not elicit any representations.\n(21) The articles of association of GAFTA and the regulations of the LGFM as outlined above do not contain clauses which constitute appreciable restrictions on competition within the common market. Therefore the Commission, on the basis of the facts in its possession, has no grounds for action under Article 85 (1). Consequently, the Commission is able to issue a negative clearance pursuant to Article 2 of Regulation No 17,\nOn the basis of the facts in its possession the Commission has no grounds for action under Article 85 (1) of the EEC Treaty in respect of the articles of association and the regulations of the London Grain Futures Market as notified on 22 August 1978.\nThis Decision is addressed to the London Grain Futures Market, whose registered office is at Baltic Exchange Chambers, 24/28 St Mary Axe, London EC 3A 8EP, United Kingdom.", "answer groups": [ "United Kingdom", "barley", "competition policy", "commodities exchange", "futures market" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2012/726/EU: Commission Implementing Decision of 22\u00a0November 2012 authorising the placing on the market of dihydrocapsiate as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No\u00a0258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2012) 8391)\n27.11.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 327/49\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION\nof 22 November 2012\nauthorising the placing on the market of dihydrocapsiate as a novel food ingredient under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council\n(notified under document C(2012) 8391)\n(Only the English text is authentic)\n(2012/726/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 7 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 6 August 2010 the company Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Japan made a request to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom to place dihydrocapsiate on the market as novel food ingredient.\n(2) On 10 March 2011 the competent food assessment body of the United Kingdom issued its initial assessment report. In this report it came to the conclusion that dihydrocapsiate will not present a health risk to consumers.\n(3) The Commission forwarded the initial assessment report to all Member States on 13 April 2011.\n(4) Within the 60 day period laid down in Article 6(4) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 reasoned objections were raised in accordance with that provision.\n(5) Therefore the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was consulted on 9 November 2011.\n(6) On 28 June 2012 in their \u2018Scientific opinion on dihydrocapsiate\u2019\u00a0(2) EFSA came to the conclusion that dihydrocapsiate is safe under the proposed uses and use levels.\n(7) Dihydrocapsiate complies with the criteria laid down in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 258/97.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDihydrocapsiate as specified in the Annex I may be placed on the market as a novel food ingredient for the uses defined and at the maximum levels established in Annex II, and without prejudice to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(3), Directive 2009/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(4) and Directive 2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(5).\nThe designation of dihydrocapsiate authorised by this Decision on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be \u2018Dihydrocapsiate\u2019.\nThis Decision is addressed to Ajinomoto Co. Inc., 15-1, Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, 1-choume, 104-8315, Tokyo, Japan.", "answer groups": [ "food safety", "market approval", "food additive", "labelling", "foodstuff" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0543/2007 of 16 May 2007 on the issue of licences for importing rice under the tariff quotas opened for the May 2007 subperiod by Regulation (EC) No\u00a02021/2006\n17.5.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 129/7\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 543/2007\nof 16 May 2007\non the issue of licences for importing rice under the tariff quotas opened for the May 2007 subperiod by Regulation (EC) No 2021/2006\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in rice\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules for the administration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 7(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 2021/2006 of 22 December 2006 opening and providing for the administration of import quotas for rice originating in the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP States) and the overseas countries and territories (OCTs)\u00a0(3), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 2021/2006 opens an annual overall tariff quota for the import of 160\u00a0000 tonnes of rice, in husked-rice equivalent, comprising 125\u00a0000 tonnes originating in the ACP States (serial number 09.4187), 25\u00a0000 tonnes originating in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (serial number 09.4189) and 10\u00a0000 tonnes originating in the least developed OCTs (serial number 09.4190), and an annual tariff quota of 20\u00a0000 tonnes of broken rice originating in the ACP States (serial number 09.4188).\n(2) For these quotas, provided for in Article 1(1)(a) and (b) of Regulation (EC) No 2021/2006, the second subperiod is the month of May.\n(3) The information provided in accordance with Article 17(a) of Regulation (EC) No 2021/2006 shows that in the case of the quotas with serial numbers 09.4187, 09.4188 and 09.4189 applications lodged during the first five working days of May 2007 in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 13 of that Regulation cover a quantity in husked-rice equivalent greater than the quantity available. As a result, the extent to which import licences may be issued should be determined by laying down the award coefficient to be applied to the quantities applied for under the quota[s] in question.\n(4) The above information also shows that in the case of the quotas with serial number 09.4190 applications lodged during the first five working days of May 2007 in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 13 of that Regulation cover a quantity in husked-rice equivalent less than the quantity available.\n(5) In accordance with Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2021/2006, the total quantities available for the next subperiod should also be laid down,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For import licence applications for rice under the quotas with serial numbers 09.4187, 09.4188 and 09.4189 as referred to in Regulation (EC) No 2021/2006 lodged during the first five working days of May 2007, licences shall be issued for the quantities applied for, multiplied by the award coefficients set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The total quantities available under the quotas with serial numbers 09.4187, 09.4188, 09.4189 and 09.4190 as referred to in Regulation (EC) No 2021/2006 for the next subperiod shall be as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "quantitative restriction", "import licence", "third country", "rice", "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a046/2007 of 19 January 2007 fixing the allocation coefficient to be applied to applications for import licences lodged 16 January 2007 under the Community tariff quota for manioc starch opened by Regulation (EC) No\u00a02402/96\n20.1.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 14/3\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 46/2007\nof 19 January 2007\nfixing the allocation coefficient to be applied to applications for import licences lodged 16 January 2007 under the Community tariff quota for manioc starch opened by Regulation (EC) No 2402/96\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules for the administration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 7(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2402/96\u00a0(3) has opened an annual import tariff quota of 10\u00a0000 tonnes and an additional autonomous annual tariff quota of 500 tonnes of manioc starch (order number 09.4064).\n(2) Based on the notification made under Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 2402/96, the applications lodged on 16 January 2007 until 13.00 (Brussels time) in accordance with Article 9 of that Regulation, relate to quantities in excess of those available. The extent to which import licences may be issued should therefore be determined and the allocation coefficient laid down to be applied to the quantities applied for.\n(3) Import licences should no longer be issued under Regulation (EC) No 2402/96 for the current quota period,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each import licence application for manioc starch under the quota referred to in Regulation (EC) No 2402/96 and lodged on 16 January 2007 until 13.00 (Brussels time) shall give rise to the issue of a licence for the quantities applied for, multiplied by an allocation coefficient of 78,635324\u00a0%.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The issue of licences for the quantities applied for from 16 January 2007 1 p.m. (Brussels time) is hereby suspended for the current quota year.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "cassava", "import licence", "starch", "quantitative restriction", "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 744/84 of 19 March 1984 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of certain ball bearings originating in Japan and Singapore\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 744/84\nof 19 March 1984\nimposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of certain ball bearings originating in Japan and Singapore\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79 of 20 December 1979 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1580/82 (2), and in particular Article 11 thereof,\nAfter consultations within the Advisory Committee as provided for under the above Regulation,\nWhereas:\nA. Procedure\n(1) In March 1983, the Commission received a complaint lodged by the Federation of European Bearing Manufacturers' Associations (Febma) on behalf of British, French, German and Italian producers of single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with greatest external diameter of not more than 30 mm whose collective output constitutes the majority of Community production of the product in question. The complaint contained evidence of dumping and of material injury resulting therefrom.\n(2) For those ball bearings falling within the scope of this complaint which were subject to undertakings accepted in the framework of a previous anti-dumping proceeding by Commission Decision 81/406/EEC (3), the Commission decided, on the basis of this complaint and information gathered during the monitoring of these undertakings, in addition to observations of market developments, that a review was warranted.\n(3) All these elements taken together were considered sufficient by the Commission to justify the initiation of a proceeding. The Commission accordingly announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (4), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports into the Community of single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with an outside diameter of up to 30 mm falling within heading No ex 84.62 of the Common Customs Tariff, corresponding to NIMEXE code ex 84.62-11 at the time of publication and to NIMEXE code ex 84.62-01 as from 1 January 1984, originating in Japan and Singapore and commenced an investigation.\n(4) Subsequent to the initiation two more Community producers, non-Febma members, supported the complaint. As a result the proceeding now covers practically all Community production with the exception of the production in the Community of subsidiaries of two Japanese exporters.\n(5) The Commission officially so advised the exporters and importers known to be concerned and the representatives of the exporting countries and the complainants and gave the parties directly concerned the opportunity to make known their views in writing and to request a hearing.\n(6) All known producers, exporters and importers made their views known in writing. One party concerned requested and was granted a hearing.\n(7) No submissions were made by Community purchasers of the ball bearings concerned.\n(8) The Commission sought and verified all information it deemed to be necessary for the purposes of a preliminary determination and carried out investigations at the premises of the following:\nEEC producers\n- Georg Mueller Nuernberg GmbH (GMN), Nuernberg, Germany,\n- FAG Kugelfischer Georg Schaefer, Schweinfurt, Germany,\n- Gebr. Reinfurt-Wuerzburg (GRW), Wuerzburg, Germany,\n- SKF Kugellagerfabriken GmbH, Schweinfurt, Germany,\n- Miniaturkugellager GmbH (MKL), Leutkirch, Germany,\n- ADR-Groupe SKF, Thomery, France,\n- Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Nouvelle de Roulements (SNR), Annecy, France,\n- SKF Compagnie d'Applications M\u00e9caniques, Clamart, France,\n- RIV-SKF SpA, Torino, Italy,\n- RHP Bearings Limited, Newark, United Kingdom,\n- The Barden Corporation (UK) Ltd, Bracknell, United Kingdom;\nNon-EEC producers/exporters\n- Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd, Osaka, Japan,\n- Koyo Singapore Bearing (PTE) Ltd, Singapore,\n- Minebea Group comprising:\n- Minebea Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan,\n- NMB (Japan) Corporation, Tokyo, Japan,\n- NMB Singapore Ltd, Singapore,\n- Pelmec Industries (Pte) Limited, Singapore,\n- Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp., Tokyo, Japan,\n- Nippon Seiko KK (NSK), Tokyo, Japan,\n- NTN Toyo Bearing Co. Ltd, Osaka, Japan;\nEEC importers\n- Deutsche Koyo Waelzlager Verkaufsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg, Germany,\n- Koyo (UK) Ltd, Leeds, United Kingdom,\n- Koyo France, Argenteuil, France,\n- Europa-Koyo BV, Nieuwpoort, The Netherlands,\n- Nippon Miniature Bearing GmbH, Neu-Isenburg, Germany,\n- NMB (UK) Limited, Bracknell, United Kingdom,\n- Nachi Germany GmbH, Neuss, Germany,\n- Nachi Fujikoshi (Europe) GmbH, Neuss, Germany,\n- Nachi (UK) Limited, Birmingham, United Kingdom,\n- NSK Kugellager GmbH, Ratingen, Germany,\n- NSK Bearings Europe Ltd, Edgware, United Kingdom,\n- NSK France SA, Clichy, France,\n- NSK Nederland BV, Amstelveen, The Netherlands,\n- NTN Waelzlager (Europa) GmbH, Erkrath, Germany,\n- NTN Bearings - GKN Limited, Walsall, United Kingdom,\n- NTN France SA Schweighouse-sur-Moder, France,\n- ISO Import Standard Office, Paris, France.\n(9) The Commission requested and received detailed written submissions from the complainant Community producers, exporters and importers and verified the information therein to the extent considered necessary.\n(10) The investigation of dumping covered the period 1 July 1982 to 30 June 1983.\nB. Normal value\nJAPAN\n(11) Normal value was provisionally determined on the basis of the domestic prices of those producers exporting to the EEC who provided sufficient evidence and whose prices were considered to be representative of the domestic market concerned.\nSINGAPORE\n(12) In the case of exports by the Minebea group the Commission, in seeking to determine the normal value, had to take account of the fact that there are virtually no sales of the like product on the domestic market.\n(13) The Minebea group requested that normal value be constructed on the basis of the prices at which its products exported from Singapore are first resold to an independent buyer on the Japanese market.\nThis method had to be ruled out by the Commission because it is not permitted by Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79 and, furthermore, with regard to these exports, it cannot be excluded that dumping is practised by Minebea on the Japanese market.\n(14) The Commission determined therefore that the normal value for exports to the Community from Singapore by the Minebea group should be established on the constructed value method laid down in Article 2 (3) (b) (ii) of Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79 and, in view of this, Minebea supplied information sufficient for a provisional determination of normal value.\n(15) This constructed value was computed by taking the company's total cost of materials and manufacture, including overheads, and adding a profit margin of 6 % considered to be reasonable in the light of the relevant industry's performance during a representative profitable period.\n(16) In the case of exports by Koyo Seiko, the Commission, in seeking to determine the normal value also had to take account of the fact that there are virtually no sales of the like product on the domestic market, and that Koyo Seiko did not produce in Singapore. Normal value was established therefore on the basis of the constructed value of the producer in Singapore who sold the product to Koyo Seiko for export. C. Export price\n(17) With regard to exports by one Japanese firm to an independent importer in the Community, export prices were determined on the basis of the prices actually paid or payable for the products sold.\n(18) In all other cases where exports were made to subsidiary companies in the Community, export prices were constructed on the basis of the prices at which the imported product was first resold to an independent buyer, suitably adjusted to take account of all costs incurred between importation and resale including customs duty, and of a profit margin of 6 %. This profit margin was considered reasonable in the light of the profit margins of independent importers of the product concerned and of other similar industrial products.\nD. Comparison\n(19) In comparing normal value with export prices the Commission took account, where appropriate, of differences affecting price comparability; this was the case for conditions and terms of sale where claims of a direct relationship could be satisfactorily demonstrated. All comparisons were made at ex-factory level.\nE. Margins\n(20) The above preliminary examination of the facts shows the existence of dumping in respect of exports by Koyo Seiko and Minebea from Singapore and by Koyo Seiko, Minebea, Nippon Seiko KK, Nachi Fujikoshi and NTN Toyo Bearing from Japan the margin of dumping being equal to the amount by which the normal value as established exceeds the price for export to the Community.\n(21) These margins vary according to the exporter and the importing Member State concerned, the weighted average margin for each of the exporters investigated being as follows:\nJapan:\n- Koyo Seiko 4,36 %\n- Minebea 10,20 %\n- Nippon Seiko KK 18,30 %\n- Nachi Fujikoshi 11,88 %\n- NTN Toyo Bearing 18,45 %\nSingapore:\n- Koyo Seiko 29,77 %\n- Minebea 37,44 %\n(22) For those exporters who neither replied to the Commission's questionnaire nor made themselves known otherwise in the course of the preliminary investigation, dumping was determined on the basis of the facts available. In this connection the Commission considered that the results of its investigation provided an accurate basis for determination of the level of dumping and that it would constitute a bonus for non-cooperation to assume that the dumping margin for these exporters was any lower than the highest dumping margin of 18,45 % for exports from Japan and 37,44 % for exports from Singapore determined with regard to exporters who had cooperated in the investigation. For these reasons it is considered appropriate to use these latter dumping margins for this group of exporters.\nF. Injury\n(23) With regard to the injury caused by the dumped imports, the evidence available to the Commission shows that sales of imports in the Community from Japan and Singapore of single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with greatest external diameter not more than 30 mm incresed from 22 670 000 pieces in 1979 to 26 337 000 pieces in 1982 and 18 538 000 pieces in the first half of 1983, with a consequent increase in the share of the market for those ball bearings held by the exporting countries from 17,5 % to 27,9 % in the same period. These sales were concentrated in most cases on a limited number of base types aimed mainly at high-volume consumers. The market shares of the most sold imported types are estimated at between 40,1 % and 84,5 % during the investigation period.\n(24) The weighted average resale prices of these imports undercut the prices of the Community producers during the investigation period by up to 44,8 % depending on type and market. In most cases the resale prices of these imports were lower than those required to cover the costs of Community producers and provide a reasonable profit.\n(25) The Community industry in respect of which the impact of the dumped imports must be assessed is the entire Community ball-bearing industry, part of which is specializing in the production of small-size ball bearings but which normally covers a wider range of products. Although the Italian market is protected to a certain degree against imports from Japan, but not from Singapore, by Council Regulation (EEC) No 288/82 (1), it was also included in all calculations referring to the Community industry.\n(26) The consequent impact on this Community industry has been a decline in production from 125 332 000 pieces in 1979 to 119 671 000 pieces in 1982 and 61 881 000 pieces in the first six months of 1983 representing a fall of 4,5 % between 1979 and 1982 and showing no significant improvement during the first six months of 1983.\n(27) Utilization of capacity decreased by about 19 % between 1979 and 1983 for the entire Community industry for the product in question, whereas the decrease has been even greater for those producers specializing in small ball bearings.\n(28) Sales of the ball bearings in question, produced by the Community industry, but excluding those manufactured by the Community subsidiaries of certain Japanese exporters, have decreased from 93 175 000 pieces in 1979 to 78 861 000 pieces in 1982 and 40 401 000 pieces during the first six months of 1983, representing a decrease of 13,3 % over the entire period. This resulted in a fall in market share for this industry from 72,0 % in 1979 to 60,9 % during the first six months of 1983.\n(29) The Community industry has started to incur financial losses when low-priced imports and a further lowering of these prices have led it to compete for its market share at price levels below costs.\n(30) With regard to employment, the situation with larger producers was cushioned, in part, by internal redeployment possibilities. Smaller, specialized firms have lost about 9 % of their workforce since 1979.\n(31) The Commission has considered whether injury has been caused by other factors such as imports from third countries and certain developments in demand. On the basis of evidence available, it has, however, been established that the market share held by imports from third countries was only 3,8 % in 1979 and 2,2 % during the first six months of 1983. As to development in demand, it could be established that consumption of ball bearings of up to 30 mm outside diameter was 129 478 000 pieces in 1979, increased to 139 949 000 pieces in 1980, then decreased to 126 079 000 pieces in 1981 and 122 594 000 pieces in 1982 to rise to 66 388 000 pieces in the first six months of 1983. During this period, the market share held by imports from Japan and Singapore has been increasing steadily (1979: 17,5 %; 1980: 19,3 %; 1981: 19,8 %; 1982: 21,5 % and the first six months of 1983: 27,9 %) with consequent reductions in the market share of the Community industry including sales by the Community manufacturing subsidiaries of certain Japanese exporters (1979: 78,7 %; 1980: 76,4 %; 1981: 75,5 %; 1982: 75,6 %; first six months of 1983: 69,9 %).\nIt has therefore been established that the trend of demand has affected Community production more than it has affected the dumped imports.\n(32) All these factors led the Commission to determine that the effects of the dumped imports of single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with greatest external diameter not more than 30 mm originating in Japan and Singapore, taken in isolation, have to be considered as constituting material injury to the Community industry concerned.\nG. Community interest\n(33) After having considered the interest of the Community and both the dumping and the injury provisionally established, the Commission has come to the conclusion that action should be taken.\nH. Rate of duty\n(34) Having regard to the extent of injury caused, the rates of anti-dumping duty should correspond to the margins of dumping provisionally established.\n(35) A period should be fixed within which the parties concerned may make their views known and request an oral hearing,\nDecision 81/406/EEC accepting the undertakings given by Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd, Nachi-Fujikoshi, Corp., Nippon Seiko KK and NTN Toyo Bearing Co. Ltd is hereby repealed in so far as single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with greatest external diameter of not more than 30 mm are concerned.\n1. A provisional anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of single-row deep-groove radial ball bearings with greatest external diameter not more than 30 mm, falling within heading No ex 84.62 of the Common Customs Tariff, corresponding to NIMEXE code ex 84.62-01 and originating in Japan and Singapore. 2. The rate of the anti-dumping duty shall be as set out below expressed as a percentage of the price per piece net, free-at-Community-frontier, before duty.\n// Manufacturers / exporters // Rate of\nanti-dumping\nduty // - Japan: // // - Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd // 4,36 % // - Minebea Co. Ltd // 10,20 % // - Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp. // 11,88 % // - Nippon Seiko KK // 18,45 % // - NTN Toyo Bearing Co. Ltd // 18,30 % // - Others // 18,45 % // - Singapore: // // - Koyo Singapore Bearing (Pte) Ltd // 29,77 % // - Minebea Co. Ltd // 37,44 % // - Others // 37,44 % 3. The provisions in force concerning customs duties shall apply.\n4. The release for free circulation in the Community of the products referred to in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the provision of a security, equivalent to the amount of the provisional duty.\nWithout prejudice to Article 7 (4) (b) and (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79, the parties concerned may make known their views and apply to be heard orally by the Commission within one month of the entry into force of this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nSubject to Articles 11, 12 and 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 3017/79, it shall apply for a period of four months, unless the Council adopts definitive measures before the expiry of that period.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Singapore", "bearing", "dumping", "Japan" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3815/85 of 27 December 1985 adapting Regulations (EEC) No 610/77, (EEC) No 2226/78, (EEC) No 2377/80, (EEC) No 985/81 and (EEC) No 552/85 in the beef and veal sector by reason of the accession of the Kingdom of Spain\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3815/85\nof 27 December 1985\nadapting Regulations (EEC) No 610/77, (EEC) No 2226/78, (EEC) No 2377/80, (EEC) No 985/81 and (EEC) No 552/85 in the beef and veal sector by reason of the accession of the Kingdom of Spain\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal and in particular Article 396 thereof,\nWhereas, by reason of the accession of Spain Commission Regulation (EEC) Nos 610/77 of 18 March 1977 on the determination of prices of adult bovine animals on representative Community markets and the survey of prices of certain other cattle in the Community (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1511/85 (2), Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2226/78 of 25 September 1978 laying down detailed rules for the application of intervention measures in the beef and veal sector (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1362/85 (4); Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 on special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences in the beef and veal sector (5), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 552/85 (6), Regulation (EEC) No 985/81 laying down detailed rules on the sale of frozen beef and veal for export from intervention stocks (7), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2624/85 (8) and Regulation (EEC) No 552/85 laying down detailed rules for the application in the beef and veal sector of Regulation (EEC) No 486/85 on the arrangements applicable to agricultural products and certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products originating in the Africian, Carribean and Pacific States or in the overseas countries and territories, and amending Regulation (EEC) No 2377/80 should be adapted;\nWhereas, pursuant to Article 2 (3) of the Treaty of Accession, the measures referred to in Article 396 of the Act may be adopted before accession and will enter into force only subject to and on the date of the entry into force of the said Treaty;\nThe Annexes to Regulation (EEC) No 610/77 are hereby amended as follows:\n1. Annex I is replaced by the following:\n'ANNEX I\nCoefficients to be used in calculating the price on the representative Community markets for adult bovine animals\nBelgium 3,6\nDenmark 3,2\nFrance 27,7\nGermany 18,8\nGreece 0,9\nIreland 7,0\nItaly 10,7\nLuxembourg 0,3\nNetherlands 6,3\nSpain 5,9\nUnited Kingdom 15,6.'\n2. The following section is added to Annex II:\n'K. SPAIN\n1. Representative markets\n1.2 // (a) Municipal slaughterhouses // Qualities // Barcelona // all qualities // Bilbao // all qualities // Madrid // all qualities // (b) Quotation Centres // Qualities // Ebro // all qualities // Mercolerida // all qualities // Segovia // all qualities // (c) Markets // Qualities // Talavera de la Reina (Toledo) // all qualities // Santiago de Compostela // all qualities // Salamanca // all qualities\n2. Categories, qualities and coefficients\n1.2.3 // Categories and qualities // Live-weight conversion coefficients // Weighting coefficients // Anojos categoria secunda // 56 // 15 // Anojos categoria primera // 58 // 48 // Vacuno major // 47 // 28 // Vacuno menor // 54 // 9'\n3. The following section is added to Annex III\n'K. SPAIN\n1. Representative market\n1.2 // (a) Municipal slaughterhouses // Quality // Barcelona // ternera // Bilbao // ternera // Madrid // ternera // (b) Quotation Centres // Quality // Ebro // ternera // Mercolerida // ternera // Segovia // ternera // (c) Markets // Quality // Talavera de la Reina (Toledo) // ternera // Santiago de Compostela // ternera // Salamanca // ternera\n2. Qualities and coefficients\n1.2.3 // Qualities // Live-weight conversion coefficient // Weighting coefficient // Terneras de todas las categorias // 59 // 100'\nThe following is added to Annex III of Regulation (EEC) No 2226/78:\n'ESPANA: FORPPA\nCALLE Jose Abascal,4\n28003 Madrid\nTel. 4 48 80 00\nTelex: 45506 Article 3\nRegulation (EEC) No 2377/80 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. The following are added to Article 9 (1):\n- under (d):\n'Certificado valido en . . . '\n- under (e): first paragraph:\nBovinos jovenes machos destinados a cebo.'\n- under (e): second paragraph, first indent:\n'Peso por cabeza hasta 300 kg'.\n- under (e): second paragraph, second indent:\n'Peso por cabeza inferior a 80 kg' o\n'Peso por cabeza de 80 a menos de 220 kg'. o\n'Peso por cabeza de 220 a 300 kg'\n- under (f):\n'Exacci\u00f3n reguladora reducida en un . . . %.'\n2. The following are added to Article 10 (1):\n- under (c)\n'Certificado valido en . . .'\n- under (d):\n'Carne destinada a la fabricaci\u00f3n de conserva - r\u00e9gimen (a) . . . en . . . '.\n- under (e):\n'Exacci\u00f3n reguladora suspendida'.\n3. The following are added to Article 11 (1):\n- under (c):\n'Certificado valido en . . . '\n- under (d):\n'Carnes destinadas a la transformaci\u00f3n - r\u00e9gimen (b) - en . . . '.\n- under (e):\n'Exacci\u00f3n reguladora reducida en un . . . %'.\n4. The following are added to Article 12:\n- in paragraph 1, under (b):\n'Carne de vacuno de alta calidad (Reglamento (CEE) no 263/81'.\n- in paragraph 2:\n'Exacci\u00f3n reguladora suspendida para (cantidad para la cual se ha expedido el certificado) kg.'\n5. The following is added to Article 13 (1), under (a):\n'Producto ACP/PTOM (Reglamento (CEE) no 486/85)'.\nThe following is added to the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 985/81:\n'ESPANA: FORPPA\ncalle Jose Abascal, 4\nMadrid 28003\nTel. 4 48 80 00\nTelex 45506'\nArticle 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 552/85 is replaced by the following:\n'Article 3\n1. The amount provided for in Article 4 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 486/85 for each product intended for importation into a Member State shall be equal to 90 % of the amount of the levy, adjusted as appropriate by the monetary compensatory amount and the accession compensatory amount valid for imports into that Member State during the week preceding that in which the quarter for which the reduction is calculated begins.\nThe reduction shall be fixed for each Member State in its national currency.\n2. The reduction shall be deducted from the levy valid on the day on which the Customs import formalities are completed in the Member State concerned, adjusted as appropriate by the monetary coefficient shown in Annex II to the relevant Commission Regulation fixing the monetary compensatory amounts, by the monetary compensatory amount valid in the Member State concerned on the same date and by the accession compensatory amount.'\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 March 1986 subject to the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "representative market price", "export licence", "import licence", "intervention stock", "market intervention", "beef" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1673/2004 of 24 September 2004 laying down the marketing standard applicable to kiwifruit\n25.9.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 300/5\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1673/2004\nof 24 September 2004\nlaying down the marketing standard applicable to kiwifruit\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Kiwifruit are among the products listed in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 for which standards must be adopted. Commission Regulation (EEC) No 410/90 of 16 February 1990 setting quality standards for kiwifruit\u00a0(2) has been amended several times. For the sake of clarity, Regulation (EEC) No 410/90 should therefore be repealed and replaced, as from 1 October 2004, by a new Regulation.\n(2) To that end, and in the interest of preserving transparency on the world market, account should be taken of the UN/ECE standard FFV-46 concerning marketing and quality control of kiwifruit recommended by the Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE).\n(3) Application of the new standards should remove products of unsatisfactory quality from the market, bring production into line with consumer requirements and facilitate trade based on fair competition, thereby helping to improve profitability.\n(4) The standards are applicable at all marketing stages. Long-distance transport, storage over a certain period and the various processes the products undergo may cause some degree of deterioration owing to the biological development of the products or their perishable nature. Account should be taken of such deterioration when applying the standard at the marketing stages following dispatch.\n(5) As products in the \u2018Extra\u2019 class have to be particularly carefully sorted and packaged, only lack of freshness and turgidity should be taken into account in their case.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,\nThe marketing standards applicable to kiwifruit falling within CN code 0810\u00a050 shall be as set out in the Annex.\nThe standards shall apply to all marketing stages under the conditions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 2200/96.\nHowever, at stages following dispatch, products may show, in relation to the requirements of the standard:\n(a) a slight lack of freshness and turgidity;\n(b) for products graded in classes other than the \u2018Extra\u2019 class, slight deteriorations due to their development and their tendency to perish.\nRegulation (EEC) No 410/90 is repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply as from 1 October 2004.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing standard", "tropical fruit", "preparation for market" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 26/2004 of 30 December 2003 on the Community fishing fleet register\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 26/2004\nof 30 December 2003\non the Community fishing fleet register\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the common fisheries policy(1), and in particular Article 15(3) and (4) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) For the application of the rules of the common fisheries policy, in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002, each Member State is required to keep a register of vessels flying its flag and the Commission is required to set up a Community fishing fleet register on the basis of the national registers.\n(2) If it is to be an effective and comprehensive tool for implementing the rules of the common fisheries policy, the Community fishing fleet register should include all Community fishing vessels, including those used exclusively in aquaculture.\n(3) In order to have available the information essential for the management of the capacity of fishing fleets and their activity, the information on vessel characteristics which has to appear in the register for each Member State in accordance with Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 should be identified.\n(4) The definition of the procedures for forwarding to the Commission the data appearing in the register of each Member State is needed to ensure a regular updating of the Community fishing fleet register.\n(5) The characteristics and external markings recorded in the register kept by each Member State should be specified in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) 2930/86 of 22 September 1986 defining characteristics for fishing vessels(2), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 3259/94(3), and with Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1381/87 of 20 May 1987 establishing detailed rules concerning the marking and documentation of fishing vessels(4).\n(6) The Member States should constantly monitor the quality of the information given in their national registers and ensure that it is checked by the Commission as soon as it is received.\n(7) In order to monitor the movements of vessels between Member States and to ensure an unequivocal link between the information contained in the Community fishing fleet register and the data from other information systems relating to fishing activities, it is important to allocate a unique identification number to each Community fishing vessel, which under no circumstances may be reassigned or altered.\n(8) To ensure the effective application of this Regulation and to simplify data management, the communication tools to be used between Member States and the Commission should be defined.\n(9) It should be stipulated that the Commission is to ensure access by the Member States to all the information in the Community fishing fleet register in compliance with the provisions relating to the protection of personal data set out in Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council(5).\n(10) In the light of the changes made by Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 to the method for managing fishing vessel registers, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2090/98 of 30 September 1998 concerning the fishing vessel register of the Community(6), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 839/2002(7), should be repealed.\n(11) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,\nSubject\n1. This Regulation:\n(a) determines the minimum information on vessel characteristics and activity which must figure in the register which each Member State keeps of the fishing vessels flying its flag (hereinafter called \"the national register\");\n(b) lays down the obligations of Member States regarding the collection, validation and transmission of the data from their national register to the Commission;\n(c) lays down the obligations of the Commission regarding the management of the Community fishing fleet register (hereinafter called \"the Community register\").\n2. The data from the Community register shall serve as reference for the application of the rules of the common fisheries policy.\nScope\nThis Regulation shall apply to all Community fishing vessels, including those used exclusively in aquaculture as defined in point 2.2 of Annex III to Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999(8).\nDefinitions\nFor the purposes of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply:\n1. \"event\": any entry to or exit from the fleet of a vessel or registration or change in one of its characteristics as defined in Annex I;\n2. \"transmission\": digital transfer of one or more events on the telecommunications network set up between the national administrations and the Commission;\n3. \"snapshot\": all the events recorded for the vessels comprising the fleet of a Member State between the date of the census referred to in Annex I and the date of transmission;\n4. \"personal data\": the names and addresses of the agents and owners of fishing vessels.\nData collection\nEach Member State shall collect without delay the data referred to in Annex II for the Community fishing vessels flying its flag.\nRecording in the national register\nEach Member State shall validate the data collected in accordance with Article 4 and record them in its national register.\nPeriodic transmission\nEach Member State shall transmit a snapshot to the Commission on the first working day of March, June, September and December each year.\nRecording in the Community register\n1. On receiving the snapshot, the Commission shall check the data it contains and enter them in the Community register. If no error is detected this snapshot shall replace the previous one.\nIf errors are detected, the Commission shall send its observations to the Member State which shall make the necessary corrections in its national register and send the Commission a new snapshot within 10 working days of the Commission's notification.\n2. After receiving and checking the new snapshot, the Commission shall register or reject it if the snapshot contains errors not compatible with the correct implementation of the common fisheries policy.\nIf the snapshot accepted still contains errors, they shall be notified to the Member State which shall undertake to correct them forthwith in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 8.\n3. The Community register shall be available to the Member States, in accordance with the rules established by Article 11, some 20 working days after the snapshot's periodic transmission date.\nInterim transmission\n1. Where the implementation of special measures under the common fisheries policy so requires, a Member State, either of its own accord, or at the Commission's request, shall transmit without delay from its national register the updated data for the vessels concerned.\n2. The data transmitted must contain for each vessel particulars of all the events from the date of its entry to the fleet up to the transmission date.\n3. On receiving the snapshot, the Commission shall check the data and substitute them in the Community register.\nCommunication tools between the Commission and the Member States\n1. The transmission of data between the Commission and the Member States shall be managed by means of an IT application developed by the Commission.\n2. The Community register and the data concerning the checks and the monitoring of transmissions shall be accessible to the Member States on the Internet.\n0\n\"CFR\" identification number\nThe CFR number referred to in Annex I shall identify fishing vessels in a unique way. It shall be included in all transmissions of data between the Member States and the Commission concerning the characteristics and activities of fishing vessels.\nThe number shall be assigned definitively when a vessel is first registered in a national register. It may not be altered or reassigned to another vessel.\n1\nAccess\n1. The Member States shall have access to all the information contained in the Community register on condition that they comply with the provisions relating to the protection of personal data arising from Regulation (EC) No 45/2001, and in particular Article 8 thereof.\n2. The public shall have access to a version of the Community register which does not contain personal data.\n3. Requests for access to personal data in the Community register shall be dealt with by the Commission in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\n2\nRepeal\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2090/98 is hereby repealed.\n3\nEntry into force\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 September 2004.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EU Member State", "common fisheries policy", "data collection", "fishing fleet" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0699/2006 of 5 May 2006 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No\u00a02092/91 as regards conditions of access for poultry to open-air runs\n6.5.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 121/36\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 699/2006\nof 5 May 2006\namending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 as regards conditions of access for poultry to open-air runs\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs\u00a0(1), and in particular the second indent of Article 13 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) According to the principles of organic farming, livestock should have access to open-air or grazing areas, whenever weather conditions permit.\n(2) Current rules on organic production provide an exception to this principle for mammals where Community or national requirements relating to specific animal health problems prevent access of these animals to outdoor areas. However, no exception is provided for organic poultry.\n(3) In the light of current concerns about the spread of avian influenza, it is necessary to take account of precautionary measures which may require poultry to remain indoors. For the sake of coherence and clarity and in order to guarantee the continuity of the organic poultry production system, it is also necessary to allow producers to keep their poultry indoors without losing organic status, where restrictions, including veterinary restrictions, which are taken on the basis of Community law for the purpose of protecting public or animal health, prevent poultry from having access to the open-air or to grazing areas.\n(4) Restricting access to outdoor runs for poultry used to permanent outdoor access may compromise their welfare. In order to reduce the negative impact of such measures the animals shall have permanent access to sufficient quantities of roughage and suitable material allowing each bird to take up roughage, scratch and dust bath according to its needs.\n(5) Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) There is an urgent need for the measures provided for in this Regulation, considering that restrictions are already being applied in certain Member States. This Regulation should therefore enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91,\nIn part B of Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 the following point 8.4.7 is added:\n\u20188.4.7. Notwithstanding the provisions laid down in points 8.4.2 and 8.4.5, poultry may be kept indoors where restrictions, including veterinary restrictions, which are taken on the basis of Community law for the purpose of protecting public or animal health, prevent or restrict access of poultry to open-air runs.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "veterinary legislation", "public health", "poultry", "animal disease", "livestock farming", "veterinary inspection", "organic farming" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Decision of 28 March 2001 on the State aid which Germany is planning to implement for the steel firm BRE.M.A Warmwalzwerk GmbH Co. KG (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2001) 971)\nCommission Decision\nof 28 March 2001\non the State aid which Germany is planning to implement for the steel firm BRE.M.A Warmwalzwerk GmbH & Co. KG\n(notified under document number C(2001) 971)\n(Only the German text is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2002/81/ECSC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, and in particular Article 4(c) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, read in conjunction with Protocol 14,\nHaving regard to Commission Decision No 2496/96/ECSC of 18 December 1996 establishing Community rules for State aid to the steel industry(1) (hereinafter referred to as the \"Steel Aid Code\"), and in particular Article 6(5) thereof,\nHaving called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above(2) and having regard to those comments,\nWhereas:\nI. PROCEDURE\n(1) By letter dated 18 January 2000, Germany, acting under Article 3 of Decision No 2496/96/ECSC (Steel Aid Code), notified the Commission of aid for a plant belonging to Stahlwerke Bremen GmbH and which in the meantime has become a legally independent firm, BRE.M.A Warmwalzwerk GmbH & Co. KG (hereinafter referred to as \"Brema\"). The aid amounted to DEM 1,214 million (EUR 622564), representing 15 % of an investment of DEM 8,09 million (EUR 4,14 million).\n(2) By letter dated 5 July 2000, the Commission informed Germany that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 6(5) of the Steel Aid Code in respect of the aforementioned aid.\n(3) The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(3). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid.\n(4) The German authorities presented their comments by letter dated 31 July 2000. The UK Steel Association, the beneficiary undertaking Brema and SIDMAR, the parent company of Stahlwerke Bremen GmbH, sent comments in the context of the procedure. The Commission notified Germany of these comments by letter dated 22 December 2000 and Germany gave its comments in a letter dated 19 January 2001.\nII. DESCRIPTION OF THE AID\n(5) Brema became an undertaking with an independent legal status in January 2000, separating itself from Stahlwerke Bremen GmbH, which became its parent company, is in turn owned by SIDMAR and forms part of the Luxembourg-based ARBED group. It is an ECSC steel company that manufactures mainly hot-rolled sheets. Its hot-rolling mill produces 3,12 million tonnes per year. Slabs for the hot-rolling process are reheated in a walking-beam furnace. According to the German authorities, the steering system of the furnace, which is 27 years old, is based on obsolete technology and requires modernisation.\n(6) The necessary modernisation of the furnace would have involved an investment of DEM 3,91 million (EUR 2 million). However, instead of limiting itself to carrying out this necessary modernisation, Brema decided to undertake a complete reconstruction of the steering and operating system of the walking-beam furnace in the interest of energy saving. The additional investment amounted to DEM 8,09 million, bringing the total investment cost to DEM 12 million (EUR 6,15 million). According to the German authorities, it qualifies for environmental aid on the basis of the energy-saving effect and the reduction in CO2 emissions.\n(7) The reconstruction of the operating and steering equipment will lead to a total energy saving of 6 %, equivalent to 11,7 million Nm3 of natural gas per year. Total CO2 emissions would be reduced by about 21000 tonnes per year. In the case of the necessary modernisation alone, 3,3 million Nm3 of gas would be saved, permitting an emission reduction of 6000 tonnes CO2 per year. The total reconstruction of the operating and steering system of the furnace as decided by the firm will lead to additional energy saving of 8,4 million Nm3 of natural gas and a further CO2 reduction of 15000 tonnes per year.\n(8) The additional energy saving of 8,4 million Nm3 of natural gas represents DEM 1,58 million in terms of direct cost savings per year for the firm. There will be other indirect cost savings associated with the effect that the investment will have on the firm's efficiency, capacity and productivity.\n(9) The increased efficiency of the process will lead to a workforce reduction of five people, resulting in a cost reduction of DEM 432800 per year.\n(10) There will also be a small capacity increase of the rolling mill of 550 tonnes per year, yielding DEM 58000 per year in extra revenue.\n(11) Total annual savings resulting from the extra investment will thus amount to DEM 2,07 million per year.\nIII. COMMENTS FROM GERMANY\n(12) In its reply to the initiation of proceedings, Germany confirmed the position it had already taken during the preliminary investigation, namely that the investment is eligible for aid because the firm would not contemplate making such an investment without aid because of its high initial cost. In spite of a depreciation period of 12,5 years, the fact that the investment will earn a return on capital in four years is not decisive for the firm's decision to invest. The extra improvement in the protection of the environment is significant since the additional energy saving of 8,4 million Nm3 of natural gas entails a further reduction in CO2 emissions of 15000 tonnes per year, with the initial investment already leading to a reduction of 6000 tonnes.\nIV. COMMENTS FROM INTERESTED THIRD PARTIES\n(13) The beneficiary undertaking Brema and its parent company SIDMAR take the same view as Germany regarding the eligibility of the investment on environmental protection grounds.\n(14) The UK Steel Association shares the Commission's misgivings and deems it important to examine the reason for State aid. In view of the most recent technological developments, all new investments have an indirect positive effect on the environment. There is therefore the temptation to present normal productive investments as being determined by environmental factors in order to attract State aid.\nV. ASSESSMENT OF THE AID\n1. Legal basis\n(15) Brema is an undertaking within the meaning of Article 80 of the ECSC Treaty and is therefore subject to the rules of the Steel Aid Code. The measure notified by Germany constitutes aid within the meaning of Article 1 of the Steel Aid Code. In accordance with Article 3, aid for environmental protection in the case of steel undertakings may be deemed compatible with the common market if it is in compliance with the Community guidelines on State aid for environmental protection(4) (hereinafter referred to as the \"guidelines\") and in conformity with the criteria outlined in the Annex to the Steel Aid Code.\n(16) According to the guidelines (point 3.2.1), aid ostensibly intended for environmental protection measures but which in fact is aid for general investment is not covered by the guidelines. The eligible costs must be strictly confined to the extra investment costs necessary to meet environmental objectives. Moreover, the following rules apply.\n(17) Aid for investment that allows significantly higher levels of environmental protection may be authorised up to a maximum of 30 % of the eligible costs. Its level must be in proportion to the improvement of the environment that is achieved and to the investment necessary for achieving the improvement (point 3.2.3.B).\n(18) Aid for energy conservation will be treated like aid for environmental purposes in so far as it aims at and achieves significant benefits for the environment and the aid is necessary, having regard to the cost savings obtained by the investor (point 3.2).\n(19) According to the Annex to the Steel Aid Code, aid to encourage firms to contribute to significantly improved environmental protection (applying both to investments in the absence of environmental standards and investments to improve on environmental protection) is governed by the following provisions.\n(20) The Commission will analyse the economic and environmental background of a decision to opt for the replacement of existing plant or equipment. A decision to undertake new investment which would have been necessary in any event on economic grounds or on account of the age of the existing plant or equipment (useful life left of less than 25 %) will not be eligible for aid.\n(21) The investor will have to demonstrate that a clear decision was taken to opt for higher standards which necessitated additional investment, that is, that a lower-cost solution existed which would meet the statutory requirements.\n(22) Any advantage in regard to lower costs of production will be deducted.\n2. The present case\n(23) The notification by Germany does not relate to aid for initial investment made to replace old installations. It relates only to aid towards the extra investment leading to a reduction in energy consumption and hence, in CO2 emissions. In Germany's view, therefore, the aid ceiling for such investment is 30 %; however, Germany decided to limit the grant to 15 %.\n(24) Aid for investments in energy saving are assessed in the same way as aid for other investments that bring about an improvement in environmental protection. In view of the applicable rules as set out above, the Commission has to make sure in the present case that all the advantages in the form of lower production costs attributable to the investment are deducted from the eligible costs. This is to ensure that only investments aimed exclusively at environmental protection receive State aid. For this purpose, the economic advantages obtained by the firm during the life of the equipment as a result of the investments must be taken into consideration.\n(25) The equipment that is being partially replaced is at least 27 years old, i.e. at the time of replacement. It could therefore be assumed that the life of the new equipment will be the same. If, however, the life of the equipment cannot be readily determined, the Commission may, in view of constant technological developments, apply in some cases the normal depreciation period entered in the accounts of the company. It can do this if the depreciation period is long enough to ensure that all the economic gains obtained by the company from the investment will be deducted. In the present case, the depreciation period is 12,5 years. Although the potential effective life can be more than double that, the depreciation period might be considered long enough for the purpose mentioned and might be accepted by the Commission as the life of the equipment.\n(26) However, the Commission cannot accept the argument put forward by Germany and by Brema and SIDMAR to the effect that the aid is necessary in view of the high cost of the investment. Such a criterion does not ensure that the provisions of the Steel Aid Code and the guidelines will be complied with.\n(27) According to the information provided by Germany, the investment in question generates savings for the firm not only at the level of energy consumption but also through rationalisation of the production process. These savings amount to around DEM 2,07 million per year. As a result of these savings, the extra investment of DEM 8,09 million will pay for itself within four years. Although the investment has considerable positive effects on environmental protection, the Commission cannot accept that the aid is necessary, having regard to the cost savings obtained by the investor.\nVI. CONCLUSIONS\n(28) Since any advantage in the form of lower production cost has to be deducted and since after four years the notified investment will be paid for with the savings and extra earnings it generates, the investment is not eligible for State aid under the Steel Aid Code or the guidelines. The aid notified by Germany of DEM 1,214 million for an investment of DEM 8,09 million is, therefore, incompatible with the common market,\nThe State aid which Germany is planning to implement for BRE.M.A Warmwalzwerk GmbH & Co. KG, amounting to DEM 1,214 million (EUR 622564), is incompatible with the common market.\nThe aid may accordingly not be implemented.\nGermany shall inform the Commission, within two months of notification of this Decision, of the measures taken to comply with it.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.", "answer groups": [ "control of State aid", "iron and steel industry", "State aid", "Germany" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2010/30/: Commission Decision of 9 December 2009 amending the list of herbal substances, preparations and combinations thereof for use in traditional herbal medicinal products (notified under document C(2009) 9703) (Text with EEA relevance)\n19.1.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 12/14\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 9 December 2009\namending the list of herbal substances, preparations and combinations thereof for use in traditional herbal medicinal products\n(notified under document C(2009) 9703)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2010/30/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(f) thereof,\nHaving regard to the opinions of the European Medicines Agency, formulated on 10 January 2008 and 6 March 2008 by the Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products,\nWhereas:\n(1) \u2018Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim\u2019 and \u2018Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench\u2019 comply with the requirements set out in Directive 2001/83/EC. \u2018Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim\u2019 and \u2018Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench\u2019 can be considered as herbal substances, herbal preparations or combinations thereof.\n(2) It is therefore appropriate to include \u2018Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim\u2019 and \u2018Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench\u2019 in the list of herbal substances, preparations and combinations thereof for use in traditional herbal medicinal products established in Annex I to Commission Decision 2008/911/EC\u00a0(2).\n(3) Decision 2008/911/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use,\nDecision 2008/911/EC is amended as follows:\n1. Annex I is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Decision;\n2. Annex II is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Decision.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "medical plant", "pharmaceutical legislation", "crop production", "medicament", "pharmaceutical industry" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "EEC Council: Rules of the Transport Committee\nRules of the Transport Committee\nTHE COUNCIL\n,\nHaving regard to Article 83 of the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, which provides that an advisory committee consisting of experts designated by the Governments of Member States shall be attached to the Commission and consulted by the latter on transport matters whenever the Commission considers this desirable, without prejudice to the powers of the transport section of the Economic and Social Committee;\nHaving regard to Article 153 of that Treaty, which provides that the Council shall, after receiving an opinion from the Commission, determine the rules governing the committees provided for in that Treaty;\nHaving received an Opinion from the Commission;\nthat the Rules of the Transport Committee shall be as follows:\nThe Committee shall consist of experts on transport matters designated by the Governments of Member States. Each Government shall designate one expert or two experts selected from among senior officials of the central administration. It may, in addition, designate not more than three experts of acknowledged competence in, respectively, the railway, road transport and inland waterway sectors.\nEach Government may designate an alternate for each member of the Committee appointed by it; this alternate shall satisfy conditions the same as those for the member of the Committee whom he replaces.\nAlternates shall attend Committee meetings and take part in the work of the Committee only in the event of full members being unable to do so.\nCommittee members and their alternates shall be appointed in their personal capacity and may not be bound by any mandatory instructions.\nThe term of office for members and their alternates shall be two years. Their appointments may be renewed.\nIn the event of the death, resignation or compulsory retirement of a member or alternate, that member or alternate shall replaced for the remainder of his term of office.\nThe Government which appointed a member or alternate may compulsorily retire that member or alternate only if the member or alternate no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance of his duties.\nThe Committee shall, by an absolute majority of members present and voting, elect from among the members appointed by virtue of their status as senior officials of the central administration a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, who shall serve as such for two years.\nShould the Chairman or Vice-Chairman cease to hold office before the period for which he was elected has expired, a replacement for him shall be elected for the remainder of the period for which he was originally elected.\nNeither the Chairman nor the Vice-Chairman may be re-elected.\nThe Committee shall be convened by the Chairman, at the request of the Commission, whenever the latter wishes to consult it. The Commission's request shall state the purpose of the consultation.\nWhen the Committee is consulted by the Commission, it shall present the latter with a report setting out the conclusions reached as a result of its deliberations. It shall do likewise if the Commission entrusts it with the study of a specific problem.\nThe Commission shall also be entitled to consult the Committee orally.\nThe minutes of the Committee shall be sent to the Commission.\nThe Commission shall be invited to send its representatives to meetings of the Committee and its working parties.\nThe Committee shall, by an absolute majority of members present and voting, adopt rules of procedure laying down its methods of working.\nThe Committee may, whenever such action appears to it to be necessary for the purposes of formulating an opinion, seek the assistance of any suitably qualified person, obtain any advice and hold hearings. Such action may, however, be taken only with the consent of the Commission.\n0\nThe expenses of the Committee shall be included in the estimates of the Commission.", "answer groups": [ "legal status", "common transport policy", "committee (EU)" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision 2013/34/CFSP of 17\u00a0January 2013 on a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali)\n18.1.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 14/19\nCOUNCIL DECISION 2013/34/CFSP\nof 17 January 2013\non a European Union military mission to contribute to the training of the Malian Armed Forces (EUTM Mali)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 42(4) and 43(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 23 July 2012, the Council recognised that the dramatic changes in Mali required a review of the actions the Union should undertake in order to support the restoration of democratic government and the rule of law throughout the territory of Mali. It requested the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR) and the Commission to make concrete proposals for Union action in a number of areas to respond to the changing situation.\n(2) By letter dated 18 September 2012, the President of the Republic of Mali requested Union support with a view to restoring the Malian territorial integrity.\n(3) In its Resolution 2071 (2012) on the situation in Mali, adopted on 12 October 2012, the United Nations Security Council, while expressing its grave concern about the consequences of instability in the north of Mali on the region and beyond, and stressing the need to respond swiftly in order to preserve stability across the Sahel region, invited international partners, including the Union, to provide assistance, expertise, training and capacity-building support to the Malian army and security forces.\n(4) In its conclusions of 15 October 2012, the Council requested that work on planning a possible Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military mission be pursued and extended as a matter of urgency, in particular by developing a crisis management concept relating to the reorganisation and training of the Malian defence forces, taking account of the conditions necessary for the success of any such mission, which include the full support of the Malian authorities and the definition of an exit strategy.\n(5) In its conclusions of 19 November 2012, the Council welcomed the presentation of the Crisis Management Concept by the HR and called on the relevant groups to examine it as a matter of urgency so that it could be approved by the Council in December 2012.\n(6) On 10 December 2012, the Council approved a Crisis Management Concept on a possible military CSDP training mission in Mali. The Council emphasised that a mission in Mali would be an essential element in the Union\u2019s comprehensive approach as elaborated in the Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel.\n(7) By letter dated 24 December 2012, the President of the Republic of Mali addressed an invitation letter to the HR welcoming the deployment of an EU military training mission in Mali.\n(8) The Political and Security Committee (PSC) should exercise, under the responsibility of the Council and of the HR, political control over the Union military mission, provide it with strategic direction and take the relevant decisions in accordance with the third paragraph of Article 38 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).\n(9) It is necessary to negotiate and conclude international agreements relating to the status of EU units and personnel and to the participation of third States in Union missions.\n(10) The operational expenditure arising from this Decision, which has military or defence implications, should be borne by the Member States pursuant to Article 41(2) TEU and in accordance with Council Decision 2011/871/CFSP of 19 December 2011 establishing a mechanism to administer the financing of the common costs of European Union operations having military or defence implications (Athena)\u00a0(1).\n(11) In accordance with Article 5 of the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the TEU and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), Denmark does not participate in the elaboration and implementation of decisions and actions of the Union which have defence implications. Denmark does not participate in the implementation of this Decision and therefore does not participate in the financing of this mission,\nMission\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Union shall conduct a military training mission (EUTM Mali), to provide, in the South of Mali, military and training advice to the Malian Armed Forces (MAF) operating under the control of legitimate civilian authorities, in order to contribute to the restoration of their military capacity with a view to enabling them to conduct military operations aiming at restoring Malian territorial integrity and reducing the threat posed by terrorist groups. EUTM Mali shall not be involved in combat operations.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The objective of EUTM Mali shall be to respond to the operational needs of the MAF through the provision of:\n(a) training support for the benefit of the MAF;\n(b) training and advice on command and control, logistical chain and human resources, as well as training on International Humanitarian Law, protection of civilians and human rights.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0EUTM Mali shall aim at strengthening conditions for proper political control by legitimate civilian authorities of the MAF.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The activities of EUTM Mali shall be conducted in close coordination with other actors involved in the support to the MAF, in particular the United Nations (UN) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).\nAppointment of the EU Mission Commander\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Brigadier General Fran\u00e7ois LECOINTRE is hereby appointed EU Mission Commander.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The EU Mission Commander shall exercise the functions of EU Operation Commander and EU Force Commander.\nDesignation of the Mission Headquarters\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Mission Headquarters of EUTM Mali shall be located in Mali. It shall perform the functions of both Operational Headquarters and Force Headquarters.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Mission Headquarters shall include a support cell in Brussels.\nPlanning and launch of EUTM Mali\nThe Decision to launch EUTM Mali shall be adopted by the Council following approval of the Mission Plan and of the Rules of Engagement.\nPolitical control and strategic direction\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Under the responsibility of the Council and of the HR, the PSC shall exercise the political control and strategic direction of EUTM Mali. The Council hereby authorises the PSC to take the relevant decisions in accordance with Article 38 TEU. This authorisation shall include the powers to amend the planning documents, including the Mission Plan, and the Chain of Command. It shall also include the powers to take decisions on the appointment of the subsequent EU Mission Commanders. The powers of decision with respect to the objectives and termination of EUTM Mali shall remain vested in the Council.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The PSC shall report to the Council at regular intervals.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The PSC shall, at regular intervals, receive reports from the chairman of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) regarding the conduct of EUTM Mali. The PSC may invite the EU Mission Commander to its meetings, as appropriate.\nMilitary direction\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The EUMC shall monitor the proper execution of EUTM Mali conducted under the responsibility of the EU Mission Commander.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The EUMC shall, at regular intervals, receive reports from the EU Mission Commander. It may invite the EU Mission Commander to its meetings, as appropriate.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The chairman of the EUMC shall act as the primary point of contact with the EU Mission Commander.\nConsistency of the Union\u2019s response and coordination\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The HR shall ensure the implementation of this Decision and its consistency with the Union\u2019s external action as a whole, including the Union\u2019s development programmes.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Without prejudice to the chain of command, the EU Mission Commander shall receive local political guidance from the Head of the Union Delegation in Bamako in close coordination with the EU coordinator for Sahel.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0EUTM Mali shall coordinate with Union CSDP mission in Niger (EUCAP SAHEL Niger) with a view to exploring possible synergies.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0EUTM Mali shall coordinate its activities with Member States\u2019 bilateral activities in Mali, as well as with other international actors in the region, in particular the UN, the African Union (AU), ECOWAS and bilateral actors including the United States and Canada, and with key regional actors.\nParticipation of third States\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Without prejudice to the decision-making autonomy of the Union and its single institutional framework, and in accordance with the relevant guidelines of the European Council, third States may be invited to participate in EUTM Mali.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Council hereby authorises the PSC to invite third States to offer contributions and to take the relevant decisions on acceptance of the proposed contributions, upon the recommendation of the EU Mission Commander and the EUMC.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Detailed arrangements regarding the participation of third States shall be covered by agreements concluded pursuant to Article 37 TEU and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 218 TFEU. Where the Union and a third State have concluded an agreement establishing a framework for the latter\u2019s participation in crisis management missions of the Union, the provisions of such an agreement shall apply in the context of EUTM Mali.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Third States making significant military contributions to EUTM Mali shall have the same rights and obligations in terms of the day-to-day management of EUTM Mali as Member States taking part in EUTM Mali.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Council hereby authorises the PSC to take relevant decisions on the setting-up of a Committee of Contributors, should third States make significant military contributions.\nStatus of EU-led personnel\nThe status of EU-led units and personnel, including the privileges, immunities and further guarantees necessary for the fulfilment and smooth functioning of their mission, shall be the subject of an agreement concluded pursuant to Article 37 TEU and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 218 TFEU.\n0\nFinancial arrangements\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The common costs of EUTM Mali shall be administered in accordance with Decision 2011/871/CFSP.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The financial reference amount for the common costs of EUTM Mali shall be EUR 12,3\u00a0million. The percentage of the reference amount referred to in Article 25(1) of Decision 2011/871/CFSP shall be 50\u00a0%, and the percentage for commitment referred to in Article 32(3) of Decision 2011/871/CFSP shall be 70\u00a0%.\n1\nRelease of information\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The HR shall be authorised to release to the third States associated with this Decision, as appropriate and in accordance with the needs of EUTM Mali, EU classified information generated for the purposes of EUTM Mali, in accordance with Council Decision 2011/292/EU of 31 March 2011 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information\u00a0(2):\n(a) up to the level provided in the applicable security of information agreements concluded between the Union and the third State concerned; or\n(b) up to the \u2018CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL\u2019 level in other cases.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The HR shall also be authorised to release to the UN and ECOWAS in accordance with the operational needs of EUTM Mali, EU classified information up to \u2018RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED\u2019 level which are generated for the purposes of EUTM Mali, in accordance with Decision 2011/292/EU. Arrangements between the HR and the competent authorities of the UN and ECOWAS shall be drawn up for this purpose.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the event of a specific and immediate operational need, the HR shall also be authorised to release to the host State any EU classified information up to \u2018RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED\u2019 level which are generated for the purposes of EUTM Mali, in accordance with Decision 2011/292/EU. Arrangements between the HR and the competent authorities of the host State shall be drawn up for this purpose.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The HR shall be authorised to release to the third States associated with this Decision any EU non-classified documents connected with the deliberations of the Council relating to EUTM Mali and covered by the obligation of professional secrecy pursuant to Article 6(1) of the Council\u2019s Rules of Procedure\u00a0(3).\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The HR may delegate the powers referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4, as well as the ability to conclude the arrangements referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 to staff of the European External Action Service and/or to the EU Mission Commander.\n2\nEntry into force and termination\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The mandate of EUTM Mali shall end 15 months after the adoption of the Council Decision to launch EUTM Mali.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Decision shall be repealed as from the date of closure of the Mission Headquarters in accordance with the plans approved for the termination of EUTM Mali, and without prejudice to the procedures regarding the audit and presentation of the accounts of EUTM Mali, laid down in Decision 2011/871/CFSP.", "answer groups": [ "military training", "military cooperation", "EU military mission", "Mali" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 954/87 of 1 April 1987 on sampling of catches for the purpose of determining the percentage of target species and protected species when fishing with small-meshed nets\n2.4.1987 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 90/27\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 954/87\nof 1 April 1987\non sampling of catches for the purpose of determining the percentage of target species and protected species when fishing with small-meshed nets\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 170/83 of 25 January 1983 establishing a Community system for the conservation and management of fishery resources\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3094/86 of 7 October 1986, laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources\u00a0(2), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 4026/86\u00a0(3), and in particular Article 15 thereof,\nWhereas Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 3094/86 provides for the possibility of using one or more representative samples as the basis for determining the percentage of target species and protected species;\nWhereas it is appropriate to define the meaning of \u2018representative sample\u2019;\nWhereas it is necessary for the purpose of this Regulation, to define the terms \u2018small-mesh species\u2019 and \u2018small-meshed nets\u2019;\nWhereas it is appropriate to define a method of sampling to be used for determining the percentage of target species and protected species when fishing with small-meshed nets;\nWhereas it is necessary to define the inspection procedure for the purpose of enforcement;\nWhereas the new rules established by the present regulation make it necessary to repeal Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3421/84 of 5 December 1984 on sampling of catches for the purpose of determining the by-catch percentage when fishing with small-meshed nets\u00a0(4);\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fishery Resources,\nRepresentative sample\nFor the purpose of determining the percentage of target species and protected species, as referred to in Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 3094/86, when fishing with small-meshed nets, fish samples taken as described in this Regulation shall be deemed to be representative of all fish either on board or on board after sorting or in the hold or on landing within the meaning of Article 2, paragraph 3 of the said Regulation.\nDefinition of groups of species and nets\nFor the purpose of this Regulation:\n\u2014 the term \u2018small-mesh species\u2019 shall mean those authorized target species in Annex I of Regulation (EEC) No 3094/86 for the catches of which the reference minimum mesh size is smaller than or equal to 40 millimetres,\n\u2014 the term \u2018small-meshed nets\u2019 shall mean all nets the mesh size of which is smaller than or equal to 60 millimetres.\nEstimation of weights of fish on board\nIf the vessel has small-mesh species on board, the representative of the competent authorities of the Member State, hereinafter called \u2018the inspector\u2019, shall determine the weight of each group of species on board necessary to calculate the percentage of target species and protected species which were caught with small-meshed nets and which have been sorted. In determining the weights the inspector shall take into account the information from any record of fishing operations (logbook) maintained in accordance with Article 3 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2057/82\u00a0(5) and Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2807/83\u00a0(6).\nSelection of fish samples\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The samples shall be taken and the inspection procedure carried out by the inspector.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The captain or his representative has the right to be present during the sampling.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The samples shall be taken from all parts of the catch comprising small-mesh species.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They shall be taken in such a manner that at least one sample is taken from each hold or subdivision of the hold to which access can be gained, or from the fish on deck before or after sorting in accordance with Article 2 of Regulation (EEC) No 3094/86.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In so far as possible, when taking the samples, the inspector shall take them in proportion to his estimate of the weight of fish in each hold or subdivision of the hold or on deck.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where possible, samples from different levels within the hold or subdivision of the hold shall be taken.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When sampling on discharge, samples shall be taken at intervals during discharge.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The samples shall be sorted into species or groups of species. After sorting, the total weight of each species or group of species shall be determined.\nInspection procedure\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Initial sampling shall be carried out at sea if technically possible.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The captain may demand that sampling be repeated in port either before or during discharge.\nThe inspector may demand that sampling be repeated in port before discharge and, if the captain decides to discharge the catch, again during discharge.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the captain or the inspector has demanded that sampling be carried out on discharging the catch, the port chosen by the inspector shall have facilities for unloading and processing the catch, subject to any limitations imposed by prevailing conditions which, in the judgement of the inspector, prevent this.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The vessel may either be escorted into port or its hold may be sealed and the captain required to take his vessel into a port specified by the inspector. In the latter case, the inspector shall notify the appropriate control authorities in that port of the name, the registration number and where available the radio call sign of the vessel and its estimated time of arrival. The captain of the vessel shall report to the control authorities immediately on arrival. The seals may be broken only by an inspector.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The entire inspection procedure shall be carried out by the inspectors of the same Member State unless it agrees to transfer the control procedures to the competent authorities of another Member State.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If the provisions of paragraph 5 are used to permit the transfer of control procedures from one Member State to another, then the hold shall be sealed and the provisions of paragraph 4 which refer to vessels whose holds have been sealed shall apply.\nRelative validity of inspection\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The result of the calculation of the percentages obtained from sampling in port shall prevail over those obtained from sampling at sea.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The result of the calculation of the percentages obtained from sampling during discharge shall prevail over those obtained from sampling at sea or in port without discharging.\nMinimum sample sizes\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For sampling at sea, the total weight of the samples selected according to Article 4 shall not be less than 100 kilograms.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For sampling in port, the total weight of the samples selected according to Article 4 shall not be less than 100 kilograms or one part in two thousand of the weight of the landing or of the total catch on board, whichever is the greater.\nRegulation (EEC) No 3421/84 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fishing controls", "conservation of fish stocks", "fishing regulations", "Community fisheries", "fishery management", "fishing net" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a01203/2013 of 26\u00a0November 2013 implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a0267/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran\n27.11.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 316/1\nCOUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1203/2013\nof 26 November 2013\nimplementing Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 of 23 March 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Regulation (EU) No 961/2010\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 46 (2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 23 March 2012, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran.\n(2) By it judgments of 16 September 2013 in Case T-489/10\u00a0(2), the General Court of the European Union annulled the Council's decisions to include Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, Bushehr Shipping Co. Ltd, Hafize Darya Shipping Lines (HDSL), Irano \u2013 Misr Shipping Co., Irinvestship Ltd, IRISL (Malta) Ltd, IRISL Club, IRISL Europe GmbH, IRISL Marine Services and Engineering Co., ISI Maritime Ltd, Khazar Shipping Lines, Leadmarine, Marble Shipping Ltd, Safiran Payam Darya Shipping Lines (SAPID), Shipping Computer Services Co., Soroush Saramin Asatir Ship Management, South Way Shipping Agency Co. Ltd and Valfajr 8th Shipping Line Co. on the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures in Annex IX to Regulation (EU) No 267/2012.\n(3) Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, Bushehr Shipping Co. Ltd, Hafize Darya Shipping Lines (HDSL), Irano \u2013 Misr Shipping Co., Irinvestship Ltd, IRISL (Malta) Ltd, IRISL Europe GmbH, IRISL Marine Services and Engineering Co., ISI Maritime Ltd, Khazar Shipping Lines, Marble Shipping Ltd, Safiran Payam Darya Shipping Lines (SAPID), Shipping Computer Services Co., Soroush Saramin Asatir Ship Management, South Way Shipping Agency Co. Ltd and Valfajr 8th Shipping Line Co. should be included again on the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures in Annex IX to Regulation (EU) No 267/2012, on the basis of new statements of reasons concerning each of those entities.\n(4) The identifying information in relation to an entity on the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures in Annex IX to Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 should be amended.\n(5) Three entities should be removed from the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures in Annex IX to Regulation (EU) No 267/2012.\n(6) In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective, it should enter into force on the date of its publication,\nAnnex IX to Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 is hereby amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "international sanctions", "Iran", "economic sanctions" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2002/848/EC: Council Decision of 28 October 2002 implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and repealing Decision 2002/460/EC\nCouncil Decision\nof 28 October 2002\nimplementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and repealing Decision 2002/460/EC\n(2002/848/EC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 of 27 December 2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism(1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 17 June 2002, the Council adopted Decision 2002/460/EC implementing Article 2(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and repealing Decision 2002/334/EC(2).\n(2) It is desirable to adopt an updated list of persons, groups and entities to which the aforesaid Regulation applies,\nThe list provided for in Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 shall be as follows:\n1. PERSONS\n1. AL-MUGHASSIL, Ahmad Ibrahim (aka ABU OMRAN; aka AL-MUGHASSIL, Ahmed Ibrahim) born 26.6.1967 in Qatif-Bab al Shamal, Saudi Arabia; citizen Saudi Arabia\n2. AL-NASSER, Abdelkarim Hussein Mohamed, born in Al Ihsa, Saudi Arabia; citizen Saudi Arabia\n3. AL YACOUB, Ibrahim Salih Mohammed, born 16.10.1966 in Tarut, Saudi Arabia; citizen Saudi Arabia\n4. ATWA, Ali (aka BOUSLIM, Ammar Mansour; aka SALIM, Hassan Rostom), Lebanon, born 1960 in Lebanon; citizen Lebanon\n5. EL-HOORIE, Ali Saed Bin Ali (aka AL-HOURI, Ali Saed Bin Ali; aka EL-HOURI, Ali Saed Bin Ali) born 10.7.1965 alt. 11.7.1965 in El Dibabiya, Saudi Arabia; citizen Saudi Arabia\n6. IZZ-AL-DIN, Hasan (aka GARBAYA, AHMED; aka SA-ID; aka SALWWAN, Samir), Lebanon, born 1963 in Lebanon, citizen Lebanon\n7. MOHAMMED, Khalid Shaikh (aka ALI, Salem; aka BIN KHALID, Fahd Bin Adballah; aka HENIN, Ashraf Refaat Nabith; aka WADOOD, Khalid Adbul) born 14.4.1965 alt. 1.3.1964 in Pakistan, passport No 488555\n8. MUGHNIYAH, Imad Fa'iz (aka MUGHNIYAH, Imad Fayiz), Senior Intelligence Officer of HIZBALLAH, born 7.12.1962 in Tayr Dibba, Lebanon, passport No 432298 (Lebanon)\n9. SISON, Jose Maria (aka Armando Liwanag, aka Joma, in charge of NPA) born 8.2.1939 in Cabugao, Philippines\n2. GROUPS AND ENTITIES\n1. Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO), (aka Fatah Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, and Revolutionary Organisation of Socialist Muslims)\n2. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade\n3. Aum Shinrikyo (aka AUM, aka Aum Supreme Truth, aka Aleph)\n4. Babbar Khalsa\n5. Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group), (aka Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, IG)\n6. Hamas-Izz al-Din al-Qassem (terrorist wing of Hamas)\n7. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development\n8. International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF)\n9. Kahane Chai (Kach)\n10. Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)\n11. Lashkar e Tayyaba (LET)/Pashan-e-Ahle Hadis\n12. Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MEK or MKO) (minus the \"National Council of Resistance of Iran\" (NCRI)) (aka The National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA, the militant wing of the MEK), the People's Mujahidin of Iran (PMOI), Muslim Iranian Students' Society)\n13. New Peoples Army (NPA), Philippines, linked to Sison Jose Maria C. (aka Armando Liwanag, aka Joma, in charge of NPA)\n14. Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)\n15. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)\n16. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)\n17. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, (aka PFLP-General Command, aka PFLP-GC)\n18. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)\n19. Revolutionary People's Liberation Army/Front/Party (DHKP/C), (aka Devrimci Sol (Revolutionary Left), Dev Sol)\n20. Shining Path (SL) (Sendero Luminoso)\n21. United Self-Defense Forces/Group of Colombia (AUC) (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia)\nDecision 2002/460/EC is hereby repealed.\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall take effect on the day of its publication.", "answer groups": [ "EC Decision", "international sanctions", "restriction of liberty", "terrorism", "application of EU law" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2007/279/EC: Decision of the European Central Bank of 17 April 2007 adopting implementing rules concerning data protection at the European Central Bank (ECB/2007/1)\n4.5.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 116/64\nDECISION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\nof 17 April 2007\nadopting implementing rules concerning data protection at the European Central Bank\n(ECB/2007/1)\n(2007/279/EC)\nTHE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 286 thereof,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data\u00a0(1), and in particular Article\u00a024(8) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 lays down the data protection principles and rules applicable to all Community institutions and bodies and provides for a Data Protection Officer (DPO) to be appointed by each Community institution and body.\n(2) Pursuant to Article 24(8) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001, each Community institution or body must adopt further implementing rules concerning the DPO in accordance with the provisions in the Annex to that Regulation,\nSECTION 1\nGENERAL PROVISIONS\nSubject matter and scope\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Decision lays down the general rules implementing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 as regards the European Central Bank (ECB). In particular, it supplements the provisions in Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 relating to the DPO\u2019s appointment and status, as well as to their tasks, duties and powers.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This Decision also clarifies the roles, tasks and duties of controllers and data protection coordinators and implements the rules pursuant to which data subjects may exercise their rights.\nDefinitions\nFor the purposes of this Decision, and without prejudice to the definitions in Regulation (EC) No 45/2001, the following definitions shall apply:\n(a) \u2018controller\u2019 means a manager responsible for an organisational unit that determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data;\n(b) \u2018data protection coordinator\u2019 means a staff member who assists a controller in fulfilling the latter\u2019s data protection obligations. This person shall be a specialist in record management.\nSECTION 2\nTHE DATA PROTECTION OFFICER\nAppointment, status and organisational matters\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Executive Board shall:\n(a) appoint the DPO from amongst ECB staff who are sufficiently senior to meet the requirements of Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001;\n(b) set a term of office for the DPO of between two and five years; and\n(c) register the DPO with the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS).\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Executive Board shall ensure that the DPO can carry out DPO tasks and duties in an independent manner. Without prejudice to such independence:\n(a) the DPO shall be subject to the ECB\u2019s conditions of employment;\n(b) for administrative purposes the DPO shall be allocated to one of the ECB\u2019s business areas; and\n(c) the DPO\u2019s appraisers shall consult the EDPS before appraising the DPO\u2019s performance of DPO tasks and duties.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The relevant controller shall ensure that the DPO is kept informed without delay:\n(a) when an issue arises that has, or might have, data protection implications; and\n(b) in respect of all contacts with external parties relating to the application of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001, notably any interaction with the EDPS.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Executive Board may appoint a Deputy DPO, to whom paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply. The Deputy DPO shall support the DPO in carrying out DPO tasks and duties and deputise in the event of the DPO\u2019s absence.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Any staff providing support to the DPO in relation to data protection issues shall act solely on the DPO\u2019s instructions.\nData Protection Officer\u2019s tasks and duties\nWhen carrying out the tasks specified in Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and in the Annex to that Regulation, the DPO shall perform the following duties, taking into account input from relevant ECB business areas where necessary:\n(a) advise the Executive Board, the controllers and the data protection coordinators on matters concerning the application of data protection provisions at the ECB. The DPO may be consulted by the Executive Board, any of the controllers concerned, the Staff Committee or any individual on any matter concerning the interpretation or application of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001;\n(b) on the DPO\u2019s own initiative or on the request of the Executive Board, a controller, the Staff Committee or any individual, investigate matters and occurrences directly relating to DPO tasks and duties that come to the DPO\u2019s notice, and report back to the person who commissioned the investigation. The DPO shall consider issues and facts impartially and with due regard to the data subject\u2019s rights. If the DPO deems it appropriate, the DPO shall inform all other parties concerned accordingly. If the requester is an individual, or if the requester acts on behalf of an individual, the DPO shall, to the extent possible, ensure that the request remains confidential, unless the data subject concerned gives their unambiguous consent to treat the request otherwise;\n(c) cooperate with the DPOs of other Community institutions and bodies, in particular by exchanging experience and sharing know-how and representing the ECB in all discussions \u2014 excluding court cases \u2014 relating to data protection issues; and\n(d) submit an annual work programme and an annual report on DPO activities to the Executive Board and the EDPS.\nData Protection Officer\u2019s powers\nThe DPO may:\n(a) request an opinion from any ECB business area on any matter relating to DPO tasks and duties;\n(b) issue an opinion on the lawfulness of actual or proposed processing operations or on any issue concerning the notification of processing operations;\n(c) bring to the Executive Board\u2019s attention any failure of a staff member to comply with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001; and\n(d) carry out the other tasks specified in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\nSECTION 3\nCONTROLLERS AND DATA PROTECTION COORDINATORS\nTasks and duties of controllers and data protection coordinators\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The controllers shall ensure that all processing operations involving personal data that are performed within their area of responsibility comply with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When fulfilling their obligation to assist the DPO and the EDPS in the performance of their duties, the controllers shall provide full information to them, grant access to personal data and respond to questions within 20 working days of receipt of the request.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Without prejudice to the controllers\u2019 responsibilities:\n(a) The data protection coordinators shall assist the controllers in fulfilling their obligations, either at the controllers\u2019 request or on their own initiative. When doing so, the data protection coordinators shall liaise with the controllers\u2019 staff, who shall provide them with all necessary information. This may, at the relevant controller\u2019s discretion, include accessing personal data processed under that controller\u2019s responsibility.\n(b) The data protection coordinators shall assist the DPO in:\n(i) identifying the relevant controllers of processing operations relating to personal data;\n(ii) promulgating the DPO\u2019s advice and supporting the controllers under the DPO\u2019s guidance;\n(iii) other aspects of the DPO\u2019s work programme as agreed between the DPO and the coordinators\u2019 management.\nNotification procedure\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Before introducing new processing operations relating to personal data, the relevant controller shall notify the DPO thereof using the on-line interface accessible through the DPO website on the ECB\u2019s intranet. Any processing operation that is subject to prior checking pursuant to Article 27(3) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 shall be notified sufficiently well in advance of introduction to allow for prior checking by the EDPS.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The controllers shall immediately inform the DPO of any change affecting the information contained in a notification already submitted to the DPO.\nSECTION 4\nDATA SUBJECTS\u2019 RIGHTS\nRegister\nThe register kept by the DPO pursuant to Article 26 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 shall serve as an index of all processing operations relating to personal data conducted at the ECB. Data subjects may make use of the information contained in the register to exercise their rights under Articles 13 to 19 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\nExercise of data subjects\u2019 rights\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Further to their right to be appropriately informed about any processing of their personal data, data subjects may approach the relevant controller to exercise their rights pursuant to Articles 13 to 19 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001, as specified below.\n(a) These rights may only be exercised by the data subject or their duly authorised representative. Such persons may exercise any of these rights free of charge.\n(b) Requests to exercise these rights shall be addressed in writing to the relevant controller. The controller shall only grant the request if the requester\u2019s identity and, if relevant, their entitlement to represent the data subject have been appropriately verified. The controller shall without delay inform the data subject in writing of whether or not the request has been accepted. If the request has been rejected, the controller shall include the grounds for the rejection.\n(c) The controller shall, at any time within three calendar months of receipt of the request, grant access pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 by enabling the data subject to consult these data on-site or to receive a copy thereof, according to the applicant\u2019s preference.\n(d) Data subjects may contact the DPO in the event that the controller does not respect either of the time limits in paragraphs (b) or (c). In the event of obvious abuse by a data subject in exercising their rights, the controller may refer the data subject to the DPO. If the case is referred to the DPO, the DPO will decide on the merits of the request and the appropriate follow-up. In the event of disagreement between the data subject and the controller, both parties shall have the right to consult the DPO.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ECB staff members may consult the DPO before lodging a complaint with the EDPS pursuant to Article 33 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\n0\nExemptions and restrictions\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Provided that the DPO has been consulted in advance, the controller may restrict the rights referred to in Articles 13 to 17 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the grounds, and in accordance with the conditions, set out in Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Any affected person may ask the EDPS to apply Article 47(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.\n1\nInvestigation procedure\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Any request for an investigation under Article 4(b) shall be addressed to the DPO in writing.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The DPO shall send an acknowledgement of receipt to the requester within 20 working days of receipt of the request.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The DPO may investigate the matter on-site and request a written statement from the controller. The controller shall provide their response to the DPO within 20 working days of the controller\u2019s receipt of the DPO\u2019s request. The DPO may ask for additional information or assistance from any ECB business area. The business area shall provide such additional information or assistance within 20 working days of the DPO\u2019s request.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The DPO shall report back to the requester within three calendar months of receipt of the request.\n2\nRemedies\nIn addition to the remedies laid down in Article 32 of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001, which are available to all data subjects, the remedies laid down in the ECB\u2019s Conditions of Employment shall be available to data subjects who are ECB staff members.\nSECTION 5\nENTRY INTO FORCE\n3\nFinal provision\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "European Central Bank", "data protection", "disclosure of information", "personal data", "data processing" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2733/1999 of 21 December 1999 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1481/86 on the determination of prices of fresh or chilled lamb carcases on representative Community markets and the survey of prices of certain other qualities of sheep carcases in the Community\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2733/1999\nof 21 December 1999\namending Regulation (EEC) No 1481/86 on the determination of prices of fresh or chilled lamb carcases on representative Community markets and the survey of prices of certain other qualities of sheep carcases in the Community\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2467/98 of 3 November 1998 on the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat(1), and in particular Article 4(5) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1481/86(2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2787/98(3), lays down the rules for the determination of prices of fresh or chilled lamb carcases on representative Community markets and the survey of prices of certain other qualities of sheep carcases in the Community.\n(2) The coefficients used for calculating the price of sheep carcases on the representative markets of the Community should be adjusted in the light of the figures available with regard to sheep production.\n(3) The weighting coefficients used for the determination of prices recorded on the representative markets in the Member States should be adjusted in order to reflect the relative importance of the markets.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sheep and Goats,\nRegulation (EEC) No 1481/86 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. Annex I is replaced by Annex I to this Regulation.\n2. In Annex II, paragraph G.1 is replaced by Annex II to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from the beginning of the 2000 marketing year.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fresh meat", "refrigerated product", "product quality", "sheepmeat", "representative market price", "carcase" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1425/2003 of 11 August 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 as regards patulin (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 1425/2003\nof 11 August 2003\namending Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 as regards patulin\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 February 1993 laying down Community procedures for contaminants in food(1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,\nAfter consulting the Scientific Committee for Food (SCF),\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 466/2001(2), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 563/2002(3), sets maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Maximum levels have been established for nitrates, aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, lead, cadmium, mercury, 3-MCPD and dioxins.\n(2) Some Member States have adopted, or plan to adopt, maximum levels for patulin in fruit juices in particular apple juice, solid apple products such as apple compote and apple puree and in such products intended for infants and young children. In view of the disparities between Member States and the consequent risk of distortion of competition, Community measures are necessary in order to ensure market unity while abiding by the principle of proportionality.\n(3) Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by fungi belonging to several genera, including Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Byssochlamys species. Although patulin can occur in many mouldy fruits, grains and other foods, the major sources of patulin contamination are apple products.\n(4) The Scientific Committee for Food endorsed in its meeting on 8 March 2000 the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of 0,4 \u00ce\u017ag/kg body weight (bw) for patulin.\n(5) In 2001, a specific task \"Assessment of the dietary intake of patulin by the population of EU Member States\" in the framework of Council Directive 1993/5/EEC of 25 February 1993 on assistance to the Commission and cooperation by the Member States in the scientific examination of questions relating to food(4) (SCOOP) has been performed. It can be concluded from the assessment that the average exposure seems to be quite below the PMTDI of 0,4 \u00ce\u017ag/kg bw. Nevertheless taking into consideration specific groups of consumers, especially small children, and assuming worst cases, the exposure to patulin is more significant but still below the PMTDI.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 466/2001 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nRegulation (EC) No 466/2001 is amended as follows:\n1. In Article 5, the following paragraph is added:\n\"4. The Commission shall review the maximum levels for patulin laid down in points 2.3.1 and 2.3.2 of section 2 of Annex I by 30 June 2005 at the latest with a view to reducing them to take account of the progress in scientific and technological knowledge and the implementation of the 'Code of practice for the prevention and reduction of patulin contamination in apple juice and apple juice ingredients in other beverages'.\"\n2. Annex I shall be amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 November 2003.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "toxic substance", "fruit juice", "food standard", "public health", "pip fruit" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/13 of 31 October 2014 amending Annex III to Directive 2014/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards the flowrate range of water meters Text with EEA relevance\n7.1.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 3/42\nCOMMISSION DELEGATED DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/13\nof 31 October 2014\namending Annex III to Directive 2014/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards the flowrate range of water meters\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 2014/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of measuring instruments\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 47 (b) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 2014/32/EU sets out the requirements that certain measuring instruments have to satisfy with a view to their being placed on the market and/or put to use for specific measuring tasks prescribed by the Member States.\n(2) The first of the specific requirements for water meters (Requirement 1) included in Annex III to Directive 2014/32/EU refers to the rated operating condition for the flowrate range Q3/Q1 \u2265\u00a010.\n(3) On 31 October 2011 an update of the standard EN 14154 which included the flowrate range Q3/Q1 \u2265\u00a040 entered into force. The revised EN 14154 standard reflects the international standard. It is more exigent in relation to the flowrate range than the specific requirements set out in Annex III to Directive 2014/32/EU and results in more precise measurements.\n(4) Prior to the introduction of the flowrate range Q3/Q1 \u2265\u00a010 by means of Directive 2004/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(2) on measuring instruments, the international OIML standard which already contained a requirement for the flowrate range of Q3/Q1 \u2265\u00a040 was applied in all Member States. As a result of the transitional provisions provided for in Article 50(2) of Directive 2014/32/EU, most of the water meters currently placed on the market are already in conformity with the requirement of Q3/Q1 \u2265\u00a040.\n(5) Water meters with the flowrate range Q3/Q1 \u2265\u00a010 may be significantly cheaper than those meeting the requirements of the standard EN 14154 (Q3/Q1 \u2265\u00a040). Directive 2014/32/EU, in point 10 of Annex III thereto, gives discretion to the utility or the person legally designated for installing the water meter to determine, inter alia, what level of flowrate range is appropriate for the accurate measurement of consumption that is foreseen or foreseeable\u00a0(3). Therefore, water meters not conforming to the standard EN 14154 for flowrate range but in line with the requirements set out in Annex III to Directive 2014/32/EU may be installed. This may, however, increase the possibility of customers having errors in bills resulting from the less precise measurement of the meter.\n(6) The flowrate range of Q3/Q1 \u2265\u00a040 represents the state of the art embodied in the current international standard and manufacturing practice, as well as the minimum quality available at present on the Union market. It provides for more precise measurements thereby ensuring a higher level of protection of consumers. Given that the flowrate range of Q3/Q1 \u2265\u00a040 has for many years been and still is the minimum being installed by the market, compliance does not involve additional costs for users.\n(7) Directive 2014/32/EU should be amended accordingly,\nIn Annex III to Directive 2014/32/EU, point 1 is replaced by the following:\n\u20181. The flowrate range of the water.\nQ3/Q1 \u2265\u00a040\nQ2/Q1\u00a0= 1,6\nQ4/Q3\u00a0= 1,25\u2019\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 19 April 2016 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 20 April 2016.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "measuring equipment", "marketing standard", "technical specification", "water consumption" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "91/164/EEC: Commission Decision of 20 December 1990 concerning applications for the refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of vinyl acetate monomer originating in the United States of America (Gantrade (UK) Ltd) (Only the English, French and Dutch texts are authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 20 December 1990 concerning applications for the refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of vinyl acetate monomer originating in the United States of America (Gantrade (UK) Ltd) (Only the English, French and Dutch texts are authentic) (91/164/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 16 thereof,\nWhereas:\nA. PROCEDURE\n(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2357/87 (2) amended Regulation (EEC) No 1282/81 (3) imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of vinyl acetate monomer originating in the United States of America. Anti-dumping duty of 6 % was applied to the American company Gantrade Corporation.\n(2) Council Regulation (EEC) No 490/90 (4) repealed Regulation (EEC) No 2357/87 and terminated the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of vinyl acetate monomer originating in the United States. Thus, since 2 March 1990, anti-dumping duty can no longer be imposed on those imports.\n(3) Commission Decision 90/460/EEC (5), which sets out the detailes of the case, the procedure, and the arguments of the applicant, refunded part of the anti-dumping duties paid by Gantrade (UK) Ltd, Bishop's Stortford, United Kingdom, in respect of the import in the period August 1987 to March 1989 of vinyl acetate monomer exported by the United States company Gantrade Corporation. The Decision stated that Gantrade's applications for the period 1 April 1989 to 1 March 1990, the expiry date of the anti-dumping duty applied, would be examined before a further decision was taken.\n(4) For this second period, Gantrade, which imported into Belgium, submitted recurring applications for a sum of Bfrs [. . .] (6).\n(5) The applicant was informed of the results of the examination after the evidence adduced had been verified and had the opportunity to submit its comments.\n(6) Pursuant to Article 16 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, the Commission informed the Member States and gave its opinion on the applications' admissibility and merits. No Member State raised any objection.\nB. ADMISSIBILITY\n(7) The applications are admissible in that they were introduced in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Community's anti-dumping legislation, in particular with regard to time limits.\nC. MERITS OF THE CLAIM\n(8) The recurring applications concerning the duties paid on vinyl acetate monomer imported by Gantrade UK Ltd between April 1989 and 1 March 1990 appear to be well founded. The actual dumping margin, calculated as it had been for Decision 90/460/EEC using the method used during the first investigation, was nil. Accordingly, the applications for refund submitted by Gantrade (UK) Ltd for imports into the Community between April 1989 and 1 March 1990 of vinyl acetate monomer originating in the United States must be granted.\nD. AMOUNT TO BE REFUNDED\n(9) A total of Bfrs [. . .] is therefore to be refunded to Gantrade (UK) Ltd.\nThe applications for the refund of anti-dumping duties totalling Bfrs [. . .] paid between April 1989 and 1 March 1990 by Gantrade (UK) Ltd are hereby granted.\nThe amount set out in Article 1 shall be refunded by the Belgian authorities.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium and Gantrade (UK) Ltd, Bishop's Stortford, United Kingdom.", "answer groups": [ "anti-dumping duty", "Belgium", "organic acid", "dumping", "redemption", "United States" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a098/2012 of 7\u00a0February 2012 concerning the authorisation of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Pichia pastoris (DSM 23036) as a feed additive for chickens and turkeys for fattening, chickens reared for laying, turkeys reared for breeding, laying hens, other avian species for fattening and laying, weaned piglets, pigs for fattening and sows (holder of authorisation Huvepharma AD) Text with EEA relevance\n8.2.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 35/6\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 98/2012\nof 7 February 2012\nconcerning the authorisation of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Pichia pastoris (DSM 23036) as a feed additive for chickens and turkeys for fattening, chickens reared for laying, turkeys reared for breeding, laying hens, other avian species for fattening and laying, weaned piglets, pigs for fattening and sows (holder of authorisation Huvepharma AD)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 9(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition and for the grounds and procedures for granting such authorisation.\n(2) In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, an application was submitted for the authorisation of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Pichia pastoris (DSM 23036). The application was accompanied by the particulars and documents required under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.\n(3) The application concerns the authorisation of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Pichia pastoris (DSM 23036) as a feed additive for chickens and turkeys for fattening, chickens reared for laying, turkeys reared for breeding, laying hens, other avian species for fattening and laying, weaned piglets, pigs for fattening and sows, to be classified in the additive category \u2018zootechnical additives\u2019.\n(4) The European Food Safety Authority (\u2018the Authority\u2019) concluded in its opinion of 11 October 2011\u00a0(2) that, under the proposed conditions of use, 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Pichia pastoris (DSM 23036) does not have an adverse effect on animal health, human health or the environment, and that its use can improve the phosphorus digestibility in all target species and performance parameters in avian species. The Authority does not consider that there is a need for specific requirements of post-market monitoring. It also verified the report on the method of analysis of the feed additive in feed submitted by the Reference Laboratory set up by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.\n(5) The assessment of 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26) produced by Pichia pastoris (DSM 23036) shows that the conditions for authorisation, as provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003, are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of this preparation should be authorised as specified in the Annex to this Regulation.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nThe preparation specified in the Annex, belonging to the additive category \u2018zootechnical additives\u2019 and to the functional group \u2018digestibility enhancers\u2019, is authorised as an additive in animal nutrition, subject to the conditions laid down in that Annex.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "market approval", "swine", "poultry", "food additive", "animal feedingstuffs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 417/2003 of 6 March 2003 derogating from Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards the import of milk and milk products and opening tariff quotas\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 417/2003\nof 6 March 2003\nderogating from Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards the import of milk and milk products and opening tariff quotas\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 509/2002(2), and in particular Article 29(4) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under quotas Nos 09.4086 and 09.4554 as provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 2475/2000(3) and Council Regulation (EC) No 1361/2002(4) establishing certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for an adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreements with Slovenia and Lithuania respectively, the Slovene and Lithuanian authorities have introduced veterinary checks ensuring that the milk powder for export to the Community complies with the conditions laid down in Council Directive 92/46/EEC of 16 June 1992 laying down the health rules for the production and placing on the market of raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk-based products(5), as last amended by Directive 94/71/EC(6), and in Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29 April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC(7).\n(2) In view of the difficulties that these veterinary checks have caused for importers holding licences issued during the first six months of 2002, in the case of imports originating in Lithuania, the validity period of those licences was extended to 30 September 2002 and 31 January 2003 respectively by Commission Regulations (EC) No 1333/2002(8) and (EC) No 1925/2002(9), derogating from Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001(10), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2302/2002(11).\n(3) Given that these difficulties persist and, furthermore, that the veterinary checks carried out by the Lithuanian and Slovene authorities have led to the temporary suspension of certain operators from the possibility to export dairy products, the validity of the import licences issued in January and July 2002 under quota No 09.4554 in the case of Lithuania, and the import licences issued in July 2002 under quota No 09.4086 in the case of Slovenia, should be extended to 30 June 2003.\n(4) Prior to carrying out imports originating in Latvia under quota No 09.4549 as provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1362/2002 of 22 July 2002 establishing concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural products and providing for an adjustment, as an autonomous and transitional measure, of certain agricultural concessions provided for in the Europe Agreement with Latvia(12), importers holding licences issued for the second six months of 2002 carried out representative tests on the milk powder. It was discovered that all available stocks of milk powder in that country were contaminated with chloramphenicol and that the exporting firms concerned were no longer able to deliver the quantities for which contracts had been concluded before the end of the period of validity of the licences.\n(5) The validity of the import licences issued in July 2002 under quota No 09.4549 for imports originating in Latvia should therefore be extended to 30 June 2003.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,\n1. Notwithstanding Article 16(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001, the term of validity of the import licences issued during the first and second six months of 2002 for imports from Lithuania of products covered by quota No 09.4554, listed in Annex I.B.9 to that Regulation, shall expire on 30 June 2003.\n2. Notwithstanding Article 16(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001, the term of validity of the import licences issued during the second six months of 2002 for imports from Latvia of products covered by quota No 09.4549, listed in Annex I.B.8 to that Regulation, shall expire on 30 June 2003.\n3. Notwithstanding Article 16(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2535/2001, the term of validity of the import licences issued during the second six months of 2002 for imports from Slovenia of products covered by quota No 09.4086, listed in Annex I.B.10 to that Regulation, shall expire on 30 June 2003.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "milk product", "quantitative restriction", "extra-EU trade", "intra-EU trade", "import licence", "derogation from EU law", "milk", "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 199/82 of 27 January 1982 on the classification of goods falling within subheading 23.07 B I a) of the Common Customs Tariff\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 199/82\nof 27 January 1982\non the classification of goods falling within subheading 23.07 B I a) of the Common Customs Tariff\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 97/69 of 16 January 1969 on measures to be taken for uniform application of the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff (1), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Greece, and in particular Article 3 thereof,\nWhereas, in order to ensure uniform application of the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff, provisions must be laid down concerning the tariff classification of a premix consisting of ronidazole (INN) (12 % by weight calculated on the dry product) on a base of maize gluten (containing less than 10 % of starch) used in the preparation of supplementary animal feedingstuffs;\nWhereas heading No 23.07 of the Common Customs Tariff annexed to Council Regulation (EEC) No 950/68 (2), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3300/81 (3), refers to preparations of a kind used in animal feeding;\nWhereas the premix in question, although containing an active substance of a medicinal nature, is not prepared to be used as a veterinary medicament; whereas it has the characteristics of a product of a kind used in the preparation of animal feedingstuffs falling within heading No 23.07 (see also the Explanatory Notes to the CCC nomenclature, heading No 23.07, item II c)); whereas, within heading No 23.07, subheading 23.07 B I a) should be chosen for such a product;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Common Customs Tariff Nomenclature,\nThe premix consisting of ronidazole (INN) (12 % by weight calculated on the dry product) on a base of maize gluten (containing less than 10 % of starch) shall be classified in the Common Customs Tariff under subheading:\n23.07 Sweetened forage; other preparations of a kind used in animal feeding:\nB. Other, containing starch, glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup falling within subheadings 17.02 B and 21.07 F II, or milk products:\nI. Containing starch, glucose, glucose syrup, maltodextrine or maltodextrine syrup:\na) Containing no starch or containing 10 % or less by weight of starch.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 21st day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "tariff nomenclature", "animal nutrition", "common customs tariff" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1754/95 of 18 July 1995 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of monosodium glutamate originating in Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Thailand\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1754/95 of 18 July 1995 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of monosodium glutamate originating in Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Thailand\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 3283/94 of 22 December 1994 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1251/95 (2), in particular Article 23 thereof, which provides that Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 522/94 (4), shall continue to apply to proceedings in relation to which an investigation pending on 1 September 1994 had not been concluded by the date of entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 3283/94,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, and in particular Articles 10 (6) and 14 thereof,\nAfter consultation with the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\nI. PREVIOUS PROCEDURE\n(1) The Council, by Regulation (EEC) No 1798/90 (5), as amended by Regulations (EEC) No 2966/92 (6) and (EEC) No 2455/93 (7), imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of monosodium glutamate originating in Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand with the exception of imports from certain producers in these countries from which the Commission accepted undertakings by Regulation (EEC) No 547/90 (8) and Decisions 92/493/EEC (9) and 93/479/EEC (10).\n(2) During the review concluded by Regulation (EEC) No 2455/93 and Decision 93/479/EEC, all the companies were informed of the essential facts and considerations on which it was intended to amend the measures and were given the opportunity to make their views known. The Commission subsequently accepted price undertakings from all known exporters. Exports from these countries made by other exporters, which in this case were negligible, continued to be subject to anti-dumping duty.\n(3) By a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (11), the Commission, after consultation with the Advisory Committee and in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Basic Regulation`), initiated a review of the anti-dumping measures in force, following receipt of an application lodged by the Community industry. The application alleged, inter alia, that the monosodium glutamate originating in the countries concerned had been imported into the Community at prices lower than those required by the existing price undertakings and, therefore, that the price undertakings are not suitable measures in this proceeding. It should be noted that, with two exceptions, all exporters from which undertakings have been accepted cooperated in this review. The following exporters cooperated in this review:\nIndonesia:\n- PT Indomiwon Citra Inti,\n- PT Jico Argung (related selling company of PT Indomiwon Citra Inti);\nRepublic of Korea:\n- Cheil Foods & Chemicals Inc.,\n- Miwon Co. Ltd,\n- Miwon Trading & Shipping Co., Ltd (related selling company of Miwon Co. Ltd);\nTaiwan:\n- Ve Wong Corporation,\n- Tung Hai Fermentation Ind. Corp.;\nThailand:\n- Thai Fermentation Industry Corporation.\n(4) The product covered by the application and for which the review investigation was initiated is monosodium glutamate produced in the form of crystals of various sizes and falling within CN code ex 2922 42 10. It is mainly used as a flavour enhancer in soups, broths, fish and meat dishes and ready made foods. The product is the same as that in the Regulation under review.\nII. REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT UNDERTAKINGS HAD BEEN VIOLATED\n(5) The application giving rise to the abovementioned review, alleged, inter alia, that price undertakings had been violated. While this review is still in progress and any conclusions on this issue are therefore necessarily provisional, an examination of the allegation that price undertakings had been violated led to the following results:\nThe Commission requested information on resale prices for the product concerned from all importers having purchased monosodium glutamate from those exporters which cooperated in the abovementioned review. The period for which such information was requested, i.e. 1 May 1993 to 30 April 1994, corresponded to the investigation period of the review.\nInformation was received from independent importers relating to resale prices in the Community of approximately 21 % of all the cooperating exporters' sales to the European Community. It covered resales of the product concerned purchased from the aforementioned Indonesian, Korean and Taiwanese exporters.\nIn spite of the fact that the Commission could only investigate resale prices from those importers who agreed to cooperate, it found clear indications that the price undertakings were being violated by the aforementioned Indonesian, Korean and Taiwanese exporters, as the great majority of resales of the product concerned originating from each of them were made at prices which could not cover the importers' purchase prices (i.e. set at the undertaking level) plus a reasonable amount for selling, general and administrative expenses, profit and, where appropriate, customs duty. The resale prices of this sample of transactions reflected the general situation on the Community market, as described by the applicant.\nEven if the export prices, taken at their face value did correspond to the terms of the undertakings, the level of the resale prices of the merchandise in the Community nevertheless constitutes a strong indication that compensation, in whatever form, was granted by the exporters to their customers in the Community. This would constitute a violation of the undertakings.\n(6) In addition, two exporters refused to cooperate properly in the abovementioned review.\nOne of these exporters made some exports of the product concerned to a non-cooperating importer located in Germany. The exporter concerned did not disclose fully its relationship with the German importer, while the Commission had strong reasons to believe that these two companies were related.\nThe other exporter submitted a response to the questionnaire which was issued in the course of the abovementioned review, but it refused to cooperate in the verification of the information contained therein.\n(7) Taking into consideration all the facts set out in recitals 5 and 6, the Commission concluded that, in accordance with Article 10 (6) of the Basic Regulation, there were reasons to believe that the price undertakings accepted by the Commission from the abovementioned exporters had been violated. In these circumstances, the price undertakings concerned should be withdrawn and replaced by a provisional anti-dumping duty based on the facts established before the acceptance of these price undertakings.\nIII. COMMUNITY INTEREST\n(8) The Council, in Regulation (EEC) No 2455/93, concluded that it was in the Community interest that measures be imposed on imports of monosodium glutamate from the four countries concerned.\n(9) It has been provisionally found that the conclusions on Community interest as set out in the above Regulation are still valid and should remain unchanged. Moreover, it is in the fundamental interest of the Community to take action in cases where undertakings are violated, as such violation constitutes a circumvention of measures that have been duly adopted and should therefore be remedied.\n(10) In the light of the above, it was considered to be in the interest of the Community that the acceptance by the Commission of the price undertakings from the abovementioned companies be withdrawn and replaced by a provisional anti-dumping duty.\nIV. EXPORTERS' COMMENTS\n(11) In accordance with Article 10 (6) of the Basic Regulation, the exporters concerned were given the opportunity of expressing their views on the Commission's observations and its intention to impose provisional anti-dumping duties. Their comments were taken into account as appropriate.\nV. PROVISIONAL DUTIES\n(12) In the light of the above, the Commission concludes that, pursuant to Article 10 (6) of the Basic Regulation, provisional duties should be calculated on the basis of the facts established before the undertakings were accepted. The rate of duty corresponding to the injury margin necessary to eliminate injurious dumping was established during the earlier investigation for each exporter as an alternative to the price undertakings accepted by Decision 93/479/EEC. The amounts of these duties were disclosed to the exporters concerned and were not disputed by them.\nVI. FINAL PROVISION\n(13) In the interests of sound administration, a period should be fixed within which the parties concerned may make their views known in writing and request a hearing. Furthermore, it should be stated that all findings made for the purpose of this Regulation are provisional and may be reconsidered for the purpose of any definitive duty which the Commission may propose,\n1. A provisional anti-dumping duty is hereby imposed on imports of monosodium glutamate, falling within CN code 2922 42 10, originating in the countries and produced by the companies listed hereafter.\n2. The rate of duty applicable to the net free-at-Community-frontier price, before duty, shall be as follows:\n>TABLE>\n3. The release for free circulation in the Community of the product referred to in paragraph 1 shall be subject to the provision of a security equivalent to the provisional duty.\nWithout prejudice to Article 7 (4) (b) and (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, the parties concerned may make their views known in writing and request a hearing by the Commission within one month of the date of entry into force of this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "Taiwan", "South Korea", "chemical product", "Thailand", "Indonesia", "anti-dumping duty" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Decision of 5\u00a0July 2012 on setting up a multisectoral and independent expert panel to provide advice on effective ways of investing in health\n6.7.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 198/7\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 5 July 2012\non setting up a multisectoral and independent expert panel to provide advice on effective ways of investing in health\n2012/C 198/06\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Article 168(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Member States are required, in liaison with the Commission, to coordinate among themselves their policies and programmes in the areas referred to in paragraph 1. The Commission may, in close contact with the Member States, take any useful initiative to promote such coordination, in particular initiatives aiming at the establishment of guidelines and indicators, the organisation of exchange of best practice, and the preparation of the necessary elements for periodic monitoring and evaluation.\n(2) The Council conclusions on common values and principles in European Union health systems\u00a0(1), adopted in June 2006, recognise that while it is not appropriate to try to standardise health systems at an EU level, there is immense value in work at a European level on health care. Member States have therefore committed themselves to working together to share experiences and information about good practices.\n(3) The Decision No 1350/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 establishing a second programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-13)\u00a0(2) (hereinafter referred to as \u2018the health programme\u2019), while reiterating, in accordance with Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, that health services are primarily the responsibility of Member States, stresses that cooperation at Community level can benefit both patients and health systems. According to Article 2 of this Decision, read in conjunction with points 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 of the Annex, one of the objectives of the health programme is to generate and disseminate health information and knowledge by providing analysis and technical assistance in support of policy makers in the development and implementation of legislation related to the scope of the programme.\n(4) The Council conclusions \u2018Towards modern, responsive and sustainable health systems\u2019, adopted on 6 June 2011\u00a0(3), invite the Commission and Member States to initiate a reflection process aiming to identify effective ways of investing in health, and the Commission to support the reflection process by facilitating the access to independent and multisectoral expert advice.\n(5) The Council Working Party on Public Health, meeting at senior level, established a forum for cooperation on effective ways of investing in health, and endorsed the creation of working groups on different topics, such as: enhancing the adequate representation of health in Europe 2020 and in the European Semester, defining success factors for the effective use of Structural Funds for health investments, cost-effective use of medicines, integrated care models and better hospital management, measuring and monitoring the effectiveness of health investments.\n(6) The Commission is participating in all these sub-groups with a view to support Member States' cooperation on health systems and to assist it through provision of information and knowledge.\n(7) Sound and timely scientific advice is an essential requirement for Commission's provision of information and knowledge relating to sustainability of healthcare systems. It must be based on the principles of excellence, independence, multisectoral approach and transparency.\n(8) In that context, it is appropriate to establish an expert group which will support the Commission, by providing independent and sound advice on effective ways of investing in health.\n(9) The expert group should be composed of experienced and knowledgeable persons coming from the public or private sector, as well as from civil society. It is essential that the expert panel make best use of scientific expertise in the EU and beyond as may be necessary for a specific question.\n(10) Rules on disclosure of information by members of the group should be laid down.\n(11) Personal data should be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data\u00a0(4).\n(12) A system of indemnities should be put in place in order to ensure that experts with appropriate competences participate in the group, in representation of civil society, public and private sector.\n(13) It is appropriate to fix a period for the application of this Decision. The Commission will in due time consider the advisability of an extension,\nSubject matter\nAn expert group on effective ways of investing in health (hereinafter \u2018the panel\u2019) is hereby established.\nMission\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The mission of the panel shall be to provide the Commission, upon its request, with independent and multisectoral advice on effective ways of investing in health in the fields of expertise set out in Annex I.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Advice provided by the panel shall take account of the work of other Union bodies concerned with the sustainability of health systems, such as the Economic Policy Committee and the Social Protection Committee.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission will circulate advice from the panel to the Member States indicating interest.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The advice will remain informal and will in no circumstances be binding.\nMembership \u2014 Appointment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The panel shall be composed of a maximum of 17 members. The Commission shall determine the number of members of the panel, aiming to ensure the broadest knowledge and understanding of different health systems across the EU.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the panel will be individuals appointed in a personal capacity, in the framework of an open call for applications.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the panel shall be appointed by the Director-General for Health and Consumers from individuals who have responded to the call for applications and who comply with the requirements set out in the call. The members of the panel shall be experts in one or more of the fields of expertise referred to in Annex I, and shall collectively cover the widest possible range of disciplines.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the panel are appointed for three years. Their term of office may be renewed, at most for three consecutive terms.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the panel who are no longer capable of contributing effectively to their duties, who resign or who do not comply with Article 339 of the Treaty, may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office. In that case, the Director-General for Health and Consumers may appoint a replacement, following an open call for applications.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the panel shall act independently and in the public interest.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The names of members of the panel shall be published in the Register of the Commission expert groups and other similar entities (hereinafter \u2018the Register\u2019).\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Personal data shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data\u00a0(5).\nOperation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The panel shall elect the Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson, according to the rules of procedures referred to in paragraph 9 and in compliance with the Commission horizontal rules on expert groups\u00a0(6).\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Upon request for advice, the chairperson of the panel will appoint a rapporteur from among its members. For particularly complex questions of multidisciplinary nature, more than one rapporteur may be appointed. The rapporteur(s) and the Commission shall agree on the terms of reference of the request for advice. The rapporteur(s) shall be responsible for drafting the advice.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The panel may create working groups to examine particular issues. The working groups shall be chaired by a member of the panel. The working groups shall report back to the panel under the responsibility of their chair.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In agreement with the Commission services, the panel may invite external experts, as well as experts from other EU bodies that they consider to have the relevant scientific knowledge and expertise, to contribute to their work. Commission officials from services with an interest in the proceedings may attend meetings of the panel.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may request the panel to consult with other bodies for the preparation of the advice.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may ask the panel to organise one or more meetings, should it deem it necessary for the panel to provide advice. The Commission establishes the venue of the meetings in order to ensure the highest effectiveness of the panel\u2019s activities. Subsistence and travel costs shall be borne by the European Commission, as provided for in Annex II.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the panel, as well as the invited experts, shall comply with the obligations of professional secrecy laid down by the Treaty and its implementing rules, as well as with the Commission's rules on security regarding the protection of EU classified information, laid down in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom\u00a0(7). Should they fail to respect these obligations, the Commission may take appropriate measures.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Directorate-General for Health and Consumers shall provide secretarial services to the panel, particularly through organisation of meetings and reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses.\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The panel shall adopt its rules of procedure by simple majority of its members, on the basis of a proposal presented by the Commission services, in compliance with the Commission horizontal rules on expert groups and the standards rules of procedure for expert groups\u00a0(8).\n10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall publish relevant information on the activities carried out by the panel either by including it in the Register or via a link from the register to a dedicated website.\nMeeting expenses\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the panel and invited experts shall be entitled to an indemnity for their preparation of and participation in the meetings of the panel, and for serving as rapporteur on a specific question, as provided for in Annex II.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Travel and subsistence expenses incurred by members of the panel and invited experts as per Article 4(4) shall be reimbursed by the Commission in accordance with the provisions in force within the Commission.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The expenses referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be reimbursed within the limits of the available appropriations allocated under the annual procedure for the allocation of resources.\nApplicability\nThis Decision will apply until 1 October 2015.", "answer groups": [ "health care system", "data protection", "personal data", "exchange of information", "self-employed person" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2009/112/EC of 25\u00a0August 2009 amending Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences\n26.8.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 223/26\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2009/112/EC\nof 25 August 2009\namending Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 7a(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The minimum requirements for fitness to drive are not harmonised to the full extent. Member States are allowed to impose standards that are stricter than the minimum European requirements, as laid down in Annex III point 5 to Directive 91/439/EEC.\n(2) Since the existence of different requirements in different Member States may affect the principle of free movement the Council specifically asked for a review of the medical standards for driver licensing set out in Annex III to Directive 91/439/EEC in its resolution of 26 June 2000.\n(3) In line with this Council resolution, the Commission advised that medium- and long-term work should be undertaken in order to adapt Annex III to scientific and technical progress as laid down in Article 7a(2) of Directive 91/439/EEC.\n(4) Eyesight, diabetes and epilepsy were identified as being medical conditions affecting fitness to drive which needed to be considered; to that end working groups comprised of specialists appointed by Member States were set up.\n(5) These working groups produced reports with a view to updating the relevant points of Annex III to Directive 91/439/EEC.\n(6) Directive 91/439/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on driving licences,\nAnnex III to Directive 91/439/EEC is amended as set out in the Annex.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive no later than one year after entry into force of this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "traffic control", "traffic regulations", "harmonisation of standards", "technical standard", "approximation of laws", "European standard", "driving licence", "European driving licence" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 920/77 of 29 April 1977 amending in respect of the 1977/78 milk year various Commission Regulations concerning milk and milk products\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 920/77 of 29 April 1977 amending in respect of the 1977/78 milk year various Commission Regulations concerning milk and milk products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 559/76 (2), and in particular Articles 6 (7), 7 (5) and 10 (3) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 985/68 of 15 July 1968 laying down general rules for intervention on the market in butter and cream (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2714/72 (4), and in particular Article 7a thereof,\nWhereas in the light of the development of the market and the decisions adopted by the Council at the beginning of the 1977/78 milk year, in particular the changes in the intervention price of butter and of skimmed-milk powder, it is necessary to amend various Commission Regulations and repeal those that have ceased to apply: - Commission Regulation (EEC) No 990/72 of 15 May 1972 on detailed rules for granting aid for skimmed milk processed into compound feedingstuffs and for skimmed-milk powder for use as feed (5), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2293/76 (6),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1282/72 of 21 June 1972 on the sale of butter at a reduced price to the army and similar forces (7), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2575/76 (8),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1717/72 of 8 August 1972 on the sale of butter at reduced prices to non-profit-making institutions and organizations (9), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2575/76,\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 349/73 of 31 January 1973 on the sale at reduced prices of intervention butter for direct consumption as concentrated butter (10), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2575/76,\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 232/75 of 30 January 1975 on the sale of butter at reduced prices for use in the manufacture of pastry products and ice-cream (11), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 569/77 (12),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2054/76 of 19 August 1976 on the sale for export to non-member countries of skimmed-milk powder held by intervention agencies and intended for use as feed (13), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 681/77 (14),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2213/76 of 10 September 1976 on the sale of skimmed-milk powder from public storage (15),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 639/77 of 28 March 1977 temporarily suspending the sale of skimmed-milk powder in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2213/76 (16),\n- Commission Regulation (EEC) No 368/77 of 23 February 1977 on the sale by tender of skimmed-milk powder for use in feed for pigs and poultry (17), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 443/77 (18);\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products, (1)OJ No L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 13. (2)OJ No L 67, 15.3.1976, p. 9. (3)OJ No L 169, 18.7.1968, p. 1. (4)OJ No L 291, 28.12.1972, p. 15. (5)OJ No L 115, 17.5.1972, p. 1. (6)OJ No L 259, 23.9.1976, p. 8. (7)OJ No L 142, 22.6.1972, p. 14. (8)OJ No L 293, 23.10.1976, p. 23. (9)OJ No L 181, 9.8.1972, p. 11. (10)OJ No L 40, 13.2.1973, p. 1. (11)OJ No L 24, 31.1.1975, p. 45. (12)OJ No L 72, 19.3.1977, p. 11. (13)OJ No L 228, 20.8.1976, p. 17. (14)OJ No L 84, 1.4.1977, p. 49. (15)OJ No L 249, 11.9.1976, p. 6. (16)OJ No L 80, 29.3.1977, p. 15. (17)OJ No L 52, 24.2.1977, p. 19. (18)OJ No L 58, 3.3.1977, p. 16.\nIn Article 1a of Regulation (EEC) No 990/72, paragraph 4 is amended to read as follows:\n\"4. Aid for skimmed-milk powder denatured in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 shall be granted only for quantities which, in respect of each month, do not exceed the quantity of skimmed-milk powder denatured by the undertaking in question, as determined by the supervision provided for in Article 3, during the corresponding month of the calendar year 1975, plus 30 %.\nThe Member States may take as their reference quantity, in place of the quantity denatured during the corresponding month of the calendar year 1975, a quantity equal to one fifth of the total quantity denatured during that month and the two months immediately preceding and following it.\"\nRegulation (EEC) No 1282/72 is amended to read as follows: 1. In Article 2, first paragraph, the amount \"131 750 units of account\" shall be replaced by \"135 units of account\".\n2. In Article 8 the text appearing under (a) is replaced by the following:\n\"(a) The compensatory amounts fixed in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 974/71 shall be multiplied by the coefficient 0 742, however, for the United Kingdom the coefficient shall be 0 747.\"\nRegulation (EEC) No 1717/72 is amended to read as follows: 1. In Article 3 (1), first paragraph, the amount \"131 750 units of account\" is replaced by \"138 75 units of account\".\n2. In Article 9, the text appearing under (a) is replaced by the following:\n\"(a) The compensatory amounts fixed in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 974/71 shall be multiplied by the coefficient 0 740, however, for the United Kingdom the coefficient shall be 0 745\".\nRegulation (EEC) No 349/73 is amended as follows: 1. In Article 1 (b) the expression \"from 1 April 1973\" is deleted.\n2. In Article 2 (3), second indent, the amount \"123 units of account\" is replaced by \"130 units of account\".\n3. In Article 3 (1), the amount \"107 763 units of account\" is replaced by \"129 units of account\".\n4. In Article 14 (1), the coefficient \"0 75\" is replaced by \"0 747\".\nIn Article 20 (a) of Regulation (EEC) No 232/75: - the coefficient \"0 735\" is replaced by \"0 734\",\n- the coefficient \"0 740\" is replaced by \"0 738\".\nRegulation (EEC) No 2054/76 is amended as follows: 1. In Article 3 (1), the amount \"9 units of account\" is replaced by \"8 units of account\";\n2. In Article 4 (2), the date \"10 May 1977\" is replaced by \"1 August 1977\";\n3. In Article 4 (3), the amount \"14 units of account\" is replaced by \"12 units of account\";\n4. In Article 14 (a), first paragraph, the coefficient \"0 788\" is replaced by \"0 790\";\n5. In Article 14 (a), second paragraph, the coefficient \"1 751\" is replaced by \"1 754\".\n1. Regulation (EEC) No 639/77 is hereby repealed.\n2. Article 2 (1) (a) of Regulation (EEC) No 2213/76 is amended to read as follows:\n\"(a) ex-storage depot at a price equal to the selling price applied by the intervention agency at the time of conclusion of the selling contract, plus two units of account per 100 kilograms.\"\nIn Article 19, second paragraph, of Regulation (EEC) No 368/77: - in the first indent, the coefficient \"0 718\" is replaced by \"0 722\",\n- in the second indent, the coefficient \"0 7308\" is replaced by \"0 738\".\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 May 1977.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "common organisation of markets", "milk", "milk product" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0192/2008 of 29 February 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a0989/2007 registering certain names in the Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Bar\u00e8ges-Gavarnie (PDO) \u2014 Ho\u0159ick\u00e9 trubi\u010dky (PGI))\n1.3.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 57/11\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 192/2008\nof 29 February 2008\namending Regulation (EC) No 989/2007 registering certain names in the Register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Bar\u00e8ges-Gavarnie (PDO) \u2014 Ho\u0159ick\u00e9 trubi\u010dky (PGI))\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs\u00a0(1), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 7(4) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) An error was found in the publication of Commission Regulation (EC) No 989/2007\u00a0(2) regarding the class to which the product covered by the denomination \u2018Bar\u00e8ges-Gavarnie\u2019 belongs.\n(2) Regulation (EC) No 989/2007 should therefore be amended accordingly,\nIn point 1 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 989/2007, the words \u2018Class 1.3 \u2014 Cheeses\u2019 shall be replaced by \u2018Class 1.1 \u2014 Fresh meat and offal\u2019.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply as from the date of entry into force of Regulation (EC) No 989/2007.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "designation of origin", "cheese", "confectionery product", "product designation", "France", "Czech Republic" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 317/2004 of 23 February 2004 on adopting derogations from the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste statistics as regards Austria, France and Luxembourg (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 317/2004\nof 23 February 2004\non adopting derogations from the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste statistics as regards Austria, France and Luxembourg\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2002 on waste statistics(1), and in particular Article 4(1) thereof,\nHaving regard to the request made by Austria on 30 June 2003,\nHaving regard to the request made by France on 12 June 2003,\nHaving regard to the request made by Luxembourg on 25 June 2003,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002, derogations from certain provisions of Annexes to that Regulation may be granted by the Commission during a transitional period.\n(2) Such derogations should be granted, at their request, to Austria, France and Luxembourg.\n(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Statistical Programme Committee established by Council Decision 89/382/EEC, Euratom(2),\n1. The following derogations from the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 are hereby granted:\n(a) Austria is granted derogations for the production of results relating to Section 8(1.1), item 1 (agriculture, hunting and forestry) of Annex I.\n(b) France is granted derogations for the production of results relating to Section 8(1.1), items 1 (agriculture, hunting and forestry), 2 (fisheries) and 16 (services activities) of Annex I and those relating to Section 8(2) of Annex II.\n(c) Luxembourg is granted derogations for the production of results relating to Section 8(1.1), items 1 (agriculture, hunting and forestry) and 2 (fisheries) of Annex I.\n2. The derogations provided for in paragraph 1 are granted only in respect of data from the first reference year, namely 2004.\nAfter expiry of the transitional period, Austria, France and Luxembourg shall transmit data from the 2006 reference year.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "statistical method", "EU statistics", "derogation from EU law", "waste disposal", "Luxembourg", "Austria", "France", "waste management" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "87/454/ECSC: Commission Decision of 31 July 1987 approving aid from Spain to the coal industry during 1987 (Only the Spanish text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 31 July 1987\napproving aid from Spain to the coal industry during 1987\n(Only the Spanish text is authentic)\n(87/454/ECSC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community,\nHaving regard to Commission Decision No 2064/86/ECSC of 30 June 1986 establishing Community rules for State aid to the coal industry (1),\nWhereas:\nI\nIn its communications of 3 October 1986, 14 November 1986, 22 December 1986 and 19 May 1987, the Spanish Government informed the Commission, pursuant to Article 9 (2) of Decision No 2064/86/ECSC, of the financial measures it intends to take directly or indirectly for the benefit of current production in the coal industry in 1987. Whereas the following measures are submitted for the approval of the Commission under the above Decision:\n1.2 // // (Ptas million) // - aid to cover operating losses // 37 117,2 // - investment aid // 405,0 // - aid to promote innovation // 150,0 // - aid to cover the difference between effective and normal social charges // 526,0 // - compensatory payment of Ofico // 8 400,0\nThe aid totalling Ptas 37 117 200 000 to cover operating losses will be granted to the Hunosa, Figared, Hullasa and La Camocha undertakings for a volume of together 4 956 000 tonnes of production in order to cover the difference for each tonne produced, between foreseeable average costs and the foreseeable average revenue. The aid will not exceed the anticipated operating losses and hence complies with the conditions of Article 3 (1) of the Decision.\nThe aid to cover operating losses is aimed at preventing premature pit closures. In accordance with the third indent of Article 2 (1), this contributes to solving the social and regional problems related to developments in the coal industry.\nThe investment aid of Ptas 405 million is proposed for investment projects in mines of different undertakings. The aid will cover 20 % of the total investment which amounts to Ptas 2 000 million Ptas. The aid complies with the provisions of Article 5 (1) and 5 (2) of the Decision for every coal entreprise.\nIn relation to the Community's policy on coal, the investment aid for 1987 is to be regarded as beneficial since it will help to improve the competitiveness of the coal industry in accordance with the first indent or Article 2 (1) of the Decision.\nThe Spanish Government envisages granting in the course of 1987 an aid to promote innovation in the coal industry. This aid, amounting to Ptas 150 million, is shared among the following coalfields: la Central Asturiana, Bierzo Villablino, Narcea, L\u0102\u0160on, Arag\u0102\u0142n, Cataluna and the Baleares.\nThis aid is intended to ensure that research results find practical applications in production as quickly as possible.\nThe aid has to be notified to the Commission under Article 9 (2) and Annex 2 b to the Decision as 'other' measures. Such measures have to be assessed in accordance with Article 10 (2) of the Decision on the basis of Article 67 of the ECSC Treaty.\nThe Commission has undertaken the examination provided under Article 67 of the ECSC Treaty and has reached the conclusion that the aid to promote innovation does not confer to the Spanish coal industry any particular competitive advantage contrary to the common market.\nThe measure will help to improve competitiveness in accordance with the first indent of Article 2 (1) of the Decision.\nThe notifications submitted to the Commission by the Spanish Government on measures to finance social benefits in the coal-mining industry show that State contributions to the social security systems of the coal-mining industry make the effective social charges of coal undertakings lower than the standard changes the undertakings would have to bear in accordance with Article 7 of the Decision. The difference for the coal-mining industry amounts to Ptas 526 million. Accordingly, the limits drawn in Article 7 of the Decision are exceeded by this amount, which must be therefore regarded as indirect aid to current production. The production costs of undertakings are artificially reduced through low social charges (Ptas 21 per tonne = 0,1 % of total production costs).\nThe State contributions to the social security systems of the coal-mining industry constitute a general measure under Article 67 of the ECSC Treaty. Compared with the other coal producers in the Community, reducing the production costs by 0,1 % does not represent any particular competitive advantage for the Spanish coal-mining industry taking into account the relation existing between revenue and production costs. Exceeding the limits set in Article 7 of the Decision by Ptas 526 million can therefore be approved as a general measure under Article 67 of the ECSC Treaty on the condition that such a measure shall be applied to cover losses. The measure also helps to ease the social problems referred to in the third indent of Article 2 (1) of the Decision.\nA compensatory payment of Ptas 8 400 million for 1987 is envisaged through Ofico (Oficina de Compensacion de la Energia Eletrica) in favour of the electricity-producing undertakings under the new system of purchase of coal for use in power stations. This system is intended to bring into line, in a rational manner, supply with forecast demand and to increase the competitivity of the coal industry.\nThese coal undertakings, within the framework of reference prices provided under the new system, which have a negative profit and loss account (except for those undertakings benefiting from a programme contract) may ask the electricity-producing undertakings with which they have signed a contract for the supply of coal for a supplement over and above the reference price.\nThe price supplements paid by the electricity companies are to be repaid to them through Ofico.\nThis intervention has to be notified under Article 9 (2) and Annex 2 b of the decision under 'other' measures. Assessment of measures of this kind should be made in conformity with Article 10 (2) of Decision No 2064/86/ECSC, on the basis of Article 67 of the ECSC Treaty.\nThe Commission has undertaken the examination provided under Article 67 of the ECSC Treaty and has concluded that the measure was compatible with Article 67 of the ECSC Treaty. The measure also contributes to the solution of social problems in accordance with Article 2 (1), third indent.\nII\nThe following observations should be made on the compatibility of the proposed aid to current production with the proper functioning of the common market:\n- there are unlikely to be supply difficulties in 1987 in view of pithead stocks of coal and coke,\n- Spanish coal prices should not, in principle lead to indirect aid to industrial coal users in 1987;\nTherefore the aid to be granted to the current production of the Spain coal industry in 1987 is compatible with the proper functioning of the common market;\nIII\nPursuant to Article 11 (2) of the Decision, the Commission must ensure that the direct aid to current production which it approves is used exclusively for the purposes set out in Article 3 to 6 thereof. The Commission must therefore be informed in particular of the amounts of payments and the manner in which they are apportioned,\nSpain is hereby authorized to grant aid totalling Ptas 46 598 200 000 to the Spanish coal industry with effect from 1 January 1987 for the 1987 calendar year.\nThe total amount shall be made up of the following aids:\n1. an amount not exceeding Ptas 37 117 200 000 in aid to cover operating losses;\n2. an amount not exceeding Ptas 405 million in investment aid;\n3. an amount not exceeding Ptas 150 million in aid to promote innovation;\n4. an amount not exceeding Ptas 526 million to cover the difference between effective and normal social charges;\n5. an amount not exceeding Ptas 8 400 million in the framework of the intervention of Ofico.\nThe Spanish Government shall inform the Commission\n- by 30 September 1987 of the extent to which the amounts of aid laid down in this Decision are likely to change in view of the pattern of aid payments in the first nine months of 1987;\n- by 30 June 1988 of the actual amounts of aid paid in 1987.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Spain.", "answer groups": [ "State aid", "Spain" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01808/2006 of 7 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01615/2000 derogating from Regulation (EEC) No\u00a02454/93 in respect of the definition of the concept of originating products used for the purposes of the scheme of generalised preferences to take account of the special situation of Nepal regarding certain exports of textiles to the Community\n8.12.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 343/73\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1808/2006\nof 7 December 2006\namending Regulation (EC) No 1615/2000 derogating from Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 in respect of the definition of the concept of originating products used for the purposes of the scheme of generalised preferences to take account of the special situation of Nepal regarding certain exports of textiles to the Community\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 247 thereof,\nHaving regard to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 76 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) By Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005 of 27 June 2005 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences\u00a0(3), the Community granted generalised tariff preferences to Nepal.\n(2) Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 establishes the definition of the concept of originating products to be used for the purposes of the scheme of generalised tariff preferences. Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 also provides for derogations from that definition in favour of least developed beneficiary countries benefiting from the generalised system of preferences (GSP) which submit an appropriate request to that effect to the Community.\n(3) Nepal has benefited from such derogation for certain textiles since 1997, in the last instance by virtue of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1615/2000\u00a0(4). The validity of Regulation (EC) No 1615/2000 has been extended until 31 December 2006.\n(4) By letter dated 17 July 2006 Nepal submitted a request for prolongation of the derogation in accordance with Article 76 of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\n(5) When the validity of Regulation (EC) No 1615/2000 was extended until 31 December 2006, it was expected that new, simpler and more development-friendly GSP rules of origin would be in force before expiry of the derogation. However the new GSP rules of origin are not expected to be adopted before 31 December 2006.\n(6) Application of the GSP rules of origin currently in force would have an adverse effect on investment, and employment in Nepal as well as on ability of existing industry in Nepal to continue its exports to the Community.\n(7) The prolongation period should take account of the time necessary to adopt and implement new GSP rules of origin. In addition, the interests of traders concluding contracts both in Nepal and in the Community, as well as the stability of Nepalese industry, require that the derogation should be prolonged for a period sufficient to permit the continuation or conclusion of longer term contracts.\n(8) The derogation should therefore be prolonged until 31 December 2008. However, in order to ensure fair treatment for Nepal and for other least developed countries, the continuing need for the derogation should be reviewed once new GSP rules of origin are adopted.\n(9) Regulation (EC) No 1615/2000 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,\nArticle 2 of Regulation (EC) No 1615/2000 is amended as follows:\n1. In the first paragraph the date \u201831 December 2006\u2019 is replaced by \u201831 December 2008\u2019;\n2. The second paragraph is replaced by the following:\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 January 2007.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "textile product", "generalised preferences", "originating product", "certificate of origin", "Nepal", "export" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2001/430/EC: Commission Decision of 7 June 2001 amending for the third time Decision 2001/356/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2001) 1605)\nCommission Decision\nof 7 June 2001\namending for the third time Decision 2001/356/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom\n(notified under document number C(2001) 1605)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2001/430/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market(1), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC(2), and in particular Article 10 thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market(3), as last amended by Directive 92/118/EEC, and in particular Article 9 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Following the reports of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom, the Commission adopted Decision 2001/356/EC concerning certain protection measures with regard to foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom(4), as last amended by Decision 2001/415/EC(5).\n(2) Council Directive 85/511/EEC of 18 November 1985, as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, introduces Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease(6).\n(3) Council Decision 90/424/EEC(7), as last amended by Council Decision 2001/12/EC(8), concerns expenditure in the veterinary field.\n(4) In the light of the disease evolution it appears therefore appropriate to prolong the measures but also to adjust the regionalisation, in particular to release the restrictions on Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.\n(5) The situation shall be reviewed at the meeting of the Standing Veterinary Committee scheduled for 12-13 June 2001 and the measures adapted where necessary.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee.\nDecision 2001/356/EC is amended as follows:\n1. The date in Article 15 is replaced by \"20 July 2001\".\n2. In Annex I the words \"Great Britain, Northern Ireland\" are replaced by \"United Kingdom, except Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man\".\n3. In Annex II the words \"Great Britain, Northern Ireland\" are replaced by \" United Kingdom, except Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man\".\nMember States shall amend the measures which they apply to trade so as to bring them into compliance with this Decision. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "United Kingdom", "Isle of Man", "export restriction", "foot-and-mouth disease", "Northern Ireland" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0553/2009 of 25\u00a0June 2009 opening a specific invitation to tender for the resale on the Community market of maize from harvests prior to the 2007/08 marketing year, held by the Hungarian intervention agency\n26.6.2009 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 164/32\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 553/2009\nof 25 June 2009\nopening a specific invitation to tender for the resale on the Community market of maize from harvests prior to the 2007/08 marketing year, held by the Hungarian intervention agency\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a01234/2007 of 22\u00a0October\u00a02007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (\u2018Single CMO Regulation\u2019)\u00a0(1), and in particular Article\u00a043(f) in conjunction with Article\u00a04 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Under Commission Regulation (EC) No 127/2009 of 12 February 2009 laying down the procedures and conditions for the sale of cereals held by paying agencies or intervention agencies\u00a0(2), cereals held by intervention agencies are to be sold by tendering procedure at prices preventing market disturbance.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0712/2007\u00a0(3) opened standing invitations to tender for the resale on the Community market of cereals held by Member States' intervention agencies for the 2007/08 marketing year. In order to provide producers and the feed industry with supplies at competitive prices during the first months of the 2008/09 marketing year, that Regulation has been amended so as to ensure that submissions for partial tenders can be submitted until 17\u00a0December 2008.\n(3) At the start of the 2007/08 marketing year, Community intervention stocks stood at 2.46 million tonnes, 2.23 million tonnes of which were maize. During that marketing year, relatively significant sales of intervention stocks, specifically maize, took place under the tendering procedure covered by Regulation (EC) No\u00a0712/2007.\n(4) However, given the market conditions since mid-September 2008, particularly in terms of price, bids have ceased to be made by operators and on 31\u00a0October 2008, only one amount of intervention maize of approximately 16\u00a0000 tonnes remained. These old stocks (chiefly from the 2004 and 2005 harvests) will be competing with Community maize from the abundant 2008 harvest, the selling prices of which were already below the intervention price on 31\u00a0October 2008. This stock should therefore be made available with a view to its use on the internal market.\n(5) Under Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No\u00a0127/2009, if the running of the common market organisation is disturbed on account in particular of difficulty during a marketing year in selling cereals at prices which comply with those given in Article\u00a07(1) of that Regulation, sales on the Community market may be organised on the basis of specific invitations to tender under special conditions. The lengthy duration of storage of maize, from harvests prior to the 2007/08 marketing year\u2019s harvest, held by the Hungarian intervention agency and the current market price of maize in Hungary constitute a special circumstance justifying the opening of a specific invitation to tender for the sale of maize from harvests prior to that of the 2007/08 marketing year at prices potentially lower than the intervention price.\n(6) Significant price fluctuations have also been observed on the Community market. In view of these disparities, the lots awarded could not be removed by the operators to which awards are made. The security of EUR\u00a05 per tonne provided for in the second subparagraph of Article\u00a05(3) of Regulation (EC) No\u00a0127/2009 is not therefore sufficient to ensure this removal. In order to avoid such a situation and to ensure that the tendering procedure covered by this Regulation runs smoothly, the security should be increased in order to limit the risks.\n(7) To take account of the situation on the Community market, provision should be made for the Commission to manage this invitation to tender. Provision must also be made for an award coefficient for tenders offering the minimum selling price.\n(8) In the interests of sound management of the system, the information required by the Commission should be sent by electronic means. It is important that the notification to the Commission by the intervention agency maintains tenderers' anonymity.\n(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,\nThe Hungarian intervention agency shall sell, by means of an invitation to tender across the internal market of the Community, maize from harvests prior to the 2007/08 marketing year\u2019s harvest which it holds.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The sales referred to in Article 1 shall be carried out under the terms laid down by Regulation (EC) No\u00a0127/2009.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding Article\u00a07(1) of Regulation (EC) No\u00a0127/2009, the minimum selling price may be less than the intervention price, plus a monthly increase.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Notwithstanding Article 5(3) of Regulation (EC) No 127/2009, the tender security is set at EUR 10 per tonne.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The deadline for the submission of tenders for the first partial invitation to tender shall be 13:00 (Brussels time) on 30\u00a0June 2009.\nThe deadline for the submission of tenders under subsequent partial invitations to tender shall be on the following Wednesdays at 13:00 (Brussels time):\n\u2014 15 July 2009\n\u2014 5 and 26 August 2009,\n\u2014 9 and 23 September 2009,\n\u2014 14 and 28 October 2009,\n\u2014 11 and 25 November 2009,\n\u2014 2 and 16 December 2009.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tenders must be lodged with the Hungarian intervention agency:\nMez\u0151gazdas\u00e1gi \u00e9s Vid\u00e9kfejleszt\u00e9si Hivatal\nSoroks\u00e1ri \u00fat. 22-24\nH-1095 Budapest\nTelephone: (36) 1219 62 60\nFax: (36) 1219 89 05\nE-mail: ERTEKESITES@MVH.GOV.HU\nWebsite: www.mvh.gov.hu\nWithin four hours of the expiry of the deadline for the submission of tenders laid down in Article\u00a03(1), the intervention agency concerned shall notify the Commission of tenders received. If no tenders are received, the Member State concerned shall notify the Commission within the same time limit. If the Member State does not notify the Commission within the stipulated time limit, the Commission shall consider that no tender has been submitted in the Member State concerned.\nThe notifications referred to in the first subparagraph shall be sent electronically and be based on the model at Annex. The tenderers shall not be identified.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 195(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the Commission shall set the minimum maize selling price or decide not to make any award.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If fixing a minimum price in accordance with paragraph 1 would lead to the maximum quantity available being exceeded, an award coefficient may be fixed at the same time for the quantities offered at the minimum price in order to comply with the maximum quantity available.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "EU market", "award of contract", "intervention agency", "market approval", "maize", "harvest", "Hungary", "marketing" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/772/EC: Commission Decision of 1 October 2008 amending Decision 2004/432/EC on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC (notified under document number C(2008) 5531) (Text with EEA relevance)\n2.10.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 263/20\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 1 October 2008\namending Decision 2004/432/EC on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC\n(notified under document number C(2008) 5531)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2008/772/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 96/23/EC of 29\u00a0April 1996 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products and repealing Directives 85/358/EEC and 86/469/EEC and Decisions 89/187/EEC and 91/664/EEC\u00a0(1), and in particular the fourth subparagraph of Article\u00a029(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 96/23/EC lays down measures to monitor the substances and groups of residues listed in Annex I thereto. Pursuant to Directive 96/23/EC, the inclusion and retention on the lists of third countries from which Member States are authorised to import animals and primary products of animal origin covered by that Directive, are subject to the submission by the third countries concerned of a plan setting out the guarantees which they offer as regards the monitoring of the groups of residues and substances listed in that Annex.\n(2) Commission Decision 2004/432/EC of 29\u00a0April 2004 on the approval of residue monitoring plans submitted by third countries in accordance with Council Directive 96/23/EC\u00a0(2) approves the residue monitoring plans submitted by certain third countries listed in the Annex to that Decision for the animals and primary products indicated in that list.\n(3) As regards the entry for South Africa, imports of wild and farmed game meat, other than ostriches, were deleted from the list of authorised imports set out in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC, as amended by Commission Decision 2008/407/EC\u00a0(3), as South Africa failed to provide evidence of the implementation of the plan for wild and farmed game, other than ostriches. In particular, sampling was being performed, but laboratory analyses have not been carried out.\n(4) A Commission inspection to South Africa carried out from 2 to 7 July 2008 revealed that the 2007 to 2008 residues monitoring plan for both wild and farmed game has been implemented in that third country and that sampling in accordance with the residues monitoring plan for 2007 to 2008 was completed and the sampling in accordance with the residues monitoring plan for 2008 to 2009 is underway. Therefore, as the approved plans covering the years 2006 to 2007, 2007 to 2008 were implemented and as the laboratory analyses results were adequate, the overall situation regarding residue controls in farmed and wild game is satisfactory. On that basis, it is appropriate to amend the list in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC so that imports are authorised into the Community from South Africa of wild and farmed game, including ostriches, as provided for in the approved plans.\n(5) Israel has submitted a residue monitoring plan to the Commission for farmed game. The evaluation of that plan and the additional information obtained by the Commission provide sufficient guarantees, on the residue monitoring plan in respect of farmed game. That product should therefore be included in the entry for Israel in the list in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC.\n(6) China has submitted a residue monitoring plan to the Commission for eggs. The evaluation of this plan and the additional information obtained by the Commission provide sufficient guarantees, on the residue monitoring plan in respect of eggs. That product should therefore be included in the entry for China in the list in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC.\n(7) Ukraine has submitted a residue monitoring plan to the Commission for poultry, equidae and aquaculture. The evaluation of that plan and the additional information obtained by the Commission provide sufficient guarantees, on the residue monitoring plan in respect for those products. They should therefore be included in the entry for Ukraine in the list in the Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC.\n(8) Some mistakes concerning the numbering of certain footnotes in the Annex to Decision 2008/407/EC should be corrected.\n(9) Decision 2004/432/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nThe Annex to Decision 2004/432/EC is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.\nThis Decision shall apply from 30 September 2008.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import policy", "veterinary legislation", "third country", "animal product", "animal nutrition", "waste" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3206/85 of 15 November 1985 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1687/76 laying down common detailed rules for verifying the use and/or destination of products from intervention\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3206/85\nof 15 November 1985\namending Regulation (EEC) No 1687/76 laying down common detailed rules for verifying the use and/or destination of products from intervention\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 516/77 of 14 March 1977 on the common organization of the market in products processed from fruit and vegetables (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 746/85 (2), and in particular Article 4 (8) thereof,\nWhereas the provisions of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1687/76 (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3143/85 (4), are applicable to products sold pursuant to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3205/85 of 15 November 1985 on the sale by way of invitation to tender of unprocessed dried grapes for specific uses (5);\nWhereas to that end the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 1687/76 should be amended;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Products Processed from Fruit and Vegetables,\nIn the Annex to Regulation (EEC) No 1687/76 under 'II. Products subject to a use and/or destination other than that mentioned under I', the following is added:\n'32. Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3205/85 of 15 November 1985 on the sale by way of invitation to tender of unprocessed dried grapes for specific uses (32)\n- Section 104:\n\"Til forarbejdning (forordning (EOEF) nr. 3205/85)\",\n\"Zur Verarbeitung (Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 3205/85)\",\n\"Prooriz\u00f3meno gia metapo\u00edisi (kanonism\u00f3s (EOK) arith. 3205/85)\",\n\"For processing (Regulation (EEC) No 3205/85)\",\n\"Destin\u00e9 \u00e0 la transformation (r\u00e8glement (CEE) no 3205/85)\",\n\"Destinato alla trasformazione (regolamento (CEE) n. 3205/85)\",\n\"Bestemd voor verwerking (Verordening (EEG) nr. 3205/85)\".\n- Section 106:\n- The date of notification of the acceptance of the tender.\n(32) OJ No L 303, 16. 11. 1985, p. 6.'\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "market supervision", "grape", "food processing", "desiccated product" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2706/2000 of 11 December 2000 amending Regulation (EC) No 1455/1999 laying down the marketing standard for sweet peppers\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2706/2000\nof 11 December 2000\namending Regulation (EC) No 1455/1999 laying down the marketing standard for sweet peppers\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 of 28 October 1996 on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999(2), and in particular Article 2(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1455/1999(3) lays down the marketing standard for sweet peppers.\n(2) It is not possible in practice to establish a distinction between types of sweet pepper. It should therefore be specified that all sweet peppers are varieties (cultivars) grown from Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum, and the derogation with respect to the minimum size for Capsicum annuum L. var. longum, also known as \"peperoncini\", should be deleted.\n(3) Sales of small elongated sweet peppers (pointed) are growing. The minimum size applicable to this type of pepper should therefore be lowered.\n(4) Where sweet peppers are presented in a mixture of colours, uniformity of origin is not required. It is therefore necessary to provide, where appropriate, for indication of the different countries of origin.\n(5) Sales of miniature peppers have grown in recent years. Special provisions concerning sizing should therefore be laid down for those products, which are below the minimum size, along with the corresponding provisions concerning labelling and presentation.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables,\nThe Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1455/1999 is amended as follows:\n1. The first paragraph of Title I (Definition of produce) is replaced by the following:\n\"This standard applies to sweet peppers of varieties (cultivars) grown from Capsicum annuum L. var. annuum, to be supplied fresh to the consumer, sweet peppers for industrial processing being excluded.\"\n2. The first indent of the third paragraph of Title III (Provisions concerning sizing) is replaced by the following:\n\"- elongated sweet peppers (pointed): 20 mm.\"\n3. The fifth paragraph of Title III (Provisions concerning sizing) is replaced by the following with the associated footnote:\n\"The size requirements shall not apply to miniature produce(4).\"\n4. The following paragraph is inserted after the fourth paragraph of point A (Uniformity) of Title V (Provisions concerning presentation):\n\"Miniature sweet peppers must be reasonably uniform in size. They may be mixed with other miniature products of a different type and origin.\"\n5. The third indent of point B (Nature of produce) of Title VI (Provisions concerning marking) is deleted.\n6. The first indent of point C (Origin of produce) of Title VI (Provisions concerning marking) is replaced by the following:\n\"- Country or, where appropriate, countries of origin and, optionally, district where grown or national, regional or local place name.\"\n7. The following indent is inserted after the second indent in point D (Commercial specifications) of Title VI (Provisions concerning marking):\n\"- Mini peppers, baby peppers, or other appropriate term for miniature produce. Where several types of miniature produce are mixed in the same package, all products and their respective origins must be mentioned.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from the first day of the third month following that of its entry into force.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "marketing standard", "fresh vegetable", "product quality" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2001/143/EC: Commission Decision of 29 December 2000 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case No COMP/36.841 \u2014 Unisource) (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2000) 4094)\nCommission Decision\nof 29 December 2000\nrelating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement\n(Case No COMP/36.841 - Unisource)\n(notified under document number C(2000) 4094)\n(Only the Dutch, English and Swedish texts are authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2001/143/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, first Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the EC Treaty(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1216/1999(2), and in particular Articles 2 and 8(3)(a) thereof,\nHaving regard to Commission Decision 97/780/EC of 29 October 1997 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 85 of the EC Treaty and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement(3) (Case No IV/35.830 - Unisource),\nHaving regard to the application filed on 23 December 1999 by Unisource NV (Unisource) and its three shareholders, Koninklijke KPN NV (KPN), Swisscom AG (Swisscom) and Telia Ab (Telia) (collectively: \"the Parties\"), for a review of the need for the conditions and obligations contained in Decision 97/780/EC,\nHaving regard to the summary of the application and notification published(4) pursuant to Article 19(3) of Regulation No 17,\nAfter consultation with the Advisory Committee for Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions,\nWhereas:\nI. THE FACTS\n(1) According to the Parties, market developments over the past years as well as the losses accumulated during those years have forced them to abandon their wholly-owned subsidiary, Unisource NV, as the joint venture for conducting their international expansion strategy. Consequently, they have taken the irreversible decision to reduce Unisource's scope.\nA. Creation of Unisource and related agreements\n(2) The decision of the shareholders is to abandon the strategic alliance articulated through Unisource. They will, however, maintain until their expiry the Unisource agreements, that is to say, the instruments creating Unisource and the individual contractual restrictions contained therein. Unisource will continue to exist as a holding company for the joint ownership by KPN, Telia and Swisscom of AUCS communication services vof (AUCS). Management of the AUCS communication services, which offers services to multinationals in Europe, is now undertaken by Infonet (in which Unisource's parent companies have a 56 % stake).\nB. Reduced scope of Unisource's activities\n(3) According to the Parties, the only activity that remains of the Unisource activities described in Decision 97/780/EC is the provision of value added telecommunications services to multinational corporate customers(5). This business is carried through AUCS (formerly Uniworld). On 29 May 1999, Unisource acquired 100 % of the shares of AUCS by taking over AT& T's shares. This transaction was declared compatible with the common market by Commission decision of 8 July 1999 in Case COMP/M.1581(6).\n(4) All the other activities described in Decision 97/780/EC have been abandoned. As a result, the only remaining subsidiary owned by Unisource is AUCS vof.\nNon-compete provisions\n(5) As a consequence of the divestitures, all non-compete provisions contained in the original agreements have disappeared. There are no non-compete agreements between AUCS and Unisource's parent companies. KPN, Swisscom and Telia can compete with Unisource on the market for corporate telecommunications services or in any other market. The parent companies declare that their interest in Unisource is strictly financial.\nExclusive distributorship\n(6) The exclusive distribution agreements between certain Unisource subsidiaries and the Unisource shareholders referred to in Decision 97/780/EC have become obsolete since those subsidiaries have been sold or their activities have been discontinued.\nC. Presence in the market\n(7) As was stated above, the presence of Unisource in the relevant markets described in Decision 97/780/EC is reduced in scope to the provision of value added telecommunications services via AUCS/Infonet.\n(8) The competitive situation in the market for the provision of global telecommunications services to multinational corporate customers was assessed by the Commission in its decision of 21 February 2000 in Case M.1741 - MCI WorldCom/Sprint(7). According to 1999 data, the market share of AUCS/Infonet in that market would be between 4 % and 11 %.\nD. Regulatory safeguards\n(9) In contrast to the regulatory situation when the Commission exempted the Unisource agreements, telecommunications markets in the Community are liberalised and each Member State has national regulatory authorities (NRAs) with wide powers to intervene in those markets.\n(10) The Commission's view is that, while it is true that KPN, Telia and Swisscom maintain very high market shares in almost all domestic telecommunications services markets in their respective home countries, telecommunications are now fully liberalised in the Netherlands and in Sweden. Indeed, in contrast to the market situation when Decision 97/780/EC was adopted, competition is taking place in those countries as well as in Switzerland (see Commission's Fifth Implementation Report on the implementation of the telecommunications regulatory package(8).\nE. Comments of interested parties\n(11) No comments were received from third parties in response to the Commission's notice pursuant to Article 19(3) of Regulation 17.\nII. LEGAL ASSESSMENT\nA. Application of Article 81(1) of the EC Treaty and Article 53(1) of the EEA Agreement to the Unisource agreements\n(12) In Decision 97/780/EC, the Commission establishes that the Unisource agreements fall within Article 81(1) of the EC Treaty and Article 53(1) of the EEA Agreement. Although the Parties will maintain those agreements until they expire, they have notified to the Commission their irreversible decision to abandon the Unisource alliance as originally conceived and the irreversible character of the divestments, resulting in a discontinuation of the Unisource group.\n(13) As a result of that decision and those divestitures, the scope of activities of Unisource described in the Commission's decision of 29 October 1997 has been reduced considerably. As was stated above, Unisource's sole presence in the market is through AUCS/Infonet. All the other subsidiaries listed in the Commission's decision have been sold. All other activities apart from the provision of value added telecommunication services have been abandoned. Consequently, it can no longer be considered that the parent companies pool a significant number of assets in connection with the provision and marketing of telecommunications services as listed in recital 75 of Decision 97/780/EC.\n(14) According to the Parties, the only remaining subsidiary of Unisource, namely AUCS, would represent in terms of 1999 figures less than 3 % of the revenues of any of its parent companies. The declared intention of the Parties is to limit Unisource's relations with its parent companies to a financial relationship. Given the nature of the changes to Unisource's structure, the risk of coordination of the competitive behaviour between the parent companies considered in Decision 97/780/EC appears remote.\n(15) Furthermore, contrary to the original intentions of the parent companies, the abandoning of the original scope of the Unisource alliance means that each parent will address the relevant markets listed in Decision 97/780/EC on its own. In particular, KPN, Swisscom and Telia will even compete with AUCS/Infonet in the market for the provision of global telecommunications services to multinational corporate customers. The maintenance of AUCS/Infonet as an independent market player will increase competition in that market, in which only a reduced numbers of companies are active at world-wide level(9).\nB. Application of Article 81(1) of the EC Treaty and Article 53(1) of the EEA Agreement to the contractual provisions\n(16) The contractual provisions identified in Decision 97/780/EC as being caught by Article 81(1) of the EC Treaty and Article 53(1) of the EEA Agreement no longer apply.\n(17) The only remaining activity of Unisource is the ownership of AUCS. There is no non-compete agreement between the parent companies and Unisource for the service provided by AUCS. KPN, Telia and Swisscom are free to compete with AUCS for the provision of value-added telecommunications services to multinational corporate customers. For instance, KPN has set up a joint venture (KPN Qwest) that provides global telecommunications services. Swisscom and Telia both offer such services to their respective customers, in direct competition with Unisource/AUCS.\n(18) The exclusive distribution agreements originally envisaged no longer exist and therefore do not affect the conditions of competition within the EEA and Switzerland(10). No new exclusive forms of distribution have been entered into between Unisource and its shareholders in regard of AUCS services.\n(19) In view of the above, it can be considered that the Unisource agreements do not appreciably restrict competition in the relevant markets,\nDecision 97/780/EC is hereby repealed.\nOn the basis of the facts in its possession, the Commission has no grounds for further action under Article 81(1) of the EC Treaty and Article 53(1) of the EEA Agreement in respect of the modified scope of cooperation between Koninklijke KPN NV, Swisscom AG and Telia AB in regard of their joint subsidiary Unisource.\nThis Decision is addressed to:\n1. Koninklijke KPN NV Telecomplein 5 2516 CK Den Haag The Netherlands\n2. Telia AB Marbackagatan 11 S - 123 86 Farsta\n3. Swisscom AG Lindenhofstrasse 1 CH - 3048 Worblaufen\n4. Unisource NV\n\"Transpolis\"\nPolarisavenue 97 2137 JH Hoofddorp The Netherlands", "answer groups": [ "competition law", "telecommunications", "shareholder", "joint venture", "merger control" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/403 of 11 March 2015 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards Ephedra species and Yohimbe ( Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille) Text with EEA relevance\n12.3.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 67/4\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2015/403\nof 11 March 2015\namending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards Ephedra species and Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 8(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Pursuant to Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006, a Member State may request the Commission to initiate a procedure to include a substance or an ingredient containing a substance other than a vitamin or a mineral in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 listing the substances whose use in foods is prohibited, restricted or under Union scrutiny, if that substance is associated with a potential risk to consumers as defined by Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006.\n(2) On 7 September 2009, Germany sent a request to the Commission regarding the possible harmful effects associated with the intake of Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille) and Ephedra species and their preparations, and asked the Commission to initiate the procedure under Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 for those two substances.\n(3) The request by Germany fulfilled the necessary conditions and requirements laid down in Articles 3 and 4 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 307/2012\u00a0(2).\n(4) On 9 September 2011, the Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (hereafter \u2018the Authority\u2019) to evaluate the safety in use of Ephedra and Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille) species in food.\n(5) On 3 July 2013, the Authority adopted a scientific opinion on the evaluation of the safety in use of Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille)\u00a0(3). It concluded that the chemical and toxicological characterisation of yohimbe bark and its preparations used in food originating from Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille) are not adequate to conclude on their safety as ingredients of food. Therefore, it was not possible for the Authority to provide advice on a daily intake of yohimbe bark and its preparations that does not give rise to concerns for human health.\n(6) On 6 November 2013, the Authority adopted a scientific opinion on the safety evaluation of Ephedra species for use in food\u00a0(4). It found that although the marketing of foods containing Ephedra herb and its preparations in retail outlets is not documented in Europe, food supplements containing Ephedra herbs or their preparations that are typically used for weight loss and athletic performance can easily be purchased via the internet. The Authority concluded that it cannot be excluded that consumers may purchase herbal tea from Ephedra herb via the internet. Given that Ephedra herb and its preparations are marketed almost exclusively as food supplements, the Authority calculated potential exposure levels to the herb from food supplements. It concluded that Ephedra herb and its preparations in food supplements may result in exposure to total ephedra alkaloids or ephedrine which falls within or may exceed the therapeutic dose ranges for the individual ephedra alkaloids or ephedrine, in medicinal products.\n(7) The Authority concluded that due to the absence of adequate toxicity data, it could not provide advice on a daily intake of Ephedra herb and its preparations from all foods that does not give rise to concerns for human health. Nevertheless, it concluded that exposure to total ephedra alkaloids or ephedrine in foods, mainly in food supplements could lead to severe adverse effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems (such as hypertension and stroke), which may be enhanced in combination with caffeine. Therefore, the use of Ephedra herb and its preparations containing ephedra alkaloids in food is of significant safety concern for human health.\n(8) The Commission received no comments from interested parties following publication by the Authority of its opinions on Ephedra species and on Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille).\n(9) As there is a possibility of harmful effects on health associated with the use of Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille) and its preparations in foods, but scientific uncertainty persists, the substance should be placed under Union scrutiny and therefore, should be included in Part C of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. Consequently, during the period of Union scrutiny and pending a decision on whether to allow the use of the substance or to place it in Part A or B of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 at the end of the scrutiny period, national provisions regulating the use of Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe (K. Schum) Pierre ex Beille) in food should still apply.\n(10) Considering the significant safety concern associated with the use of Ephedra herb and its preparations in foods, in particular with regard to exposure to ephedra alkaloids present in food supplements, and considering that no daily intake of Ephedra herb and its preparations that does not give rise to concerns for human health could be set, the use of that substance in foods should be prohibited. Therefore, Ephedra herb and its preparations should be included in Annex III, Part A of Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006.\n(11) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,\nAnnex III to Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 is amended as follows:\n(1) in Part A, the following entry is added:\n(2) in Part C, the following entry is added:\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "health control", "foodstuff", "consumer protection", "conifer", "food safety", "food inspection", "market approval" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2011/760/EU: Commission Implementing Decision of 23\u00a0November 2011 on the allocation to Spain and France of additional days at sea within ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa excluding the Gulf of Cadiz (notified under document C(2011) 8303)\n26.11.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 313/35\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION\nof 23 November 2011\non the allocation to Spain and France of additional days at sea within ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa excluding the Gulf of Cadiz\n(notified under document C(2011) 8303)\n(Only the French and Spanish texts are authentic)\n(2011/760/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 57/2011 of 18 January 2011 fixing for 2011 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in EU waters and, for EU vessels, in certain non-EU waters\u00a0(1) and in particular points 7.1, 7.3 and 7.6 of Annex IIB thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Point 5.1 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) No 57/2011 specifies the maximum number of days on which EU vessels of an overall length equal to or greater than 10 meters carrying on board the regulated gears (trawls, Danish seines and similar gears of mesh size equal to or lager than 32\u00a0mm and gill-nets of mesh size equal to or larger than 60\u00a0mm and bottom long-lines) may be present within ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa excluding the Gulf of Cadiz from 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012.\n(2) Point 7.1 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) No 57/2011 allows the Commission to allocate an additional number of days at sea on which a vessel may be authorised by its flag Member State to be present within the area when carrying on board any regulated gear, on the basis of permanent cessations of fishing activities that have taken place between 1 February 2010 and 31 January 2011.\n(3) Point 7.6 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) No 57/2011 allows the Commission to exceptionally allocate additional days during the 2011 management period on the basis of permanent cessations of fishing activities that have taken place from 1 February 2004 to 31 January 2010 and which have not been subject of prior request for additional days.\n(4) On 3 and 21 June 2011 Spain submitted requests in accordance with point 7.2 of that Annex including data showing that eight fishing vessels have permanently ceased activities between 1 February 2004 and 31 January 2010 and three fishing vessels have permanently ceased activities between 1 February 2010 and 31 January 2011, and which have not been subject of prior request for additional days. In view of the data submitted and having regard to the calculation method laid down in the second subparagraph of point 7.1 of that Annex, 9 additional days at sea for the vessels referred to in point 1 of that Annex should be allocated to Spain for the period from 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012.\n(5) On 14 July 2011 France submitted a request in accordance with point 7.2 of that Annex including data showing that six fishing vessels have permanently ceased activities from 1 February 2004 to 31 January 2010 and which have not been subject of prior request for additional days. In view of the data submitted and having regard to the calculation method laid down in the second subparagraph of point 7.1 of that Annex, 23 additional days at sea for the vessels referred to in point 1 of that Annex should be allocated to France for the period from 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee,\nThe maximum number of days at sea for which a vessel flying the flag of Spain may be authorised to be present in ICES divisions VIIIc and IXa excluding the Gulf of Cadiz carrying on board any regulated gear and not subject to any of the special conditions listed in point 5.2 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) No 57/2011, as laid down in Table I of that Annex, shall be increased to 167 days per year.\nThe maximum number of days at sea for which a vessel flying the flag of France may be authorised to be present in ICES divisions VIIIc and IXa excluding the Gulf of Cadiz carrying on board any regulated gear and not subject to any of the special conditions listed in point 5.2 of Annex IIB to Regulation (EU) No 57/2011, as laid down in Table I of that Annex, shall be increased to 165 days per year.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Spain and to the French Republic.", "answer groups": [ "ship's flag", "fishing rights", "EU waters", "Portugal", "Spain", "Atlantic Ocean", "fishing area", "France", "fishery management" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision of 27 March 2000 on the improved exchange of information to combat counterfeit travel documents\nCouncil Decision\nof 27 March 2000\non the improved exchange of information to combat counterfeit travel documents\n(2000/261/JHA)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 34(2)(c) thereof,\nHaving regard to the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(2),\nWhereas:\n(1) Counterfeit travel documents have increased to an alarming extent.\n(2) A computerised image archiving and transmission system (FADO) has been set up by the Joint Action of the Council of 3 December 1998(3).\n(3) The improved exchange of information on counterfeit travel documents will make it possible to limit the counterfeiting of documents and thus make an effective contribution to combating crime and the smuggling of human beings.\n(4) The use of standardised information collection will facilitate and speed up the conduct of criminal proceedings.\n(5) This Decision does not affect the competence of the Member States relating to the recognition of passports, travel documents, visas, or other identity documents,\n1. In order to improve further the exchange between Member States of information on false documents, a reporting system for detecting counterfeit travel documents shall be used. Its purpose shall be to:\n(a) make it easier to detect counterfeit travel documents on inspection, and\n(b) increase the effectiveness of the search for stolen travel documents,\nwith particular attention being paid to the serial number of the travel document.\n2. The exchange of information shall not include personal details.\n1. The standard form set out in Annex I shall be used for the purpose of transmitting information in accordance with Article 1.\n2. The central unit of each Member State shall directly and without delay exchange information with the central unit of each other Member State. It shall also notify the General Secretariat of the Council.\n1. For the purposes of the uniform collection of information which may be required for subsequent criminal proceedings relating to counterfeit travel documents, Member States shall, as far as possible, use the questionnaire set out in Annex II.\n2. Data required for criminal proceedings referred to in paragraph 1 shall be communicated to other Member States in accordance with national law and international conventions.\nThis Decision shall enter into force three months after its publication in the Official Journal.", "answer groups": [ "data collection", "passport", "identity document", "exchange of information", "industrial counterfeiting" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EU) No 304/2010 of 9 April 2010 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for 2-phenylphenol in or on certain products (Text with EEA relevance)\n15.4.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 94/1\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 304/2010\nof 9 April 2010\namending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for 2-phenylphenol in or on certain products\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) 2-phenylphenol is an active substance belonging to the fourth stage of the review programme of Council Directive 91/414/EEC\u00a0(2) for which the assessment report was presented to the Commission on 19 December 2008 in the format of the EFSA Scientific Report for 2-phenylphenol\u00a0(3). That report includes the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority, hereinafter \u2018the Authority\u2019, on the necessity of setting MRLs for that active substance in accordance with Article 12(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, and a proposal for such MRLs.\n(2) The Authority examined in particular the risks to consumers and animals. It evaluated the representative use as a post harvest fungicide on citrus and pears and concluded that, based on the available information, a maximum residue level (MRL) of 5\u00a0mg/kg should be set provisionally for the notified use on citrus fruit by drench application. In order to confirm the risk assessment, the Authority requested confirmation that the analytical method applied in the residue trials correctly quantifies the residues of 2-phenylphenol, 2-phenylhydroquinone and their conjugates. In addition, the Authority concluded that the notifier should submit two additional residue trials on citrus fruit and valid storage stability studies. As regards the notified use on pears, the Authority could not propose any MRL because the submitted residue data were not acceptable. In the absence of a specific MRL, the lowest limit of analytical determination should apply.\n(3) The risk assessment carried out by the Authority took into account the most recent information on the toxicological properties of 2-phenylphenol. It showed that an MRL of 5\u00a0mg/kg for citrus fruit is acceptable with regard to consumer safety on the basis of a consumer exposure assessment for 27 specific European consumer groups. The lifetime exposure assessment via consumption of all food products that may contain 2-phenylphenol showed that there is no risk that the acceptable daily intake (ADI) is exceeded. As an acute reference dose (ARfD) is not necessary for 2-phenylphenol, there was no need to evaluate the short term exposure.\n(4) The Commission invited the notifier to submit its comments on the EFSA Scientific report for 2-phenylphenol, including the proposed MRLs. The notifier submitted its comments, which have been carefully examined.\n(5) Based on the Scientific Report of the Authority and taking into account the factors relevant to the matter under consideration, the proposed MRLs fulfil the requirements of Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.\n(6) Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council has opposed them,\nAnnex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2011.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "crop production", "European standard", "public health", "foodstuff", "food safety", "pesticide", "animal product", "animal nutrition", "foodstuffs legislation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No 284/2002 of 12 February 2002 renewing for 2002 the measures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1416/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas in 1995 for certain processed agricultural products, as regards products originating in Norway (Text with EEA relevance)\nCouncil Regulation (EC) No 284/2002\nof 12 February 2002\nrenewing for 2002 the measures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1416/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas in 1995 for certain processed agricultural products, as regards products originating in Norway\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 133 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1416/95 of 19 June 1995 establishing certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas in 1995 for certain processed agricultural products(1) opened tariff quotas for 1995 in favour of Norway in accordance with the conditions set out in Annex II thereto.\n(2) The measures laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1416/95 have been renewed annually by Regulations (EC) No 102/96(2), (EC) No 306/97(3), (EC) No 560/98(4), (EC) No 2847/98(5), (EC) No 215/2000(6) and (EC) No 591/2001.\n(3) Since it has not been possible to conclude additional Protocols before 1 January 2002, the Community must, pursuant to Articles 76, 102 and 128 of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, take the necessary measures to deal with the situation. Therefore, it is necessary to renew the measures provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1416/95 for 2002.\n(4) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(7).\n(5) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code(8) consolidated the arrangements for managing the tariff quotas to be used in chronological order of the dates of acceptance of the declarations for release for free circulation,\n1. The measures provided for in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1416/95 shall be renewed to cover 2002.\nAnnex II to Regulation (EC) No 1416/95 shall be replaced by the text in the Annex to this Regulation.\n2. If Norway discontinues the application of the reciprocal measures in favour of the Community, the Commission may, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 2(2) of this Regulation, suspend application of the measures provided for in paragraph 1.\n1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee referred to in Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 3448/93(9).\n2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.\nThe period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at one month.\n3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.\nThe Community tariff quotas referred to in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1416/95 shall be administered in accordance with Articles 308a to 308c of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply with effect from 1 January 2002.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "originating product", "tariff quota", "Norway", "tariff preference", "import", "agro-industry" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1648/2001 of 13 August 2001 amending Regulation (EC) No 690/2001 on special market support measures in the beef sector\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 1648/2001\nof 13 August 2001\namending Regulation (EC) No 690/2001 on special market support measures in the beef sector\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1254/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in beef and veal(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1512/2001(2), and in particular Article 38(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 690/2001 of 3 April 2001 on special market support measures in the beef sector(3) lays down in its Article 1 the eligibility criteria to be met for carcasses in order to be accepted under the purchase scheme. The last indent of Article 1(2) provides in particular for the carcasses to be appropriately labelled. As labelling, however, serves no purpose where the meat is intended for destruction after take-over, derogation from this requirement should be provided in such circumstances.\n(2) Article 3(1) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 690/2001 provides for an amount of EUR 14 per 100 kg to be taken into account when fixing the maximum buying-in price. The experience from the application of the Regulation indicates that that amount is insufficient to cover the net slaughter costs as intended, in particular due to a low value of by-products. The amount should therefore be increased to EUR 18 per 100 kg.\n(3) Article 5(3) of Regulation (EC) No 690/2001 lays down that the price to be paid to the successful tenderer shall be adjusted where carcasses taken over differ from the classification class O. The application of that provision has led to artificially high prices for meat from Category B animals offered under the scheme. An appropriate amendment should therefore be provided.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Beef and Veal,\nRegulation (EC) No 690/2001 is amended as follows:\n1. In Article 1 the following paragraph 3 is added: \"3. Member States may waive the requirement laid down in the last indent of paragraph 2 where the carcasses or half-carcasses concerned are destroyed after take-over.\"\n2. The amount of \"EUR 14\" referred to in Article 3(1) and (2) shall be replaced by the amount of \"EUR 18\".\n3. Article 5(3) is replaced by the following text: \"3. With the exception of carcasses from animals of Category B, where carcasses of classification classes other than O are taken over, the price to be paid to the successful tenderer for the carcasses concerned shall be adjusted by applying the coefficients fixed in Annex IV.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply to quantities awarded under the tender on 27 August 2001 and following tenders.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "market support", "award of contract", "purchase price", "beef", "health legislation", "carcase" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2004/116/EC of 23 December 2004 amending the Annex to Council Directive 82/471/EEC as regards the inclusion of Candida guilliermondiiText with EEA relevance\n24.12.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 379/81\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2004/116/EC\nof 23 December 2004\namending the Annex to Council Directive 82/471/EEC as regards the inclusion of Candida guilliermondii\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 82/471/EEC concerning certain products used in animal nutrition\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 6 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) An application for authorisation has been submitted for Candida guilliermondii, cultivated on substrates of vegetable origin, which belongs to the product group \u20181.2.1. yeasts cultivated on substrates of animal or vegetable origin\u2019 set out in the Annex to Directive 82/471/EEC. This feed is a microbial product based on the spent cells remaining after the industrial production of citric acid by fermentation.\n(2) The Scientific Panel on additives and products or substances used in animal feed of the European Food Safety Authority has delivered an opinion on the use of this product in feedingstuffs on 7 of June 2004, which concludes that the use of Candida guilliermondii cultivated on a substrate of vegetable origin (sugar cane molasses) does not present a risk to human health, animal health or the environment.\n(3) The assessment of the request for authorisation submitted in respect of Candida guilliermondii cultivated on substrates of vegetable origin shows that this product meets the requirements laid down in Article 6(2) of Directive 82/471/EEC, under the conditions set out in the Annex.\n(4) Directive 82/471/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nThe Annex to Directive 82/471/EC is amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 30 June 2005 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "chemical compound", "application of EU law", "protein products", "microorganism", "animal nutrition", "food chemistry" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a023/2007 of 11 January 2007 laying down the allocation coefficient to be applied to import licence applications lodged from 1 to 8 January 2007 under the tariff quota opened by Regulation (EC) No\u00a0955/2005 for rice originating in Egypt\n12.1.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 7/14\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 23/2007\nof 11 January 2007\nlaying down the allocation coefficient to be applied to import licence applications lodged from 1 to 8 January 2007 under the tariff quota opened by Regulation (EC) No 955/2005 for rice originating in Egypt\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1785/2003 of 29 September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in rice\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules for the administration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 7(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 955/2005\u00a0(3) opened an annual import tariff quota for 5\u00a0605 tonnes of rice falling within CN code 1006 originating in Egypt (serial No 09.4097).\n(2) The notification made in accordance with Article 5(a) of Regulation (EC) No 955/2005 shows that the applications lodged from 1 to 8 January 2007 at 13.00 (Brussels time) in accordance with Article 4(1) of that Regulation exceed the quantities available. The extent to which licences may be issued should therefore be determined and the allocation coefficient to be applied to the quantities applied for should be laid down.\n(3) No further import licences should be issued under Regulation (EC) No 955/2005 for the current quota period,\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applications for import licences for rice originating in Egypt under the quota referred to in Regulation (EC) No 955/2005 lodged from 1 to 8 January 2007 at 13.00 (Brussels time) shall be accepted for the quantities applied for multiplied by an allocation coefficient of 8,270621\u00a0%.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The issue of licences for quantities requested from 13.00 (Brussels time) on 8 January 2007 is hereby suspended for the current quota period.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "rice", "import licence", "quantitative restriction", "Egypt", "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "1999/795/EC: Commission Decision of 8 July 1999 concerning the Austrian application for a transitional regime under Article 24 of Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity (notified under document number C(1999) 1551/5) (Only the German text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 8 July 1999\nconcerning the Austrian application for a transitional regime under Article 24 of Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity\n(notified under document number C(1999) 1551/5)\n(Only the German text is authentic)\n(1999/795/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Directive 96/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity(1), (hereinafter \"the Directive\"), and in particular Article 24 thereof,\nHaving informed the Member States of the Austrian application,\nWhereas:\nI. FACTS\n1. Procedure\n(1) By letter of 11 February 1998, the Austrian Bundesministerium f\u00fcr wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten notified to the Commission an application for a transitional regime pursuant to Article 24 of Directive 96/92/EC.\n(2) On 23 March 1998, the Commission's representatives undertook a fact finding mission to Vienna and met with the Austrian Bundesministerium f\u00fcr wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten as well as with representatives of consumers (social partners) and the electricity industry.\n(3) By letter of 15 October 1998, the Austrian Bundesministerium f\u00fcr wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten submitted to the Commission complementary information, in particular the final report of the independent accountants and lawyers commissioned by the Austrian Government to determine the anticipated level of compensatory payments arising from the transitional regime in question. On the basis of this report, the application for a transitional regime has been reduced by the Austrian Government to a stranded cost amount of ATS 8,7 billion from the ATS 35,6 billion contained in the initial notification.\n2. The Austrian electricity sector and implementation of Directive 96/92/EC\n(4) Austria is implementing Directive 96/92/EC by the Elektrizit\u00e4tswirtschafts- und Organisationsgesetz (hereinafter \"ElWOG\"), which was published on 18 August 1998 and entered into force on 19 February 1999, as well as complementary laws for the nine L\u00e4nder. The ElWOG provides for a market opening starting with approximately 27 % in February 1999 and increasing to approximately 50 % in 2003. Accordingly, in the first phase final customers with more than 40 GWh yearly consumption as well as distributors, which also operate transmission systems, will be eligible. From February 2000, final customers above 20 GWh/a will be eligible, as well as all distributors above 40 GWh/a. Finally, in February 2003, all final customers and all distributors above 9 GWh/a will be eligible. Austria has opted for a system of regulated network access.\n(5) \u00d6sterreichische Elektrizit\u00e4tswirtschafts AG (Verbundgesellschaft) is the main transmission system operator. Through its legally separated subsidiaries, it is also Austria's main electricity producing company. Most of the nine regional electricity companies are not only distributors but also producers; some of them are also transmission system operators.\n3. The transitional regime notified by the Austrian Government\n3.1. Introduction\n(6) Austria has notified two schemes pursuant to Article 24 of Directive 96/92/EC.\n(7) Guarantees of operation given to electricity generation plants based on the legal authorisation procedure for power plants prior to liberalisation. Authorisations for certain types of power plants were granted only if a corresponding electricity demand had been assessed (\"Bedarfspr\u00fcfung\"). Those power plants that received authorisation benefited from a guarantee of operation and guarantee of cost amortisation. The stranded cost regime in this respect seeks to compensate certain generating plants from the loss of income that can be expected from the lower prices resulting from the introduction of competition.\n(8) The final notification of 15 October 1998 limits the plants eligible to the transitional regime to three hydropower plants: Freudenau, Mittlere Salzach and Kraftwerkskette Obere Drau, all operated by subsidiaries of Verbundgesellschaft.\n(9) Long-term procurement contract for indigenous lignite for the \"Voitsberg\" power plant. The contract was concluded in 1977 between the lignite mine GKB and the power plant operator \u00d6DK, a subsidiary of Verbundgesellschaft. Additionally, the power plant benefits from a legal guarantee of operation of up to 3 % of the yearly domestic electricity consumption. The stranded cost regime thus seeks to compensate this generating plant (i) for its long-term obligation to purchase lignite above world coal/lignite prices, and (ii) for the loss of income regarding the expected lower prices resulting from the introduction of competition with respect to the legal guarantee of operation.\n3.2. Details of the guarantees of operation given to electricity generation plants and the lignite procurement contract\n(10) The proposed method is defined in recital 69 of the ElWOG. It provides for operating aid to compensate stranded costs in relation to the abovementioned commitments and guarantees of operation. On 11 February 1998, Austria preliminarily notified a total amount of stranded cost of ATS 35,58 billion (approximately EUR 2,5 billion). Based on a subsequent assessment of the stranded costs through independent accountants and lawyers, a final notification was submitted on 15 October 1998, which reduced the total stranded cost amount to ATS 8,7 billion (approximately EUR 0,6 billion) which consists of a maximum of ATS 6,27 billion for the three hydropower plants and ATS 2,43 billion for the lignite-fired power plant. The transitional regime is limited until 2009.\n(11) Calculation method\nIn a first step the stranded costs were calculated for each power plant as the discounted difference between guaranteed cost coverage and expected market price for electricity taking into account the real market opening per company. In a second step, the degree to which the viability of the consolidated operating companies would be affected was assessed.\n(12) Compensation method\nWith respect to the three hydropower plants, the transitional regime envisages the grant of operating aid, on an annual basis, in the light of developments in market prices for electricity, and the consequent effect this has on the viability of the hydro plants in question. With respect to the lignite fuelled plant, a fixed compensation payment is envisaged.\n(13) Recovery method\nThe transitional regime envisages that the payments will be financed by the imposition of a levy per kWh of electricity purchased by eligible customers. Captive customers pay their proportional part within the regulated electricity tariff. The funds are collected by the network operators (via a charge on transmission) and administrated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs).\nII. LEGAL ANALYSIS\n1. Legal basis: Article 24(1) and (2) of Directive 96/92/EC\n(14) The Austrian Government notified an application for a transitional regime with respect to alleged commitments and guarantees of operation pursuant to Article 24 of the Directive.\n2. Requirements of Article 24\n(15) Article 24 of Directive 96/92/EC states the following: \"1. Those Member States in which commitments or guarantees of operation given before the entry into force of this Directive may not be honoured on account of the provisions of this Directive may apply for a transitional regime which may be granted to them by the Commission, taking into account, amongst other things, the size of the system concerned, the level of interconnection of the system and the structure of its electricity industry. The Commission shall inform the Member States of those applications before it takes a decision, taking into account respect for confidentiality. This Decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\n2. The transitional regime shall be of limited duration and shall be linked to expiry of the commitments or guarantees referred to in paragraph 1. The transitional regime may cover derogations from Chapters IV, VI and VII of this Directive. Applications for a transitional regime must be notified to the Commission no later than one year after the entry into force of this Directive.\"\n(16) Article 24(1) and (2) of Directive 96/92/EC, in the light of the EC Treaty, thus require the following elements to be examined by the Commission when considering any application for a transitional regime.\nA. Requirements concerning the nature of the commitments or guarantees of operation in question\n(17) (1) The existence of a commitment or guarantee of operation must be proven.\n(2) The commitment or guarantees of operation must have been given before 20 February 1997.\n(3) A causal link between the entry into force of the Directive and the inability to honour the commitment must be established.\nB. Requirements concerning the measures proposed to achieve the objectives in question\n(18) (1) The measures of the transitional regime must fall within the scope of derogations from Chapters IV, VI and VII of the Directive.\n(2) The transitional regime must be of limited duration and linked to the expiry of the commitments or guarantees of operation in question.\n(3) The transitional regime must apply the least restrictive measures reasonably necessary to achieve the objectives, which themselves must be legitimate. In deciding on these issues the Commission must take into account, amongst other things, the size of the system concerned, the level of interconnection of the system and the structure of its electricity industry.\n3. Assessment of the Austrian transitional regime\n(19) In the present case, concerning the transitional regime as notified, it is not necessary to determine whether requirements A(1), (2), (3) or B(2), (3) are met, because the measures of the transitional regime in question do not require a derogation from Chapter IV, VI or VII of Directive 96/92/EC and thus do not meet requirement B(1).\n(20) As stated above, in order to constitute a transitional regime within the meaning of Article 24, the system chosen by the Member State must provide for a derogation from Chapter IV, VI or VII of Directive 96/92/EC.\n(21) The measures in question are based on a pure compensation scheme, i.e. a system of charges or levies implemented by a Member State in order to compensate stranded costs caused by the application of Directive 96/92/EC. The application of such levies in the present case does not require a derogation from the abovementioned chapters of the Directive and cannot therefore be regarded as a transitional regime in the meaning of Article 24 of the Directive.\n(22) The fact that measures such as those in question in this case can result in very considerable distortions of the single market for electricity do not affect this conclusion. Indeed, the Commission recognises that the payment of such levies can result in economic consequences substantially similar to those resulting from a total or partial derogation from some of the obligations contained in Chapters IV, VI or VII of the Directive. However, such distortions by their very nature do not result from such a specific derogation as envisaged by the Directive. The transfer of a compensation payment to certain electricity producers, financed through a levy or charge on consumers is, therefore, a measure which is not directly addressed by the Directive but one which needs to be examined pursuant to the rules on competition, and in particular Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty. Under these circumstances, it is understood that measures of similar economic effect will be treated in a consistent manner, regardless of the relevant procedure in each individual case.\n(23) In the light of the non-applicability of Article 24 of the Directive, it is not necessary to assess the further requirements A(1), (2), (3) and B(2) and (3).\n4. Conclusions\n(24) The transitional regime notified by the Austrian Government pursuant to Article 24 of Directive 96/92/EC has been assessed pursuant to Article 24(1) and (2). The Commission concludes that a transitional regime according to Article 24 cannot and need not be approved to the extent that the measures chosen do not constitute derogations from Chapters IV, VI and VII of the Directive. The regime contains transfers of compensation payments to certain electricity producers, financed through a levy or charge on consumers. Such measures are not directly addressed by the Directive but need to be examined pursuant to the rules on State aid, and in particular Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty,\nThe present Decision concerns the Austrian application for a transitional regime pursuant to article 24 of Directive 96/92/EC, notified to the Commission on 11 February 1998 and finalised on 15 October 1998. This notification concerns.\n- guarantees of operation given to three hydropower plants,\n- a long-term procurement contract and a guarantee of operation given to one lignite plant.\nThe transitional regime notified by Austria contains no measures which would constitute derogations from Chapters IV, VI or VII of Directive 96/92/EC, as defined by Article 24(2). Article 24 is therefore not applicable to the transitional regime notified by the Austrian Government.\nThis decision is addressed to the Republic of Austria.", "answer groups": [ "Austria", "approximation of laws", "single market", "electrical energy", "transitional period (EU)" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/164 of 2 February 2015 on a derogation from the rules of origin set out in Council Decision 2013/755/EU as regards raw cane sugar from Cura\u00e7ao\n3.2.2015 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 27/42\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2015/164\nof 2 February 2015\non a derogation from the rules of origin set out in Council Decision 2013/755/EU as regards raw cane sugar from Cura\u00e7ao\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Decision 2013/755/EU of 25 November 2013 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union (\u2018Overseas Association Decision\u2019)\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 16(1)(c) of Annex\u00a0VI thereto,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with of Article 5(1) points (g), (j) and (k) of Annex VI to Decision 2013/755/EU partial or total milling of sugar, sifting and placing in bags are considered to be working or processing operations that are insufficient to confer the status of originating products.\n(2) In 2002 the Netherlands requested a derogation from the rule of origin in respect of sugar products falling within CN codes 1701\u00a011\u00a090, 1701\u00a099\u00a010 and 1701\u00a091\u00a000 processed in the Netherlands Antilles for an annual quantity of 3\u00a0000 tonnes. That request was granted and the derogation ended on 31 December 2007.\n(3) In 2009 the Netherlands submitted a request for extension of the derogation granted in 2002 as well as a request for a new derogation. The request for extension was rejected by Commission Decision 2009/699/EC\u00a0(2), while the request for the new derogation was granted, within the limits of the quantities for which import licences for sugar were allocated to the Netherlands Antilles in 2009 and in 2010.\n(4) In 2010, the Netherlands requested a new derogation in respect of sugar products processed in the Netherlands Antilles for the period from 2011 to 2013. By Commission Decision 2011/47/EU\u00a0(3) the derogation was granted in accordance with paragraphs 1, 3 and 7 of Article 37 of Annex III to Council Decision 2001/822/EC\u00a0(4) and under certain conditions which aimed to balance the legitimate interests of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) operators with the objectives of the Union's common market organisation for sugar.\n(5) On 11 February 2013 the Netherlands requested on behalf of the government of Cura\u00e7ao a new derogation from the rules of origin set out in Annex III to Decision 2001/822/EC for the period from 1 January to 31 December 2013, the date of expiry of Decision 2001/822/EC. The request covered a total annual quantity of 5\u00a0500 tonnes of sugar products of CN code 1701\u00a014\u00a090, described as \u2018bio-sugar\u2019, originating in third countries and processed in Cura\u00e7ao for export to the Union. This request was officially withdrawn by the Netherlands on 17 April 2013 because the processing activities described in the request were no longer carried out in the Netherlands Antilles. On 17 April 2013, the Netherlands submitted a second request for derogation for 5\u00a0000 tonnes of sugar products, described as organic raw cane sugar of CN code 1701\u00a014\u00a090, for the period from 1 January to\u00a031\u00a0December 2013. This request was rejected by Commission Implementing Decision 2013/460/EU\u00a0(5).\n(6) On 23 June 2014, the government of Cura\u00e7ao submitted a request for derogation for 7\u00a0000 tonnes, yearly, of sugar products described as organic raw cane sugar, conventional raw cane sugar of CN code 1701\u00a013 and sugar mixtures of CN code 1701\u00a099, 1806\u00a010 and 2106\u00a090 for the period from 1 January 2014 to 1 January 2018. On 1 September 2014 the government of Cura\u00e7ao submitted additional information relating to its request, indicating, inter alia, that the derogation was requested for the period from 1 October 2014 to 1 January 2020.\n(7) Cura\u00e7ao has explained that as of 1 January 2014 the industry has ceased its sugar processing activities, given that Decision 2013/755/EU does not offer the possibility to export to the Union duty-free as the processing activities of the industry are deemed insufficient to confer the status of originating products. However, the industry stands ready to invest in processing, packaging and wholesale of dry organic products for export in the region once it has generated the necessary profit to finance these investments. The goal is to start with these new activities in the second half of 2015. As a result of these new activities, the industry expects to increase the number of employees.\n(8) According to the information received from Cura\u00e7ao, at current market prices, a net profit after tax of EUR 25,42 per tonne can be earned from exporting to the Union 2\u00a0000 tonnes of third country organic sugar milled in Cura\u00e7ao, provided that the sugar can be imported under preferential treatment as sugar originating in Cura\u00e7ao.\n(9) The production costs of cane sugar in Brazil, including the administrative costs, are EUR 294 per tonne of raw cane sugar. It appears unlikely that the costs for cleaning, milling and packing of organic cane sugar in Cura\u00e7ao, as transmitted to the Commission, would be higher than EUR 294 per tonne, even when adding transportation costs to the EU. Instead, these costs have to be considered to contain other overhead components and gains. To ensure a sustainable economic activity, the production costs in Cura\u00e7ao, where only simple processing is performed, including transportation costs to the Union should be lower or equal to the cost for farming and processing of cane sugar in Brazil. Therefore, when considering EUR 294 per tonne as a realistic cost for cleaning, milling, packing of organic raw cane sugar in Cura\u00e7ao and transport to the EU, a profit after tax of EUR 192 per tonne can be earned. Generating a profit of only EUR 25,42 per tonne for cane sugar obtained after milling of third country sugar in Cura\u00e7ao, while granting duty-free access in the Union and exempting payment of EUR 419 import duties per tonne for third country sugar, is considered disproportionate.\n(10) The derogation is requested for 7\u00a0000 tonnes of sugar products, described as organic cane sugar, conventional cane sugar and mixtures of sugar. However, the request does not mention the price of the pectin, caseinate, powdered milk and cacao powder used in the production of these sugar mixtures necessary to calculate the profit that can be earned. The derogation should therefore be granted only for raw organic cane sugar and raw conventional cane sugar.\n(11) Cura\u00e7ao explains that the derogation would allow the industry to restart its activities and reactivate employment contributing to the export activities while generating foreign exchange. The industry also contributes to government income by fulfilling its tax obligations.\n(12) During the period from 2009 to 2013 Cura\u00e7ao benefitted from derogations granted under Decision 2001/822/EC, helping to generate the necessary turnover to invest in diversification towards the production of products not requiring derogation from the rules of origin. According to the information received, investments were very low in 2009, and no investments at all were made between 2010 and 2012. These derogations, therefore, have only helped to maintain the milling and packing operations without contributing sustainably to the development of an existing industry or the creation of a new one. It is therefore necessary to verify at the end of the validity of the derogation whether the profit generated by the derogation has effectively been invested in new machinery for production of dry organic products and to which extent it has contributed to the creation of new employment. Therefore, the government of Cura\u00e7ao should submit certified evidence of the investments being made and employment figures to the Union for verification.\n(13) The Commission considers a net profit after tax of EUR 192 per tonne as a realistic profit for cleaning, milling and packing of organic raw cane sugar in Cura\u00e7ao. It should therefore be possible to finance the envisaged investments of EUR 300\u00a0000, as communicated by the government of Cura\u00e7ao, through production of 1\u00a0560\u00a0tonnes of raw cane sugar. The derogation should thus be granted for a quantity of 780 tonnes for the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 and 780 tonnes for the period from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017.\n(14) By letter of 21 November 2014, the Commission requested Cura\u00e7ao to take note of the Commission's assessment of the request and to share its views. The deadline for reply was set at 3 December 2014. A reply was received from Cura\u00e7ao on 3 December 2014.\n(15) Subject to those conditions, the derogation is not such as to cause serious injury to an economic sector or an established industry in the Union.\n(16) Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93\u00a0(6) lays down rules for the management of tariff quotas. Those rules should be applied to the management of the quantity in respect of which the derogation in question is granted.\n(17) The Customs Code Committee has not issued an opinion within the time limit set by its Chairman,\nBy way of derogation from Annex VI to Decision 2013/755/EU, raw cane sugar, falling within CN code ex\u00a01701\u00a013, which has been obtained from milling non-originating raw cane sugar in Cura\u00e7ao shall be regarded as originating in Cura\u00e7ao in accordance with the terms set out in Articles 2 to 5 of this Decision.\nThe derogation provided for in Article 1 shall apply to the quantities set out in the Annex which are imported into the Union from Cura\u00e7ao during the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2017.\nArticles 308a, 308b and 308c of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 relating to the management of tariff quotas shall apply to the management of the quantity referred to in the Annex hereto.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The customs authorities of Cura\u00e7ao shall take the necessary measures to carry out quantitative checks on exports of the products referred to in Article 1.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Before the end of the month following each quarter, the competent authorities of Cura\u00e7ao shall forward to the Commission a quarterly statement of the quantities in respect of which movement certificates EUR.1 have been issued pursuant to this Decision and the serial numbers of those certificates.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Movement certificates EUR.1 issued under this Decision shall contain one of the following entries:\n\u2014 \u2018Derogation \u2014 [Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/164]\u2019,\n\u2014 \u2018D\u00e9rogation \u2014 [D\u00e9cision d'ex\u00e9cution (UE) 2015/164 de la Commission]\u2019.\nBefore 1 October 2016, the government of Curacao shall send to the Commission evidence showing that the profit generated by the industry through the derogation is effectively used for investment in new machinery for production of dry organic products and effectively contributes to the creation of new employment.\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.", "answer groups": [ "cane sugar", "development aid", "originating product", "derogation from EU law", "Cura\u00e7ao", "raw sugar", "organic product", "import (EU)", "sugar industry", "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 1384/79 of 25 June 1979 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 introducing an accounting system for expenditure on infrastructure in respect of transport by rail, road and inland waterway\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1384/79 of 25 June 1979 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 introducing an accounting system for expenditure on infrastructure in respect of transport by rail, road and inland waterway\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2),\nWhereas, in order to institute under the common transport policy a system of charging for the use of infrastructure, it is necessary to know what expenditure is incurred in respect of infrastructure;\nWhereas a permanent accounting system offers the most suitable means for knowing what expenditure is incurred in respect of infrastructure;\nWhereas to this end the Council, by Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 (3), introduced a permanent accounting system for such expenditure;\nWhereas account should be taken of experience gained and of the development of the common transport policy ; whereas the forms of accounts, the list of types of infrastructure and the schedule of returns concerning the use of infrastructure provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 1108/70 should be adjusted accordingly,\nRegulation (EEC) No 1108/70 is hereby amended as follows: 1. Article 3 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"Article 3\nInfrastructure expenditure accounts shall be kept for each of the railway networks listed in Annex II (A. 1) and for the total of all the other networks listed in Annex II (A. 2), as well as for all roads and inland waterways open to public traffic, with the following exceptions: (a) roads closed to motor traffic, that is, to vehicles with a cylinder capacity equal to or exceeding 50 cm3;\n(b) roads used exclusively by agricultural or forestry vehicles or which serve only to provide access for agricultural or forestry operations;\n(c) inland waterways on which traffic is limited to vessels of less than 250 tonnes deadweight;\n(d) waterways of a maritime character, as listed in Regulation (EEC) No 281/71 (1).\n(1)OJ No L 33, 10.2.1971, p. 11.\" 2. Article 5 (2) (a) shall be replaced by the following:\n\"2. Separate accounts shall be presented:\n(a) in respect of railways: (i) for each of the networks listed in Annex II (A. 1);\n(ii) for the total of all the other networks listed in Annex II (A. 2). However, the returns relating to these networks shall be sent only once every five years, starting with those for the year 1980.\" (1)OJ No C 296, 11.12.1978, p. 57. (2)OJ No C 128, 21.5.1979, p. 35. (3)OJ No L 130, 15.6.1970, p. 4.\n3. The second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 6 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"- capital repayments and, separately, interest on loans contracted earlier.\"\n4. Article 7 shall be replaced by the following:\n\"Article 7\nMember States shall send to the Commission, at the same time as they send the accounts referred to in Article 5 and in respect of the same period, returns relating to the use of infrastructures in accordance with Tables A, B (1.1) and C of Annex III.\nThe returns covered by Tables B (1.2) and B (2) of that Annex shall be sent only once every five years. In the case of Table B (1.2) returns shall be sent for the first time for the year 1980 and, in the case of Table B (2), returns shall be suspended until work on the system of charging for the use of infrastructure make them necessary.\"\n5. Annexes I, II and III are amended in accordance with the Annex.\nMember States shall, in good time and after consulting the Commission, adopt such laws, regulations or administrative provisions as may be necessary for the implementation of this Regulation.\nWhere a Member State so requests, or where the Commission considers it appropriate, the Commission shall consult with the Member States concerned upon the proposed terms of the measures referred to in the preceding paragraph.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "inland waterway transport", "common transport policy", "rail transport", "road transport", "transport infrastructure", "accounting" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a02094/2004 of 8 December 2004 opening and providing for the administration of a tariff quota of 10000 tonnes of oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 11042298\n9.12.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 362/12\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2094/2004\nof 8 December 2004\nopening and providing for the administration of a tariff quota of 10\u00a0000 tonnes of oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 of 29\u00a0September 2003 on the common organisation of the market in cereals\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In order to meet its international commitments, the Community has established for each marketing year since 1 January 1996 a zero duty tariff quota for oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098.\n(2) Up to the 2004/05 marketing year this tariff quota has been managed under Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a02369/96 of 12 December 1996 opening and providing for the administration of a Community tariff quota for 10\u00a0000 tonnes of oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098\u00a0(2). This Regulation provides for management through import licences, for which applications are submitted monthly.\n(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2454/93 of 2 July 1993 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code\u00a0(3) codifies the management rules for tariff quotas designed to be used following the chronological order of dates of customs declarations and for surveillance of preferential imports.\n(4) With a view to simplification and given the small volume of the tariff quota for oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098, Regulation (EC) No 2454/93 should be applied to the management of this quota from the 2005/06 marketing year on, and Regulation (EC) No 2369/96 should be repealed. For administrative reasons a new serial number must be introduced for the quota in question.\n(5) Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 provides for an exemption from the requirement to submit an import licence for products having no significant appreciable impact on the supply situation of the cereals market. The Community annually imports an average of 6\u00a0000 tonnes of oat grains otherwise worked falling within CN code 1104\u00a022\u00a098. This involves a limited quantity of very specific products for industrial use, with no impact on the cereals market. The exemption from the import licence requirement provided for in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1784/2003 can therefore be applied.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,\nThe tariff quota in the Annex is hereby opened for each marketing year running from 1 July to 30 June.\nThe tariff quota referred to in Article 1 shall be managed by the Commission in accordance with the Articles 308a, 308b and 308c of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.\nImports of oat grains under the tariff quota referred to in Article 1 shall not require the submission of an import licence.\nRegulation (EC) No 2369/96 is hereby repealed.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 2005.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import licence", "import", "tariff quota", "customs regulations", "marketing", "oats" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "73/429/EEC: Commission Decision of 31 October 1973 on the Advisory Committee on Fisheries\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 31 October 1973 on the Advisory Committee on Fisheries (73/429/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;\nWhereas an Advisory Committee on Fisheries was set up by the Commission Decision of 25 February 1971 (1);\nWhereas it is considered desirable, as a result of the Acession of new Member States to the Community, to alter the rules fixing the number and apportionment of seats on this Committee;\nWhereas, moreover, the text of the Decision aforesaid requires certain minor alterations and it is therefore necessary for the sake of clarity to produce a completely new version of the text,\nThe text of the Decision of 25 February 1971 setting up an Advisory Committee on Fisheries is replaced by the following:\n\"Article 1\n1. There shall be attached to the Commission an Advisory Committee on Fisheries, hereinafter called the \"Committee\".\n2. The Committee shall be composed of representatives of the following interests : producers and cooperatives in the fishing industry, credit institutions involved in fisheries, trade in fishery products, the fishery products industries, and the fishing and fishery products industries consumers.\n1. The Committee may be consulted by the Commission on any problem concerning the operation of Regulations relating to the establishment of a common structural policy in fisheries or to the common organization of the market in fishery products, and in particular on measures to be adopted by the Commission under those Regulations and also on all social problems arising in the industry, with the exeption of industrial disputes.\n2. The Chairman of the Committee may indicate to the Commission the desirability of consulting the Committee on any matter within the latter's competence on which its opinion has not been sought. He shall do so, in particular, at the request of one of the interests represented.\n1. The Committee shall consist of forty-five members.\n2. Seats on the Committee shall be apportioned as follows: - eighteen to representatives of producers of fishery products,\n- three to representatives of fisheries cooperatives,\n- one to a representative of commercial banks financing maritime activities (Banques commerciales pour les activit\u0102\u0160s maritimes),\n- two to representatives of specialized cooperative credit institutions,\n- five to representatives of the trade in fishery products,\n- five to representatives of the fishery industries,\n- six to representatives of workers in the fishing and fishery products industries,\n- five to consumers'representatives.\n1. Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Commission on proposals from the trade, workers' organizations set up at Community level which are most representative of the interests specified in Article 1 (2) and whose activities come within the scope of the common organization of the market in fishery products ; consumers' representatives shall be appointed on proposals from the Consumers' Advisory Committee. (1)OJ No L 68, 22.3.1971, p. 18.\nThose bodies shall for each seat to be filled put forward the names of two candidates of different nationality.\n2. The term of office for members of the Committee shall be three years. Their appointments may be renewed. Members shall not be remunerated for their services.\nAfter expiry of the three years members of the Committee shall remain in office until they are replaced or until their appointments are renewed.\nA member's term of office may be terminated before expiry of the three years by death or resignation.\nIt may also be terminated where the body which the member represents requests that he be replaced.\nA person shall be appointed, in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 1, to replace such member for the remainder of the term of office.\n3. A list of the members of the Committee shall be published by the Commission for information purposes, in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThe Committee shall, by a two-thirds majority of the members present, elect a Chairman and two Vice-Chairmen for a period of three years.\nThe Committee may, by the like majority, elect further officers from among the other members. In that case, the officers other than the Chairman shall consist at most of one representative of each interest represented on the Committee.\nThe officers shall prepare and organize the work of the Committee.\nAt the request of any of the interests represented, the Chairman may invite a person delegated by the interest concerned to be present at meetings of the Committee. He may likewise on such request invite any person with special qualifications in any subject on the agenda to take part in an expert capacity in the deliberations of the Committee. Experts shall take part in discussions only of those questions on account of which they were invited.\nThe Committee may set up working groups to assist it in carrying out its work.\n1. The Committee shall be convened by the Commission and shall meet at Commission headquarters. Meetings of the officers shall be convened by the Chairman by arrangement with the Commission.\n2. Representatives of the Commission departments concerned shall take part in meetings of the Committee, its officers and working groups.\n3. Secretarial services for the Committee its officers and working groups shall be provided by the Commission.\nThe Committee shall discuss matters on which the Commission has requested an opinion. No vote shall be taken.\nThe Commission may, when seeking the opinion of the Committee, set a time limit within which such opinion shall be given.\nThe views expressed by the various interests represented shall be included in a report forwarded to the Commission.\nIn the event of unanimous agreement being reached in the Committee on the opinion to be given, the Committee shall formulate joint conclusions and attach them to the report.\nThe outcome of the Committee's discussions shall on request be communicated by the Commission to the Council and to the Management Committees.\n0\nWithout prejudice to the provisions of Article 214 of the Treaty, where the Commission informs them that the opinion requested or the question raised is on a matter of a confidential nature, members of the Committee shall be under an obligation not to disclose information which has come to their knowledge through the work of the Committee or of its working groups.\nIn such cases, only Committee members and representatives of the Commission departments concerned may be present at meetings.\"\nThis Decision shall enter into force on 31 October 1973.", "answer groups": [ "fishing regulations", "rules of procedure", "advisory committee (EU)", "fishing industry" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Regulation (EU) No\u00a0248/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26\u00a0February 2014 amending Regulation (EU) No\u00a0260/2012 as regards the migration to Union-wide credit transfers and direct debits Text with EEA relevance\n20.3.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 84/1\nREGULATION (EU) No 248/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL\nof 26 February 2014\namending Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 as regards the migration to Union-wide credit transfers and direct debits\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission,\nAfter transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Central Bank\u00a0(1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee\u00a0(1),\nActing in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure\u00a0(2),\nWhereas:\n(1) Together with Regulation (EC) No 924/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(3), Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council\u00a0(4) constitutes an important building block in the completion of a single euro payments area (SEPA), where no distinction between cross-border and national payments in euro is to be made. The main objective of Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 is the migration from national credit transfer and direct debit schemes to harmonised SEPA credit transfer (SCT) and SEPA direct debit (SDD) schemes, inter alia, by providing Union citizens with a unique international bank account number (IBAN) that can be used for all SCTs and SDDs denominated in euro.\n(2) Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 has provided for the SEPA migration to take place by 1 February 2014 in order to allow payment service providers and payment service users sufficient time to adapt their processes to the technical requirements that the migration to SCT and SDD entail.\n(3) Since the adoption of Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 the Commission and the European Central Bank have closely monitored the progress of SEPA migration. Several meetings with Member States, national public authorities and market participants have been held. The European Central Bank has regularly published progress reports on SEPA migration on the basis of payment data collected by national central banks. Those reports indicate that a number of Member States in the euro area are well on track with migration rates for SCT currently close to 100\u00a0%. The large majority of payment service providers have reported that they are already SEPA-compliant. However, in several other Member States the migration rates are lagging behind expectations. This is particularly the case for SDD.\n(4) On 14 May 2013, the ECOFIN Council in its conclusions again stressed the importance of SEPA migration. It was noted that the SEPA migration was far from complete and that immediate efforts would be required by all market participants to complete SEPA migration in time. An action plan was adopted in which merchants, corporates, SMEs and public administrations were invited to immediately take the necessary concrete internal steps to adapt their processes and inform their clients of their IBAN details.\n(5) Despite the considerable efforts made by the European Central Bank, Member States, their national public authorities and market participants during recent months, the latest migration statistics show that the overall migration rate in the euro area to SCT has only increased from 40\u00a0% in June 2013 to around 64\u00a0% in November 2013, while the overall migration rate towards SDD has only reached 26\u00a0%. While the national figures show good progress in several Member States, a significant group of Member States is lagging considerably behind the expected migration rates. It is therefore very unlikely that all market participants will be SEPA compliant by 1 February 2014.\n(6) From 1 February 2014, banks and other payment service providers will have to refuse to process credit transfers or direct debits that are not SEPA-compliant because of their legal obligations, although, as is currently already the case, they technically could process those payments by continuing to use existing legacy payment schemes alongside SCT and SDD. Failing full migration to SCT and SDD, delays in those payments cannot therefore be excluded. All payment services users, and particularly SMEs and consumers, could be affected.\n(7) It is essential to avoid unnecessary disruption of payments resulting from the fact that SEPA migration is not fully completed by 1 February 2014. Payment service providers should therefore be allowed, for a limited period of time, to continue the processing of payment transactions through their legacy schemes alongside their SCT and SDD schemes, as they are doing now. A transitional period should therefore be introduced to allow for the continuation of such parallel processing of payments in different formats. Considering the current migration figures and the expected pace of migration, a one-off additional transitional period of six months is appropriate. Such \u2018grandfathering\u2019 of non-SEPA compliant legacy systems should be considered to be an exceptional measure and should therefore be kept as short as possible, as rapid and comprehensive migration is necessary in order to achieve the full benefits of an integrated payments market. It is also important to limit in time the costs to the payment service providers of the continued use of the legacy payment schemes in parallel with the SEPA system. Payment service providers that have already fully migrated to SEPA might consider providing payment service users that have not yet migrated with conversion services during the transitional period. During the transitional period, Member States should refrain from applying penalties to payment service providers that process non-compliant payments and to payment service users that have not yet migrated.\n(8) Several large users of direct debit instruments have already indicated that they plan to migrate close to the end-date. Any postponing of those migration projects could lead to temporary stress on incoming payments and cash flows, and hence on treasury levels of the companies concerned. Such late migration on a large scale could also create certain bottlenecks, in particular at the level of banks and software vendors which may be faced with certain capacity constraints. The additional period for phasing in the new system would allow for a more gradual approach. Market participants that have not yet started to implement the necessary adaptations for SEPA compliance are called upon to do so as soon as possible. Market participants that have already started to adapt their payment processes should nevertheless complete the migration as rapidly as possible.\n(9) In view of the overall objective to realise coordinated and integrated migration, it is appropriate that the transitional period apply to both SCT and SDD. Different transitional periods for SCT and SDD would cause confusion to consumers, payment service providers, SMEs and other payment service users.\n(10) For reasons of legal certainty and in order to avoid any discontinuity to the application of Regulation (EU) No 260/2012, it is necessary that this Regulation enter into force as a matter of urgency and that it apply, with retroactive effect, from 31 January 2014.\n(11) In view of the urgency of the matter, an exception to the eight-week period referred to in Article 4 of Protocol No 1 on the role of national parliaments in the European Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union, to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, should apply.\n(12) Regulation (EU) No 260/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly,\nIn Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 260/2012, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:\n\u20181.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By way of derogation from Article 6(1) and (2), PSPs may continue, until 1 August 2014, to process payment transactions in euro in formats that are different from those required for credit transfers and direct debits pursuant to this Regulation.\nMember States shall apply the rules on the penalties applicable to infringements of Article 6(1) and (2), laid down in accordance with Article 11, from 2 August 2014.\nBy way of derogation from Article 6(1) and (2), Member States may allow PSPs to provide PSUs, until 1 February 2016, with conversion services for national payment transactions enabling PSUs that are consumers to continue using BBAN instead of the payment account identifier specified in point (1)(a) of the Annex on condition that interoperability is ensured by converting the payer\u2019s and the payee\u2019s BBAN technically and securely into the respective payment account identifier specified in point (1)(a) of the Annex. That payment account identifier shall be delivered to the initiating PSU, where appropriate before the payment is executed. In such a case PSPs shall not levy any charges or other fees on the PSU directly or indirectly linked to those conversion services.\u2019.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply, with retroactive effect, from 31 January 2014.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "financial legislation", "intra-EU payment", "capital transfer", "financial services", "electronic money" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2008/65/EC of 27\u00a0June 2008 amending Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences\n28.6.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 168/36\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2008/65/EC\nof 27 June 2008\namending Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 7a (2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The list of codes as described in Annex I and Ia to Directive 91/439/EEC needs to be adapted.\n(2) Community code 78, restricting the right to drive vehicles within a driving licence category to vehicles with automatic transmission only, should be amended in view of scientific and technical progress in the field.\n(3) The minimum requirements for driving test vehicles as laid down in Annex II of Directive 91/439/EEC need to be aligned with the change in the definition of Community code 78.\n(4) The minimum requirements for theory and practical tests as laid down in Annex II of Directive 91/439/EEC should be reviewed in order to bring the testing requirements into line with the demands of daily traffic with regard to the use of tunnels so as to improve the road safety level of this particular part of the road infrastructure.\n(5) The periods laid down in points 5.2 and 6.2.5 of Annex II to Directive 91/439/EEC have proved to be inadequate for the satisfactory implementation of the necessary measures. A supplementary period should be granted.\n(6) Directive 91/439/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(7) The measures provided for in this Directive are in conformity with the opinion of the Committee on driving licences,\nDirective 91/439/EEC is amended as follows:\n1. in Annex I, point (2), concerning page 4 of the licence and in Annex Ia, point (2), concerning page 2 of the licence, point (a)(12), the wording of Community code 10.02 is replaced by the following:\n\u201810.02. Vehicles without a clutch pedal (or lever operated manually for categories A or A1)\u2019;\n2. in Annex I, point (2), concerning page 4 of the licence and in Annex Ia, point (2), concerning page 2 of the licence, point (a)(12), the wording of Community code 78 is replaced by the following:\n3. Annex II is amended as follows:\n(a) in point 2.1.3, the following indent is added:\n\u2018\u2014 safe driving in road tunnels\u2019;\n(b) in point 5.1, the second and the third paragraphs are replaced by the following:\n(c) in point 5.2, the final paragraph is replaced by the following:\n(d) in the second paragraph of point 6.2.5, \u2018five years after entry into force of this Directive\u2019 is replaced by \u2018by 30 September 2008\u2019;\n(e) in points 6.3.8, 7.4.8 and 8.3.8 the word \u2018tunnels\u2019 is added to the list of special road features covered.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 30 September 2008 at the latest. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the essential provisions of national law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "traffic regulations", "road safety", "technical standard", "harmonisation of standards", "technological change", "driving licence", "driving instruction" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision of 20 October 1997 concerning the extension of common position 96/635/CFSP on Burma/Myanmar\nCOUNCIL DECISION of 20 October 1997 concerning the extension of common position 96/635/CFSP on Burma/Myanmar (97/688/CFSP)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article J.2 thereof,\nHaving regard to common position 96/635/CFSP of 28 October 1996 defined by the Council on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union, on Burma/Myanmar (1),\nHaving regard to Decision 97/290/CFSP (2) which extended that common position for a period of six months until 29 October 1997,\nWhereas, in the light of point 6 of common position 96/635/CFSP, that common position should be further extended,\nCommon position 96/635/CFSP is hereby extended until 29 April 1998.\nThis Decision shall be published in the Official Journal.", "answer groups": [ "Burma/Myanmar", "international sanctions", "common position", "human rights", "military regime", "the EU's international role" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Decision 2012/391/CFSP of 16\u00a0July 2012 amending Decision 2010/279/CFSP on the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL AFGHANISTAN)\n17.7.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 187/47\nCOUNCIL DECISION 2012/391/CFSP\nof 16 July 2012\namending Decision 2010/279/CFSP on the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL AFGHANISTAN)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 28, Article 42(4) and Article 43(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 18 May 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/279/CFSP\u00a0(1) extending EUPOL AFGHANISTAN until 31 May 2013.\n(2) The current financial reference amount covers the period until 31 July 2012.\n(3) Decision 2010/279/CFSP should therefore be amended to include a financial reference amount for the period from 1 August 2012 to 31 May 2013,\nArticle 13 of Decision 2010/279/CFSP is replaced by the following:\n\"Article 13\nFinancial arrangements\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to EUPOL AFGHANISTAN until 31 July 2011 shall be EUR 54\u00a0600\u00a0000.\nThe financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to EUPOL AFGHANISTAN for the period from 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2012 shall be EUR 60\u00a0500\u00a0000.\nThe financial reference amount intended to cover the expenditure related to EUPOL AFGHANISTAN for the period from 1 August 2012 to 31 May 2013 shall be EUR 56\u00a0870\u00a0000.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0All expenditure shall be managed in accordance with the rules and procedures applicable to the general budget of the European Union.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Head of Mission shall report fully to, and be supervised by, the Commission on the activities undertaken in the framework of his contract.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nationals of third States shall be allowed to tender for contracts. Subject to the Commission's approval, the Head of Mission may conclude technical arrangements with Regional Command/PRT lead nations and international actors deployed in Afghanistan regarding the provision of equipment, services and premises to the Mission, in particular where security conditions so require.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The financial arrangements shall respect the operational requirements of EUPOL AFGHANISTAN, including compatibility of equipment and interoperability of its teams, and shall take into consideration the deployment of staff in Regional Commands and PRTs.\".\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.", "answer groups": [ "Europol", "operational expenditure", "EU police mission", "Afghanistan" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01319/2007 of 9 November 2007 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No\u00a02092/91 as regards use of feed from parcels in their first year of conversion to organic farming\n10.11.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 293/3\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1319/2007\nof 9 November 2007\namending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 as regards use of feed from parcels in their first year of conversion to organic farming\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs\u00a0(1), and in particular the second indent of Article 13 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 provides for livestock to be fed primarily with feed grown on the holding itself and a wide use of pasturage for herbivores. In order to comply with that requirement, organic farmers enlarge their holdings in particular by purchasing or renting pasture and perennial forage parcels.\n(2) In accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 purchased and rented non-organic land has to pass through a conversion period before becoming organic. Further, feedingstuffs obtained during the first year of conversion are not considered to be in-conversion feedingstuffs, nor can they be sold easily for use in conventional farming, as there is a very limited market for such non-organic perennial forage.\n(3) The use of non-organically produced feedingstuffs for herbivores will be incompatible with Annex I, Part B, point 4.8(a), of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 after 31 December 2007. Any requirement to continue grazing to use land purchased or rented for the holding itself during its first year of conversion to organic farming will become difficult to fulfil after that date.\n(4) It is therefore necessary to allow the inclusion of a certain percentage of feed obtained from first year in-conversion parcels in the feed formula of rations.\n(5) Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up by Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91,\nIn Part B of Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, point 4.4 is replaced by the following:\n\u20184.4. Until 31 December 2008, up to 50\u00a0% of the feed formula of rations on average may comprise in-conversion feedingstuffs. When the in-conversion feedingstuffs come from a unit of the holding itself, this percentage may be increased to 80\u00a0%.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "agricultural production", "animal feedingstuffs", "organic farming" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 479/2006 of 23 March 2006 as regards the authorisation of certain additives belonging to the group compounds of trace elements (Text with EEA relevance)\n24.3.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 86/4\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 479/2006\nof 23 March 2006\nas regards the authorisation of certain additives belonging to the group compounds of trace elements\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feedingstuffs\u00a0(1), and in particular Articles 3 and 9d thereof,\nHaving regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 25 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides for the authorisation of additives for use in animal nutrition.\n(2) Article 25 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 lays down transitional measures for applications for authorisation of feed additives submitted in accordance with Directive 70/524/EEC before the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.\n(3) The applications for authorisation of the additives listed in the Annex to this Regulation were submitted before the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003.\n(4) Initial comments on those applications, as provided for in Article 4(4) of Directive 70/524/EEC, were forwarded to the Commission before the date of application of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. Those applications are therefore to continue to be treated in accordance with Article 4 of Directive 70/524/EEC.\n(5) The applicant sought for the authorisation of chelated forms of iron, manganese, copper and zinc with synthetic glycine. The use of chelated forms may overcome some of the problems of absorption that occurs when other forms are used. A similar product is authorised with amino acids derived from soya protein. However, in this request for authorisation the trace elements are chelated with synthetic glycine and, therefore, needs a specific authorisation.\n(6) The applicant submitted a dossier in support of the use in feedingstuffs of chelated forms of iron, manganese, copper and zinc with synthetic glycine.\n(7) The Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (the Authority) to evaluate the relevant data supporting the application for authorisation. Following this request, the Authority has adopted on 29 November 2005 an opinion on the use in feedingstuffs of chelated forms of iron, manganese, copper and zinc with synthetic glycine.\n(8) The opinion of the Authority shows that the conditions laid down in Article 3a of Directive 70/524/EEC are satisfied. Accordingly, the use of chelated forms of iron, manganese, copper and zinc with synthetic glycine, should be authorised.\n(9) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nThe preparations belonging to the group \u2018Compounds of trace elements\u2019, as specified in the Annex, are authorised for use without a time-limit as additives in animal nutrition under the conditions laid down in that Annex.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "market approval", "trace element", "food safety", "animal feedingstuffs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "85/166/EEC: Commission Decision of 11 February 1985 concerning an application for refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of glass textile fibres (rovings) originating in Czechoslovakia (Only the German text is authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 11 February 1985\nconcerning an application for refund of anti-dumping duties collected on certain imports of glass textile fibres (rovings) originating in Czechoslovakia\n(Only the German text is authentic)\n(85/166/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN\nCOMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2176/84 of 23 July 1984 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 16 thereof,\nWhereas:\nA. Procedure\n(1) On 18 June 1983 the Commission, by Regulation (EEC) No 1631/83 (2), imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of glass textile fibres (rovings) originating in Czechoslovakia. The amount of the duty was equal to the amount by which the free-at-Community-frontier net price, before duty, was less than 0,97 ECU per kilogram. On 16 December 1983, by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3540/83 (3), a definitive anti-dumping duty was imposed. The amount of the duty is equal to the amount by which the free-at-Community-frontier net price before duty is less than 1,07 ECU per kilogram. The amounts secured by way of provisional duty from 18 June 1983 pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 1631/83 were definitively collected up to the amount of the provisional duty.\n(2) On 18 November 1983 MBG GmbH and Co., Frankfurt/Main, on 25 October 1983 Fibron Wolfgang Mellert GmbH, Bretten/Baden, and on 5 March 1984 Menzolit-Werke, Albert Schmidt GmbH and Co. KG, Menzingen, importers of rovings from Czechoslovakia, applied to the German authorities for a refund of the amounts of DM 85 473,71, DM 92 220,75 and DM 66 010,36 respectively, in connection with their imports of rovings from Czechoslovakia. These sums were provisional anti-dumping duties which were collected. The German authorities forwarded the applications to the Commission.\n(3) Following the submission by the applicants of further supporting evidence the claims were examined by the Commission. The applicants were informed of the preliminary results of this examination and given an opportunity to comment on them. The comments made were taken into consideration prior to this Decision.\n(4) The Commission informed the Member States and gave its opinion on the matter. All Member States agreed with this opinion.\nB. Arguments of the applicants\n(5) The applicants have based their claims on the allegation that because the Commission used more up-to-date rates of exchange when discussing a possible undertaking, before the imposition of the provisional duty, the official rate of exchange should not have been used when calculating the amount of the duty to be paid in national currency. The difference between the two rates is requested as a refund by the applicants.\nC. Admissibility\n(6) The applications are admissible since they were introduced in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Community's anti-dumping legislation, in particular those concerning time limits.\nD. Merits of the claim\n(7) The applications would be justified if the importers had shown that the amounts of duty collected exceeded the actual dumping margin. In the case in question, the dumping margin amounts to 56,03 %. However, as a lower amount was considered sufficient to eliminate the injury, the provisional duty was fixed at a lower level, i.e. the amount by which the free-at-Community-frontier net price, before duty, was less than 0,97 ECU per kilogram. This, based on the exchange rates valid during the investigation period, corresponded to a duty of approximately 13 %.\n(8) Concerning the collection of this variable duty, Article 1 (4) of Regulation (EEC) No 1631/83 clearly stated that 'the provisions in force concerning customs duties shall apply for the application of the duty'. Consequently, the duty set in ECU had to be expressed in national currencies in conformity with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2779/78 (1), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 289/84 (2).\n(9) The Commission is well aware of the fact that the rate of exchange altered while the provisional duty was in operation. This matter was considered when the decision was made about the definitive collection of the amounts secured by way of provisional duty. It was found that, although there was an alteration in the exchange rate for the German mark between the date when securities were deposited and the date when these securities were definitively collected, the amount of that provisional duty did not exceed the definitively established margin.\n(10) The applicants argue that the abovementioned alterations in the exchange rates should not lead to any supplementary collection of duties. They also allege that these alterations led to the collection of duties, the amount of which exceeded the actual dumping margin.\n(11) The Commission has examined these allegations and has come to the conclusion that the mere fact that the effective rate of a duty in national currency has increased as a result of a change in exchange rates does not give a right to a refund pro tanto. As to the relation between duties collected and the dumping margin, it has, after re-examination of the matter, been found that the amounts collected, whatever exchange rate is applied - either the one valid at the time when securities were deposited, or the one valid during discussions for a possible undertaking or finally the one valid at the time of collection of the provisional duties - did not exceed the actual dumping margin.\n(12) The applications have, thus, to be rejected,\nThe refund claim submitted by MBG GmbH and Co., Frankfurt/Main, Fibron Wolfgang Mellert GmbH, Bretten/Baden and Menzolit-Werke, Albert Schmidt GmbH and Co. KG, Menzingen, is hereby rejected.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany and to MBG GmbH and Co., Frankfurt/Main, Fibron Wolfang Mellert GmbH, Bretten/Baden and Menzolit-Werke, Albert Schmidt GmbH and Co. KG, Menzingen.", "answer groups": [ "dumping", "Czechoslovakia", "glass fibre" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 2047/2001 of 18 October 2001 amending Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine with regard to market mechanisms\nCommission Regulation (EC) No 2047/2001\nof 18 October 2001\namending Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine with regard to market mechanisms\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000(2), and in particular Article 33 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In order that the distillation measure laid down in Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 can apply to as many growers as possible, a decision has been taken to postpone the opening of the measure from 1 September to 16 October 2001. To make the measure more effective, distillers who need alcohol quickly and who therefore wish to begin distillation operations as quickly as possible should be allowed to do so by the rapid approval of distillation contracts up to a certain percentage. That amendment must apply from the date on which the distillation measure opens.\n(2) Article 93 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1623/2000(3), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1660/2001(4), lays down the detailed rules for the public sale of vinous alcohol for disposal with a view to its use as bioethanol in the Community. Given experience to date, certain rules should be amended, including those concerning the volume of the lots put up for sale and the deadline for removal of the alcohol.\n(3) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Wine,\nRegulation (EC) No 1623/2000 is amended as follows:\n1. In Article 63, the following paragraph is added: \"5a. By derogation from paragraph 5, Member States may approve contracts signed during the period 16 October 2001 to 31 October 2001 immediately after their presentation in respect of a quantity not exceeding 20 % of the quantity to which the contracts relate.\"\n2. Article 93 is amended as follows:\n(a) Paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: \"2. The volume of alcohol put up for sale shall split into lots. The Commission shall decide on the composition of the lots. Unless the Commission decides otherwise in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 75 of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, a lot shall be made for each firm on the approved list and each firm on the list shall be allocated a lot. Should a firm not accept the alcohol offered for sale, it must notify the Commission and the intervention agency thereof no more than 30 days after the date of publication of the notice of public sale of alcohol. Alcohol which has not been accepted shall be released from the prohibition on physical movement under Article 95(2) of this Regulation from the date on which the refusal was notified and may be sold during a subsequent sale.\"\n(b) Paragraph 5 is replaced by the following: \"5. Except where they have lodged a standing security, prior to any removal of alcohol and no later than the date of issue of the removal order, purchasing firms shall lodge a performance guarantee with the intervention agency concerned to ensure that the alcohol is used as bio-ethanol in the fuel sector.\"\n(c) Paragraph 6 is replaced with the following: \"6. All the alcohol must be removed no more than six months after the date of notification of the Commission's decision to award the sale.\"\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nIt shall apply from 16 October 2001.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "vinification", "application of EU law", "viticulture", "common organisation of markets" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "95/402/JHA: Council Decision of 25 September 1995 concerning the implementation of the Joint Action on measures implementing Article K.1 of the Treaty on European Union\nCOUNCIL DECISION\nof 25 September 1995\nconcerning the implementation of the Joint Action on measures implementing Article K.1 of the Treaty on European Union\n(95/402/JHA)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article K.3 (2) (b) and Article K.8 (2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the general budget of the European Communities for 1995, with specific reference to Articles B 5.800, B 5.801 and B 5.802 thereof,\nHaving regard to the Joint Action adopted on the basis of Article K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, on measures implementing Article K.1 of the Treaty (1),\nThe overall allocation for implementing the part of the abovementioned joint action to be covered by the general budget of the European Communities for 1995 shall be ECU 5,2 million.\nWithin the framework of the general budget of the European Communities, the amount referred to in Article 1 shall be allocated to the following areas:\n- asylum-immigration and judicial cooperation: ECU 2 500 000,\n- police and customs cooperation (including customs cooperation: ECU 400 000): ECU 2 200 000,\n- transparency of activities under Title VI of the Treaty: ECU 500 000.\nIn order to be eligible, projects must:\n- involve more than one Member State, or a single Member State if they are of common interest, and\n- precede or follow up the establishment of provisions under Title VI of the Treaty or facilitate any operational cooperation in the abovementioned areas.\nProjects may take the form of measures relating to training, the gathering and exchange of information and experience, seminars, studies and publications or other operational measures in support of cooperation activities of the Union.\nRepresentatives of third countries may be associated with projects whose purpose waarants it.\nProjects for which financing is requested shall be proposed by the Member States or the Commission in the case of areas covered by Article K.1 (1) to (6) of the Treaty, and by the Member States alone in the case of areas covered by Article K.1 (7) to (9) of the Treaty.\nThe Commission shall prepare any such requests for decision. On the basis of those elements, the projects adopted and the financing allocated to them shall be decided on in a Working Party composed of representatives of the Member States.\nThe Commission shall be responsible for implementing financing decisions and shall report regularly to the European Parliament and the Council.\nWithout prejudice to the date of entry into force of this Decision, expenditure shall be considered as eligible for assistance from the budget laid down to the extent that the facts giving rise to the expenditure, subsequent to the request for financing, occur after 31 July 1995.\nThis Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.\nIt shall apply until 31 December 1995.", "answer groups": [ "Treaty on European Union", "free movement of persons", "European cooperation", "general budget (EU)", "EU financing", "exchange of information" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2004/62/EC of 26 April 2004 amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include mepanipyrim as active substance (Text with EEA relevance)\nCommission Directive 2004/62/EC\nof 26 April 2004\namending Council Directive 91/414/EEC to include mepanipyrim as active substance\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market(1), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Article 6(2) of Directive 91/414/EEC Italy received on 24 October 1997 an application from Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd for the inclusion of the active substance mepanipyrim (former name: KIF 3535) in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC. Commission Decision 98/676/EC(2) confirmed that the dossier was \"complete\" in the sense that it could be considered as satisfying, in principle, the data and information requirements of Annexes II and III to Directive 91/414/EEC.\n(2) For this active substance, the effects on human health and the environment have been assessed, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(2) and (4) of Directive 91/414/EEC, for the uses proposed by the applicants. The designated rapporteur Member State submitted a draft assessment report concerning the substance to the Commission on 12 July 2000.\n(3) The draft assessment reports have been reviewed by the Member States and the Commission within the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. The review was finalised on 30 March 2004 in the format of the Commission review report for mepanipyrim.\n(4) The dossier and the information from the review were also submitted to the Scientific Panel on Plant Health, Plant Protection Products and their Residues. The report of this Panel was formally adopted on 23 October 2003(3).\nThe Panel was asked to comment on the liver tumors found in rats and mice exposed to mepanipyrim and to give its opinion on the question whether a threshold of tumor formation can be assumed.\nIn its opinion the Panel concluded that mepanipyrim induces tumors in rats and mice by a mechanism which is currently unknown but nevertheless involves a threshold below which tumors are not expected to develop and that therefore a safe level of human exposure can be assigned.\nThe recommendations of the Scientific Panel were taken into account during the further review and in this Directive and in the Review Report. The evaluation within the Standing Committee concluded that there would be no unacceptable human exposure under the proposed conditions of use.\n(5) It has appeared from the various examinations made that plant protection products containing the active substance concerned may be expected to satisfy, in general, the requirements laid down in Article 5(1) (a) and (b) and Article 5(3) of Directive 91/414/EEC, in particular with regard to the uses which were examined and detailed in the Commission review report. It is therefore appropriate to include mepanipyrim in Annex I, in order to ensure that in all Member States the authorisations of plant protection products containing this active substance may be granted in accordance with the provisions of that Directive.\n(6) After inclusion, Member States should be allowed a reasonable period to implement the provisions of Directive 91/414/EEC as regards plant protection products containing mepanipyrim and in particular to review existing provisional authorisations and, by the end of this period at the latest, to transform those authorisations into full authorisations, to amend them or to withdraw them in accordance with the provisions of Directive 91/414/EEC.\n(7) It is therefore appropriate to amend Directive 91/414/EEC accordingly.\n(8) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nAnnex I to Directive 91/414/EEC is amended as set out in the Annex to this Directive.\n1. Member States shall adopt and publish by 31 March 2005 at the latest the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1 April 2005.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\n1. Member States shall review the authorisation for each plant protection product containing mepanipyrim to ensure that the conditions relating to this active substance set out in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC are complied with. Where necessary, they shall amend or withdraw authorisations in accordance with Directive 91/414/EEC by 31 March 2005 at the latest.\n2. For each authorised plant protection product containing mepanipyrim as either the only active substance or as one of several active substances all of which were listed in Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC by 30 September 2004 at the latest, Member States shall re-evaluate the product in accordance with the uniform principles provided for in Annex VI to Directive 91/414/EEC, on the basis of a dossier satisfying the requirements of Annex III to that Directive. On the basis of that evaluation, they shall determine whether the product satisfies the conditions set out in Article 4(1)(b), (c), (d) and (e) of Directive 91/414/EEC.\nFollowing that determination Member States shall:\n(a) in the case of a product containing mepanipyrim as the only active substance, where necessary, amend or withdraw the authorisation by 31 March 2006 at the latest; or\n(b) in the case of a product containing mepanipyrim as one of several active substances, where necessary, amend or withdraw the authorisation by 31 March 2006 or by the date fixed for such an amendment or withdrawal in the respective Directive or Directives which added the relevant substance or substances to Annex I to Directive 91/414/EEC, whichever is the latest.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on 1 October 2004.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health product", "marketing standard" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "87/72/EEC: Commission Decision of 7 January 1987 on the setting-up of an Advisory Committee on Pigmeat\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 7 January 1987 on the special Rice Section of the Advisory Committee on Cereals (87/72/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nWhereas the special Rice Section of the Advisory Committee on Cereals was set up by Commission Decision 64/436/EEC (1), as last amended by Decision 83/77/EEC (2);\nWhereas, following the accession of new Member States to the Community, the number of seats on the Committee should be increased and they should be reallocated; whereas the procedure for the replacement of members should also be adjusted;\nWhereas the provisions concerning the special Rice Section of the Advisory Committee on Cereals have been amended several times and have therefore become difficult to apply; whereas they should therefore be consolidated;\nWhereas the Commission should seek the views of producers, traders and consumers on matters arising in connection with the operation of the common organization of the market in rice;\nWhereas all the occupations directly involved in the implementation of the market organization in question, and also consumers, must have an opportunity to participate in the drafting of the opinions requested by the Commission;\nWhereas the trade associations concerned and the consumer groups in the Member States have set up organizations at Community level which are in a position to represent those concerned in all the Member States,\n1. There shall be attached to the Commission a special Rice Section of the Advisory Committee on Cereals; hereinafter called the 'Section'.\n2. The Section shall be composed of representatives of the following interests: growers, cooperatives, the processing and food-manufacturing industries, traders in agricultural\n(3) OJ No 122, 29. 7. 1964, p. 2051/64.\n(4) OJ No L 51, 24. 2. 1983, p. 34.\nproduce and foodstuffs, agricultural workers and workers\nin the processing and food-manufacturing industries, consumers.\n1. The Section may be consulted by the Commission on any problem concerning the operation of Regulations on the common organization of the market in rice and in particular on measures to be adopted by the Commission under those Regulations.\n2. The chairman of the Section may indicate to the\nCommission the desirability of consulting the Section on any matter within the latter's competence on which its opinion has not been sought. He shall do so, in particular, at the request of one of the interests represented.\n1. The Section shall consist of 28 members.\n2. Seats shall be apportioned as follows:\n- 14 to rice growers and cooperatives of the sector,\n- three to representatives of the rice-milling industries,\n- one to a representative of the industries using rice and broken rice,\n- three to representatives of the wholesale rice trade,\n- four to representatives of agricultural workers and of workers in the food-manufacturing industry,\n- three to consumers' representatives.\n1. Members of the Section shall be appointed by\nthe Commission on proposals from the trade workers' organizations set up at Community level which are most representative of the interests specified in Article 1 (2) and whose activities come within the scope of the common organization of the market in rice; consumers' representatives shall be appointed on proposals from the Consumers' Advisory Committee.\nThose bodies shall for each seat to be filled put forward the names of two candidates of different nationality.\n2. The term of office for members of the Section shall be three years. Their appointments may be renewed. Members shall not be remunerated for their services.\nAfter expiry of the three years, members of the Section shall remain in office until they are replaced or until their appointments are renewed.\nIn the event to the resignation or decease of a member or a request from the body having proposed a member that he be replaced, he shall be replaced in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 1.\n3. A list of the members of the Section shall be published by the Commission, for information purposes, in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\n1. After consulting the Commission, the Section shall elect a chairman for a period of three years.\nThe chairman shall be elected, in the case of the first ballot, by a two-thirds majority of the members present and, in the case of subsequent ballots, by a simple majority of the members present. In the event of a tie, the Commission shall provide a chairman on a temporary basis.\n2. The Section shall elect two vice-chairmen for a period of three years.\nThe vice-chairmen may not represent the same interest as the chairman.\nThe election shall take place in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 1.\nThe Section may, in accordance with the same procedure, elect other officers. In that case, the officers other than the chairman shall include not more than one representative of each interest represented on the Section.\nThe officers shall prepare and organize the work of the Section.\n1. Only the Commission representatives, the members of the Sections, or persons replacing them in their absence, and persons invited in accordance with paragaph 3 and 4 may participate in or attend meetings.\n2. Should a member be unable to attend a meeting, the organization or organizations to which a seat is allocated may appoint a person to take his place. This person shall be selected from a list drawn up by mutual agreement between the Commission and the organization or organizations in question and containing a number of names equal to half the\ntotal numbers of members representing the organization or organizations in question. This number shall be not less than one and not more than 12.\nThe secretariat of the Section must be informed of such replacement of a member at least seven days before a meeting.\n3. At the request of an organization to which one or more seats are allocated, the chairman may, in agreement with the Commission staff, invite its general secretary or a member of its secretariat to attend the meetings of the Section as an observer.\nShould he be unable to attend, however, the general secretary may have his seat as an observer taken by another person designated by him.\nObservers shall not have the right to speak. They may, however, be invited to do so by the chairman in agreement with the Commission staff.\n4. At the request of an organization to which one or more seats are allocated, and when the matters on the agenda are of a highly technical nature outside the normal framework of the deliberations of the Section, the chairman may, in agreement with the Commission staff, invite one or more experts to take part in the deliberations of the Section.\nThe Commission may, on its own initiative, invite any person particularly well qualified in one of the subjects on the agenda to take part in the deliberations of the Section as an expert.\nHowever, experts shall participate only in the discussion of the matter concerning which they were invited to attend.\nIn agreement with the Commission staff, the Section may set up working groups to facilitate its work.\n1. The Sections shall be convened by the Commission and shall meet at Commission headquarters. Meetings of the officers shall be convened by the chairman by arrangement with the Commission.\n2. Representatives of the Commission departments concerned shall take part in meetings of the Section, its officers and working groups.\n3. Secretarial services for the Section, its officers and working groups shall be provided by the Commission.\nThe Section shall discuss matters on which the Commission has requested an opinion. No vote shall be taken.\nThe Commission may, when seeking the opinion of the Section, set a time limit within which such opinion shall be given.\nThe views expressed by the various interests represented shall be included in a report forwarded to the Commission.\nIn the event of unanimous agreement being reached in the Section on the opinion to be given, the Committee shall formulate joint conclusions and attach them to the report.\nThe outcome of the Section's discussions shall on request be communicated by the Commission to the Council and to the Management Committees.\n0\nWithout prejudice to the provisions of Article 214 of the Treaty, where the Commission informs them that the opinion requested or the question raised is on a matter of a confidential nature, members of the Section shall be under an obligation not to disclose information which has come to\ntheir knowledge through the work of the Section or of its working groups.\nIn such cases, only members of the Section and representatives of the Commission departments concerned may be present at meetings.\n1\nCommission Decision 64/436/EEC is hereby repealed.\n2\nThis Decision shall enter into force on 1 January 1987.", "answer groups": [ "operation of the Institutions", "cereals", "EU agriculture committee", "rice" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EEC) No 3952/92, of 30 December 1992, amending Regulation (EEC) No 594/91 in order to speed up the phasing-out of substances that deplete the ozone layer\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3952/92 of 30 December 1992 amending Regulation (EEC) No 594/91 in order to speed up the phasing-out of substances that deplete the ozone layer\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 130s thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),\nWhereas, according to the latest scientific knowledge, severe depletion over the Antarctic continues to occur; whereas depletion of the ozone layer over the Northern hemisphere is more extensive than was previously generally accepted;\nWhereas scientific studies forecast further depletion of the ozone layer into the twenty-first century, unless the production and consumption of the fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride and 1,1,1-trichloroethane are brought to an end in the very near future;\nWhereas, except for certain essential uses, it is technically possible to phase out all consumption of halons by the end of 1993, fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons and carbon tetrachloride by the end of 1994 and 1,1,1-trichloroethane by the end of 1995;\nWhereas the amendment to the Montreal Protocol adopted at the second meeting of its Parties entered into force on 10 August 1992; whereas Annex D of the Protocol adopted at the third meeting of its Parties entered into force on 27 May 1992;\nWhereas the Parties to the Montreal Protocol adopted, at their fourth meeting in Copenhagen, at which the Community and the Member States played a leading role, additional measures for the protection of the ozone layer;\nWhereas Regulation (EEC) No 594/91 (4) provides for controls on substances that deplete the ozone layer;\nWhereas it is necessary for additional action to be taken at Community level to carry out the Community's obligations under the Protocol as far as the adjustments are concerned;\nWhereas, in the light of recent scientific knowledge and the availability of technologies for replacing ozone depleting substances, it is appropriate to introduce control measures which are stricter than those provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 594/91 and which are, in some cases, stricter than those of the adjusted Protocol,\nControl of the production and consumption of chlorofluorocarbons 11, 12, 113, 114 and 115\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (1) and 11 (1) of, and Annex II to, Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1), 'and in the following 12-month period`, shall be deleted;\n2. the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1) shall be deleted;\n3. in the fourth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1), '1996` shall be replaced by '1994`;\n4. the fifth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1) shall be deleted;\n5. in the sixth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (1):\n- '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`,\n- the following shall be added: 'However, for those Member States whose calculated level of production of chlorofluorocarbons was less than 15 000 tonnes in 1986, the calculated level of their production in the period 1 January to 31 December 1995 shall not exceed 15 % of the calculated level of their production in 1986 and there shall be no production of chlorofluorocarbons after 31 December 1995`;\n6. in the second subparagraph of Article 10 (1), '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`;\n7. the second to fifth indents of the first subparagraph and the second subparagraph of Article 11 (1) shall be amended in the same way as the corresponding indents and subparagraphs of Article 10 (1);\n8. in the sixth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 11 (1) '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`.\n9. in Annex II, the calculated level of the quantitative limits on imports of substances in Group I shall be fixed at 348 tonnes for 1994; imports of these substances shall cease on 31 December 1994 at the latest.\nControl of the production and consumption of other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (2) and 11 (2) of, and Annex II, to Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the first indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2), 'each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by 'the following 12-month period`;\n2. the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2) shall be deleted;\n3. in the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2), '1996` shall be replaced by '1994`;\n4. the fourth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2) shall be deleted;\n5. in the fifth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (2), '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`;\n6. in the second subparagraph of Article 10 (2), '30 June 1997` shall be replaced by '31 December 1994`;\n7. the first to fifth indents of the first subparagraph and the second subparagraph of Article 11 (2) shall be amended in the same way as the corresponding indents and subparagraphs of Article 10 (2);\n8. in Annex II, the calculated level of the quantitative limits on imports of substances in Group II shall be fixed at 15 % of the calculated level of imports in 1989 for 1994; imports of these substances shall cease on 31 December 1994 at the latest.\nControl of the production and consumption of the halons\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (3) and 11 (3) of and Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the first indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (3), 'each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by 'the following 12-month period`;\n2. the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (3) shall be deleted;\n3. in the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (3), '1999` shall be replaced by '1993`.\n4. in the second subparagraph of Article 10 (3), '2000` shall be replaced by '1994`.\n5. the first to third indents of the first subparagraph and the second subparagraph of Article 11 (3) are amended in the same way as the corresponding indents and subparagraphs of Article 10 (3);\n6. in Annex II, imports of the substances shall cease on 31 December 1993.\nControl of the production and consumption of carbon tetrachloride\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (4) and 11 (4) of and Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the first indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (4), 'each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by 'the following 12-month period`;\n2. in the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (4), '1995, and in each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by '1994`;\n3. in the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (4), '1997` shall be replaced by '1994`;\n4. in the second subparagraph of Article 10 (4), '1998` shall be replaced by '1995`;\n5. the first to third indents of the first subparagraph and the second subparagraph of Article 11 (4) shall be amended in the same way as the corresponding indents and subparagraphs of Article 10 (4);\n6. in Annex II, the calculated level of the quantitative limits on imports of the substance in Group IV shall be fixed at 15 % of the calculated level of imports in 1989 for 1994; imports of this substance shall cease on 31 December 1994 at the latest.\nControl of the production and consumption of 1,1,1-trichloroethane\nThe following changes are hereby made to Articles 10 (5) and 11 (5) of and Annex II to Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n1. in the first indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5), 'each 12-month period thereafter` shall be replaced by 'the following 12-month period`;\n2. in the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5), '1995`, and in each 12-month period thereafter' shall be replaced by '1994, and in the following 12-month period`, and '70 %` shall be replaced by '50 %`;\n3. the third indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5) shall be deleted;\n4. in the fourth indent of the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5), '2004` shall be replaced by '1995`;\n5. a second subparagraph shall be inserted after the first subparagraph of Article 10 (5) as follows:\n'The Commission, in accordance with the producers set out in Article 12, shall determine any essential uses of 1,1,1-trichloroethane which may be permitted in the Community after 31 December 1995 and until 31 December 2004 at the latest and any quantities of 1,1,1-trichloroethane which may be produced by each producer for this purpose. Such production shall be allowed only if adequate alternatives or recycled 1,1,1-trichloroethane are not available.`;\n6. the first to fourth indents of the first subparagraph of Article 11 (5) shall be amended in the same way as the corresponding indents of Article 10 (5);\n7. A second subparagraph shall be inserted after the first subparagraph of Article 11 (5) as follows:\n'The Commission, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 12, shall determine any quantities of 1,1,1-trichloroethane that could be placed on the market or used for its own account by each producer after 31 December 1995 and until 31 December 2004 at the latest for the purpose of essential uses.`;\n8. in Annex II, the calculated level of the quantitative limits on imports of the substances in Group V shall be fixed at 50 % of the calculated level of imports in 1989 for each of the years 1994 and 1995; imports of this substance shall cease on 31 December 1995 at the latest.\nImportation of controlled substances from non-Parties to the Protocol\nIn Article 5 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n'1 January 1993` shall be replaced by '10 August 1993`.\nExportation of controlled substances to non-Parties to the Protocol\nof Regulation (EEC) 594/91 shall be replaced by the following Article:\n'Article 8\nExportation of controlled substances to non-Parties to the Protocol\n1. With effect from 1 January 1993, the exportation from the Community of virgin, recycled or used chlorofluorocarbons or halons to any non-Party to the Protocol shall be prohibited.\n2. With effect from 10 August 1993, the exportation from the Community of virgin, recycled or used other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, carbon tetrachloride or 1,1,1-trichloroethane to any non-Party to the Protocol shall be prohibited.`\nImportation of products containing controlled substances from non-Parties to the Protocol\nIn Article 6 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 594/91:\n'1 January 1993` shall be replaced by '27 May 1993`.\nEntry into force\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "protocol to an agreement", "ozone", "stratospheric pollution", "quantitative restriction", "halogen" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2006/263/EC: Commission Decision of 27 March 2006 amending Decision 2005/648/EC concerning protection measures in relation to Newcastle disease in Bulgaria (notified under document number C(2006) 893) (Text with EEA relevance)\n4.4.2006 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 95/3\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 27 March 2006\namending Decision 2005/648/EC concerning protection measures in relation to Newcastle disease in Bulgaria\n(notified under document number C(2006) 893)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2006/263/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 18(7) thereof,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 97/78/EC of 18 December 1997 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries\u00a0(2), and in particular Article 22(6) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Newcastle disease is a highly contagious viral disease in poultry and birds and there is a risk that the disease agent might be introduced via international trade in live poultry and poultry products.\n(2) Commission Decision 2005/648/EC of 8 September 2005 concerning protection measures in relation to Newcastle disease in Bulgaria\u00a0(3) was adopted following an outbreak of Newcastle disease in the administrative region of Vratsa. That Decision suspends the importation of live poultry, ratites, farmed and wild feathered game and hatching eggs, fresh meat and meat preparations and meat products from these species.\n(3) On 23 January 2006 Bulgaria confirmed an outbreak of Newcastle disease in the administrative district of Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria.\n(4) Taking account of the current epidemiology situation in Bulgaria in relation to Newcastle disease and the fact that that country has applied certain disease control measures and has sent further information on the disease situation to the Commission. On the basis of this information, it appears that the situation in Bulgaria, except for the regions of Vratsa and Blagoevgrad is still satisfactory. It is therefore appropriate to limit the suspension of imports to those regions and to prolong the period of application of Decision 2005/648/EC.\n(5) The Annex to Decision 2005/648/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(6) In order to authorise imports of meat products subjected to a heat treatment sufficient to inactivate any possible virus in the meat, it is necessary to specify the required treatment for poultry meat in the health certificates drawn up in accordance with Annexes III and IV to Commission Decision 2005/432/EC\u00a0(4).\n(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health,\nDecision 2005/648/EC is amended as follows:\n1. in Article 5 the date \u201823\u00a0August 2006\u2019 is replaced by \u201823 January 2007\u2019;\n2. the following paragraphs are added to Article 3:\n3. the Annex is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.\nMember States shall immediately take the necessary measures to comply with this Decision and publish those measures. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "import restriction", "poultrymeat", "Bulgaria", "health certificate", "game meat", "poultry", "animal disease", "meat product" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "94/153/EC: Commission Decision of 21 February 1994 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EC Treaty (IV/30.525 - International Energy Agency) (Only the Spanish, German, English, French, Italian and Portuguese texts are authentic)\nCOMMISSION DECISION of 21 February 1994 relating to a proceeding under Article 85 of the EC Treaty (IV/30.525 - Interational Energy Agency) (Only the Spanish, German, English, French, Italian and Portuguese texts are authentic) (94/153/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation No 17 of 6 February 1962, First Regulation implementing Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (1), as last amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Articles 6 and 8 thereof,\nHaving regard to the application submitted to the Commission on 12 October 1993 by the Chariman of the Industry Advisory Board of the International Energy Agency (hereinafter: 'the IEA') for the benefit of all the IEA Reporting companies, pursuant to\nArticle 8\n(2) of Regulation No 17, requesting renewal of the exemption under Article 85 (3) by Commission Decision 83/671/EEC (2),\nHaving regard to the publication (3) pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17 of a summary of the concerted practices between oil companies which are needed to carry out the emergency oil allocation system of the International Energy Program ('IEP') and relevant changes which have occured since Decision 83/671/EEC, in which the Commission granted an exemption pursuant to Article 85 (3) for those concerted practices, for a period ending on 31 December 1993,\nHaving consulted the Advisory Committee on Restrictive Pratices and Dominant Positions pursuant to Article 10 (3) of Regulation No 17,\nWhereas:\nI. THE FACTS (1) The IEP results from an agreement signed on 18 November 1974. 23 countries, members of the OECD, now participate in the IEP. The objectives of the IEP are set out in Commission Decision 83/671/EEC. The IEP aims at responding to oil supply disruptions by ensuring the availability of oil stocks for use in emergencies, and by restraining demand and allocating available supplies among the participating countries on a equitable basis according to an allocation process.\nThe implementation of the IEP is described in the Notice (4) pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17 and in Decision 83/671/EEC.\n(2) Since Decision 83/671/EEC, the following changes have occurred:\n(a) At present 18 oil companies and one association of oil companis (compared to 16 oil companies and two associations in December 1983) are members of the Industry Advisory Board (IAB). The IAB assists the IEA in ensuring the effective operation of emergency measures.\nThe oil companies and the association are all members of the group of 'reporting companies' of which there are at present 41.\n(b) Some changs have occurred in the allocation process. There have been two amendments to the IEA's Emergency Management Manual, which was last published in December 1982. One of the two amendments clarified the intention that, in oil transactions which might occur as part of the activation and operation of the IEA's Emergency Sharing System, prices should be based on conditions prevailing for comparable commercial transactions. The other admendment sets out procedures for resolving, during an emergency, any large discrepancies in the oil supply data submitted by different member countries.\n(c) Another important new contingency arrangement, which does not affect directly the Emergency Sharing System, is the Agency's co-called 'Coordinated Emergency Response Measures' (CERM) mechanism. Under the CERM, IEA member governments have agreed to give early consideration, during an energy crisis, to the coordinated use of their oil stocks and to additional demand-restraint measures.\n(d) Concerning the types of activities which constitute part of the allocation process (Types 1, 2, 3), there have been changes related to Type 1 and Type 2 activities. In order to take into account the changes in the structure of the oil market, as well as technical improvements in the computer capabilities available to the Secretariat for crisis-management purposes, the Emergency Sharing System was improved in 1986. It was decided to extend the prescribed period for the solicitation, processing and implementation of 'closed-loop voluntary offers' by reporting companies and non-reporting companies for the re-arrangement of oil supplies in response to an emergency and to accelerate the process for the approval of those offers by the Allocation Coordinator. Thus, under the 'Wider Window' proposal 'closed-loop voluntary offers' can be submitted to the ISAG (Industry Supply Advisory Group) or the IEA Secretariat at nearly any time during an allocation cycle, not just at specified times.\n(e) As to the situation in the oil market, there have been significant developments over the past ten years. During the 1970s, the OECD countries were able to reduce their energy dependence through the reduction of consumption, the exploitation of new areas (Alaska, North Sea) and the development of other sources of energy (nuclear, renewable energy). But since 1985 there has been a trend towards increased oil imports. This is likely to continue, with the IEA forecasting that coverage of OECD demand by net imports will rise from 60 per cent or so at present to possibly 70 per cent during the first decade of the next century. Most of the increase in oil imports will come from the major producing regions, which are subject to an endemic political uncertainty, thus increasing OECD countries' vulnerability to oil supply disruptions. The IEA will, therefore, need to maintain, update and periodicallytest its emergency response capabilities.\nCrude OIl and NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) Production\n>(5)()\"(6)(7)(7)(6)(7)(7)\" ID=\"4\">(million tonne)\" ID=\"1\">93> ID=\"2\">142> ID=\"3\">116> ID=\"4\">135\"> ID=\"1\">702> ID=\"2\">780> ID=\"3\">740> ID=\"4\">761\"> ID=\"1\">2 924> ID=\"2\">3 090> ID=\"3\">3 189> ID=\"4\">3 180\" ID=\"4\">(million barrels/day)\" ID=\"1\">2> ID=\"2\">3> ID=\"3\">2,5> ID=\"4\">2,9\"> ID=\"1\">15> ID=\"2\">16,6> ID=\"3\">15,9> ID=\"4\">16,4\"> ID=\"1\">63> ID=\"2\">63,3> ID=\"3\">65,6> ID=\"4\">65,4\"\"\n>\nImports and exports of crude oil and NGL\n\"(million tons)>(8)()\"> ID=\"1\">EG countries (9)\" ID=\"1\">Imports> ID=\"2\">527> ID=\"3\">450> ID=\"4\">471> ID=\"5\">502\"> ID=\"1\">Exports> ID=\"2\">44> ID=\"3\">80> ID=\"4\">67> ID=\"5\">71\"\" ID=\"1\">OECD countries (10)\" ID=\"1\">Imports> ID=\"2\">1 251> ID=\"3\">934> ID=\"4\">1 040> ID=\"5\">1 104\"> ID=\"1\">Exports> ID=\"2\">63> ID=\"3\">171> ID=\"4\">174> ID=\"5\">211\"\">\n>\n(3) The application for an extension of the exemption, for a further period of no less than the years from 1 January 1994 onwards, is motivated by the need to allow oil companies to cooperate in carrying out the Emergency Sharing System. Indeed the Emergency Sharing System relies heavily upon the oil industry to coordinate any necessary redistribution of the available oil supplies, in accordance with the sharing formula set out in the IEP Agreement.\nII. COMMENTS FROM THIRD PARTIES (4) Following the publication of the notice pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation No 17, no comments were received from third parties.\nIII. LEGAL ASSESSMENT A. Article 85 (1) (5) For the same reasons as those previously outlined in Decision 83/671/EEC, to which reference should be made, the consent of the oil companies to cooperate with one another and the IFA in the framework of the IEP and in the operation of the IEA emergency oil allocation system is a concerted practice which falls within the scope of Article 85 (1), notably because:\n(a) The concertation between the oil copanies has the object and effect of taking into account and balancing allocation rights and obligations. This means in some cases directing oil to destinations where it would not have gone had the IEA system not been activated.\n(b) The oil companies' behaviour when exchanging information within the framework of the IEA may alter the market conditions from what they would be without such exchanges of information.\n(c) The possible effects of thse restrictions on competition may be appreciable. The undertakings start to concert on allocation actions when a 7 % shortfall in oil supplies available to all IEA countries or to one of them has occurred or may reasonably be expected to occur. In the event of activation, several million tonnes of oil may have to be redistributed each month.\n(d) The joint effort of the oil companies to redistribute available oil may have an appreciable effect on trade between Member States. The usual flow of oil supplies may be modified in order to meet allocation rights and obligations according to the situation of each participating country.\nB. Article 85 (3) (6) On the basis of the information at its disposal, the Commission has come to the conclusion that the advantages of the concerted practice of the oil companies continue to constitute a sufficient basis for the application of Article 85 (3). The changes which have occurred since 1983 do not affect the validity of the exemption. They aim at improving the reallocation process and take into account the changes in the structure of the oil market and the technical improvements.\n(a) The concerted practice does contribute to improving the distribution of the relevant goods and to promoting economic progress by reducing the inconvenience and sharing the difficulties in case of supply disruptions.\n(b) The concerted practice allows the consumer a fair share of the resulting benefit, as the concerted practice is experted to minimize the impact of the shortage of the general economny of the participating countries, with an immediate benefit to consumers.\n(c) The concertation between companies to achieve the allocation needed does not go beyond what is necessary for the fulfilment of the objectives of the IEP.\n(d) The concerted practice does not afford the undertakings the possibility of eliminating competition in respect of a substantial part of the products in question. Competition between the oil companies will continue in all other respects apart from their obligation to observe allocation rights and to fulfil allocation obligations.\nIV. ARTICLES 6 AND 8 OF REGULATION No 17 (7) The appliction for renewal of the exemption granted by Decision 83/671/EEC was submitted by the Chariman of the IAB before 31 December 1993, the date the Decision expires. Pursuant to Article 6 (1) of Regulation No 17, this Decision should take effect from 1 January 1994.\n(8) Article 3 of Decision 83/671/EEC obliged the oil companies to inform the Commission at the earliest possible moment of:\n1. any change adopted by the Governing Board or National Emergency Sharing Organizations to the rules governing the emergency oil allocation system and the participation of oil companies therein;\n2. any consultations with oil companies provided for in Article 19 (6) and (7) or Article 55 (3) of the International Energy Program or submission by the companies to the Interantional Energy Agency or national governments pursuant to the foregoing rules of data such as that on imports, exports, indigenous production and investories;\n3. the declaration of the beginning of any emergency;\n4. any proposals or arrangements for a test run of the emergency oil allocation system or of the data system.\nThe exemption was granted subject to the obligation that the Commission should have access for its representatives to any consultations with oil companies provided for in Article 19 (6) and (7) or Article 55 (3) of the International Energy Program which may take place, and to any meeting of the Industry Supply Advisory Group or its subgroups or of the Industry Advisory Board or its subcommittes which might take place when the emergency oil allocation system was being implemented or when test runs were being carried out. The Commission's representatives were to have made available to them upon request all documents and other information in connection with such consultations, meetings and test runs in the possession or under the control of any company to which the Decision applied, and all documents and other information in such possession or control in connection with Type 2 and Type 3 activities and with Type 1 activities that were reported to the Commission.\nThe reporting requirements have been fulfilled throughout the period of exemption and should be imposed again for the extended duration of the exemption pursuant to Article 8 (2) of Regualtion No. 17.\n(9) Pursuant to Article 8 (1) of Regulation No 17, a Commission decision in application of Article 85 (3) of the Treaty must be issued for a specified period. In the present case an extension of the Decision for a period of ten years appears appropriate.\nThe exemption granted by Decision 83/671/EEC is hereby until 31 December 2003.\nExemption is granted subjected to the same reporting requirements as are specified in Article 3 of Decision 83/671/EEC.\nThis Decision shall apply from 1 January 1994.\nThis Decision is addressed to:\n- Amerada Hess Corporation,\n1185, Avenue of the Americas,\nNew York, NY-10036,\nUSA;\n- Amoco Corporation,\n200, East Randolph Drive,\nChicago, IL-60601,\nUSA;\n- Anonima Petroli Italiana (API),\nCorso d'Italia, 6,\n00198 Rome,\nItaly;\n- Ashland Oil, Inc.,\n2000, Ashland Drive,\nRussell, KY-41169,\nUSA;\n- Atlantic Richfield Company,\n1601, Bryant Street,\nDallas, TX-75228,\nUSA;\n- BP Oil International Limited,\nBritannic House,\n1, Finsbury House,\nLondon, EC2M 7BA,\nUnited Kingdom;\n- Caltex Petroleum Corporation,\n125, E. John Carpenter Freeway,\nIrving, TX-75062-2794,\nUSA;\n- Chevron Corporation,\n225, Bush Street,\nSan Francisco, CA-94104-4289,\nUSA;\n- Compa\u00f1\u00eda Espa\u00f1ola de Petr\u00f3leos, SA (Cepsa),\nApartado 671,\nAvenida de Am\u00e9rica, 32,\nMadrid 2,\nSpain;\n- Conoco Inc.,\n600 N. Dairy Ashfort Road,\nHouston, TX-77079,\nUSA;\n- Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd,\nToshiba Building,\n1-1, Shibaura, 1-Chome,\nMinato-ku,\nTokyo, 105,\nJapan;\n- DEA Mineraloel AG,\nUEberseering 40,\n22297 Hamburg,\nGermany;\n- Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi (ENI) Agip Petroli SpA,\nVia Laurentina, 449,\n00142 Rome,\nItaly;\n- Exxon Corporation,\n200, Park Avenue,\nFlorham Park,\nNJ-07932,\nUSA;\n- Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd,\n1-1, 3-Chome, Marunouchi,\nChiyoda-ku,\nTokyo 100,\nJapan;\n- Japan Energy Corporation,\n10-1, Toranomon 2-Chome,\nMinato-Ku,\nTokyo 105,\nJapan;\n- Mabanaft GmbH,\nAdmiralitaetsstr. 55,\n20459 Hamburg,\nGermany;\n- Mitsubishi Oil Co., Ltd,\n2-4, Toranomon, 1-Chome,\nMinato-ku,\nTokyo 105,\nJapan;\n- Mobil Oil Corporation,\n3225, Gallows Road,\nFairfax, VA-22037,\nUSA;\n- Neste Oy,\nPOB 20,\nFIN-02151 Espoo,\nFinland;\n- Norsk Hydro as,\nPO Box 220,\nN-1321, Stabekk,\nNorway;\n- OK Petroleum AB,\nS-11590 Stockholm,\nSweden;\n- OEMV AG,\nOtto-Wagner-Platz 5,\nA-1090 Vienna,\nAustria;\n- Petro-Canada Products Ltd,\nPO Box 2844,\n150 6th Avenue S.W.,\nCalgary,\nAlberta, T2P 3E3,\nCanada;\n- Petrofina SA,\nrue de l'Industrie, 52,\n1040 Brussels,\nBelgium;\n- Petrogal, SA,\nR. Mouzinho da Silveira, 26-7,\n1200 Lisbon,\nPortugal;\n- Petr\u00f3leos del Norte, SA (Petronor),\nPaseo de la Castellana, 280,\n28046 Madrid,\nSpain;\n- Petroleum Association of Japan (PAJ),\nKeidanren Building,\n1-9-4, Ohtemachi,\nChiyoda-Ku,\nTokyo 100,\nJapan;\n- Praoil,\nStrada 2, Pal. F7,\n20090 Assago,\nMilan,\nItaly;\n- Phillips Petroleum Company,\n17 D3 Phillips Building,\nBartlesville, OK 74004,\nUSA;\n- Repsol, SA,\nPaseo de la Castellana, 278,\n28046 Madrid,\nSpain;\n- Shell International Petroleum Co., Ltd,\nShell Centre,\nLondon, SE1 7NA,\nUnited Kingdom;\n- Shell Oil Company,\n901 Louisiana,\nHouston, TX 77002,\nUSA;\n- Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 nationale Elf Aquitaine,\nTour Elf,\nCedex 45,\n92078 Paris-La D\u00e9fense,\nFrance;\n- Statoil,\nPostbox 300,\n4001 Stavanger,\nNorway;\n- Sun Oil Company, Inc.,\n1801, Market Street,\nPhiladelphia, PA-19103-1699,\nUSA;\n- Texaco Inc.,\n2000 Westchester Avenue,\nWhite Plains, NY-10650,\nUSA;\n- Total SA,\nTour Total,\n24, Cours Michelet,\nCedex 47,\n92069 Paris-La D\u00e9fense,\nFrance;\n- Tuerkiye Petrol Rafinerili AS (TUEPRAS),\n41002 Izmit,\nTurkey;\n- VEBA OEl AG,\nAlexander-von-Humboldt-Strasse,\n45876 Gelsenkirchen,\nGermany;\n- Wintershall AG,\nFriedrich-Ebert-Strasse 160,\n34119 Kassel,\nGermany.", "answer groups": [ "petroleum policy", "oil industry", "energy supply", "exchange of information", "International Energy Agency", "restrictive trade practice" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0556/2008 of 16\u00a0June 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a02505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products\n19.6.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 160/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 556/2008\nof 16 June 2008\namending Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 opening and providing for the administration of autonomous Community tariff quotas for certain agricultural and industrial products\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 26 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 20 December 1996 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2505/96\u00a0(1). Community demand for the products to which that Regulation applies should be met under the most favourable conditions. For that purpose, with effect from 1 July 2008 new Community tariff quotas should be opened at zero rates of duty for appropriate amounts and any disturbance of the markets for those products should be avoided.\n(2) The quota amounts for five autonomous Community tariff quotas are insufficient to meet the needs of the Community industry. Consequently, those quota amounts should be increased.\n(3) Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(4) Having regard to the economic importance of this Regulation, it is necessary to rely on the grounds of urgency provided for in point 1.3 of the Protocol on the role of national parliaments in the European Union annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaties establishing the European Communities.\n(5) Since the tariff quotas have to take effect from 1 July 2008, this Regulation should apply from the same date and enter into force immediately,\nAnnex I to Regulation (EC) No 2505/96 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. the tariff quotas for the products listed in Annex I to this Regulation shall be inserted;\n2. the rows for the tariff quotas with order numbers 09.2975, 09.2603, 09.2935, 09.2814 and 09.2620 shall be replaced by the rows in Annex II to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 2008.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "chemical product", "agricultural product", "industrial product", "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Regulation (EC) No\u00a0538/2008 of 29\u00a0May 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No\u00a01386/2007 laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation\n17.6.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 157/1\nCOUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 538/2008\nof 29 May 2008\namending Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007 laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007 of 22\u00a0October 2007 laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 70 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nWhereas:\n(1) Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007 implements certain conservation and enforcement measures adopted by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (hereinafter referred to as \u2018the NAFO\u2019).\n(2) At its 29th annual meeting held in September 2007, NAFO adopted a number of amendments to its conservation and enforcement measures. Those amendments relate to the provisions on mesh size, transhipments, closed areas to ensure coral protection, catch reports, definition of serious infringement, product codes, the port inspection format as well as technical requirements for boarding ladders.\n(3) Furthermore, mistakes have been found in Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007 that need to be corrected: there are a number of errors in cross references and certain elements are missing in point 3 of Annex VII.\n(4) Regulation (EC) No 1386/2007 should therefore be amended accordingly,\nRegulation (EC) No 1386/2007 is hereby amended as follows:\n1. the following point shall be added to Article 3:\n\u201820. \u201cTranshipment\u201d means the transfer, over the side, of any quantity of fisheries resources or products thereof retained on board, from one fishing vessel to another.\u2019;\n2. the following paragraph shall be added to Article 7:\n3. Article 12 shall be replaced by the following:\nArea Coordinate 1 Coordinate 2 Coordinate 3 Coordinate 4\nOrphan Knoll 50.00.30 N 51.00.30 N 51.00.30 N 50.00.30 N\nCorner Seamounts 35.00.00 N 36.00.00 N 36.00.00 N 35.00.00 N\nNewfoundland Seamounts 43.29.00 N 44.00.00 N 44.00.00 N 43.29.00 N\nNew England Seamounts 35.00.00 N 39.00.00 N 39.00.00 N 35.00.00 N\nPoint No Latitude Longitude\n1 42\u00b053\u203200\u2033N 51\u00b000\u203200\u2033W\n2 42\u00b052\u203204\u2033N 51\u00b031\u203244\u2033W\n3 43\u00b024\u203213\u2033N 51\u00b058\u203212\u2033W\n4 43\u00b024\u203220\u2033N 51\u00b058\u203218\u2033W\n5 43\u00b039\u203238\u2033N 52\u00b013\u203210\u2033W\n6 43\u00b040\u203259\u2033N 52\u00b027\u203252\u2033W\n7 43\u00b056\u203219\u2033N 52\u00b039\u203248\u2033W\n8 44\u00b004\u203253\u2033N 52\u00b058\u203212\u2033W\n9 44\u00b018\u203238\u2033N 53\u00b006\u203200\u2033W\n10 44\u00b018\u203236\u2033N 53\u00b024\u203207\u2033W\n11 44\u00b049\u203259\u2033N 54\u00b030\u203200\u2033W\n12 44\u00b029\u203255\u2033N 54\u00b030\u203200\u2033W\n13 43\u00b026\u203259\u2033N 52\u00b055\u203259\u2033W\n14 42\u00b048\u203200\u2033N 51\u00b041\u203206\u2033W\n15 42\u00b033\u203202\u2033N 51\u00b000\u203200\u2033W\u2019\n4. in Article 19, paragraph 5 shall be replaced by the following:\n5. the following point shall be added to Article 21(2):\n\u2018(f) the catch prior to entry and exit from Division 3L. These reports shall be made by vessels that fish shrimp in Division 3L and shall be sent one hour prior to crossing the boundary of that Division. The report shall indicate the catches taken onboard since the previous catch report, by Division and species (3 alpha code) in kg, rounded to the nearest 100 kg.\u2019;\n6. in Article 30, paragraph 5 shall be replaced by the following:\n7. in Article 32, paragraph 1 shall be replaced by the following:\n8. Article 47 shall be amended as follows:\n(a) point (b) shall be replaced by the following:\n\u2018(b) provide a boarding ladder constructed and used as described in the conservation and enforcement measures of NAFO;\u2019;\n(b) the following point shall be inserted:\n\u2018(b)a if a mechanical hoist is provided, ensure that its ancillary equipment is of a type approved by the national administration. It shall be of such design and construction as to ensure that the inspector can embark and disembark in a safe manner including a safe access from the hoist to the deck and vice versa. A boarding ladder complying with point (b) shall be kept on deck adjacent to the hoist and available for immediate use;\u2019;\n9. Annex II shall be replaced by the text in Annex I to this Regulation;\n10. Annex VII shall be amended in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation;\n11. Annex XII shall be replaced by the text in Annex III to this Regulation;\n12. Annex XIII shall be deleted;\n13. Annex XIV(b) shall be replaced by the text in Annex IV to this Regulation.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fishing regulations", "North-West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation", "fishing area", "fishing controls", "conservation of fish stocks" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a01119/2007 of 27 September 2007 derogating from Regulation (EC) No\u00a0581/2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for export refunds concerning certain types of butter and from Regulation (EC) No\u00a0582/2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for exports refunds concerning skimmed milk powder\n28.9.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 253/23\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1119/2007\nof 27 September 2007\nderogating from Regulation (EC) No 581/2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for export refunds concerning certain types of butter and from Regulation (EC) No 582/2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for exports refunds concerning skimmed milk powder\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 31(3)(b) and 14 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) The present situation on the market for milk and milk products has allowed Commission Regulation (EC) No 660/2007 of 14 June 2007 fixing the export refunds for milk and milk products\u00a0(2) not to provide for export refunds from 15 June 2007. This situation is likely to remain for some months.\n(2) Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 581/2004\u00a0(3) and Article 2(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 582/2004\u00a0(4), lay down the application period for tender export refund certificates for butter and skimmed milk powder. Given the current market situation and with a view to avoid unnecessary administrative procedures and charges it is appropriate and found sufficient to have one single tender application period per month in the last quarter of 2007.\n(3) It is therefore necessary to derogate from Regulations (EC) No 581/2004 and (EC) No 582/2004.\n(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products,\nBy way of derogation from Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 581/2004, the tendering periods for the months October to December 2007 shall be the following:\n(a) for October 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 9 and end on 16 October;\n(b) for November 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 6 and end on 13 November;\n(c) for December 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 4 and end on 11 December.\nIf the starting date is a public holiday, the period shall begin on the following working day. If the end date is a public holiday, it shall end on the previous working day.\nTendering periods shall start and end at 13:00 (Brussels time).\nBy way of derogation from Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 582/2004, the tendering periods for the months October to December 2007 shall be the following:\n(a) for October 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 9 and end on 16 October;\n(b) for November 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 6 and end on 13 November;\n(c) for December 2007 the tendering period shall begin on 4 and end on 11 December.\nIf the starting date is a public holiday, the period shall begin on the following working day. If the end date is a public holiday, it shall end on the previous working day.\nTendering periods shall start and end at 13:00 (Brussels time).\nMember States shall inform the operators of the new dates by the means which they consider the most appropriate.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "export refund", "skimmed milk powder", "butter", "award of contract" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EEC) No 484/79 of 13 March 1979 on the classification of goods under subheading 39.07 E IV of the Common Customs Tariff\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 484/79 of 13 March 1979 on the classification of goods under subheading 39.07 E IV of the Common Customs Tariff\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 97/69 of 16 January 1969 on measures to be taken for uniform application of the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 280/77 (2), and in particular Article 3 thereof,\nWhereas, in order to ensure uniform application of the nomenclature of the Common Customs Tariff, provision must be made for the classification of \"yarn for fishing lines\", consisting of hollow braiding made from continuous nylon fibres wholly clad with a layer of polyvinyl chloride, put up in reels in certain lengths, with tapered ends;\nWhereas the Common Customs Tariff annexed to Council Regulation (EEC) No 950/68 (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2800/78 (4), includes yarn of synthetic textile fibres under heading No 51.03, braids under heading No 58.07, textile fabrics covered with artificial plastic materials under heading No 59.08 and articles of artificial plastic materials under heading No 39.07;\nWhereas all these headings are relevant to the classification of the abovementioned \"yarn for fishing lines\";\nWhereas the article in question cannot be included in \"yarns\", within the meaning of Section XI of the Common Customs Tariff and as described, in particular, under sub-title \"(B) Yarns\" of the \"General\" Explanatory Note to the Customs Cooperation Council nomenclature concerning that Section ; whereas, technically, this article is braid;\nWhereas, heading No 58.07 might therefore have to be considered were it not for the fact that Note 1 to Chapter 58 of the Common Customs Tariff stipulates that this chapter is to be taken not to apply to coated or impregnated fabrics, which fall within Chapter 59 ; whereas the expression \"textile fabric\" is to be taken to apply also to braids, in accordance with Note 1 (A) to Chapter 59 ; whereas according to Note 2 (A) (c) to Chapter 59, however, products in which the textile fabric is completely embedded in artificial plastic material are to fall within Chapter 39 of the Common Customs Tariff ; whereas, consequently, the abovementioned \"yarn for fishing lines\" cannot be classified under heading No 51.03, nor under heading No 58.07, nor under heading No 59.08, but must fall within Chapter 39;\nWhereas the article in question, having regard to its nature and presentation, falls to be classified within Chapter 39 under subheading 39.07 E IV;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Common Customs Tariff Nomenclature,\n\"Yarn for fishing lines\", consisting of hollow braiding made from continuous nylon fibres wholly clad with a layer of polyvinyl chloride, put up in reels in certain lengths, with tapered ends, shall be classified in the Common Customs Tariff under subheading:\n39.07 Articles of materials of the kinds described in heading Nos 39.01 to 39.06:\nE. Of other materials:\nIV. Other\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the 21st day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. (1)OJ No L 14, 21.1.1969, p. 1. (2)OJ No L 40, 11.2.1977, p. 1. (3)OJ No L 172, 22.7.1968, p. 1. (4)OJ No L 335, 1.12.1978, p. 1.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "sport fishing", "tariff nomenclature", "common customs tariff" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Decision of 22\u00a0December 2006 setting up an expert group on transfer pricing\n6.2.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 32/189\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 22\u00a0December 2006\nsetting up an expert group on transfer pricing\n(2007/75/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nWhereas:\n(1) The study \u2018Company Taxation in the Internal Market\u2019\u00a0(1) prepared by the Commission services identified the increasing importance of transfer pricing tax problems as an Internal Market issue.\n(2) In its Communication \u2018Towards an Internal Market without tax obstacles \u2014 a strategy for providing companies with a consolidated corporate tax base for their EU-wide activities\u2019\u00a0(2) the Commission recognized the need to call upon the expertise of specialists in the field of transfer pricing.\n(3) In 2002, the \u2018EU Joint Transfer Pricing Forum\u2019 was informally set up.\n(4) Since it has been established the \u2018EU Joint Transfer Pricing Forum\u2019 has provided for a useful discussion forum between Member States and the private sector which led the Commission to propose two Codes of Conduct which were subsequently adopted by Member States in the Council.\n(5) Given the positive experience with that forum and the Commission's continuous need for such a body, the continuation of the work of that forum should be laid down in a formal act. It is therefore necessary to set up a group of experts in the field of transfer pricing and to define its tasks and its structure.\n(6) The expert group on transfer pricing should be composed of governmental and private-sector experts in the field of transfer pricing.\n(7) The expert group on transfer pricing should assist and advise the Commission in transfer pricing tax issues.\n(8) Rules on disclosure of information by members of the group should be provided for, without prejudice to the rules on security annexed to the Commission's rules of Procedure by Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom\u00a0(3).\n(9) Personal data relating to members of the group should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No\u00a045/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18\u00a0December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data\u00a0(4).\n(10) It is appropriate to fix a period for the application of this Decision. The Commission will in due time consider the advisability of an extension,\nExpert group on transfer pricing\nAn expert group on transfer pricing, hereinafter referred to as the \u2018group\u2019, is set up with effect from 1\u00a0March 2007.\nThe group shall be known as \u2018the EU Joint Transfer Pricing Forum\u2019.\nTasks\nThe group's tasks shall be the following:\n\u2014 to create a platform where business and national tax administration experts can discuss transfer pricing problems which constitute obstacles to cross-border business activities within the Community\n\u2014 to advise the Commission on transfer pricing tax issues\n\u2014 to assist the Commission in finding practical solutions, compatible with the OECD Guidelines\u00a0(5), in order to achieve a more uniform application of transfer pricing rules within the Community.\nConsultation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to transfer pricing.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Chairman of the group may advise the Commission that it is desirable to consult the group on a specific question.\nMembership \u2014 Appointment\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall comprise up to 43 members composed as follows:\n(a) One representative from each Member State.\n(b) Up to 15 representatives from the private sector.\n(c) A Chairman\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members representing the Member States shall be appointed by the national authorities concerned. Those members shall be civil servants dealing with transfer pricing matters.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Private sector members shall be appointed by the Commission from specialists with experience and competence in transfer pricing issues.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applicants deemed suitable for membership but not appointed may be placed on a reserve list, which the Commission may use for the appointment of replacements.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Private sector members shall be appointed in a personal capacity and shall advise the Commission independently of any outside influence.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They shall inform the Commission in good time of any conflict of interests which might undermine their objectivity.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission shall also appoint a Chairman.\n8.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members of the group shall be appointed for a 2-year renewable term of office. They shall remain in office until such time as they are replaced or their term of office ends.\n9.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Members may be replaced for the remainder of their term of office in any of the following cases:\n(a) where the member resigns;\n(b) where the member is no longer capable of contributing effectively to the group's deliberations;\n(c) where the member does not comply with Article\u00a0287 of the Treaty;\n(d) where, contrary to paragraph\u00a05, the member is not independent of any outside influence;\n(e) where, contrary to paragraph\u00a06, the member has failed to inform the Commission in good time of a conflict of interest.\n10.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The names of members appointed in a personal capacity shall be published on the website of DG TAXUD. The names of members shall be collected, processed and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) Nr 45/2001.\nOperation\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group may with the agreement of the Commission, set up sub-groups to examine specific questions under terms of reference established by the group. Such sub-groups shall be dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission's representative may ask experts or observers with specific competence on a subject on the agenda to participate in the work of the group, or in the deliberations or work of a sub-group, if, in the opinion of the Commission, this is necessary or useful.\nIn particular, representatives of the candidate countries and from the OECD Secretariat may be invited as observers.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Information obtained by participating in the deliberations or work of the group or of a sub-group shall not be divulged if, in the opinion of the Commission, that information relates to confidential matters.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group and its sub-groups normally shall meet on Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and schedule established by it. The Commission shall provide secretarial services.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may attend these meetings.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission.\n7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Commission services may publish, or place on the Internet\u00a0(6), in the original language of the document concerned, any summary, conclusion, or partial conclusion or working document of the group.\nReimbursement of expenses\nThe Commission shall reimburse travel expenses and, where appropriate, subsistence expenses for members, experts and observers in connection with the group's activities in accordance with the Commission's rules on the compensation of external experts.\nThe members, experts and observers shall not be remunerated for the services they render.\nMeeting expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the annual budget allocated to the group by the competent Commission department.\nExpiry\nThe decision shall expire on 31\u00a0March 2011.", "answer groups": [ "transfer pricing", "tax system", "self-employed person" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2007/40/EC of 28 June 2007 amending Directive 2001/32/EC recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community\n29.6.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 169/49\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2007/40/EC\nof 28 June 2007\namending Directive 2001/32/EC recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 2000/29/EC of 8 May 2000 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community\u00a0(1), and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 2(1)(h) thereof,\nHaving regard to the requests made by the Czech Republic, Denmark, France and Italy,\nAfter consulting the Member States concerned,\nWhereas:\n(1) By Commission Directive 2001/32/EC\u00a0(2), certain Member States or certain areas in Member States were recognised as protected zones in respect of certain harmful organisms.\n(2) Denmark was recognised as a protected zone with respect to Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr. Following the results of the relevant surveys carried out in Denmark, Denmark has submitted information showing that an adequate phytosanitary protection of Denmark against Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr does not require maintaining the status of Denmark as a protected zone against that organism and requested its protected zone status against Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr be withdrawn. Denmark should therefore no longer be recognised as a protected zone in respect of that harmful organism.\n(3) From information supplied by the Czech Republic, France and Italy, the Czech Republic, the regions of Champagne-Ardenne, Lorraine and Alsace in France and the region of Basilicata in Italy should be recognised as protected zones in respect of Grapevine flavescence dor\u00e9e MLO, because this pathogen is not present there.\n(4) Directive 2001/32/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plant Health,\nThe Annex to Directive 2001/32/EC is amended as follows:\n1. in point (c)(01) \u2018Denmark\u2019 is deleted.\n2. the following point (d)(4) is added:\n\u20184. Grapevine flavescence dor\u00e9e MLO\nMember States shall adopt and publish by 31 October 2007 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and the Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1 November 2007.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such a reference is to be made.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "parasitology", "plant health control", "protected area", "plant disease" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 725/2014 of 30 June 2014 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 499/96 as regards new Union tariff quotas for certain fish and fishery products originating in Iceland\n1.7.2014 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 192/40\nCOMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 725/2014\nof 30 June 2014\namending Council Regulation (EC) No 499/96 as regards new Union tariff quotas for certain fish and fishery products originating in Iceland\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 499/96 of 19 March 1996 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas of the Union for certain fish and fishery products originating in Iceland\u00a0(1), and in particular Article\u00a05(1)(b) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) By Council Decision 2014/343/EU\u00a0(2), the signing and the provisional application of an Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and Iceland consequent to the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union have been approved.\n(2) The Additional Protocol provides for two new tariff quotas for release for free circulation in the European Union of frozen Norway lobsters and of fresh or chilled fillets of redfish originating in Iceland.\n(3) It is necessary to amend Regulation (EC) No 499/96 in order to implement the new tariff quotas.\n(4) The new tariff quotas should apply for a period of 12\u00a0months. In accordance with Decision 2014/343/EU, they are to apply from the day of the provisional application of the Additional Protocol. This Regulation should therefore apply from the same date.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Customs Code Committee,\nThe following rows are added to the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 499/96:\n\u201809.0813 0304\u00a049\u00a050 Fillets of redfish (Sebastes spp.), fresh or chilled From 1.8.2014 to 31.7.2015 100 0\n09.0814 0306\u00a015\u00a090 Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus), frozen From 1.8.2014 to 31.7.2015 60 0\u2019\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 August 2014.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "fresh fish", "frozen product", "crustacean", "import (EU)", "sea fish", "originating product", "Iceland", "tariff quota" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2003/768/EC: Council Decision of 20 October 2003 appointing an alternate member of the Committee of the Regions\nCouncil Decision\nof 20 October 2003\nappointing an alternate member of the Committee of the Regions\n(2003/768/EC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 263 thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Netherlands Government,\nWhereas:\n(1) On 22 January 2002 the Council adopted Decision 2002/60/EC appointing the members and alternate members of the Committee of the Regions(1).\n(2) The seat of an alternate member of the Committee of the Regions has fallen vacant following the resignation of Mr L.E. VAN DER SAR, of which the Council was notified on 2 October 2003,\nMs R. KRUISINGA, gedeputeerde van de provincie Noord-Holland, is hereby appointed a member of the Committee of the Regions in place of Mr L.E. VAN DER SAR for the remainder of his term of office, which ends on 25 January 2006.", "answer groups": [ "appointment of staff", "Netherlands", "European Committee of the Regions" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2008/680/EC: Commission Decision of 23 October 2007 on the State aid scheme C 33/06 (ex N 576/04) which Germany intended to implement for the introduction of digital terrestrial television in Bavaria (notified under document number C(2007) 5094) (Text with EEA relevance)\n20.8.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 222/5\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 23 October 2007\non the State aid scheme C 33/06 (ex N 576/04) which Germany intended to implement for the introduction of digital terrestrial television in Bavaria\n(notified under document number C(2007) 5094)\n(Only the German version is authentic)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\n(2008/680/EC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof,\nHaving called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to those provisions\u00a0(1),\nWhereas:\nI.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PROCEDURE\n(1) By letter of 8 December 2004, registered on 10 December 2004, Germany notified the Commission in accordance with Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty of a measure concerning the financing of the rollout of digital terrestrial television in Bavaria by means of a subsidy for the transmission costs of commercial television broadcasters using the digital terrestrial platform.\n(2) By letter of 31 January 2005, the Commission requested additional information to which Germany replied, after extension of the deadline, by letter of 22 March 2005, registered on the same day. A further request for information was sent on 20 May 2005 to which Germany replied by letter of 16 June 2005, registered on 24 June 2005. The measure had similarities to the public funding of digital terrestrial television in Berlin-Brandenburg where the Commission initiated the procedure on 14 July 2004 and adopted a final decision declaring the aid incompatible with the Common Market on 9 November 2005\u00a0(2).\n(3) In view of the similarities between the two cases, the Commission and Germany agreed to suspend the notification procedure in the present case in order to allow the authorities to assess the consequences of the Berlin-Brandenburg decision for the present case.\n(4) By letter of 12 April 2006, the Commission requested Germany to determine its position in the notification procedure referred to in recital 2 within one month. By letter of 12 May 2006, Germany informed the Commission that it did not intend to withdraw or fundamentally change the notified measure. Germany, however, announced a small modification of the Bavarian notification which it, eventually, submitted by letter of 19 May 2006. The modification introduced a distinction between the subsidies granted to local television channels and those granted to the national television channels. By letter dated 19 July 2006, C(2006) 3175 final, the Commission informed Germany that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in view of the doubts about the compatibility of the measure with the EC Treaty.\n(5) The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union\n\u00a0(3). The Commission called on interested parties to submit their comments.\n(6) Germany submitted its observation by letter registered on 2 October 2006. Comments on the opening were submitted by ESOA (European Satellite Operators Association) on 22 September 2006, ANGA (Verband Privater Kabelnetzbetreiber e.V.) on 22 September 2006, Deutscher Kabelverband on 26 September 2006 and ProSiebenSat.1 on 26 September 2006.\n(7) Following further exchanges of information between the Commission and the German authorities, Germany informed the Commission by letter of 11 July 2007, registered on 17 July 2007, that the notified measure was no longer pursued, the notification was withdrawn and that only de minimis aid pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1998/2006 of 15 December 2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty to de minimis aid\u00a0(4) was granted to three local commercial broadcasters in Bavaria.\nII.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0DESCRIPTION OF THE MEASURE\n(8) The objective of the measure was to support the introduction of digital terrestrial television in Bavaria by means of a subsidy for the transmission costs of commercial television broadcasters\u00a0(5).\nIII.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0COMMENTS FROM GERMANY\n(9) The German authorities, in the letter dated 11 July 2007, informed the Commission that the notified measure has not been implemented and that it is withdrawn.\nIV.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ASSESSMENT\n(10) After the withdrawal of the notification, the procedure no longer has any relevance.\nV.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0CONCLUSION\n(11) Therefore, the Commission has decided to close the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty on the ground that it is without object, recording the withdrawal of the measure by Germany,\nAfter the withdrawal by Germany of the notified measure, the present proceedings have become without object. The Commission has thus decided to close the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty.\nThis Decision is addressed to the Federal Republic of Germany.", "answer groups": [ "high-definition television", "broadcasting", "Bavaria", "control of State aid", "Germany", "State aid" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Fourteenth Commission Directive 92/8/EEC of 18 February 1992 adapting to technical progress Annexes III, IV, VI and VII to Council Directive 76/768/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products\nFOURTEENTH COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 92/8/EEC of 18 February 1992 adapting to technical progress Annexes III, IV, VI and VII to Council Directive 76/768/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products (1), as last amended by Directive 91/184/EEC (2), and in particular Article 8 (2) thereof,\nWhereas, on the basis of the available information, the substances, colouring agents, preservatives, and ultraviolet filters whose date of admission expired on 31 December 1991 should continue to be used in cosmetic products for a further six months;\nWhereas the measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Adaptation to Technical Progress of the Directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the cosmetic products sector,\nDirective 76/768/EEC is hereby amended as follows:\n1. In Annex III, Part 2, the date of 31 December 1991 in the 'allowed until' column is replaced by that of 30 June 1992 for the following substance:\n2.1,1,1-Trichloroethane (methyl chloroform);\n2. In Annex IV, Part 2, the date of 31 December 1991 in the 'allowed until' column is replaced by that of 30 June 1992 for the following numbers and denominations: 26 100, 73 900, 74 189, Solvent Yellow 98 and 15 585;\n3. In Annex VI, Part 2, the date of 31 December 1991 in the 'allowed until' column is replaced by that of 30 June 1992 for the following substances:\n2. Chlorphenesin (INN)\n15. Benzethonium chloride (INN) (+)\n16. Benzalkonium chloride (INN), bromide and saccharinate (+)\n20. Hexamidine (INN) and its salts (including isethionate and 4-hydroxybenzoate) (+)\n21. Benzylhemiformal (a 1: 1 mixture of benzyloxymethanol and (benzyloxymethoxy) methanol)\n26. Glutaraldehyde\n27. 3-Decyloxy 2-hydroxy-1-amino propane-hydro-chloride (Decominol) (INN);\n4. In Annex VII, Part 2, the date of 31 December 1991 in the 'allowed until' is replaced by that of 30 June 1992 for the following substances:\n1. N-Propoxylated ethyl-4-aminobenzoate (mixed isomers)\n2. Ethoxylated ethyl-4-aminobenzoate\n4. Glycerol 1-(4-aminobenzoate)\n5. 2-Ethylhexyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate\n6. 2-Ethylhexyl salicylate\n12. Isopentyl-4-methoxycinnamate (mixed isomers)\n13. 2-Ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate\n16. 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-4-methylbenzophenone (mexenone)\n17. 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5 sulphonic acid and sodium salt (Sulisobenzone and Sulisobenzone sodium)\n24. Alpha-(2-Oxoborn-3-ylidene) toluene-4-sulphonic acid and its salts\n25. 3(4-Methylbenzylidene)-d-1-camphor\n26. 3-Benzylidene camphor\n28. 4-Isopropyl-dibenzoylmethane\n29. 4-Isopropylbenzyl salicylate\n31. 1-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)\npropane-1-3-dione\n32. 2,4,6-Trianilino-(p-carbo-2-ethylhexyl-1-oxi)-\n1,3,5-triazine.\n1. Regardless of the dates of admission mentioned in Article 1, Member States shall take all the necessary measures to ensure that as from 1 July 1992, for the substances referred to in Article 1, neither manufacturers nor importers established in the Community shall place on the market products which do not comply with the requirements of this Directive.\n2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the products referred to in paragraph 1 containing the substances referred to in Article 1 cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of to the final consumer after 30 June 1993 if they do not comply with the requirements of this Directive.\n1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive no later than 31 December 1992. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.\nWhen the Member States adopt these provisions, these shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for such reference shall be adopted by Member States.\n2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "approximation of laws", "cosmetic product" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2010/51/EU of 11\u00a0August 2010 amending Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council to include N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide as an active substance in Annex I thereto Text with EEA relevance\n12.8.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 211/14\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2010/51/EU\nof 11 August 2010\namending Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council to include N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide as an active substance in Annex I thereto\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16\u00a0February\u00a01998 concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market\u00a0(1), and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 16(2) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1451/2007 of 4 December 2007 on the second phase of the 10-year work programme referred to in Article 16(2) of Directive 98/8/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market\u00a0(2) establishes a list of active substances to be assessed, with a view to their possible inclusion in Annex I, IA or IB to Directive 98/8/EC. That list includes N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (hereinafter \u2018DEET\u2019).\n(2) Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1451/2007, DEET has been evaluated in accordance with Article 11(2) of Directive 98/8/EC for use in product-type 19, repellents and attractants, as defined in Annex V to that Directive.\n(3) Sweden was designated as Rapporteur Member State and submitted the competent authority report, together with a recommendation, to the Commission on 30\u00a0November\u00a02007 in accordance with Article 14(4) and (6) of Regulation (EC) No\u00a01451/2007.\n(4) The competent authority report was reviewed by the Member States and the Commission. In accordance with Article 15(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1451/2007, the findings of the review were incorporated, within the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products on 11\u00a0March\u00a02010, in an assessment report.\n(5) It appears from the examinations made that biocidal products used as repellents or attractants and containing DEET may be expected to satisfy the requirements laid down in Article 5 of Directive 98/8/EC. It is therefore appropriate to include DEET in Annex I to that Directive.\n(6) In the light of the findings of the assessment report, it is appropriate to require that risk mitigation measures are applied at product authorisation level to products containing DEET and used as repellents or attractants. Products intended for direct application to human skin should be labelled with instructions for use including amount and frequency of application in order to minimize primary exposure of humans. Concerns were identified during the risk assessment for human health, especially for children. Therefore, unless data is submitted to demonstrate that the product will meet the requirements of Article 5 and Annex VI when used on children, products containing DEET should not be used on children less than two years old, and use should be restricted for children between two and twelve years old, except where motivated by the risk for human health through e.g. outbreaks of insect-borne diseases. Furthermore, products should contain deterrents for ingestion.\n(7) It is important that the provisions of this Directive be applied simultaneously in all the Member States in order to ensure equal treatment of biocidal products on the market containing the active substance DEET and also to facilitate the proper operation of the biocidal products market in general.\n(8) A reasonable period should be allowed to elapse before an active substance is included in Annex I in order to permit Member States and the interested parties to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements entailed and to ensure that applicants who have prepared dossiers can benefit fully from the 10-year period of data protection, which, in accordance with Article 12(1)(c)(ii) of Directive 98/8/EC, starts from the date of inclusion.\n(9) After inclusion, Member States should be allowed a reasonable period to implement Article 16(3) of Directive 98/8/EC.\n(10) Directive 98/8/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(11) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products,\nAnnex I to Directive 98/8/EC is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\nTransposition\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall adopt and publish, by 31\u00a0July\u00a02011 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive.\nThey shall apply those provisions from 1\u00a0August\u00a02012.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "plant health legislation", "chemical product", "plant health product", "marketing standard", "market approval", "marketing", "health risk" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "2011/32/EU: Commission Decision of 19\u00a0January 2011 terminating the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of purified terephthalic acid and its salts originating in Thailand\n20.1.2011 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 15/22\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 19 January 2011\nterminating the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of purified terephthalic acid and its salts originating in Thailand\n(2011/32/EU)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community\u00a0(1) (the basic Regulation), and in particular Article 9 thereof,\nAfter consulting the Advisory Committee,\nWhereas:\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PROCEDURE\n1.1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Initiation\n(1) On 22 December 2009, the European Commission (the \u2018Commission\u2019) announced by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union\n\u00a0(2) (Notice of initiation), the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports into the Union of purified terephthalic acid and its salts (PTA) originating in Thailand (the country concerned).\n(2) The anti-dumping proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged on 13 November 2009 by BP Aromatics Limited NV and CEPSA Quimica S.A. (the complainants) representing a major proportion, in this case more than 50\u00a0%, of the total Union production of PTA. The complaint contained prima facie evidence of dumping of the product concerned originating in the country concerned and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the opening of a proceeding.\n(3) On the same day, the Commission announced, by a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union\n\u00a0(3), the initiation of an anti-subsidy proceeding with regard to imports into the Union of PTA originating in Thailand. This investigation has been terminated by means of Commission Decision 2011/31/EU\u00a0(4).\n1.2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Parties concerned by the proceeding\n(4) The Commission officially advised the complainants, other known producers in the Union, the known exporting producers in Thailand, the representatives of the exporting country concerned and known importers and users of the initiation of the proceeding. Interested parties were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set out in the Notice of initiation. All interested parties who so requested and showed that there were particular reasons why they should be heard were granted a hearing.\n(5) The Commission sent questionnaires to the complainants, other known producers in the Union, the known exporting producers in Thailand and to the known importers and users of the product concerned and to all other parties that requested a questionnaire within the deadlines set out in the Notice of initiation.\n(6) Questionnaire replies were received from the three known Thai exporting producers, from three Union producers, from one Union importer and from five Union users.\n(7) The Commission sought and verified all the information deemed necessary for the determination of dumping, resulting injury and Union interest. Verification visits were carried out at the premises of the following companies:\n(a) Union producers:\n\u2014 BP Aromatics Limited NV, Geel, Belgium\n\u2014 CEPSA Qu\u00edmica, S.A., Madrid, Spain\n\u2014 Lotte Chemical UK Ltd (formerly Artenius), Wilton, Redcar, United Kingdom\n(b) Union importers:\n\u2014 Mitsui & Co. Benelux NV, Brussels, Belgium\n(c) Union users:\n\u2014 DSM Powder Coating Resins BV, Zwolle, Holland\n\u2014 M&G Polimeri Italia SpA, Patrica (Frosinone), Italy\n\u2014 NOVAPET S.A., Barbastro (Huesca), Spain\n\u2014 UAB NEO Group, Klaipeda, Lithuania\n(d) Exporting producers in Thailand:\n\u2014 TPT Petrochemicals Public Company Ltd, Bangkok, Thailand (hereinafter \u2018TPT\u2019)\n\u2014 Indorama Petrochem Ltd, Bangkok, Thailand (hereinafter \u2018Indorama\u2019)\n\u2014 Siam Mitsui PTA Company Ltd, Bangkok, Thailand (hereinafter \u2018SMPC\u2019)\n(e) Related exporter:\n\u2014 Mitsui Chemicals Inc, Tokyo, Japan (hereinafter \u2018MCI\u2019) \u2014 export sales representative and shareholder of SMPC.\n(8) Given that both TPT and Indorama are owned by the same holding company, they will be referred to in this document as the \u2018Indorama group\u2019.\n1.3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Investigation period and period considered\n(9) The investigation of dumping and injury covered the period from 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2009 (the \u2018investigation period\u2019 or \u2018IP\u2019). The examination of trends relevant for the assessment of injury covered the period from 1 January 2006 to the end of the investigation period (the period considered).\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PRODUCT CONCERNED AND LIKE PRODUCT\n2.1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Product concerned\n(10) The product concerned is terephthalic acid and its salts of a purity by weight of 99,5\u00a0% or more, currently falling within CN code ex\u00a02917\u00a036\u00a000 (the product concerned).\n(11) PTA is obtained by the purification of crude terephthalic acid, which is a result of making paraxylene (PX) react with a solvent and a catalyst solution.\n2.2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Like product\n(12) The product concerned and the PTA produced and sold on the domestic market of Thailand, as well as the PTA produced and sold in the Union by the Union industry were found to have the same basic physical and chemical characteristics and uses. They were therefore considered to be alike within the meaning of Article 1(4) of the basic Regulation.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0DUMPING\n3.1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Preliminary remarks\n(13) All three Thai exporting producers named in the complaint submitted questionnaires responses. The investigation revealed that no other Thai exporting producers of PTA exist and that the responses covered 100\u00a0% of Thai exports to the EU market.\n(14) The three companies requested dumping calculations to be performed on the basis of monthly data on the grounds that costs of the main raw material and consequently prices for the product concerned varied significantly through the IP. For the reasons shown in recital 26 below, the use of the requested methodology was not considered warranted.\n(15) It should be noted that sales on the domestic and EU markets were based on either spot prices or contracts based on the PX cost (the main raw material) or a formula based on a PTA pricing index in China. In the latter case, there was a significant time lag in a number of instances after which the final index was available. In order to implement the formula, an invoicing arrangement had to be operated whereby the final price could be settled some months after the initial provisional invoice was issued. Debit/credit notes were issued to correct the final price agreed in the contract.\n(16) The general methodology set out below has been applied to all the cooperating exporting producers in Thailand.\n3.2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Normal value\n(17) In accordance with Article 2(2) of the basic Regulation, the Commission first established whether the domestic sales of the Thai producers were sufficiently representative, i.e. whether the total volume of such sales represented at least 5\u00a0% of their total volume of export sales of the product concerned to the Union. The domestic sales of the Thai producers were considered sufficiently representative during the investigation period.\n(18) The Commission subsequently examined whether the domestic sales of the like product could be regarded as being sold in the ordinary course of trade pursuant to Article 2(4) of the basic Regulation. This was done by establishing for the like product sold on the domestic market the proportion of profitable domestic sales to independent customers during the IP.\n(19) Since the volume of profitable sales of the like product represented more than 80\u00a0% of the total domestic sales volume of the like product for all 3 producers, normal value was based on the actual domestic price, calculated as a weighted average of all domestic sales.\n3.3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Export price\n(20) This investigation showed that one of the cooperating exporting producers (SMPC) sold to the EU market via its largest shareholder (MCI, a company located in Japan), which then resold to a series of Japanese traders, which ultimately sold to parties on the EU market. It was investigated whether MCI and the largest Japanese trader were related and if such a relationship had an impact on prices.\n(21) It was found that the most important relationship concerned common shareholdings at a very low percentage held by Japanese banks on behalf of numerous trustees. It was, therefore, established that the relationship was not of such a nature to impact price levels. Indeed, given (i) the pricing/contractual arrangements outlined above which are typical for this industry and (ii) the nature of the relationship between the companies described above, prices are at arm\u2019s length. It was therefore determined that the export price of the product concerned could be established on the basis of MCI\u2019s sales to the Japanese traders.\n(22) A letter was sent to MCI informing it of the consequences of non-cooperation because during the verification in Tokyo the case handlers involved were not granted full access to accounting information relating to certain allowances.\n(23) It was therefore decided to calculate the allowances on the basis of facts available, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation. As a result the following methodology was used. For freight costs the allowance was adjusted upwards on the basis of information gathered on spot. For the remaining allowances the amounts reported as well as the net sales prices were also checked by reference to other independent sources, in this case information established for the other two Thai exporting producers and were found to be in line for the same type of sales. An alternative method of using Eurostat prices as a substitute was considered but not used because for this product the value in Eurostat was the cif price at the date of importation and not the adjusted final price established in accordance with the sales contract and the invoicing systems outlined above. This approach was exceptionally appropriate given the structure of the market as explained in recital 15 above. Note that the vast majority of allowances had already been verified in Thailand.\n3.4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Comparison\n(24) The comparison between normal value and export price was made on an ex-works basis.\n(25) For the purpose of ensuring a fair comparison between the normal value and the export price, due allowance in the form of adjustments was made for differences affecting prices and price comparability in accordance with Article 2(10) of the basic Regulation. On this basis, adjustments for differences in transport, insurance, packing, credit, handling and commission costs were made where applicable and justified.\n(26) The comparison between export price and normal value was made on an annual basis. The request of the exporting producers to make comparisons on a monthly basis was considered but not pursued since it was obvious that it would not have changed the overall conclusion with respect to dumping, i.e. the countrywide de minimis dumping.\n3.5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dumping margin\n(27) Pursuant to Article 2(11) and (12) of the basic Regulation, the dumping margin for the cooperating exporting producers in Thailand were established on the basis of a comparison of a weighted average normal value with a weighted average export price as established above.\n(28) On the basis of the above methodology the dumping margins, expressed as a percentage of the cif Union frontier price, duty unpaid, were set as follows:\nDumping Margin\nIndorama group 3,7\u00a0%\nSMPC No dumping\n(29) The three exporting producers (the two of the Indorama group and SMPC) represent the entirety of exports originating in Thailand when compared to the Eurostat data. In order to assess whether, on a countrywide basis, the dumping margin was below de minimis, a weighted average countrywide dumping margin was established. It was found that this margin was below de minimis, i.e. 1,8\u00a0%.\n(30) In view of the countrywide de minimis dumping margin, provisional measures on imports of PTA originating in Thailand should not be imposed.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0INJURY, CAUSATION AND UNION INTEREST\n(31) In view of the above findings with respect to dumping it is not considered necessary to present any analysis on injury, causation and Union interest.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0TERMINATION OF THE PROCEEDING\n(32) The proceeding should therefore be terminated as the dumping margin determined for Thailand is less than 2\u00a0%. Interested parties were informed accordingly and were given the opportunity to comment.\n(33) As to dumping issues, comments were received from one of the complainants which considered that the Commission should have imputed to SMPC the dumping margin established for the other two exporting producers (3,7\u00a0%) as a consequence of facts available. In such a case it was argued that there would have been a de minimis dumping margin. This had to be rejected. The Commission did apply facts available with respect to the Japanese related company by using the company\u2019s available data, adjusting it upwards and comparing it to other verifiable sources. To impute in these circumstances the dumping margin of the other exporters would not have been in line with the provisions of Article 18.\n(34) The same complainant also argued that other governments take a different view on investigations concerning PTA for a similar IP. This had to be rejected. In this respect it is noted that the evidence provided by the party refers to an anti-dumping duty imposed by the People\u2019s Republic of China on imports of PTA from Korea and Thailand. The information provided cannot corroborate the party\u2019s claim since no evidence exists on how normal value and export price were established in this Chinese anti-dumping investigation. Furthermore, in the investigation by the Chinese authorities, the IP runs from 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008, while the IP used in the current EU investigation runs from 1 December 2008 to 30 November 2009. Therefore the periods taken into consideration in the EU and the Chinese investigations were very different.\n(35) As far as injury aspects are concerned no representations were submitted by any interested party.\n(36) In conclusion, no comments from any interested party undermine the finding that protective measures are unnecessary.\n(37) In light of all the above, the Commission therefore concludes that the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports into the Union of purified terephthalic acid and its salts originating in Thailand should be terminated without the imposition of anti-dumping measures,\nThe anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of terephthalic acid and its salts of a purity by weight of 99,5\u00a0% or more, currently falling within CN code ex\u00a02917\u00a036\u00a000, originating in Thailand, is hereby terminated.", "answer groups": [ "import policy", "import restriction", "export subsidy", "chemical product", "Thailand", "third country", "countervailing charge" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "90/399/EEC: Commission Decision of 26 July 1990 terminating an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain single phase, two-speed electric motors originating in Bulgaria, Romania and Czechoslovakia\nCOMMISSION DECISION\nof 26 July 1990\nterminating an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain single phase, two-speed electric motors originating in Bulgaria, Romania and Czechoslovakia\n(90/399/EEC)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88 of 11 July 1988 on protection against dumped or subsidized imports from countries not members of the European Economic Community (1), and in particular Article 9 thereof,\nAfter consultation within the Advisory Committee as provided for by Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88,\nWhereas:\nA. PROCEDURE\n(1) In July 1989 the Commission received a complaint lodged by Associazione Nazionale Industrie Elettrotechniche ed Elettroniche (ANIE), Italy, Groupement des Industries de Mat\u00e9riels d'Equipement Electrique et de L'Electronique Industrielle Associ\u00e9e (Gimelec), France and Asociaci\u00f3n Nacional de Fabricantes de B\u00edenes de Equipo (Sercobe), Spain, trade associations which represent the majority of the Community production of the electric motors concerned.\nThe complaint was accompanied by sufficient evidence of dumping and injury to justify the initiation of an investigation.\nConsequently, the Commission published a notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities (2) announcing the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports into the Community of certain single phase, two-speed electric motors originating in Bulgaria, Romania and Czechoslovakia falling within CN code 8501 40 90, and started an investigation.\nB. PRODUCT\n(2) The products allegedly being dumped are AC, single phase, two-speed, electric motors used in the construction of low-speed washing machines. These electric motors fall within CN code 8501 40 90.\nIt should be noted that electric motors of the type described are used only in washing machines destined for markets in the southern half of the Community, i.e. France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal, owing to the fact that the washing machine motors that are produced and used in northern Community countries have different technical specifications and fall within different CN codes.\n(3) When considering the 'likeness' between the Community electric motors concerned and the exported electric motors which are the subject of this proceeding, the Commission established that these motors were alike in their essential character and identical in their use. None of those concerned commented on this question, within the meaning of Article 2 (12) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88.\nC. SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURE\n(4) The Commission officially notified the exporters and importers known to be concerned, representatives of the exporting countries and the complainants, giving those directly concerned the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing. Some of them asked for and received a hearing from the Commission. Some importers made their views known in writing.\n(5) The Commission collected and verified all the information it considered necessary to assess the evidence and carried out inspections at the premises of the following firms:\nCommunity producers\n- Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 Electrom\u00e9canique du Nivernais (Selni),\nNevers,\nFrance,\n- Nuova IB-MEI spa,\nAsti,\nItaly,\n- Sole spa,\nPordenone,\nItaly,\n- IB-MEI,\nMostoles,\nSpain.\n(6) Pursuant to Article 7 (1) (c) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, the dumping investigation covered the period 1 January to 30 September 1989 (hereinafter the 'investigation period').\nD. INJURY\n(7) When deciding whether the allegedly dumped imports caused major injury to the Community industry, the Commission considered whether or not to regard these imports as a whole.\nAfter having eliminated Bulgaria from its study, since no exports from this country had been recorded in 1988 or during the investigation period, the Commission established that the imported products were alike, that they were competing on the Community market and that they were destined for the same customers, and decided to regard them as a whole.\nWhen assessing the situation of the Community industry, the Commission took account of the following:\n(a) Volume, market share and price of imports\nVolume and market share\n(8) Imports into the Community of the electric motors which are the subject of the procedure originating in Romania and Czechoslovakia rose from 984 086 units in 1986 to 1 084 523 in 1988, an increase of 10,2 %.\nDuring the investigation period 745 365 units were imported. When extrapolated for the whole of 1989, these imports are revealed to be 8,3 % down.\n(9) Compared with Community consumption, which rose from 3 703 871 units in 1986 to 4 206 932 in 1988, an increase of 13,6 %, the market share of motors imported from Romania and Czechoslovakia fell from 26,6 % to 25,7 %.\nDuring the investigation period, the market share of the imports concerned fell further to 23,9 %, Community consumption in 1989 being down 0,6 % on 1988.\nPrice\n(10) Evidence available to the Commission showed undercutting in Italy and Spain, the two main markets for the imports.\nOn the Italian market, the Romanian exporter was established to be undercutting by between 3 and 26 %, and the Czechoslovak exporter by between 5 and 26 %.\nIn Spain, the Czechoslovak exporter was established to have been undercutting by between 4 and 18 %. There were no Romanian exports to this market during the investigation period.\n(b) Situation of the Community industry\nThe Commission examined whether the imports alleged to have been dumped had had any serious effect on the Community industry.\nCommunity production\n(11) Community production increased by 19,6 % from 1986 to 1988, from 2 737 574 units to 3 275 226, while its consumption increased by only 13 %.\nDuring the investigation period, Community production was 2 484 652 units; extrapolating this figure for the whole of 1989 shows a slight increase in production of 1 % against a 0,6 % drop in Community consumption.\nUtilization of production capacity\n(12) Utilization of production capacity, which had increased from 69 % to 76,7 % between 1986 and 1988, fell noticeably during the investigation period (to 71,7 %) because Community producers had increased their production capacity during 1988 and the investigation period.\nCommunity sales and market share\n(13) From 1986 to 1988 the sales of the Community producers concerned increased by 14,8 %, from 2 719 785 units to 3 122 409. During the investigation period 2 378 048 units were sold. Extrapolating this figure for the whole of 1989 reveals an increase of 1,3 %. (14) The market share of Community sales rose from 73,4 % in 1986 to 74,6 % in 1988 and 76 % in the investigation period.\nSelling price and profit\n(15) Community producers raised their prices considerably during the investigation period. Some Community producers alleged, however, that competition from allegedly dumped imports had prevented them from raising their prices in line with increasing production costs.\n(16) Although the financial circumstances of Community producers seem overall to have deteriorated when the investigation period is compared with the preceding years, the Commission was not able to verify this trend because two undertakings accounting for almost half of Community production during the investigation period supplied no data on their financial situation in preceding years.\nWhatever the case may be, two producers are still showing a profit. One is a producer of electric motors integrated into a group making washing machines, and the other is an independent producer, i.e. one not linked to a washing machine manufacturer. Of the Community producers making losses, one is an integrated producer and the other the subsidiary of the abovementioned independent producer.\nThe Commission found that the losses recorded by the integrated producer were a consequence more of the group's purchasing policy than of the imports alleged to have been dumped. In the case of the independent producer's subsidiary and in the absence of data regarding its financial situation in preceding years, it was not possible to prove that the losses found during the investigation period were caused by the imports in question.\nConclusions concerning the injury\n(17) The above information shows that the imports of motors of Romanian and Czechoslovak origin increased less rapidly than Community consumption; the decline in these imports was particularly noticeable during the investigation period, falling by 8 % while Community consumption remained relatively stable. The market share of the imports concerned was down by almost 3 % on 1986.\nThe Community producers, for their part, were able to increase production and sales at a rate faster than that at which Community consumption grew, so increasing their market share. Any slight decline in their utilization of production capacity during the investigation period is the result of increases in production capacity during 1988 and the investigation period, which were out of line with trends in Community consumption.\nThe producers were able to increase their prices considerably in spite of undercutting. It was not possible to satisfactorily verify arguments that these increases were inadequate and these arguments seemed irrelevant in the case of two of the producers, whose prices are set by their washing machine-making parent companies.\nConsequently, the Commission is unable to attribute any deterioration in financial results during the investigation period to the imports in question.\nIn view of the above, the Commission has to conclude that imports of electric motors originating in Romania and Czechoslovakia have not caused significant injury to the Community industry in question.\nE. THREAT OF INJURY\n(18) It was alleged that the Spanish market was an exceptional case owing to higher customs duties than those applicable under the Common Customs Tariff and to quantitative restrictions covering the type of motor concerned by this proceeding, and that the lack of an anti-dumping measure would cause serious injury to this country when these protective measures were abolished in 1992.\nWhile considering this argument irrelevant since the customs duties and quantitative restrictions in question were not introduced to compensate for dumping, the Commission examined the argument in the light of Article 4 (3) of Regulation (EEC) No 2423/88, which provides that account may be taken, when determining threat of injury, of factors such as the rate of increase of the exports concerned to the Community and the export capacity of the country of origin. The Commission found that Romania had not exported to Spain in 1988 and 1989 and that Czechoslovak exports had fallen considerably during the investigation period, and also that there was nothing to indicate a probable expansion in the near future of the Czechoslovak undertaking's export capacity. On the contrary, the Czechoslovak exporter wrote saying that it had cut production and production capacity. The Commission therefore feels that the criteria for a threat of injury to the Spanish market in particular have not been fulfilled.\nF. DUMPING\n(19) In view of the above conclusions concerning the lack of injury or threat of injury, the Commission does not consider it necessary to continue the investigation concerning dumped imports of motors originating in Romania and Czechoslovakia.\nG. TERMINATION OF THE ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDING\n(20) The anti-dumping proceeding must therefore be terminated without the imposition of protective measures.\n(21) The Anti-Dumping Committee raised no objection to this conclusion.\n(22) The complainants have been informed of the grounds and essential considerations underlying the Commission's decision to terminate the proceeding,\nThe anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain single phase, two-speed electric motors originating in Bulgaria, Romania and Czechoslovakia, and falling within CN code 8501 40 90 is hereby terminated.", "answer groups": [ "Eastern Bloc countries", "engine", "dumping", "import" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Directive 2005/27/EC of 29 March 2005 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical progress, Directive 2003/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, concerning the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of devices for indirect vision and of vehicles equipped with these devicesText with EEA relevance\n30.3.2005 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 81/44\nCOMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2005/27/EC\nof 29 March 2005\namending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical progress, Directive 2003/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, concerning the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of devices for indirect vision and of vehicles equipped with these devices\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 13(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to Directive 2003/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 November 2003 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of devices for indirect vision and of vehicles equipped with these devices, amending Directive 70/156/EEC and repealing Directive 71/127/EEC\u00a0(2) and in particular Article 2 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) Directive 2003/97/EC is one of the separate Directives in the context of the Community type-approval procedure under Directive 70/156/EEC. The provisions of Directive 70/156/EEC relating to systems, components and separate technical units for vehicles therefore apply to Directive 2003/97/EC.\n(2) In order to reduce the blind spot of N2 vehicles of mass not exceeding 7,5 tonnes, it is necessary to modify certain requirements laid down in Directive 2003/97/EC.\n(3) Since 2003, technical progress with regard to rear view mirrors has advanced considerably. It is now possible to install wide-angle rear-view mirrors on some N2 vehicles of mass not exceeding 7,5 tonnes. It is therefore appropriate to amend Directive 2003/97/EC by extending the obligation to fit Class IV wide-angle mirrors to those vehicles of category N2 having a cabin similar to that of N3 vehicles. The appropriate criterion for distinguishing the two types of N2 vehicles should be whether a class V close-proximity mirror can be fitted.\n(4) Vehicles having seats with a fixed seat-back angle would not be able to fulfil the standard requirements. A correction factor for such vehicles should therefore be introduced.\n(5) It is also appropriate to amend the administrative provisions for type-approval by introducing the distinguishing numbers of the Member States which acceded to the Community on 1 May 2004.\n(6) The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Adaptation to Technical Progress set up under Article 13(1) of Directive 70/156/EEC,\nAnnexes I and III to Directive 2003/97/EC are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 19 October 2005 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.\nWhen Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Member States shall communicate to the Commission the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.\nThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nThis Directive is addressed to the Member States.", "answer groups": [ "approximation of laws", "commercial vehicle", "safety device", "motor vehicle", "Community certification", "approval", "technical standard" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Commission Regulation (EC) No\u00a0619/2008 of 27\u00a0June 2008 opening a standing invitation to tender for export refunds concerning certain milk products\n28.6.2008 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 168/20\nCOMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 619/2008\nof 27 June 2008\nopening a standing invitation to tender for export refunds concerning certain milk products\nTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation)\u00a0(1), and in particular Article 161(3), Article 164(2)(b) and Article 170 in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1) In accordance with Article 162(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 the difference between the prices in world trade and in the Community may be covered for certain milk products by export refunds to the extent necessary to enable those products to be exported within the limits resulting from agreements concluded in accordance with Article 300 of the Treaty.\n(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 580/2004\u00a0(2) has laid down the rules for the tender procedure concerning export refunds for the skimmed milk powder falling under code ex\u00a0ex 0402 10 19 9000, the natural butter in blocks falling under the code ex\u00a0ex 0405 10 19 9700, the butteroil in containers falling under the code ex\u00a0ex 0405 90 10 9000. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1454/2007 of 10 December 2007 laying down common rules for establishing a tender procedure for fixing export refunds for certain agricultural products\u00a0(3) repeals Regulation (EC) No 580/2004 as from 1 July 2008.\n(3) In accordance with Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1454/2007 a standing invitation to tender should be opened concerning the products covered by Article 1(1) of that Regulation. Since Regulation (EC) No 1454/2007 does not contain all the specific rules for the dairy sector included so far in Regulation (EC) No 580/2004, it is necessary to establish those rules from the date of repeal of that Regulation. For practical reasons and for sake of clarity and simplification, it is appropriate to provide for one single Regulation containing also the specific provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 581/2004 of 26 March 2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for export refunds concerning certain types of butter\u00a0(4) and of Commission Regulation (EC) No 582/2004 of 26 March 2004 opening a standing invitation to tender for export refunds concerning skimmed milk powder\u00a0(5).\n(4) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1282/2006 of 17 August 2006 laying down special detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards export licences and export refunds for milk and milk products\u00a0(6), applies to all export licences and export refunds in the dairy sector. Licences issued in the context of the tender to be opened by this Regulation relate to specific products, it is therefore appropriate to lay down specific rules derogating from the general rules on export licences provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1282/2006. Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1454/2007 provides for licences to be issued by the national authorities within five working days following the entry into force of the Commission's Decision fixing a maximum refund and lays down that the licence has to become valid on its actual day of issue. It is appropriate therefore to fix a validity period differently from that provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1282/2006 in order to ensure an equal period for all licences issued.\n(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,\nScope\nA standing invitation to tender is opened in order to determine the export refund on the following milk products referred to in Section 9 of Annex I to Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3846/87\u00a0(7), guaranteeing equality of access for all persons established in the Community:\n(a) natural butter in blocks of at least 20 kilograms net weight falling under product code ex\u00a0ex 0405 10 19 9700;\n(b) butteroil in containers of at least 20 kilograms net weight falling under product code ex\u00a0ex 0405 90 10 9000;\n(c) skimmed milk powder in bags of at least 25 kilograms net weight and containing no more than 0,5\u00a0% by weight of added non-lactic matter falling under product code ex\u00a0ex 0402 10 19 9000.\nDestinations\nThe products referred to in Article 1 are intended for export for all destinations with the exception of:\n(a) third countries: Andorra, Liechtenstein, the United States of America and the Holy See (Vatican City State);\n(b) territories of the EU Member States not forming part of the customs territory of the Community: the Faer\u00f6e Islands, Greenland, Heligoland, Ceuta, Melilla, the Communes of Livigno and Campione d'Italia, and the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control;\n(c) European territories for whose external relations a Member State is responsible and not forming part of the customs territory of the Community: Gibraltar.\nApplicable rules\nCommission Regulations (EC) No 1291/2000\u00a0(8), (EC) No 1282/2006 and (EC) No 1454/2007 shall apply save as otherwise provided for in this Regulation.\nSubmission of tenders\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tenders may only be lodged during tendering periods and shall be valid only for the tendering period in which they are lodged.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each tendering period shall begin at 13.00 (Brussels time) on the second Tuesday of the month with the following exceptions:\n(a) in August it shall begin at 13.00 (Brussels time) on the third Tuesday;\n(b) in December it shall begin at 13.00 (Brussels time) on the first Tuesday.\nIf Tuesday is a public holiday, the period shall begin at 13.00 (Brussels time) on the following working day.\nEach tendering period shall end at 13.00 (Brussels time) on the third Tuesday of the month with the following exceptions:\n(a) in August it shall end at 13.00 (Brussels time) on the fourth Tuesday;\n(b) in December it shall end at 13.00 (Brussels time) on the second Tuesday.\nIf Tuesday is a public holiday the period shall end at 13.00 (Brussels time) on the previous working day.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Each tendering period shall be numbered in series starting with the first period provided for.\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tenders shall be submitted to the competent authorities of the Member States listed in Annex II.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tenders shall be submitted separately, by destination, for one of the product codes referred to in Article 1.\n6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In addition to the requirement laid down in Article 3(5)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 1454/2007, a tender shall indicate in Section 16 of the licence application the export refund product code preceded by \u2018ex\u2019 as referred to in Article 1 to this Regulation.\nApplication quantities\nFor the products referred to in Article 1 each tender shall cover a minimum quantity of at least 10 tonnes.\nSecurities\nThe tendering security shall be 15\u00a0% of the most recent maximum tender refund amount fixed for the same product code and the same destination. The tendering security may not, however, be less than EUR 5 per 100 kg.\nNotification of the tenders to the Commission\nFor the purpose of application of Article 5(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1454/2007 Member States shall communicate to the Commission, within three hours from the end of each tendering period as referred to in Article 4(2) of this Regulation, separately all valid tenders in the form specified in Annex I to this Regulation.\nExport licences\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Article 7(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 1282/2006 shall not apply.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By way of derogation from Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1282/2006 the period of validity of the export licence shall start on its actual date of issue and shall end at the end of the fourth month following the month in which the tendering period ends in accordance with the third subparagraph of Article 4(2) of this Regulation.\nRepeal\nRegulation (EC) No 581/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 582/2004 are repealed.\n0\nEntry into force and application\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.\nIt shall apply from 1 July 2008.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "export (EU)", "invitation to tender", "milk product", "export refund", "export licence" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What concepts does the above document include?", "paragraph": "Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a0693/2012 of 25\u00a0July 2012 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a0723/2011 (extending the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No\u00a091/2009 on imports of certain iron or steel fasteners originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China to imports of certain iron or steel fasteners consigned from Malaysia, whether declared as originating in Malaysia or not), by granting an exemption from those measures to one Malaysian exporting producer and terminating the registration of imports from that exporting producer\n31.7.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 203/23\nCOUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 693/2012\nof 25 July 2012\namending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 723/2011 (extending the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EC) No 91/2009 on imports of certain iron or steel fasteners originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China to imports of certain iron or steel fasteners consigned from Malaysia, whether declared as originating in Malaysia or not), by granting an exemption from those measures to one Malaysian exporting producer and terminating the registration of imports from that exporting producer\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION\n,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community\u00a0(1) (\u2018the basic Regulation\u2019), and in particular Articles 11(4) and 13(4) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the European Commission after consulting the Advisory\u00a0Committee,\nWhereas:\nA.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0EXISTING MEASURES\n(1) The Council, by Regulation (EC) No 91/2009\u00a0(2), imposed anti-dumping measures on certain iron or steel fasteners originating in the People\u2019s Republic of China. By Implementing Regulation (EU) No\u00a0723/2011\u00a0(3), the Council extended those measures to certain iron or steel fasteners consigned from Malaysia (\u2018the extended measures\u2019) with the exception of imports produced by the Malaysian companies which are specifically mentioned in that\u00a0Regulation.\nB.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0CURRENT INVESTIGATION\n1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Request for a review\n(2) The Commission received a request for an exemption from the extended measures pursuant to Articles 11(4) and 13(4) of the basic Regulation. The application was lodged by Andfast Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (\u2018Andfast\u2019), a producer in Malaysia.\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Initiation of a review\n(3) The Commission examined the evidence submitted by Andfast and considered it sufficient to justify the initiation of an investigation pursuant to Articles 11(4) and 13(4) of the basic Regulation for the purposes of determining the possibility of granting Andfast an exemption from the extended measures. After consultation of the Advisory Committee, and after the Union industry concerned had been given the opportunity to comment, the\u00a0Commission initiated, by Regulation (EU) No 1164/2011\u00a0(4) (\u2018the initiating Regulation\u2019), a review of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 723/2011 with regard to Andfast.\n(4) The Regulation initiating the review repealed the anti-dumping duty imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) No 723/2011 with regard to imports of the product under examination consigned from Malaysia and produced by Andfast. Simultaneously, pursuant to Article\u00a014(5) of the basic Regulation, customs authorities were directed to take appropriate steps to register such imports.\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Product concerned\n(5) The product concerned is certain iron or steel fasteners, other than of stainless steel, i.e. wood screws (excluding coach screws), self-tapping screws, other screws and bolts with heads (whether or not with their nuts or washers, but excluding screws turned from bars, rods, profiles or wire, of solid section, of a shank thickness not exceeding 6\u00a0mm and excluding screws and bolts for fixing railway track construction material), and washers, consigned from Malaysia, currently falling within CN codes ex\u00a07318\u00a012\u00a090, ex\u00a07318\u00a014\u00a091, ex\u00a07318\u00a014\u00a099, ex\u00a07318\u00a015\u00a059, ex\u00a07318\u00a015\u00a069, ex\u00a07318\u00a015\u00a081, ex\u00a07318\u00a015\u00a089, ex\u00a07318\u00a015\u00a090, ex\u00a07318\u00a021\u00a000 and ex\u00a07318\u00a022\u00a000 (\u2018the product concerned\u2019).\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Investigation\n(6) The Commission officially advised Andfast and the representatives of Malaysia of the initiation of the review. Interested parties were invited to make their views known and informed of the possibility to request a hearing. No such request was received.\n(7) The Commission also sent a questionnaire to Andfast and received a reply within the relevant deadline. The Commission sought and verified all the information deemed necessary for the purposes of the review. A verification visit was carried out at the premises of Andfast.\n5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Investigation period\n(8) The investigation covered the period from 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2011 (\u2018the IP\u2019). Data was collected from 2008 up to the end of the IP to investigate any change in the pattern of trade.\nC.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION\n(9) The investigation confirmed that Andfast was not related to any of the Chinese or Malaysian exporters or producers subject to the anti-dumping measures and had not exported the product concerned to the European Union during the investigation period of the investigation that led to the extended measures, i.e. 1 January 2008 to\u00a030\u00a0September\u00a02010. Andfast\u2019s first exports of the product concerned occurred subsequently to the extension of measures to Malaysia.\n(10) The processing activities of Andfast can be considered as a completion and assembly operation in the sense of Article 13(2) of the basic Regulation. Andfast imports blanks from the People\u2019s Republic of China which are subsequently threaded, plated and put together with the nuts and the washers at its premises in Malaysia. The finished product is sold and exported to its related company in the Union.\n(11) This is not considered to be a process involving circumvention as it could be demonstrated that the value added to the parts brought in from the People\u2019s Republic of China, during the assembly and completion operation, is greater than 25\u00a0% of the manufacturing costs.\n(12) No evidence was found that Andfast was purchasing the finished product concerned from the People\u2019s Republic of China to resell or tranship to the European Union.\nD.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0AMENDMENT OF THE MEASURES BEING REVIEWED\n(13) In accordance with the above findings that Andfast has not engaged in circumvention practices, the company should be exempted from the anti-dumping measures in force.\n(14) The registration of imports of certain iron or steel fasteners consigned from Malaysia by Andfast, as imposed by the initiating Regulation, should cease. In accordance with Article\u00a014(5) of the basic Regulation, which provides that measures shall be applied against registered imports from the date of registration, and in view of the exemption of the company from measures, no anti-dumping duty should be collected on imports of certain iron or steel fasteners consigned from Malaysia by Andfast which entered the Union under registration imposed by the initiating Regulation.\n(15) The exemption from the extended measures granted to imports of certain iron or steel fasteners produced by Andfast shall, in accordance with Article 13(4) of the basic Regulation, remain valid on condition that the facts as finally ascertained justify the exemption and that it is not, for instance, established that the exemption was granted on the basis of false or misleading information submitted by the company concerned. Should prima facie evidence indicate otherwise, or should exports from Andfast to the European\u00a0Union increase dramatically, an investigation may be initiated by the Commission to establish whether withdrawal of the exemption is warranted.\n(16) The exemption from the extended measures granted to imports of certain iron or steel fasteners produced by Andfast was established on the basis of the findings of the present review. This exemption is thus exclusively applicable to imports of certain iron or steel fasteners consigned from Malaysia and produced by that specific legal entity. Imported iron or steel fasteners, produced by any company not specifically mentioned in Article\u00a01(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 723/2011 with its name, including entities related to those specifically mentioned, shall not benefit from the exemption and should be subject to the residual duty rate as imposed by that Regulation.\n(17) It is considered that special measures are needed in this case in order to ensure the proper application of such exemptions. These special measures are the requirement of the presentation to the customs authorities of the Member States of a valid commercial invoice, which shall conform to the requirements set out in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 723/2011. Imports not accompanied by such an invoice shall be made subject to the extended anti-dumping duty.\nE.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PROCEDURE\n(18) Andfast and all other interested parties were informed of the facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to grant an exemption to Andfast from the extended measures. No comments were received,\nArticle 1(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 723/2011 shall be modified by adding the following company to the list of companies that produce certain iron or steel fasteners in Malaysia and whose imports of certain iron or steel fasteners are exempted from the application of the extended definitive residual anti-dumping duty:\n\u2018Andfast Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (TARIC additional code B265)\u2019.\nThe customs authorities are hereby directed to cease the registration of imports carried out pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1164/2011. No anti-dumping duty shall be collected on the imports thus registered.\nThis Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official\u00a0Journal of the European Union.\nThis Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.", "answer groups": [ "bolt and screw industry", "China", "tariff exemption", "steel", "iron", "import (EU)", "anti-dumping duty", "Malaysia", "originating product" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "new EV sports car jointly developed with Lotus announced. New initiatives or programs, Expanding industry, alliance & partnership, Product launching and presentation, Executive statement", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "alliance & partnership", "product updates" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Redi2 Partners with Dynatrace to Enhance Monitoring and Performance Capabilities. ,\nMarch 23, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Redi2 Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of revenue management and hosted fee-billing solutions in the global financial services industry, today announced it has partnered with software intelligence company\nDynatrace\n to provide Redi2 Revenue Manager clients with enhanced real-time, smart monitoring and performance capabilities.\nThe Dynatrace Software Intelligence Platform provides customers with automatic and intelligent observability, which offers precise answers into application, microservice, and infrastructure performance, with root-cause determination prioritized according to business impact. This helps customers transform the way their digital teams work, enabling them to deliver new services faster and proactively optimize digital experiences for their customers.\n\"Dynatrace intelligence coupled with Redi2's billing solution provides investment managers with best-in-class AI-powered platform\"\n\"Redi2 uses the Dynatrace platform to provide proactive incident identification and response services to our clients,\" said Redi2 Senior Vice President,\nDavid Ritchie\n. \"Our asset manager clients' billing solutions are configured to track and document bandwidth utilization, server utilization and availability, backup and storage utilization, and other critical services and activities. Dynatrace is also used to provide performance and storage capacity reporting.\"\n\"Integrating the Dynatrace software intelligence capabilities into our billing solution helps us provide our investment manager clients with best-in-class, proactive observability through an AI-powered platform, which give them increased day-to-day performance confidence and lessens risks,\" Ritchie said.\n\"As organizations innovate faster to accelerate digital transformation, they increasingly rely on dynamic cloud-native architectures, which are becoming ever more distributed,\" said\nTroy Wright\n, Vice President of North American Partners, Dynatrace. \"This creates complexity, with containers and microservices that come and go in seconds, and a volume and velocity of data that's beyond human ability to manage. With advanced observability, continuous automation, and AI-assistance built into the platform, Dynatrace provides digital teams with the most precise and actionable code-level insights for their applications and infrastructure. We are excited to work with Redi2 to provide full-stack observability that will help empower Revenue Manager clients to continue pushing the boundaries on innovative digital experiences and services.\"\nWith Dynatrace, Redi2 can provide its customers' digital teams with a single source of truth, eliminating internal silos, increasing team collaboration and efficiency, and delivering stronger business outcomes. The Dynatrace Software Intelligence Platform includes multiple modules, underpinned by a unified data platform. Dynatrace's AI engine, Davis, built at the core of its platform, proactively delivers precise answers to any system degradations or performance anomalies, with root cause determination. Davis automatically prioritizes these answers based on business impact, allowing digital teams to respond immediately to what matters most, enabling them to simplify operations and continuously drive positive business outcomes.\nABOUT REDI2 TECHNOLOGIES, INC.\nBoston\n-based Redi2 Technologies offers purpose-built, comprehensive, hosted revenue management platforms to the global financial services industry, serving wealth and investment management firms. Nearly 1000 financial services firms, with aggregated assets under management or administration of over\n$10 trillion\n, use Redi2's financial services billing solutions. Since its founding, Redi2 has leveraged technology to automate client reporting, fee billing, and invoicing for wealth and investment managers. Redi2 is a Software as a Service (SaaS) pioneer and a market leader in vendor-hosted fee billing for firms of all sizes. Redi2 Revenue Manager is specifically designed for global investment managers. Their award-winning solution allows for the integration of existing infrastructure across platforms, such as with general ledgers or with CRM packages. This integration brings the power of their AI-driven, 360-view dashboard analytics to all aspects of a client's strategic business decision making. To learn more, visit www.Redi2.com or contact\n[emailprotected]", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "clinical trial sponsorship", "new initiatives or programs", "foundation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Is Dynatrace Inc. (DT) a Keeper?. Share on whatsapp\nDynatrace Inc. (NYSE:DT)\nwent down by -1.24% from its latest closing price compared to the recent 1-year high of $80.13. The companys stock price has collected -7.35% of loss in the last five trading sessions. Barronsreported on 02/02/22 that Dynatrace Reports Strong Earnings. Heres Why the Stock Is Dropping.\nIs It Worth Investing in Dynatrace Inc. (NYSE :DT) Right Now?\nDynatrace Inc. (NYSE:DT) scored a price-to-earnings ratio above its average ratio, recording 161.37 x from its present earnings ratio. Opinions of the stock are interesting as 15 analysts out of 21 who provided ratings for Dynatrace Inc. declared the stock was a buy, while 2 rated the stock as overweight, 4 rated it as hold, and 0 as sell.\n3 Tiny Stocks Primed to Explode\nThe world's greatest investor Warren Buffett has a simple formula for making big money in the markets. He buys up valuable assets when they are very cheap. For stock market investors that means buying up cheap small cap stocks like these with huge upside potential.\nWe've set up an alert service to help smart investors take full advantage of the small cap stocks primed for big returns.\n.\nSponsored\nThe average price from analysts is $64.50, which is $21.03 above the current price. DT currently public float of 194.53M and currently shorts hold a 2.96% ratio of that float. Today, the average trading volume of DT was 2.93M shares.\nDTs Market Performance\nDT stocks went down by -7.35% for the week, with a monthly drop of -14.09% and a quarterly performance of -37.85%, while its annual performance rate touched -17.47%. The volatility ratio for the week stands at 4.80% while the volatility levels for the past 30 days are set at 6.27% for Dynatrace Inc.. The simple moving average for the period of the last 20 days is -9.11% for DT stocks with a simple moving average of -28.67% for the last 200 days.\nAnalysts Opinion of DT\nMany brokerage firms have already submitted their reports for DT stocks, with RBC Capital Mkts repeating the rating for DT by listing it as a Outperform. The predicted price for DT in the upcoming period, according to RBC Capital Mkts is $65 based on the research report published on February 03rd of the current year 2022.\nNeedham, on the other hand, stated in their research note that they expect to see DT reach a price target of $56, previously predicting the price at $68. The rating they have provided for DT stocks is Buy according to the report published on February 03rd, 2022.\nLoop Capital gave a rating of Hold to DT, setting the target price at $45 in the report published on February 03rd of the current year.\nDT Trading at -19.35% from the 50-Day Moving Average\nAfter a stumble in the market that brought DT to its low price for the period of the last 52 weeks, the company was unable to rebound, for now settling with -45.42% of loss for the given period.\nVolatility was left at 6.27%, however, over the last 30 days, the volatility rate increased by 4.80%, as shares sank -13.49% for the moving average over the last 20 days. Over the last 50 days, in opposition, the stock is trading -26.27% lower at present.\nDuring the last 5 trading sessions, DT fell by -7.35%, which changed the moving average for the period of 200-days by -10.33% in comparison to the 20-day moving average, which settled at $47.77. In addition, Dynatrace Inc. saw -27.54% in overturn over a single year, with a tendency to cut further losses.\nInsider Trading\nReports are indicating that there were more than several insider trading activities at DT starting from MCCONNELL RICK M, who purchase 2,500 shares at the price of $58.38 back on Dec 14. After this action, MCCONNELL RICK M now owns 181,300 shares of Dynatrace Inc., valued at $145,940 using the latest closing price.\nPace Stephen J., the Chief Revenue Officer of Dynatrace Inc., sale 104,667 shares at $63.46 during a trade that took place back on Dec 09, which means that Pace Stephen J. is holding 76,994 shares at $6,641,883 based on the most recent closing price.\nStock Fundamentals for DT\nCurrent profitability levels for the company are sitting at:\n+13.07 for the present operating margin\n+76.91 for the gross margin\nThe net margin for Dynatrace Inc. stands at +10.76. The total capital return value is set at 6.08, while invested capital returns managed to touch 5.02. Equity return is now at value 6.60, with 3.40 for asset returns.\nBased on Dynatrace Inc. (DT), the companys capital structure generated 39.48 points at debt to equity in total, while total debt to capital is 28.30. Total debt to assets is 19.48, with long-term debt to equity ratio resting at 38.62. Finally, the long-term debt to capital ratio is 27.69.\n>> 5 Best Growth Stocks for 2022 <<\nWhen we switch over and look at the enterprise to sales, we see a ratio of 14.62, with the companys debt to enterprise value settled at 0.03. The receivables turnover for the company is 2.67 and the total asset turnover is 0.32. The liquidity ratio also appears to be rather interesting for investors as it stands at 0.97.\nLeave a Comment\nYour email address will not be published.\nRequired fields are marked", "answer groups": [ "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [ "support & philanthropy", "event organization", "executive statement", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Advocacy groups renew $5K reward for tip about cockfights. Save\nAnimal rights advocacy groups are renewing their efforts to find and arrest people who are illegally fighting and transporting roosters into Guam.\nAnimal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation have renewed their offer of a $5,000 reward to any individual providing information leading to the federal prosecution and conviction of any individual involved in illegal trafficking of fighting animals to Guam or cockfighting itself on the island.\nThe announcement follows solid evidence (emerging) of illegal fighting and mass transports of fighting animals to the island. AWA and AWF said the illegal shipment\" of birds to Guam rose 600% in 2021.\nThe organizations had made note of their findings but Department of Agriculture Director Chelsa Muna Brecht said theres no validity to their claim.\n\"They're all following the letter of the law when they're being shipped. I think that's kind of colorful language to describe them as illegal shipments,\" Muna-Brecht said.\nThe groups, Animal Wellness Action and Animal Wellness Foundation, stated that most of the shippers sending birds to Guam come from Oklahoma or Hawaii, including two reportedly well-known Oklahoma cockfighting traffickers.\nIt is a federal felony to participate in animal fighting ventures and related activities, the AWA and AWF press release states.\nIt has been illegal since 2002, and a felony since 2007, to transport or sell roosters for fighting across state or territorial lines.\nIt has been a federal felony since December 2019 to operate a fighting pit or to participate in an animal fight.\nFederal agencies and officers have a duty to enforce our laws against the barbaric practice of cockfighting, said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. But their good works depend on the cooperation and participation of citizens to make our communities safer for people and for animals. We ask people who know about illegal cockfighting to help us root it out and end this knowing disregard for our nations anti-cruelty laws.\nAWA and AWF have received reports of major fights staged on Guam, including at the fighting arena in Dededo known as The Dome. This is no surprise given a surge in transports of fighting animals to Guam that pass through its Department of Agriculture.\nIndividuals can provide tips to animalcrueltytips@animalwellnessaction.org according to the press release. AWA and AWF are already providing information on illegal fighting activities to the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal authorities and will provide confidential information to these authorities if credible information is obtained in the coming days.", "answer groups": [ "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [ "hiring", "department establishment", "expanding industry", "event organization" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Work under way at Midlands Air Ambulance's Cosford base. Published:\n2 hours ago\nBuilding work on the Midlands Air Ambulance Charitys new airbase and headquarters facility in Cosford is now under way.\nSubscribe to our daily newsletter!\nSign Up\nPam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and Neal Hooper, managing director of Aico Ltd explore the grounds of the new airbase and headquarters facility\nNow a company has stepped forward to fund a memorial garden at emergency service's new base on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border where loved ones can be remembered.\nOswestry based Aico pioneers home life safety products, and its managing director Neal Hooper said they are proud to be partnering with the charity and funding the memorial garden.\nMr Hooper said: \"Knowing the vital work the charity carries out, it is important that businesses support this charity, and help save lives.\nPam Hodgetts and Neal Hooper\nPam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: From the very beginning of our partnership with Aico Ltd, the fire protection firm has proved it is truly in the business of saving lives.\nIn addition to Aico providing its staff with membership to our Lifesaving Lottery scheme, its funding a safe space for our visitors to enjoy the scenery surrounding our new facility.\nThe new headquarters building has been designed to help secure the future of the charitys pre-hospital emergency service.\nIt will include space for two of the charitys three helicopters, with two helipads and space for the services rapid response vehicles.\nIn addition, the bespoke build will host a clinical training and simulation centre, research and development facilities, charity offices and a warehouse for charity vehicles and storage.\nThere will also be space to host fundraising events and meetings. To embrace its rural surroundings, the facility has been designed to sit behind areas of woodland and forest, and will include two gardens, including one open to the public as a memorial garden.\nTo find out more visit midlandsairambulance.com/corporateand follow the organisation on social media.", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "new initiatives or programs", "foundation", "service & product providing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Former UC President Janet Napolitano joins Berkeley SkyDeck as adviser. Public Affairs\nFormer U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has joined Berkeley SkyDeck UC Berkeleys flagship startup accelerator, as an adviser She will provide support and expertise for new civic technology companies that aim to enhance the relationships between people and government through technology.\nJanet Napolitano (Photo by Elena Zhukova)\nUC Berkeley has always been seen as one of the universities where change starts, said Napolitano, who founded the campuss Center for Security in Politics As part of the university, SkyDeck has been on the same mission and a home to a growing number of talented startups. As an adviser here, I hope to help startups focused on fostering the growth and preservation of democracy.\nNapolitano has a long and distinguished career in politics, serving as the U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona from 1993 to 1997 and as attorney general of Arizona from 1998 to 2003. In 2002, Napolitano was elected governor of Arizona, and in 2006 she was the first woman to win re-election to that office. Under President Barack Obama, Napolitano served as U.S. secretary of homeland security from 2009 to 2013.\nCurrently, Napolitano the UCs 20th president, from 2013 to 2020 is a professor at Berkeleys Goldman School of Public Policy. She also serves on the council of the American Law Institute and is a board member of the Council on Foreign Relations.\nSkyDeck Executive Director Caroline Winnett said Napolitanos distinguished public service career and depth of experience is second to none and will help support SkyDecks startup companies through her expertise in government, public affairs and education.\nShe has, herself, been an innovator in public life, and she will bring that true spirit of discovery to our founders and our program, said Winnett.", "answer groups": [ "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [ "hiring", "regulatory approval", "article publication", "participation in an event" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Animal Wellness Action Applauds Bryan County Sheriff for Raiding Major Cockfighting Pit in Texoma Region. Cockfighting Match\nDozens of major cockfighting kingpins continue to operate in the Sooner State.\nThere's nothing good about strapping knives or curved ice picks to the legs of animals, putting them in a pit, and watching them carve each other up just for human amusement and illegal gambling.\nWayne PacelleOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, UNITED STATES, March 4, 2021 /EINPresswire.com / -- Oklahoma City Animal Wellness Action (AWA) applauded Bryan County Sheriff Johnny Christian and a local tipster for collaborating to put a stop to a major cockfight in Allison that occurred on Saturday night . According to the sheriff's office, 200 to 300 individuals scattered after deputies found a cockfighting derby in progress. KXII-TV in Sherman, Texas reports one arrest so far, but a continuing investigation by the sheriff's office.\nThe site of this raid is not far from the old Texoma Gamefowl Club, which was shuttered after voters approved a ban on cockfighting by ballot initiative in November 2002.\n'Sheriff Christian provided a service to the community by stopping a cockfighting operation in progress,' said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. 'There's nothing good about strapping knives or curved ice picks to the legs of animals, putting them in a pit, and watching them carve each other up just for human amusement and illegal gambling.\nThis incident is the latest evidence of widespread cockfighting and trafficking of fighting animals in the Sooner State, despite a state law making it a felony to stage fights between birds or even to train or possess them for fighting. Cockfighting and possession of fighting animals, along with transporting them across state lines, is also a felony under federal law.\nIn 2020, AWA and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) announced the results of a major investigation showing a major cockfighting industry openly operating in the state. Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, co-chair of the National Law Enforcement Council of AWA and AW, provided evidence to three U.S. Attorneys in Oklahoma about 21 individuals operating major cockfighting complexes in the state. Included in that cache of information are 13 videos made by a Philippines-based broadcaster featuring Oklahoma-based cockfighters who marketed their birds to other cockfighters in the broadcasts.\nThus far, federal authorities have not announced any action against the alleged perpetrators.\nAWA and AWF revealed that Oklahoma is home to some of the biggest traffickers of fighting animals in the United States. Nine Oklahoma cockfighters shipped 3356 animals to Guam for fighting purposes over a recent three-year period, according to an investigation conducted by the organizations. Through public records requests to the Guam Department of Agriculture, AWF and AWA obtained nearly 2,500 pages of avian shipping records dated November 2016 to September 2019, with more than 500 shipments. Oklahoman cockfighters accounted for more than a third of all birds illegally shipped to Guam.\nAWA and AWF are continuing their investigations. Mr., Pacelle reminds Oklahoma citizens that Animal Wellness Action provides a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of any individual for involvement in illegal cockfighting activities.\nThe Animal Wellness Foundation (Foundation) is a Los Angeles-based private charitable organization with a mission of helping animals by making veterinary care available to everyone with a pet, regardless of economic ability. We organize rescue efforts and medical services for dogs and cats in need and help homeless pets find a loving caregiver. We are advocates for getting veterinarians to the front lines of the animal welfare movement; promoting responsible pet ownership; and vaccinating animals against infectious diseases such as distemper. We also support policies that prevent animal cruelty and that alleviate suffering. We believe helping animals helps us all. Animal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies, and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and that's why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones don't. We believe helping animals helps us all.\nAnimal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies, and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and that's why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones don't. We believe helping animals helps us all.\nMarty Irby", "answer groups": [ "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment", "foundation", "new initiatives or programs", "closing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Maruti Ertiga vs Mahindra Marazzo. ), Rs. 11.83 16.67 lakhs (Mahindra Marazzo)\nThe Maruti Ertiga offers tremendous value while the Mahindra Marazzo offers more practicality, space and performance\nDespite the ever-growing SUV fanbase, MPVs still remain a popular choice amongst people who want a practical car to carry their family and luggage comfortably. Still dominated by the Toyota Innova, the MPV segment has seen quite a few new launches in recent years. After the lukewarm response to the Xylo, Mahindra has decided to re-enter this segment with the Marazzo. The company is betting big with this MPV. From style to refinement, Mahindra claims to have gotten it all right with the Marazzo.\nOn the other hand, Maruti Suzuki, which was a relatively late entrant into the MPV segment, saw great success with the Ertiga. More than 4 million units have been sold and Maruti, quick to update its products has launched the all-new second-generation Ertiga. Maruti says it is bigger, better, more fuel efficient and more premium than before. The question is can the radical new Marazzo finally be a worthy challenger to the Ertiga and can the Ertiga continue its success story with the Marazzo in the way? It is going to be a close battle!\nMotor Quest: While the Maruti Ertiga has been on sale since 2012 with the second generation model being launched in 2018, the Mahindra Marazzo is in its first generation and is the spiritual successor of the Xylo which was launched in 2009.\nThe Mahindra Marazzo looks off-beat and different\nExteriors Mahindra designs have been a subject of criticism in recent times. Whether its their boxy TUV or the over-styled KUV, their vehicles have failed to garner any praise on the design front. But the Marazzo is a car that is going to make people sit back and take notice. The new Mahindra MPV has a strong and impactful design which is sure to get you noticed. The car carries a cab-forward design and it looks really good how the body subtly rises from the front to the rear. We love the toothed grille but we think a different grille design wouldve made it look even more unique.\nBoth cars have good amount of chrome\nThe headlights of the Marazzo are sharp yet elegant and the pronounced fog-lights with the DRLs on them look really cool. The side is characterised by dominant lines and creases which appear at all the right places and merge beautifully into the body. The chrome line near below the windows and at the bottom make it look upmarket. The wheels have a different design and being 17-inch (on the top-spec M8), they look fit on the tall profile. The chrome door handle also looks nice. The rear features more chrome but it never feels too flashy. The tail-lights are also very dominant and we wouldve actually preferred them in a smaller size.\nThe Marazzo looks fresh and modern as compared to the Ertiga\nThe Marazzo is much bigger than the Ertiga, both inside and outside\nMahindra says the design is inspired by a shark and we will take that. The road presence is immense and this car looks tough like all Mahindra models. But unlike many Mahindra SUVs, the Marazzo does not end up looking utilitarian. The design feels urbane and sophisticated and it is so refreshing to see a Mahindra with an upmarket design. We will go so far in saying that this is probably the best Mahindra weve ever seen. This is because Mahindra took inputs from the Italian design house Pininfarina while styling the Marazzo. However, it is weird to see that despite its shark-themed design, the Marazzo misses out on a shark-fin antenna!\nThe generation change makes the Ertiga look more premium\nThe Maruti Ertiga looks less macho and more car-like in comparison. That is not to say that it looks bad. The new Ertiga looks quite grown up and certainly more premium than the older one. The front looks quite nice with angular headlights that merge into the grille and the detailed, almost triangular housing for the fog-lights. The new Ertiga, however, misses out on a pair of LED DRLs. The side looks plain and timid in comparison to the Marazzo with only a few sharp lines flowing across the body. The larger rear door looks a bit awkward and the 15-inch wheels look a tad too small on the Ertiga. The rear is the best angle with the\nHonda CR-V\n/Volvo XC60 like L shaped tail-lights and the neat spoiler like crease on the hatch. The Ertiga wont turn heads but it is a genuine improvement over the older car and we are sure many people prefer a toned down more car-like design.", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "article publication", "partnerships & alliances", "patent publication", "company description" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "ACROFAN. Kang Mi-Hwa CEO of CONSEL is advancing Korea into the global market through the collaboration of blockchain and fortune-telling\nSouth Korea is currently going wild about her charm.\nWednesday, November 27, 2019, 4:57 pm\nACROFAN=Jae-Yong Ryu\njaeyong.ryu@acrofan.com\nRegardless of times and places, the formula for success is summarized as one answer, a relationship of credit. Not only those closest to you, but also the many people you meet through your social life, if you treat them like your family and earn their trust, you will eventually attain the \"Success\" title. Here, there is a woman who Korea pays attention to as an icon of success and sharing, a young CEO with a management mind and a bold drive for the socially underprivileged.\nKang Mi-Hwa, head of CONSEL, is this woman. With passion and determination, Kang says she will continue to grasp the needs of those she has gained trust with and analyze the trends in order to maintain that trust. As evidenced by her commitment, CONSEL is steadfastly growing. In response to this, we met with Kang Mi-Hwa, a CEO who constantly admonishes herself to keep up with the founding intention of being a good company, and shared a taste of Korean perseverance and affection as we listened to her on the secret of success and management philosophy.\n(Hereinafter is the interview with Kang Mi-Hwa)\n\nQ. Can you tell me about Kang Mi-Hwa, not as the CEO of CONSEL, but as a person?\nI think I had a unique business mind since childhood. I liked trying new things and grew up with a feeling of confidence that comes from turning challenges into success. In my twenties, I started my social life and became interested in various fields, which I endeavored to become an expert. As a result, I was able to participate in various projects. Based on my experiences, I turned numerous projects into success by interacting with distinguished people from various countries. While building up know-hows during the last twenty years, my network of people has expanded to more than 30,000 from all levels of society and to some extent, I have become influential. It was during this time that I looked around again. I thought that sharing should follow after success, and I wanted to give support to those in need. Perhaps I have been silently running all this time to create a way to share hope with them. Studying fortune-telling in my twenties gave me the opportunity to meet extraordinary people from various fields, and by communicating with them, I was able to learn from them and carry on precious relationships.\nQ. What are some of the sharing events that you had in the past and some that you plan to have in the future?\nDonation, devotion, service, and love are the main themes of CONSEL. The greatest variable in carrying out a service project is everyone's participation. That is why success depends on how interested and involved the people are with projects. CONSEL intends to proceed with all of its activities transparently to build trust. In addition, we will endeavor to spread the donation culture to share genuine love with those in need around the world, starting with domestic donation events first.\nQ. I am curious about your service philosophy.\nAnyone can keep the word service in mind, but it is not easy to put it into practice. Most people, if they have time and money to spare, they will serve and help those in need. But in reality, this is not easy if you have a job or a career. So, I think that we need to create a practical culture of service so that the caring hearts of many people can be delivered as long as they wish to. For example, there are many different donation cultures around us. The problem is that some organizations don't spend all of their donations on people because they have to use donated funds for company operations. I understand that this is needed but it should be minimal so that more people can be helped. As a pioneer of the 4th Industrial Revolution, we plan to use unique blockchain technology to make a transparent donation culture. When people hear the name CONSEL, I want them to picture a trustworthy and reliable company that engages in real sharing and volunteer service. And as for my philosophy about serving others, I think I should never be content with what I am doing at the moment, but rather always look for improvement.\n\nQ. I will cheer for you. Now, I would like to ask Kang Mi-Hwa as CEO. What is the beginning and background of CONSEL?\nCONSEL Inc. is specialized in integrated business such as distribution, blockchain, software development, program development and incubating. In 2015, building on our prior experience and know-how, we started a blockchain and cryptocurrency business under the name of LACENT so that we could grow into a more specialized integrated business with the best experts in the industry. We renamed the company to CONSEL in 2019. At the time, Korea was lacking in information related to blockchain and cryptocurrency. However, we were able to keep up with the trend of the times faster than anyone else and CONSEL has been able to grow into a global business, even opening up an international cryptocurrency exchange.\nQ. What is CONSELs key business plan?\nIn Korea, the Bitcoin craze blew in 2017, and millions of people became aware of the existence of cryptocurrency, and related businesses sprang up. Most of them jumped into the cryptocurrency market aiming to become rich, but many didn't have the needed information and market flow, so many people lost their money and many startups gave up their business. We at CONSEL are doing our best to help people and businesses by incubating blockchain startups, cryptocurrency-related software development, and program development by providing professional consulting related to blockchain and cryptocurrency. In addition, we have developed 'CONSEL', a blockchain-based matchmaking platform, and are about to launch it. We had a business launching presentation in the '2019 SEOUL conference' in October.\nQ. Please explain the CONSEL platform.\nPeople for ages have shown interest in fortune-telling and luck. Records from ancient Korean books show that as early as 600 years ago people based their marriage on fortune-telling. The words daily fortune is registered about once a week in a real-time search query on the online portal sites. In the past, there was so much interest in fortune and fortune-telling that it was said that newspapers were purchased to see fortunes. As a result, numerous fortune and fortune-telling sites have appeared overnight, but most sites only provide general comprehensive results based on stored solutions. In addition, since the profiles of the fortune-tellers were not clear, reputation issues arose with reliability concerns. Nowadays, not only are Korean people showing interest in fortune-telling as a field of study but are also spending money for fortune-telling sessions, supporting a 4 trillion won per year market.\nThe CONSEL compatibility matching platform is a project overseen by me, acting as the Pr", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "support & philanthropy", "other", "article publication", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Rootine Is Improving Health Outcomes With Precision Nutrition. The data-driven nutrition company raises $3 million seed, empowering members to leverage their health data to achieve optimal health\nNASHVILLE, Tenn.(BUSINESS WIRE)August 10, 2021\nRootine\nannounced today that it has raised $3 million in seed financing to empower members to improve their health and human performance with precision nutrition. Investors in the round include Novogenia GMBH, DSM Venturing, Duro VC, Launch TN Impact Fund, Cleo Capital and 20+ Angels including founders, executives, and clinicians who have worked at Havenly, Eterneva, Facebook, SoFI, Eight Sleep and more.\nResearch indicates that up to 90% of the U.S. lacks adequate daily vitamin and mineral intake, resulting in micronutrient deficiencies that can have a significant impact on fatigue, mood, stress, sleep, and chronic diseases. Inadequate nutrition is also the number one cause of illness in the United States and nutritional deficiencies can be linked to 700,000deaths each year.\nWhile many try to cure these deficiencies and health conditions through one-size-fits-all supplements or nutrition plans, Rootineis building advanced technology and personalized solutions designed to optimize health and human performance. Today, members gain access to at-home testing and health data analytics, actionable insights, precision-personalized micronutrients, and digital health tracking tools through their member dashboard.\nPrecision nutrition is an innovative approach that considers multiple data points including dietary habits, lifestyle, DNA, blood test results, and physical activity to develop targeted nutrition recommendations. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced its 10 year investmentin furthering precision nutrition science. As part of this initiative, the NIH has demonstrated its belief in precision nutritions ability to predict and leverage individual responses to promote health.\nToday, consumers either cannot access the relevant health data they need or cannot effectively utilize data they already have. Rootines precision nutrition technology leverages AI to ingest, analyze, and match individual DNA, blood, and lifestyle test results with thousands of clinical studies with the goal of unlocking better health outcomes.\nThe future of health is data-driven and personalized, says Rachel Soper Sanders, co-founder and CEO of Rootine. We are entering a new era of human performance. An era in which we can achieve optimal health with products designed to enhance fitness, mental acuity, sleep, nutrition, and metabolic health through prescriptive solutions. Finally, there is a health stack for the empowered consumer and Rootine is an essential contributor.\nSanders holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and previously worked in healthcare in investment banking, product, and strategy. She founded Rootine alongside Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer, PhD, who holds a PhD in biotechnology and is a leading expert in nutrigenetic science. Sanders and Dr. Wallerstorfer met through a mutual mentor at Techstars and launched Rootine after personally struggling to find nutrition solutions to optimize their own health.\nWe came together around a common missionto empower people to leverage their personal data to improve health, says Dr. Wallerstorfer.\nABOUT ROOTINE\nRootine\nunlocks better health and daily performance for members by leveraging precision nutrition. Rootines first product focuses on optimizing cellular nutrition through a precision-personalized daily micronutrient membership and a unique digital experience where members can track and improve health. Rootine is differentiated in its test-take-track process, unmatched data and insights, and unique delivery form factor (microbeads). Rootine is helping thousands of members improve their health, from professional athletes and celebrities to high performing individuals around the U.S. Founded by Rachel Soper Sanders and Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer, PhD in 2018, the company is building a remote-first team of leading scientists, engineers, and brand marketers with headquarters in Nashville, TN.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipo exit", "m&a", "closing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Monash University Launches New App Category to Support Growing 'App'etite for ModifyHealth's Low-FODMAP Nationwide Meal Delivery Service.. Monash University\nthrough a brand new app category highlighting companies that provide fully-prepared and delivered Low-FODMAP meals. Recommended by GI providers and dietitians alike, ModifyHealth's meals are clinically tailored to bring relief to a variety of GI conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), SIBO, and celiac disease.\n\"The Monash University FODMAP Diet app is the gold standard when it comes to helping patients understand the intricacies of the Low-FODMAP protocol and how different foods can impact their gut health. Our decision to add this new 'Low FODMAP Certified Meals' category is testament to the growing demand and results patients are experiencing through ModifyHealth's simple and scientific approach to home-delivered Low-FODMAP meals\" says\nAlan Greensmith\n, US Head of Commercial Development, FODMAP at Monash University. \"We're incredibly excited to welcome ModifyHealth as the first company to lead this new category within our app.\"\n\"Monash University is the birthplace of the Low-FODMAP protocol and known internationally as leading experts in IBS research. This new app category highlighting 'Low-FODMAP Certified Meals' assures patients, dietitians, gastroenterologists and other healthcare providers that our meals meet the guidelines to help make the FODMAP journey simple and effective\" says\nChristine Lothen-Kline\n, MPH, MCHES, RD, LD, Dietitian Director for ModifyHealth.\nModifyHealth's recipes have been developed by award-winning chefs under the direction of expert Low-FODMAP dietitian, speaker and author, Patsy Catsos, MS, RDN, LD to ensure all recipes adhere to evidence-based FODMAP guidelines and thresholds while maintaining appropriate nutritional values.\n\"We are passionate about ensuring positive outcomes by helping patients properly follow a Low-FODMAP protocol, says GB Pratt, Founder & CEO of ModifyHealth. \"We're honored to be the first prepared meal delivery service to earn Monash University's certification and are excited to see this category within their app. It's the latest step in our mission to make 'food as medicine' simple, effective and enjoyable for providers and patients.\"\nAbout ModifyHealth\nModifyHealth changes lives by making food as medicine simple, effective and enjoyable for providers and patients. ModifyHealth's provider-recommended, home-delivered, Low-FODMAP, and gluten-free meals are shipped nationwide to help bring relief to common GI conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), SIBO, and celiac disease where dietary modification is a recommended treatment. Meals are Monash University Low-FODMAP Certified\nTM\n, organic, non-GMO, delivered fully prepared and supported with expert dietitian consultations to ensure positive outcomes. For more information, please visit modifyhealth.com\nMedia Contact:", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Adam House Sr. Joins Sales Transformation Group as President. ,\nAug. 10, 2021\n/PRNewswire/ -- Sales Transformation Group (STG) the premier sales coaching technology platform for the building and construction market, announced that\nAdam House Sr.\nhas invested in and joined as President of the company, effective immediately.\nAdam House Sr., President, Sales Transformation Group\nSTG provides a \"Learn-Tech\" platform for the construction, trades, and building materials industries.\nTweet this\nAs a serial entrepreneur, House Sr. brings 20+ years of experience in building companies from conception to successful exit with a proven track record of raising capital and increasing shareholder value. His entrepreneurial ventures spanned numerous industries, including direct marketing, mobile and healthcare technology, e-commerce, executive coaching, and real estate, including founding DMA International, Velocitude (acquired by Akamai Technologies), and leading Qualmetrix from concept to a Series B funding round. In addition to contributing to the startup community, House Sr. most recently served as Senior Vice President at RKT Companies.\n\"Clients are searching for firms like STG who use technology and innovation in their approach to providing coaching services. I look forward to joining the STG team in the capacity of both a leader and investor, where I will leverage my experiences and the organization's entrepreneurial DNA. The prospects of the organization are bright, and I'm excited to help accelerate STG's growth and position us as a market leader,\" said\nAdam House Sr.\nFrom founding and successfully exiting several tech startups in various industries to becoming a professional basketball player and co-owner/CEO for the Rochester Razorsharks at the age of 32, House Sr. 's diverse background brings a unique perspective to the STG team. His depth of experience will enable STG to build top-performing teams, and develop a competitive advantage.\n\"Adam's entrepreneurial success and his extensive executive coaching experience aligns directly with STG's mission,\" said\nRyan Groth\n, CEO of STG. \"He is an accomplished executive who possesses the vision, innovative mindset, leadership, and character necessary to exponentially impact STG toward rapid expansion through not only our core capabilities but also strategic partnerships and acquisitions.\"\nAbout Sales Transformation Group\nThe STG \"Learn-Tech\" platform helps growth-minded construction, building, and trade executives who are frustrated that they don't have a scalable sales system. Our proven process empowers those who want to win the long game, build a winning team that scales predictably, sells profitably, and gets commitments quickly. www.salestransformationgroup.com\nMedia Contacts", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "investment in public company", "foundation", "patent publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Jipmer installs equipment to simulate eye surgeries. Multiple courses: EyeSi, manufactured by VRMagic, Germany, will simulate the environments for cataract and vitreoretinal surgeries. \nIt will provide PG residents risk-free environment to hone their skills\nJipmer has commissioned a surgery simulator at the Department of Ophthalmology that is expected to help trainees hone their skills.\nAccording to a press note, the Kelman Ophthalmic Surgical Simulator Lab was inaugurated recently in the presence of Rakesh Aggarwal, director, Ashok Shankar Badhe, medical superintendent, Subashini Kaliaperumal, head of the department, and former heads of the department Vasudev Anand Rao and Renuka Srinivasan.\nThe installation of the ophthalmic surgical simulator (EyeSi manufactured by VRMagic, Germany), which simulates the environments of cataract and vitreoretinal surgeries, will be a boon to postgraduate residents of the institute.\nThe gadget will help perform defined and standardised surgical tasks in a virtual environment. It has a provision for the educators to create courses with varying levels of difficulty for trainees at different skill levels.\nAccording to a statement from Jipmer, the trainees can practice the surgical steps repeatedly until they achieve a high level of proficiency in the skills involved.\nThis ability to practise the basics of handling intraocular instruments and a surgical microscope in the operation theatre setting in the absence of patients ensures that trainees are already skilled before they operate on a real patient, the statement also said.\nThe department plans to include this training in its competency-based surgical training curriculum for ophthalmology residents. This will enhance patient safety. Dr. Kaliaperumal said workshops to reach out to ophthalmology residents of other institutions were being planned as well.\nLab commissioned\nA Ridley Wet Lab, used to train residents in performing corneal and scleral suturing techniques on goat and cadaver eyes, was also commissioned.\nThis facility will add to the ability of the department to train surgeons to perform cataract surgery more safely without putting patients at risk.\nIn addition, the department has also acquired a new Snellen Ophthalmology Seminar Hall which is equipped with technologically advanced equipment for teaching MBBS and postgraduate students, and for holding clinical case discussions and seminars, Jipmer said.\nYou have reached your limit for free articles this month.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "new initiatives or programs", "executive appointment", "service & product providing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Proprietary pot: Cannabis trademarks aren't legal, but workarounds exist to protect IP. Trademarks illegal, but workarounds exist\nMany waiting out the clock for federal legalization\nPatent litigation is heating up\nILYAST VIA ISTOCK\nMany cannabis companies and their attorneys are making bigger bets on cannabis trademarks amid swaying opinion that the drug should be federally legal.\nThe state's largest marijuana grower plans to launch a line of edible gummies this fall without enough tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, to get you high.\nDimondale-based Green Peak Innovations will launch its branded Jolly Edibles as a CBD-only product, meaning it contains less than 0.3 percent THC. While CBD products are popular, the choice has more to do with protecting its branding than selling gummies.\nThe U.S. Patent and Trademark Office bars trademarks on illicit products. Marijuana remains a Schedule 1 narcotic at the federal level, despite being legal for use in Michigan. This presents a tricky scenario for the state's legal marijuana companies seeking to protect their intellectual property.\nGreen Peak, like many others in the industry, is enforcing its protections in as many \"workarounds\" as possible, local experts say.\nSpecial Report: IP Law\nWhat's driving the uptick in IP litigation?\n\"We're forced to get somewhat creative,\" said Jeff Donahue, general counsel for Green Peak. \"We've had a few (trademark) denials, so we're crafting some specific language with the USPTO. We're taking a look at all of our products that could fall under the legal threshold for trademark and establishing our name everywhere we can.\"The plan is to trademark as much of Green Peak's product line as possible and make new products under brand names that are under the THC limit to appease federal authorities.\nJennifer Hetu\nJennifer Hetu, trademark attorney and partner at Honigman LLP in Bloomfield Hills, said cannabis companies should be filing trademarks on everything and anything they can, including branded tchotchkes and non-cannabis merchandise.\n\"You want to get as many protections as possible as broadly as possible,\" Hetu said. \"File for ancillary products and services. File applications for clothing, hats, bags, stickers, lighters, rolling papers. Although not squarely in your space, it provides you protection of that brand name.\"\nGreen Peak sells T-shirts and other items with its North Cannabis brand, which is the physical marijuana product distributed to retail locations.\nBut many sophisticated companies and their attorneys are making bigger bets on cannabis trademarks amid swaying opinion that the drug should be federally legal.\nUnder USPTO rules, companies can file intent to use trademark applications on a cannabis product without identifying to the federal regulators that it is for cannabis. The USPTO gives applicants three years to provide documentation of the product's use.\n\"You can file a real buttoned up application where the mark doesn't reference anything related to marijuana or cannabis and just wait,\" Hetu said. \"Effectively, you're running out the clock on purpose waiting for (federal) legalization.\"\nGreen Peak is employing this strategy as well, Donahue said.\n\"That's the strategy for sure,\" he said. \"Keep things pending for as long as you can through the process. From an application point, it's a gray area. So if we're first to market, we're making sure our brands are visible before it's legal at the federal level.\"\nGreen Peak Innovations\nGreen Peak's Skymint-branded marijuana flower.\nMarijuana companies can also file trademarks at the state level, which holds some water legally, but cannot be used to battle infringement from outstate operators, which is more likely to be the problem, Hetu said.\nFor this reason, many large marijuana companies are attempting to establish a brand presence in as many legalized states as possible. Green Peak acquired cannabis vaporizer maker Evoxe Laboratories in California earlier this year to expand its operations, but also to expand its branding.\n\"From a strategic standpoint, we want to be a multi-state operator,\" Donahue said. \"We're doing this not specifically for the trademark issue, but clearly you get there by having brands that are defensible in many states.\"\nPatent protection the USPTO does not require a product be legal to achieve a patent is heating up in the cannabis industry as well, said Thomas Southard, partner at Butzel Long PC in Washington D.C.\n\"We've been seeing major companies file for patents related to cannabis in recent years,\" Southard said. \"Patents are always very valuable but we're seeing they are very valuable in this space as the industry will likely see lots of (mergers and acquisitions) in the future.\"\nBiopharmaceutical giant GW Pharmaceutical has filed dozens of cannabis-related patents, mostly tied to CBD products. So has Janssen Pharmaceuticals and even the National Institutes of Health.\nCannabis companies can file patents on growhouse modifications, specialized equipment for transporting cannabis, automation for harvesting marijuana and even the chemical formulas for the strains of marijuana.\n\"I liken it to the start of the auto industry,\" Southard said. \"Think of all the streamlining and advancements in manufacturing. The same is going to happen in cannabis. Patents are going to be very powerful assets in the future.\"\nPatent protections are already going to court. In July 2018, Golden, Colo.-based United Cannabis Corp. sued Conifer, Colo.-based Pure Hemp Collective Inc. for patent infringement over its CBD product formula. The case remains ongoing.\n\"Lawsuits are coming in now as companies are correctly protecting their investment in intellectual property,\" Southard said. \"It's only going to grow as the industry matures.\"\nSouthard said many small independent marijuana businesses don't protect their patents because it's costly, but warns that it may be costlier not to.\n\"At some point, someone might infringe upon your IP,\" Southard said. \"A lot of small companies have never been involved in patent litigation and it's costly. But there are options.\"\nSouthard estimates a patent protection suit can cost from $1 million to $3 million in many cases, but that litigation finance companies are often a smart way for smaller companies to combat infringement.\nThese companies underwrite the litigation for a portion of the recovery if the suit is ruled in the plaintiff's favor.\n\"File patents,\" Southard said. \"Don't be lazy and let the competition overtake you. Always think of newer and better ways to build the mousetrap. This industry is expanding and more competitive; you've got to protect your turf.\"", "answer groups": [ "regulatory approval" ], "distractor groups": [ "company description", "partnerships & alliances", "hiring", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Health and Safety Helpdesk Administrator. Apply for this job now\nJob Description\nTEMPORARY - Full Time (37.5 hours) or Part Time (Minimum of 25 hours) for between 6 to 9 months. Opportunity for other positions after temporary period.\nCreative Support is a national, fast growing, organisation with charitable status providing care and support to people across England with a wide range of needs. We are also a Registered Social Landlord managing around 1,000 units of supported housing. Creative Support is regulated by the CQC and Regulator of Social Housing and must demonstrate high standards of health and safety compliance. As a large employer of over 5,000 staff nationally we promote safety awareness and good practice, with a commitment to keeping our staff and service users as safe as possible.\nWe are currently recruiting a Health & Safety Helpdesk Administrator, based at our head office in Stockport\nto cover a period of maternity leave. This post will start in April 2022.\nThis is a busy and responsible job which will offer job satisfaction to someone with a conscientious and diligent approach. You will run the Health & Safety Helpdesk, acting as a first point of contact. You will read and review all accident and incident reports, escalating concerns as required. You will be responsible for preparing a wide range of reports and statistics to meet management and governance requirements. You will also produce safety related information bulletins and campaigns.\nWorking within the Health and Safety Team you will play a key role in ensuring a positive health and safety culture across our services. You will support the Health & Safety Team with general administration, data collection and inputting, safety compliance and reporting functions. You will be required to handle information of a confidential nature and must observe the highest standards of diligence and professionalism\nAs our Health & Safety Helpdesk Administrator you will make a real difference to the health and safety of service users and staff across our company. You will be expected to identify and follow up concerns in a proactive and professional manner. A basic interest in health and safety and the provision of social care and social housing is essential. Further health and safety training will be provided to the successful candidate.\nHealth & Safety Helpdesk Administrator day to day duties:\nRunning the Health & Safety Helpdesk and responding to enquiries\nManaging the Health & Safety email In-box\nResponding to queries and safety concerns from staff across the country\nReading and reviewing accident and incident reports Inputting safety data into databases and spreadsheets\nContributing to property safety compliance as required Working with the team collating audit reports and following up action plans\nCompiling data and producing reports\nAnswering the phone, taking accurate messages and informing the team and senior managers of any important communications or events\nProducing information bulletins, safety campaigns and newsletters Assisting colleagues with administrative tasks and follow up\nBenefits of working with Creative Support:\nFlexible working arrangements\nHigh level of training and development through our\nCreative Academy Pension with company contribution\nFree life assurance 20 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays, plus an additional day off for your birthday after 2 years of service\nMileage allowance/travel expenses\nFriendly, supportive work environment\nCareer development opportunities\nA flexible and helpful approach, good customer care and excellent telephone skills are essential as you will often be the first point of contact for our staff. You will need to have relevant administrative experience. You will also need good written communication and IT skills including the ability to accurately record accidents, incidents and other data on databases and spreadsheets. Attention to detail and the ability to critically read documents and accurately identify facts and issues is essential. You will need to be assertive and confident as you will be escalating concerns to colleagues and senior managers. Degree level education and experience of working in a health and safety related environment is desirable.\nThis job could be full time (37.5 hours) or part-time subject to a minimum of 25 hours and could be worked during school hours. Our offices are readily accessible on public transport as we are based in in the centre of Stockport close to the mainline train station and with frequent buses into Manchester.\nCreative Support is a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Silver award. We actively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and cultures.\nWe would encourage you to apply to us even if you have not yet had your COVID 19 vaccine. You will be required to have your first COVID 19 vaccine prior to your interview and your second vaccine before you start work with us. This time will be used to complete post interview recruitment checks.", "answer groups": [ "company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "regulatory approval", "investment in public company", "funding round" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "wework: WeWork India partners with StrongHer Ventures to help women entrepreneurs. Comment\nSynopsis\nArise brings together the benefits of StrongHer Ventures extensive investment expertise and investor network, coupled with WeWork Labs global acceleration platform.\niStock\nArise will empower the women-led ecosystem with hands-on portfolio support.\nBENGALURU: WeWorkIndia, the flexible workspace provider, had partnered with StrongHer Venturesto launch\nArise\n, a programme designed to unlock opportunities for Indias women entrepreneurs.\nThe association will be jointly led byWeWork Labs, the global incubation and acceleration arm of WeWork, and StrongHer Ventures, the first woman-focused VC in India and globally.\nArise brings together the benefits of StrongHer Ventures extensive investment expertise and investor network, coupled with WeWork Labs global acceleration platform.\nThe programme will engage with 5,000 startups, mentor 1000 entrepreneurs and invest in over 100 startups over the next 5 years. It will impact engagement and empowerment of over a million women in India, resulting in 5x increase in funding for women entrepreneurs, doubling the number of women leaders across the impacted group of women, and a 50% reduction in pay gap. Arise expects to add $1.5 billion to Indias women-led economy (\nGDP\n).\nArvind Radhakrishnan, Head of Labs, WeWork India, said, WeWork Labs has always been uniquely capable of delivering ground-up impact because of WeWork Indias extensive physical presence across the country. This allows us to have our eyes on the ground in several micro-ecosystems, and engage with founders on a much deeper level. The aim of the partnership is to build a solid foundation for women-led and focused businesses in India and offer a combination of capital, acceleration, mentorship, customer and market access to high-potential women-led or women-focused startups going forward.\nApart from capital investment, Arise will offer women entrepreneurs a range of benefits as part of the acceleration program including knowledge sessions, bootcamps, sector experts, engaged mentoring, curated networking events, hiring drives, warm client connect, access to follow-on capital, and up to $1 million worth of perks.\nArise will empower the women-led ecosystem with hands-on portfolio support. Additionally, access to WeWork spaces will be offered at highly subsidised rates through WeWork Labs Growth Campus offering.\nAnkita Vashistha, Founder & Managing Partner, StrongHer Ventures, said We are founders of the first venture capital fund to invest in women entrepreneurs and with Arise we are now launching the largest accelerator platform for women led and focused startups, along with WeWork Labs in India. We are engaging women leaders, investors, founders, professionals and corporates to build the most engaged community and ecosystem for women. Arise is uniquely positioned to accelerate growth and value with engaged mentors and sector experts and extensive focus on digital innovation, networking, partnerships, investor relations and business connections. The female economy is here and we are leading the change.\nThe programme will draw out the entire women led/focused innovation ecosystem in India, including founders, talent, corporate leaders, investors and mentors such as Kiran Mazumdar Shaw(", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "regulatory approval" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Clinical Computer Systems, Inc. Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for OBIX BeCA Fetal Monitor. Clinical Computer Systems, Inc. Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for OBIX BeCA Fetal Monitor\nNews provided by\nJul 15, 2020, 11:12 ET\nShare this article\n,\nJuly 15, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- Clinical Computer Systems, Inc. (CCSI), a leading provider of perinatal software, is looking forward to a successful launch of the new OBIX BeCA fetal monitor which recently obtained FDA 510(k) clearance. Through the cooperative agreement with manufacturer Huntleigh Healthcare Limited, CCSI will be the sole distributor of this fetal monitor in the United States.\nOBIX BeCA - A stylish & intuitive fetal monitor\nAndy Head\n, Global Business Development Manager at Huntleigh, comments \"This relationship is very exciting for both organizations. Pairing CCSI's innovative perinatal software with our technology and experience, this new fetal monitor will help clinicians deliver the best obstetric care.\"\nDarren Meilak\n, Huntleigh's Global Head of Marketing adds \"We are looking forward to working with CCSI and assisting hospitals in the care of their moms. It's a testament to the strength of Huntleigh's brand that CCSI chose to work with us. Our wealth of experience, credibility, quality, and strategic thinking complements their approach to help support and improve perinatal healthcare.\"\nThe OBIX BeCA fetal monitor contains Huntleigh's unique, patented \"Locate and Track\" technology that easily detects and maintains contact with the fetal heartbeat. This, combined with high sensitivity ultrasound transducers, supports fetal monitoring in antenatal and labor settings even for moms with difficult assessments, such as early gestation or elevated BMI.\nIn addition to the OBIX BeCA, comes the launch of a wireless transducer solution, a natural accompaniment called OBIX Freedom. This wireless option allows mom the freedom to ambulate untethered from cables, to settle into a more comfortable position while resting in bed, and to safely submerge for waterbirth monitoring.\n\"We are very excited to be joining forces with Huntleigh Healthcare to provide the maternity-care market with a new and easy-to-use maternal-fetal monitoring choice for their day-to-day patient care needs. Just like CCSI's approach to innovation and creative solutions, the OBIX BeCA fetal monitor will be a strategic part of our continued support for perinatal healthcare in the U.S., and our commitment to deliver the best in class products and services to those we serve,\" says CCSI Vice President, Business Development Rick Daniells.\nAbout Clinical Computer Systems, Inc.\nCCSI is an employee-owned, high technology company located in\nHoffman Estates, Illinois\n. For more than 20 years, CCSI has been a leader in perinatal monitoring systems with innovative, customer-driven, products, and support services. The company is dedicated to the development of the OBIX Perinatal Data System and works to incorporate changes in technology, regulations, and standards in the obstetrical department that support hospitals' strategic initiatives.\nAbout Huntleigh Healthcare Limited\nA proud member of the Arjo family, Huntleigh has been committed to supporting healthcare professionals in improving outcomes and enhancing patient wellbeing since 1979. They do this through their proven solutions for Vascular Assessment & Treatment and Fetal & Patient Monitoring. With innovation and customer satisfaction as guiding principles, they strive for clinical excellence and improved performance, for life.\nFor more information, contact", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cosmoprof Hong Kong 2019. Sketch\nRecognized as one of the top beauty and cosmetic trade shows to span the globe, Cosmoprof returned to Hong Kong after expanding its presence in Bologna and Las Vegas.\nWith a number of influencers and top buyers among the visitors in attendance, Asterasys looks to the plethora of expertise and resources the venue has to offer on introducing its cutting-edge non-invasive beauty and contouring technologies to industry leaders and customers.\nFor information on our product line, visit our official website or you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and more.\nCosmoprof Hong Kong 2019\nExhibition Location: Convention and Exhibition Centre\nHosting Period: Nov. 13, 2019 to Nov. 15.\nBooth No.:", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "new initiatives or programs", "foundation", "clinical trial sponsorship", "executive statement" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Amazon suspends shipments, Prime Video streaming in Russia amid Ukraine war. Amazon\nhas suspended shipment of retail products to customers based in Russiaand Belarus, and will no longer provide customers with access to its streaming service Prime Video in Russia\nThe company said that it will no longer be accepting new Russiaand Belarus-based AWS customers and Amazonthird-party sellers.\n\"We are also suspending access to Prime Video for customers based in Russia, and we will no longer be taking orders for New World, which is the only video game we sell directly in Russia,\" the commerce giant said in a statement.\nAmazon\nstopped any new orders of the open-world MMO New World, the only game title it sells in Russia.\nSeveral other gaming giants like EA Games, CD Projekt Red, Take-Two, Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard, and Epic Games, have suspended sales in the country.\nUnlike some other US technology providers, Amazon and AWS have no data centres, infrastructure or offices in Russia.\n\"We have a long-standing policy of not doing business with the Russian government,\" said Amazon.\nAmazon's cloud-computing unit AWS has also announced that it is no longer accepting new customers based in Russia or Belarus, following the invasion of Ukraine.\nThe company said it is continuing to partner with several NGOs and organisations to support humanitarian needs in the region.\n\"Amazon donated $5 million to support those impacted. We continue to match our employees' donations, and we're happy to report that over 10,000 employees have donated to the effort,\" it informed.\nTens of thousands of customers around the world have also made donations via Amazon home pages.\nIn addition to Amazon, several tech players like Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Netflix, and PayPal have stopped doing business with Russia. Visa and Mastercard have also shut down operations in the country.\n--IANS\nna/shb/\n(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)\nDear Reader,\nBusiness Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.\nWe, however, have a request.\nAs we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.\nSupport quality journalism and", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "article publication", "ipo exit", "partnerships & alliances", "product updates" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Avast to buy Canadas SecureKey Technologies for undisclosed sum. -0.45%\n-8.39\nThe company said on Thursday that SecureKey's next generation privacy-enhancing services are focused on simplifying access to online services while giving control back to consumers by ensuring the information they share with others is only ever with their explicit consent.\nAvast chief executive Ondrej Vlcek said: \"We envisage a global and reusable digital identity framework which will underpin a new trust layer for the internet.\n\"It's clear that digital identity is the critical enabler for many digital services and SecureKey's success reflects the growing demand for this from consumers. SecureKey is highly complementary to Avast's prior work in Identity and together we will take our offer to the next level, accelerating innovation and working to establish a user-focused, global approach that aligns user, business, and government propositions. We are committed to developing offerings that will be fully inclusive for everyone, regardless of their own circumstances.\"\nServices developed by SecureKey include those currently known as Verified.Me, a first-of-its-kind, distributed digital identity verification network, and Government Sign-In by Verified.Me for convenient login to hundreds of government online services and applications.\nThe deal is expected to close early next month.\nAdvertising", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "service & product providing", "participation in an event", "closing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cyber Help Desk. CAHO - InnovatioCuris Cyber Help Desk\nComputers have exponentially taken over the functions of organisations due to their efficient performance, error smear and minimal human intervention capabilities. Due to this, they amount to hold an irreplaceable power in any field. However, the sinister side of the computers invoke threats like data stealing and compromising online accounts which can in turn be used for fraud, blackmail, siphoning resources, terrorism and in some cases shutdown of services and businesses.\nDue to this, there is a much needed focus on securing the computer related platforms in any organisation. Your organisation may have been affected with a cyber related issue in the past or you may just be at the brink of being cyber attacked.\nCAHO (Consortium of Accredited Health Organisations) and IC (InnovatioCuris) have come up with a cyber help desk where you may post your cyber related queries and get an answer from cyber security auditors and experts. Please fill the form below.\nLoading\nTweet\nAbout InnovatioCuris\nInnovatioCuris which is commonly known as IC is a unique organization, which brings deep healthcare expertise, a scientific rigour on applying global innovation models & management processes by leveraging IT to deliver healthcare at an optimum cost.\nPolicies", "answer groups": [ " event organization" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive statement", "event organization", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cypherium to provide interface for EVM blockchains and CBDCs says founder. Cypherium to provide interface for EVM blockchains and CBDCs says founder\nRead full article\nDecember 30, 2021, 7:00 AM\n\n3 min read\nCypherium recently announced it has enabled support both for an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) as well as the Ethereum Networks primary coding language, Solidity.\nThis enterprise-focused blockchain platform, which facilitates interoperability between blockchains and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), said it wants to enable regular users to access EVM-based projects following lower gas fees and faster block production.\nCoin Rivet spoke to Cypheriums founder, Sky Guo, who explained the Ethereum Virtual Machine, or EVM, as a decentralised computer that manages the deployment and execution of smart contracts and decentralised apps (dApps) on the Ethereum network.\nDevelopers utilise this decentralised computation engine to make applications accessible from literally any internet-powered device on the planet, he said.\nSince the heavy lifting is done in the EVM, no matter how powerful an individuals computer or mobile phone is, the user experience stays essentially the same.\nGuo also elaborated EVM is one of the most reliable and widely-used platforms for building and running smart contracts\nBy integrating the EVM, Cypherium opens its doors to the wider smart contract and blockchain developer communities.\nMoreover, he added, many public blockchains will also adopt the EVM.\nWith full EVM compatibility, Cypherium is able to provide interoperability for all EVM blockchains, including Ethereum, Avalanche, and Binance Smart Chain, he noted.\nTalking about the main difference between traditional cryptocurrencies and CBDCs, Guo reiterated traditional cryptocurrencies are generally built on permissionless blockchains.\nMany, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, dont have a central entity that operates them and instead, the network is maintained by a globally distributed network of public nodes who vote on protocol upgrades proposed by a collective of developers.\nCBDCs are, on the other hand, based on similar blockchain technology but are allowed, closed source, and run in a centralised manner.\nStory continues\nAll parts of the system are wholly controlled by a central entity typically the central banks.\nGrowing its ecosystem with Solidity\nGuo also stressed the importance of the Solidity integration.\nSolidity is the de facto standard smart contract programming language, and it has the biggest developer community, rich documentation and tools, and an ecosystem of apps.\nBy supporting Solidity and EVM, Cypherium will invite more smart contract developers and foster its ecosystems growth, Guo asserted.\nHe explained that this is important for two reasons.\nFirst, it allows for the smooth transition of existing smart contracts onto Cypherium.\nAs mentioned, this will enable protocols on Ethereum or other EVM-compatible chains to develop on Cypheriums faster and more efficient blockchain infrastructure.\nAnd second, we wanted developers who were already familiar with Solidity to feel at home on Cypherium.\nThey dont have to learn anything new; they can simply get to creating and enjoy the benefits of enhanced throughput.\nGuo also commented the company is currently working with several government bodies, including central banks and law enforcement agencies, to create a new framework for regulated blockchains.\nBy bringing order into the space, we will end the Wild West of crypto and make it a better, safer place for fintech innovation, as well as increase user confidence, he concluded.\nRecommended Stories", "answer groups": [ "expanding industry" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "department establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Health Care Heroes Carry Long Islanders Through Covid-19 Pandemic. Health Care Heroes Carry Long Islanders Through Covid-19 Pandemic\nBy\n-\nMarch 9, 2021\nSign up for our COVID-19 newsletterto stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York\nAs Covid-positive patients stream steadily into hospitals, a pandemic weary Long Island can count on its own health care heroes who put their own safety aside to carry them through. Some stand out as winners of the 2021 Bethpage Best of Long Island contest.\nThe winners include Medford Volunteer Ambulance, which won the title of Best Medical Transportation Company on Long Island, and Stony Brook University Hospital, which won the title of Best Maternity Ward on Long Island.\nEach of these health organizations rose to the top in their response to Covid from the onset and their medical and supportive personnel displayed their outstanding skills, fortitude, and temperament to save and impact lives. So, what defines a health care hero? Read on to see what these outstanding institutions and their top-notch staff have in common.\nHealth care heroes agree that fighting Covid-19 requires a teamwork approach not only for the health of their patients but to support one another emotionally.\nBEST MATERNITY WARD\nStony Brook University Hospital Preserves Joy And Wonderment of Childbirth\nExpectant mothers arrive at Stony Brook University Hospital maternity ward surrounded by a caring and highly skilled staff of health care professionals who feel uniquely privileged to experience the miracle of childbirth with families.\nThe hospital has all private rooms and mothers and babies remain together as much as possible. Patients arriving at the hospital are tested for Covid-19. Covid-19 positive patients are cared for in negative pressure rooms in labor and delivery and staff closely monitor for signs and symptoms.\nShavon Bailey, RN. Photo Credit: Stony Brook University Hospital\nHowever, there were a few severe cases where the patients required a higher level of care in other areas of the hospital.\nRN Ashley Schuette works in antepartum, labor and delivery, newborn and postpartum at Stony Brook Hospital. She recently talked about the benefits of expectant moms being able to have the company of a support person to stay with them throughout their birth experience, along with a doula if they want, for labor and delivery.\nStony Brook did a great job because the moms were allowed to designate someone to come with them to the hospital and stay the entire time. We were great to be able to do that for our patients, said Schuette in a phone interview.\nOver the past year, some patients had Covid-19 but were asymptomatic and others were scared to get sick or have their babies get sick, she related.\nIts different than before because you never know who is sick so you want to be careful around everyone. In the beginning, we didnt know how it was affecting moms and babies and we could only go by what we were hearing from the CDC. It was scary for the patients. A new mom just wants to protect her baby and is nervous something will happen to their baby but they know we are doing our best.\nElena Lecrichia, RN sits with her husband and newborn daughter Taylor. Photo Credit: Stony Brook University Hospital\nTo assuage concerns among the expectant mothers she tries to educate them with information available from the CDC and hospital protocol to keep them safe.\nAccording to Schuette, apart from the safety measures and donning the PPE for deliveries new moms enjoy the same joyous experience at Stonybrook.\nShe feels privileged to do the kind of work she does. Its one of the most rewarding things. You get to be a part of such an instant moment in peoples lives. You are there the first time they get to hear their baby cry. Its incredible. Some [women] dont think they can get through [labor] and they do.\nShavon Bailey is also a nurse in antepartum, labor and delivery, newborn nurse, and postpartum. She talked about helping the mothers feel safe both before and during their stay at the hospital.\nSome are nervous about getting sick. We do our best from answering calls ahead of time and comfort them when they walk in the door. We listen to their concerns and answer questions, letting them know we are doing our best. Were all good at comforting this way because this is our specialty.\nBailey was one of the nurses at the hospitals first Covid -19 C-section of a mom who was in the ICU, she related. The mom was well and the baby was well and didnt have Covid. We had great leaders that came up with the procedures and we practiced. It looked different with all the PPE and safety but it went very well.\nAshley Schuette, RN in personal protective equipment. Photo Credit: Stony Brook University Hospital\nLabor and delivery nurse Elena Lecrichia recently gained a better understanding of what it is like to deliver a baby in a pandemic. She gave birth at Stony Brook in May. My coworkers are capable of empathy and it gave me a personal edge to the experience, she recounted.\nShe was seven months pregnant when news of Covid-19 hit.\nIn the beginning, she said there was general fear among herself and co-workers when like the rest of the world news of Covid-19 and how contagious it was began coming.\nIt started off slow. There definitely was some fear. Wed hear about it a little bit then there were more and more patients coming in with Covid and you knew this is serious. This is contagious and no one wanted to bring that home to their family, she recounted.\nLecrichia back then being pregnant added some concern for her at work. We didnt know if it would transmit to the baby. The fear was the unknown. It was hard, Lecrichia said.\nBut she pushed through, and in fact, worked up until the day before her baby was born. Her coworkers were supportive. We always wore the PPE and I always felt safe. And they took the assignments that were riskier, the patients with Covid.\nNurse Elena Lecrichias newborn daughter Taylor rests in her bassinet. Photo Credit: Stony Brook University Hospital\nShe agrees the best way to ease any concerns for pregnant women arriving to have their babies is through education and communication. We work hard to normalize the process. Even though its during a pandemic and theres more PPE for you its still going to be a loving experience, said Lecrichia.\nThe new moms shes seen coming through the doors are resilient. They are amazing and can adapt to anything. Im really impressed with our community of moms. Even though the world may look a little chaotic, its still a time to celebrate happy moments.\nBEST MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION COMPANY\nMedford Volunteer Ambulance Brings Pre-Hospital Care, Comfort To Patients In Pandemic\nMedford Volunteer Ambulance EMTs rely on teamwork and each other to answer the publics call in the crisis bringing emergency care and comfort in pre-hospital transport making sure each patient has the best chance for recovery.\nVolunteer EMT Justin Zimmerman credits a close-knit group among the volunteers who get each other through", "answer groups": [ "participation in an event" ], "distractor groups": [ "product updates", "regulatory approval", "hiring", "ipo exit" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "UPI-like digital healthcare interface to go live this week. UPI-like digital healthcare interface to go live this week\nUPI-like digital healthcare interface to go live this week\nBy\nJanuary 12, 2022 11:19 IST\nGet Rediff News\nin your Inbox:\nemail\n'United Health Interface is in line with UPI. UPI is a language of money transfer, similarly, UHI is a set of protocols, which is going to create a language of health service delivery'\nIMAGE: Doctors attend to a patient at a 50-bed COVID care centre in a stadium at Noida.\nPhotograph: PTI Photo.\nThe United Health Interface, which will allow the interoperability of health services like the united payments interface has done for payments, will go live this week.\nDr R S Sharma, CEO of National Health Authority, said: UHI will go live this week. We are putting UHI as a platform and inviting the entire community to contribute with their feedback. We are working on it very fast and I believe we will be as successful as UPI.\nUHI is in line with UPI. UPI is a language of money transfer, similarly, UHI is a set of protocols, which is going to create a language of health service delivery, he added.\nSharma was speaking at the 16th edition of India Digital Summit 2022 organised by Internet And Mobile Association of India. Privacy and data protection was a recurrent focus of the first day of the summit which adopted the theme of Supercharging start-ups for this edition.\nPrivacy is not a zero sum game. It is a typical myth that to have privacy you have to sacrifice some functionalities. We have worked in a federated architecture which means we don't put the data in one place as it can become a single point of failure, said Dr Sharma.\nGoogle India MD and IAMAI chairman Sanjay Gupta said, We have to ensure privacy and safety of people on the internet. Winning the trust of a billion Indians is going to be critical and we can't leave our doors open to bad actors and leave it to law enforcement to bring them to book.\nStart-ups will play a pivotal role in achieving a trillion-dollar economy by 2025 from 250 billion dollars currently. Today, startups employ half a million people in India. That means, we need to focus on the right enablers for the growth -- regulatory framework, right infrastructure, to ensure digital economy can grow equitably. Also, we need to ensure a safer internet, he added.\nUIDAI CEO Saurabh Garg said that the next leg of Aadhaar based innovations will be in areas like confidential computing, quantum computing-led cybersecurity infrastructure, faster biometric solutions and blockchain based products to make the authentication system more decentralised and secure.\nThe Aadhaar chief said that over 50 million Aadhaar authentications are taking place per day and over 400 million last-mile banking transactions are being done every month through Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS).\nHe reiterated that for individual residents Aadhaar authentication is free and will always remain free. Recently, UIDAI had slashed the price for authentication to Rs 3 from Rs 20 per instance to enable entities to leverage its infrastructure for providing ease of living to people through various services and benefits.\nGet Rediff News", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "closing", "regulatory approval", "department establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Tantus Technologies Supports D.C. Government with IT Staff Augmentation. Tantus Technologies Supports D.C. Government with IT Staff Augmentation\nNews provided by\nJun 02, 2020, 13:42 ET\nShare this article\n,\nJune 2, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- Tantus Technologies, Inc. (Tantus) today announced its recent Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract award to provide the\nDistrict of Columbia\n(the \"District\") Information Technology (IT) Staff Augmentation and Support Services related to its Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning applications.\nUnder this contract, Tantus will provide staff augmentation support related to a financial system implementation in the following service areas: Project Management, Change Management, Technical, Functional, and Testing. The District benefits from Tantus' record of success and lessons learned from multiple, large-scale, Oracle Financials systems implementations across government agencies, including Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Education (ED), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).\n\"We look forward to supporting the District,\" said Tantus CEO,\nBuck Keswani\n. \"Our team is organized to provide the right balance of strong management disciplines at the program level and extensive technical and Oracle Financial Management domain expertise at the team level.\"\nAbout Tantus Technologies, Inc.\nTantus provides technology and business solutions to solve the federal government's health, financial, and transportation challenges. The company brings nearly two decades of experience collaborating with government to make \"Our World Better,\" delivering solutions that span Artificial Intelligence, Agile, Human Centered Design, DevOps, Strategy Realization, Program/Project Management, and Cyber Security. Recognized by The Washington Post as a \"Top Workplace\" two years in a row, Tantus realizes its core value of \"Do the Right Thing\" with a robust community service program focused on improving the lives of children and young women diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions.\nSOURCE Tantus Technologies, Inc.", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "hiring", "regulatory approval" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "BioSkryb Discusses First Data Demonstrating Improved Accuracy of Whole Genome Amplification Technology for Single Cell Analyses. Pharmaceutical Technology's In the Lab eNewsletter 01-06-2021,\nVolume 16,\nIssue 1\nA novel PTA technology captures more than 95% of the genomes of single cells, providing more uniform, accurate, and reproducible single-cell analysis data.\nOn Dec. 1, 2020, BioSkryb, a developer of genomic amplification technologies, reported the release of foundational data demonstrating that primary template-directed amplification (PTA) has a superior ability to accurately and uniformly amplify the genomes of single cells. The data was released on bioRxiv, the preprint server, prior to publication.\nWhole genome amplification (WGA) is required for low-input DNA and single-cell analysis, and single-cell approaches are critical for tackling difficult biological questions involving genomic heterogeneity. Current WGA technologies and methods for single-cell or low-input DNA analysis, however, only cover a fraction of the genome, have a limited capacity to detect genetic variation in each cell, and suffer from significant biases, experimental artifacts, and poor reproducibility. The new data show that PTA can overcome these limitations as well as provide high-quality, scalable analysis of single-cell genomic heterogeneity. Having access to this analysis can enable new insights into human disease at the cellular level and empower high-resolution diagnostics for cancer, gene-editing, and other applications, BioSkryb stated in a company press release.\nFurthermore, the PTA technology accurately calls genomic variants within tissues, one cell at a time, and reproducibly captures more than 95% of the genomes of those cells in a more controlled and accurate manner than existing approaches. According to the data released, PTA can be reliably used to call copy number variation in primary cancer cells and genome-wide variant detection in gene-edited cells. The technology can enable the feasibility of performing single-cell evaluations of biopsies from cancer and gene-edited tissues.\nThe PTA technology has been made a part of BioSkrybs ResolveDNA kits, which contain all the enzymes and reagents needed for whole genome amplification from single cells or ultra-low DNA inputs. The kits employ a unique set of nucleotides to prevent recopying of the amplification products, which results in less errors and higher, more uniform coverage of the genome. The PTA technology also enables the attachment of cell barcodes to the resultant products for pooling and downstream analysis.\nWe developed PTA to accurately and efficiently decipher genetic diversity at the cellular level so that we can better detect, understand, and treat disease, said Charles Gawad, MD, PhD, inventor of the PTA technology, cofounder of BioSkryb, and associate professor at Stanford University, in the press release. These data show that PTA amplifies the genomes of single cells with high coverage breadth and uniformity in a reproducible manner to significantly improve variant calling of all types. The ability of PTA to enable highly accurate genetic information at single-cell resolution could uncover new drug targets for cancer and neurological diseases as well as identify CRISPR off-target activity to monitor the safety and fidelity of gene editing.\nChuck and I cofounded BioSkryb to ensure researchers had access to the most advanced DNA analysis technologies, so its especially exciting to see the superior performance of PTA over current methods and to be able to make it commercially available through our ResolveDNA kits, said Jay West, PhD, CEO, and cofounder of BioSkryb, in the press release. Existing whole genome amplification methods uncover a fraction of the genomic information, but now with ResolveDNA, researchers can explore new places in the genome and be confident in the quality of the sequencing data at those sites.\nSource:", "answer groups": [ "article publication" ], "distractor groups": [ "investment in public company", "new initiatives & programs", "alliance & partnership", "clinical trial sponsorship" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Industry Challenges' Blamed For DriveTribe's Demise. After five years of questionable existence, DriveTribe is shutting down its website at the end of January. Industry challenges, like tightening marketing budgets and the ongoing chip shortage, have been pegged as the reason why the site will go dark. Those issues have made it impossible for the ad-supported site to continue, according to a blog post from the company.\nThe community will continue in some form on YouTube and other social media platforms. Itll primarily be fronted by Richard Hammond and his team who were already doing the brunt of the work on their social media channels.\nAlthough were all really disappointed that our DriveTribe website business has to come to an end, Im really delighted to be continuing our relationship with this brilliant community. Theres never been a more exciting time to talk about the industry as we deal with these hugely challenging market forces and the rapid evolution of what we mean by motoring, Hammond wrote. Come and join me on the channels along with lots of familiar DriveTribe faces as we continue to keep the brand alive and the conversation going.\nDriveTribe was founded in 2016 with the support of the Top Gear trio Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May along with their producer Andy Wilman. Its unveiling coincided with their other new venture: The Grand Tour on Amazon.\nCEO Ernesto Schmitt handled site operations while the trio used their notoriety to drum up enthusiasm and traffic for the site.\nWere all really disappointed that challenges in the industry not in the least helped by the ongoing pandemic have simply made it impossible to continue with the business in its current form, Clarkson said in the blog post. Im very much looking forward to seeing what mischief Hammond and his team get up to as they take the channels and the community forward.\nUsers were meant to join Tribes hosted by members of the TG/GT trio or start their own, and it could be centered around anything car related. In 2018, we reported that Drive Tribe had burned through nearly $16 million in just two years, and its unlikely their fortunes ever got better. The part news/part social media site never really became the hub of car culture it was supposed to be, and now it never will.\nFor anyone who wrote on the site, the blog post details how to download your content to save it for future, personal use.", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "hiring", "event organization", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Louisville senior living campus sells for $190M. Representatives for Welltower, AEW and Balfour did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.\nThe Balfour campus in Louisville was sold in a series of individual and multi-property transactions:\nBalfour Cherrywood Village, an Alzheimers and memory care facility at 282 McCaslin Blvd., sold for $17.5 million\nBalfour at Lavender Farms, a retirement and assisted living community at 1800 Plaza Drive, sold for $28 million.\nThe Lodge and The Residences, Balfours independent living operations at 1331 and 1305 Hecla Drive, sold for $48.5 million.\nAnother independent living building at 1310 Hecla Drive sold for $35.5 million\nThe Wellshire at Balfour, a skilled nursing facility at 1855 Plaza Drive, sold for $60.5 million.\nThe properties include a combined total of more than 300 units.\nAWE bought the Hecla Drive properties from Balfour\nfor $103.8 million in 2014. The McCaslin Boulevard property was bought by the same company in 2012 for $11 million.\nBalfour founded in 1996 by Michael Schonbrun, a former president of National Jewish Health in Denver continued to operate the facilities after those transactions. The company has additional operations in Denver, Littleton and Ann Arbor, Michigan.\nAWE sold the Balfour at Riverfront Park senior living community at 1550 Little Raven St. in Denver to Welltower in May, according to a\n. The value of that deal was $118 million.\n\nLOUISVILLE A pair of investor groups recently traded the Balfour Senior Living campus in Louisville for a total of $190 million.\nThe buyer, according to Boulder County public records, was Well Balfour Landlord LLC, an entity affiliated with Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL). Welltower is an Ohio-based real estate investment trust that specializes in senior living communities. The seller was an affiliate of Boston investment firm AEW Capital Management LP.", "answer groups": [ "service & product providing" ], "distractor groups": [ "participation in an event", "new initiatives & programs", "support & philanthropy", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Diplomat Launches CastiaRx, Industry-Leading Specialty Benefit Manager. projects that more than 50 percent of U.S. drug spend will be specialty by 2020.\nAlbert Thigpen\n, president and chief operating officer of CastiaRx, said specialty drugs are life-changing for people with complex diseasesincluding cancer and rare genetic conditionsbut often require more expert support.\n\"The current PBM model wasn't designed to address the challenges that come with specialty drugs,\" Thigpen said. \"While CastiaRx offers traditional PBM services, we also bring broader depth to address the intricacies of specialty pharmacy managementunder both the pharmacy and medical benefit. With 24/7 patient support, advanced analytic capabilities, and clinical expertise founded on a centers-of-excellence approach, we can help patients achieve the best possible outcomes.\"\nJoel Saban\n, president of Diplomat, said CastiaRx simplifies the patient journey by tailoring support based on the patient's stage of illness, clinical status, and communication preferences. He said the brand focuses on anticipating member needs, increasing adherence, closing gaps in care, and ultimately enabling better outcomes. CastiaRx offers a range of service levels, with high-touch support for patients who need it and digital tools for those who prefer self-service.\n\"Managing specialty drug spend is part of our company's DNA,\" Saban said. \"We saw tremendous synergies between Diplomat's longstanding efforts in this area and those of our PBMs. Uniting all this under CastiaRx can relieve the complexity of specialty drug management for small and midsize payers as we provide a true solution to help them prepare for what's ahead.\"\nCastiaRx combines 50 years of PBM service with more than 40 years' experience handling specialty pharmaceuticals.\nForward-Looking Statements\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance and may include Diplomat's expectations regarding benefits of business and growth strategies. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information. These statements are qualified by important risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those forecasted or indicated by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include: our ability to adapt to changes or trends within the specialty pharmacy industry; increasing consolidation in the healthcare industry; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses; and the additional factors set forth in \"Risk Factors\" in Diplomat's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended\nDec. 31, 2017\n, and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by any applicable laws, Diplomat assumes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date hereof or the earlier date specified herein, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.\nAbout Diplomat\nDPLO\n) is the nation's largest independent provider of specialty pharmacy serviceshelping patients and providers in all 50 states. The company offers medication management programs for people with complex chronic diseases and delivers unique solutions for manufacturers, hospitals, payers, providers, and more. Diplomat opened its doors in 1975 as a neighborhood pharmacy with one essential tenet: \"Take good care of patients and the rest falls into place.\" Today, that tradition continuesalways focused on improving patient care and clinical adherence. For more information, visit diplomat.is\nAbout CastiaRx\nCastiaRx is the industry's leading specialty benefit manager. Combining full-service pharmacy benefit manager capabilities with specialty expertise, CastiaRx addresses spend across the benefit spectrum. The company leads with compassion, striving to simplify specialty management for its partners. Believe in better with CastiaRxbetter treatment, better care, and a better path to a healthier future. For more information, visit", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipo exit", "expanding industry", "regulatory approval" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Teaching an old drug new tricks. NewsOK: Oklahoma City News, Sports, Weather & Entertainment\nTeaching an old drug new tricks\nPublished:\nSun, February 23, 2020 1:07 AM\nUpdated:\nSun, February 23, 2020 1:35 AM\nshares\nemail\nTypically, a promising new experimental drug arrives on the scene with a flourish. Or, to be more accurate, a news release.\nFor the compound known as NHPN-1010, that news release came earlier this month. It announced that a Korean biotechnology company, Oblato, had acquired all rights to the drug, which scientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Hough Ear Institute had jointly discovered as a potential way to prevent and treat hearing loss.\nThe announcement was, of course, true. But the simple ta-da! flavor of the news belied a more complicated history.\nThe compound had not simply materialized and proclaimed its potential to guard against damage to sensory cells, nerves and hair cells in the inner ear. Rather, that milestone came only after decades of research and experimentation, and progress proved anything but linear.\nIndeed, to the naked eye, eureka moments appear to fuel drug discovery. And, of course, you cant have a life-changing medication without a paradigm-shifting breakthrough.\nBut when it comes to successfully moving a compound down the long and winding road from the laboratory to the clinic, what separates the winners from the losers is often not the greatness of that initial insight. Rather, getting a discovery to the finish line is all about dealing with and overcoming failure.\nA stroke drug fails\nFourteen years ago, the experimental compound then known as Cerovive looked dead. Kaput. Another once-promising compound tossed into the trash heap of didnt-quite-make-it new drugs.\nThe drug company AstraZeneca had developed Cerovive based on discoveries made in the late 1980s at OMRF. In a series of experiments at OMRF, Robert Floyd, Ph.D., had found a compound that had neuroprotective properties.\nIn rodents, the chemical seemed to guard the brain against injuries typically caused by strokes. A se", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "subsidiary establishment", "hiring", "alliance & partnership" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Clark County Commission Approves Resolution to Condemn Wildlife Killing Contests. Wildlife Killing Contest\nAnimal Wellness Brands Logo\nThese contests are cruel, not representative of ethical hunting, not conservation, and not a recognized wildlife management tool.\n Shelbie Swartz, wildlife advocate with Animal Wellness Action LAS VEGAS , NEVADA , USA , March 2, 2021 /EINPresswire.com / -- Today, the Clark County Commission voted to approve a resolution to condemn Wildlife Killing Contests in Nevada. The resolution, brought forth by Commissioner Justin Jones, passed by a unanimous vote of 7 to 0.\n'With the passage of this historic resolution to condemn the scourge of Wildlife Killing Contests in our state, Nevada has been put on the path toward joining the bevy of other states that have already eliminated these barbaric practices,' Annoula Wylderich, Animal Wellness Action's Nevada State Director, said. 'This resolution galvanizes the movement to ban contest killing, which rewards participants for killing the most, the heaviest, and the smallest of a given species and is not sportsmanship.'\n'With this vote, the Clark County Commission took a leap forward to protect residents and visitors to our state who use our extensive public lands for hiking, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities that require a healthy environment,' Shelbie Swartz, a wildlife advocate working with Animal Wellness Action, said. 'As a Nevadan, I believe it is my responsibility, and the responsibility of all my neighbors, to stand up for our wildlife and our lands. These contests are cruel, not representative of ethical hunting, not conservation, and not a recognized wildlife management tool.'\n'With this resolution, we send a signal to the Nevada Department of Wildlife that Clark County, the most populous county in Nevada, stands against cruel killing contests, and uphold scientifically-based wildlife management programs,' Commissioner Jones said. 'I am proud to have sponsored this resolution, which will help to ensure that the public is safe from stray bullets by unethical shooters in a hurry to kill as many animals as possible and protect our state's wildlife from inhumane practices and unnecessary slaughter.'\n'Nature abhors a vacuum, which is precisely what people foolishly cause with wildlife killing contests. Indiscriminate slaughter of our wildlife never makes biological or ethical sense. The Clark County Commission officially recognized these realities with its vote today,' Fred Voltz, a Nevada wildlife advocate said.\nThe AWA-sponsored measure also earned support from the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter and the Center for Biological Diversity.\n'Wildlife killing contests are a barbaric anachronism that has no place in a civilized society,' Patrick Donnelly, Nevada state director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said. 'Coyote killing contests in particular throw off the pack dynamics and reproductive ecology of coyotes. There is no evidence that killing coyotes in any way reduces human conflict or livestock depredation. We need to show respect for our native wildlife, not treat it as fodder in some sick bloodsport. Nevada needs to join the 21st century and end this practice today.'\n'One of the key missions of the Sierra Club is the preservation and protection of our nation's wildlife resources and nothing is more antithetical to this goal than killing contests that glorify the killing of animals purely for blood sport with the intention of seeing who can kill the most,' Connie Howard, Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter's Conservation and Public Lands Chair, wrote in a letter of support. 'These contests should be outlawed across the nation, regardless of species (coyote, bobcat, foxes, wolves, prairie dogs etc.), and we support this resolution as an important step in the right direction.'\n'This barbaric practice of coyote killing contests is not only ineffective due to the coyote's compensatory breeding response, but also a repulsive stain on Nevada as long as this practice is allowed to continue,' Tobi Tyler, a member of Toiyabe Chapter's Executive Committee, said. 'These animals perform a critical ecological function. When are we, as a species, going to learn to coexist with other top predators instead of trying to kill them all off, especially in a manner that's purely for entertainment? This ecologically destructive practice must end.\nNevada's neighboring states have banned these contests in recent years, which has driven contest participants and organizers to flock to Nevada, one of the last states in the Southwest that allows these contests to persist. In these contests, teams of two or single shooters head out at dawn to kill as many coyotes, fox, rabbits, bobcats, or other small mammals as they can, to win prizes such as belt buckles, guns, or monetary awards. They typically throw away the animals and leave lead ammunition strewn on public lands for other wildlife to ingest. The spent lead ammunition courses through the food chain, poisoning and killing abundant and endangered wildlife alike.\nIn the past few years, more than 24 wildlife killing contests have occurred in Nevada, including in and around Clark County, with four hosting their weigh-ins and 'celebrations' in Las Vegas and Henderson. The killing happens across the entire state, with participants encouraged to kill on public lands such as BLM and USFS lands. Recently, competitions have migrated to an app-based system where a virtual check-in system allows for 'anyone with a smartphone' to compete, allowing killing to occur anywhere.\nThis is the first successful attempt to condemn these contests in the state of Nevada. In 2015, the Wildlife Commission voted 7-1 to deny a petition that sought to end these competitions. However, support for banning these contests has grown on the commission, with Wildlife Commission member David McNinch stating in an interview to the Nevada Current that he doesn't 'think it's in the best interest of our agency or our wildlife to be known as the only state that allows it.'\nAnimal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies, and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and that's why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones don't. We believe helping animals helps us all.\nThe Animal Wellness Foundation (Foundation) is a Los Angeles-based private charitable organization with a mission of helping animals by making veterinary care available to everyone with a pet, regardless of economic ability. We organize rescue efforts and medical services for dogs and cats in need and help homeless pets find a loving caregiv", "answer groups": [ "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [ "regulatory approval", "expanding industry", "new initiatives & programs", "event organization" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Humana's (HUM) Alliances to Offer Relief to Members With CKD. Free Report\n) entered into agreements with Monogram Health and Somatus to boost its care management portfolio. The two specialized care management companies would help Humana provide customized services to its Humana Medicare Advantage and Commercial members, who suffer kidney disease and reside in four states. While Monogram Health operates in Louisiana and Mississippi, Somatus is located in Georgia and Virginia.\nThis unique tie-up would allow Humana to diagnose and manage kidney disease much better, which in turn, will likely improve overall health outcomes and quality of life. Many Americans suffer kidney diseases and with proper intervention, the same can be controlled. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the nations ninth-leading cause for death. Per Centers for Disease Control, CKD impacts more than 30 million Americans.\nHumana expects to serve members with this condition and provide them with coordinated care to cure the same. Patients would also be given access to tools that would help in managing their health. The members would be able to get care within the comforts of their own homes. The services would also be delivered to members with chronic kidney and end-stage renal disease.\nTeams from both companies include clinicians, such as nephrologists, nurses, dietitians and social workers. The range of services would consist of care coordination with an individuals primary care physician and nephrologist, in-house health and medication evaluation, patient education about treatment choices as well as counselling sessions. Services through Monogram Health are already available while those via Somatus will commence on Jan 1, 2020.\nThis comprehensive approach to healthcare is in line with the companys commitment to improve health outcomes through high quality care while keeping costs under control.\nHumana has constantly taken up initiatives to boost its network and offer value-based customized care options. As of Sep 30, 2019, it had more than 2.3 million individual Medicare Advantage members and approximat", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "participation in an event", "subsidiary establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "1908 E-ventures Pvt Ltd (an Ador Group Enterprise) acquires personal care brand Coccoon. Group\n, a 114-year-old diversified business Group. The diversified business Grouphas over forty years of experience in the manufacturing and distribution of skin care and personal care products. 1908 E-ventures Pvt. Ltd.runs Sublime Life an online platform and community founded in 2019, to connect and access ethical, sustainable, and clean brands from across the globe to the conscious consumer of today. The acquisition aims to bring growth for brand cocoon at 10x. In February 2022, Sublime Liferaised $2 million in a funding round led by Root Ventures. Funds raised in this round will be utilized towards scaling up and strengthening the operations of Sublime Life also boasting 1908s strategy to establish itself as a House of Brands.\nCoccoon brand by EM & EM Personal Care Pvt Ltd.is devoted to protection, pampering & nourishment with products in the skin and hair care category for men and women. Founded by Dr. Mohit Lalvania serial entrepreneur, his ventures are focused on solving problems in the beauty and personal care industry. With a passion for formulation, knowledge, and resources from having years of experience in the industry, he established a personal care brand, Coccoon in 2017, to stir the entire beauty industry. Coccoondelivers customers with products that are paraben-free, devoid of any harmful chemicals, and developed from a composition of ingredients that include natural actives obtained from natural sources across the globe.\nCommenting on the acquisition, Dr. Deep Lalvani 1908 E-Ventures\nPvt Ltd\nsaid, This is a significant time for us at The Company. Coccoonis a quality brand celebrated across India. Its exciting range in the personal care category aligns with our sensibilities of creating clean and environmentally conscious products. Coccoonpresents us with an immense opportunity to cater to the aspirations of wellness and beauty-conscious customers around the world. We will extend our full support for Coccoonto regain its rightful glory. He further added Sublime Life as the pioneer of the clean beauty industry in Indiawill work closely with its customers and stakeholders to bring the best-in-class products and formulations to market. With Coccoon the company will further enhance its product offering with performance-based and concern-based ingredients and products. We look forward to growing the brand exponentially in the coming years. Dr. Mohit Lalvani Founder Coccoonsaid With a core focus on well-being, our products go through a series of tests and we have been quick to establish products that are non-toxic, clinically tested, dermatologically approved, and safe to use. This acquisition is a step in the right direction for us as it will unlock strong collaborations between both the brands and drive Coccoons growth by leveraging the global reach of 1908 E-ventures Pvt Ltd(an Ador\nGroup\nEnterprise) and their varied skilled capabilities. Coccoonhas acclaimed products in the skin and hair care segment like sulphate free shampoos, nourishing hair masks, hair serums, polishing mists, and products like repairing night creams, moisturizers, face washes in the skincare segment. Coccoonis also known for the uniqueness of products and formulations across its skincare and haircare range. The product range is targeted at urban women and men who not only care about how they look but are also conscious of the kind of products that they use on their skin and hair.\nThe official acquisition was completed after 6 weeks of planning. With this acquisition, 1908 E-Venturesfurther plans to build on its clean beauty platform led house of brand strategy and is geared up to further enhance the eco-system for Coccoonand accelerate growth with new product launches and marketing strength for the brand About AdorMultiproducts Ltd: AMPL a leading contract manufacturer of personal care products in India offers a one-stop shop from product conception to finished goods. We have one manufacturing unit strategically located in Puducherrywhich is beneficial to cater to the large lucrative Indiamarket. Since its inception, AdorMultiproducts Ltd. (AMPL) has gone a long way to become one of Indias leading players in the industry. The organization is listed on Bombay Stock Exchange(BSE), Mumbai. AdorMultiproducts Ltd. is the parent company and largest majority shareholder in 1908 E-ventures Pvt. Ltd.About Coccoon: Coccoonensures a healthy concoction of advanced sciences and botanic elements to provide you with utmost benefits for all rounded skin care and hair care regime. They are humanely developed and promise to always remain that way. With a keen interest in your well-being, the products go through a series of tests that are Non-Toxic Clinically Tested, Dermatologically Approved and Safe to Use. Coccoonboasts of an R and D arm that enables us to explore new territories and innovate for the future where the products are spun by the voice-driven by the evolving need for skin and hair protection. A future where beauty products dont just beautify but also protect, pamper and nourish.\nAbout Em & Em Personal Care Pvt. Ltd Em & Em Personal Care Pvt. Ltd is a company known for developing innovative, clinically tested and dermatologically approved skin and hair care products. They have developed trend-setting products offering the best of both worlds - instant, visible results as well as long-lasting solutions. Driven by the beauty aspirations of todays men and women, the range lets you customers enjoy the goodness of unique, active ingredients from around the globe.\nPWR PWR\n(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)\nREAD MORE ON:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "company description", "product updates" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Gwyneth Paltrow Shared A Post With Her Bare Feet On Her Counter. Gwyneth Paltrow Shared A Post With Her Bare Feet On Her Kitchen Counter And We Have Thoughts\nNot our first choice of things to do.\nBy\nFebruary 2, 2022 | 5:00 p.m. CST\n(Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times)\nGwyneth Paltrow just announced her new brand partnership deal with Monogram Appliances with a photo, but her Instagram post has some scratching their heads, and others just plain grossed out.\nFans Express Discomfort With An Element Of Paltrows Pic\nThe focal point of our home is always the kitchen, Paltrow captioned her picture. Whether its a dinner or an afternoon snack for the kids, the happiest moments of the day are centered around food. Which is why I couldnt be more excited to announce my partnership with @monogramappliancesthey elevate kitchen design to an entirely new level, and the gorgeous aesthetic perfectly complements the design of any home. Ps this is the best range I have ever cooked on.\nA post shared by Gwyneth Paltrow (@gwynethpaltrow)\nThe photo shows the actress in a black jumpsuit, sitting on her kitchen counter next to her Monogram stove with her bare feet on the counter. Feet on the counter.. just no, one follower commented. Another wrote, Even the feet? Gotta be kidding!\nIt seems strange to put bare feet on the counters where you prepare and eat food, especially in a brand partnership post where youre promoting kitchen appliances, but, then again, Paltrow is no stranger to controversy.\nGoop Faces Allegations Of Exploding Candles\nLast year, Paltrows lifestyle brand, Goop, was sued after someone claimed one of the candles he purchased from the company exploded and became engulfed in high flames after burning for about three hours. A warning on the candle tells customers not to burn it for more than two hours, but the lawsuit claimsthat Goop knew the candles were defective.\nWere confident this claim is frivolous and an attempt to secure an outsized payout from a press-heavy product. We stand behind the brands we carry and the safety of the products we sell, a Goop spokesperson said about the lawsuit.\nHowever, this wasnt the first time that specific candle exploded. A UK woman wrote an essay for The Guardian alleging that her candle exploded a few minutes after it was lit. Flames roared half a metre out of the jar and bits of molten wax flew out as it fizzed and spat, she wrote. Luckily, I had placed it on concrete, at the base of what was once a fireplace.\nA Goop representative said at the time\n, Were in touch with the woman to see if she followed the specific fire safety instructions included with the candle, such as trimming the wick and not burning it for more than two hours. At goop, we vet the products we sell and make customer safety a priority, so weve alerted the manufacturer to the womans issue and have also reached out to her to send her some goop products to help pass the days in quarantine.\nBare feet on the counter is less serious than exploding candles, for sure, but still, its not the best look, is it?\nMore Trending News", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "event organization", "expanding geography", "funding round", "support & philanthropy" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "A vision brought to life by Carpenter Oak Cornwall. Issue #84\nA vision brought to life\nHaving recently completed their first build on the stunning Isles of Scilly, we catch up with Carpenter Oak Cornwall.\nA\nfter nearly five years of operating a dedicated workshop in St Ives to serve the Cornish market, Carpenter Oak have just completed their first oak frame building on the Isles of Scilly. An adventure in its own right, the project has proved to be a success for everyone involved. Building an oak frame barn on the islands was never going to be simple but, according to designer Tom Jubb:\nWhen the clients throw in beer, great hospitality and bounds of positive energy, its got to be worth a go!\nEmily and Dominic Crees of the Seven Stones Inn on St Martins were keen to work with the team at Carpenter Oak to bring their vision to life of an oak frame barn as an additional function space to their island pub. Dom tells us: We had known of Carpenter Oak for many years as a company and have always been drawn to and admired their work. When we discovered that the company now has a workshop in Cornwall, it really felt like a perfect fit.\nDominic and Emily worked very closely with Tom for several months. Much consideration had to be given to evolving the design, gaining planning permission and forming a team to pull the project off, Emily explains. We had to carefully consider the reality of the logistics of building here throughout the design phase, adds Tom, anyone who has visited the Seven Stones will be aware of how off the beaten track it is. Think paths rather than roads, boats rather than trucks, and a legend of a local digger driver in place of a crane, and youll start to get the idea! After they concluded that it could be done, Managing Director, Tim Simpson and the team worked alongside James Morton of St Martins to bring the building to life over several months. Tim explains: Getting a seven-metre-long oak beam weighing half a tonne from the harbour to site, and then into position, with the islands only digger was interesting.\nNow completed, the bu", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "participation in an event", "new initiatives & programs", "subsidiary establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Amazon closes $8.5B MGM Studios deal. Reporter, Puget Sound Business Journal\nMar 17, 2022\nU.S. regulators have approved Amazon.com Inc.'s (Nasdaq: AMZN) acquisition of MGM Studios, arming the tech giant's video streaming service with a catalog of thousands of movies and TV episodes.\nThe Seattle-based company said Thursdaythat the $8.45 billion deal, announced less than a year ago has closed. The announcement was expected to come soon after the European Commission unconditionally approved the deal earlier this week and it was reportedthat U.S. antitrust regulators were facing a March 15 deadline.\nThe deal is the second-largest in Amazon history behind the $13.7 billion it paid for Whole Foods in 2017. With it, Amazon will absorb franchises like \"James Bond\" and \"Rocky.\"\nAmazon is using the studio to strengthen Prime Video, its streaming service that's included in a Prime membership, which recently raised its fees. It's also bringing Thursday Night Football to the platform in September.\n\"MGM has a nearly century-long legacy of producing exceptional entertainment, and we share their commitment to delivering a broad slate of original films and television shows to a global audience,\" said Mike Hopkins senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, in a company blog post. \"We welcome MGM employees, creators and talent to Prime Video and Amazon Studios, and we look forward to working together to create even more opportunities to deliver quality storytelling to our customers.\"\nThe Wall Street Journal reported that even though the U.S. regulators' deadline has passed, the Federal Trade Commission can still challenge the acquisition if a majority of the commission votes for it.\nNotably, the FTC is chaired by Lina Khan a critic of giant tech companies and someone whom Amazon sought the recusal of during the review. The FTC is made up of five members and split along party lines between four of them. The fifth spot is vacant.\nBy", "answer groups": [ " regulatory approval" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "closing", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Pleio and Medisafe Showcase Human-to-Digital Patient Engagement Future. Pleio and Medisafe Showcase Human-to-Digital Patient Engagement Future\nPress Release\nNew program combines human hello to digital embrace for long-term medication support\nBOSTON, Jan. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ Medisafe, a leading digital drug companion company, is teaming up with Pleio to launch a new integrated digital health model with a unique combination of human and digital resources. Known as the GoodStart program, Pleios concierge service uses mentors to acclimate patients on their prescription therapy via live phone calls and digital nudges, meeting patients need for human connection. Combining human support with digital platforms has shown to reduce patient hesitation, enhance retention, and improve adherence and outcome rates.\nOver time, the program transitions engaged patients to Medisafes digital drug companion for a longer-term medication management resource. While our digital drug companions provide exceptional guidance to patients, partnering with Pleio expands our scale with a trusted human engagement component to acquaint more patients into digital support programs, said Omri Shor, founder and chief executive officer, Medisafe. Were excited to partner with Pleio to empower patients throughout their entire journey from initiation through drug management to improved outcomes.\nThe GoodStart programs growing network extends across 12,000 community pharmacies in the US. Certified Pleio GoodStarters connect with patients by phone within 10 days of filling a new prescription to establish a rapport and guide them through relevant medication education, resources and management. From this human hello, mentors empower patients to continue their medication journey via Medisafes digital drug companion for long-term support throughout each patients therapy, delivering ongoing personalized guidance and tailored medication resources.\nThe GoodStart program builds confidence in patients by pairing a human hello with innovative digital support, guiding them on therapy with relevant resources and tools, explains Pleio CEO Michael Oleksiw. Building an empathetic personal relationship creates a pivotal connection that empowers patients to overcome any treatment hesitations and challenges throughout their journey towards success.\nNew diagnosis and medication regimens can be overwhelming and result in confusion and missed doses. The GoodStart program aims to create meaningful connections and provide needed emotional support to minimize any barriers. This joint initiative between Pleio and Medisafe presents a lower cost, turnkey solution to support patients throughout their treatment journey.\nNearly 7MM users rely on Medisafes digital drug companion, which applies real-world evidence to build connected medication management programs and influence patients behavior on therapy. To learn more about how the GoodStart program can engage patients from the human hello to a digital embrace, visit www.medisafe.com.\nAbout Pleio\nPleio, Inc. is the leader in hybrid human-digital patient engagement. We build meaningful relationships with patients on therapy using artfully scripted, live, patient centric conversations supported by digital outreach. Patients from all walks of life are easily overwhelmed when it comes to their heath, the emotions and information that intrude into their life. GoodStart, our proven white-label program forges extraordinary human connections to energize patients with an emotional bond that instills confidence, builds trust, increases adoption and triggers sustainable behavior change across a wide a variety of disease states. Pleios curated network of community pharmacies extends the care of their trusted pharmacy team by connecting patients with the support they need when and where they need it. Our LIFT, technology platform brings science into the art of human engagement with pretty cool data science to craft a mindful patient journey. Pleio is HIPAA and TCPA compliant.\nAbout Medisafe\nMedisafe is the leading evidence-based digital therapeutics company providing medication management solutions across the healthcare continuum, a $300 billion problem in the US alone. Medisafe supports patient journeys with AI driven technology that dynamically engages patients during the course of their treatment based on each patients regimen, condition and specific circumstance. Medisafe fosters collaboration among patients, their loved ones and healthcare professionals, and partners with the healthcare ecosystem, from pharma companies to payers and providers, to improve outcomes. Seven million registered patient and caregiver users have recorded on Medisafes platform over two billion successful medication doses on their iOS and Android smartphones and tablets and contributed 350,000 user reviews that average 4.7 out of 5 stars in the App Store and Google Play stores. Medisafe is a HIPAA and GDPR compliant solution and ISO 27001:2013 certified.\nContact:", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "partnerships & alliances", "foundation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Petco Enhances Revolutionary Vital Care Program to Help Pet Parents Unlock the Best of its Whole Health Offerings. , making the membership more accessible and inclusive than ever before. At just\n$19.99\nper month, the cost of a\nVital Care\nmembership pays for itself when unlocking the best of Petco through exclusive savings on nutrition, grooming, litter, routine veterinary exams and more.\n\"Over the last two years, families around the country have welcomed millions of new pets into their homes, and with inflation impacting all Americans' everyday lives, our innovative\nVital Care\nprogram is fundamentally changing the way people care for their pets' health and wellness while keeping their wallet healthy, too,\" said\nJenny Wolski\nSenior Vice President of Omnichannel Experience at Petco. \"Caring for our pets shouldn't be complicated or break the bank. With benefits valued between\n$320\nand\n$404\nper year, plus helpful resources every step of the way, the plan saves pet parents both time and money. If our pets could do the math, we think they'd agree -\nVital Care\nis just smart Petconomics!\"\nLaunched in\n,\nVital Care\noriginated as part of Petco's commitment to supporting the overall health and wellness of pets. Today, with nearly 160,000 pets enrolled, Petco has enhanced the program to include even more benefits for dogs and a new plan tailored for cats. At\n$19.99\nper month with an annual commitment, the cost of\nVital Care\ncan be offset by what members get in return, including:\n$15\nPals Rewards every month to use on any health and wellness needs they may have\n$20\nPals Rewards for every routine exam at the vet of your choice\nor\nunlimited routine exams at participating Petco vet locations\n20% off full-service grooming for dogs*\n20% off all litter for cats\n10% off all nutrition**\nAn additional 5% off nutrition and litter when used with Repeat Delivery\n$20\noff pet boarding, dog walking, or pet sitting services on Rover.com, coming soon\nTo educate pet parents on new\nVital Care\nbenefits and tap into the realities of the current inflationary environment, Petco launched\n\"\nPetconomics,\n\"\na dedicated marketing campaign that highlights the membership's \"Great Dane-sized\" benefits at a \"Chihuahua-sized\" price. Featuring economics-inspired creative \"Petconomics\" highlights the win-win that\nVital Care\npresents to pet parents: a healthy pet and a healthy wallet. Beyond annual savings, the \"Petconomics\" concept also showcases how\nVital Care\nis a convenient and affordable gateway to investing in long term routine care that can help pet parents keep their pets happy and healthy while reinforcing Petco's commitment to providing accessible pet healthcare.\n\"With personal finances top of mind for everyone right now, clearly and cleverly illustrating the smart 'Petconomics' of a\nVital Care\nmembership for pet parents is foundational to our role as their partner in pet health and wellness,\" said\nKatie Nauman\nChief Marketing Officer at Petco. \"Looking at this membership through the lens of personal finance gave us a timely and relevant way to connect with pet parents while also reinforcing the straightforward wellness and economic upsides to enrolling.\"\nPetco is also launching a\nVital Care\naffiliate program to make the membership's routine care accessible to even more pet parents by extending exclusive\nVital Care\nbenefits and discounts to its affiliate partners' employees and customers. Beginning this spring, the affiliate program will launch with several partners, including Rover.com, the San Diego Padres, Companion Protect, Central Garden & Pet, and more. In addition to the business-to-business focus, Petco has teamed up with Hill's Pet Nutrition, which supports shelters through its Food, Shelter & Love program, to offer exclusive\nVital Care\nbenefits and discounts to shelters across the country with the goal to provide post-adoption support and ensure adopted pets stay in their loving homes. Jacksonville Humane Society, Oklahoma Humane Society, Brandywine SPCA, Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter, and Friends of Pima Animal Care Center are each signed on to launch Petco's Vital Care Shelter Affiliate program. If you and your business are interested in participating in Petco's Vital Care Shelter Affiliate program, please reach out to us at\n[emailprotected]\nEnhanced\nVital Care\nbenefits are available now to new and existing members and can be used in-store, online or in the Petco app. To learn more about\nVital Care\n, visit petco.com/VitalCare\n*Full-service baths include deep-cleaning shampoo, blow-dry, 15-minute brushout, scented spritz, gland expression, nail trim and ear cleaning. Full-service haircuts include breed-specific cut and style, deep cleaning shampoo, blow-dry, 15-minute brushout, scented spritz, gland expression, nail trim and ear cleaning. Full-service grooming includes breed-specific cut and style, deep-cleaning shampoo, blow-dry, 15-minute brushout, scented spritz, gland expression, nail trim and ear cleaning.\"\nGrooming services for dogs only.\n**Nutrition savings does not include treats and chews.\nGrooming services for dogs only.\nAbout Petco, The Health + Wellness Co.\nPetco is a category-defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents and our own Petco partners. Since our founding in 1965, we've been striving to set new standards in pet care, delivering comprehensive wellness solutions through our products and services, and creating communities that deepen the pet-pet parent bond. We operate more than 1,500 Petco locations across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, including a growing network of more than 150 in-store veterinary hospitals, and offer a complete online resource for pet health and wellness at", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "ipo exit" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Deal with Q&M Dental CEO 'key part' of trading resumption proposal: No Signboard. THE BUSINESS TIMES\n) - No Signboard Holdings said the move to enter into a deal with Q&M Dental chief executive Ng Chin Siau is a key part of the company's proposal to resume trading of its shares, which has been suspended since late January.\nMr Ng had entered into a sale and purchase agreement earlier this month to take a 29 per cent stake in the restaurant operator for a total consideration of $1.\nThere was also an agreement for Mr Ng to extend an interest-free unsecured loan of $2.6 million to the company as a condition for the completion of the proposed share transfer.\nIn response to queries from the Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) on Thursday (March 10), the restaurant operator said that it, along with its controlling shareholder GuGong, is currently focused on finalising agreements with Mr Ng and investors to raise the financing that the group requires to address going concern issues.\nIf No Signboard is unable to enter into the loan agreements with Mr Ng and other investors to raise the necessary financing, it will then discuss other alternatives with its financial adviser.\nGuGong currently holds a 54.9 per cent stake in No Signboard. After the share transfer, its stake will fall to just 25.9 per cent.\nIn its response to the bourse regulator's queries, No Signboard said the disbursement of the $2.6 million loan will be conditional upon the company and GuGong being able to secure additional financing to resolve the group's going concern issues.\nThe company currently expects to receive the funds following the approval of its trading resumption proposal and completion of the proposed share transfer.\nWhen asked to explain how the consideration of $1 for a 29 per cent stake was arrived at, No Signboard said the loan agreement would provide the company with \"a substantial infusion of interest-free and unsecured funding\" to assist with its working capital needs, especially since it sounded a warning on Jan 24 that it is unable to demonstrate the ability to continue as a going concern.\nNo Signboard said it is aware of the listing rules and will detail its plans and milestones in its trading resumption proposal, which will be submitted to SGX RegCo upon the execution of the relevant agreements with investors.\nNo Signboard and the company are currently in \"advanced negotiation\" with investors to secure additional funding to meet working capital needs, and intend to \"agree on the terms of the loan agreements with the respective investors\", which will form part of the trading resumption proposal, said the company.\nNo Signboard said there is no agreement for Mr Ng or his nominees to be appointed to the board of directors or key management positions.\nThe company said it is committed to focusing on its existing businesses and expects demand to improve with the gradual easing of Covid-19 restrictions, such as on travel and dining.\nThe firm said it may explore new areas of opportunities to increase its revenue streams, although it has not identified or begun any negotiations in this regard.\nMr Ng's plans, said the company, are \"consistent\" with those of the company, adding that his \"main motivation\" for entering into the share transfer is to \"revive an iconic Singapore brand\".\nMore On This Topic", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "foundation", "article publication", "participation in an event" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Lemonade Stock: Building A Full Insurance Flywheel (NYSE:LMND). Shares of Lemonade have dropped more than 40% year-to-date and nearly 80% from all-time highs.\nInvestors have questioned the company's acquisition of Metromile and its growing loss ratios.\nLemonade has conjectured that 2022 will be its \"peak year\" of losses, but today's risk-averse market is not happy having to wait for profitability improvements.\nStill, Lemonade is now trading at a very low valuation, and is the most likely of the new-age insurtech companies to thrive.\nLooking for a helping hand in the market? Members of Daily Tech Download get exclusive ideas and guidance to navigate any climate.\nLearn More \nipopba/iStock via Getty Images\nRight now, I'd encourage investors to think with a growth mindset and be open to taking on a little bit of risk. In the mere space of a few months, the market's attitude went from a \"gung-ho\" drive that went all-in on expensive tech stocks, to one that is now gingerly avoiding any growth stock that doesn't have cold, hard earnings to show on the bottom line.\nSlowly, however, risk appetite appears to be recovering - and investors have a fantastic opportunity to buy into some former high-flyers at a fraction of their former worth. Lemonade (\nNYSE:\n), in particular, is one major decliner worth watching. This stock is down more than 40% year to date, and nearly 80% relative to all-time highs:\nData by YCharts\nLemonade is building an all-in-one insurance platform that is much more durable than where it started\nNow, do note that I have not always been positive on Lemonade. For the majority of its early days as a public company, I expressed skepticism over A) the company's scale and ability to reach profitability, and B) its outrageous valuation.\nSince then, however, valuation has only crumbled while the company's fundamentals are starting to show through. While it's true that Lemonade has not yet fixed its massive losses, I like the diversification that the company is bringing to the table. In particular, I think Lemonade's acquisition of Metromile, which is now serving as the building block for the insurance offering branded \"Lemonade Car\", brings Lemonade into a new and huge market.\nSpeaking on the benefits of diversification on the Q4 earnings call CEO Daniel Schreiber noted as follows:\nAs we enter 2022, we find ourselves in an enviable position, having launched pet, life and car in the past 18 months. We believe we have achieved a critical mass in both our technology and our product portfolio. Of course, we have ambitious plans for new products and new technologies for years to come. But for the first time, both pillars are now sufficiently complete to be built upon. This enables us to shift resources from making technology and products to harnessing our technology and products in new ways. That means leveraging our technology to lower our expense ratio through automation and our loss ratio through machine learning while growing our CAC to LTV ratio through cross-selling and bundling.\nNone of this is entirely new. We've been investing in graduation and automation and precision for years, but we are on the cusp of a changing degree that we expect will amount to a change in kind. When we were in monoline business, cross-selling and bundling, perhaps the biggest LTV unlocks were not really available to us and our technology investments were largely consumed by building products. The balance will now shift and we expect that over the coming quarters and years, this shift will take our business to new levels of efficiency, growth and profitability. One upshot is that we project that 2022 will be a year of peak losses with our EBITDA improving in each subsequent year [...]\nTake our fellow insurtechs on the one hand. At first approximation, every other insurtech company is a single-product business, offering either car or home or life or pet or rented insurance, whereas Lemonade uniquely offers all 5 on a unified platform. While specialization has its advantages, a monoline strategy increases concentration risk, caps LTV, precludes bundling, forcing customers to engage competitors and generally, it means that growth comes exclusively from adding customers rather than from growing them.\"\nIn other words, other insur-tech companies (including Metromile, which Lemonade swallowed up) failed precisely because they were spending gobs of marketing dollars to induce customers to produce only one insurance contract. Lemonade, however, now has five different products to sell: pet, life, car, home, and renters - with all but the latter two being natural cross-sell opportunities. By gaining more of a customer's wallet share, as well as diversifying the underlying risk in the portfolio across different categories, Lemonade can now build a scalable and eventually hopefully profitable insurance model.\nI'll repeat something that I've said before in defense of Lemonade: insurance is all about scale, and in investing in new categories, Lemonade can aim to build a new insurance conglomerate that rivals the legacy giants like AIG (", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipo exit", "participation in an event", "product launching & presentation", "patent publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Motif Labs Announces Expansion Into Infused Pre-Rolls Market. Motif Labs Announces Expansion Into Infused Pre-Rolls Market\nBack to video\nAs the Canadian cannabis industry continues to mature, consumer preferences are evolving towards more sophisticated and targeted product segments. Market research suggests pre-rolled cannabis joints and blunts are approximately 17-20% of the overall Canadian market (over $100M a year in Ontario alone, in 2020/2021). Within this popular, and growing segment of the market, infused pre-rolls are quickly becoming a popular request from consumers and retailers alike. Headset, a US-based data, and market intelligence firm recently reported that seven of the top ten pre-rolls in California are infused with concentrates, and across multiple states, between 30-50% of all pre-rolls sold were infused. This subsegment is only just gaining traction in Canada, with the first infused pre-rolls hitting store shelves late in 2021 but is expected to follow a similar growth trajectory and command a significant overall market share in the years ahead.\nBy leveraging our strong network, Motif is able to enter this subcategory quickly and efficiently without straying from our core competencies in extraction, noted Motifs CEO, Mario Naric. This is a product category we believe will experience exceptional growth in the coming years, and Motif is perfectly positioned to be a key player in the value chain. Leveraging our state-of-the-art facility, and industry leading expertise, potential partners can feel comfortable they will enter this growing market quickly and effectively. The company plans to manufacture a wide variety of infused pre-roll products, including joints, blunts and cannagars.\nAdvertisement\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\nArticle content\nMotif expects significant interest for this service from licensed cannabis producers (LPs) and 3\nrd\nparty brands and is already fielding strong demand from existing partners to further develop and the successful concentrate brands into this emerging product category.\nAbout Motif Labs\nMotif Labs is a fully licensed cannabis and hemp extraction facility located in SW Ontario. Motif operates as a business-to-business enterprise, offering toll processing, contract manufacturing and white labelling services to Licensed Producers (LPs) and 3rd Party Brands. Founded by a team of Scientists and Engineers, Motif prides itself on the core values of integrity, collaboration, and quality. The company has quickly established itself as a leader, and trusted partner, in the Canadian cannabis industry. For more information, visit https://motiflabs.ca/\nView source version on businesswire.com:", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "investment in public company", "funding round", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Customers Bancorp Inc. (NYSE:CUBI) Given Average Rating of Buy by Brokerages. Get Rating\n) last issued its earnings results on Monday, January 24th. The bank reported $2.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.94 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $210.69 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $225.40 million. Customers Bancorp had a return on equity of 32.38% and a net margin of 36.64%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.65 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Customers Bancorp will post 6.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.\nSeveral hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Customers Bancorp in the third quarter worth about $26,000. Kings Point Capital Management purchased a new position in Customers Bancorp in the third quarter worth about $31,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in Customers Bancorp in the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its position in Customers Bancorp by 70.5% in the fourth quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 687 shares of the banks stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new position in Customers Bancorp in the fourth quarter worth about $87,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.73% of the companys stock.\nCustomers Bancorp Company Profile (\nGet Rating\n)\nCustomers Bancorp, Inc operates as a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of banking services through its subsidiary, Customers Bank. It operates through the Customers Bank Business Banking and BankMobile segments. The Customers Bank Business Banking segment includes commercial customers in Southeastern Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Washington, DC, and Illinois through a single-point-of-contact business model and provides liquidity to residential mortgage originators nationwide through commercial loans to mortgage companies.\nSee Also", "answer groups": [ "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [ "funding round", "hiring", "patent publication", "new initiatives or programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Guillaume Deybach Joins MSH International (Americas) as Chief Operating Officer. MSH International (Americas) has appointed Guillaume Deybach as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of its\nNorth America\ndivision and General Manager for\nthe United States\nmarket. With extensive management experience spanning over 20 years, Deybach brings valuable leadership to the MSH executive team during a crucial period of growth. As COO, Deybach will lead the company's operations as well as its expansion into\nthe United States\n.\nGUILLAUME DEYBACH JOINS MSH INTERNATIONAL (AMERICAS) AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (CNW Group/MSH International)\nHaving served most recently as President and CEO of GeoBlue, he transformed the company's strategic growth and increased customer satisfaction and profitability. Prior to his role with GeoBlue, he served as President and CEO of Europ Assistance North America for 14 years, transforming its assistance offerings and client portfolio, and growing revenue through organic growth and acquisitions.\n\"\nDeybach will oversee the operations team as well as the distribution process and development life cycles for MSH International (Americas) products,\"\nsaid\nRobin Ingle\n, CEO of MSH International (Americas). \"\nHe will also forge partnerships with key decision makers in marketing, buying, analytics, and finance to ensure MSH International (Americas) continues to deliver a world-class experience for its clients, partners, and members.\"\n\"\nI'm excited to join MSH International, one of the great pioneers in the global benefits industry, and expand its growth into\nthe United States\n,\"\nsaid Deybach. \"\nIt's a great opportunity to drive operational integration and innovation, so that we can accelerate our vision and build on our platforms and offerings.\"\nDeybach holds a Business Organization degree from ESSCA Business School.\nAbout:\nMSH International (Americas)\nMSH International (Americas), comprising StudyInsured, Ingle International, and Intrepid 24/7, is a leader in the design and management of international health care, assistance, and life and disability insurance solutions for globally mobile indi", "answer groups": [ "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [ "subsidiary establishment", "article publication", "expanding industry", "funding round" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "GTS HMO Clients Can Now Have a Remote Consultation From Home. April 13, 2020\n2:06 pm\nTelemedicine services enable GTS clients to have remote consultation with physicians within the comforts of their own home.\nGTS Insurance Brokers, Inc. (GTS), a full service insurance broking company, encourages its clients to avail of the telemedicine services of their health maintenance organization (HMO) partners such as Maxicare, Intellicare, Medicard, and PhilCare when in need of medical consultation.\nTelemedicine services enable GTS clients to have remote consultation with physicians within the comforts of their own home. These consultations can be done via video conferencing, telephone call, or text messaging. These can help them get initial screenings for their medical needs.\nAside from protecting them from possible exposure to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while outside, remote medical consultations can also help decongest hospitals and support front liners in the middle of the current pandemic.\nMaxicare members can call the companys telephone consultation hotline at (02) 8582-1980. Meanwhile, Intellicare, Medicard, and PhilCare have mobile applications that will initially take the users current condition using a series of questions then connect them to their respective physicians. These apps are Call Doc Medgate for Intellicare, My Pocket Doctor for Medicard, and HeyPhil for PhilCare. Mobile applications can be downloaded via Google Play Store and Apple App Store.\nBeing able to speak with a doctor remotely when you are ill can guide you on your most immediate course of action given your condition, said Cheryl Tiambeng, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer of GTS. While telemedicine is an innovation our HMO partners have been offering for a while now, this is a service that proves especially useful to insurance clients, in light of whats happening today. We hope to be able to provide more ways to help our clients protect themselves and their families during these challenging times.\nGTS has more than 50 life and non-life insurance partners including HMOs that provide remote consultation services.\nTo know more about GTS visit www.gtsinsure.com or visit their Facebook page at @gtsinsure.\n0", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive statement", "ipo exit", "company description" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "COMP: 4 Tech Stocks Under $10 Wall Street Believes Will Surge More Than 100% in the Next 12 Months. . The price targets range from a low of $11.00 to a high of $24.00.\nPorch Group, Inc. (\nPRCH\n)\nPRCH provides software and services under the ISN, HireAHelper, Kandela brands to home services companies, such as home inspectors, homebuyers and homeowners, insurance carriers, moving companies, security companies, and TV/internet providers, as well as offers moving concierge services.\nIn January 2022, Homeowners of America (HOA), a property and casualty insurance provider and a subsidiary of PRCH, announced its service launch in Montana, marking HOAs 14th state of operation. This is in line with HOAs national expansion plan and should increase PRCHs presence in the insurance industry.\nIn December 2021, PRCH introduced its new Pay-At-Close module for home inspection companies to simultaneously make the payment processing experience smoother for homebuyers, agents, and inspectors. The program is available to some inspection companies, and a broad roll-out is expected to begin this year. This solution should be widely in demand and should garner significant returns.\nPRCHs revenue increased 191.9% year-over-year to $62.77 million for the fiscal third quarter ended September 30\n.\nAlso, for the nine months ended September 30, the\ncash and cash equivalents stood at $415.83 million, indicating an improvement of 5,010.4% year-over-year.\nThe consensus revenue estimate of $54.57 million for the fiscal fourth quarter ended December 2021 indicates an increase of 179.7% year-over-year. Its EPS is expected to improve 22.2% from its prior-year quarter.\nAll of the seven Wall Street analysts that rated the stock have rated it Buy. The 12-month median price target of $28.29 indicates\n. The price targets range from a low of $21.00 to a high of $34.00.\nindie Semiconductor, Inc. (\nINDI\n)\nINDI operates as an automotive semiconductors and software solutions-based company. The company offers advanced driver assistance systems solutions, including light detection and ranging, connected car, user experience, and electrification applications.\nLast month, INDI unveiled that it has created a Kabushiki Kaisha, or KK, and added some key resources in Tokyo. The company aims to strengthen its foothold in Japan, one of the largest global automotive markets.\nIn December 2021, INDI launched the Surya LiDAR system-on-a-chip (SOC), enabling advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving functionality. This breakthrough development demonstrates its prowess in advancing architecture and should allow it to cash in on the fast-advancing lidar technology.\nINDIs total revenue increased 60.3% year-over-year to $12.16 million in the fiscal third quarter ended September 30. Its non-GAAP gross profit stood at $5.23 million, up 33.3% from the prior-year quarter.\nThe consensus revenue estimate of $21.53 million for the fiscal first quarter ending March 2022 indicates an increase of 165.4% year-over-year. Also, its revenue is expected to grow 172.3% year-over-year in the next quarter.\nEach of the three Wall Street analysts that have rated INDI rated it Buy. The 12-month median price target of $18.33 indicates\n. The price targets range from a low of $16.00 to a high of $22.00.\nAllot Ltd. (\nALLT\n)\nBased in Hod-Hasharon, Israel, ALLT provides network intelligence and security solutions to protect and personalize the digital experience worldwide. The company offers Allot Service Gateway (Allot SG) platforms, including Allot SG-Tera, Allot SG9x000, Allot SG-VE, and CE for in-line deployment in traditional and virtualized network access infrastructure.\nLast month, ALLT announced that Entel, Perus innovative communication service provider, has launched the Allot NetworkSecure cybersecurity solution to protect the companys mobile users against a broad range of cyber threats. Entel and ALLT will share recurring revenues generated by monthly service fees. Earlier, Play, the leading mobile operator in Poland, and Field Solutions Group (FSG), Australias leading rural, regional, and remote challenger telecommunications carrier, selected ALLT cybersecurity solutions to protect customers against cyber threats. Several other companies also chose ALLTs security solutions over the past few months, reflecting ALLTs dominance in the cybersecurity space.\nALLTs revenues increased 9.8% year-over-year to $38.16 million in the fiscal third quarter ended September 30, while its non-GAAP gross profit grew 11.9% from the year-ago value to $26.84 million.\nAnalysts expect the companys revenue to increase 4.1% year-over-year to $40.70 million for the fiscal fourth quarter ended December 2021.\nOf the four Wall Street analysts that have rated ALLT, three rated it Buy, while one rated it Hold. The 12-month median price target of $18.75 indicates\n. The price targets range from a low of $14.00 to a high of $23.00.\nWant More Great Investing Ideas?", "answer groups": [ "expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [ "foundation", "executive appointment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Emagine Portage operator now among 10 largest movie theater chains in United States. Man convicted of murdering teen girl found bound in alley\nThe company expects to complete $22 million in renovations later this year of the theaters it acquired in Portage, Noblesville, south suburban Batavia and Kochville Township, Michigan. It's been in the process of turning them into \"state-of-the-art movie palaces\" with amenities like heated reclining faux leather chairs, stadium-style seating, a full bar and olive oil-flavored popcorn.\nWe are not done yet, added Anthony LaVerde, CEO of Emagine Entertainment. We are continuing to evaluate other opportunities that provide growth value to our brand, that will allow us to bring the Emagine experience to other communities.\nNWI Business Ins and Outs: Olive Garden, Anytime Fitness, I Dig Dinos opening; Easter Bunny coming to Southlake Mall\nComing soon\nExterior construction is largely complete on the new Highland Olive Garden, which is tentatively slated to open on May 9.\nOlive Garden took over the former Old Country Buffet at 10445 Indianapolis Boulevard in the Highland Grove Shopping Center. The Orlando-based chain of sit-down Italian restaurants has been renovating the 10,179-square-foot restaurant for months.\nHighland Building Commissioner Ken Mika said the construction cost an estimated $1.8 million and that materials shortages have delayed the project.\nJoseph S. Pete\nDelays\nOlive Garden was originally eyeing a new location in Schererville's new Oak District, where Chick-fil-A and LongHorn Steakhouse just opened, but opted for Highland a few miles north to more easily obtain a three-way liquor license, typically crucial to a restaurant's profitability.\nThe chain is known for its pasta, breadsticks, wine and unlimited soup and salad lunch specials.\nOwned by Darden Restaurants, Olive Garden has 900 restaurants around the globe, including in Lansing, Michigan City and Hobart at the Southlake Mall.\nJoseph S. Pete\nRelocating\nAnytime Fitness is moving across the street to a much larger 7,400-square-foot location in Winfield that will offer more coaching.\nThe 24/7 gym chain has been constructing a new two-story gym at the site of the old Evolution Fitness at 7954 E. 108th Ave. for the last seven months. The new gym will feature a 1,080-square-foot purple turf area with state-of-the-art functional training equipment people can work out on in both team training and personalized one-on-one sessions.\nAt the new location, Anytime Fitness will offer a wide area of team training sessions with MyZone heart rate monitors that track heart rate and calories burned during the workout.\nJoseph S. Pete\nNew location\nAt the new location, Anytime Fitness will offer a wide area of team training sessions with MyZone heart rate monitors that track heart rate and calories burned during the workout.\nThe Anytime Fitness is owned by Muayad and Vicki Musleh, who have opened nine clubs in Indiana and two in Illinois. The second floor of the new Anytime Fitness will serve as the corporate headquarters for their business, which has 13,000 members.\nThey also own the Anytime Fitness locations in Dyer, Schererville, Lowell, Crown Point, Cedar Lake and Hobart. The Winfield Anytime Fitness has repeatedly been voted The Times of Northwest Indiana's Best of the Region.\nJoseph S. Pete\nOpens April 18\nRegional Coach Eric White said the brand-new gym is slated to open on April 18.\n\"It's right across the street from the current location,\" he said. \"It may be Winfield's tallest building. It will be a new coaching club design. It's the only Anytime of its kind. There's no guarantee other new ones will be built this way, but the franchise owner is committed to this new model here.\"\nJoseph S. Pete\n'A lot of cool stuff'\nThe fitness club will feature equipment like TRX Suspension Trainers, air bikes, row machines, weights, kettlebells, tire flips and sleds.\n\"There's a lot of cool stuff coming coaches can train the members how to use,\" he said. \"The new MyZone technology shows you on the screen how hard you're working during your workout.\"\nMembers can work out on their own at all hours or sign up for more than 40 team training sessions from Monday through Sunday. Scheduled throughout the day during the week and in the mornings on the weekends, they range from cardio sessions meant to burn calories to weight training sessions meant to build muscle.\nJoseph S. Pete\nBoth gym use and coaching\nBetween five and 20 people typically work out with a coach each session.\n\"The goal is to hook people up with a trainer so they're not just signing up for a gym membership. They're getting the education, learning how to use the new stuff out there, and have the benefit of accountability during their workouts,\" White said. \"But what separates us from the F45s, Orange Theories and UFC facilities is we have both gym use and coaching. Clients get the best of both worlds.\"\nJoseph S. Pete\n'Our job is to change their life'\nCoaching is a big trend in the fitness industry, from Peleton stationary bikes to many of new fitness club concepts opening up.\n\"We take pride in knowing members by name,\" he said. \"I feel our job is to change their life. We're there to help them achieve the results they're looking for.\"\nJoseph S. Pete\nOpen\nA new interactive and immersive dinosaur, toy and fossil store has brought the Mesozoic era to downtown Griffith.\nI Dig Dinos opened Friday in the former An-Dee's Floral space at Main and Broad streets in downtown Griffith. It was most recently occupied by the Power Up Fitness and Training gym.\nThe space at 100 S. Broad has been transformed into something out of \"Jurassic Park.\" It's filled with model dinosaurs, including a huge animatronic Utahraptor in the front window that kids can ride.\nJoseph S. Pete\nDinosaur attraction\nBusiness partners Kevin Pete (full disclosure: my younger brother) and Ruben Luna opened the dinosaur attraction, which sells dinosaur products like fossils, collector rocks, space rocks, meteorites, gems, jewelry, toys, figures, figurines, stuffed animals, candy, and graphic novels about dinosaurs, sharks and whales.\nThere's an explorer section with hardhats, binoculars, magnifying glasses and other archeological tools. It also carries 4D dinosaurs that can be snapped together, dinosaurs that grow when submerged in water, puzzles and science kits with DIY volcanos and tornados.\n\"It's the kind of things you'd find in a museum gift shop, just way more elaborate,\" Pete said.\nJoseph S. Pete\nPlay paleontologist\nI Dig Dinos offers many activities for kids, including a fossil dig, geode-cracking and gold panning to find gems. The hands-on experiences give kids a chance to play paleontologist.\n\"It's interactive fossil mining where they can fill a bag for $5,\" he said. \"They pick and choose what to take home. It's not a perfectly articulated skeleton like in a kid's museum but it's how it plays out in real life.\"\nThe store is decorated with about 30 dinosaur head mounts and another 30 full-size dinosaur models. It plans to add 40 more in the coming months.\nJoseph S. Pete\n'Immersive experience'\nVisitors", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "hiring", "product updates" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Private equity firm acquires franchisor of in-home. Private equity firm acquires franchisor of in-home senior care Home Helpers\nPublished\n09 Apr 2021\nOne of the nations largest franchisors of in-home senior care is now under new ownership. H.H. Franchising Systems Inc., which operates Home Helpers Home Care, has been acquired by RiverGlade Capital, a Chicago-based private equity firm that invests in health care companies, officials said Thursday. Terms were not disclosed, but Emma Dickison, Home Helpers Home Care CEO and president, told me the sales process included both strategic buyers and private equity investors, and the company had", "answer groups": [ "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive appointment", "company description", "investment in public company", "product launching & presentation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Urban Company says partners' monthly net earnings grew 11 pc in Dec quarter. Updated: 20-01-2022 22:17 IST | Created: 20-01-2022 22:17 IST\nCountry:\nIndia\nSHARE\nOn-demand home services provider Urban Companyon Thursday said its partners' net earnings grew 11 per cent in the December quarter compared to the preceding three-month period, with partners earning an average of Rs 297 per hour net of commissions and fees. In its UC Earnings Index for the third quarter of FY22 Urban Companysaid its partners earned an average of Rs 297 per hour, up from Rs 287 per hour in the September quarter, net of commissions, fees, product costs and travel costs.\nPartners' net earnings per month grew 11 per cent to Rs 21,980 in the December quarter as against Rs 19,801 in the September quarter. ''As partners do more orders on the platform, and spend about 100 hours per month working for the platform, they see very healthy earnings of Rs 30,455 per month. The top 20 per cent of service partners earned Rs 38,263 per month net of all commissions, fee and associated costs,'' the report said. The top 20 per cent of the company's partners earned an average of Rs 38,263 per month, while partners completing over 30 orders in a month earned Rs 30,455 per month. ''At our request, Praxis Globalhas also undertaken a benchmarking study, highlighting that on average, UC partners earn about 50 per cent higher monthly earnings than their offline counterparts, and almost 4x higher hourly earnings,'' Urban Companyfounder and CEO Abhiraj Bhaltweeted. In the beauty vertical in India(salon and spa services), Urban Company'swomen partners earned an average of Rs 312 per hour, net of commissions, fee and all associated product and travel costs, the report said. Partners who did over 30 jobs per month earned an average of Rs 30,681 per month, while the top 20 per cent of service partners earned Rs 37,357 per month net of all commissions, fee and associated costs. In the third quarter of FY22 monthly earnings on the platform for women partners were up by 7 per cent quarter-on-quarter over the second qaurter, the report said. Urban Companyfurther said it had launched a 12-point program in October with focus on improving partner earnings. ''This 12-point program has been fully implemented, and has played a key part in increasing partner earnings by 11 per cent in Q3 FY22 compared to Q2 FY22,'' it said. In October last year, over 100 of its women partners had protested against alleged unfair work practices, following which Urban Companypromised to bring in new programmes to enhance earnings of its partners. Some of the key action items included average commissions being charged in the range of 20-22 per cent, reduction in monthly penalties to a maximum Rs 1,500, and reduced product prices of select high demand products by almost 10 per cent.\n(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)\nREAD MORE ON:", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding industry", "regulatory approval", "support & philanthropy", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Health Makers: How a Near Tragedy Inspired a Drug Management App. Medisafe\nAfter graduating from the University of Haifa and getting a graduate degree at the College of Management Academic Studies (the Collman) in Rishon LeZion, Israel, Omri Shor had a big idea. He was going to build a company that dealt in boat rentals. It would be called Marina123.com, and the idea was to try and make renting a yacht as easy as 123, says Shor, now 39. We called it the Airbnb of yachting.\nIt was an ambitious plan, but there were hurdles and language barriers. Today, there are companies that are very successful in this space, he says. We were very early.\nBut he was determined to put his degree to good use. Seven years ago, he had his chance.\nIt was a Friday night and Shor was at his parents home in Haifa for Shabbat dinner. His father, who is\nand has high blood pressure, asked his son if he had seen him inject his insulin.\nShor said no.\nMy father heard it as No, he hadnt injected it, so he did it again, Shor recalls. It was the second one in a row and his glucose levels dropped to 38 mg/dL nearing diabetic shock. He was two hours from dying.\nChallenges of Managing Medications\nHis father survived, but the experience was terrifying. It hit Shor that managing medication was a huge problem for so many people, especially in later life. There was so much to keep track of:\nHow many pills did I take?\nDid I take my prescribed dosage, too much, or too little?\nHave I already taken my medicine today?\nMedication management is a big thing, he says.\nHe decided to make it his mission to solve this problem. He and his brother, Rotem, cofounded Medisafe a medication management company and app.\nImagine my father is taking medication three times a day over 25 years, says Shor, who lives in Newton, Massachusetts, with his wife and two children. How do you remember if its yesterday or today? When patients dont take their meds, they dont take them for many reasons. One reason would be that they forgot to take them or that they forgot to fill their prescription or that they dont trust their doctor.\nAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO) about half of the population who take medications globally dont take them as prescribed. About 700,000 people a year suffer emergencies similar to the one Shor's father experienced, and about 125,000people die annually because of mistakes made with medications, either by taking too much or too little. An estimated $290 billionis lost each year from medication mismanagment.\nHelping Patients Take Prescription Drugs Properly\nMedisafe can help prevent this, Shor says, because it basically manages everything a patient needs to know about their medication and how to use it. It also alerts them when theyve taken a pill, or failed to do so. We accompany that person on their journey from the moment they get prescribed so theyre exposed to the right content and benefits, and they are aware of what they need to be aware of, he says.\nEven better: Rather than patients paying to use the service, pharmaceutical companies do. Medisafe's partners include Merckand Boehringer Ingelheim among others.\nIts a win-win for pharma: Manufacturers are very interested in managing the patient experience and making sure they take their meds correctly, Shor says. So, they pick up the bill and pay us to help them manage their patients using our solution.\nImproved Adherence Rates\nThe results have been positive. Medisafe has about five million registered users worldwide. Nearly 22 percentof them have become more adherent after using the app. A study published in October 2017 in BMJ Openfound that Medisafe had a positive impact on patients adherence rates.\nSince not everyone is technologically savvy, especially older patients, Medisafe connects family members to the app, too. If, for example, your father forgets to take his medication, you would get notified, possibly preventing a medical disaster.\nThat's why family members need to install the app as well, says Shor.\nNEWSLETTERS\nSign up for our Healthy Living Newsletter!\nEnter your email\nBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Useand Privacy Policy\nThe Latest in", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "hiring", "subsidiary establishment", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Javara Launches Rides with Uber Health to Transcend the Barrier of Transportation for Clinical Trial Patients. Uber Health\nrides for patients to expand access to clinical research. The initiative with Uber Health, the HIPAA-compliant technology solution from Uber, is centered around improving care options for patients by increasing clinical trial access and flexibility, aligning with Javaras mission to improve the entire clinical trial experience. Integration of clinical research into overall care can lead to better health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and increased knowledge of personal health.\nEvery year, 3.6 million Americans miss medical appointments due to lack of reliable transportation*. Its an important component of the clinical trial patient journey. Partnering with Uber Health provides a patient-centered solution to advance access to cutting edge therapies by reducing barriers to clinical trial participation and providing participants with dependable, convenient, prepaid rides.\nParticipants report being happier with their care and feeling more in control of their health as a result of their involvement in clinical trials. With Uber Health, were helping to expand access and transcend barriers to participation for volunteers.\nJennifer Byrne, CEO of Javara.\nPatients participating in clinical trials with Javaras healthcare partners are able to receive prepaid transportation to study visits, coordinated by Javaras Clinical Trial Navigators. With the ability to schedule a ride up to 30 days in advance, important appointments wont be missed and Uber Health does not require that patients have a smart phone or Uber app. Enhancing the clinical trial process through Uber Health means better access, better care and a transformative healthcare experience for researchers, physicians, and patients.\nWith 94% of trials not completed on time and 46% delayed due to patient enrollment issues, this initiative helps reduce barriers to participation. Patients are able to confidently enroll in clinical studies and take advantage of transportation options through Uber Health, resulting in fewer no-shows and more on time", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "regulatory approval" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Bare-faced Jennifer Lopez shares her skincare routine, reveals secret to glowing skin. At the end of the video, JLo held up the serum and described it as magic in a bottle. According to the singer, the JLo Glow cleanser and serum are what set her up for a great, camera-ready day.\nIm ready for my closeup, JLo finished.\nIn the caption for the skincare routine, JLo wrote, When Im moved by something I just have to share it! That JLo Glow Serum is my secret sauce for that limitless glow, even while filming nights for weeks straight on location far away! This serum (my baby) works for all skin types and can seriously revive skin back to SUPERSTAR status.\nThe details on Jennifer Lopezs skincare brand, JLo Beauty\nFounded by JLo herself, the Marry Me starreleased her own line of skincare at the beginning of January 2021. The line currently features nine different products, including different creams, cleansers, serums, and a sheet mask. The products stand on their own individually, but when used together, are designed to create the perfect everyday skincare regimen.\nA post shared by JLO BEAUTY by Jennifer Lopez (@jlobeauty)\nWhen it comes to the creation of JLo beauty, the tagline for the company is simple Beauty has no expiration date. On the company website, JLo states, To me, ageless isnt just a mindset you can feel youthful at any age and feel great, not just for 50.\nJennifer Lopez kicks off Women's History Month by sharing three small businesses she loves\nHer goal with the brand was to also create affordable and accessible skincare that still contains the same ingredients as other luxury products. The company went through over 100 rounds of product development to create the perfect formula with a wide range of benefits for clinically proven results.\nThe products can currently be found and purchased on Sephora, Amazon, and the companys website.\nWith glowing reviews and the founder herself as proof of the products effectiveness, followers of Lopez have put their trust in the performer and have turned her skincare line into a major success.", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "hiring", "new initiatives & programs", "executive appointment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Other. Jun 29, 2020 8:47 a\nm\nPT\nReply\nIn response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Family Care Specialists, a medical group providing family medical services in the Los Angeles area, applied for a telehealth expansion grant offered by health payer, Health Net LLC.\nPhysical distancing has forced many Californians to seek providers that offer telehealth to ease the anxiety of walking into a clinic. However, many providers and organizations, like Family Health Specialists, that serve Medi-Cal patients face financial barriers to expand the implementation of telehealth services, and this is where organizations like Health Net come in.\nRecognizing the urgency of the situation, Family Care Specialists, saw the need to increase its telehealth offering to benefit its patients most of whom are coping with a wide array of health issues, but who are also concerned with having to schedule face to face appointments.\n\"Health Net's investment in telehealth is not only helping safety net providers implement this important technology, it's also helping the underserved,\" said Hector Flores, MD, Family Physician at the clinic's Montebello Office and Co-Director of the Adventist Health White Memorial Family MedicineResidency Program. \"Patients love having this service available because they are not only worried about the pandemic, but child care concerns and transportation can be an obstacle as well. This grant from Health Net will help us develop a strategy to address the digital divide in underserved communities and to bridge the gap in access to culturally and linguistically competent services. We are optimistic about sustaining a telehealth practice well into the future.\"\nSubscribe\nOn May 6, 2020, Health Net announcedit awarded 138 grants, totaling $13.4 million, to support the establishment and expansion of telehealth and telephonic services for California providers serving Medi-Cal members. This was the largest grant of cash dedicated to this cause by a health plan in California at the time. The company had announced$5.9 million in available grants in a Request for Support (RFS) on April 2, 2020. However, based on the overwhelming response to the RFS, Health Net awarded grants totaling $13.4 million.\n\"Telehealth is proving to be an invaluable resource to treat patients during the coronavirus pandemic,\" said Brian Ternan, President and CEO, Health Net of California and California Health & Wellness. \"From implementing remote patient monitoring to helping underserved communities receive the care they need, these grants will help Family Care Services and safety net providers across California to expand their telehealth efforts.\"\nSubscribe\nAbout Family Health Specialists\nThe Family Care Specialists Medical Corporation (\"FCS\") was established in 1988 by six Latino Board-Certified family physicians whose careers goals were to return to practice in East Los Angeles, California, the medically underserved community where they grew up.\nThee FCS Medical Group serves approximately 25,000 beneficiaries comprised of Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Commercial coverage and 8% who are uninsured. The FCS Medical Group is dedicated to improve the health status of its patients, their families, and the entire community utilizing culturally and linguistically competent services and by deployment of performance standards that reduce or eliminate health disparities\nToday, FCS is comprised of 18 family physicians, two internists, 6 PAs and 4 FNP, one Behavioralist, a case manager and two navigators, and has four offices with each site located in a health professions shortage area (HPSA). In 1989, the FCS Medical Group established the White Memorial Medical Center (WMMC) Family Medicine Residency Program which enjoys a national recognition for its success in placing over 70% of its 212 graduates in medically underserved areas, over 30% in leadership positions, and over 65% coming from ethnic groups known to be under-represented in the health professions.\nThank\nReply\nShare\nThe views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?\nRegister for a user account.\nFamily Care Specialists Expanding Telehealth Capabilities\nPatch Community Guidelines", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "alliance & partnership", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cornerstone Healthcare announces development of 10m care centre. LinkedIn\nComplex care provider Cornerstone Healthcare Group has announced the development of a 10m, 74-bed care centre in Somerset.\nCale View, which is due for completion in autumn 2022, will be provide care for adults of all ages with challenging behaviours associated with complex neurological and mental health conditions.\nGroup Chief Executive Johann van Zyl said: This is the next step in an exciting phase of growth for Cornerstone Healthcare. Unlike our previous acquisitions, we are building Cale View from scratch. This will give us the opportunity to provide, not only care that is tailored to our residents, but a home that is designed to cater for their complex and challenging needs.\nStory continues below\nAdvertisement\nThis project gives us the opportunity to increase our service to a large group of people who tend to be forgotten about and to ease the burden on dementia care homes in the area who may struggle to manage the needs of these individuals.\nIt is of the utmost importance that Cale View contributes to the local community and, as part of our company policy, we will be supporting local businesses by contracting with them for professional services, products and consumables for the home.\nThe facility in Wincanton will add to Cornerstones existing services in Hampshire and Surrey and increase the groups beds to nearly 300, while creating 140 new job opportunities in the area. It forms part of Cornerstones Buy and Build strategy and is the next phase in the companys ambitious five-year growth plan to provide 500 beds for this underserved sector by the end of 2024.\nHealthcare sector specialists, Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank and London based equity partner, Ignite Growth are funding the development and NorthStar Projects will act as Cornerstones Project Managers with the Midas Group responsible for the construction of Cale View.\nTags :", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "funding round", "clinical trial sponsorship", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "True Health New Mexico Insurance Gets New Owners. True Health New Mexico Insurance Gets New Owners\nSanta Fe New Mexican, The (NM)\nJan. 17True Health New Mexico, which offers individual health insurance policies to thousands of state residents through the health insurance exchange, has a new owner but will retain its name and executive team.\n\"This will be a very seamless transition for our members,\" Dr. Mark Epstein, True Health CEO, said. \"Our people stay the same. Our plans stay the same.\"\nEvolent Health of Arlington, Va., launched True Health in January 2018. The company announced Wednesday it was selling its New Mexico subsidiary to Bright Health of Minneapolis.\nTrue Health is one of five insurance providers listed on beWellnm, New Mexico's health insurance exchange for self-employed workers and others who do not receive coverage through their employers.\nEpstein said Bright Health is \"well aligned with our vision of caring for our community.\" While Evolent is relinquishing ownership, he added, it is entering into a management service agreement with Bright Health to continue providing claims and payment services for True Health.\nTrue Health, a physician-led health care provider, has 34,000 members in New Mexico. Along with beWellnm members, True Health also serves small and large employers, and federal employees.\nWith Bright Health as owner, Epstein believes True Health will expand its member base.\n\"We will enter new lines of business to capture new opportunities to bring new services to more people,\" he said.\nBright Health offers insurance policies and managed care services in 13 states and is part of Connect for Health Colorado, that state's official health insurance marketplace, and the Arizona Care Network, a group of 5,500 health care providers.\n\"Bright Health set out to reimagine how healthcare is delivered in this country, and to create a truly personalized, efficient, and affordable healthcare experience through aligning the interests of patients, providers, distributors, and the health plan,\" Bright Health CEO Simeon Schindelman said in a news release.\n\"The team at True Health New Mexico shares that vision,\" the statement said, \"and we are excited to build upon their exceptional history of alignment and growth and work together to improve affordability and the quality of care for the people of New Mexico.\"\n___\n(c)2021 The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.)\nVisit The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.) at www.santafenewmexican.com\nDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.\nOlder", "answer groups": [ "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding industry", "product updates" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Edoc Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $90,000,000 Initial Public Offering. Save\nVictor, NY, Nov. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: ADOCU) (the Company) announced today that it priced its initial public offering of 9,000,000 units at a price to the public of $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to commence trading on November 10, 2020 on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol ADOCU.\nEach unit consists of one Class A ordinary share, one right and one redeemable warrant to purchase one-half of one Class A ordinary share. Each right entitles the holder to receive one-tenth of one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination, and each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one-half of one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares, rights and warrants are expected to be traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols ADOC, ADOCR, and ADOCW, respectively. Upon consummation of the offering, of the proceeds received from the offering and the concurrent sale of private placement units, $10.17 per unit sold to the public in the offering will be deposited into a trust account.\nI-Bankers Securities, Inc. is acting as the sole book-running manager of the offering. The underwriters have been granted a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,350,000 units offered by the Company to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is expected to close on or about November 13, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.\nThe offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus related to this offering may be obtained from I-Bankers Securities, Inc. at 535 5th Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017.\nA registration statement relating to the securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 9, 2020. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.\nAbout Edoc Acquisition Corp.\nEdoc Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company organized for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. It intends to focus on businesses primarily operating in the healthcare sector in North America and Asia-Pacific.\nForward-Looking Statements\nThis press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including with respect to the initial public offering and the anticipated use of the proceeds thereof, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in the risk factors section of the prospectus used in connection with the Companys initial public offering. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Companys expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based, except as required by law.\nContact: Edoc Acquisition Corp. 7612 Main Street Fishers Suite 200 Victor, NY 14564 Attention: Kevin Chen\nCopyright 2020 GlobeNewswire, Inc.", "answer groups": [ "ipo exit" ], "distractor groups": [ "support & philanthropy", "subsidiary establishment", "expanding industry", "patent publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Moody National Bank Trust Division Sells 47,472 Shares of Crown Castle International Corp. (REIT) (NYSE:CCI). Get Rating\n) by 72.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,156 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 47,472 shares during the quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Divisions holdings in Crown Castle International were worth $3,790,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.\nA number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in CCI. Mattern Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Crown Castle International by 2.9% during the third quarter. Mattern Capital Management LLC now owns 29,814 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,167,000 after acquiring an additional 841 shares during the last quarter. AXA S.A. raised its position in Crown Castle International by 25.3% in the third quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 142,000 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $24,611,000 after acquiring an additional 28,709 shares during the period. Capital Square LLC raised its position in shares of Crown Castle International by 575.7% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Square LLC now owns 11,156 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,930,000 after purchasing an additional 9,505 shares during the period. Comerica Bank raised its position in shares of Crown Castle International by 1.5% during the 2nd quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 97,983 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $19,392,000 after purchasing an additional 1,406 shares during the period. Finally, Zacks Investment Management grew its stake in Crown Castle International by 0.7% during the second quarter. Zacks Investment Management now owns 294,006 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $57,361,000 after acquiring an additional 1,977 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.20% of the companys stock.\nGet\nCrown Castle International\nalerts:\nIn other Crown Castle International news, Director Kevin A. Stephensbought 2,000 shares of Crown Castle International stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $162.30 per share, with a total value of $324,600.00. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link 0.45% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.\nShares of NYSE:CCItraded up $3.26 during trading on Friday, hitting $179.10. 1,741,859 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,129,636. Crown Castle International Corp. has a 1-year low of $146.15 and a 1-year high of $209.87. The company has a market capitalization of $77.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.55. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $181.27 and its 200-day simple moving average is $184.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.49, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.62.\nCrown Castle International (NYSE:CCI \nGet Rating\n) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.04. Crown Castle International had a return on equity of 13.46% and a net margin of 18.28%. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.63 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.33 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Crown Castle International Corp. will post 7.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.\nThe firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 15th will be paid a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 14th. This represents a $5.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.28%. Crown Castle Internationals dividend payout ratio is 220.23%.\nSeveral equities research analysts have recently commented on CCI shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Crown Castle International from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $200.00 price target for the company. in a report on Wednesday, January 5th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Crown Castle International from $200.00 to $204.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 27th. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Crown Castle International from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their target price for the company from $226.00 to $203.00 in a research note on Monday, January 10th. Raymond James upgraded shares of Crown Castle International from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $184.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, January 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Crown Castle International from $208.00 to $207.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $201.00.\nCrown Castle International Profile (\nGet Rating\n)\nCrown Castle International Corp. is a real estate investment trust company, which engages in the provision of access to wireless infrastructure via long-term contacts. It operates through the following segments: Towers and Fiber. The Towers segment offers access, including space or capacity towers dispersed throughout the United States.\nFurther Reading", "answer groups": [ "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding industry", "new initiatives & programs", "subsidiary establishment", "regulatory approval" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "STG Design concludes national search, announces new CEO. , an integrated architecture, interiors, and planning firm transforming businesses through design, announced that Sandra M. Part (AIA, IIDA) has been named Chief Executive Officer for the firm, beginning\nApril 30, 2021\n.\nPart assumes the position after an impressive career advising leading companies with complex real estate portfolios, designing workplace strategies around the globe for some of the industry's most respected design firms.\nSandra M. Part, AIA, IIDA, has joined STG Design as CEO. She was formerly Senior Vice President at AECOM, Global Commercial and Corporate Market Sector practice director.\n\"Sandra understands the needs and aspirations of the world's most progressive, future-forward companies.\" Susman said\n\"After Zweig Group conducted a diligent, national search, Sandra stood out as the ideal person to lead STG Design's ongoing transition to the next generation of leadership\" said\nJim Susman\n, FAIA, STG Design Chairman. \"She brings deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of the world's most progressive, future-forward companies. She's also approachable and down-to-earth. The search committee found both a culture fit and potential for positive evolution.\"\nPrior to joining STG Design, Sandra Part was Senior Vice President at AECOM, Global Commercial and Corporate Market Sector practice director. While there she led the management and operations of the practice, working closely with regional leadership to align AECOM talent with client requirements.\nSandra was also responsible for business line operations for this market sector, strategic planning, budgeting, intercompany collaboration, and account delivery/resourcing strategies including the attraction and retention of diverse talent.\nDuring her 18-year tenure at HOK, Sandra held several positions, including Managing Principal of the\nDallas\noffice and Global Strategic Accounts lead for Corporate clients connecting the dots between geography and talent for the benefit of the projects in the client's real estate portfolios. She holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from\nTexas A&M University\nas well as executive education certificates from the Harvard Design School Office of Executive Education and\nColumbia Business School\nExecutive Education. She was honored as one of the Texas A&M Outstanding Alumni, College of Architecture. She currently serves as Presiding Officer, Texas Military Department, Real Property Advisory Council. A member of AIA, Part is licensed in 38 states, and she is a Registered Interior Designer.\nAbout STG Design\nFounded in 1976, STG Design serves clients nationally and internationally with primary offices in\nAustin\nand\nNashville\n. Constantly working to make ourselves, our clients, and our world better through design, STG Design serves clients in multi-family, commercial, research and development, nonprofit, healthcare, higher education, and hospitality sectors. STG Design's legacy includes work for Trammell Crow Company, Karlin Real Estate, Oracle, Apple, Google, Dell Technologies, Box, Indeed, NI (formerly National Instruments), RetailMeNot, LCRA, Pulte,\nDel Webb", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "participation in an event", "regulatory approval", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Jen Butler of Medisafe: Take risks. Pinterest\nTake risks Its so important to not settle for complacency but rather always advance oneself and those around you to evolve. Taking risks keeps us all fresh and invigorated.\nThe telephone totally revolutionized the way we could communicate with people all over the world. But then came email and took it to the next level. And then came text messaging. And then came video calls. And so onWhats next? Whats just around the corner?\nIn this interview series, called The Future Of Communication Technology we are interviewing leaders of tech or telecom companies who are helping to develop emerging communication technologies and the next generation of how we communicate and connect with each other.\nAs a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Butler, Chief Marketing Officer for Medisafe.\nJennifer Butler joined Medisafe in January 2019 as the companys first Chief Marketing Officer bringing more than 20 years of marketing and consulting experience to the organization. Prior to joining Medisafe, she served as vice president of marketing at New Century Health and Eliza, an HMS company engaging Medicare and Medicaid members in health programs. Jennifer also led Tufts Health Plans Commercial Marketing which included member engagement initiatives from benefit education to healthcare consumption tools. Jennifers experience also includes marketing strategy work at Deloitte Consulting in addition to mergers and acquisitions at BankBoston and Chase Securities. Jennifer earned her MBA from Boston University and A.B. from Bowdoin College.\nThank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory and how you got started?\nI took a rather uncommon path in my career, starting in investment banking and consulting. Through that experience, I learned how the combination of strategy and marketing can help to grow a company. After spending six years at Deloitte I made the move to focus on strategic marketing, largely because I was well versed in industries are led by complex regulations and need effective communication to help its consumers access the system. With the advancement of digital technologies, I see how new digital means can advance patient communication and support behavior change.\nCan you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?\nWhen I first started in the healthcare sector with a regional health plan, we took an unconventional approach to engage members in their health plans. We applied a magic of Disney approach that helped members unlock the power of their membership in their health. We created an emotional connection to something that is actually intangible and uninspiring and drove patient engagement through new communication strategies.\nCan you please give us your favorite Life Lesson Quote? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?\nI have always believed that whatever the problem, theres a solution. I understand that challenges will occur, and problems arise, but finding a solution is where you create success. Not only does this lead to several options in responding to challenges, but it can also generate new opportunities.\nNone of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?\nIf I had to name a particular person then Id call out David Morris who was the Chief Revenue Officer at Eliza and encouraged me to join his team. Under his direction, I was able to see the potential of using technology advancements to bring consumerism into healthcare. This experience opened my eyes to the possibilities of technology revolutionizing healthcare from access to delivery to consumption.\nHow have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?\nAt our company, we receive countless stories of how our digital platform has helped patients manage their health, their medications, and provide hope in living with chronic conditions. Even parents and caregivers turn to Medisafe to help turn the complex into a simple daily task. We have been able to provide peace of mind and reassurance to 7M patients throughout their treatment journey.\nOk wonderful. Lets now shift to the main focus of our interview. Can you tell us your digital patient communication? How do you think it helps people?\nMedisafe is a consumer proven application and platform. From the patient reviews to the measurable outcomes to the cost savings of medications, weve been able to make a qualitative and quantitative impact on the industry. Our digital platform expands simple communication to create digital relationships that help patients manage their health and their lives.\nHow do you think this might change the world?\nAmidst the backdrop of a global pandemic, providing digital communication and support to patients is paramount to any return to normal and helping patients navigate their health. Digital patient communication helps to ensure ongoing support in helping patients manage the most personal elements of their lives their health.\nKeeping \nBlack Mirror\n in mind can you see any side effects about this technology?\nWith our platform, we are a companion to medication and enhance support to therapy. We aim to enhance something that is already existing, not replace it altogether. Given that a persons health enables them to do anything in life, I can envision our technology becoming a more relied-upon resource for numerous aspects of their lives and health.\nWhat was the tipping point that drove this breakthrough? Can you tell us that story?\nWe started as a B2C company, but the ability to demonstrate the value we offer to the pharma industry served as a tipping point for our company. Our digital communication platform enables pharma to provide guided and supportive engagement to patients throughout their treatment journey. Once pharma leaders saw how we can create digital coordination and connectivity within the treatment cycle, we moved from a novelty to an essential element in medication management.\nWhat will lead this technology to wider adoption in the next five years?\nI believe digital patient communications will move further upstream, become more commonplace as part of both acute and chronic care treatments. I envision a time in the near future where digital drug companions are launched at the point of a prescription, and the opportunity to bring physicians directly into the patient medication journey.\nThe pandemic has changed so many things about the way we behave. One of them of course, is how we work and how we communicate in our work. How is digital patient communication helping to address the new needs that have arisen as a result of the pandemic?\nThe pandemic has changed the traditional patient care model, leading to more digital and virtual based tools to help physicians and patients remain", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "service & product providing", "other" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Nationwide names Laura Titas chief data officer. Nationwide names Laura Titas chief data officer\nRebecca Walters\nNationwide has appointed Laura Titas as senior vice president and chief data officer. In her new role, Titas will be responsible for leading Nationwides enterprise data office. She previously served as the chief digital experience and technology officer for Wendy's. Titas has a bachelor of science in applied mathematics and a bachelor of arts in statistics from the University of Rochester.\nMount Carmel Health System has named Jack Randolph as chief executive officer of MediGold, Mount Carmels Medicare Advantage health insurance plan.\nWith more than 35 years of related experience, Randolph will oversee health plan growth within the Trinity Health ministry. He has an MBA from the University of Toledo and a bachelors degree in accounting from Bowling Green State University.\nHe joins MediGold from The Ashley Group, a benefits consulting and advisory firm for employers and previously served in a number of roles with Toledo-based ProMedica Health System.\nState of Ohio chief information officer Ervan Rodgers II recently joined the executive committee of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.\nAs part of his two-year appointment, Rodgers will help guide the organization in government and leadership policy practices in information management and technology policy. He will also represent NASCIO on the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative, which advises the U.S. Attorney General on justice information sharing and integration initiatives.\nTek Experts has expanded its operations and moved to a larger facility in Clintonville at 2761 N. High St. The new digs facilitate Tek Experts growing B2B and B2C customer base in buying and reselling used phones, laptops, tablets and other electronic devices. In addition to the added showroom space, the facility will include a repair center and dedicated shipping-and-receiving area. The company has also launched a new website to better accommodate sales and service requests.\nThe Janes Group has acquired three Save A Lot stores in the Columbus region, all of which will undergo extensive updates, including a complete renovation of the 2054 Lockbourne Road location. Other newly acquired properties include stores at 1230 S. James Road and 6308 E. Livingston Road in Reynoldsburg.\nThe new footprints feature a revitalized decor, expanded product offerings and meat cut fresh daily in store. The move is part of the discount grocers effort to convert corporate-owned stores to locally based operations. Renovations are already in the works at the Lockbourne store, and once the completed, the plan is to double the number of employees at that location.", "answer groups": [ " executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "article publication", "investment in public company" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "SHINING 3D Bundle EinScan Handheld 3D Scanner with Geomagic. News\nHANGZHOU, China, Oct 30, 2017 SHINING 3D, the leading company in 3D digitizing and 3D printing industry, teaming up with the world-leading 3D software company Geomagic, has released a full reverse engineering solution. The campaign will allow EinScan handheld 3D scanner users to get access to the advanced Geomagic 3D software for reverse engineering at an affordable price.\nStarting today and through December 31st, 2017, SHINING 3D is offering a complete reverse engineering solution at a promotional price. Customers can get a combined 20% discount of EinScan handheld scanners and Geomagic software. The combined 20% discount consists of a 10% discount off the original price of scanner and another 10% discount off the original price of software. The software bundle provides the customer with a couple of options, including Geomagic Wrap and Geomagic for SOLIDWORKS.\nAbout EinScan-Pro & EinScan-Pro+\nEinScan-Pro is a versatile portable handheld 3D scanner of the EinScan series, especially designed to handle all kind of challenging consumer, commercial manufacturing, engineering, design, education and other applications. This multi-functional 3D scanner offers both, portability, and accuracy thanks to its four versatile scanning modes.\nThe EinScan-Pro+, being a professional grade and high-performance handheld 3D scanner, offers a wide scanning range, faster scanning speeds and an enhanced handheld HD scanning mode. It can meet all the requirements of high accuracy and performance, when working with industrial parts, fine objects, and large objects with few geometrical characteristics.\nOscar Meza, VP of global sales at SHINING 3D, says: By closely engaging with our customers, SHINING 3D understands their demands for a reliable and complete reverse engineering solution, while maintaining an affordable price. Since our goal is to offer affordable 3D digital solution for more people, SHINING 3D is offering a full reverse engineering solution, which combines leading edge tools at a reasonable price aimed to meet", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "funding round", "foundation", "ipo exit" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Replica Analytics and Euris Launch Cloud-Based Data Synthesis Platform. Jun 3, 2021\nShare\nReplica Analytics, a leading provider of health data synthesis technology, is partnering with Euris Health Cloud bringing to market a unique and easy-to-use cloud-based data synthesis solution: Replica Synthesis. While Euris Health Cloud provides a secure hosting platform designed to meet strict regulations for the processing of personal health information in\nEurope\n, Replica Synthesis allows users to upload their data or access their existing data on the Euris platform.\nRecommended AI News:\niClick Interactives Partnership with Baili Commercial Helps Drive Outstanding Business Growth\nReplica Synthesis rapidly trains generative models and creates synthetic variants of data that retain the statistical properties and patterns in the original data. The synthetic data are non-identifiable information and can be used and disclosed with minimal constraints, and the generative models can be further used as simulators.\nReplica Synthesis is designed to meet the huge demand for high quality health data for AI modeling and classical epidemiological analysis. Comprehensive utility reports are produced comparing the real and synthetic data, allowing users to assess the quality of data synthesis immediately. More details will be available at our webinar on 17\nth", "answer groups": [ " product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "product updates", "funding round" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Christians: Get an 'Israel box' delivered to your door. (photo credit: Artza)\nAdvertisement\nArtza Box founder Itai Schimmel was preoccupied with finding the answer to two questions: How could he create something that would connect Christians to Israelin a meaningful and educational way?\nAnd how could he support small businesses all over Israel that were facing closures due to COVID-related travel restrictions?\nItai Schimmel (Credit: Courtesy of Itai Schimmel)\ncnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: '36af7c51-0caf-4741-9824-2c941fc6c17b' }).render('4c4d856e0e6f4e3d808bbc1715e132f6'); });\nconsole.log(\"catid body is \"+catID);if(catID==120){document.getElementsByClassName(\"divConnatix\")[0].style.display =\"none\";var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = 'https://player.anyclip.com/anyclip-widget/lre-widget/prod/v1/src/lre.js'; script.setAttribute('pubname','jpostcom'); script.setAttribute('widgetname','0011r00001lcD1i_12258'); document.getElementsByClassName('divAnyClip')[0].appendChild(script);}else if(catID!=69 && catID!=2){ document.getElementsByClassName(\"divConnatix\")[0].style.display =\"none\"; var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = 'https://static.vidazoo.com/basev/vwpt.js'; script.setAttribute('data-widget-id','60fd6becf6393400049e6535'); document.getElementsByClassName('divVidazoo')[0].appendChild(script); }\nHis answer was Artza Box, a subscription gift box service that doesnt merely deliver gifts from Israel, but also forges a relationship between subscribers and the people, history and biblical significance of the land of Israel.\nEach gift box focuses on a city or region in Israel, such as the Golan Heights, the Judean desert or Jerusalem and includes items from that city or region. Since their launch, Artza Box has sent 55,000 subscriber gift boxes, covering seven different cities or regions.\nTheir goal is to include eight or nine distinctive items, so each box contains, according to their website, something for the soul. Something to inspire. Something to learn. Something to taste. Something to share. Something for the body. Something to cook. Something to cherish.\nBut thats just the beginning.\nEach box takes you on a journey, according to Schimmel. Were not just selling random gifts.\nThe Judean Desert Artza box (Credit: Artza)\nHe said Atrza boxes tell the stories of the people in the city, connecting to the people in the region. We try to deliver the experience of going to different regions.\nTo achieve that, each box includes lots of supplemental written material, including stories, crafts, recipe cards and even relevant Hebrew words and phrases that connect to the items in the box.\nEach box includes information about one or two local charities, as well as products created by Jewish, Christians and Muslim artisans. Schimmel explained that sourcing the right local products can take as long as two months and the team is generally working six months ahead of distribution.\nOnce they identify a vendor with whom they want to work, an unexpected benefit of his business model is that often Artza Box places the largest order most of the vendors have ever had.\nWe help them learn to scale their businesses, he explained.\nThe Artza family\nThe gift box itself is the introduction to what Artza is trying to build out-of-the-box, Schimmel explained: Community.\nSubscribers become part of what Schimmel called the Artza family and, in addition to receiving a gift box every three months, they are invited to participate in an array of online events, including master classes from chefs and artisans, virtual tours, live subscriber events, giveaways and more. All these are included with an Artza subscription.\nTheir plans for 2022 include adding in-person tours to Israel.\nSchimmel said that, just as Artza boxes have been, bringing Israel to you, now we want to bring you to Israel.\nA taste of Israel\nThe recipe cards have been among the most popular elements of Artza boxes. Schimmel, whose background is in venture capital, is currently raising funds on Kickstarter for Tasting Israel: A cookbook of food, family & faith.\nArtzas cookbook will include two recipes each from 30 different Israeli chefs, each of whom represents a cuisine and a culture that exists in Israel, including Christians, Muslims and Jews from all over the world. The book will highlight the stories of how the chefs landed in Israel and what they contribute to the world of Israeli cuisine.\nEvery one of the 30 chefs has a unique connection to Israel. We are asking, What is Israeli cuisine? The cookbook will contain a lot of history and biblical connections, Schimmel enthused. It will reflect a beautiful coexistence over food.\nIf they reach their fundraising goal, Tasting Israel could be available by October 2022.\nTereza, a local soap artisan from Nazareth (Credit: Artza)\n'We try to stay apolitical'\nPolitics has no place in the Artza project, Schimmel stressed. He described himself as a modern Orthodox Jew who grew up in London with an Israeli mother and an English father. As a child, he would often visit his maternal grandparents and cousins in Israel. Staying connected to Israel was a very important part of his childhood.\nThats what drives his vision for the Artza boxes, the Artza tours and the forthcoming cookbook.\nWe try to stay apolitical, he stressed. Were looking for the connection that people have to the land. Our subscribers are pro-Israel. The soul of our business is to serve people who want to connect to Israel. We help them bring the Bible to life in a meaningful way.\nSchimmel uses Christian consultants to make sure their content is culturally sensitive.\nAcknowledging that, most Christians are not going to come to Israel, Schimmel said his company stands out from other Israeli gift box companies because of their emphasis on all the supplemental materials that connect their subscribers to the city or region each box represents.\nThe support weve gotten from Christians has been incredible and overwhelming, Schimmel added. Our members are staunchly pro-Israel, with such a strong connection. We want to reciprocate that and give back as well.\nWe are here to invite you to a real meaningful connection with Israel, he concluded.", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "foundation", "new initiatives or programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Hattiesburg-Laurel Airport to offer flights to Chicago. Hattiesburg-Laurel Airport to offer flights to Chicago\nLici Beveridge\nView Comments\nHattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport soon will begin offering daily flights to Chicago in a new arrangement with American Airlines.\nThe flights to O'Hare International Airport will begin June 2. Booking flights for the Chicago destination begins Monday. The change will mean the airport will have only one daily flight to Dallas instead of two.\nAlthough there will be fewer flights to Dallas each week, airport director Tom Heanue said there will be added weekend service with both flights departing daily.\n\"Although we are losing our frequency to DFW, picking up another option for our travelers is helpful for those wanting to travel to the Midwest or eastern destinations,\" he said.\nThe change was prompted by a national shortage of available aircraft and pilots affecting the airport's current carrier, ExpressJet, Heanue said. Its parent company, Skywest, wanted to find a way to continue air service in the Pine Belt, an Essential Air Service market.\n\"We have very good service with American right now, with nonstop to Dallas-Fort Worth at the noonday flight,\" Heanue said.\nAmerican Airlines continues Hattiesburg-Laurel service\nSkywest agreed to take over the flights for ExpressJet, but because it has no gates in Dallas, the company said it would begin bringing the 50-seat airplanes out of Chicago. The Chicago flights can help north- and east-bound passengers avoid having to go west to Dallas to reach their destinations.\n\"That's pretty exciting news for a small community like ours,\" Heanue said. \"There's probably only three in America our size that has dual-hub service.\n\"This will give us a little more opportunity.\"\nThe new flights could help improve tourism and bring in more revenue for the Hub City, said Rick Taylor, executive director of Hattiesburg Convention and Tourism commissions.\n\"These paths create new travel options for our regional tourism economy,\" he said. \"Hattiesburg welcomes new visitors from both of these U.S. locations with a host of leisure offerings. We also believe these new routes will inspire previous visitors to return to our great community.\"\nThe addition of an American Airlines flight to Chicago has the potential to bring new jobs to the Pine Belt, Forrest County Board of Supervisors President David Hogan said.\nAmerican's decision to add another route to the airport shows the confidence the airline has in the area's growth.\n\"In 2016 the Pine Belt led the state in job growth and we believe the Hattiesburg-Laurel Airport and American Airlines helped in that growth,\" Hogan said. \"It opens not only travel opportunities for Pine Belt residents, but it also opens up more business opportunities.\"\nHeanue said the airport also may be able to hold another TSA pre-check registration event at the airport after the success of the December one. The airport was set up to handle around 250 applicants through the government agency, and ended up with around 270.\n\"We had a great turnout,\" he said. \"If it's possible, we're going to try and do that again.\"\nHattiesburg-Laurel airport sees increase in passengers\nFlights in and out of the Pine Belt airport are on an upswing as well, with more than 16,000 total boardings in both 2015 and 2016, up from 7,848 in 2014. The airport had seen total boardings in 2010-12 reach more than 20,000 each year, peaking at 29,455 in 2011, but those numbers fell sharply in 2013-14.\nHeanue said while the number of boardings is unpredictable, he hopes the Chicago flights will encourage more travelers to book locally. He said the nonstop between Hattiesburg and Dallas will no longer be offered to accommodate the Chicago flight, but travelers will be able to book either destination seven days a week.\n\"I'm hoping if the market picks up, we can pick up more flights (to Chicago),\" he said.\nIf you go\nTo book flights, visit aa.com\nDaily flights, beginning June 2 are as follows:\nDepartures\nHattiesburg-Meridian-Dallas departs at 8:50 a.m., arriving in Dallas at 11:40 a.m.\nHattiesburg-Meridian-Chicago departs at 2:35 p.m., arriving in Chicago at 5:45 p.m.\nArrivals\nDallas-Hattiesburg-Meridian departs at 12:40 p.m., arriving in Hattiesburg at 2:10 p.m.\nChicago-Meridian-Hattiesburg departs 6:20 p.m., arriving in Hattiesburg at 9:30 p.m.\nFor more information about the airport, visit", "answer groups": [ "expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [ "product updates", "participation in an event", "funding round", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Support Worker Irchester Northamptonshire. Apply for this job now\nJob Description\nCreative Support are looking for warm, motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our service in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire as a Support Worker.\nAt our Wellingborough services you will provide excellent care and support for 4 service users with learning disabilities and mental health needs. To be a Support Worker, you will have a passion for promoting active involvement and communication to ensure that 'every day is a good day'. You will give respect and unconditional positive regard for the people you support. No two days will be the same as our residents love to engage in a wide range of activities such as arts and crafts, gardening and cooking. Our residents even say their favourite dish is a roast dinner!\nYour role will include:\nProviding respectful personal care to individuals, medication administration and help with domestic tasks such as preparing food and cleaning, Engaging with service users and build trusting therapeutic relationships, working within to encourage wellbeing and positive coping skills, Work flexibly according to the needs of the service, including daytimes, evenings, weekends and bank holidays.\nWe are looking for candidates from all walks of life. No previous care experience is needed, just a passion for providing person-centred care and support and working in a bright, friendly environment! Full training is provided by our Creative Support Training Academy, as is the opportunity to work towards QCF Diploma in Health and Social Care.\nBenefits of working with Creative Support:\nA one-off bonus of 100 upon successful completion of the 4-month probationary period.\nCompetitive pay and a pension with company contribution and 28 days annual leave,\nCompany paid enhanced DBS for all staff\nFree employee support programme\nAll our staff are supported 24/7 by our out-of-hours teams\nSupport to complete the nationally recognised Care Certificate and Social Care Diploma\nCreative Support is a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Silver award. We actively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and cultures.\nWe would encourage you to apply to us even if you have not yet had your COVID 19 vaccine. You will be required to have your first COVID 19 vaccine prior to your interview and your second vaccine before you start work with us. This time will be used to complete post interview recruitment checks.\nWe will be interviewing for this role as suitable applications are received and may close this role before the closing date upon a successful candidate being appointed.", "answer groups": [ "company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "event organization", "m&a", "executive appointment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Azneem Bilwani Proclaims to Target Latest Tech-related Solu.... MENAFN\n- EIN Presswire)\nPAKISTAN, March 28, 2022 /EINPresswire.com / -- ABTACH LTD is undoubtedly a leading tech giant that aims to soars up IT solutions all around the world. The company has incredibly created its footprints in the mobile app development area and robust digital marketing. The firm experiencing a massive transformation to dig best outcomes to accomplish IT venture.\nAzneem Bilwani is ready to follow the IT trends that become the buzzword today. Due to the strong vision and mission, he announces to introduce latest IT trends such as metaverse, artificial intelligence, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Virtual reality, augmented reality, and machine learning in every digital venture.\nThe CEO of ABTACH Azneem Bilwani established this firm in the year of 2015. They hire a team of witty and enthusiastic professionals, who aim to break the barriers to bring something innovative in every product. The company pays lots of attention to adding charisma to the services the firm offer.\nIn the mobile app development area, the firm is ready to laid down the cutting-edge solution to provide remarkable products. To reach the new heights of success and make a name among the leading company, Azneem Bilwani integrates the latest mobile app development trends.\nFrom service-based apps to game apps, the company offers unmatched and creative app development solutions . The founders of ABTACH LTD know how to craft the attention of their targeted audience. Their innovative approach makes impossible things possible.\nIn the field of app development, the firm also uses the latest software and analytical tools to develop creative apps. They have a panel of highly diligent employees, who keep their keen eyes on changes in app development trends. The company has successfully completed thousands of mobile app projects for different leading brands.\nIn establishing unbeatable standards related to all the facets of the IT world, ABTACH always ensures to make their customer satisfied. Creating organic and potential leads is the main aim of this firm. Building a professional brand image and helping customers to gain a massive audience.\nWhen talking about the digital marketing area, this company specializes in different technical and creative fields. They offer a wide range of services including search engine optimization, content creation, persuasive video animation, & pay-per-click advertisement.\nNow moving towards the head of ABTACH LTD Azeem bilwani, who saidtheir passion is to drive more customers and aims to surge the global IT venture. He even mentioned,We love to strengthen our bond with IT enthusiasts who are sincerely committed to taking this firm to a height of unbelievable success.'\nWith transparent business policies, the ABTACH provides a friendly, corporative, and open work environment to its workforce. The firm aims to score greater targets, so with a proper hierarchy system they try harder to leave no stone unturned. Let's see what ABTACH offers to its customer this year.\nMedia Team", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "product launching & presentation", "participation in an event", "company description" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Richmond startup Naborforce adds to its investment round, bringing the total amount to $2.5 million. John Reid Blackwell\nCEO Paige Wilson on the expansion of Naborforce\nA Richmond-based startup company that connects aging adults to a network of care providers has added to a recent capital raise as it plans to expand into two new market areas.\nNaborforce, founded by local entrepreneur Paige Wilson in 2018, announced in June that it had closed on a $2 million seed funding round to help it expand.\nThe investment round was oversubscribed, however, so Naborforce recently added an additional $500,000 to the capital raise, bringing the total amount to $2.5 million.\nThe additional amount included an investment from Claritas Capital as well as Artemis Fund, a Houston-based venture capital firm that specializes in investing in companies founded and led by women.\n\"That is significant for a couple of reasons,\" said Paige Wilson, the founder and CEO of Naborforce who was inspired to create the company after a 30-year corporate career and caring for her own aging mother.\n\"In the startup world, there is a lot of discussion that female-led companies are incredibly under-represented in venture capital and fundraising,\" Wilson said. In 2019, only about 2.8 percent of global venture capital went to women-led businesses, she said.\nNaborforce seeks to address issues surrounding America's aging population by providing an online platform on which aging adults or their families can find and hire \"nabors,\" or vetted people who sign up for the service to earn some extra cash by doing errands, household chores and offering companionship.\nAbout 1,300 nabors and clients are using the platform now in the Richmond area, the Charlottesville area and the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill areas of North Carolina.\nNaborforce is planning to expand its markets into the Williamsburg area and the Bethesda, Md.-area soon. The company also is planning to introduce is app for Android users soon.", "answer groups": [ "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment", "other", "service & product providing", "foundation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cerebra Green announces First-of-Its-Kind Zero Cost EMI DaaS Program. Cerebra Green announces First-of-Its-Kind Zero Cost EMI DaaS Program\nCerebra has tied up with the worlds fourth-largest leasing Company to handle this.\nSeptember 29, 2021 4:40 IST\n|\nIndia Infoline News Service\nRead Full Story\nCerebra Green, the e-waste division of Cerebra Integrated Technologies Ltd, today announced its Zero Cost EMI Device-as-aService (DaaS) Program, the first-of-its-kind in India. Through this program, Cerebra will provide organizations customized IT hardware and services solutions on a payper-device' fee.\nDaaS adoption in India has witnessed a 65% increase in the past 11 months, primarily due to the accelerated need for digital transformation and an increase in the distributed workforce. With Cerebras Zero Cost* model, enterprises no longer need to worry about asset replacement costs, high Capex costs or recovery. It is an endto-end program that includes collecting the devices, wiping customer data clean, and refurbishing or recycling them; thereby helping simplify IT Asset Management.\nCerebras Zero Cost EMI model includes the following services: planning and procurement, configuration, data migration, deployment and integration, end-user support and easy migration to the latest technology through an operating lease.\nCerebra will provide a complete set of features including end-to-end lifecycle support and e-waste compliance, which will allow companies to switch PCs every 3 years. This will help organizations move from CAPEX to OPEX, ensure advanced security, and easy upgrade options.\nCerebra has tied up with worlds fourth largest leasing Company to handle this.\nStudies show that effective asset management saves up to 25 percent of a technology departments budget. Keeping this in mind, our objective with the Zero Cost DaaS program is to enable a seamless workforce, reduce IT complexity and hardware costs, while allowing organizations to increase efficiency, security and productivity, said Ravi Neeladri, CEO, Cerebra Green.\n\"We look forward to launching this program, as it allows companies to only pay for the use of the equipment, rather than the equipment itself, Ravi Neeladri said.\nRelated Story\nGet Access to Stock Reports+ and Customised Investment Ideas\nMobile No:\nPlease enter valid mobile number\nEmail:", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "company description" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Radiant Presents an Optical Design Concept to Revolutionize Development of XR Display Test Systems at SPIE AR. Radiant Presents an Optical Design Concept to Revolutionize Development of XR Display Test Systems at SPIE AR | VR | MR\nShare Article\nOptical engineers present Radiant's patent-pending novel modular system for XR display testing at daily poster sessions from 12:00 to 12:50 P.M. on each day of SPIE AR | VR | MR, January 23-25, at Moscone West.\nNovel modular optical system for simplified development of AR, VR display measurement solutions\nRadiants paper introduces a patent-pending novel optical design that greatly simplifies the process of building imaging systems for near-eye display (NED) metrology.\nREDMOND, Wash. (PRWEB)\nJanuary 10, 2022\nRadiant Vision Systems, a leading provider of photometric imaging solutions for light and display measurement, announces that it will present a paper at the SPIE AR | VR | MR conferencetaking place January 23-25, 2022, at Moscone West in San Francisco, California. Eric Eisenberg, Optics Development Manager, and Javier Ruiz, Staff Optical Software Engineer II, at Radiant will introduce the companys patent-pending Novel modular optical system for simplified development of AR, VR display measurement solutions\n. The paper will be presented as part of the conference Technical Talks at daily poster sessions from 12:00 to 12:50 P.M. on each day of the conference, January 23-25 (Sunday through Tuesday).\nFor AR, VR, and MR (XR)devices, display quality is determined by user perception of the display as observed within the parameters of a headset design. Measurement systemsused to evaluate XR display quality emulate the viewing conditions of the user by applying optics that position the entrance pupil (aperture) of an imaging lens at the eye position within the headset. While this viewing position is common across XR displays, there is no standard guiding XR device design. Display technologies, projection methods, and headset form factors continue to evolve. New display measurement equipment must be developed continuously to address the unique viewing conditions of new devicesdifferent angular fields of view (FOV), resolutions, focus ranges, and hardware designs. To address each set of variables, many XR devices require measurement systems with costly custom optics. There is no one-size-fits-all solution and, once designed, a measurement system is not easily modified for different requirements. The speed of XR innovation calls for equipment that helps manufacturers deploy device-specific display measurement as quickly and easily as possible.\nAs part of the SPIE AR | VR | MR Technical Talks Radiants paper introduces a patent-pending novel optical design that greatly simplifies the process of building imaging systems for near-eye display (NED) metrology. Using commercially available modular components, a variety of optical configurations can be produced and, if needed, reconfigured to match unique specifications of most XR headsets with minimal development time. Features such as electronic focus control and folded (periscope) geometries can be incorporated easily to accommodate different focus ranges and headset form factors. Radiants technical paper and poster presentations will introduce this optical design concept and demonstrate the performance of the modular system for NED measurement using test data and measurement examples.\nPresenting poster sessions on behalf of Radiant Vision Systems are the papers authors Eric Eisenberg, Optics Development Manager, and Javier Ruiz, Staff Optical Software Engineer II, from Radiants Engineering team. Eisenberg has extensive hands-on experience incorporating imaging technology for test and measurement and has a deep understanding of the technical considerations required for successful implementation. Prior to joining Radiant, Eisenberg held Optical Engineering roles at Lockheed Martin and Terabeam. Ruiz applies over 20 years of optical metrology and optical design expertise in development projects at Radiant. Working with leading manufacturers, he designs optical systems to image the unique visual properties of displays, AR/VR devices, and light sources for measurement and analysis according to manufacturer specifications. Prior to joining Radiant, Ruiz held Optical Engineering roles at TRIOPTICS USA, Digital Optics, Rockwell Collins, and JVC. Both presenters have invented multiple patents.\nFor more information or to register for the SPIE AR | VR | MR conference, visit spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/ar-vr-mr Learn more about Radiant Vision Systems at http://www.RadiantVisionSystems.com\nAbout Radiant Vision Systems\nRadiant Vision Systems works with world-class brands and manufacturers to deliver creative visual inspection solutions that improve quality, reduce costs, and increase customer satisfaction. Radiants legacy of technology innovation in photometric imaging and worldwide install base date back more than 30 years and address applications from consumer electronics to automotive manufacturing. Radiant Vision Systems product lines include TrueTest automated visual inspection software for quality control, and ProMetric imaging colorimeters, photometers, and light source measurement systems. Radiant is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, with strategic offices in California, Michigan, China, South Korea, and Vietnam. Radiant has been a part of Konica Minoltas Sensing Business Unit since August 2015. For more information, visit http://www.RadiantVisionSystems.com\nShare article on social media or email:\nView article via:", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "partnerships & alliances", "expanding geography", "other" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Marengo Therapeutics to Participate in Investor, Scientific, Industry Conferences. ,\nMarch 9, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Marengo Therapeutics, Inc., a company pioneering novel therapeutics that selectively activate T cells via the T cell receptor V chain to combat cancer, today announced that it will participate in the following investor, scientific, and industry conferences.\nMarengo CEO\n, M.D., MBA, will present virtually at the Oppenheimer 32nd Annual Healthcare Conference on\nMarch 15\nand in-person at the Immuno-Oncology 360 summit on\nMarch 16\nand at Reuters Events: Pharma\nUSA\nMarch 17\n.\n\"We look forward to participating in the upcoming events with key stakeholders across the end-to-end biomedical innovation value chain,\" said Dr. Su. \"These diverse engagements will continue the momentum we have enjoyed since Marengo's launch in November, and allow us further opportunity to highlight the rigor of our science and our commitment to patients.\"\nDetails are as follows:", "answer groups": [ "participation in an event" ], "distractor groups": [ "regulatory approval", "expanding geography", "company description", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Outpost at Brewers Row: A new condo community will offer homebuyers more options in Greater Scotts Addition. Save\nDoug Childers/Homes Correspondent\nFor many years, the award-winning craft breweries located along Ownby Lane in Richmonds Greater Scotts Addition have attracted crowds looking for craft beer and food-truck offerings. Now, a local developer and homebuilder is betting the area will attract condominium buyers, too.\nConstruction is underway on The Outpost at Brewers Row, located near the intersection of Ownby Lane and Overbrook Road. When its finished, the community, which is part of a larger mixed-use project called Brewers Row, will have 32 two-over-two condos. (Two-over-two condo buildings have two-story condos built on top of two-story condos.)\nThe mixed-use projects other components will include nearly 200 apartments and more than 20,000 square feet of commercial space.\nHenrico County-based StyleCraft Homes is developing and building the development, in partnership with Spy Rock Real Estate Group. (Spy Rock is developing the other components of the mixed-use development as well.)\nStyleCraft bought the 1.2-acre site part of which had been a parking lot in January. The areas popularity as an entertainment destination and its proximity to shopping attracted the company, as did the opportunity to fill a niche.\nWhile there are many rental options in this area, we found that there was a need of homes that are for sale, said Kathryn Catherwood, StyleCrafts director of sales and marketing.\nGoing from a parcel sale to condo construction in less than a year is a quick turnaround. The fact that the land didnt need to be rezoned or substantially altered helped speed up the process, says Ian Hoyt, StyleCrafts land acquisition manager.\nCondo stats and sales\nThe Outpost at Brewers Row is StyleCrafts first two-over-two condo project in the City of Richmond.\nThe two-over-two condo concept is a great match of getting the density we desired, while also offering what homebuyers are seekingnew, modern homes with little to no maintenance, all within walking distance to a vibrant social scene, Hoyt said.\nCondo sizes will range from 1,500 to 2,500 square feet, with floorplans that include at least two bedrooms and a minimum of 2 baths. Each unit will have two living levels and a one-car garage.\nThe condos exteriors have been designed to complement the architecture of the area, Hoyt said.\nPrices will start in the $500,000s.\nWe have not opened for sales, but we have opened our VIP list, Catherwood said. Joining the VIP list will give you first access to community details, and will allow you to be among the first to purchase your new home in The Outpost at Brewers Row.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "support & philanthropy", "m&a", "investment in public company" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Atlantic City Electric reaches deal to end coal-fired electricity production in New Jersey. Save\nEric Conklin\nMAYS LANDING Coal-fired energy production in New Jersey will cease to exist in a matter of months after a petition by Atlantic City Electric to alter two purchasing agreements was approved by the state Board of Public Utilities, the power provider said Wednesday.\nUnder the agreement, Starwood Energy Group LLC will end coal-fired production at the Logan Generating Plant in Swedesboro, Gloucester County, and the Chambers Cogeneration Plant in Carneys Point, Salem County, the company said in a news release.\nBoth power plants are owned by Starwood and are the state's last power plants using coal to create electricity, Atlantic City Electric spokesperson Ben Armstrong said, adding an official date for the end of coal operations has yet to be determined.\nAttempts to reach Starwood officials for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.\nAnother South Jersey coal-fired plant, B.L. England in Upper Township, closed in 2019.\nPublic vehicle charging stations coming to Ocean City\nOCEAN CITY Electric vehicle owners in the city will soon enjoy access to public charging s\nAtlantic City Electric and Starwood have a purchasing contract through 2024. Under the modification, Atlantic City Electric customers are expected to save up to $30 million through the contract's duration, Armstrong said.\nPeople are also reading\n5 Bedroom Home in Brigantine - $9,000\nWe are pleased to have reached this agreement that results in the ceasing of all coal-generated electricity from the last two coal-fired power plants in New Jersey, said Doug Mokoid, Atlantic City Electric's region president. This accomplishment means more than bill savings for our customers; it means cleaner air for our communities and a safer environment for generations to come.\nWhile New Jersey lawmakers continue their pursuit of more clean energy for state residents, Atlantic City Electric said the approval announced Wednesday means it's fulfilling its commitment to that effort.\nIn 2021, Atlantic City Electric said it and its sister company, Exelon, undertook a joint commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% compared to a 2015 baseline by 2030. The companies also are working to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, Atlantic City Electric said.\nContact Eric Conklin:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "product updates", "ipo exit", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Generic drug maker says it will sell insulin for no more than $30 per vial. March 3, 2022 / 10:23 PM\nGeneric drug maker says it will sell insulin for no more than $30 per vial\nBy\nDarryl Coote\nMarch 3 (UPI) --\nNot-for-profit generic drug maker Civica Rx announced Thursday its intent to produce its own insulin in order to dramatically reduce the cost of a widely used medicine that has seen its price soar in recent years.\nCreated by hospital systems and philanthropies in 2018 to produce affordable medicine, Civica Rx said it intends to produce and sell insulin for no more than $30 a vial and $55 for a box of five pen cartridges.\nAdvertisement\nIt said its insulin will be available for purchase as soon as early 2024 once the 140,000-square-foot manufacturing plant being built in Petersburg, Va., is completed.\n\"Diabetes is arguably America's most expensive chronic condition, and it is heartbreaking that millions of people are rationing their care and putting their lives at risk because they can no longer afford insulin,\" Dan Liljenquist, board chair of Civica and the founder of its non-profit model, said in a press release \"Through mission drive partnerships, we are choosing to create a new market reality where no one is forced to ration essential diabetes medications.\"\nAdvertisement\nExcess sulfur amino acids may raise cardiovascular disease, death risk\nMore than 37 million people in the United States have diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which said medical costs and lost work and wages for people diagnosed with diabetes total $327 billion a year.\nAbout 8 million Americans use insulin, and the CDC said medical costs for people with diabetes are twice those who do not.\nDespite the dependence on insulin and the fact it was discovered a little over 100 years ago by Canadian scientist Frederick Banting, its cost has steadily climbed.\nRELATED\nWine with meals may lower Type 2 diabetes risk, study finds\nAccording to GoodRx Healthinsulin users saw the average retail price of the drug climb by 54% between 2014 and 2019 though it did drop 5% amid the pandemic.\nAdvocates, members of congress and diabetics have derided the growing cost of insulin for years as they say it hurts the uninsured and the underinsured the most, some of whom have to choose between buying their life-saving insulin or covering living costs.\nby the CDC supports this assertion, finding that two-thirds of people with diabetes or hypertension who use insulin skip or delay taking their medication due to financial concerns.\nRELATED\nIn his State of the Union addressearlier this week, President Joe Biden said despite insulin costing about $10 a vial to produce drug companies charge up to 30 times that.\nAdvertisement\n\"Imagine what it's like to look at your child who needs insulin and have no idea how you're going to pay for it,\" he said \"[L]et's cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month so everyone can afford it.\"\nCivic said it will produce three insulin products, each of which will be made available in both vials and prefilled pens.\n\"More than 8 million Americans rely on insulin to live, but many can't afford to take the amount they need because of the historically high and prohibitive cost of insulin,\" said Marin VanTrieste, president and chief executive office of Civica Rx. \"We know that to really solve for the insulin cost and access challenges so many Americans face, we need a process -- from manufacturing to setting a transparent price -- that ultimately lowers the cost of the drug for those living with diabetes.\n\"In that spirit, we will ensure patients know where Civica's low-cost insulin is available,\" VanTrieste said.\nLatest Headlines", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive appointment", "event organization", "expanding geography" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Virtual dementia experience opens the mind, touches the heart. I wish I could tell you more about my experience with the Virtual Dementia Tour, but honestly, I dont remember as much as Id like.\nAnd thats not my lame attempt at cracking a joke.\nThe Virtual Dementia Tour, according to Georgia-based creator company Second Wind Dreams, is a hands-on experience created to provide critical insight to those caring for people with dementia. And by dementia, the programs creators are referring to all related disorders that are signified by loss of mental ability or memory, including Alzheimers disease.\nIt will be available at a health fair May 29 at Christwood Retirement Community.\nAfter experiencing the program last week at Christwood, I needed a few minutes to gather myself. A quick physical assessment told me my heart was beating a bit faster than normal, my vision was slightly blurred and I was sweating.\nThese things, of course, are typical signs of agitation.\nAgitated? Let me explain.\nI was asked during the experience to accomplish a few simple tasks. They were terribly easy things to do -- if youre a healthy person with all your faculties intact.\nBut the steps I took to climb into the world of a person living with dementia made even the most mundane things extremely difficult, if not impossible.\nMy senses were impaired through the use of patented equipment, and my perception of reality was changed. Im not allowed to divulge the tasks I was asked to complete, or to fully describe the equipment and its effects, but its safe to say I will never take for granted my ability to pour a cup of coffee in the morning.\nOr tie my shoes. Or adjust a clock. Or squeeze toothpaste onto my toothbrush.\nMore Information\nAbout the Virtual Dementia Tour\nThe Second Wind Dreams Virtual Dementia Tour was created by geriatric specialist P.K. Beville as part of her post-graduate work.\nThe patented program is a scientifically proven method that builds sensitivity and awareness in individuals caring for those with dementia by altering a participants physical and sensory abilities.\nAn estimated 2 million people in 20 countries have experienced the tour, which has been implemented in more than 1,000 health-care facilities, and is used in more than 200 colleges and universities, across the globe.\nFacts about dementia facts\nAn estimated 47 million people worldwide live with dementia, including more than 5 million people in the U.S.\nAlzheimers disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.\nSomeone in the U.S. develops Alzheimers every 67 seconds.\nSeven out of 10 people with dementia live at home, where family and friends provide 78 percent of their care.\nFifty percent to 70 percent of people with Alzheimers will exhibit agitated and sometimes violent behaviors.\nThere are 7,600 geriatricians in the U.S. (4.7 for every 10,000 seniors.) An estimated 21,000 geriatricians are needed to meet need.\nIn 2015, Alzheimers and other dementias cost the U.S. about $226 billion.\nSOURCE: Second Wind Dreams\nThe short amount of time I spent in the simulation had the effect its creators intended. It gave me what I believe is a strong sense of what its like to live in a world where the things most people consider routine are profoundly confusing.\nThe experience made me think about how utterly alone people with dementia must feel. When it takes minutes to do something that you once did in seconds, it has to be terrifying. The fact that people with dementia often cannot properly communicate that frustration is haunting to me.\nSenior Health and Fitness Day\nWhat: A wellness fair centering on brain health, aimed at seniors as well as caregivers, with speakers and vendor and resource booths\nWhere: Christwood Community Center, 100 Christwood Blvd., Covington. (Enter from Brewster Road.)\nWhen: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 29\nSpeakers: Topics include cognitive exercise; the Virtual Dementia Tour; day-stay senior care; caregiver support groups; and CyberCycle\nAs I wandered around alone and confused during the experience, I caught myself muttering aloud, addressing no one in particular. I laughed at my inabilities. I talked to cabinets and walls. At one point, I know I said, This is hard!\nIt most certainly was.\nBut all the while, I was keenly aware that in a few short minutes, I would return to normal. I could doff the equipment that confused my senses, that made me feel like a traveler stuck in a country where I saw the signs but couldnt read them.\nPeople living with dementia, however, cant press the off button. For them, the experience doesnt stop until they do.", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "new initiatives & programs", "ipo exit", "patent publication", "regulatory approval" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Civica partnership linking Mayo Clinic, leading hospitals, foundations, to sell generic insulin cheap. high prices leads to patients rationing\ntheir insulin.\n\"I call it the insulin crisis,\" said Van Trieste. \"...We saw that the marketplace is not going to fix itself.\"\nThe announcement marks the first Civica product directly available to consumers, and the first biologic manufactured by the nonprofit, which otherwise operates through a membership model specifically created by a coalition of interests to address shortages of common generic drugs sold for in-hospital use.\nSince 2018, Civica says it has sold its 1500 member hospitals low-cost versions of 60 generic injection drugs previously subject to shortages,\nto care for patients with COVID-19.\nADVERTISEMENT\n\"Mayo received its first shipment from Civica in 2020, when pandemic started,\" said Eric M. Tichy, who is vice chair of Pharmacy Formulary, Mayo Clinic Health System, and a member of the\nCivica Drug Selection Advisory Committee. \"I'd like to think the shortages of drugs during the pandemic would have been a lot worse had we not had Civica.\"\nParticipating Civica member hospitals pay a one-time fee in order to purchase from its line of low-cost generic hospital medications. The goal, Tichy said, is to turn insulin and generic drugs \"into a utility where the price is very stable and you don't have to think about it.\"\nVan Trieste calls the marketplace for older generic drugs prior to Civica \"a broken economic model, caused by a race to the bottom on price.\"\nIn contrast, he says, the insulin marketplace had no incentive to control prices.\n\"There's an oligopoly of insulin production between three manufacturers, three primary wholesalers, and three pharmacy benefit managers that distribute insulin through the supply chain,\" he said.\n\"There isn't real competition to keep prices low and the price keeps escalating. There's a debate on who is the culprit...At the end of the day, the patient doesn't care why prices are so high. The patient needs to afford their insulin.\"\n\"Insulin is a complex molecule,\" says Tichy. \"It really shows Civica going in a different direction than just the small molecules\" of previous products. \"It's a big expansion of their capabilities.\"\nTichy also calls the news a victory for access to care.\nADVERTISEMENT\n\"Diabetes is one of those diseases that really affects a lot of people that are economically disadvantaged. There's a disproportionate amount of diabetes in people who are African American and Hispanic population, so there's also a health equity aspect to it that's very important To me that's something where Civica is moving beyond helping just hospitals to helping the broader community.\"\nTichy says he doesn't anticipate negative market repercussions from the introduction of a cost-cutting nonprofit.\n\"My observation is that it improves market behavior, because other people in the industry have adopted some of things Civica is doing, like holding six months of safety stock in the supply channel...The industry had moved into a just-in-time process where the entire channel had three month supply.\"\nRelated Topics:", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "patent publication", "product launching & presentation", "event organization" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Family says a 12 000 thank you to children's ward at orthopaedic hospital. Published:\nLess than an hour ago\nA grateful family have presented a cheque for 12,000 to the dedicated childrens ward at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital following a six-month fundraising campaign.\nSubscribe to our daily newsletter!\nSign Up\nFrom left, play specialist Polly Brown, Suzanne Marsden, the Alice Ward and children's outpatients manager; Charlotte, Janine and Eleanor Bloor, and Victoria Sugden, RJAH Charity Representative\nJanine Bloor, mother of 14-year-old Eleanor, decided to fundraise for Alice Ward as a thank you for the care the team on the ward provided to her daughter following a T12 spinal cord injury meaning her vertebra was crushed due to extreme compression back in 2018.\nThe fundraising took place back in 2019 and Eleanor, Janine, with younger sister Charlotte ,visited the Oswestry-based hospital for a follow-up appointment, where they presented the cheque to the RJAH Charity and staff on Alice Ward.\nJanine said: The care that Eleanor received throughout her stay on Alice Ward was phenomenal. When she first came to the hospital, she could only wiggle her toes but 12 months on from her injury she learnt to walk again.\nThroughout Eleanors stay, her constant and biggest motivation was to be able to ride her horse, Clover, again.\nWe are all thrilled that we raised 12,000 for Alice Ward we cant believe the positivity, overwhelming kindness and support weve received from our friends, family and work colleagues. I must say a special thank you to JCB and Laboratorios Phergal for their donations.\nThe Bloor familys fundraising launched with an open day at their company J.A. Bloor Agricultural Services, which raised over 1,600, and concluded with a sponsored family walk in 2019 where over 300 people took part.\nSuzanne Marsden, Alice Ward and childrens outpatients manager, said: Im overwhelmed and extremely appreciative to the Bloor family for the unbelievable amount of money theyve donated to us.\nWeve already purchased some items for the ward including board games, virtual reality headsets for the children before theatre and during X-rays, and specialist wheelchairs and cushions for children with spinal injuries.\nVictoria Sugden, RJAH charity representative, said: Id like to say thank you to Janine, the whole Bloor family and everyone who supported their fundraising efforts the money raised will make a real difference to the experience children and young adults have on Alice Ward.\nWe have also reserved some of the funds to kickstart another project on Alice Ward, which is very exciting, and we will be able to share more about this shortly.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "partnerships & alliances", "regulatory approval", "hiring" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Work under way at Midlands Air Ambulance's Cosford base. A NEW low-alcoholic brew has been launched to help raise funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.\nBirmingham Brewing Company has created the new brew to complement charity's festive gift range.\nThe Stirchley based brewery is rolling out the barrel and pulling out all the hops to launch the new Sober Brummie in time for Christmas to help people stay sober and help raise funds for the lifesaving charity which races to the aid of critically ill and injured patients across the Midlands.\nSuitable for vegans and gluten free, the beverage has been brewed with the charitys core purpose in mind as people can enjoy a drink and still drive.\nThe brewery is donating five per cent of each sale to support Midlands Air Ambulance Charitys critical care aircrew and vital work this Christmas.\nPam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: Its thanks to local businesses showing their support that we are able to continue funding lifesaving missions across the Midlands.\nWe are excited to try the Sober Brummie brew from Birmingham Brewing Company, even more so, knowing that a percentage of the sales will support our rapid response pre-hospital emergency service.\nPaul Harwood, owner and founder of Birmingham Brewing Company, added: After four years in development, were finally ready to take off with our low-alcohol Brummie beer.\nIn contrast to most low and non-alcohol beers our 0.5 per cent ABV brew is brewed in a traditional way to retain its flavour, and like all our other beers, it is gluten free and vegan.\nThere are always times when we need to be a Sober Brummie and we hope this is enjoyed by all.\n\"We are delighted to partner with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity on this low alcohol brew, as it has a perfect synergy with the charitys mission.\nPeople can buy the new festive drink via website birminghambrewingcompany.co.uk/product-page/sober-brummieMAA.\nTo shop the rest of Midlands Air Ambulance Charitys festive merchandise visit midlandsairambulance.com/shop/festive/c-24/c-73.", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "foundation", "executive appointment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Traveling Nurses Fill Gaps as Hospitals Feel Staffing Pinch. Print\nNever before have nurses been more needed than in the age of COVID-19. Hospitals are feeling the pinch of being short staffed but staffing companies are coming to their rescue.\nOne such company is Medical Solutions based in in Omaha, Nebraska, but which has offices all over the United States. It supplies hospitals with nurses and other health professionals such as respiratory therapists.\nIt all comes down to supply and demand, said Holly Bass, vice president of recruiting for Medical Solutions, who is based in Jacksonville, Florida.\nThe supply hasnt changed, she said. There is a very large portion of baby boomer nurses who are retiring. The demand will always be there.\nTraveling nurses is not a new concept; it began back in the 1970s, she said. There is always going to be need in areas like the emergency room and intensive care units.\nThere are about 50,000 traveling nurses nationwide, she said. They come from all walks of life and from different areas of the country and have different specialties.\nBass explained that the typical traveling nurse will take an assignment for 13 weeks and, depending on their personal goals or needs, will opt to extend their contract or will move on to another area. She said the profile of a traveling nurse will vary, but mostly they are single people who like to travel to see new places and meet new people.\nNot all traveling nurses perform the same duties and as such salaries will differ. For instance, a travel nurse practitioner is the highest paid, with an average annual salary of $107,540 per year, while a travel licensed practical nurse may earn less than half that, with an average salary of $47,980 per year.\nBenefits to hospitals are cost effectiveness and time, Bass said. She explained that hospital human resource departments could save time because the nurse is an employee of a staffing agency, and the agency handles HR paperwork and payroll.\nPlus, charge nurses are sometimes responsible for hiring other nurses, she said. This helps them go on with their jobs of caring for patients instead of going through stacks of applications and resumes.\nBenefits of Being a Traveling Nurse\nAside from the salaries, travel nurses may receive a package including several other benefits that provide additional value. These include but are not limited to insurance coverage, retirement (401K) options and tax-free travel reimbursement.\nDepending on the agency some will offer sign-on, completion, and retention bonuses. A sign-on bonus is provided when you agree to an assignment, a completion bonus is provided when the assignment is over, and a retention bonus may be provided to entice you to continue to take assignments through a particular company.\nThere are also free housing or housing stipends depending on the agency. These may include only housing during long-term assignments, but in some cases, could also include an apartment in the city of your primary residence.\nBecause travel nurses must be licensed in order to practice in all 50 states, their employers will provide them with access to free continuing education (CEUs) to help ensure they have met their licensure requirements.\nIf a nurse does not have the time to sit down and research all their options, they can elect to contact someone who does that for them.\nAngela Hancock, spokesperson for RNVIP, based in Naples, Florida, said it her company provides nurses with direct access to travel nurse employment companies. She explained that her company will do all the research for the nurse because they simply do not have the time to sit down on a computer and do research.\nWe compile all of the research for them, she said. They then come to us and we present them with all of the information that will answer their questions so they can make a decision on what is the right fit for them.\nHancock also agreed that there is no shortage of nurses, but the demand is high, she said.\nLicensed vocational nurse Jelisa Stewart prepares a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for farmworkers at a County of Santa Clara mobile vaccination clinic at Monterey Mushrooms in Morgan Hill, Calif., on March 3, 2021. (Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)\nAccording to Hancock the pandemic has caused a high demand, not just for nurses she said but allied therapy as well.\nWhen you think about it, COVID affects the lungs, she said. Thats where the allied therapists come in and we are seeing a trend in demand in these areas.\nJennifer Gross, an RN at a Charlotte County, Florida, hospice facility that she did not wish to name, said that she has seen several trends in nursing for some time, but three stand out to her.\nOne of those includes hospitals looking at ways to cut their budgets.\nBefore the pandemic hospitals were looking at ways to save money so they designed early retirement packages to the baby boomer, and a lot of them took them up on it, Gross said.\nShe said that some hospitals just cant compete with the salaries of the travel nurse industry.\nThey work 13 weeks and make in 13 weeks what they could make in six months to a year, she said. When their contract is up they take a month off before taking the next assignment.\nSome hospitals are terminating their nurses as well as other personnel if they do not want to get vaccinated for COVID-19.\nIf a nurse tells you they do not want the shot, she said, you had better listen to them. We do not know what the implications are going to be years down the road.\nGross said that if her facility requires her to get the shot she may have to look at something else as she said she wont stray from her principles.\nSouth Florida Feeling the Pinch\nA webinar was conducted in May between health care providers who are seeing staffing shortages.\nTo begin with, the stress of working in health care for the past 15 or 20 years has become quite untenable, Dr. Andrew Grose, an orthopedic Surgeon said. The pandemic is just the spark on an already dry haystack.\nHe went on to say that the combination of on-the-job stress and the added burden of the COVID-19 pandemic have been overwhelming and are pushing nurses either out of Florida to a better work environment, more lucrative opportunities, or out of the profession entirely.\nRichard Doss, senior vice president of LifeWings Peak Performance, a company that specializes in safety practices for hospitals and other medical facilities, estimated that 300 to 500 nurses and longtime trained staff have been lost to other states.\nThere are massive incentives for these health care professionals to leave, Doss said. Other states are preying on South Florida and getting nurses, lab workers, and respiratory therapists to relocate for three months work for triple pay, and take the rest of the year off.\nGrose agreed that on-the-job stress and competitive pay explain a few reasons why facilities across the county are losing nurses, but said there is also a communication disconnect between frontline workers and administration.\nThe frontline workers know a lot about the work and", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "m&a", "article publication", "product updates", "alliance & partnership" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Harborough district village gets its first ever dental practice. Friday, 19th March 2021, 10:39 am\nUpdated\nFriday, 19th March 2021, 10:40 am\nFrom left to right, Dr Carmen Jimenez, Grant Howard (Burgis & Bullock) and Harry Leak.\nA dentist wife and her husband have opened a new dental practice in Husbands Bosworth the first ever in the village.\nDr Carmen Jimenez has thrown open the doors to the private practice on the High Street of the flourishing village near Market Harborough.\nAnd her husband Harry Leak has developed the property through his company KIO Developments.\nFrom left to right, Dr Carmen Jimenez, Harry Leak and Grant Howard (Burgis & Bullock).\nThe new dental surgery will serve the fast-growing local catchment area of over 4,000 people.\nThrilled Carmen, whos expecting their second child in May, said: There is a great community feeling here in the village and that has only grown with the support everyone has shown each other during the pandemic.\nOur family is part of that community and we believe this new surgery will be a valuable resource to other people living in and around Husbands Bosworth.\nShe added: To open my own practice has always been my goal as my dad had a practice on the ground floor of my house when I was growing up.\nIt will also be walking distance from home and make it easier for me to spend time with my young family, which is set to grow in May!\nFoxbury Dental will create jobs in the village with two nurses, a receptionist, a second and third dentist and a hygienist.\nThe nearest surgery to Husbands Bosworth previously was eight miles away in Lutterworth.\nThe new dental health hub is part of a bigger development on the high street by KIO Developments.\nThe firm has also bought two other properties and will be creating five new flats and renovating an existing cottage.\nHarry said: We have been living here for a few years now and identified there was an opportunity to open a practice.\nI set up KIO Developments and started looking to acquire premises. We went on to buy three properties on the high street and will be creating new homes for the village too.\nHe added: There will be two flats above the practice.\nThen two doors down we bought another two buildings, one to be converted to three flats and other to be turned into a two-bed cottage.\nWe are glad to be playing our part in the development of the village.\"\nAs they prepared to open the practice they took expert advice from leading accountancy firm Burgis & Bullock - and Harry will continue to work closely with them as KIO Developments carries on growing.\nMost Popular", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "company description", "investment in public company", "clinical trial sponsorship" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cannabis Company On The Move: Michigan's C3 Industries Raises $25M On Heels Of $40M In Series Of Private Rounds. License\nAnn Arbor-based cannabis company C3 Industries announced Friday the close of a substantially oversubscribed $25 million capital raise.\nFounded by two brothers Ankur and Vishal Rungta and their childhood friend, Joel Ruggiero, C3 had previously raised more than $40 million in a series of private rounds.\nThe expansion of C3 Industries, which includes its cultivation and processing facilities in Michigan and Oregon, its product brand Cloud Cover Cannabis and its High Profile retail network, has been completely organic thus far, without any M&A.\nThe under-the-radar company will use the additional funding to expand its footprint in its existing markets (Michigan, Oregon, Missouri, and soon Massachusetts), to enter new states both organically and through strategic and pragmatic M&A,and to invest in its team and infrastructure as it continues to scale. By 2022, C3 plans to have roughly 250,000 sq. ft. of cultivation space and 25 retail locations.\nWe're thrilled to watch the expansion of C3 take place and the support and interest we've received from investors allows us the opportunity for strategic additions to our capital stack, Vishal Rungta, president and CFO of C3 Industries, told Benzinga. Our operations remained efficient throughout the pandemic, with zero loss of assets or team members, and we remain well structured in our plans for expansion. We look forward to continued growth and opportunities as cannabis legalization continues to evolve.\"\nChetan Gulati, partner of Navy Capital, one of the companys investors, added, We're delighted to watch C3 Industries continue on its path to expansion and are pleased to support what we think is one of the best management teams in the industry. We see overwhelming opportunity on the horizon for C3 and look forward to watching their rising success as additional markets open up in the industry.\nMs contenido sobre cannabisen Espaol en El Planteo.\nFor the latest in financial news, exclusive stories, memes follow\nBenzinga\non Twitter Facebook& Instagram For the best interviews, stock market talk & videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel\n2021 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.\nPosted-In:", "answer groups": [ "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [ "article publication", "expanding geography", "participation in an event", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Interface Appoints Laurel M. Hurd as Chief Executive Officer. ,\nMarch 7, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Interface, Inc. (Nasdaq: TILE), a worldwide commercial flooring company and global leader in sustainability, today announced it has appointed\nLaurel M. Hurd\nas President and Chief Executive Officer, effective\nApril 18, 2022\n. She will lead Interface on its next phase of growth, while also delivering on its mission to become a carbon negative enterprise by 2040. Hurd will succeed\nDaniel T. Hendrix\n, who has served a second stint in the CEO role since\nJanuary 2020\n. Hendrix will continue his 39-year tenure with the company remaining as Chairman of the Board of Directors.\nHurd is a results-driven leader who brings to Interface 30 years of sales management, product development, and brand stewardship experience in both the consumer-packaged goods and the consumer durables sectors. As Segment President of Learning and Development at Newell Brands, Hurd oversaw the company's largest segment representing more than\n$3 billion\nin revenue in 2021, or more than a quarter of Newell's overall revenue, and approximately\n$600 million\nof operating profit. She has a proven track record of driving profitable growth through innovation and global expansion, and has been lauded by her teams and colleagues as a passionate and inspirational leader.\n\"Laurel has had great success building new market and growth opportunities for some of Newell's most well-known brands. We're excited to have her strategic mindset and her passion for design and sustainability coming to Interface to accelerate our growth,\" said Hendrix. \"In addition to a focus on results, she is a well-respected and highly effective leader known for developing top talent and building high-performing teams, all while driving a customer-centered philosophy that helps to win in the marketplace. We are delighted to have attracted such coveted leadership talent to Interface to propel us forward. I'm confident that with Laurel at the helm, we have the company, our people, our customers, and our brands in the right hands.\"\n\"Interface is a special company. I'm drawn by its powerful purpose and honored to step into the CEO position to build on the company's foundation as a leader in design, innovation, and sustainability,\" said Hurd. \"Interface has a strong culture and reputation among business and sustainability leaders, the architect and design community, and with its employees. I see amazing potential to further extend the company's impact by continuing to deliver on its sustainability mission and purpose. I'm grateful for the opportunity to build upon Dan's unwavering dedication and successful stewardship over the past four decades, particularly through the challenging dynamics of the past two years. I intend to take us forward to capitalize on the re-emergence of the commercial interiors market and to continue to take share globally as we successfully diversify across segments and expand our mix of products.\"\nHurd continued, \"I'm incredibly optimistic about the potential for future growth and market leadership at Interface. I believe the company has the perfect combination of innovation, passion, and unique expertise to deliver on promises to clients globally. I'm proud to join Interface to lead this incredible team on the next phase of our journey.\"\nHurd has spent the majority of her career at Newell Brands. In her most recent role as head of the Learning and Development segment, she led double-digit growth of the segment and was responsible for market share expansion for the Writing category in the U.S.,\nCanada\n, the U.K., and\nAustralia\n. She oversaw a global supply chain including eight manufacturing plants in seven countries. Hurd also was recently appointed as an independent director of the board of directors of THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO), where she serves on the audit and compensation committees.\nChris Kennedy\n, CEO selection committee member and Lead Independent Director of the Interface Board, said: \"Laurel is an impressive operational leader, bringing to Interface her experience with global P&L responsibility in brand-oriented consumer spaces and a strong track record of developing and leading diverse, inclusive teams at Newell Brands. I knew the founders of Interface, and I'm convinced Laurel will extend the legacy of sustainability, innovation, great design, a love for customers, and an appreciation of the team that is here, which has been the hallmark of Interface's leadership.\"\nAbout Interface\nInterface, Inc. is a global flooring company specializing in carbon neutral carpet tile and resilient flooring, including luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and nora® rubber flooring. We help our customers create high-performance interior spaces that support well-being, productivity, and creativity, as well as the sustainability of the planet. Our mission, Climate Take Back, invites you to join us as we commit to operating in a way that is restorative to the planet and creates a climate fit for life.\nLearn more about Interface at interface.comand blog.interface.com our nora brand at nora.com our FLOR® brand at FLOR.com and our Carbon Neutral Floors program at interface.com/carbonneutral Learn more about our carbon negative products at interface.com/carbonnegative\nFollow us on Twitter YouTube Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Instagram and Vimeo\nSafe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995\n:\nExcept for historical information contained herein, the other matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as \"may,\" \"expect,\" \"forecast,\" \"anticipate,\" \"intend,\" \"plan,\" \"believe,\" \"could,\" \"should,\" \"goal,\" \"aim,\" \"objective,\" \"seek,\" \"project,\" \"estimate,\" \"target,\" \"will\" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including but not limited to the risks under the following subheadings in \"Risk Factors\" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended\nJanuary 2, 2022\n: \"The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our ability to operate, our ability to keep employees safe from the pandemic, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, capital investments, our near term and long term ability to stay in compliance with debt covenants under our Syndicated Credit Facility and Senior Notes, our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness, and our ability to obtain financing in capital markets\"; \"Sales of our principal products have been and may continue to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, adverse economic cycles, and effects in the new construction market and renovation market\"; \"Our earnings could be adversely affected by non-cash adjustments to goodwill, when a test of goodwill assets indicates a material impairment of those assets\"; \"Our substantial international operations are subject to various political, economic and other", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "patent publication", "event organization" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "With the First Shipment of Insulin Russia Becomes the Only Supplier to Venezuela. Venezuela\nThe Russian pharmaceutical company Geropharm has sent its first insulin shipment to Venezuela. Insulin is a crucial hormone for people suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus and who cannot survive without its administration. US sanctions against Venezuela have closed the door to access to traditional suppliers causing incredible pain to the Venezuelan population\nIn this sense, Geropharm becomes the only provider of this vital drug in this country. In the near future, genetically modified insulin of short and medium duration in bottles will be available to patients across the country, according to the Russian Ministry of Industry and Commerce.\nRELATED CONTENT: Meddling in Venezuela US Warns Russia not to Meddle in US 2020 Elections (Lavrov Pompeo Meeting)\nUp to 200,000 units of insulin exported to Venezuela will be sufficient to fully meet the needs of more than 166,000 people with diabetes mellitus for a month. In the years 2019-2020, Geropharm will deliver more than five million product units to the country. Shipments will be made monthly. This volume will allow the drug to be supplied to more than 400,000 Venezuelans.\nAccording to the Minister of Industry and Commerce of Russia, Dens Mnturov, the implementation of this project will be an important step in the development of cooperation between Russia and Venezuela in the humanitarian field, as well as an important step in the expansion of non-energy exports.\nIn the last year, we have made significant progress in this regard in Cuba, Kazakhstan and Belarus. In the near future, Geropharm plans to sign several more agreements with foreign partners, said Geropharm CEO Piotr Rodinov.", "answer groups": [ "service & product providing" ], "distractor groups": [ "product launching & presentation", "new initiatives & programs", "partnerships & alliances", "support & philanthropy" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Glazer Capital LLC Sells 72 569 Shares of Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC). Share on Stocktwits\nGlazer Capital LLC trimmed its holdings in Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC) by 41.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 103,816 shares of the companys stock after selling 72,569 shares during the quarter. Glazer Capital LLC owned 0.88% of Edoc Acquisition worth $1,043,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.\nSeveral other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Yakira Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Edoc Acquisition by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Yakira Capital Management Inc. now owns 394,321 shares of the companys stock worth $3,967,000 after acquiring an additional 2,293 shares during the last quarter. Radcliffe Capital Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Edoc Acquisition by 12.2% in the 1st quarter. Radcliffe Capital Management L.P. now owns 126,897 shares of the companys stock worth $1,267,000 after acquiring an additional 13,749 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Edoc Acquisition by 7.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 260,491 shares of the companys stock worth $2,626,000 after acquiring an additional 18,100 shares during the last quarter. Peddock Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Edoc Acquisition in the 1st quarter worth approximately $191,000. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Edoc Acquisition in the 1st quarter worth approximately $257,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.12% of the companys stock.\nGet\nEdoc Acquisition\nalerts:\nShares of ADOCopened at $10.15 on Friday. Edoc Acquisition Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $9.85 and a fifty-two week high of $10.37. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $10.10 and a 200-day moving average price of $10.07.\nEdoc Acquisition Profile\nEdoc Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company. The company intends to focus on businesses primarily operating in the health care and health care provider space in North America and the Asia-Pacific. Edoc Acquisition Corp. was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Victor, New York.\nFeatured Article:\nWhat is a stock portfolio tracker?\nWant to see what other hedge funds are holding ADOC? Visit HoldingsChannel.comto get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC).\nReceive News & Ratings for Edoc Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edoc Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter", "answer groups": [ "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment", "patent publication", "article publication", "ipo exit" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "FirEyes agreement to sell the FireEye products to STG. The global biometrics trends review\nThe global biometrics market has been recently developing rapidly, and this trend will continue shortly. If in 2018 its volume was estimated at $23.4 billion, according to the forecast of the analytical company BCC Research, the market size may increase to $71.6 billion with an average annual growth rate of 23.2 % by 2024.Fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, iris, vein, and voice technologies are expected to be implemented at the fastest pace. The analysis is based on the revenue indicators of key players depending on segments, including hardware, software, and integration.Biometric electronic documentsAnother analytical Agency, Acuity Research, estimates that the number of biometric electronic IDs will increase by about 3.5 billion electronic documents in the world. Moreover, more than half of the UN member States issue biometric passports.Government and private contracts of Canada, the United States, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Hungary, Bangladesh, Senegal, and other countries are examples of implementation of programs for the transition to biometric electronic documents. Government organisations in various countries believe that biometrics is one of the most effective ways to identify refugees and those who cross the border. Now there are a lot of projects which are based on biometric technology.Biometric identification systemPerhaps one of the most ambitious is the Aadhaar project being implemented in IndiaPerhaps one of the most ambitious is the Aadhaar project being implemented in India. It is a biometric identification system that contains the data of more than a billion people. The database contains about 10 billion fingerprint templates, two billion iris templates, and a billion photos.There is another ambitious project at the Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where RecFaces company has implemented a passenger facial identification ready-made solution, that helps the security guards to receive notifications about airport visitors in just a few seconds and increase the efficiency of security services at least by 30%. The introduction of biometric identification of passengers aimed at increasing the level of airport security, as well as quickly obtaining information about the detection of wanted persons, stored in the long-term archive.Automated control gatesAs another example, face match is used at border checks to compare the portrait on a digitised biometric passport with the holder's face. In 2017, Thales company was responsible for supplying the new automated control gates for the system of Automated Fast Track Crossing at External Borders at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.This solution has been devised to facilitate evolution from fingerprint recognition to facial recognitionThis solution has been devised to facilitate evolution from fingerprint recognition to facial recognition during. Governmental systems, SmartCity, airports projects using identification technologies day by day become our reality and influence the growth of the biometrics market globally. Countries are studying the experience of each other and adopting it.Paperless payment technologiesThe global market of biometrics will shift all industries, starting from the transportation facilities especially airports, where a transition from traditional VMS and ACS to paperless biometric self-Boarding systems will be carried out.Sports facilities will see the development of paperless payment technologies at cash desks, and the banking sector the payment systems with remote customer identification. HoReCa will transfer from staff time tracking systems to biometric payment systems, biometric checkin systems and the use of biometric identifiers. To sum up there are two most significant drivers of this growth are surveillance in the public sector and numerous other applications in diverse market segments.\nWhich security technologies will be useful in a post-pandemic world?\nIn the past few weeks, the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel has brightened, providing new levels of hope that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. Dare we now consider what life will be like after the pandemic is over? Considering the possible impact on our industry, we asked this weeks Expert Panel Roundtable: Which security technologies will be most useful in a post-pandemic world?\nHow can security systems benefit the larger enterprise?\nSecurity systems are vital to any company. Nowadays, however, they can also provide additional benefits to any enterprise beyond protecting people, assets and facilities. Specifically, systems that were previously focused on security can now be leveraged in new ways to benefit the broader enterprise. When this happens, the security department transitions from a cost centre to a repository of data that can benefit the whole company, and even contribute to the bottom line. We asked this weeks Expert Panel Roundtable: How can security systems benefit the larger mission of an enterprise?\nFeatured white papers", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive appointment", "ipo exit", "participation in an event", "support & philanthropy" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "New Aegis Living community pilots wellness program, incorporates nature into design. Share by Email\nPrint\nAegis Livings newest assisted living and memory care community opens today in Bellevue, WA, with a design that incorporates components of nature and with the pilot-testing of a wellness program for eventual rollout to the companys 32 other communities.\nCalling Aegis Living Bellevue Overlake an oasis in the city, Aegis Living founder, CEO and Chairman Dwayne Clark said the communitys opening comes as the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated just how important home is.\nThe community 122 units in a 106,000-square-foot building in the companys headquarters city is the first property that Aegis Living has designed to fully focus on biophilia and peoples innate connection to nature.\nIts a topic about which Clark is passionate.\nWe dont do enough in senior housing to get people connected back to nature. We put people in rooms, and they play bingo and they go to birthday parties, but theyre in the confines of an artificial environment, he told McKnights Senior Living last year as planning for the community was underway. What were trying to do is think, What can we do to get people back in nature? What can we do to get people connected to the Earth? What can we do to improve peoples immune systems? We think thats a real big idea.\n| See: Aegis Living sees personalized medicine as the future, CEO says |\nNature-oriented features of Bellevue Overlake include a glass solarium with natural wood, six-foot palm trees, and a waterfall and koi pond in the buildings lobby. Throughout the community, biophilic design elements include flooring, furnishings and fixtures.\nThis wall is adorned with living plants.\nClark said last year that hospitals have found that biophilia improves peoples immune systems. They originally discovered this by putting people, post-op, in rooms that overlook brick walls and other people in rooms that overlook gardens, he said. And they found that the people whose rooms overlooked the gardens were healing twice as fast as the people whose rooms overlooked the brick wall.\nOther features of Bellevue Overlake include indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, a living room, a juice bar, two lounges, a movie theater and activity center, a dining room with a private dining room option, and a salon and barber shop. A top floor lounge offers views of the city and Mount Rainier.\nWellness program tested\nThe senior living community also is pilot-testing a new wellness program designed to take a proactive approach to physical, emotional and mental wellness, including sleep, nutrition, movement, cognitive wellness and mindfulness.\nAegis Living plans to use the experience to help mold what will one day be a company-wide wellness program. A second pilot project is being planned for the companys Kirkland Waterfront community set to open this summer.\nI spend one to two hours a day studying it, Clark said last year about the companys plans to make personalized medicine a cornerstone of future offerings.\nI spent the last five and a half years doing research and study and going to meetings and conferences, and even putting myself in my own kind of personalized health experiments, to create a book that came out this fall called 30 Summers More: Adding Time Back to Your Aging Clock. It has become a bestseller on Amazon, he said at the time. And what I discovered during this journey was, there are so many things that we can do to improve the lives of our residents.\nBellevue Overlake residents will have access to personalized wellness programming based on their health priorities. Another feature of the community is a wellness corridor with space for massages, a balance studio, and a saltwater pool under a canopy of greenery.\nIf you think about it, no one grows up saying, Man, I cant wait to go into assisted living. Its my dream in life. Right?, Clark said in 2020. But if you invent a company or a concept that says, Hey, not only do I think Im going to improve the quality of your life as you age, but I think I can extend your life expectancy through some very well-thought-out methodologies and science and so on, thats significant. Thats really significant. Were not at that point yet, but I think we have that capability.\nRelated Articles\nThink you're protected by an arbitration agreement? You may be mistaken\nNews\nBill broadening scope of assisted living supported by industry advocates\nNews\nMore than 201,000 in long-term care have died from COVID, but just how many more?\nBy\nIs this the best they can do?\nBy\nA key to making employees want to stay\nBy", "answer groups": [ "company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "foundation", "new initiatives & programs", "support & philanthropy" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Medication management solution Medisafe raises $30M. https://vator.tv/n/51de\nThe company works with pharma companies to increase medication adherence\nMedication adherence is a big problem, and a bigger one that most people likely think, with roughly half of peoplenot taking their medications as prescribed. Thatleads to 125,000 annual deaths which were otherwise preventable, and about $300 billion in additional healthcare costs.\nOmri Shor had his own experience with this when it came to his own father, which is what led him to to co-found Medisafe a medication management solution thatannounced that it raised $30 million in a Series C funding round on Thursday.\n\"In 2012, we faced a family health emergency. Due to a miscommunication about the medication schedule, my father, a diabetic, accidentally took an extra dose of insulin. It was a mistake which put his life in grave danger. My brother and co-founder, Rotem, and I soon discovered that his experience was far from uncommon,\" he told me.\n\"We realized that such mistakes in medication management have created a global health crisis in need of a solution. We decided to build that solution and created Medisafe to help patients manage complex prescription schedules.\"\nFounded in 2012, the Boston-based Medisafe works withmore than a dozen top pharma organizations, both large and medium sized, in the US and across the globe, helping them create personalized technology so that people can better manage their medications. The companies, in turn, get insight into the patient's daily behavior.\n\"The solutions we co-create with our partners free patients from the stress of managing complicated medications, enabling them to lead healthier, safer, and fuller lives,\" said Shor.\n\"We work alongside pharma teams to create both guided patient journeys for those on specific pharma medications, as well as more comprehensive digital drug companions that provide a more immersive experience within our digital platform.\"\nThere are now more than 7 million users on Medisafe to, and the company is seeing steady year-over-year growth, especially now because of COVID, whichhas demonstrated the value in supporting patients digitally through virtual care and leveraging data-driven insights.\nMedisafe's funding round as led by Sanofi Ventures and ALIVE Israel HealthTech Fund. Leumi Partners, Menorah Mivtachim and Consensus Business Group, along with previous investors Pitango Ventures, 7Wire Ventures, Merck Ventures, Octopus Ventures, lool HealthTech, Triventures and Ourcrowd, also participated.\nThe company says it plans to use the new funding to further expand its end-to-end solutions supporting patients managing medications and accelerate revenues growth. That means adding additional resources to its team to help support growth initiatives, as well as making some strategic investments that will further enhance its capabilities in terms of function, interconnectivity, and new tools.\nThis capital will also allow used to accelerate the launch of an advanced digital first patient experience.\nAlong with the funding announcement, it was also revealed that the company has added two new members to its board of directors: Cris De Luca, Global Head, Digital Investments at Sanofi Ventures and David Klein, Co-Founder, Managing Partner ALIVE Israel HealthTech\n\"Both Cris and David bring a unique perspective to our organization, with extensive experience in helping early-stage companies transform their technologies to become the gold standard in the industry. Im excited to have both of them as part of our board and helping to execute on our long-term vision.\"\nIn the last few years, Shor said, there has been an explosion of growth in the healthtech space, both vertically and horizontally. There has also been more segmentation of healthtech at the same time, as more systems are looking to achieve greater interconnectivity. His expectation, then, is that there is going to be even more collaboration among healthtech, health systems, and payers to create a more connected patient experience.\n\"Recent moves by Amazon and GoodRx show that there is still a wide-open market to transform medication management, and I see Medisafe as a transformative platform that can help to close the gaps in the ecosystem. We offer a digital entity that makes the medication journey more personal, more connected, more engaging, and more supportive to patients daily lives,\" Shor told me.\n\"Our vision has always been around helping patients manage medication therapies and the journey that extends beyond diagnosis. I would like to see the potential for Medisafe to be deployed at the time a physician writes a prescription and becomes a complement to all specialty medications.\"", "answer groups": [ "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [ "event organization", "expanding geography" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Radiant Sponsors Vehicle Displays & Interfaces Detroit and Demonstrates Head-Up Display Test Solutions. Y61\n), which support inspection across larger fields of view and depths of field with increased speed and precision. These improvements are key for ensuring visual quality of new technologies like augmented reality HUD (AR HUD), large digital dashboard displays, and displays incorporating high-resolution OLED, mini-, and microLED.\nFrom table #45 at the Vehicle Displays exhibit, Radiant will give demonstrations of its ProMetric Imaging Photometers and Colorimetersand software, led by the companys dedicated automotive team. Engineered to quantify values of light according to CIE functions, ProMetric systems are scientific measurement solutions that emulate standard human visual perception for the most accurate assessment of display brightness and color. ProMetric solutions are adapted to qualify unique display types by applying a range of software packages.\nAt Vehicle Displays, the Radiant team will demonstrate its ProMetric Y Imaging Photometer with TT-HUDsoftware package, updated with new analysis calculations and inspection parameters for evaluating ghosting and distortion according to OEM test specifications. Geometric defects like these are a growing concern as HUDs become larger and more integrated with windshield glass. Beyond any potential defects caused by the HUD projection system, deformations in glass or issues within windshield layers can cause virtual images to appear warped or duplicated. HUD systems like AR HUDs that require larger display areas are impacted more by glass quality issues and need measurement systems that address these defects. Radiant continues to work directly with automakers and suppliers to understand requirements for testing HUDs and HUD glass to optimize its TT-HUD platform. Manufacturers who apply TT-HUD with imaging and electronic lenses from Radiant are already equipped to effectively measure large fields of view and variable-distance virtual images typical of AR HUDs. Further, Radiants HUD measurement solution can be integrated with robotics and fixtures, utilizing built-in API for fully automated, multi-point testing within the HUD eyebox.\nA second product demonstration at Vehicle Displays will feature Radiants TrueTest Softwaremeasuring a freeform (non-rectangular) display. Flexible and formable display technologies have allowed automakers to take advantage new spaces inside the vehicle for bespoke display designs. This has led to a range of shapes and sizes, breaking the mold of the traditional rectangular displays that most measurement equipment is developed to evaluate. RIDA (register inside display area) is a feature of TrueTest that is used to register shapes such as curves and stadium shapes that are common in the latest freeform displays. Precise registration ensures accurate uniformity, contrast, mura, and other evaluations that rely on the comparison of values across the active area of the display.\nComplimentary registration for the Vehicle Displays & Interfaces live exhibit is available using Radiant Guest Code HbHrbdz. For more information or to register, visit http://www.vehicledisplay.org Learn more about Radiant Vision Systems at table #45 at the exhibit or online at http://www.RadiantVisionSystems.com\nAbout Radiant Vision Systems\nRadiant Vision Systems works with world-class brands and manufacturers to deliver creative visual inspection solutions that improve quality, reduce costs, and increase customer satisfaction. Radiants legacy of technology innovation in photometric imaging and worldwide install base date back more than 25 years and address applications from consumer electronics to automotive manufacturing. Radiant Vision Systems product lines include TrueTest automated visual inspection software for quality control, and ProMetric imaging colorimeters, photometers, and light source measurement systems. Radiant is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, with strategic offices in California, Michigan, China, South Korea, and Vietnam. Radiant has been a part of Konica Minoltas Sensing Business Unit since August 2015. For more information, visit http://www.RadiantVisionSystems.com\nShare article on social media or email:\nView article via:", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "foundation", "company description", "participation in an event", "event organization" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Groups applaud feds for targeting cockfighting in Alabama. William Thornton | wthornton@al.com\nTwo animal welfare groups are applauding action by the federal government against what they say are suspected cockfighting operations in Alabama.\nRepresentatives of Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) in a virtual news conference today lauded federal law enforcement authorities for a series of recent actions against alleged cockfighting operations in Alabama, including a suspected fighting pit near two game fowl farms in Chilton County.\nWayne Pacelle, president of AWA, said he hopes the action is the first of many.\nThis is not something that should be tolerated in our society, Pacelle said. I hope this is a turning point in Alabama, and across the nation, and we can really start to see major action against cockfighting and drive people out of the business. Theyve been acting with impunity.\nIn June, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson issued a restraining order through Aug. 13 covering about 2,400 roosters, hens, young chickens, and unhatched chickens at three locations in Chilton County.\nAccording to the document requesting the restraining order, U.S. Department of Agriculture investigators are looking into the activities of three members of a Chilton County family they believe are involved in cockfighting and gambling operations which violate the Federal Animal Welfare Act. The order seeks to restrain the breeding population, saying that the chickens were found during the execution of a search warrant on June 21. The documents argue the birds should be restrained in place, as moving them and isolating them would be cruel.\nAccording to the 10-page document requesting the restraining order, investigators say one of the men promoted the business on social media for selling birds and cockfighting implements, such as knives and boots. The document also alleges one of the men bragged in an audio message, with the sound of roosters crowing in the background, that he got 50 percent of any money won with my roosters. He later bragged in social media messages of having large pots totaling $125,000 and $200,000 in his house, according to the documents.\nThe family has not been formally charged with anything related to animal fighting. An attorney representing the family did not immediately respond to inquiries.\nPacelle said Alabama has been a long-time hotbed of cockfighting, but the trail leading to the operation began in Guam, a U.S. territory in the western Pacific. Pacelle said records showed 60 people in the U.S. had been responsible for shipping fighting birds through the U.S. Mail there.\nAlabama was one of the top five shippers, he said. We found a whole set of operators in Alabama who were engaging in illegal animal fighting activities.\nMarty Irby, executive director of Animal Wellness Action, said the animal welfare groups have stayed focused on suspected cockfighting operations in Alabama, North Carolina, California, Tennessee, Kentucky and Oklahoma, which involved about 9,000 birds shipped to Guam. Of those, at least 783 were shipped from Alabama, and the ratio of birds were 8 or 9 to 1 male to female.\nIf you had an egg or broiler industry, it would be quite the opposite, Irby said. So we know those are going there for cockfighting purposes.\nAbout a year ago, AWA released a report on about seven Alabamians it says are involved in cockfighting, saying that some bragged on social media about their operations and the derbys the roosters won.\nThey seem to be very proud of these cockfighting birds and they actually hold events in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, many of the other U.S. territories, Irby said. Investigators focused on individuals in Walker, Jackson and Marshall counties.\nIrby said efforts to shut down cockfighting operations are mostly focused at the federal level, because Alabama law warrants a $50 fine for cockfighting -less than a parking ticket, he said. The statute hasnt been updated since the 19th century, while dogfighting carries harsher penalties.\nNote to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.\nDisclaimer\nRegistration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 5/1/2021).", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "foundation", "alliance & partnership", "executive appointment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "SILVERPOINT SENIOR LIVING AND JOURNEY CAPITAL PROUDLY ANNOUNCE THEIR NEW INDEPENDENT LIVING OPENING AT EDITION OF SAGINAW AND PHASE 2 BEGINS WITH THE GROUNDBREAKING OF ASSISTED LIVING. , of Journey Capital. \"\nSaginaw\nis a thriving city, with lots of exciting developments happening, we are proud to be a part of this great community.\"\nShawn Corzine\n, CEO of SilverPoint, added \"The Edition of\nSaginaw\nis a community that SilverPoint Senior Living is thrilled to see become a reality. SilverPoint's background is in a small town that has experienced rapid growth, so we understand how vital it is to stay rooted in the community. We are honored to care for the teachers, business leaders, homemakers, civic and church leaders who have made such an impact on\nSaginaw\nthroughout the years as well as welcoming newcomers to the area. We are also excited to be able to impact the leaders of today in\nSaginaw\nas we offer employment to over 50 employees at the community.\"\nAbout Journey Capital\nJourney Capital is a Dallas-based real estate investment, development, and acquisition firm specializing in senior living. Every project is a journey unto itself, with critical waypoints along the way. When complete, they become gateways for our residents to forge new connections and explore new paths along their own journeys.\nAbout SilverPoint Senior Living\nSilverPoint Senior Living is a\nTexas\nsenior living management company that specializes in operating independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities. Their management services include portfolio management; development and acquisition; accounting and financial; marketing and sales; and IT and digital transformation. SilverPoint is strongly committed to its five core values of family, purpose, fun, integrity, and dignity, and is known for its signature Engaged Life program in which residents enjoy a person-centered care approach designed to make their lifestyle more like home. It is also a certified 2021 Great Place to Work", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive appointment", "other", "company description", "alliance & partnership" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Biodesix Named Company of the Year by Colorado BioScience Association. has been named Company of the Year by the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA). The company was honored at the 16\nth\nAnnual CBSA Awards Dinner on November 7, 2019. The CBSA serves as the hub for Colorados life science industry with member organizations spanning biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, ag bio, mobile digital health, research, academic, and service providers. Biodesix was selected as Company of the Year in recognition of the significant milestones the company reached in advancing patient access to novel diagnostic testing in the clinic, and in ongoing development of new tests that address areas of high unmet clinical needs across the continuum of care in lung cancer. Lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death among men and women. In 2018, approximately 234,000 patients were diagnosed and 154,000 died due to lung cancer, which represents over 25 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States.\nCBSAs Annual Awards Dinner highlighted how health innovations from Colorado make a global impact. We are proud to honor Biodesix for its innovation and bringing top minds together to strengthen the future of healthcare. As the first company to provide four best-in-class diagnostic tests for patients in lung cancer, Biodesix has demonstrated its commitment to helping physicians and their patients navigate lung cancer therapy decisions. The timing of this award is an additional honor, as it is lung cancer awareness month, said Jennifer Jones Paton, President and CEO of CBSA. CBSA is proud to honor Biodesix for its breakthroughs for patients, leadership in Colorados life sciences community and track record of success.\nKey milestones for Biodesix in 2019:\nAcquisition of Oncimmune in the U.S. to expand minimally invasive diagnostics to patients in North America with the EarlyCDT Lung test for lung nodule management, adding a 4th blood-based test to the portfolio\nExpanded reach of Nodify XL2 testing for lung nodule management\nPartnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific to devel", "answer groups": [ "participation in an event" ], "distractor groups": [ "product updates", "foundation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Potentially toxic chemicals found in restaurant to-go packages: report. Here are your FOX Business Flash top headlines for March 25.\nA new report may make you re-think ordering food to-go\nPotentially toxic PFAS, or forever chemicals, were reportedly located in take-out packagingused by several national restaurant and grocery chains. These chemicals have been linked in some studies to dangerous health conditions.\nPotentially toxic PFAS, or forever chemicals, were located in take-out packaging used by several national restaurant and grocery chains.\n(iStock)\nOver 100 packaging products from 24 national chains were tested for these chemicals, Nation's Restaurant News reports. The testing revealed that half of the chains used one packaging product that had high PFAS levels (more than 100 parts per million).\nPFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and were developed in 1938. These chemicals were often used to make various packaging products grease resistant. They have been used to line paper plates, salad bowls and other food containers.\nThese chemicals were often used to make various packaging products grease resistant.\n(iStock)\nPFAS may also be used on nonstick pans and other items.\nThese chemicals, however, have recently been linked to an increased risk of some cancers, along with immune system suppression. Food can be contaminated by these chemicals if it comes into contact with material coated with it.\nNot all packaging products contained high levels of PFAS, however. The report notes that many to-go options are not sold in packaging that increases the risk of PFAS contamination.\nNot all packaging products contained high levels of PFAS, however.\n(iStock)\nSeveral national chains have already begun to phase out the use of PFAS materials, including McDonald's, Chipotle, Panera Bread and Whole Foods Market. The parent company of Burger King, Popeyes and several other chains, Restaurant Brands International, has also announced plans to prohibit the use of certain PFAS chemicals in its packaging products. It is possible, however, that supply chain issues could slow down these plans.\nMarkets", "answer groups": [ "article publication" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive appointment", "investment in public company", "funding round", "hiring" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Sanderson Farms Celebrates Women in Agriculture. Sanderson Farms Celebrates Women in Agriculture\nLAUREL, Miss.\n,\nMarch 8, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ From the farm to the board room, and everywhere in between, women are thriving in all facets of the agriculture industry. As the industry is challenged to produce food more efficiently, sustainably and in increasing volume, female professionals are answering the call across the nation.\nTo coincide with International Womens Day on\nMarch 8\n, Sanderson Farms will celebrate the women who make up a vital part of its workforce for the remainder of the month by featuring a different female member of its workforce each week on its social media channels, along with a link to a brief employee profile on their website.\nThrough this special campaign, we will recognize women who have made invaluable contributions to this companys success, said\nLampkin Butts\n, president and chief operating officer of Sanderson Farms. These leaders are just examples of the many women working behind-the-scenes to keep our company operating at the top of our industry, and I couldnt be more thankful to have their insight and perspective guiding our company decisions each day.\nIn the U.S., more than half of all farming operations had at least one female operator, according to the 2019 Agricultural Resource Management Survey. The same survey found that women were the principal operator, or the operator primarily responsible for the daily operation of the farm, on 31 percent of farms specializing in poultry.\nToday, female leadership is not limited to just farming operations in the agriculture industry. According to a 2019 study conducted by the American Farm Bureau, 27 percent of 3,000 female respondents from 49 states identified their occupation as an agriculture-related business, not including farms or ranches. The same study found that 62 percent of female respondents have the opportunity to lead in the agricultural organization where they are involved.\nAt Sanderson Farms, the prevalence of women in agriculture is no different. Women account for nearly 45 percent of Sanderson Farms employees and nearly 27 percent of the companys management team, including female directors and division management. Of the new employees hired in fiscal year 2021 at Sanderson Farms, 44 percent were women.\nFor the nations third largest poultry producer, Sanderson Farms evident confidence in female leadership begins at the top with the companys board of directors. In 2021, the Womens Forum of\nNew York\nrecognized Sanderson Farms as a Corporate Champion for having over 40 percent of the companys board seats filled by women.\nSince the very beginning of our companys history over 75 years ago, women have been a crucial part of our success, said\nJoe F. Sanderson Jr.\n, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Sanderson Farms. Throughout my career, I have been surrounded by women who have led with intelligence, integrity and courage, and, together, we have led this company through a period of growth that has been unparalleled in our industry.\nFor eight consecutive years, the company was also named a Winning W Company by an advocacy and education group, 20/20 Women on Boards, for its inclusion of women on its board of directors and in leadership positions. In 2021, the same organization, now known as 50/50 Women on Boards, named Sanderson Farms to its Gender Diversity Index with the indexs highest rating of companies with gender-balanced boards. Only seven percent of the companies on the Russel 3000 Index earned this highest rating.\nFirst launched in 2018, Sanderson Farms Women in Agriculture series seeks to spotlight hard-working professionals in vital roles across the company. While these women come from different life, educational and career backgrounds, they all bring unique contributions to our company and the industry.\nJust because the agricultural industry is mostly male-dominated, women should not doubt themselves or their abilities, said\nAndretta Moore\n, field employee relations manager for Sanderson Farms and one of the women being featured in the campaign. Sanderson Farms doesnt just say there are opportunities for women, they are actively placing women into positions of leadership. Whether on the board of directors or as division managers, I have seen Sanderson Farms take the opportunity to place the most qualified people into positions of authority.\nIn addition to Moore, upcoming features in the campaign include Sanderson Farms employees\nShaunta McDowell", "answer groups": [ "company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "product launching & presentation", "closing", "hiring", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Kerna Health Signs Deal with Total Brain; Will Integrate Total Brain Platform into Existing Behavioral Health Technologies. ,\nJan. 13, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Total Brain, a mental health and brain performance monitoring and support platform, today announced that the company has signed a deal with\nKerna Health,\na leader in digital connected care. As part of the newly minted agreement, Kerna will integrate the Total Brain digital neurotech platform into the company's Behavioral Health Integration support solution. Under the terms of the non-exclusive deal, and as the partnership scales over the upcoming 12-18 months, Total Brain's assessment and self-care tools will become available to all Kerna's managed patients. Further, Kerna's clinical clients will have access to Total Brain's patient management and reporting capabilities.\nKerna Health, a leader in digital connected care, will integrate the Total Brain digital neurotech platform into the companys Behavioral Health Integration support solution.\nThe Total Brain platform will extend the value of Kerna's existing virtual behavioral health solutions.\nKerna has an extensive customer network which includes: physician offices, hospitals, accountable care organizations, and long-term care facilities, with plans for significant growth in 2022.The company utilizes advanced software and online technologies, coupled with at-home health and physiologic monitoring devices, to manage chronic illness, such as cardiac diseases, diabetes, and long-term wounds.\n\"We are committed to enhancing patient outcomes by bringing our clinical clients the most advanced technologies the market has to offer,\" said Dr.\nRichard Sztramko\n, chief medical officer, Kerna Health. \"The Total Brain platform will extend the value of Kerna's existing virtual behavioral health solutions by providing comprehensive patient assessments, customized treatment plans, and in-depth analytics, that not only drive patient mental health improvements, but verify treatment success.\"\n\"This is an exciting time for Total Brain; this technology integration agreement will considerably expand the company's market share in the clinical care support segment,\" said Total Brain CEO\nMatthew Mund\n. \"Furthermore, Kerna's commitment to leveraging Total Brain technologies to enhance their current client offerings gives testimony to the benefits of the Total Brain platform within the clinical care support marketplace and underscores the significant opportunity we see in that segment.\"\nAbout Total Brain's Clinical Platform\nThe Total Brain clinical platform includes a clinically validated assessment, mobile app-based self-care tools, and a clinician dashboard. Clinicians incorporating Total Brain into their practice treat various conditions including substance use disorder, behavioral health disorders, traumatic brain injuries, mild cognitive impairment and more. They use data from Total Brain reports in tandem with other tools such as MRIs and EEGs to gain a more complete picture of what is going on in each patient's brain. These deep insights drive better informed treatment strategies and more personalized patient care.\nThe multi-page brain report includes a unique combination of measures including:\nEach of the 12 brain capacities across the functional areas of emotion, feeling, cognition and self-control.\nResults of standard mental health screening tools, along with STEN score, and Z score data, as well as the patient's actual response to questions that screen for mental health conditions.\nAbout Total Brain Limited\nTotal Brain Limited is a\nSan Francisco\nand\nSydney\n-based company that has developed and offers Total Brain, a mental health and brain performance self-monitoring and self-care platform powered by the world's largest standardized brain database. Its SaaS platform has helped more than 1 million registered users to-date scientifically measure and optimize their brain capacities while managing the risk of common mental conditions. Benefits for providers include improved patient outcomes, tracking of evidence-based outcomes across the continuum of care, and a reduction in clinician fatigue. Benefits for employers and payers include better mental healthcare access, lower costs and higher productivity. For more information, please visit", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "subsidiary establishment", "event organization", "funding round" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe and Resurgens Orthopaedics Form Partnership to Build the Premier Orthopaedic Practice in the Nation. ,\nDec. 9, 2021\n/PRNewswire/ -- Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (\"WCAS\"), a leading private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare and technology industries, and Resurgens Orthopaedics, one of the nation's largest orthopaedic practices, today announced the formation of a new venture focused on building the premier physician-owned orthopaedic platform in the country.\nSince its founding over 35 years ago, Resurgens Orthopaedics has grown into the largest orthopaedic group in\nGeorgia\n, providing comprehensive specialty care and ancillary services addressing all musculoskeletal needs. Today, Resurgens Orthopaedics has nearly 100 physicians and approximately 50 advanced practice providers across 24 clinic locations serving nearly 800,000 patients annually in\nAtlanta\nThe new company will be led by\nAlex Bateman\nas Chief Executive Officer. Bateman is a seasoned healthcare executive with decades of operating experience, including senior leadership roles at United Surgical Partners International (\"USPI\"), a former WCAS portfolio company, and DaVita. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Resurgens Orthopaedics.\n\"We are excited to be building a new physician-owned company dedicated to delivering exceptional clinical care in orthopaedics and are thrilled to have the support of a highly experienced investor such as WCAS,\" said Bateman. \"We look forward to partnering with other like-minded, entrepreneurial orthopaedic practices around the country.\"\nSean Traynor\n, General Partner at WCAS, said, \"As one of the largest and most respected orthopaedic practices in the country, Resurgens Orthopaedics is the perfect founding partner for our new venture. Resurgens Orthopaedics' commitment to best-in-class clinical quality together with our resources and capital investment will enable the company to deliver exceptional care to more patients nationally. We are thrilled to partner with their team of outstanding providers.\"\nWCAS has deep experience building industry leading companies in partnership with physicians, including: US Radiology Specialists, US Anesthesia Partners, US Acute Care Solutions, US Oncology and USPI, among others.\nHarris Williams\nacted as exclusive financial advisor to Resurgens Orthopaedics, with Bass Berry & Sims serving as legal counsel.\nSidley Austin\nserved as legal counsel to WCAS.\nAbout Resurgens Orthopaedics\nResurgens Orthopaedics, one of the nation's largest orthopaedic practices, has 24 offices throughout metro\nAtlanta\n, serving the residents of\nGeorgia\n, the Southeast and beyond. Resurgens Orthopaedics provides comprehensive operative and non-operative musculoskeletal care in a single location, from injury diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and imaging services. With almost 100 physicians, Resurgens Orthopaedics provides specialized expertise and broad experience in the areas of sports medicine, joint replacement, neck and back surgery, foot and ankle surgery, shoulder and elbow surgery, non-operative spine care, hand surgery, arthroscopic surgery, epidural steroid injection, general orthopaedics and trauma care. For more information, please visit\n.\nAbout Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe\nWCAS is a leading U.S. private equity firm focused on two target industries: healthcare and technology. Since its founding in 1979, the firm's strategy has been to partner with outstanding management teams and build value for its investors through a combination of operational improvements, growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions. The firm has raised and managed funds totaling over\n$27 billion", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "investment in public company", "partnerships & alliances", "clinical trial sponsorship" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Nationwide, NeuralMetrics Partner to Accelerate Small Commercial Insurance Quoting for Agents. NeuralMetrics\nto help agents serving the small commercial segment save valuable time in the quoting process, improving their profitability as they focus on growing their businesses.\nToday's small businesses expect quick service. To help meet those expectations, Nationwide utilized NeuralMetrics technology to boost its small commercial quoting tools, now enabling agents to enter client information just once and leverage pre-fill data to evaluate underwriting exposures and quickly generate a precise quote.\n\"Small commercial accounts are an important growth segment for many independent agents, but historically many have shied away due to high time commitments and other factors,\" said\nDawn Thompson\n, associate vice president of expedited underwriting for commercial lines at Nationwide. \"With the NeuralMetrics tool, we're able to streamline the quoting experience for agents serving small commercial clients, creating more lucrative opportunities to grow their books of business in the small business sector.\"\nAccording to Thompson, the key to the technology's success is ensuring accurate inputs on the front-end. \"When the initial information, like business name and location, is entered accurately and the business is visible online, we're able to achieve a 70% success rate or higher with bypassing the data entry and classification processes to provide a fast and accurate experience for agents and their customers,\" said Thompson.\nNeuralMetrics is an insurtech data provider using natural language processing to power a real-time quoting experience. The company's Smart Ratio platform uses machine learning to extract actionable information from hard-to-access, unstructured public data.\n\"Through our partnership, NeuralMetrics had the opportunity to work closely with the Nationwide team and imagine a customer centric experience in small commercial,\" said", "answer groups": [ "company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "foundation", "patent publication", "investment in public company", "participation in an event" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Big Sky Health lands $8M to expand it fasting app. 04:29 pm\nShare\nOn Wednesday Big Sky Health, best known for its fasting app Zero, scored $8 million in Series A funding. The latest round was led by Greycroft., and brings the companys total funding pot to $4.2 million.\nCoinciding with the funding news is the announcement that Big Sky Health will also be offering Zero Plus, a premium service of its fasting app.\nWHAT THEY DO\nThe companys main product is focused on helping dieters with their fasting regiment. The app includes a fast timer, as well as a digital journal and statistics.\nCustomers can purchase the upgraded version, Zero Plus, for roughly $50. This version includes custom plans, advanced statistics, information about fasting zones and the ability to submit a question to a panel of experts.\nThe company also has an alcohol reduction platform called Less that helps individuals keep track of their alcohol intake and the number of days that they do drink. Users can also view consumption statistics over the course of a set period.\nWHAT ITS FOR\nThe new funds will propel the launch of the Zero Plus.\n\"I'm incredibly excited about what we've built with Zero Plus, Dr. Peter Attia, cofounder and chief medical officer of Zero, said in a statement. We're providing well-researched, curated, tailored information that can scale to millions who are interested in optimizing their health and longevity by way of a fasting practice. I've seen how fasting has worked for some of my patients, which is why it was so important to me to grow the reliable tools that are out there for others. Today, we're doing just that with the launch of Zero Plus.\"\nMARKET SNAPSHOT", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding industry", "participation in an event", "event organization" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "HCAOA Names Home Helpers CEO as Board President CMS Chief Medical Officer Leaves for Humana. Send email\nHCAOA elects new board president\nThe Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) has elected Emma Dickison as the new president of its board of directors.\nWashington, D.C.-based HCAOA represents nearly 3,000 companies that employ more than 500,000 caregivers.\nDickison brings her background as CEO of Home Helpers Home Care a company shes been with since 2007 to the role.\nAdvertisement\nThroughout her career, Emma has been an innovative leader who provides a laser focus on the most important aspects of her business, Peter Ross, outgoing president of the HCAOA board of directors, said in a press release. Her track record of exponential growth and expert knowledge of the industry perfectly aligns with our desire to reach the next level.\nHome Helpers was\nin 2016. During her time at Home Helpers Home Care, Dickison has doubled the home care franchise from about 500 communities to over 1,000.\nThe home care space is very dynamic and it is changing,\n. We have been, I believe, a leader in those changes. Not just in franchising, but in home care. Our average growth rate over the last three years was 24%. Weve outpaced the industry in that regard.\nDickison has served on HCAOAs board of directors since 2015.\nHumana snags CMSs CMO\nHumana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) has poached one of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMSs) key leaders.\nPopular Reports", "answer groups": [ "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [ "subsidiary establishment", "new initiatives or programs", "article publication", "other" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Contraband: Xbox-Exclusive from the Just Cause creators promises co-op action D1SoftballNews.com. Comments\nXbox Game Studios has announced a further collaboration with an external studio as part of the Microsoft Showcase for E3 2021. Because the Just Cause makers from Avalanche Studios are currently working on Contraband. The open-world shooter is to appear exclusively for Xbox Series X / S and PC.\nWith the first trailer still was no gameplay shown, but it plays well with a smuggler setting in a more relaxed atmosphere :\nContraband will be a co-op game with lots of action\nContraband is set in a setting from the 1970s. It goes to the smugglers paradise Bayan. The location is purely fictional and serves as the open-world location for the games co-op action. How many players can form gangs has not yet been announced .\nWhat can you see in the trailer? Microsoft and Avalanche Studios have not yet commented on gameplay either. However, there were other indications of the setting of the game. Because in the trailer you can see the hideout of the gang whose members we will probably play.\nOn a table is a map with the plan of the upcoming mission. In addition, several Bayan towns were teased aboard. This includes a coastline, mountains, and a pirate town. The way it looks so far, very varied environments are offered.\nThere seem to be some places on the board that were going to visit. Avalanche Studios / Xbox\nContraband appears as an exclusive from Microsoft exclusively for Xbox Series X / S and PC. There hasnt been a release date so far, but we can be sure of one thing: It doesnt matter when the game is released, it will be playable directly in the Game Pass for free.", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "event organization", "regulatory approval", "hiring" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "New Cell and Gene Therapy Business Outlook Newsletter Launched. ,\nJune 18, 2021\n/PRNewswire/ -- Science and Medicine Group, the company behind Instrument Business Outlook, Kalorama Information, SDi and other publications, announces the publication of Cell and Gene Therapy Business Outlook.\n\"With thousands of potential therapies on the market, everyone knows there is potential,\" said\nBruce Carlson\n, Senior VP of Publications for Science and Medicine Group. \"The question that will continue to be asked is - how much money are companies making selling cell and gene therapy products, and what will be the future potential?\"\nThis new twice-monthly publication dedicated to cell and gene therapy, Cell and Gene Therapy Business Outlook offers the following:\nExecutive News Summaries What is Happening in cell and gene therapy (CGT) Markets and Why It Matters\nDeals Between CGT Companies\nMarket Sizing and Forecasting of CGT Markets\nImportant Science That Will Shape Tomorrow's Business\nCompany Profiling and Quarterly Results Summaries\nUpdates on Pipelines and Important Clinical Trials\nCell and Gene Therapy Tools, CMOs, Manufacturing Developments\nUnique features of this new newsletter include market analysis in each issue and a table that tracks important deals in the cell and gene industry.\n\"We'll handle science, we'll explain it, we'll inform on important developments,\" Carlson said. \"But we'll focus on that science that is near-term relevant.\"\nEdited by\nBlake Middleton\n, a professional CGT researcher and former Staff Research Associate at UCLA Department of Pharmacology, Cell and Gene Therapy Business Outlook is designed to provide the most relevant news. Included is news that could affect business decisions near-term. Cell and Gene Therapy Business Outlook also explains the relevant science behind partnerships, product launches and business deals.\nScience and Medicine Group also publishes the bimonthly Instrument Business Outlook newsletter.\nInformation is available at:", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "investment in public company", "support & philanthropy", "product updates", "funding round" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "UPS donates 10K N95 masks to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. ATLANTA -\nUPS has donated10,000 N95 respirator masks to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.\nAccording to UPS, the company has a \"sufficient supply\" for its employees, so they are donating the masks to help protect healthcare workers at CHOA hospitals.\nAtlanta is UPSs home its our global headquarters, and the city and the State of Georgia arent just communities we serve, but also the city and state that thousands of our employees call home, said UPS President, South Atlantic District Derrick Johnson. We couldnt be happier to provide these masks to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta at this time a time when PPE of all kinds is in desperate need by hospitals around the country.\nLIVE MAP: Tracking coronavirus in Georgia\nApril 20, 2020 - UPS donates masks to CHOA (Photo: UPS)\nWe are so grateful for this generous donation from UPS, said Ron Frieson, president of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation and External Affairs. While COVID-19 seems to affect children much less severely than adults, all healthcare providers have felt the effects of a stressed supply chain during this unprecedented event. These masks will go a long way at Childrens, and it is because of ongoing support from organizations like UPS that we can stand strong for our communitys kids and families even in times of uncertainty.", "answer groups": [ "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipo exit", "investment in public company", "closing", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Savannah River Mission Completion accepting applications for elementary school grants. Newsletters\nClose\nSavannah River Mission Completion is accepting applications from local elementary school teachers for science, technology, engineering, and math grants. SRMC will award grants up to $1,000 to teachers to enhance their hands-on STEM capabilities with their students.\nSubmitted photo\nSavannah River Mission Completion accepting applications for elementary school grants\nSubmitted articlemystory@aikenstandard.com\nMar 22, 2022\n4 hrs ago\nSavannah River Mission Completion is accepting applications from local elementary school teachers for science, technology, engineering, and math grants. SRMC will award grants up to $1,000 to teachers to enhance their hands-on STEM capabilities with their students.\nSubmitted photo\nSubscribe today!\nSavannah River Mission Completion, the Savannah River Site liquid waste contractor, is accepting applications from local elementary school teachers for science, technology, engineering and math grants.\nThe Power As One Mini-Grant Program is designed to empower educators to promote STEM projects in their classrooms. SRMC will award grants up to $1,000 to teachers to enhance their hands-on STEM capabilities with their students.\nPublic elementary schools in Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Edgefield and Orangeburg counties in South Carolina, and Columbia and Richmond counties in Georgia, are eligible to apply for the grants.\nTeachers elevate the mind and give energy to the character of every child, said Dave Olson, SRMC president and program manager. These grants are one small way we can come alongside our teachers to provide our students with ample opportunities for success. We are one community helping to empower the next generation. Together, we are the Power As One.\nInterested teachers should contact their schools principal for more information about the SRMC grant program. The deadline to submit applications is April 7. One application per school will be accepted.\nFor an application, visit srsimcc.com Teachers must submit their application packets to tina.melton@srs.govon or before April 7. For more information, call Tina Melton, SRMC public affairs, at 803-646-9368.\nSRMC comprises parent company BWX Technologies Inc. with partners Amentum and Fluor. Its team brings the capabilities necessary to accelerate cleanup at the U.S. Department of Energys Savannah River Site through safe nuclear operations, optimized and integrated mission execution, and strong corporate governance.\nTags", "answer groups": [ "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "article publication", "expanding geography", "department establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "C3 Industries to Open Cannabis Manufacturing Facility on the Hill. VIA C3 INDUSTRIES\nThe new manufacturing facility is set to begin operations this month.\nC3 Industries, a Michigan-based cannabis company that operates in multiple states, announced this week the launch of a new 15,000 square foot manufacturing facility in the Hill neighborhood.\nAccording to a press release, the new facility is expected to begin operations this month. Initially, the operation will produce cannabis concentrates and cartridges under the brand name Galactic Meds, which are set to be available to the public in early 2022.\nBeyond that, the company has announced an exclusive licensing partnership with the Oakland, California-based Kiva Confections, whose edibles are currently available in nine states from coast to coast. Kiva products are expected to be available in Missouri dispensaries by the middle of 2022.\nC3's footprint in the state of Missouri has so far primarily involved its High Profile line of dispensaries, with locations inSt. Charles, Columbia, St. Robert, Cape Girardeau and Sunset Hills. The opening of the manufacturing facility represents a dramatic expansion of thevertically integrated company's presence in the state.\nclick to enlarge\nVIA C3 INDUSTRIES\nHigh Profile's Sunset Hills location opened in October.\n\"C3 is proud of our track record of working closely with the communities in which we operate facilities, supporting local organizations and employing local residents, and St. Louis will be no exception,\" C3 Industries CEO Ankur Rungta says in a press release. \"Our partnership with Kiva, one of the country's most popular cannabis brands, is a testament to our expert manufacturing capabilities and is an exciting milestone for C3. We look forward to producing best-in-class cannabis products in the new facility and supplying Missouri dispensaries with a portfolio of best-selling products across all categories.\"\nThose products will eventually include C3's own line ofconcentrates, cartridges and pre-rolls, under the brand name Cloud Cover Cannabis. That line is expected to hit Missouri dispensaries, including the High Profile locations, by the end of 2022.\nC3 Industries launchedits first production operation in 2018, with a 36,000 square foot indoor cultivation and manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregan. The company has since opened additional operations in Michigan and Massachusetts.\nfor our weekly newsletters to get the latest on the news, things to do and places to eat delivered right to your inbox.\nFollow us on Facebook Twitterand Instagram\nTags: St. Louis St. Louis news St. Louis medical marijuana marijuana cannabis High Profile Kiva Confections", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "article publication", "product updates", "executive statement" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Sino Biological and Ainnocence Partner to Offer Next-Generation Antibody Development CRO Services. Sino Biological Inc.\nMar 24 2022\nBeijing, China March 22, 2022 Sino Biological, Inc. (Sino Biological or the Company), a biotechnology company listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange subsidiary ChiNext (SZSE: 301047), which provides biological research reagents and related technical contract research services, is pleased to announce a CRO services partnership with Ainnocence, Inc. of San Jose, California.\nImage credit: Sino Biological\nUnder the terms of this partnership, Sino Biological will add Ainnocences cutting-edge artificial intelligence-based prediction technology to its current antibody development CRO services offering. The AI-based platform enables fast, efficient, and accurate prediction of antibody-\nantigen\ninteraction, including binding affinity assessment. This empowers Ainnocence, using computer-based algorithms, to accurately design antibodies to be developed and manufactured by Sino Biological for clients worldwide. Financial terms were not disclosed.\nDr. Rob Burgess, Sino Biologicals Chief Business Officer, stated The addition of Ainnocences AI-based antibody-antigen binding prediction technology will enable Sino Biological to further enhance its antibody development CRO services offering, thus saving customers precious development time and ensuring antibody-antigen binding affinities that meet their strict demands. We look forward to working with the Ainnocence team to offer next-generation antibody design and development services.\nIm confident that our partnership with Sino Biological will catalyze Ainnocences Biologics AI design applications in the biotech industry, and ultimately accelerate clinical translation of cutting-edge medical technologies. stated Dr. Lurong Pan, Ainnocence CEO.\nAbout Sino Biological:\nSino Biological Announces Successful Closing of 4.98 Billion RMB Public Offering and Listing on the Shenzhen ChiNext Stock Exchange\nVideo credit: Sino Biological\nSino Biological is an international reagent supplier and service provider. The company specializes in recombinant protein production and antibody development. All of Sino Biological's products are independently developed and produced, including recombinant proteins, antibodies and cDNA clones. Sino Biological is the researchers' one-stop technical services shop for the advanced technology platforms they need to make advancements. In addition, Sino Biological offer pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms pre-clinical production technology services for hundreds of monoclonal antibody drug candidates.\nAbout Ainnocence\nAinnocence is a next-generation biotech company with a fast, self-evolving AI drug design platform. The companys third-generation AI system delivers lightening-fast virtual screening and multi-objective pharmacological profile optimization for small molecule, antibody and other complex therapeutic modalities. This platform provides a computational screening capacity of up to 10^10 protein sequences or chemical compounds within hours. The end results are a short list of candidates with very high wet lab hit rate, and a dramatically reduced discovery time and cost.\nContact Us:", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "event organization", "support & philanthropy", "expanding geography", "closing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "All of the main points of the spectacular Hogwarts Legacy State of Play: release window gameplay tale and a lot more. WhatsApp\nHogwarts Legacy its been sufficient and there was left over to fill a State of Play which turns out to have fallen brief. Avalanche Studios is giving all of it in Warners major guess for this yr and what used to be noticed this night will gasoline much more the need for what might be probably the most nice video games of the yr. quarter-hour had been sufficient to boost expectancies and display little drugs of the whole thing that awaits us on this spectacular\nmotion\nOpen international RPG set within the Harry Potter universe.\nFrom the start of the presentation, the sport has made its role-playing side transparent with a personality author who will lay the principles for our avatar simply prior to going throughout the sorting hat rite. Its going to rely on him wherein of the 4 homes of Hogwarts we can start our journey, one that may take us to the depths of essentially the most well-known fort of magical realism, and that turns out made up our minds to satisfy the dream of hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts of the franchise: to be scholars of Hogwarts.\nAs scholars, we should attend the categories of the other topics of our path as we domesticate our relationships with our colleagues (which might accompany us at sure occasions and can have their very own missions that may let us get to understand them higher). From protection towards the darkish arts to botany and potions, thru spell duels. All this to broaden a personality that we will mould to our liking in step with the training this is performed. we can use a wide variety of spells and potions to take advantage of a battle device that appears to be stuffed with probabilities and that adapts, no less than aesthetically, whats noticed within the motion pictures and whats learn within the books to 1000 wonders.\nWingardium Leviosa, accio, confundus, espelliarmus, lumos\n They all have long gone for a stroll within the gameplay of the State of Play appearing explicit and justified makes use of. The chances appear monumental.\nA finding out that may lend a hand us to discover each the good surroundings that surrounds the mystical faculty and the personal Hogwarts and its underground caverns. The fort appears to be stuffed with secrets and techniques to find, proposing an exploration that strongly remembers the standard tours of Harry Potter and corporate to unmask the thriller of the day (lurking lecturers integrated). As well as, on a visible stage, the sport performed by way of Avalanche is as detailed as its impressive. From the lecture rooms within the motion pictures to the eating room, the courtyards, the Hogsmeade village, the whole thing is recreated intimately in step with the classy universe established by way of the cinematographic works. Till weve instance to peer, finally, the Hufflepuff commonplace room.\nHistorical past, for its section, puts us at past due 19th century, and places us within the position of a magician in a position to perceiving and channeling an historical and mysterious magic. A premise that he makes use of in an effort to broaden his personal plot wherein, it sort of feels, the goblins are reserved for him. So hell for sure delve into the the explanation why the mystical neighborhood does now not permit them to make use of wands to channel his mysterious energy. However past that, what the name places prior to us is a big open international, stuffed with all the ones actions and customs which were construction the fiction of this magical international. From Quidditch to Implausible Beasts,\ncrafteo\nto profit from in potions, elevating crops with magical houses, skirmishes with darkish wizards, unfastened flight on a brush, secret ruins, dragons and a lot more.\nHogwatrs Legacy has been producing expectancies for a very long time, and for now it has gained them over with an exemplary presentation wherein it has put the entire playing cards at the desk, changing into, as of nowadays, one of the expected video video games of the yr. An adaptation to which, at the present time, its tricky accountable him for far. To the contrary, I believe that a couple of folks can have been stuck by way of marvel by way of what Avalanche confirmed.\nSadly, we dont but have a precise date, however sure with a release window that puts the sport in Christmas 2022. The 3 Smart Males and Santa Claus are going to have paintings. In the meantime, any person who does not need the wait to be too lengthy can at all times flip to a just right\ndisregard it", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "alliance & partnership", "clinical trial sponsorship", "hiring", "investment in public company" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Flowers Foods Inc. (FLO): Get Prepared for Trading Lift Off. March 4, 2022\nFlowers Foods Inc. (FLO) is priced at $27.15 after the most recent trading session. At the very opening of the session, the stock price was $27.43 and reached a high price of $27.87, prior to closing the session it reached the value of $27.65. The stock touched a low price of $27.36.Recently in News on February 18, 2022, FLOWERS FOODS DECLARES DIVIDEND. Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE: FLO), producer of Natures Own, Daves Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, Tastykake, and other bakery foods, today announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $ 0.21 per share, an increase of 5% over the same quarter last year. This is the 78th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the company and is payable on March 18, 2022, to shareholders of record on March 4, 2022. You can read further details\nhere\nFlowers Foods Inc. had a pretty favorable run when it comes to the market performance. The 1-year high price for the companys stock is recorded $29.73 on 01/19/22, with the lowest value was $26.66 for the same time period, recorded on 02/24/22.\nThe Top 5 Ways to Trade a Potential $800 Billion Metaverse\nAccording to analysts at Emergen Research, the metaverse market could be worth up to $828.95 billion by 2028. When you sign up for our report \"The Top 5 Metaverse Stocks to Buy for 2022,\" you'll get access to the the five best metaverse stocks in our report, along with a free subscription to DailyMarketAlerts newsletter to help you get in on the hottest stocks of tomorrow.\nSponsored\nFlowers Foods Inc. (FLO) full year performance was 23.44%\nPrice records that include history of low and high prices in the period of 52 weeks can tell a lot about the stocks existing status and the future performance. Presently, Flowers Foods Inc. shares are logging -8.68% during the 52-week period from high price, and 22.02% higher than the lowest price point for the same timeframe. The stocks price range for the 52-week period managed to maintain the performance between $22.25 and $29.73.\nThe companys shares, operating in the sector of Consumer Defensive managed to top a trading volume set approximately around 650445 for the day, which was evidently lower, when compared to the average daily volumes of the shares.\nWhen it comes to the year-to-date metrics, the Flowers Foods Inc. (FLO) recorded performance in the market was 0.66%, having the revenues showcasing 7.80% on a quarterly basis in comparison with the same period year before. At the time of this writing, the total market value of the company is set at 5.65B, as it employees total of 8900 workers.\nMarket experts do have their say about Flowers Foods Inc. (FLO)\nDuring the last month, 0 analysts gave the Flowers Foods Inc. a BUY rating, 0 of the polled analysts branded the stock as an OVERWEIGHT, 0 analysts were recommending to HOLD this stock, 0 of them gave the stock UNDERWEIGHT rating, and 0 of the polled analysts provided SELL rating.\nAccording to the data provided on Barchart.com, the moving average of the company in the 100-day period was set at 26.91, with a change in the price was noted +2.31. In a similar fashion, Flowers Foods Inc. posted a movement of +9.26% for the period of last 100 days, recording 1,381,668 in trading volumes.\nTotal Debt to Equity Ratio (D/E) can also provide valuable insight into the companys financial health and market status. The debt to equity ratio can be calculated by dividing the present total liabilities of a company by shareholders equity. Debt to Equity thus makes a valuable metrics that describes the debt, company is using in order to support assets, correlating with the value of shareholders equity The total Debt to Equity ratio for FLO is recording 0.65 at the time of this writing. In addition, long term Debt to Equity ratio is set at 0.63.\n>> 5 Best Growth Stocks for 2022 <<\nTechnical breakdown of Flowers Foods Inc. (FLO)\nRaw Stochastic average of Flowers Foods Inc. in the period of last 50 days is set at 19.54%. The result represents downgrade in oppose to Raw Stochastic average for the period of the last 20 days, recording 28.30%. In the last 20 days, the companys Stochastic %K was 40.25% and its Stochastic %D was recorded 39.41%.\nBearing in mind the latest performance of Flowers Foods Inc., several moving trends are noted. Year-to-date Price performance of the companys stock appears to be pessimistic, given the fact the metric is recording 0.66%. Additionally, trading for the stock in the period of the last six months notably improved by 14.26%, alongside a boost of 23.44% for the period of the last 12 months. The shares increased approximately by 2.90% in the 7-day charts and went up by -1.57% in the period of the last 30 days. Common stock shares were driven by 7.80% during last recorded quarter.", "answer groups": [ "company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding industry", "other", "ipo exit", "subsidiary establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Support Worker Northampton Northamptonshire. Healthcare & Medical, Creative & Design, Public Sector, Support Workers\nJob Type:\nApply for this job now\nJob Description\nCreative Support is a not-for-profit provider of care and support to people with a wide range of needs, including learning disabilities, mental health needs, autism spectrum conditions and older people. We are recruiting Support Workers for our community and supported living services in Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and the surrounding areas.\nWe are looking for calm, resourceful and energetic Support Workers who are well motivated, hardworking and keen to join our friendly team. You will provide person-centred care and support to service users in all aspects of everyday life, and support them to enjoy a wide range of activities in the community. You will be skilled in positive communication and engagement, and will be able to demonstrate unconditional positive regard for the people we support. You will have the maturity to be able to work within a positive behaviour support framework, to accept responsibility and to grow in confidence as a skilled practitioner. You must be able to follow agreed guidelines and to work positively within a consistent, mutually supportive team ethos.\nWhat we offer\nCreative Support offers a wide range of training courses and this will be a perfect opportunity for those who are seeking to progress in the health and social care sector as we also offer the QCF Diploma in Health and Social Care level 2 - 5. As a senior practitioner, we will support your continuous development by providing accredited courses such as person centred planning, communication approaches and many more. Although previous experience in a similar role to Support Worker is advantageous, we would like to encourage the people with the right values and passion to apply and work to make a difference.\nIn return we offer a wide range of benefits to ensure job satisfaction. This includes:\n A one-off bonus of 100 upon successful completion of the 4-month probationary period\nCompetitive pay and a pension with company contribution and 28 days annual leave\nCompany paid enhanced DBS for all staff\nFree employee support programme\nAll our staff are supported 24/7 by our out-of-hours teams\nSupport to complete the nationally recognised Care Certificate and Social Care Diploma\nCreative Support is a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Silver award. We actively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and cultures.\nWe would encourage you to apply to us even if you have not yet had your COVID 19 vaccine. You will be required to have your first COVID 19 vaccine prior to your interview and your second vaccine before you start work with us. This time will be used to complete post interview recruitment checks.", "answer groups": [ "company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "executive statement", "new initiatives or programs", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Life365 push hospital-at-home care forward. United States\nThe news:\nRemote patient monitoring (RPM) company Life365 partnered with Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare to help providers and payers scale their hospital-at-home efforts to larger populations at lower costs.\nMicrosoft Cloud for Healthcare will facilitate interoperability and better health data management for Life365s platform.\nHow Life365 works:\nIts virtual care platform integrates data from RPM devices into a health monitoring portal for clinicians, who can then review health data to make prompt clinical decisions and connect with patients virtually if needed.\nLife365 also deploys bundled RPM kits that are personalized to patients needs. It supports over 300 medical devices and the kits come pre-configured so theyre ready to use by the time theyre in patients hands.\nZooming out on the telehealth and RPM markets:\nThe pandemic-induced digital health boom drove a higher need for hospital-at-home solutionsnow, theyre primed to have a permanent seat in the future of healthcare.\nIn 2021, 36.1% of the US population (94.2 million people) used telehealth, and we expect that number to rise to 43.3% of the US population (116.6 million people) by 2025,\nper\nour Telehealth Users forecast.\nTo add, 15.1% of the US population (39.3 million people) used RPM in 2021, which we forecast will increase to 26.2% (70.6 million),\nour RPM Users forecast.\nWhats next?\nHospital-at-home market competition is becoming fierce as larger digital health players eye the budding market opportunity.\nEver since the CMS established its\nAcute hospital-at- initiative (which enabled reimbursement for RPM-enabled virtual care at home programs), the floodgates for hospital-at-home solutions bursted.\nAs of this March, the CMS has approved 92 health systems and 204 hospitals across 34 states for this program.\nTo add, over a dozen major health systems (like Kaiser, Ascension, and Intermountain)", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipo exit", "foundation", "support & philanthropy" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Rootine Partners with NFL Defensive Star Brian Burns. /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of their\n$3 million\nseed round, Rootine announced today they have partnered with NFL defensive standout\nBrian Burns\n. Burns understands the importance of properly fueling his body to increase performance, improve stamina, and \"keep laser-focused on the field.\" Burns embodies the Rootine ethos. He knows what it takes to play at his optimal level on and off the field.\nNFL defensive standout Brian Burns partners with Rootine\nBurns is entering his third year in the league. With that experience he understands how to read his body. Rootine's Head of Brand,\nLily Hecht-Leavitt\n, speaks to why Burns is an ideal brand ambassador: \"Brian is an elite athlete and a creative and humble individual who pushes ego aside, fully engaging with the brand. Brian has fine tuned his body through perseverance, diligence, and precision nutrition.\"\nBurns echoes Hecht-Leavitt's enthusiasm, \"As a professional athlete, we're constantly being hit up to represent a brand so it takes something special to catch my attention. Rootine stood out to me because they create a completely customized formula based on health data. They use the latest technologies to personalize micronutrients to achieve optimal performance.\"\nThis pivotal partnership is the first type for both parties. They look forward to bringing precision nutrition to the forefront of the intersection between health, technology, and sports.\nRootine CEO and co-founder,\nRachel Soper Sanders\nshares, \"The partnership is furthering our mission and elevating the Rootine member experience by reaching new and wider audiences. Brian is representative of our community members: an individual leveraging health data to make informed decisions in order to perform at his optimal level.\"\nABOUT ROOTINE\nRootine\nunlocks better health and daily performance with precision nutrition. Rootine's first product focuses on optimizing cellular nutrition through a personalized daily micronutrient membership. Rootine is differentiated in its process, unmatched data and insights, and unique delivery form factor. Rootine is helping thousands of members improve their health. Founded by\nRachel Soper Sanders\nand Dr. Daniel Wallerstorfer, PhD in 2018, the company is building a remote-first team with headquarters in\nNashville, TN.", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "new initiatives or programs", "service & product providing", "subsidiary establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cullgen Appoints Dr. Mark Deeg to Lead Clinical Development. Save\nSAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 10, 2021--\nCullgen Inc., a leading biotechnology company developing small molecule therapeutics based on its proprietary uSMITE platform of targeted protein degradation technology, today announced that Mark Deeg, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the company as Executive Vice President of Clinical Development. Dr. Deeg is a well-respected leader with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including a strong track record of leading clinical development of several pharmaceutical product candidates across numerous therapeutic areas.\nWe are pleased to welcome Mark to Cullgen and look forward to his valuable insight related to the clinical development of our molecules said Ying Luo, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Cullgen. Mark is joining Cullgen at a very exciting time as he will be leading our efforts to transition our pre-clinical molecules into the clinic. We plan to file multiple INDs over the next two years and Mark will play a key role in developing new remedies for debilitating diseases that lack effective treatments.\nDr. Deeg has over 25 years of experience in translational medicine and drug development. After obtaining his MD, PhD at the University of Minnesota, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and post-doctoral training at Case Western Reserve University followed by an Endocrinology Fellowship at the University of Washington. A Fellow of the National Lipid Association, he spent over 10 years at Indiana University before joining Eli Lilly as a clinical research physician. At Eli Lilly, he conducted early phase clinical trials and oversaw the biomarker strategy for Lillys endocrine portfolio. He later served as the Chief Medical Officer for The Chorus Group; Lillys semiautonomous group for innovative research specializing in rapid clinical development programs leading to proof-of-concept. In 2017, he joined Regulus Therapeutics as the Chief Medical Officer where he oversaw all aspects of clinical development. In 2019, he joined Pear Therapeutics as the Vice President of Research and Development overseeing the clinical development of their digital products. His experience includes a wide variety of therapeutic areas including renal disease, diabetes and metabolism, oncology, pain, dermatology, mens health, psychiatric diseases, addiction, and orphan diseases utilizing a wide range of approaches including small and large molecules, oligonucleotides, and digital therapeutics.\nI am excited to join Cullgen at an important time in the Companys development, as it prepares to initiate its first clinical trial and advance their portfolio of targeted protein degraders into human clinical trials, added Dr. Deeg, The company has a promising future and I am very pleased to help contribute to its continued success.\nAbout Cullgen Inc.:\nCullgen is a privately held biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of first-in-class new chemical entities (NCEs) for the treatment of diseases lacking effective therapeutic approaches. Cullgen is developing our proprietary technology platform, ubiquitin-mediated, small molecule-induced target elimination technology, (uSMITE), based on recent advances in the science of protein degradation. Typically, drugs are designed to interact with the functional sites of proteins and block their activities. Cullgen is developing uSMITE to expand the drug design paradigm beyond functional site inhibition, to make it possible to eliminate previously undruggable enzymes and proteins by targeted destruction. Cullgen also intends to use the uSMITE technology to harness the ubiquitin proteasome system, a multi-step biochemical process that controls protein degradation in all cells. As a result of years of research on the proteasome system and key discoveries about its assembly, Cullgens founders have previously demonstrated that the underlying technology can rapidly generate a large number of highly potent, selective, and bioavailable compounds. Furthermore, this process is significantly more cost effective compared with traditional drug discovery approaches. For more information, visit www.cullgen.com\nView source version on", "answer groups": [ "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive statement", "participation in an event", "article publication", "clinical trial sponsorship" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "When this fitness instructors studio closed during the pandemic, she created a line of at-home Pilates equipment. In February of 2020, fitness instructor Melissa Bentivoglio opened\nFrame Fitness\na Pilates studio in Rosedale featuring custom-designed machines. Only six weeks later, she was forced to close her doors. So, during the pandemic, Bentivoglio designed a sleek, compact and techy Pilates reformer machine for at-home use, raising $5 million in seed financing with her husband and co-founder, Lee Belzberg. Heres how she got started.\nAs told to Karoun Chahinian\n\nGrowing up, I was a classically trained ballerina, competitive dancer and a provincial soccer player. I was dancing 30 hours a week and competing all over North America throughout my childhood and adolescence. Then, when I was 18, I fractured my pelvic bone and a doctor suggested I take up Pilates to help in my recovery.\nI immediately fell in love with the exercise, and I completed my first mat Pilates certification in 2004 while studying psychology at U of T. In addition to Pilates, I also did a yoga certification and became a personal trainer. When I discovered reformer Pilates a little while later, I immediately fell with the efficacy of the workout. It is low-impact but high intensity and felt like a natural evolution of my dance expression.\nI met my partner in life and in business, Lee Belzberg, at a party in Muskoka 12 years ago. Now, we have three beautiful and spirited children, who we raise in Lytton Park. At the time, Lee was a partner at Summit Wealth, a benefits consulting firm that focused on private equity, and I had begun teaching Pilates in Torontos top studios and developed a robust client roster of professional athletes, medical doctors and top executives.\nFor the last decade, I continued growing my brand as a fitness instructor. I was happy with my work, and ecstatic to be able to make a career out of a passion. However I started thinking more about the reformer itselfits a versatile machine made up of a big rectangular frame with a rolling platform and resistance springsthat helps tone your core while keeping your spine and back stable. I asked myself, How can I make the reformer better? In early 2018, my focus shifted from training to product design. I sought out one of the leading industrial designers at the time and flew to New York City to design my own studio reformer.\nIt took about two years to get the Frame by Melissa reformer right. I would fly back and forth to New York while we were prototyping for functionality and aesthetics. The biggest thing was making sure all the moving elements, like the handlebars or springs, functioned well. At the same time, I was also renovating and designing a fully bespoke boutique brick-and-mortar studio in Rosedale.\nEverything was starting to come together by early 2020. I had manufactured 16 custom reformers and my studio, which was a full gut job, was finally ready. Frame Fitness officially opened its doors in February of 2020 with a lot of excitement in the community. In our second week, our classes began to sell out and the energy in the studio was infectious. Little did I know, we would only stay open for six short weeks. The pandemic hit and our doors were forced to close.\nI was devastated as a result of the closure, but those first few weeks of the pandemic allowed me much needed rest. The creative part of my brain was in full swing. During one of my home workouts, my mind started to wander, and I thought of a concept that I had while designing my first reformerwhich was for an at-home Pilates machinebut I didnt have the mental bandwidth then to explore a second concept. The idle time allowed me to focus on the idea. It felt very serendipitous.\nThere had been so much growth in the competitive landscape of at-home fitness prior to the pandemic and it was something that I anticipated would only continue to grow. People have busy lives and everyone likes convenience and flexibility. People may work out at home four days a week, but then they will jump into a SoulCycle class on a Saturday morning or meet their girlfriends on Thursday night for a Solidcore class. I was paying attention to this transition and noticed its potential. I knew I had a great idea because as popular as reformer Pilates is, reformers are not designed for the home. They are cumbersome and require complicated instruction. Once I was forced to close down, I knew it was time. I thought, Lets do this.\nI had gone through the design process once before, so when I went back to the drawing board in March of 2020 to sketch out the new at-home reformer, I had a lot more confidence. I knew my compact version had to be smaller, lighter, foldable, user-friendly and, most importantly, it needed an interactive video screen that would allow me to guide viewers through movements.\nWe began approaching investors at the height of Covids first wave via Zoom from our home in Toronto. Its challenging to secure capital with early-stage startups because of the high risk. This was my first attempt at raising money, and the pandemic added an extra layer of complexity. It was intimidating. The first time I pitched my concept to a group of investors, it brought me back to doing presentations for a class at universityonly 1,000 times worse because the stakes were a lot higher.\nLee is innately gifted at developing a far-reaching professional network, and he was able to get me in front of those connections. We closed our private seed round in March of 2021 with $5 million from a total of 30 investors, including Mark Mastrov, founder and former CEO of 24 Hour Fitness; Jim Rowley, CEO of Crunch Fitness; Michael Bruno, CEO and chairman of Core Health and Fitness; Ernie Moody, founder of Action Gaming; and Jaclyn Johnson, founder of Create and Cultivate.\nI started working on the at-home reformer with my previous industrial designer but later transitioned to a phenomenally talented designer that I could bring in-house to collaborate with me throughout the entire process. In September of 2021, we launched Frame Fitness and two months later, we opened up for pre-orders. The response has been overwhelming. We sold 100 units in the first 48 hours. Our growth has been entirely organic, and its exciting and gratifying to see the reception.\nRight now, the reformers are getting ready for mass production, and were planning to ship to consumers in early spring 2022. In the meantime, we have been working to continue to evolve the business. We just filmed an exciting video campaign in New York that will launch in January. I am also working on creating content for subscribers as well as adding fitness instructors to the Frame team.\nWere not just creating a system for Pilates. Were making our screen swivelable so users can stream classes for yoga, stretching and weight training. Weve also incorporated kid-friendly tutorials so everyone in the family can join in. Our main goal is to ensure our user interface and user experience are versatile, functional and intuitive. Were also thinking about other features and elements we would like to incorporat", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "company description", "expanding geography", "executive statement" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Nurse staffing startup Trust gets nearly $150M in new funding. healthcare staffing\nplatform, has raised $149 million in new financing, according to a news release Thursday.\nThe financing includes two funding rounds, including a $94 million Series C round led by Greenspring Associates, now part of the StepStone Group, and a previously unannounced $55 million Series B round led by Craft Ventures and Felicis Ventures. The company has raised $175 million in total.\nTrusted will use the new money to launch Works, its clinical staffing platform, and hire more employees. The company plans to double its headcount by the end of next year.\nIt pitches Works as a data-driven platform that allows hospitals to create on-demand nursing workforces by identifying and managing employed and contract nurses based on real-time information.\n\"After the right resource has been identified, Works manages the entire employee lifecycle, from managing the on-boarding and credentialing process to monitoring compliance and managing payments,\" the news release said.\nVirtual platforms that match employers with healthcare workers through an automated process are becoming a common alternative to traditional recruitment and hiring,\nModern Healthcare reported\n.\nThese digital marketplaces boast a quicker, more cost-effective system that allows qualified candidates to find the position they are best suited for and employers to skip hours of sifting through candidates who aren't a good fit.\nThey come at a time when the industry is struggling to find and retain staff.\nAs a result of the pandemic, 80% of nursing leaders reported an increase in nurse turnover. The demand for intensive care and emergency nurses grew 186% over the past year, according to a 2021 study by Incredible Health.\nMany employers have faced", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "investment in public company", "foundation", "executive statement" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "EXOCAD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2022 DENTAL SOUTH CHINA TRADE SHOW. , exocad CCO. \"Our team has workflow-enhancing innovations to share like\nDentalCAD 3.0 Galway\nwith Instant Anatomic Morphing and our\nSmile Creator\nmodule that automatically recognizes facial features using AI-assisted technology.\"\nThe Dental South China international trade show offers participating companies and attendees opportunities to deepen relationships within the dental community and to discover new trends flourishing in the growing dental market in\nChina\n. Visitors to exocad's booth can attend live demonstrations with exocad experts, get exclusive insights into the latest features and learn how digital dentistry can help reduce design time and increase productivity in labs and practices. Attendees will see firsthand how exocad's wizard-guided workflows and easy, online communication programs streamline the treatment journey from consultation to final restoration.\nAdditional information about 2022 DSC show is available at dentalsouthchina.com\nFor further information about exocad visit exocad.com\nAbout exocad\nexocad GmbH, an Align Technology, Inc. company, is a leading dental CAD/CAM software provider. exocad vigorously pushes the boundaries of digital dentistry, providing flexible, reliable, and easy-to-use CAD/CAM software for dental labs and dental practices worldwide. More than 45,000 valued customers plan implants and create functional and refined restorations with exocad's\nDentalCAD", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "event organization", "closing", "clinical trial sponsorship" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Why Bengaluru-based healthtech startup Dipitr believes it has got your back with Strack. Share on\nShare on\nLong hours spent in front of the laptop, continuous work on the mobile phone, and evenings spent as a couch potato have led to a rise in posture-related ailments among professionals. Complications include back pain, spinal dysfunction, joint degeneration, rounded shoulders, and a pot belly.\nA survey conducted in 2017 by QI Spine Clinic revealed that 20 percent of the Indian population in the 16-34 age group was treated for back and spine conditions.\nBengaluru-based healthtech and wellness startup Dipitr aims to solve this lifestyle problem and others like it. Launched by Amir Valani in 2018, the startup has launched Strack, a posture trainer and corrector wearable. Positioned as India's first smart 360-degree posture care solution, the wearable tracks and monitors your posture, alerting you every time you slouch with a gentle vibration.\nAmir Valani, the CEO and Founder of Dipitr, wants to provide solutions for lifestyle-related ailments.\nWhy these robotic engineers decided to venture into in-patient services with healthtech startup Alpha Care\nIn the beginning\nAmir, CEO and Founder of Dipitr, said, My dad also suffered from severe back pain and I lost him due to complications arising from that.Later, the neurosurgeon explained that my dads work style, especially his habit of sitting the entire day (8 am to 8 pm), took a toll on his health.\nThe doctor added: what else do you expect from your dads spine when he was sitting 12 hours a day, without knowing how to sit properly or sitting continuously, he recalls.\nThat spurred Amir into entrepreneurial action. It made me determined to find a solution to prevent back pain. Strack was born after extensive research.\nHeres how this personal wearable air purifier lets you deal with the pervasive pollution problem\nThe core team\nAmir hired his first set of people via a TiE conference and LinkedIn connections. My story was powerful, and it was easy to bring them on board after they heard it. We have seven full-time and three part-time employees as of now, he says.\nAmir holds a MS in telecom from Southern Methodist University, US, and has done his post-graduation from IIM-Indore. A serial entrepreneur, he has numerous successful exits in his past. His 22+ years of experience in startups, product management, and marketing played a key role in the execution of Strack.\nKrishna Narayanankutti, who leads the engineering division, has nine-plus years of experience with multiple startups. Naganand V, Hardware Lead, has over six years of experience working on IoT/wearable devices while Anurag Parihar, Head of Digital Marketing, has more than seven years of experience in building and growing a legal startup.\nConsumer IoT company Witworks secures seed funding to launch wearable device Blink\nHow does Strack work?\nThe small wearable can be worn on the upper back, and needs to be calibrated to your correct posture using the mobile app or by pressing the button twice. The device sends out a gentle vibration alert each time you slouch.\nThe team claims that 70 percent of users have reduced their hourly slouch count by more than 50 percent within the first 30 days of using Strack. The wearable can help users live a healthier life, with improved back health, heightened confidence, and increased productivity.\nStrack is completely designed, developed, and manufactured in Bengaluru. Dipitr has signed up with a contract manufacturer to produce the device, which is priced at Rs 6,700 and available on Flipkart, Amazon, and the startups website.\nStrack also offers solutions to corporates and workplaces where long desk hours are a given.\nWe help corporate clients in assessing employees back health by providing various tools such as customised back health survey, awareness sessions related to back health and ergonomics, and wellness drives that focus on posture improvement, Amir says.\nOur comprehensive wellness solution, focusing on employee back health, takes care of posture correction, training, tracking, and management, translating into a boost in productivity,\" he adds.\nThis startup offers a non-invasive wearable that can monitor pregnant women and prevent stillbirths\nThe challenges and growth\nI come from a purely software product management and marketing background. Getting the right people on board, those with in-depth expertise of building consumer hardware and related software, was a great challenge. But the fact that Bengaluru is Indias startup capital, networking, and LinkedIn helped, Amir says.\nThe founder may have started Dipitr for a cause, but it turned into a huge venture along the way.\nWe launched the product in the market about a year back and are seeing huge traction from two segments of people - people sitting more than six hours a day and those with back pain and posture-related problems.\nThe startup claims to be growing between 15-20 percent month on month. However, the founder did not divulge further details. The company website sees traffic of around 8,000 per month.\nSpeaking about disrupting the market, Amir says, We did not want to take traditional posture belts or braces, and rework them with better material or design. Instead, we decided to introduce Indias first smart posture trainer and corrector.\nThe startup has partnered with more than 50 physiotherapists, including prominent names like Dr Dhanajeyan Jayavel and Dr Gopakumar, across Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi to recommend the Strack device to patients.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "m&a", "partnerships & alliances", "executive statement" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "CARsgen 2021 Annual Results: Steady Advancement in Innovative CAR T Products and Technologies. )\nRTP Manufacturing Facility, a cGMP manufacturing facility in the U.S., began operations\nDr. Zonghai Li, Founder, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer of CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited, commented that, \"This is the first Annual Results following CARsgen's listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on\nJune 18, 2021\n. In the past year, CARsgen has made important progress, especially in pipeline development, technology innovation, CMC capacity expansion, business development, and strengthening our leadership team. Driven by the vision of Making Cancer Curable, we will continue to advance our product pipeline, develop innovative technologies, and consolidate our global strategy. We believe that we can bring innovative and differentiated cell therapy to cancer patients around the world as soon as possible, creating value for investors and the public.\"\n1. Rapid progress of pipeline products\nCT053\nCT053 is an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate against BCMA being developed for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). It incorporates a CAR construct engineered by CARsgen that features a fully human BCMA-specific single-chain variable fragment with lower immunogenicity and increased stability, which reduces the self-activation of CAR T-cells in the absence of tumor associated targets.\nCARsgen has completed subject enrollment in the pivotal Phase II trial in\nChina\n(LUMMICAR STUDY 1). In addition, CARsgen has started the pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial in\nNorth America\n(LUMMICAR STUDY 2) and treated the first subject in the pivotal Phase 2 trial in\nAugust 2021\n. As communicated with the U.S. FDA, the company is adding outpatient administration of CT053 into its U.S. clinical investigations.\nCARsgen plans to make regulatory submissions for marketing approval to the NMPA in the first half of 2022 and plans to submit the BLA to the U.S. FDA in 2023. The company also plans to conduct additional clinical trials to develop CT053 as an earlier line of treatment for multiple myeloma.\nAdditional data update from the Phase I/II study in\nChina\n(LUMMICAR STUDY 1) and an integrated analysis in participants with R/R MM by high-risk factors have been available as posters at the 2021 American Society of Hematology (\"ASH\") Annual Meeting in\nDecember 2021\n.\nCT041\nCT041 is an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate against the protein Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2) and has the potential to be first-in-class globally. CT041 targets the treatment of CLDN18.2 positive solid tumors with a primary focus on gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJ) and pancreatic cancer (PC). In addition to the investigator-initiated trials, CARsgen has initiated a Phase Ib clinical trial for advanced GC/GEJ and PC and a confirmatory Phase II clinical trial for advanced GC/GEJ in\nChina\n, CARsgen has initiated the Phase\n1b\ntrial of CT041-ST-02 and has treated the first subject in\nJuly 2021\n.\nIn 2020 and 2021, CT041 received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA for the treatment of GC/GEJ and Orphan Medicinal Product designation from the EMA for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. In\nNovember 2021\n, CT041 was granted PRIME eligibility by the EMA for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer. In\nJanuary 2022\n, CT041 was granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) Designation for the treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with CLDN18.2 positive tumors.\nCARsgen plans to submit an NDA to the NMPA in\nChina\nin the first half of 2024 and also plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial in the second half of 2022 in\nNorth America\nand to submit the BLA to the U.S. FDA in 2024.\nCT041 has demonstrated promising therapeutic efficacy and safety in the ongoing investigator-initiated trial. The updates on the investigator-initiated trial of CT041 have been presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2021 (\"ESMO Congress 2021\").\nCT011\nCT011 is an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate with proof-of-concept clinical data for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and has the potential to be the first-in class globally. The company has completed enrollment of a Phase I trial in\nChina\n.\nCT032\nCT032 is an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate against CD19 being developed for the treatment of B cell Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The company is conducting a Phase I/II clinical trial in\nChina\n.\nAB011\nAB011 is a humanized monoclonal antibody product candidate against CLDN18.2 being developed for the treatment of CLDN18.2 positive solid tumors. During the second quarter 2021, CARsgen received supplemental application approval by CDE regarding the addition of a chemotherapy combination cohort with AB011 in Phase Ib, and the company has subsequently initiated the combination cohort of AB011 with chemotherapy. The company completed Phase I monotherapy cohort enrollment and initiated combination with chemotherapy.\nThe company plans to consult with the NMPA in the second half of 2022 and to initiate the subsequent Phase II clinical trial.\nCT0180\nCT0180 is an autologous T cell product engineered to express a fusion protein of GPC3-targeted antibody fused T cell receptor (aTCR). Preclinical studies have shown that CT0180 could effectively recognize and kill GPC3-positive hepatocellular carcinoma cells and significantly inhibit HCC tumor growth in mouse xenograft models with reduced cytokine release compared to GPC3-CAR T-cells in vitro and in vivo, which improve the safety and applicability of adoptive cell therapies.\nCT0181\nCT0181 is an autologous T cell product engineered with GPC3-targeted antibody fused T cell receptor co-expressing IL-7 cytokine. Preclinical studies have shown that CT0181 displays superior antitumor efficacy, T cell persistence, and immunological memory in solid tumors xenografts with low cytokine release compared to GPC3-CAR T-cells.\nKJ-C2111 (CT0590)\nCT0590 is an allogeneic CAR T-cell product candidate deploying THANK-uCAR\n\ntechnology that targets BCMA. CARsgen is developing CT0590 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). The company has initiated IIT trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CT0590 for the treatment of R/R MM.\nIn addition, there are other IND-enabling or pre-clinical stage product candidates: KJ-C1807 (CT048), KJ-C2112, KJ-C2113 and KJ-C2114.\n2. Continuous Discovery and Technology Development\nDespite the approved CAR T-cell products for the treatment of terminal line hematologic malignancies, there are still significant challenges. CARsgen strives to explore and develop innovative technology platforms to address these challenges to generate better cell therapy products to global cancer patients. The main focus includes:\nIncreasing efficacy against solid tumors: developing innovative technologies, such as CycloCAR\n\ntechnology, to enhance efficacies of CAR T-cell against solid tumors. CycloCAR\n\nis a next generation CAR T technology, which co-expresses cytokine IL-7 and chemo", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "partnerships & alliances", "foundation", "event organization" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Businesses urged to support Eden Valley Hospice ambassadors scheme. charity has launched a scheme for businesses to help support its work with people with life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers.\nUnder Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbrias Childrens Hospices\nBusiness\nAmbassadors scheme allows businesses to support the charity from as little as 365 just 1 a day.\nIn return, the companies will receive a range of benefits, including priority access to hospice events and sponsorship opportunities, corporate volunteering opportunities and much more.\nThe first company to join the hospices Business Ambassadors scheme is Stobart Rail & Civils. Managing director Kirk Taylor said: I have been to the hospice a few times now, met the team and have seen first-hand the amazing work carried out there.\nWe are very proud to be Business Ambassadors and consider each one of our staff members a representative.\nThis is a cause we are delighted to support.\nNatalie Bingham, corporate relationship co-ordinator at Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, said: We are delighted to have Stobart Rail & Civils as our first hospice Business Ambassadors.\nHere at Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw we rely on the support of generous businesses who help us to continue providing care to our patients and families when they need it the most.\nIts important for us that our partnerships are mutually beneficially.\nOur Businesses Ambassador scheme is open to local, regional and national organisations and all of them get to enjoy a range of benefits.\nFor more information, visit www.edenvalleyhospice.org, www.jigsawhospice.org or contact the fundraising team on 01228 810801.", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "subsidiary establishment", "new initiatives & programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Health Care Hero. Health Care Hero\nUR Nursing grad surprised with $100K award in recognition of his selfless work on COVID front lines\nJose Perpignan 16N waited in front of his computer for an interview to begin one October morning, completely unaware he was moments away from winning a life-changing amount of money.\nOn live TV.\nThe popular morning show Live with Kelly and Ryan was holding a Healthcare Hero $100K Giveaway contest in collaboration with SoFi, a digital finance company, to recognize health care professionals for their work on the front lines during the pandemic. Perpignan knew his friend, Erika Hunt, had nominated him for the prize, but he thought producers were reaching out to clarify some of the information submitted about him.\nThen the shows executive producer, Michael Gelman, got on the line.\nJose is that you? Can you hear me? Can you see me? said Gelman, feigning a poor connection over Zoom.\nYeah, I can hear you, replied Jose.\nIm having a little bit of a bad connection. Hold on for one second. Let me try to fix it.\nJose? asked host Ryan Seacrest, Hey, its Ryan and Kelly Ripa!\nWe just thought wed let you know that you are the winner of our Healthcare Hero $100,000 giveaway! Ripa said excitedly.\nSurprised and nervous, Perpignan thanked the show, Erika, and family members who recognized his deep commitment to the nursing profession and the community.\nI dont know what to say! Im so grateful to have this help. It will put me in a space to focus more on my goals and giving back to the community, which is what Ive dreamed of doing for a very long time. It means so much to my family, my kids, and all of my friends. Were just so happy! said Perpignan.\nRecognizing that health care workers were among the hardest hit during the COVID-19 crisis, SoFi teamed up with Live with Kelly and Ryan to award $100,000 to one doctor, nurse, or physician assistant who has made a major difference in their community. Viewers were asked to submit nominations, which were judged on many criteria, including the impact that the individual made during the pandemic.\nMitigating the Effects of COVID-19\nPerpignan felt the sting of COVID-19 from the start. The pandemic put a halt to his full-time job at LiveOnNY, an organ transplant organization. To continue working full time, Perpignan picked up shifts as a care coordinator at the New York-Presbyterian Hospitals cardiothoracic intensive care unit, which forced him to quarantine away from his family for 14 days.\nIn addition to working 12-hour shifts at the hospital, Perpignan coordinated with the Greater New York City Black Nurses Association (GNYCBNA) chapter he co-founded to prevent the virus from hitting his Bronx neighborhood. The group picked up seniors prescriptions and groceries and provided personal protective equipment (PPE) to those who couldnt leave their homes.\nPerpignan and members of the GNYCBNA also hosted virtual meetings with other Black Nurses Associations in the surrounding areas to share what to expect when the virus hit their hospitals. They discussed how to advocate for PPE, what politicians to contact for resources, and where to go for emotional support.\nAt New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Perpignan, like many nurses, was the last person some patients saw before they succumbed to the virus. He remembered one particular nurse who eventually tested positive for COVID-19 after he came out of retirement to work on the front line. Perpignan held up a tablet while the patients wife spoke her last words to her husband.\nWhen thinking of those emotional moments, Perpignan said, I try to be as genuine and authentic as possible with my patients and family members. I start with condolences to the family, and I always touch light on the positives that I know of this person. Ill say, He went out fighting, and I know he did that with his family in his heart. I tried to rewrite his ending, He didnt just die from COVID-19 in the ICU, but he died because he wanted to come back to fight. Hes a hero.\nPerpignan explained thats why he likes working at LiveOnNY, If a 26-year old overdosed, I tell the parents their child didnt just die from overdosing, they saved eight lives.\nFinding His Niche in Nursing\nIts this innate sense of optimism and positivity that helped Perpignan find his true calling as a caregiver.\nA Brooklyn, NY, native, Perpignan, grew up in a 39-story building as the oldest of 10 children. He decided on a career in caring when his father, an emergency medical technician, brought an ambulance to his school's career day in first grade.\nPerpignan attended Binghamton University and graduated with a bachelors degree in Africana studies. During college, he shadowed a few physicians and fell in love with nursing, specifically the interactions between nurses and their patients and families.\nAfter graduation, he spent several years working as a patient care technician before he was accepted into the University of Rochester School of Nursings Accelerated Program for Non-Nurses.\nIt was at the UR School of Nursing that Perpignan truly felt at home. He was thankful for the schools holistic application review process, which identifies an applicants academic strengths, life experiences, and ethical character to determine their ability to contribute to a diverse learning environment and improve the health of individuals and communities. The UR School of Nursing saw Perpignans potential when other schools might have overlooked him.\nAs a student, Perpignan always went out of his way to learn the name of every student in his cohort, as well as the cohorts above and below him. He always admired Dean Kathy Rideout, EdD, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, for doing the same.\nDean Rideout shaped my mindset on what leadership is. I remember walking by her in the hallway and she said, Oh, hey Jose! I was amazed. How can she work in the hospital, run a nursing school, and still know everyones name? I pride myself on becoming the type of leader Kathy is, said Perpignan.\nBeginning His DNP Journey\nStarting in January, Perpignan will take the next step in his leadership journey, beginning the UR School of Nursings Post-Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. The program is designed for nurses who wish to earn their DNP degree through an area of nurse practitioner or clinical nurse leader specialty.\nPerpignan will return to Rochester in the spring of 2022 with his family to complete the clinical portion of the program. He looks forward to starting this next chapter with his wife and two children in a new home.\nAccording to Perpignan, it was the GNYCBNA that prompted him to advance his nursing career. A lot of the mentors within the organization have their doctorates. Im the only one thats on the board that doesnt have a masters or a doctorate. The exposure of being around them opened my eyes to the resources, access, education, and plans they have. Thats what I want, he said.\nPerpignan shared his plans after he completes the program, I want to go in", "answer groups": [ " event organization" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "m&a", "investment in public company" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "James Bond Competition Series With Huge Cash Prize Coming to Amazon Prime Video. 1\n\nDaniel Craig's 007 may not have a successor just yet, but Amazon is moving quickly to get the world of the iconic character back to screens. Prime Videois moving forward with a brand new reality competition series that will incorporate the themes and locations of James Bond as contestants race around the world to try and win big money. Think of it like The Amazing Race with a lot of James Bond influence.\nAccording to Variety Amazon has given the green light to the first season of 007's Road to a Million. Longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are going to be producing the new series alongside Britain's 72 Films and MGMTelevision. Production is set to begin later this year and casting is currently underway.\nChosen contestants will compete in pairs to try and win 1 million ($1.3 million) in cash. There will be physical challenges throughout the competition, as well as mental puzzles and mysteries that must be solved in order for a team to take home the prize.\nAmazon made headlines this year by completing its $8.5 billion purchase of MGM the longtime production home of James Bond. Seeing as how the company now has control of the character, it's likely we will be seeing a lot more Bond in the future. That said, 007's Road to a Million has reportedly been in the works for some time, with development starting before the MGM deal was made.\n\"I first had this idea over three years ago,\" 72 Films CEO David Glover told Variety. \"Dan Grabiner and the U.K. Originals team took it to a whole other level. To be working with Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and the Bond franchise is a privilege and a dream come true.\"", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipo exit", "closing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "MN facemask named one of the 'Best Inventions of 2020'. 6:53 PM CST December 4, 2020\nUpdated:\n6:53 PM CST December 4, 2020\nMINNEAPOLIS Just a few months after launching a successful Kickstartercampaign, a filtered facemask designed and (mostly) manufactured in Minnesota, is on the cover of TIME Magazine\n\"Two or three weeks ago we found out that we were going to be featured as part of the 'Best Inventions of 2020',\" said Max Bock-Aronson, CEO and co-founder of Breathe99. \"And we just learned that we're actually on the cover.\"\nBock-Aronson spoke to KARE11's Breaking the Newsback in April, as he was launching a Kickstarter campaign for his new B2 facemask which features two small, removable filters.\n\"It's a lightweight reusable respirator that filters 99% of common contaminants and also reduces filter waste and cost,\" Bock-Aronson said. \"You're not throwing away large parts of the mask every time. You're only disposing a small piece.\"\nThe mask quickly generated $500,000 in pre-orders on Kickstarter and another $250,000 in pre-orders on another platform due to sudden demand triggered by the COVID-19, but Bock-Aronson says the concept and design began long before the pandemic began.\n\"The idea for the product was actually born out of my experience studying in Singapore. Which was back when I was in University,\" he said. \"In that context, it was more about air pollution.\"\nBut the pandemic changed everything. The sudden spike in demand led the company to change production plans. It quickly found partners among Twin Cities medical device manufacturers.\n\"We're manufacturing the face piece here in the Twin Cities area, in St Paul,\" Bock-Aronson said. \"We're manufacturing the overlays in north Minneapolis, and the filters are in the greater metro area as well.\"\nHe says Breathe99 managed to ship all 17,000 pre-ordered B2 masks this summer, and the company is now selling to customers online.\nThanks to the feature in TIME, he says they're seeing their best sales to date.\n\"I can't express how important it is in terms of lending credibility to the work that we're doing,\" he said. \"I mean, there are a lot of mask options out there. We encourage people to wear a cloth mask or other types of masks in certain circumstances, but if you're immunocompromised, or if you're going into areas where the risk levels are higher, those are the types of scenerios that we're designing this mask for. To be recognized as a mask that does more is big. That was the title of the section in Time Magazine.\"\nDespite the recent success, Max says they've already found areas for improvement.\n\"The mask forms an airtight seal, but we found it doesn't fit everyone perfectly,\" he said. \"But we're working with all of the people that we've corresponded with and who have purchased the mask to develop a new, larger face piece to provide an airtight seal for those who the first version doesn't work well for.\"\nHe says the new options will debut early in 2021 and also feature a 3D knitted overlay that comes in several colors and can cut down on fabric waste. He says they're also testing a special foam insert that wicks moisture away from the face.\n\"It can absorb up to 20 times its weight in water,\" he said. \"And so the result is that the mask is much more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time, and that insert is really easy to take out and to wash along with the rest of the mask as well.\n\"Our objective, really, is to make the most protective mask that can be worn comfortably during daily activities.\"\nHe says Breathe99 will also be launching a filter subscription service in 2021 and he says they're already in talks with several businesses and a pro sports team that are getting ready to get back to work in 2021.\n\"The teams expressed interest in equipping their players with B2 and the reason for that is because the mask sits off the face and it remains breathable,\" he said. \"As opposed to a cloth mask, which, once it gets wet or sweaty, it can sort of cling to the mouth and be much more difficult to play in.\"\nRelated Articles", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive appointment", "alliance & partnership", "event organization" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Dirigo Labs hires Couture as growth manager. Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)\nWATERVILLE Central Maine Growth Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Emalee Couture as growth manager for Dirigo Labs, a Waterville-based startup accelerator. Couture will be responsible for developing and managing relationships with a variety of organizations, startups, founders, and business professionals across New England, catalyzing entrepreneurship and innovation for both the mid-Maine region and the accelerator to ensure successful use of the Dirigo Labs platforms and suite of services.\nMaine has always felt like home to me, states Couture. I grew up here, went to school here, and Im so excited to be back in the state I love and have the opportunity to work for Dirigo Labs to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the central Maine region.\nCMGC designed and led the initiative to create Dirigo Labs, encouraging the establishment of a vibrant startup hub for the mid-Maine region. In 2020, CMGC received a federal grant from the U.S. Economic Development Agencys Build-to Scale Venture Challenge to implement the $1.2 million project. Core to the initiative will be the development of an innovation hub model that combines an entrepreneurship center, coworking space for remote workers, and an accelerator platform that empowers and connects entrepreneurs and startups with the innovation ecosystem, venture funding, and an entrepreneurial community to aggressively scale and master their business.\nEmalee previously served as an associate officer at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology Technology Licensing Office where she was responsible for evaluating and protecting inventions and working with entrepreneurs and established companies to execute on intellectual property agreements, enabling the commercialization of MIT inventions. Emalee graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in May 2018 with a bachelor of science in engineering physics with a concentration in mechanical engineering.\nEmalee is a perfect example of a boomeranger who has returned to Maine with much-needed experience that will ultimately help build a stronger economic future for our state, said Susan Ruhlin, managing director of Dirigo Labs. Her expertise in technology licensing and intellectual property assessment will be pivotal for the Dirigo Labs startup community; we are thrilled to have her on our growing and dynamic team.\nApplications for the Accelerator will open in late 2021, with an anticipated launch in early 2022. The cohort of innovation-based startups will participate in an entrepreneurship-focused curriculum, targeted mentoring sessions, and leverage the academic expertise from the accelerators partner institutions, student interns, and the regions general business community. For more information about Dirigo Labs and Central Maine Growth Council, please visit\nhttp://www.centralmaine.org/region/dirigo-labs/\n.\nCentral Maine Growth Council, located in Waterville, is a public-private collaborative regional economic development partnership funded by municipalities and businesses who share a common vision of economic prosperity for our region. CMGC is committed to fostering a robust regional economy. We believe that a vibrant, healthy economy best serves our citizens standard of living and quality of life.\nAs a public-private economic development partnership fostering a robust\nmid-Maine economy, CMGC is organizing the tech industrys ability to transition the post-manufacturing economy through the Dirigo Labs initiative. Through this initiative, Dirigo Labs will galvanize mid-Maines unique diversity of academic institutions and tech firms to develop a startup accelerator that harnesses the entrepreneurship and digital skills of our students, graduates, academic faculty, and business owners to build a sustainable tech and innovation hub that powers a thriving rural economy.\nMore articles from the BDN\nPost navigation", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipo exit", "department establishment", "new initiatives or programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "OneOncology Launches OneR, a Community Oncology Research Network. GDPR\nOneOncology Launches OneR, a Community Oncology Research Network\nOneOncology Research Network Will Enhance Practices' High-Quality Clinical Trials Programs While Improving Patients' Access to Innovative Oncology Therapies\nNews provided by\nOct 19, 2020, 06:01 ET\nShare this article\n,\nOct. 19, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- OneOncology, the partnership of independent oncology practices, today announced the formation of a separate subsidiary, the OneOncology Research Network (OneR). OneR is a national non-exclusive clinical trial site management organization (SMO) that will enhance the current high-performing research programs underway at participating community oncology practices by providing operational, regulatory and research support services to more efficiently execute multi-center clinical trials.\nOneR is a national non-exclusive clinical trial site management organization that will enhance the current high-performing research programs underway at participating community oncology practices by providing operational, regulatory and research support services to more efficiently execute multi-center clinical trials.\n\"OneR will not only improve patient access to cutting-edge care, it will also help to advance scientific discovery.\"\nTweet this\nSince clinical trials are increasingly integral to the standard of care for precision oncology, the OneR platform will expand community practices' access to more innovative therapies for their patients. At the same time, OneR provides clinical trial sponsors access to the large and diverse populations of patients who are treated in community centers throughout their cancer journey, and not episodic as is more common in research-based academic centers. With a majority of cancer care being delivered in community-based centers, OneR ensures diversity in clinical trial participation including ethnicity, gender, geography, disease status, socioeconomics and various other dimensions.\n\"OneR is a community oncology network designed for and built by community oncology practices,\" said\nLee Schwartzberg\n, MD, Chief Medical Officer, OneOncology and Medical Director, West Cancer Center. \"Our north star is improving the lives of everyone with cancer which is fundamentally dependent on advancing the science of oncology treatments. We look forward to working with practices and sponsors who want to expand diverse patient access to precision oncology and other high-quality cancer clinical trials through our portfolio of therapeutic and observational studies.\"\nOneR's focus on precision oncology will offer clinical trials across tumor types with innovative trial designs based on precision oncology to oncology practices within the network like basket and umbrella trials. A basket trial tests how well a new drug works in patients who have different types of cancer that all have the same mutation or biomarker. In umbrella trials, patients with one specific cancer receive treatment based on the molecular profile of their individual cancer.\n\"With too many of our patients disproportionately impacted by health disparities, we believe that by providing community oncology practices with enhanced operational efficiencies we can ensure that more patients will benefit from the groundbreaking clinical trials,\" said\nAxel Grothey\n, MD, Medical Director, OneR and Director, GI Cancer Research, West Cancer Center. \"OneR will not only improve patient access to cutting-edge care, it will also help to advance scientific discovery.\"\nAs oncology practices invest in their clinical trial infrastructure and conduct more trials, OneR's efforts will enhance a practice's ability to increase clinical trial participation, by centralizing business functions, regulatory submissions and clinical trial matching technology while also ensuring practices maintain their flexibility to participate in other clinical trial initiatives. OneOncology's technology platform and collaboration throughout the network allows for seamless clinical trial management across all of its research sites. As a non-exclusive SMO, practices are not limited to only participate in OneR clinical trial programs.\nOneR will be co-headquartered in\nNashville", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "product updates", "ipo exit", "subsidiary establishment", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Laguna Woods HOA says rise in insurance costs wont affect 2023 fees Orange County Register. The fountain in front of Clubhouse 1 in Laguna Woods Village.(Courtesy of VMS Inc.)\nBy Brooke Becher| brookebecher@gmail.com|\nMarch 27, 2022 at 7:55 p.m.\n| UPDATED:\nMarch 27, 2022 at 7:56 p.m.\nThird Mutual President Robert Mutchnick recently reminded members that the condo board is due to renew its property insurance premium June 1.\nAs you know, our property insurance premiums have jumped each of the past few years because of the reevaluation of property, our separation from United [Mutual] and the large insurance increases demanded by the insurance industry, Mutchnick said during a meeting of the board March 15.\nThe company AJ Gallagher will be brokering the insurance deal, he said.\nLuckily, Mutchnick said, things may be looking up: As for the good news, Third believes we have enough in the operating budget to cover the cost of insurance and therefore believe that insurance will not have any additional impact on the [assessment] fee for 2023.\nAt the start of this year, Third residents experienced a 20% increase of $93 the maximum legally allotted amount an HOA is permitted to increase assessments in one year in monthly assessments. The average Third member now pays $777.12 per manor per month.\nOccupancy fee\nThird board members agreed to a new rule that will charge a $50 occupancy fee, per manor per month, for each additional occupant beyond two people.\nOfficials said the operating budget is based on two-person households, so additional people need to be accounted for.\nBoth the Golden Rain Foundation and United Mutual already have additional occupancy fees in place, charging $100 and $50 respectively.\nThe additional fee will be used to mitigate expenses related to the additional occupants, such as increased utility rates particularly water and wear-and-tear of common areas, according to a Village Management Services staff report.\nAn estimated 73 condos in Third Mutual house more than two non-lessee occupants. As proposed, the occupancy fee is projected to generate about $43,800 per year.\nOf the 67 live-in care providers in Third Mutual, 26 are third or fourth persons of residence. If applied to those 26, the fee would generate an additional income of $15,600.\nThe total of these two sums estimate an additional annual income of $59,400 for Third.\nDirector Annie McCary said there has been overwhelming feedback from residents, in-person and via email, in favor of the resolution.\nThe board unanimously approved the resolution. It takes immediate effect.\nAlteration fee schedule\nOn second reading, the Third board members tabled a resolution that would have implemented a revised manor alteration fee schedule and raise several fees.\nAlterations are optional modifications to a unit that require Thirds consent, as defined in a staff report.\nAs proposed, the charge a member pays upon variance request was scheduled to increase by $20 jumping from $50 to $70.\nFurthermore, the Basic Variance fee would have been set at $380, the Complex Variance fee at $662, the Unauthorized Alteration fee at $350, and the Resale Inspection fee would have increased from $115 to $220.\nDirector Jim Cook said many of the fees are antiquated. He said the schedule may have once served a purpose to regulate alterations within the Village before Laguna Woods became a city but in the 23 years since incorporation, inspectors are no longer sparse.\nWe are duplicating services that are done by the city, he said. Most of [the alteration fees] should be eliminated.\nHe added that many of the variances listed should be recategorized as mutual consents. Im going to vote no on this until we revise what we require variances for.\nThird member Judith McCourt, who said she once served as a deputy director for a large Orange County organization and still works full-time as president of a corporation, coined Thirds schedule a double-fee system that up charges four to five times city rates.\nFor example, a standard variance fee to install a new central HVAC in Third costs $662. This would be paid in addition to the city cost of $141.\nStaff had projected $83,000 in additional revenue from the proposed alterations fee schedule.\nResident Lisa Mills, a former city council member and former CEO of Orange County Transportation Authority, pointed to the lengthy process of variance approval.\nThis system is very broken, Mills said, listing the various stops, double fees and number of months a resident must wait.\nOn the outside, Mills paid one fee and made one stop at city hall, she said. Residents here who are older, maybe more frail are asked to go through a very tough process.\nBoard members sent the fee schedule back to the committee level for discussion.\nCOVID-19 update\nThe adjusted daily case rate in Orange County has continued to fall, on Tuesday reported at 3.7 new cases per 100,000 residents, according to the OC Health Care Agency.\nThe testing positivity rate the number of swabs and spit tests that return positive the coronavirus stands at 1.9%.\nThe health equity rate the test positivity of disproportionately impacted neighborhoods follows at 2.3%.\nIn the city of Laguna Woods, public health officials reported 1,057 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday. Laguna Woods has now had 75 coronavirus-related fatalities reported.\nResale report\nThe average resale price for a unit in Third Mutual in February was $507,520, up from $396,818 in February 2021, according to a VMS staff report. Resales year to date numbered 76, up from 71 the year prior. Sales volume in February was $12.7 million compared with $12 million in February 2021.", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "m&a", "foundation", "alliance & partnership", "hiring" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Employ Milwaukee program will provide free training, guaranteed interview at Advocate Aurora. Employ Milwaukee\nhas created a new workforce initiative that will provide training at no cost and result in a guaranteed job interview at Advocate Aurora Health.\nThe Milwaukee Healthcare Workforce Initiativeis a three-year project funded by a $500,000 grant from the Medical College of Wisconsins Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment. Its designed to increase underrepresented populations access to quality health care careers, Employ Milwaukee said.\nThe training component will include job shadowing, an introduction to hospital operations, and an overview of health care career paths and job application support. Curriculum will cover direct health care roles as well as those in administration, environmental services and food services departments.\nParticipants who complete the program are guaranteed job interviews at Advocate Aurora Health.\nIn todays climate, the need for increased numbers of trained health care workers is significant, said Chytania Brown, president and chief executive officer of Employ Milwaukee. At the same time, unemployment remains too high for people of color in Milwaukee. Were excited to bring this solution-oriented program to the table.\nCandidates will be recruited from partner organizations: Social Development Commission, JobsWork MKE, Greater Milwaukee Urban League, RiverWorks Development Corp. and Journey House.\nNationally, health care careers account for the largest gap between available talent and the number of job openings, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wisconsin is experiencing those shortages across the board, including among registered nurses, lab technologists, surgical technicians and certified nursing assistant roles.\nAdvocate Aurora was dealing with staffing shortages prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the situation has been exacerbated due to increased stress, fatigue and employees contracting COVID themselves, leaders have said.\nIncreasing the pool of diverse, qualified job candidates is critical to the future of Milwaukees health care industry and to the wellbeing of our residents, said Dayla Randolph, system vice president of Advocate Aurora Health.\nSign Up Now\nSign up for BizTimes Daily Alerts\nStay up-to-date on the people, companies and issues that impact business in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "expanding geography", "event organization", "subsidiary establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cannabis Multi-State Operator C3 Partners With Equity Licensee Brian Chavez To Open Massachusetts Dispensaries. The Feds Are Coming For Delta-8 THC\nHere, I talk with Ankur Rungta, founder & CEO of C3 Industries and Brian Chavez, CEO of High Profile x Budega about the social equity landscape in Massachusetts right now, the significance of this opening and more.\nJackie Bryant: What is the significance of this being the first equity recipients to open concurrent stores at the same time? Why is that notable?\nAnkur Rungta: I think there are three points to make here. Firstly, while the stores arent technically opening concurrently, with Dorchester opening in March of 2022 and Roslindale and Roxbury to follow in the summer of 2022, they were approved concurrently. We see the significance in a few different ways.\nFirst off, Boston has been a very challenging place to get local approvals generally for cannabis. Locals are protective over their space and want to make sure theyre comfortable with whos coming in. It speaks to the community process that Brian and Jaison Chavez, our partners at High Profile x Budega, ran and the trust the community has in them.\nAnother interesting point is Boston was the first major city on the East Coast to legalize recreational cannabis. Even with New Jersey and New York coming online soon, Boston will always remain one of the most sizable, influential markets on this side of the country, so these three licenses are an extremely valuable opportunity to build a brand in a major metropolitan area.\nLastly, I would also say that we're not aware of any other social equity licensees that have gotten a series of licenses for three storefronts (the maximum permitted in Massachusetts) versus only one. Im proud of the work these guys have done to achieve that.\nJB: For people who don't live in legal states or who aren't in MA, can you speak to the difficulties of becoming licensed in the state? How is it harder for equity applicants?\nAR: In Massachusetts, specifically, it's a very long and difficult process. First, you have to get local approval for a site as well as a significant amount of community support. There is a zoning process with the city which can take one to two years or sometimes longer. During this time youre spending a lot of time and money with a lot of uncertainty because you're holding real estate. The significant financial component can become incredibly challenging and is a huge barrier to entry, especially for social equity applicants who do not have access to capital.\nBrian Chavez: Part of my and Jaisons story is that two of the properties were our uncle's properties, which allowed us to avoid some of the heavy real estate holding costs that are typically involved. We also ran the community process ourselves which resulted in a cost standpoint and accessibility, and was much easier than hiring consultants or lawyers.\nAR: Part of the rationale for partnering with us is that our team could bring some other resources to the table, in terms of both finances and expertise. You have to actually come back and build the store out, a complex process which requires designs and permitting, while at the same time holding real estate where youre initially spending money without making it. Its a long, kind of torturous process. Our partnership with the Chavez brothers has allowed us to be successful in that both parties bring assets to the table that the other might not have been able to.\nJB: Could you walk me through the current landscape of social equity, who got licenses and how, in Massachusetts?\nAR: I think generally, there's a very low level of minority and social equity ownership in the Massachusetts cannabis industry. And that's not unique to Boston, but I think Boston is actually at the forefront of changing these patterns by implementing a system that does result in more social equity ownership.\nIn Boston right now its one to one, meaning for every one social equity license, the city must issue one non-social equity license. So now you have a number of stores in Boston that are approved and on their way to opening that are social equity-owned, and we applaud the city for not only promoting social equity, but making strides in execution and bringing it to fruition.\nJB: What is something exciting or notable about the Massachusetts market that people outside of it might not know? How does C3 fit into that?\nAR: In general, there seems to be less emphasis on premium flower, and premium, top-shelf products as a whole, in Massachusetts, and the gap in that market excites us. We see a huge opportunity for our focus on high-end flower, a chance to offer the consumer something more curated and differentiated from a product quality standpoint. Of course there are retailers in Boston who carry some amazing brands and products, but were excited to work with Brian and Jaison who share the same obsession with quality and want to target that corner of the market.\nWere aiming to go the boutique route, offering our customers a curated selection of the highest- quality products on the market.\nJB: Personally, I hope bodega/corner store culture is the future of weed. What are your thoughts on that and why?\nAR: Totally. We view these three stores as very much the neighborhood stores where we're serving the community in the spirit of the local bodega, making cannabis conveniently accessible. If you live in Dorchester currently, you have to go to another part of Boston or even outside of the city to get cannabis. So this is all very much about the neighborhood and community and Brian and Jaison are very much deep in these communities.\nBC: This is not a random part of Boston - were actually from Dorchester. Dorchester is the location that we worked out with C3, but the other two are my uncle's bodegas - he has long been ingrained in these communities. These are long standing local stores where neighbors would go to buy groceries, milk, cigarettes, anything you need. Wed like to look at it as were just continuing what these stores and locations have already done for these communities, but in a new way, and providing convenient and safe access to high-quality cannabis.\nJB: Do you have anything else to add? Free space! What did I miss?\nBC: I want to not only build success for my family and for myself but also to pay it forward. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have accomplished all that I have and Im excited for the next phase of actually opening these three stores. Im already thinking about how I can pay it forward and how I can encourage other social equity entrepreneurs to be successful in this space.\nFollow me on", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "company description", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "like-pulling-teeth-dental-care-hard-to-find-for-some. View Comments\nFor six years, Melody Lee dealt with abscessed and infected teeth, going to the hospital emergency room when the pain became too great to bear.\nLee, 42, subcontracts for a painting company and last had dental insurance in 2005, when she had a basic care policy through Florida Medicaid. She hadn't seen a dentist since, but she knew the cost of the extractions and fillings she needed would top $4,000.\nPDF:\nCommunity Health Assessment on oral health\n\"That is well out of my price range, and I'd went so long without dental care, it was just too much to be done,\" said Lee, who has three children. \"I barely keep the regular bills paid.\"\nWhen she saw information about a Remote Area Medical clinic in Clinton last winter, she and a friend spent the night in a parking lot to get a spot. There she had four teeth pulled. At a second clinic in Bristol in April, she got three fillings and a cleaning. She'll have two more teeth filled at a future RAM clinic.\n\"The volunteers were so friendly, they made us feel totally welcome and at ease not the usual getting frowned upon and judged for needing help,\" Lee said. \"Frankly, it was embarrassing to show my teeth, in the shape they were in, to a dentist.\"\nRAM founder Stan Brock said he estimates close to 100 percent of people who come to RAM's events which provide medical, dental and vision care at no cost need dental work. Given a choice between that and vision, he said, about 70 percent choose dental.\n\"Infections from bad teeth lead to all kinds of ominous problems, such as diabetes and heart disease,\" Brock said. \"It's one of the most serious health-care issues.\"\nYet it's a problem almost half the population doesn't have the resources to address. Health Department statistics indicate 62 percent of Knox County residents visited a dentist last year, a gradual decline over the past 10 years. In the surrounding rural counties, where dentists are scarce, the numbers are lower. And they're significantly lower among poorer people: 34 percent of those whose annual household income is less than $15,000 a year saw a dentist last year. Yet most Medicaid programs including TennCare and Gov. Bill Haslam's proposed Insure Tennessee plan don't include dental benefits.\nIn Knox County last year, 8 percent of all adults and 21 percent of all adults older than 65 reported having all their teeth pulled because of infection, tooth decay or gum disease. Black senior citizens were nearly twice as likely as whites 36 percent, compared to 19 percent to have had all their teeth pulled. And 43 percent of Knox County residents of all ages have had at least one tooth pulled because of infection. In most rural counties, the percentage is higher.\n\"We've been going to Wise County, Va., every year for 15 years,\" Brock said. \"Every year there we will extract right around 4,000 teeth in two days and two hours, (plus 1,900 fillings). Which absolutely amazes me, since the patient count is around 3,000 and it's the same people coming (each year). That is an example of just how desperate the situation is for dental care for the poor and not-so-poor people of this country.\"\nInterfaith Health Clinic has provided dental care since 1991, said director Melissa Knight. Knight said most patients either had dental insurance and lost their jobs or dropped their policies because they couldn't afford them, or have gone years without care and are now having dental emergencies.\nThe clinic has one paid dentist and one paid hygienist, who see patients two days a week, said dental coordinator Paula Mays. She schedules as many other appointments as possible, depending on how many volunteer shifts she can fill. Most months, the clinic serves 80-110 uninsured dental patients, who pay on a sliding scale.\n\"The majority of our patients need several things more than just a filling,\" Mays said, and dental problems can exacerbate other health issues.\nShe has a periodontist who's agreed to see two patients a year on the sliding scale, an orthodontist who will treat two children annually with serious problems, and an endodontist who takes referrals. But more volunteers, or money to hire more dental staff, rank at the top of Mays' wish list. While the waiting list currently sits at three weeks, sometimes it's long enough that only emergencies are taken.\n\"We've got four chairs that we wish we could fill every single day,\" Knight said. \"And we're open at night we'd love to have it staffed then, too.\"\nHOWS OUR HEALTH?\nOver the next several weeks, the News Sentinel will run a series of articles on Saturdays. Each will focus on a specific health topic outlined in the 2015 Community Health Assessment. Wed like our readers to see where Knox County is doing well and where its lacking when it comes to issues that affect everyones health.\nPrevious stories in the series:", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "article publication", "event organization", "closing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Flowers Foods (FLO) Queued for Q3 Earnings: Things to Note. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting\nRecommended Stories\nWarren Buffett's Berkshire Is Still Loading Up on This Stock\nBerkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B)(NYSE: BRK.A) shares were little moved on Monday, despite the Warren Buffett-led conglomerate reporting results over the weekend. The company's 10-Q for the period revealed that Berkshire has been slow to deploy its growing pile of cash, perhaps contributing to the market's muted response. Buffett's Berkshire is on pace to buy back more shares this year than ever before.\n4h ago\n2 Monster Growth Stocks to Buy Now and Hold\nFamed value investor Peter Lynch once said: \"All you need for a lifetime of successful investing is a few big winners.\" And that makes a lot of sense. After buying a stock, the worst outcome is a 100% loss, but there is no limit on the upside.\n1d ago\n3 Cathie Wood Stocks That Could Beat Bitcoin\nCathie Wood's ARK Invest firm has a reputation for scoring big wins with explosive growth plays -- and it's no secret the famous investor is bullish on Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC). Read on to see why a panel of Motley Fool contributors thinks these three Cathie Wood stocks can outperform Bitcoin. Keith Noonan: Unity Software (NYSE: U) stands as the fourth-largest overall holding in Cathie Wood's Ark Innovation ETF, and I think the interactive-software development company stands a good chance of crushing the market over the long term.\n5h ago\nThese are the next three mega-cap tech stocks youll be hearing more about\nAs technology stocks have led the market for the better part of a dozen years, there are now 15 companies in the sector that have risen to mega-cap status those valued at $200 billion or more. Five are valued at more than $1 trillion, including electric-vehicle maker Tesla (TSLA) which I consider a tech company.\n1d ago\nMoneyWise\nThe tech billionaire is worried about his own sector. This is where he's finding comfort.\n20h ago\nGeneral Electric to break up into 3 independent companies\nGeneral Electric announced Tuesday it will break itself into three independent companies focused on aviation, health care and energy.Why it matters: The planned split of the once industrial powerhouse comes after years of seeing its stock underperform and the buildup high levels of debt.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeWhat they're saying: \"The world demandsand deserveswe bring our best to solve the biggest challenges in flight\n5h ago\n3 Stocks That Are Set for Monster Growth in 2022\nEvery investor wants to see growth. No matter what your own idiosyncratic style, growth is the secret sauce that will turn every stock recipe into something special. Finding the stocks poised to grow is the trick, however, and its not easy. Theres an old saw among investors, that past performance cannot guarantee future returns. Thats just a basic truth. But its natural to look back at what has happened to give some hints toward what will be. Wall Streets analysts are pros at this. They hav\n1d ago", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "event organization", "expanding geography", "new initiatives & programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Are digital therapeutics the next Amazon investment?. Are digital therapeutics the next Amazon investment?\nBlog\nThe digital health industry has seen dramatic growth in the past few years, and digital therapeutics is helping to create new inroads with physicians and patients due to their simplicity and advanced patient experience. Its use of technology has captured the interest of venture capitalists, investors, healthcare systems, and most notably, big tech. With Amazons recent movements in health investments, could the tech giant be making moves into digital health to help make medical care as reliable as a Prime delivery?\nRecent investments by Amazon Health\nDuring the past year, Amazon has made several investments in the healthcare space. In March, Amazon invested $2M in Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centerto test artificial intelligence tools. The company also partnered with numerous health entities, including Boston Childrens Hospital, Atrium Health in Charlotte, N.C., Livongo, Express Scripts and Cigna.\nIn July, Cerner partnered with AWSas its preferred cloud provider, making access and interconnectivity a priority to share healthcare information across devices. Amazon acquired Health Navigator to provide technology and services to digital health companies. The company also launched Amazon Transcribe Medical, a voice transcription service for physicians that inputs text directly into medical records and integrates into devices or apps.\nPerhaps the largest announcement from Amazon came in Oct. 2020, when they launched Amazon Pharmacy a new platform which aims to make medication management as easy and convenient as shopping on Amazons website. These recent investments and launches continue to signal that Amazon is working to create a new healthcare experience that disrupts the market and revolutionizes the patient position.\nFocus on interconnectivity\nOne area where Amazon continues to invest is the solution of interconnectivity a backbone of digital health. More digital health platforms are being built on Amazons AWS operating server systems, which enable more connectivity, easier sharing of information, and data collection. Amazons existing AWS infrastructure is critical to the success of many of its healthcare initiatives. With more tech giants trying to expand their cloud platforms, this has become a competitive space.\nThroughout all of the acquisitions and investments, Amazon has carefully crafted a network of interconnectivity that unites patients, physicians, payers, PBMs, and the various systems they use. Amazon can support future platforms that unite claims management, patient monitoring, electronic medical records, and supply chain management software. Acquiring a digital therapeutic solution that puts that level of transparency and connectivity into patients hands seems a likely future step.\nAmazon disruption\nAmazons ability to disrupt the retail marketplace is the result of prioritizing the customer experience. The company concentrates on innovation and unconventional ideas, which means its constantly experimenting with new initiatives, but this also means Amazon isnt afraid to fail and move onto the next bright idea.\nBut the tech philosophy of move fast and break things creates a challenge for the healthcare industry that requires evidence-based health solutions. Digital therapeutics offers a caveat to that focus by bringing tech-driven solutions direct to patients, with a focus on supporting care.\nThe rapid growth of digital therapeutics has resulted in the commercialization of evidence-based applications that are becoming major disrupters to the healthcare market something that likely pleases Amazon leadership. Digital therapeutic solutions are already demonstrating their ability to positively impact public health and reduce healthcare costs, with greater support from regulators, payers, and providers. As a result, tech companies are looking to other channels such as the B2B2C selling model in order to increase market penetration and generate more sustainable revenue streams.\nWhats next\nIts clear that a digital therapeutics tool could be the next Amazon health entity. But this move is not unique to the tech giant. Many are advancing in the space by playing to their strengths: Apples patient-centric vision prioritizes consumers, while Google continues to apply AI to everything from medical devices to lifestyle management solutions. And Microsoft is building health data management on top of its cloud platform Azure.\nWhile Amazon has barely scratched healthcares surface, it has the potential to upend the space with its e-commerce expertise. Without the need to make money in healthcare, the high margin and convoluted parts of the healthcare business are ripe for disruption. As the digital health space becomes more competitive, Amazon is particularly well-positioned to create a new environment with a transformative digital therapeutic tool. Due to its success in patient experiences, ability to connect systems, and capture various parts of the ecosystem, Amazons digital health future will either change how the system is designed or force existing players to become more competitive.\nShare", "answer groups": [ " alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "support & philanthropy", "other", "patent publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Back to the office: NM employers wrestle with how, when to reel in workers from telecommuting Albuquerque Journal. $8.99\n.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........\nALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Like a lot of employers, True Health New Mexico moved nearly all of its employees out of its office once the COVID-19 pandemic reached New Mexico last March.\nAn office of around 70 employees suddenly shrank to a skeleton crew of just three or four workers.\nAfter 16 months and countless webinars, however, True Health is gearing up to bring employees back into the office.\nMark Epstein, president and CEO of True Health, said declining infection rates and rising vaccination rates help him feel confident that employees can return to the office safely and effectively. After a gradual ramp-up over the summer, the organization is targeting September for a full return.\nADVERTISEMENT\nSkip\n................................................................\nI think that will allow us also to monitor how well the virus is under control in the community, Epstein said.\nLike many organizations in New Mexico and across the country, True Health is still working out precisely what that will look like for employees, many of whom have come to value the additional flexibility that comes from working from home while still missing the connectivity of an office environment.\nA nationwide survey from Morning Consult updated at the end of May shows that 69% of current remote workers would feel comfortable going back to the office, but a majority enjoys working remotely and feels productive doing so.\nEpstein said the organization plans to pursue a hybrid model, which he said would provide opportunities for collaboration while helping the company attract and retain employees who like the flexibility of working remotely.\nWe recognize that the labor market has changed, and we will be sometimes competing with folks from outside of New Mexico, Epstein said.\nSimilar conversations are taking place in boardrooms and break rooms across New Mexico. Heres a sampling of how large employers around the state are adapting to the new reality.\nOFFICIAL BEST PRACTICES PENDING\nDavid Morgan, spokesman for the NM Department of Health, said the agency is working to update its list of best practices in compliance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state maintains a list of COVID-safe practices for employers through its All Together New Mexico program, which includes advice that employers should limit operations to remote work to the greatest extent possible.\nLooking down on Smith Plaza from the Student Union. June,02, 2021.(Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal)\nUniversity of New Mexico Main Campus\nAddress:\nAlbuquerque main campus\nNumber of employees: 4,563 staff and 1,394 faculty, not including University of New Mexico Hospital staff\nWhere theyve been during the pandemic: Most employees have been working remotely during the pandemic. UNM has been operating under a tier system, where Tier 1 involves work that must be done on campus, Tier 2 involves working remotely, and Tier 3 involves not working because work is not needed at the time. University spokeswoman Cinnamon Blair wrote in an email that as the school prepares to phase back to campus, supervisors and employees have been working together to identify the appropriate tier by work function. Some supervisors have had discretion to allow a combination of any of the tiers with a mix of physical presence and telecommuting. Blair added that the UNM Health Sciences Center had a more accelerated phase back to in-person work last fall.\nGoing forward: The process of transitioning to full operations for fall 2021 will occur over the summer by Aug. 2, Blair wrote. Specific departmental plans will be made during the first part of July and finalized at the end of the month. Guidance will be issued in the coming weeks to support both supervisors and employees. Employees will be expected to follow established COVID safe practices. More information is available at bringbackthepack.unm.edu.\nEmployee reaction: Employees have expressed a desire for flexibility as we transition back to campus, Blair wrote.\nJournal Business Editor Gabrielle Porter\nRS21\nAddress: 301 Gold SW, Suite 201\nNumber of employees: 40 in New Mexico (80 total)\nWhere theyve been during the pandemic: Data analytics firm RS21 was well positioned for remote operations when the pandemic hit, with many employees already working offsite under an existing company policy that allowed people to choose to come to the office or operate online from home. Pre-pandemic, most Albuquerque employees did work at least part-time onsite, but when the coronavirus started, everyone went remote. As health guidelines eased in summer 2020, RS21 allowed some employees to come in with masks, social distancing and fever checks at the door, but most remained remote. In April, RS21 reopened its offices, starting at 30% capacity, and then increasing to 50% in early May and 75% now. But office policy has fundamentally changed. Individual workstations are no longer assigned to employees. Instead, they use a software system to reserve a desk any day they plan to come in, with about one-fourth of local employees currently onsite daily.\nGoing forward: The company may return to 100% capacity in late June. But the pandemic has converted RS21 into a hybrid firm where most people work remotely. Thats an operational advantage, allowing the company to hire new employees in communities across the country, said Chief Operations Officer Missi Rogers. Our employees have proven they can be productive, thrive and communicate and collaborate online as well as they did pre-pandemic, Rogers said. Were going all in to allow employees to choose what works best for them.\nJournal Staff Writer Kevin Robinson-Avila\nProfessor Dennis Giever prepares to teach a criminal justice class as NMSUs Fall 2020 Semester kicked off with hybrid course offerings online classes as well as in-person instruction. Faculty, staff and students were asked to maintain social distancing and to wear masks. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)\nNew Mexico State University\nAddress: 2850 Weddell Drive, Las Cruces\nNumber of employees: About 5,507, including student employees\nNMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu toured the campus, welcoming back students and thanking them for following the states health guidelines during the first day of the Fall 2020 Semester. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)\nWhere theyve been during the pandemic: During the pandemic, about 85% to 90% of NMSU employees worked remotely.\nGoing forward: NMSU spokeswoman Minerva Baumann wrote in an email that each department is setting its own parameters for bringing workers back to campus. Offices that serve students are more likely to have an on-campus presence. The timeline for\nSonny Mata, left, asks Serena Martinez, right, if she needs anything else as she packs up her food to go at Taos Dinning Hall, Wednesday January 27, 20", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "hiring", "support & philanthropy", "department establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Ilmarinen ICG engage with scandal-hit Finnish care home. No comments\nFinnish pension insurer Ilmarinen and asset manager Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) are engaging with a Finnish care home company following reports of severe neglect.\nUK-based ICG and Ilmarinen one of Finlands largest pension insurance companies have said they will engage with the management of Esperi Care rather than divest, after reports emerged of severe neglect at care homes.\nFinlands healthcare regulator shut down one facility afterat least one elderly resident was suspected to have died due tonegligence, according to national broadcaster YLE.\nICG holds the majority stake in Esperi Care, while Ilmarinen owns a 4.4% stake according to Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, having inherited the asset through its\nmerger with Etera\na year ago.\nA spokesperson for ICG in London said: We are focused on working to support the management of Esperi Care as it undertakes a full review of its operations and makes the improvements necessary to regain the trust of its residents, relatives and employees.\nWe take a long-term approach to investing in companies and, as signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment since 2013, have a well-defined ESG framework in place with clear policies and practices. These are key considerations in our investment approach.\nIlmarinen: engagement over divestment\nIlmarinens CIOMikko Mursula toldHelsingin Sanomat that the insurer would attempt to find out more about the case before any decision on divestment.\nThe principle of responsible investment is based on the fact that the investment object complies with laws and norms, Mursula said.\nIlmarinen staff were asking the company about the background and the companys understanding of the chain of events, he said.\nAnna Hyrske, head of responsible investments at Ilmarinen, told IPE that the companys responsible investment policies gave preference to engagement over divestment.\nHelsingin Sanomatreported that disagreements between Esperi Care and Finlands national health and welfare regulator, Valvira, about the adequacy of nursing staff had been in the public domain for more than two years. Mursula told the paper he had no information on the matter, however.\nLinks between Esperi and Etera\nEsperi Cares CEO Marja Aarnio-Isohanni resigned on Tuesday as a result of the outcry, and was replaced by\nAarnio-Isohanniis currentlya deputy member of Ilmarinens supervisory board, having been appointed to the role a year ago. She spent more than 10 years on Eteras board, according to her LinkedIn page.\nShe had worked at Esperi Care since 2003 and owned 10.5% of the business a stake she has retained, according to Finnish national broadcaster YLE.\nAarnio-Isohanniwas Finlands second wealthiest woman in 2017, earning more than 5.7m that year, according to YLE.\nValvira announced at the end of last week that it had shut down one of the companys homes located in Kristiinankaupunki in the west of Finland, having received serious, direct customer safety information.\nThe weaknesses identified were related, inter alia, to the number of inadequate medical staff in relation to the assessment of care and care needs, lack of basic care, the appropriateness of drug treatment, lack of care information for clients, and the work of close staff of the functional unit, Valvira said in a statement.\nTopics", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "hiring", "company description", "product updates", "expanding geography" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Natalist raises $5 million from Katrina Lake, Julia Cheek, Rock Health To Redesign The Prenatal Experience. The Ultimate Guide To Starting A Side Hustle Part 1: Passion Is Not The Way\nI am excited to work closely with this group of investors to pursue our vision for improving the fertility experience. Most of our investors are parents (three of them LGBTQ parents), each with their own unique fertility journey. So they bring not just capital, but an authentic connection and desire to push our mission forward and help others start families, said Halle Tecco, Founder and CEO.\nWith plans to expand its offering of evidence-based products and educational resources, Natalist is positioned to grow its reach in the family planning arena. Specifically, Natalist is in the R&D phase with a few additional products including products specifically designed to cover the needs of women with particular conditions like PCOS and endometriosis, as well as exploring products addressing male fertility.\nNatalist supplements\nNatalist\nThis November the company also plans to launch Parent Plans, a guided book and journal covering topics from conception to parenting philosophies. Natalist will offer a version of the book for LGBTQ couples that explores topics and concerns unique to this group.\nAn Often Difficult Journey Many Can Relate To\nAileen Lee, from Cowboy Ventures, highlights her passion to improve this space: From my own experience, I know how confusing and outdated existing fertility products and offerings can be. The Natalist team is well positioned to redesign what it means to start a family. Im proud to be an investor and join them on this mission.\nJulia Cheek, CEO of EverlyWell, at-home lab-testing company that raised $50million last April, said: Its an incredibly exciting time in the womens health space, and particularly in fertility where women and their partners are proactively sharing their fertility journeys and looking for communities like Natalist to support them. As a new mom myself, Im excited to back the Natalist team to support others embarking on what can be a lonely and emotional process for many women.\nChristine Lemke, Cofounder and President of Evidation Health, a Series C health technology and service company that helps innovative life sciences and healthcare organizations understand how everyday behavior impact health outcomes, emphasizes the big opportunity in this space. My fertility journey, along with many others, is fraught, confusing, and full of unreliable and under-researched information. This creates a compelling opportunity in multiple dimensions its a large and unformed market, and when the problem is addressed, Natalist can positively impact families everywhere.\nThe group not only recognizes the urgent need to deliver better support to future parents during their fertility journey, but also the lack of personalized product selections and evidence-based educational resources for the various groups of people who have different needs, and is committed to continuing their efforts in this direction with this funding round.\nFollow me on", "answer groups": [ "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive appointment", "other", "new initiatives or programs", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Premier Foods set to explore whitespace categories' amid international push. LinkedIn\nPremier Foods credits its successful branded growth model for building increased stability as the business prepares to expand into new categories and readies for overseas expansion.\nSpeaking on an investor call this morning (16 November), CEO Alex Whitehouse explained Premier Foods plans to extend its branded growth model, which has proved successful across its five core categories, into new whitespace categories where the buisness hopes to generate incremental revenue streams.\nWhat were doing is taking our leading brand positions and strong brands, and were developing new products for our consumers from those brands based on our insight into how their lives are changing and the way they shop, Whitehouse explained.\nMr Kipling, for example, is set to enter the biscuit category for the first time and expand into a range of branded ice cream, backed by TV advertising spend. Ice cream launches are also planned for Ambrosia and Angel Delight.\nThe business is poised to launch a range of insight driven new products in adjacent categories, building on the initial success of its Cape Herb and Spice, and Oxo rubs and marinades products. Branching out from the Oxo core of stock cubes, the range of marinade and rub flavours is set to expand.\nWhat were doing is taking our leading brand positions and strong brands, and were developing new products for our consumers.\nAlex Whitehouse, Premier Foods\nSeveral of the groups brands are said to have retained higher household penetration rates (a measure of how many consumers buy a brand on at least one occasion in a given timeframe), than pre-pandemic.\nWhitehouse noted 800,000 households who tried Sharwoods cooking sauces have continued to buy the brand post-lockdown. The company also saw success by pivoting into new products catering to people cooking more at home, such as Loyd Grossmans pizza-making range and cake mixes from Mr Kipling.\nWhilst its all still early days for us in new categories. Were getting to a point where collectively it all starts to add up to something interesting. Were looking at delivering towards 10m of revenue from those new category extensions over the full year this year, said Whitehouse.\nBisto unveils first new ad in six years amid 4m push to reach next generation\nGoing into the key festive period and the run-up to Easter, Premier Foods plans to maintain marketing spend at similar levels to 2021. The company spent 59.6m during the 26 weeks to 2 October on selling, marketing and distribution costs.\nLooking ahead, this will be the second consecutive year the business has invested in TV advertising for its Ambrosia, Batchelors, Bisto, Mr Kipling, Oxo and Sharwoods brands.\nClearly were able to invest more last year because of the year that we had that was great. So, in terms of overall levels, probably looking to similar levels of marketing compared with last year, but a step up compared to two years ago, said CFO Duncan Leggett.\nOur aim is to grow margin so that we can invest that behind the brands in consumer marketing and thats very much what weve been able to achieve over the last couple of years.\nMr Kipling skips across the pond\nSpurred on by international revenue growth of 7% versus two years ago, the company is going into full rollout mode in Canada with Mr Kipling slices, after seeing high-levels of repeat purchase. A testing phase for the Mr Kipling brand in the US is coming up.\nWhitehouse said the company will follow the same process it did in Canada by stocking the brand with a few retail partners, the expectation being Mr Kipling will land on US shelves by late December or early January.\nIn the US, were going to be following the same process that we followed in Canada. Were going into an initial launch with a couple of customers in the US while were working with those customers, to make sure weve got the model right as we did in Canada, said Whitehouse.\nThe Sharwoods brand is currently on display across 2,400 distribution points in the US, as the company noted the Indian cooking sauce market in the States remains at an early stage.\nPremier Foods on why its ramping up its marketing investment in 2021\nPremier Foods has also been focusing on bringing its UK branded growth model into Ireland, where the company posted growth of 38% compared to 2019. There will be support for brands in Ireland with TV advertising through the winter.\nRevenues for Premier Foods hit 394.1m during the 26 weeks to 2 October, down 6.5% on the 421.5m generated during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but up 7.5% on 2019. The business sales through online channels are up 80% compared to two years ago.\nPremier Foods posted a statutory pre-tax profit of 30.7m, down 39.2% on the 50.5m generated in 2020, but up 104.7% on a two-year basis. Compared to pre-pandemic in 2019, the companys second-quarter group revenue was up 8.5%, with branded revenue ahead by 13.3%.\nFor the half-year period, revenue rose by 11.4% on a two-year basis, reflecting what Premier Foods describes as the strength of its branded growth model.\nWe feel that weve had a really strong first half of the year and weve taken a lot of momentum into the second half with lots of strong plans, Whitehouse concluded.", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "product updates", "executive appointment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "4basebio launches two new synthetic DNA products. 0.49%\n97.02\nThe AIM-traded firm said, following its announcement last June on the development of its hpDNA and osDNA synthetic constructs, it had now added opDNA and oeDNA to its offering.\nIt said the launch reflected the uniquely customisable characteristics of its synthetic DNA technology.\nThe company described opDNA as a partially opened, linear, double-stranded DNA product, with each molecule featuring a hairpin on either the 3 or 5 end, with an opposite open end.\n4basebio said the open end of the construct could include an overhang or blunt end, with the product ideally suited as a template for IVT production of mRNA.\noeDNA, meanwhile, was described as a linear open-ended, double-stranded DNA product where both 3 and 5 ends are open, adding that constructs could be generated with blunt ends, overhangs or any combination thereof.\nThe board said that like all of the firms DNA products, oeDNA was resistant to degradation by exonuclease, and thus suitable for in vivo applications.\nIt added that the format was ideal for genome editing by homology-directed repair (HDR).\nThe development of our DNA product range over the past 12 months underscores the flexibility of our technology and our ability to customise DNA for particular uses, said chief executive officer Dr Heikki Lanckriet.\nWe are able to modify our DNA constructs for an individual customers specific application.\nMoreover, due to our synthetic process, we can move from receipt of a customers sequence to a first GMP-compliant multi-gram batch within three months, significantly quicker than plasmid alternatives.\nAt 1400 GMT, shares in 4basebio were down 1.89% at 520p.\nAdvertising", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "regulatory approval", "support & philanthropy", "subsidiary establishment", "patent publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Shore Capital-backed EyeSouth invests in Midwest Eye Center. +\n100%\nShore Capital Partners-backed EyeSouth Partners has made an investment in Midwest Eye Center, a primary eye care provider that serves patients throughout Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. No financial terms were disclosed.\nPRESS RELEASE\nATLANTA, January 11, 2021 EyeSouth Partners (EyeSouth) is pleased to announce that it has completed an affiliation with Midwest Eye Center (MWEC). The affiliation represents EyeSouths first in the states of Ohio and Kentucky. EyeSouth is an eye care-focused management services organization backed by Shore Capital Partners, committed to partnering with leading physicians to build a premier network of eye care services in the U.S. EyeSouths affiliate network consists of 21 practices with 185+ doctors providing medical and surgical eye care services at approximately 105 locations including 12 surgery centers throughout Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, and Kentucky.\nMidwest Eye Center is led by Drs. Mark Cepela, Jean Noll, Faiz Khaja, Saif Jaweed, Matthew Dykhuizen, and Daniel Love, and functions with 28 total providers including 20 ophthalmologists and 8 medical optometrists. In total, MWEC employs approximately 250 support staff across 19 clinical locations and 2 ambulatory surgery centers in the Greater Cincinnati area. Through its dense clinical footprint, MWEC provides primary eye care in addition to retina, glaucoma, cornea, oculoplastic and pediatric subspecialty care to many underserved areas throughout Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.\nDr. Mark Cepela, Managing Partner of MWEC, commented on the partnership, After an exhaustive search, we selected EyeSouth as the best partner for the next phase of growth and are very excited for the future. We are completely aligned with EyeSouth in upholding the Midwest Eye Center standard of care we have built over more than 30 years while supplementing our operations with best-in-class management to further enhance that standard of care and accelerate our growth.\nDespite a continually challenging environment, EyeSouth remains committed to targeted geographic expansion with high-quality practices. The doctor and administrative leadership of Midwest Eye Center is top-notch, and we are excited for what we can achieve together, said Dr. Eugene Gabianelli, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of EyeSouth Partners. It is an honor to welcome this group of doctors and staff to the EyeSouth network.\nAbout EyeSouth Partners\nHeadquartered in Atlanta, GA, EyeSouth Partners (EyeSouth) is an eye care management services organization committed to partnering with leading physicians to build a premier network of eye care services throughout the U.S. EyeSouths partner practices clinical mission is to provide high quality medical and surgical specialty eye care. EyeSouth supports its affiliated practices and physician partners with strategic guidance, administrative resources, operating expertise, and capital with an absolute focus on clinical quality and a patient-first culture. EyeSouths affiliate network consists of 185+ doctors providing medical and surgical eye care services at approximately 105 locations throughout Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio and Kentucky. EyeSouth is backed by Shore Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on microcap healthcare and food & beverage investments. For more information about EyeSouth Partners, please visit: www.eyesouthpartners.com.\nAbout Shore Capital Partners\nShore Capital Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on microcap healthcare and food & beverage investments. Shore supports management partners with capital, business development expertise, and industry knowledge to accelerate growth, fund acquisitions, and generate value to shareholders. Shore targets investments in proven, successful private companies with superior management teams, stable cash flow, and significant growth potential, including organic and growth through industry consolidation. Shore has $1.1 billion of equity capital under management through various investment vehicles. More information about Shore Capital Partners can be found at www.shorecp.com.\nTAGS", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "company description", "executive appointment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Tantus Technologies Wins EPA Contract for Agile Development, O&M, and User Support. Tantus Technologies Wins EPA Contract for Agile Development, O&M, and User Support\nNews provided by\nJun 29, 2020, 13:06 ET\nShare this article\n,\nJune 29, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- Tantus Technologies, Inc. (Tantus) is excited to announce its latest contract award for Agile Development, Operations & Maintenance (O&M), and User Support at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).\nWithin the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), Tantus will help improve several of EPA's highly visible and mission-critical information systems. These systems support EPA's regulatory mission with millions of data sets, calculations, and reports that determine compliance with important federal legislation.\n\"We're looking forward to supporting the EPA. This work touches valuable environmental information like the Air Quality Index and aligns to Tantus' mission to make 'Our World, Better,'\" says Tantus CEO,\nBuck Keswani\n. Tantus' work under this contract will help gather, store, host, and maintain information needed by the public, the media, and other federal agencies (and their applications) to better understand and protect the environment.\nAbout Tantus Technologies, Inc.\nTantus provides technology and business solutions to solve the federal government's health, financial, and transportation challenges. The company brings nearly two decades of experience collaborating with government to make \"Our World, Better,\" delivering solutions that span Artificial Intelligence, Agile, Human Centered Design, DevOps, Strategy Realization, Program/Project Management, and Cyber Security. Recognized by The Washington Post as a \"Top Workplace\" two years in a row, Tantus realizes its core value of \"Do the Right Thing\" with a robust community service program focused on improving the lives of children and young women diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions.\nSOURCE Tantus Technologies, Inc.", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "event organization", "foundation", "investment in public company" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Stretched Way Too Thin': Nurses Picket for More Staffing at Cape Cod Hospital. /\nCAI\nRegistered nurses held an informational picket on the corner of Main Street, near Cape Cod Hospital, calling for higher staffing levels. Their union is renegotiating the nurses' contract with Cape Cod Healthcare.\nRegistered nurses picketed outside Cape Cod Hospital on Wednesday, saying they need more nurses on each shift.\nAbout 50 nurses and a few other supporters gathered by mid afternoon. Some stood on the sidewalk near the hospital, and others a block away at the Main Street corner.\nEunice Grew, who works in a cardiac step-down unit, said a lot of young nurses are leaving to go elsewhere for a better staff-to-patient ratio.\nIt just keeps getting worse, she said. And the nurses are overworked and unable to take care of the patients the way they should be able to safely.\nMany held printed signs that said, Cape Cod patients deserve safe staffing, and a hand-drawn sign proclaimed, Patients before profits.\nThe group cheered when drivers of a passing ambulance and tractor trailer sounded their horns.\nCape Cod Healthcare and the labor union that represents registered nurses, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, have been renegotiating their contract since last fall.\nThe company said it agreed to the unions proposed raises, but nurses on the picket line said staffing is what concerns them most.\nWe don't get breaks, said Frances Canizaro, a nurse who works on an orthopedic and neurosurgical floor at Cape Cod Hospital. Frequently we don't get lunch.\nShe said nurses used to be told to call a supervisor for help when they needed a break.\nBut it didn't work, she said. The supervisors could never come. They were too busy.\nAnother picket is scheduled for May 26 at 2 p.m. outside Falmouth Hospital.\nCape Cod Healthcare officials said in a written statement that the company values the work and dedication of its employees.\nWe look forward to agreeing to contracts for [Cape Cod Hospital] and [Falmouth Hospital] that are fair to our nurses, patients, the communities, and that recognize the economic and workforce staffing realities facing all hospitals, the company said.\nPatrick Kane, senior vice president for communications, told CAI that outside indicators of quality show the hospitals staffing levels are safe. He pointed to Cape Cod Hospitals receipt of a 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades.\nBut union co-chair Michelle Brum said patients shouldn't have to wait 10 or 20 minutes for a nurse to respond.\nIt's been going on for quite a few years now, she said of the staffing issue. And nurses are overwhelmed, overworked, and want to give the best possible care they can give to their patients, and theyre stretched way too thin.\nThe union has asked that each floors charge nurse an experienced nurse who serves as a leader and coordinator not be assigned individual patients, so the charge nurse can be available to assist other nurses with complex cases.\nAccording to Cape Cod Healthcare, the nonprofit health corporation has agreed to wage increases of 3% retroactive to October 1, 2020; 2% this year and next; and 3% in 2023. Those do not include annual step increases; the average annual step increase is 5.7 percent.\nOver 57% of our nurses are at the top of the wage scale with a base hourly rate of $58.50, not including differentials and premium pay, Cape Cod Healthcare said in a statement.\nThe Massachusetts Nurses Association advocated for a statewide ballot question in 2018 that would have set mandatory limits on the number of patients assigned to a nurse. The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association opposed it, and it was defeated at the ballot box.\nCORRECTION: The date of the second picket is May 26, not May 20th, as reported in an earlier version of this story.\nTags", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "company description", "m&a", "article publication", "patent publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Polaris Wealth Advisory Group LLC Buys New Position in Perficient Inc. (NASDAQ:PRFT). Get Rating\n) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 24th. The digital transformation consultancy reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Zacks consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $214.73 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $207.17 million. Perficient had a net margin of 6.84% and a return on equity of 24.49%. The businesss revenue was up 32.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.64 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Perficient, Inc. will post 3.72 EPS for the current year.\nIn related news, Director Gary Wimberlypurchased 399 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $100.00 per share, for a total transaction of $39,900.00. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink Corporate insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock.\nSeveral equities analysts have recently commented on PRFT shares. Barrington Research lowered their target price on shares of Perficient from $150.00 to $124.00 in a report on Friday, February 25th. Zacks Investment Researchdowngraded shares of Perficient from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, March 5th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Perficient from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, February 24th. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price target on shares of Perficient from $155.00 to $145.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 25th. Finally, Alliance Global Partners decreased their price target on shares of Perficient from $138.00 to $122.00 in a research note on Monday, February 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Perficient currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $133.50.\nPerficient Profile (\nGet Rating\n)\nPerficient, Inc provides digital consultancy services and solutions in the United States. The company offers strategy and consulting solutions in the areas of digital and technology strategy, management consulting, and organizational change management; and data and intelligence solutions in the areas of analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, big data, business intelligence, and custom product portfolio.\nRead More", "answer groups": [ "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [ "support & philanthropy", "alliance & partnership", "expanding geography", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "GCP Fund LLC Partners Up with Leading Businesses in New York to Maximize Their Cash Flow. PR.com\n)--GCP Fund has reportedly partnered up with several leading businesses at its headquarters, New York, to aid their post-COVID rehabilitation. The lending firm has increased its structured joint venture approvals to improve the increasingly worrying cash flow situation of old and new investors, developers, and contractors across all boroughs of New York.\nSince its inception, the asset-based lender has streamlined investment, acquisition, and development of many commercial projects across the United States. Structured joint ventures are the latest in a long line of financing solutions the hard money lender has introduced.\nThrough our latest financing solution, we hope to ease the financial burden of New York-based commercial real estate investors and developers, said a source close to GCP Fund. We want to see people back at work as much as the next New Yorker, and by partnering up with us, you can see office buildings, restaurants, and hotels at full capacity sooner rather than later. We hope borrowers will be open to having us on board as more than just lenders and make it a win-win for everyone concerned.\nGCP Fund provides financing for the purchasing and development of the very establishments that were the hardest hit by the pandemic. The firm has invested in warehouses, hotels, motels, hospitals, churches, office buildings, multi-family properties, restaurants, and other places involving personal interaction.\nStructured joint venture financing is the latest in a long line of commercial real estate solutions provided by GCP Fund, including construction loans, bridge loans, permanent financing, acquisition financing, mezzanine loans, private commercial loans.\nThe lending firm grants loans from $1MM to $100MM to experienced and first-time investors and developers across New York. Since these loans are asset-based, they dont require an income or credit check.\nFor more information about the financing solutions and loan application process, go to https://gcpfund.com/.\nAbout Global Capital Partners Fund, LLC\nGlobal Capital Partners Fund is the top asset-based lender of private loans based in New York. The company has approved several private commercial loans for small and large-scale projects. Their financing solutions range between short-term and long-term loans, which come with experienced in-house underwriting services.\nAuthorization\nI, Ricky Taylor, am an authorized distributor of news and have the authorization to use the companys name, Global Capital Partners Fund, in press releases.\nContact Information", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "hiring", "event organization", "regulatory approval", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Renton-based investor buys Vivacity Care Center building in Spokane Valley for $7.7 million. (509) 459-5581\nA Renton-based investor has purchased a building occupied by Vivacity Care Center in Spokane Valley.\nSpokane Valley Clinic LLC, whose principal is Soyam Vahora, CEO of Renton-based Aamir Stations, bought the building for $7.7 million earlier this month from Spokane investor John Pariseau, according to Spokane County Assessors Office records.\nPremera Blue Cross and Vera Whole Health opened the 12,000-square-foot Vivacity Care Center, at 16009 E. Indiana Ave., last year, marking the third location in the Spokane area.\nThe center is part of Premeras plan to expand advanced primary care services in Spokane. Premera and Vera Whole Health opened the first Vivacity Care Center at 9001 N. Country Homes Blvd. in January 2020.\nClayton J. Brown, Christopher Edwards and Ruthanne Romero, investment specialists in commercial real estate brokerage Marcus & Millichaps Seattle office, represented the seller.\nVahora was not immediately available for comment on the purchase.\nPremera Blue Cross holds a long-term lease for the Vivacity Care Center in the building, according to a Marcus & Millichap company release.\nPremera Blue Cross did not respond to a request for comment on its lease agreement with Vahora.\nMountlake Terrace-based Premera Blue Cross is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. It provides health benefits and services to more than 2 million people.\nThe Spokesman-Review Newspaper\nLocal journalism is essential.\nGive directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds.\nSubscribe to the Coronavirus newsletter\nGet the days latest Coronavirus news delivered to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletter.", "answer groups": [ "expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment", "product updates", "alliance & partnership", "investment in public company" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Legend Food Service Continues East Coast Expansion with the Acquisition of Two Leading Food Service Providers in the Metropolitan DC Area. May 6, 2021\nBALTIMORE Legend Food Service (Legend), a leading provider of workplace convenience solutions, announces that it has acquired Vending Plus in Linthicum Heights, Maryland and Jel-Cap Vending in Windsor Mill, Maryland. Both businesses will now operate underneath the Legend umbrella and be managed by the Legend executive team.\nTo expand its reach, Legend Food Service has purchased six legacy companies since inception and four in the last seven months.Kyle Loughran, Founder and CEO of Legend, says, These acquisitions underscore Legends commitment to expanding our industry-leading products and customer service to new markets and customers. We are thrilled to bring our fresh and innovative workplace food service to the Mid-Atlantic region.We can now service customers fromNorthern VirginiatoMassachusetts.\nBoth acquired companies have a long history of operating in the region. Vending Plus started operating in 1986 and has customer relationships that span more than 30 years. Jel-Cap Vending, founded by brothers Jerry,Elliot and Larry Caplan, started in the 80s, as an extension of Caplans Deli, then transitioned into a full-time vending operation in 1989. While each business brings its unique strengths and experience to the table, Legend plans to invest and expand Jel-Cap Vendings commissary allowing Legend to offer fresh food and catering services across the region. As the industry evolves towards offering healthier and fresher food options, Legend Food Service is one of the only independent operators in Mid-Atlantic creating its own food, allowing the company to provide superior products and enhanced customization to its customers.\nWe love this industry because of its stability and opportunities for both growth and efficiency, saysNick Duda, Legend Head of Corporate Development. Both our customers and investors have been amazed by how scale and investment in a historically overlooked and undercapitalized industry have created tremendous benefits for everyone.\nThe company plans continued investment, organically and inorganically, for the year and beyond. We think weve found the secret sauce in a space that is ripe for disruption, saidKevin Koehr, Vice President of Operations. Our laser focus on using new technologies, coupled with our start-up mentality on transforming the food services industry, will allow us to continue growing this company for our employees, customers and investors. We have found the right boat in a rising tide.\nTerms of the two deals were undisclosed. Foradditional inquiries, contactBen Adams\nor visit legendfood.com.\nAbout Legend Food Service:\nLegend Food Service is a leading provider of workplace food solutions including vending services, office coffee service, micro-markets, pantry service, water service, catering and office supplies inNorthern Virginia,Washington DC,Maryland,Pennsylvania,New York,Connecticut,Rhode IslandandMassachusetts. Founded in 2018, Legend Food Service has been acquiring and investing in vending companies across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "hiring", "investment in public company" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Curiteva Adds Steve Cichy as Strategic Advisor and Erik Erbe, PhD, as Vice President of Clinical and Research. /PRNewswire/ -- Curiteva, Inc. announced today the addition of\nSteve Cichy\nas a Strategic Advisor to the rapidly growing technology company headquartered in\nHuntsville, Alabama\n. Cichy is an industry veteran who most recently led the Titan Spine sales organization for 13 years through a successful acquisition by Medtronic in 2019. \"I recognized Curiteva as a true platform company with world-class manufacturing and operations. I appreciate the company's passion for innovation highlighted by their acquisition of Fossil Labs last year. I'm confident, based on my recent experience, that this is the next generation of novel interbody technology and I wanted to be a part of the team when it hits the market later this year.\"\nThe company also announced the hiring of\nErik Erbe\n, Ph.D., as Vice President, Clinical and Research. Dr. Erbe is a 30-year industry veteran with over 50 issued U.S. patents and specific expertise in chemical processing of ceramic biomaterials, innovative biologics, and clinical research. \"What Todd Reith and the team at Curiteva are doing with 3D printing will alter the course of bone healing and open the door to significant advancement within orthopedics, trauma, and neurosurgery,\" stated Dr. Erbe.\nCuriteva released limited details regarding the technology but has described it as Fused Filament Fabrication 3D printing of PEEK to deliver an implant with controlled interconnected macroporosity throughout the entire implant rather than only the endplates. In addition, the technology boasts advanced hydrophilicity and increased bioactive surface area for osseointegration that will revolutionize interbody fusion in spine as well as adjacent markets in healthcare and medical device.\n\"Steve and Erik are talented, experienced leaders in our industry. We are honored they are joining Curiteva to drive our commercial success and guide the launch of our novel interbody platform,\" stated CEO\nMike English\n. Curiteva announced the close of an oversubscribed Series A raise at\n$20.5 million\nin September of 2020 and plans to deploy the capital to expand infrastructure and drive the successful commercialization of its novel R&D platform in 2021.\nAbout Curiteva\nCuriteva is a privately held technology and manufacturing company dedicated to advancing spine surgery and improving clinical outcomes by partnering with providers and suppliers to deliver innovative and intuitive implant systems to the market. Our business is founded on a commitment to building world-class manufacturing, accelerating research and development, maintaining lean operational discipline, and delivering novel technology to meet the evolving needs of our customers and the patients they serve. For more information, please visit www.curiteva.com\nRelated Images", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "subsidiary establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Online Brands Try a Traditional Marketing Strategy: Physical Stores. Square Feet\nOnline Brands Try a Traditional Marketing Strategy: Physical Stores\nAs digital advertising costs rise, more direct-to-consumer retailers are opening shops, leasing turnkey options or securing short-term spaces in other stores.\nSend any friend a story\nAs a subscriber, you have\n10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share.\nGive this article\nRead in app\nVanessa Barboni Hallik, founder of Another Tomorrow, a direct-to-consumer brand that opened a store in Greenwich Village.\nCredit...\nDeSean McClinton-Holland for The New York Times\nBy\nMarch 23, 2022,\n3:00 a.m. ET\nWhen Vanessa Barboni Hallik began working on a new line of sustainably sourced womens apparel, she envisioned a direct-to-consumer model that would bypass traditional retailers and the complicated, often revenue-draining world of wholesale.\nShe started her company, Another Tomorrow, as a digital business six weeks before the onset of the pandemic, relying on social media and search engine advertising to reach potential customers. But opening a physical store was always part of her plan.\nMs. Barboni Hallik, a former Morgan Stanley managing director, focused on Greenwich Village, a robust residential Manhattan neighborhood that had a surfeit of storefront vacancieseven before the pandemic.\nI felt a gravitational pull toward a more residential space, she said. And it felt meaningful to make an investment in an area that needed a shot in the arm.\nMs. Barboni Hallik is not alone among e-commerce entrepreneurs who are turning to physical stores. Many retailers ramped up their e-commerce efforts while Americans were stuck at home during lockdowns, but for others, the pandemic presented new real estate opportunities.\nSome larger online brands like Warby Parker and AllBirds have expanded with physical locations for several years, and smaller companies are now experimenting as well, opening free-standing shops, leasing from a retail service or securing short-term spaces in other stores.\nBusiness owners are motivated by multiple factors. Some have always included brick-and-mortar outposts as part of their strategy, adopting whats known as an omnichannel approach, which provides a seamless shopping experience across desktop, mobile and physical platforms.\nFor others, renting a store has become more attractive because the cost of acquiring customers through social media advertising has become prohibitive, said Michael Brown, a partner in the consumer products and retail practice at Kearney, a consulting firm. The tipping point varies, he added, but it typically occurs where growth has slowed and the cost of acquiring new customers has increased.\nEstimates of an often-cited retail metric known as customer acquisition costs range from $100 to more than $800 per customer, said Daniel McCarthy, a professor at Emory Universitys Goizueta School of Business, who has done extensive research in the field. In addition, changes to Apples operating systemfor its mobile devices make it harder to send targeted ads to potential customers; Google recently announced work on privacy settings for its Androidoperating system.\nMs. Barboni Hallik thought that her store in Greenwich Village would attract potential customers who might overlook online advertising. The location was available for roughly 18 months, and she is negotiating a new lease.\nNewer retailers, however, often dont come from a bricks-and-mortar background and dont want to commit to a long-term lease, said Naveen Jaggi, the president of retail advisory services at JLL, the commercial real estate company. As a result, he said, property owners have become more flexible.\nThe big trend line we have seen during the pandemic is that many landlords are starting to recognize that in order to attract different brands that can make their property stand out, they will have to go to shorter lease terms, he said.\nRents in some high-traffic areas, whether in malls or premium urban neighborhoods, have held to prepandemic levels, he added.\nImage\nMs. Barboni Hallik thought that her store would attract potential customers who might overlook online advertising.\nCredit...\nDeSean McClinton-Holland for The New York Times\nIn addition to shorter leases, some landlords are offering more generous tenant improvement allowances. And taking a percentage of store revenue in lieu of a fixed rent, while not a new strategy, has become more common.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "article publication", "product launching & presentation", "foundation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "ChemDirect On B2B Chemical Marketplace Popularity. Email\nFew verticals are as vital or as global as the chemical industry, where the raw materials that cross borders find their way into everything from computer chips to potato chips. Shortages of those chemicals and bottlenecks in supply chains ultimately translate into shortages on shelves of everything from beauty products to paint cans.\nAnd yet, the chemical buying process itself, in which buyers connect with suppliers, place orders and get them fulfilled, is archaic and paper based. As ChemDirectCEO Tyler Ellisontold Karen Webster, Its extraordinarily opaque.\nIts a highly fragmented market, too, said Ellison, marked by $6 trillion in sales volume but where even major players have low single-digit market share.\nIts also marked by intermediaries including distributors, so transparency into end demand (and supply) is, to put it mildly, less than optimal. There are any number of causes of friction in the supply chain, said Ellison, tied to regulatory and political events everything from pandemics to production disruptions to tariffs.\nThe inefficient sales cycles can be improved considerably, he said, with two-sided automated, direct and digital marketplaces that bring buyers and sellers online in an experience that changes not just sourcing and price discovery, but the entire procurement process.\nThe urgency is there, and Ellison said ChemDirects genesis stems from his own time as CEO of a chemicals manufacturing company that led to frustration with lack of visibility into end markets and the multiple steps involved in getting orders in place.\nThe conversation came amid ChemDirects announcement earlier this month that it had launched version 2.0 of its website, with enhanced point, click and buy capabilities, as well as faster delivery speeds.\nIn terms of mechanics, as the platform is embedded into enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems via application programming interfaces (APIs), a chemical buyer can shop on the marketplace for the best pricing from verified chemical suppliers and manufacturers. The manufacturers, he said, are vetted (internally) by the platform (additional verification and security checks come from the payments partners).\nSuppliers are given a digital storefront at no cost, allowing buyers to shop directly and access those suppliers marketing materials and accreditation certificates. Along the way, he said, eliminating the distributors from the equation (and from the marketplace) allows those suppliers to build up their brands as they become known and trusted by the buyers.\nFinding the Tipping Point\nIn constructing the marketplace, which debuted last year and took six months to build, once wed reached that tipping point, the customer acquisition has been very good, said Ellison.\nHe added that the most recent enhancement of the site serves all manner of buyers and suppliers, from larger firms down to technical buyers (who scout for chemicals with different characteristics and even impurities) to occasional buyers who might be considered long tail users.\nThe companys platform also has payments functionality built in. Ellison noted that ChemDirect has partnered with Balance, a B2B payments firm, and Stripe to offer terms across a range of payments optionality, from ACH to cards. The payments functionality built into the platform allows payments to be staged based on certain milestones or approvals and receipts.\nAnd in a departure from what seems to be the fashion du jour no blockchain or cryptocurrencies are in the mix.\nThe Logistics Puzzle\nBeyond payments, Ellison said that one key failing of most B2B eCommerce sites centers on the fulfillment side of the equation. The average time till fulfillment in the chemicals space lasts anywhere from 12 to 20 weeks; the average fulfillment time with ChemDirect is three and a half days.\nOne of the of the things weve learned about institutional buyers is that they like a permission-based system, he said. If youre the procurement director, you might have 15,000 of monthly permissions to buy, and weve digitized that whole process. Knitting together a more digital value chain and skipping all those steps benefits everybody.\nThat shortened fulfillment time has positive ripple effects up and down supply chains as firms cut down on their inventory and re-ordering costs, he said.\nIn the future, the platform will continue to bring buyers and sellers together globally, with focus on the largest production regions in Asia, including India and China, and the largest consumption regions, marked by the U.S. and western Europe, he said.\nFurther advances in payments will be tied to continued efforts to understand the processes and constraints around foreign producers. As Ellison said: Some of them need prepayments, others do not. Still other firms can forward position inventory under a range of terms. We need to map out workflows before we overlay solutions.\nMonetizing the Data\nThe wealth of data accumulated on the platform across buyers and sellers can hint at changes in the market in the surpluses or shortages that loom. Case in point: Ellison recounted how in the early throes of the pandemic, isopropyl alcohol (and all the things that go into it) saw spikes in demand in the thousands of percentage points. In March of last year, ChemDirect was among the only places that had access to isopropyl alcohol. Passing the demand data along to the manufacturer allowed it to adjust its production.\nWe consider ourselves the demand scouts of the industry, he said, with data that may be, eventually, monetized while creating a B2C experience in a B2B marketplace.", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "hiring" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Acquisitions are Central to growth. No comments\nSuccession will continue to be on the minds of a lot of businesses owners in 2022 and is presenting companies like Central McGowan with growth opportunities. After three acquisitions in 2021, Central McGowan President/CEO Joe Francis is not ruling out more this year.\nSource: Central McGowan\nCobot welding package\nWere growth minded and opportunistic, and I believe there will be more acquisitions down the road, its just a matter of when and what market, what type of business, Francis told gasworld.\nWhile we dont set particular metrics or have a specific acquisition strategy, we continually seek out opportunities as its certainly in our DNA. We have a comprehensive process for vetting them out.\nThe market around us is fairly stable. There are not a lot of small independents left from a welding supply standpoint, but you never know if you continue to expand geographically what might be out there. And we have three business units: distribution, automation and CO2 solution, so the net we cast is pretty broad. We are looking at investing back into the business with physical assets and people.\nThe Minnesota-based distributor completed its third acquisition of 2021 in November with Preferred Welder Sales in Mankato, Minnesota, following deals for Metro Welding Supply in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in April and Fessler Carbonic Gas in Des Moines, Iowa, in March.\nCentral McGowan also expanded its carbon dioxide (CO\n2\n) business with the acquisition of St. Paul, Minnesota-based Jasons Beverage Carbonation Company in 2019. It now has seven locations, spread across Minnesota and areas of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin. ColdZERO Central McGowans own brand of dry ice is manufactured fresh daily at its St. Cloud and St. Paul locations.\nPreferred Welder Sales provided access to a new customer base for us and allowed us to expand into southern Minnesota, Francis said.\nIt jump starts our potential in southern Minnesota. Metro was also a new customer base and both fit us well culturally. We were able to expand our Twin Cities market and it expanded our capability to include welding and automation after the Jasons acquisition for theCO\n2\nmarket in 2019. Fessler Carbonic is different than the other two their whole business revolves around beverage carbonation and supporting customers needing CO\n2\n. \nWeve gotten pretty good at operating a beverage carbonation business. We have a pretty good recipe in making those type of businesses a success. \nWith headquarters in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Central McGowan is a diversified independent distributor of industrial, medical and food and beverage gases; welding equipment/technology and supplies; and dry ice. This year, Central McGowan celebrates 75 years in business and Francis is the third generation from his family to lead the company which has been expanding.\nAnd these are exciting times for the company with the acquisitions.\nPreferred Welder Sales has served the Mankato area and southern Minnesota since 1987, specializing in the farm and auto industries as well as servicing and repairing most brands of welding and cutting equipment. Fessler Carbonic Gas - founded in 1940 - is a beverage carbonation business with customers all over Iowa.\nFessler delivers high-pressure cylinders of carbonic and nitrogen gases and beverage gas equipment; does on-site refills ofCO\n2\nvia bulk tankers; and installs and maintains beverage equipment for restaurants, bars, convenience stores, stadiums, microbreweries and more. The acquisition more than doubled Central McGowans beverage carbonation business, and built upon the 2019 acquisition of St. Paul, Minnesota-based Jasons Beverage Carbonation Company which has been rebranded as Central McGowan CO\n2\nSolutions.\nMetro Welding Supply is a bustling welding distribution store that has served the Minneapolis area since 1985.\nFrancis says all three acquisitions became available due to succession.\nAll three of the acquisitions in 2021 related to succession planning. Each of the owners had no internal successor and were looking at retirement, Francis said.\nSuccession is relevant to a lot of independent distributors this year and Meritus Gas Partnerships established a little over a year ago has signed up five distributors to its platform with the aim being to establish a national federation of independent distributors of industrial, medical and specialty gases and associated welding and safety supplies.\nSource: Central McGowan\nFrancis believes there will be more acquisitions related to succession this year across the industry.\nI do think there will be more acquisitions in the industry this year, Francis said.\nI think Meritus has a unique strategy, I know the folks there, and I wish them success. Succession challenges are certainly out there, I dont know whether I would call it one of the biggest issues for distributors right now. However, the pandemic coupled with the unknowns of whats coming from a tax implication standpoint, have people more actively looking at what their options are. If they dont have an internal successor, its likely that they are looking at being able to be acquired by somebody.\nWe [Central McGowan] got lucky, we went through a succession planning process, ownership and management, ten years ago. Im third generation, and what I learned is that the commitment and support of the second generation is vital to ensure the transition to third generation is successful. Theres no way we could have done what we did without that support. People are starting to realize that succession is a big challenge and trying to figure out their plans.\nFrancis says another big challenge the industry will face in 2022 is the labor market, including recruitment, retention and training.\nWhile the lack of drivers often gets the spotlight, the tight job market is much broader than that, Francis said.\nYou also have supply chain disruption. We try to buy a lot of our products locally but we are not immune to supply chain issues.\nSource: Central McGowan\nCO\n2\navailability caused problems for some in certain regions over the summer months especially last year. Central McGowan expanded its Fargo, North DakotaCO\n2\ndistribution hub to be a fully-stocked retail store and distribution site in October 2020 and has managed to keep its customers stocked withCO\n2\nIn the Midwest we have a big supply ofCO\n2\nwith the ethanol plants so we are a little bit safer from a total supply point but it does ebb and flow and it has fluctuated in the past, Francis said.\nBut it has been challenging. What we have managed to do is invest heavily in our bulk fleet, so we pick upCO\n2\nourselves. Weve balanced out where we pick up product and invested in increasing our storage capacity across a few different locations.\nWhen things got tight over the summer, thats when we got an influx of spot buying calls which we turned away. We need to make sure our current customers dont run out, so we havent taken on some of that new busines", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "participation in an event", "regulatory approval", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Naborforce Continues its Expansion into Atlanta to Empower Aging Adults and Family Caregivers with Backup Sons and Daughters On-Demand. ,\nMarch 23, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Naborforce, a fast-growing company that has reimagined care and companionship to address the increasing challenges for family members caring for aging adults, today announced that it has expanded its multi-state, on-demand support services to the\nAtlanta\narea. Local residents in\nAtlanta\nare powering the award-winning Naborforce model to spark joy and help older adults age gracefully in place while addressing the area's caregiver shortfall.\nNaborforce is the first and only technology platform to dispatch a carefully vetted network of local \"Nabors\" ready to provide light assistance to older adults before medical care is needed. As Naborforce expands into the\nAtlanta\nmarket, the eldertech company is adding to its network of compassionate Nabors who are motivated by a desire to support older adults in their own community by providing social engagement and on-demand support for errands, transportation, and help around the home.\nNaborforce is entering the\nAtlanta\nmarket at a time when the region is experiencing an increase in family caregivers who need support as they struggle to juggle the demands of caring for an older loved one while attempting to maintain careers, family obligations, and their own health. \"Our highly vetted network of compassionate individuals represent the best of\nAtlanta\nand are ready to provide desperately needed respite and peace of mind to family members,\" said\nPaige Wilson\n, founder and CEO of Naborforce. \"Our approach is hyperlocal and is based upon the strength of community supporting community. Nabors in our network are local residents who are purpose driven and looking to give back. They consist of empty nesters, retirees, grad students, and others with the desire to make independent and joyous aging possible for older adults in our community.\"\nAs a proven model for community engagement and family support, Naborforce's technology platform has provided support and companionship for clients and their families in Richmond, VA;\nWilliamsburg, VA\n; and\nCharlotte, NC\n. Services typically include companionship, preparing meals, light housework, help with technology, hobbies and games, grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, trips to the salon, social events, and more.\n\"What makes Naborforce different is that we are not a healthcare company. We're a solution that relies on the strength of community to fill the gap at the very front end of the care continuum that homecare and healthcare cannot,\" said Wilson. \"By tapping into our unique and intrinsically motivated network of Nabors, we are able to provide needed support and are leading the charge of the future in the home.\"\nBeginning immediately, Naborforce is available for social engagement and on-demand support in\nAtlanta\n. Older adults and/or family members in the area can sign up quickly and schedule visits online or by phone. There are no contracts, extensive consultations, or length of visit requirements beyond one hour. Family members can be added to the Naborforce platform so that they can receive updates, notes, and photos from a Nabor visit.\nPassionate and caring community members of the\nAtlanta\narea wanting to impact the lives of older adults in their area and residents wishing to easily secure a \"Nabor\" for on-demand support can learn more by visiting", "answer groups": [ "expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [ "m&a", "service & product providing", "funding round", "support & philanthropy" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Civica Rx will provide insulin for no more than $30 a vial. Her insulin is too expensive ... so she's been forced to cut doses\n02:28\n(CNN)\nCivica Rx, a non-profit generic drug maker backed by hospitals, insurers and philanthropies, announced Thursday that it plans to manufacture and sell insulin for no more than $30 a vial. It is expected to be available as soon as early 2024, pending federal approval.\nInsulin, which more than 8 million Americans with diabetes depend on, has been a poster child for the soaring cost of prescription drugs\nThough insulin was discovered more than a century ago and costs little to make, the list price of the brand name products that Civica Rxis targeting is roughly $300 per vial, according to the Gary and Mary West Foundation, which co-founded Civica Rx. The cost has nearly tripled since 2010.\nThe high cost has led an estimated 1 in every 4 people with diabetes to ration or skip doses, according to a study published in 2019 in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine. Patients who are Black, Latino or Native American are disproportionately affected since they are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured.\nThere have been multiple efforts to help diabetics afford their medication, the latest being a $35 cap on insulin prices that President Joe Biden called for in his State of the Union addresson Tuesday. Congress, however, has yet to pass such a measure. It was contained in the Democrats' $1.75 trillion Build Back Better package which is on hold in the Senate\nRead More\nCivica Rx, which was founded in 2018 to manufacture generic drugs that are in short supply or subject to price spikes, aims to produce three insulin products that will be available in vials and prefilled pens. They would be interchangeable with Lantus, Humalog and Novolog and be co-developed by GeneSys Biologics, a biopharmaceutical company based in India.\nA box of five pen cartridges will cost no more than $55.\nBefore it can roll out the medications, however, Civica Rx needs to complete clinical trials and receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Also, it must finish building a 140,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Petersburg, Virginia.\nThe non-profit is raising $125 million to undertake the insulin effort and has secured commitments for more than two-thirds of the funds, Ken Boyden, executive director of The Civica Foundation, said in a statement.\nThe venture will eventually be self-sustaining, said Shelley Lyford, vice chair of Civica Rx's board. It will initially produce enough insulin to cover about 30% of the market.\n\"Those who are going to benefit greatly from this opportunity that we are providing at Civica are those who are underinsured or uninsured who cannot afford to pay for their drugs,\" Lyford said.\nUnlike other efforts, which focus mainly on lowering what patients pay for insulin, Civica Rx aims to reduce the price of the medication itself.\n\"Civica's goal to produce and sell insulin at very low prices could be an important disruption to the current system,\" said Stacie Dusetzina, associate professor of health policy at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. \"There are a couple of big potential wins for consumers.\"\nSearch", "answer groups": [ "regulatory approval" ], "distractor groups": [ "product updates", "event organization", "foundation", "product launching & presentation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Aegis Living Forms Coronavirus Advisory Council. Save\nBELLEVUE, Wash., June 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic reinforces the urgent need to provide leading-edge care for the country's most vulnerable seniors. As one of the nation's most established providers of assisted living and memory care services, Aegis Living recognizes the long-term implications of the virus on the safety, health and wellness of its residents, families and caregivers. The company is taking bold, new steps guided by the latest clinical expertise to keep its residents and staff safe and healthy during this unprecedented health crisis and beyond.\nToday, the company announced the creation of the Aegis Living Coronavirus Advisory Council, a group comprised of physicians and medical experts from some of the nation's leading medical and research institutions and representing a core set of disciplines critical to the health of older adults. The Council is launching with seven initial members representing epidemiology, immunology, geriatrics, psychology, naturopathy and more.\nCharles Bernick, M.D., MPH, University of Washington, UW Medicine\nRebecca Conant, M.D., University of California, San Francisco\nGlenn Hammel, Ph.D., Private Practice\nJoseph Pizzorno, ND, Institute for Functional Medicine\nJoshua T. Schiffer, M.D., M.Sc., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center\nEric Sievers, M.D., BioAtla\nBecky Su, L.Ac, M.D. (China), Private Practice\nFor over 20 years, Aegis Living has leveraged clinical expertise to help develop and inform its standards, practices and approaches to exceptional resident care. The new Council will extend this expertise even further.\n\"Aegis Living has and will continue to lead the industry through this pandemic and into the future based on deep scientific understanding of the virus and the latest best practices for protecting our senior population,\" said Aegis Living CEO Dwayne Clark. \"The coronavirus and its devastating impact on the fragile population we serve has brought into sharp focus the immediate need to evolve how we care for aging adults, keeping them safe while helping them live full lives. The creation of the Coronavirus Advisory Council is a critical part of this effort.\"\nAs the world looks ahead beyond the coronavirus pandemic, senior living companies will be a critical component of the health care continuum, a relatively new role for senior living and one that will increasingly require more advanced clinical knowledge, innovation and knowhow.\nAegis will look to researchers to teach the organization about how the virus travels, how it is evolving and where it may be headed next. It will look to leading medical experts and institutions for progressive thinking on how to best care for its fragile population physiologically, emotionally and cognitively. And it will look to naturopathic doctors to understand how alternative medicine may aid in long-term wellness. The company will leverage this knowledge to evolve its care planning in the short- and long-term.\n\"It is an honor to join Aegis Living's proactive mission as we collectively confront the pandemic,\" said Eric Sievers, M.D., Virus Council member. \"The swift dissemination of best practices based upon scientific evidence now enables us to actively prevent new infections. I am confident Aegis Living will continue to improve both the lifespan and health span of its residents and lead the way for others serving vulnerable populations.\"\nThe Council will meet four times annually, starting in July 2020, with other ad-hoc meetings, as needed. The company is evaluating how to best share its learnings so other senior living providers can benefit as well.\nFor more information on how Aegis Living is responding to the coronavirus crisis, visit: https://www.aegisliving.com/communications\nAbout Aegis Living\nAegis Living\nis a national leader in senior assisted living and memory care with a simple philosophy: make every day count. With more than 22 years of experience, it is known for its innovative approach to supporting residents along the continuum of care, from light assistance to advanced dementia; an eye for innovation and staying on the frontlines of design; and an employee-centric company culture. With every community, Aegis Living creates a living environment where residents can feel at home and inspired to live life to the fullest. The privately held company is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and operates 32 communities in Washington, California and Nevada, with 7 additional communities currently in development.\nFor more information, visit www.aegisliving.com Follow the company on Twitter @Aegisliving and Facebook at www.facebook.com/AegisLiving\nView original content to download multimedia:", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "department establishment", "funding round" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Single Cell Genome Sequencing Company BioSkryb Raises $11.5M in Seed Funding Round. Single Cell Genome Sequencing Company BioSkryb Raises $11.5M in Seed Funding Round\nDrs. William E. Evans and Siddhartha C. Kadia appointed to Board of Directors\nNews provided by\nJan 09, 2020, 08:00 ET\nShare this article\n,\nJan. 9, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- BioSkryb, a developer of genomic amplification technologies that deliver higher coverage and fidelity for gene sequencing, today announced it raised\n$11.5 million\nin new funding. This Seed round was led by venture capital firm Anzu Partners and included the law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. The funding will accelerate BioSkryb's product roadmap and its commercialization efforts to enable enhanced levels of genomic and transcriptomic analyses for translational research and clinical diagnostics.\n\"Existing DNA amplification systems simply cannot provide the level of coverage and accuracy researchers need to fully understand the genomics of individual cells, where the amount of available genetic material is miniscule,\" said\nJay West\n, PhD, cofounder and Chief Executive Officer of BioSkryb. \"This amplification technology provides an unprecedented level of clarity and paves the way for a new era of genomic research, especially for single cell genomics in cancer research, and for bacterial genomics.\"\nBio\nS\nkryb's proprietary genomic amplification technology allows scientists working with scarce genetic material to achieve high quality gene sequencing data. The technology provides uniform coverage of almost the entire genome, allowing for unparalleled accuracy in DNA variant calling. The technology will support a new wave of single cell and low DNA input genomics applications in diverse areas of life sciences research, including cancer biology, microbiology, and genetics.\n\"Bringing the study of genetics down to the cellular level will lead to unexpected discoveries about normal biology, as well as human diseases such as cancer,\" said\nCharles Gawad\n, MD/PhD, cofounder of BioSkryb and physician-scientist at\nStanford University\n. \"The challenge has been that the data quality produced from existing genome amplification methods is insufficient to perform these types of studies. BioSkryb's new, much more accurate genome amplification technology solves this problem and will accelerate our understanding of human and bacterial genetics, and ultimately, be used to develop single-cell diagnostics for oncology and other areas of medicine.\"\nThe company also announced that it has appointed\nWilliam E. Evans\n, PharmD and Siddhartha C. Kadia, PhD to its Board of Directors. Dr. Evans served as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's fifth President and CEO from 2004 to 2014 and currently holds the St. Jude Endowed Chair in Pharmacogenomics. Dr. Kadia previously served as President and CEO of EAG Laboratories in\nSan Diego, CA\n, and President, Life Sciences Division at Life Technologies Corporation, a company that was acquired by\nThermo Fisher\nin 2014.\n\"Drs. Evans and Kadia each bring decades of valuable leadership experience to BioSkryb, and we are delighted they are joining its Board of Directors to help the company grow and commercialize its technology globally,\" said\nDavid Michael\n, Managing Partner of Anzu Partners.\nFor more information about BioSkryb and its technology, please visit: https://bioskryb.com\nBioSkryb will be presenting at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) conference\nFebruary 23-26, 2020\nMarco Island, FL.\nAbout BioSkryb\nBioSkryb is a venture-backed developer of genomic amplification technologies that deliver unprecedented coverage and fidelity for various gene sequencing applications. Its proprietary genome amplification technology was developed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in\nMemphis, TN.\nFor more information, please visit: https://www.bioskryb.com/\nAbout Anzu Partners\nAnzu Partners is a venture capital and private equity firm that invests in breakthrough industrial technologies. Anzu teams with entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize technological innovations by providing capital and deep expertise in business development, market positioning, global connectivity, and operations. For more information, please visit https://anzupartners.com On Twitter: @anzupartners\nCONTACT", "answer groups": [ "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [ "product updates", "support & philanthropy", "executive appointment", "foundation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cellnex finds taker for 3 200 French towers. Cellnex finds taker for 3,200 French towers\n21 MAR 2022\nInfrastructure player Cellnex Telecom reached an agreement to divest more than 3,200 sites in France to Phoenix Tower International (PTI) and its JV partner, a deal which fulfils conditions imposed as part of an acquisition of Altice Europes tower business in the country in 2021.\nOf the towers set to change hands, 1,226 will be owned by PTI directly while the other 2,000 will be held within the latters venture with operator Bouygues Telecom.\nAll the assets transferred are in very dense areas, Cellnex explained in its statement on the transaction.\nIn a separate disclosure, PTI noted the addition of the 1,226 towers it will own in their entirety would see it add SFR as a second major operator client in France. The 2,000 being put into its JV will enhance its relationship with partner Bouygues Telecom, it added.\nCellnex was obliged to divest the sites as part of terms imposed by the French Competition Authority (FCA) to approve its acquisition of Altice Europe infrastructure business Hivory and associated holding company.\nThe FCA will have to approve the divestment to PTI before the deal is finalised.", "answer groups": [ "service & product providing" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding industry", "company description" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Suez Canal Bank selects Temenos core package. 0\nSource: Temenos\nTemenos (SIX: TEMN), the banking software company, today announced Suez Canal Bank has selected Temenos Infinity to transform the digital customer experience for its retail and business banking.\nTemenos Infinity provides a complete digital platform for Suez Canal Bank, covering the entire customer lifecycle from customer onboarding, account opening and digital servicing. With Temenos Infinity, the bank is able to bring new products to market faster, accelerate digital customer onboarding and increase front office efficiency to achieve a market-leading cost-income ratio.\nBy making more banking products and services accessible and optimized for mobile devices and leveraging advanced technologies like AI for example for a new Chabot service, Suez Canal Bank aims to accelerate the shift from serving customers in branch to its digital channels. This will help the bank achieve its strategic goals to grow sustainably while delivering more value to customers and shareholders.\nCairo-Based Suez Canal Bank is in the top 10 banks Egypt with over EGP50 billion in assets and a network of 48 domestic branches. It offers personal, corporate and Islamic banking products and services, including customized banking solutions to meet the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).\nDigital banking is a top priority for Suez Canal Bank in relation to increasing financial inclusion. According to World Bank figures, Egypt's population of 64.7 million people over the age of 15 is largely dependent on cash with only 32.8% holding bank accounts. With Temenos Infinity, Suez Canal Bank customers will enjoy a seamless and frictionless digital experience to manage their cards and accounts, pay bills and other payments, apply for new products and services and engage with the bank via chat - all from their mobile device.\nTemenos Infinity also enables Suez Canal Bank to empower the decision making of its customers with smart banking solutions such as relevant insights and suggestions using personalized data and AI capabilities. This helps to remove the complexity of business banking to enable SME owners to focus on running their business and assists individual customers with the day-to-day decisions that affect their personal and financial lives.\nSuez Canal Bank is under process to upgrade of its Temenos Transact core banking system and together with Temenos Infinity is now able to achieve an end-to-end digital banking transformation.\nHussein Refaie, Chairman and Managing Director of Suez Canal Bank, commented: We are delighted to partner with Temenos to take our digital banking to the next level. Temenos is the market-leader in digital banking technology and has a strong local presence and record of success with banks in Egypt and the MEA region. Enabling and building engagement with our customers via digital channels is a key growth driver that will help Suez Canal Bank to attract a new generation of customers. This is a priority to support our growth plans but also as a boost to financial inclusion in Egypt.\nJean-Paul Mergeai, President of APAC and MEA, Temenos, said: Suez Canal Bank has a long history with over 40 years of leadership in the banking sector in Egypt. The bank is undergoing an ambitious digital transformation and we are proud of the coordination between Temenos and the Information Technology division to finalize this phase in Suez Canal Banks development. The impact of Covid-19 has accelerated the need and opportunity for digital banking and with Temenos Infinity, Suez Canal Bank is primed to fast-track the digitization of products for its retail, corporate and Islamic banking customers and drive innovation in the market.\nSuez Canal Bank joins a growing list of the top in Egypt to choose Temenos Infinity to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives, including Arab Investment Bank, and Egyptian National Post Organization (ENPO) and Banque du Caire.\nRelated Companies", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "support & philanthropy", "investment in public company", "new initiatives & programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Analysis-U.S. credit 'relief' rally could be short-lived as Fed rate risk looms. Analysis-U.S. credit 'relief' rally could be short-lived as Fed rate risk looms\nRead full article\nMarch 25, 2022, 7:02 AM\nFILE PHOTO: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing in Washington\nBy Davide Barbuscia\nNEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. credit markets saw some respite after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates last week, but the relief is expected to be short-lived as uncertainty around the U.S. central bank's ability to engineer a soft landing for the economy continues to weigh on risk assets.\nCorporate bonds have had a rough start to the year as worries that tighter monetary policies could dent companies' profits and raise borrowing costs made investors more cautious.\nBut after the Fed increased rates by a quarter percentage point last week, corporate credit has seen some buying activity, moving in line with a stocks rally which was partly driven by investors comforted by more clarity on rate hikes and the Fed's decisive action against surging inflation.\nThe yield spread on the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index, a commonly used benchmark for junk bond demand, had risen to 421 basis points as of March 15 - its highest since December 2020 - from 305 basis points at the start of the year, as investors pulled back from the market.\nThose yields dropped by 25 basis points on March 16, when the Fed hiked rates for the first time in three years and set out an aggressive path for hikes for the remainder of the year. Yields have dropped further since, and stood at 367 basis points on Thursday.\nSimilarly, the yield indicated on the ICE BofA U.S. corporate index, which tracks dollar-denominated investment grade-rated corporate debt, dropped last week, from 152 basis points - which was its highest since July 2020 - to 146 basis points. It fell further to 132 basis points this week.\n\"Credit spreads have generally rallied in sympathy with risk assets more broadly post-Fed,\" said Lauren Wagandt, a U.S. investment grade fixed income portfolio manager at T. Rowe Price. \"Post-Fed, we have seen yield-based buyers step in, as all in corporate yields have risen and volatility has come down.\"\nSpreads refer to the interest rate premium investors demand to hold corporate debt over safer U.S. Treasury bonds. They narrowed last year as government debt yields dropped, driving money into securities with lower credit ratings than Treasuries.\nStory continues\nFed Chair Jerome Powell said on Monday the central bank must move quickly to counter soaring inflation and that it could use bigger-than-usual rate hikes if needed, causing a sharp sell-off in government bonds.\nDespite the credit rally, investors say the uncertainty around the Fed's ability to reduce inflation without causing a recession is an underlying risk.\n\"We believe the rally was more of a relief rally and will end up being short-lived given the same risks remain in place,\" said Wagandt.\nThat is already starting to show. BlackRocks iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF - an exchange-traded fund which tracks the U.S. junk-bond market jumped 1.4% on March 16 to trade at $81.7 a share, but it has lost momentum this week.\nIts investment-grade corporate bond equivalent has also lost some steam, dropping 1.3% from last week to trade at $120.22 a share on Thursday.\nNeil Sutherland, portfolio manager at Schroders, said corporate spreads had widened to a point that, absent a recession, could be a good buying opportunity, particularly for overseas investors.\n\"You may have a window where spreads do OK in the next couple of months ... the key thing is, can the U.S. economy avoid recession in the face of an aggressive Fed? I think the jury's still out on that,\" he said.\n(Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; editing by Michelle Price and Jonathan Oatis)\nRecommended Stories\n3 Top AI Stocks Ready for a Bull Run\nArtificial intelligence is integrated into so many products and services that we use every day that we hardly notice that it's there. The loan origination business is long overdue for disruption, and Upstart Holdings' (NASDAQ: UPST) AI-based platform is doing just that. The company's AI also makes applying for a loan ridiculously easy, with more than 70% of loans being fully automated.\n3h ago", "answer groups": [ "company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "clinical trial sponsorship", "service & product providing", "expanding geography" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX). Summary\nClorox is acquiring Nutranext in a bolt-on deal to move into vitamins.\nI question the strategic rationale behind this bolt-on as many financial questions still have be answered as well.\nTruth remains that shares have been lagging a bit as of recent despite tax reform, as higher interest rates make alternatives more appealing.\nIf shares hit the $110s, I might find it appealing to buy into Clorox, but for now, I am not pulling the trigger yet.\nClorox (\nCLX\n) announced a bolt-on deal which did not really move investors as it is looking to add Nutranext to its line of offerings. Shares were trading largely unchanged in reaction to the transaction as some real questions can be asked around this bolt-on deal. Not only are sales multiples relatively high and the deal expected to be dilutive to near-term earnings per share, it can be argued that it falls out of Clorox's core expertise as well, creating potential challenges.\nWhile I am not that impressed with the performance of Clorox over the past decade, the truth remains that this is a reliable and slow growing business. Shares have been lagging a bit recently amidst interest rates moving higher while Clorox has been a key beneficiary of the tax reform. With multiples approaching 20 times, shares are appealing if they fall to the $110s.\nAdding Nutranext\nClorox announcedthat it has reached an agreement to acquire Florida based Nutranext. The health and wellness company produces and markets dietary supplement brands through retailers, e-commerce channels as well as direct-to-consumers. Roughly 90% of sales are generated in the US.\nNutranext is best known for its Rainbow Light brand, the second vitamin brand in the natural channel. Other brands include Natural Vitality and Neocell and the Stop Aging brand.\nClorox CEO Benno Dorer notes that Clorox is looking to apply its skills in brand building, innovation and digital marketing to accelerate growth of Nutranext within the Clorox family. He furthermore stresses that this deal fits with 2016 purchase of RenewLife, a brand focused on digestive health. To combat scepticism that Clorox is overextending in other categories, Mr. Dorer stressed that RenewLife has grown under the ownership of Clorox.\nThe company will need to fork over $700 million to acquire the brand with annual sales of $200 million, valuing the business at 3.5 times sales. This does not pressure Clorox in a big way (at least financially) as the company expects to remain within its target leverage ratio of 2.0-2.5 times. The company has admitted that the deal will dilute earnings by $0.07-$0.11 per share in the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year and by $0.08-$0.12 per share in the fiscal year of 2019.\nUnlike most deals, these earnings predictions are based on GAAP accounting, as a deal often involves one-time financing costs, inventory step-up charges, integration expenses and other costs. If all goes well, the deal should be accretive to 2020 earnings. Investors unfortunately will have to wait until the company reports its third-quarter results (in May) to learn more about the deal and the financial implications.\nAdding To The Clorox Family\nClorox is essentially a family of leading brands in disinfecting wipes, bleach, diverse range of cleaners, litter, trash bags, and food wraps, among others. Roughly a third of the $6 billion annual sales number is generated from the cleaning category, a third from households, with the remainder split evenly between the international and lifestyle category.\nGiven the nature of the businesses in which Clorox is active, one can argue that deals like RenewLife and Nutranext make sense as they are distinctive product categories, but could be framed adjacent categories as well. All of Clorox's brands and categories focus on healthier homes, workplaces and better value/healthiness for consumers. Furthermore, it fits within the current lifestyle category which Clorox is looking to expand.\nThe deal furthermore helps Clorox in expanding e-commerce sales from a modest 4% of total revenues at this moment in time. These sales of $225 million are aspired to more than double to half a billion by 2020.\nA focus on innovation and building brands is a key reason why Clorox has been successful. The company reported very fat operating profits of $1.12 billion on its $5.97 billion in annual sales in 2017.\nGrowth Is Not That Impressive\nWhile Clorox claims to have a great growth profile, this potential has not really translated into actual sales growth despite growing markets and focus on innovation. Revenues have grown from $5.3 billion in 2008 to $6.0 billion on a trailing basis, as the cumulative 13% sales growth works out to just a percent per year.\nOn top of this modest growth, Clorox has bought back 7% of its outstanding share base over the past decade, resulting in revenue per share growth of little over 20% over the past decade. This is still not very impressive as it is just keeping up with cumulative inflation over this same period of time, as revenue growth per share comes in less than 2% per annum.\nOne thing is clear, expectations have risen accordingly over time, in part aided by the low interest rate environment. Shares have risen 130% over the past decade, far outpacing earnings per share growth as multiples have only risen over time. For the year of 2017, earnings per share have only come in at around $5.33 per share, which at $128 per share works out to elevated valuation multiples of 24 times earnings and 3 times sales (on an enterprise basis).\nBased on the guidance provided back in August, Clorox guided for earnings of $5.52-$5.72 per share this year, working out to a 23 times multiple at the midpoint of the guidance range.\nPro-Forma Numbers\nThe company reportedsecond-quarter results for its fiscal 2018 in February. Sales are seen up 1-3% in 2018, yet tax reform is expected to provide a real boost to earnings, with adjusted earnings now seen between $6.17 and $6.37 per share.\nThe company operates with a net debt load of $1.8 billion by the end of the second quarter. Including the announced deal, this will jump towards $2.5 billion. The company is currently on track to post sales of $6.0 billion on a standalone basis which combined with 17% margins works out to $1.05 billion in operating earnings (GAAP number). The company itself posted an adjusted EBITDA number of $1.28 billion in 2017, which makes a $1.30 billion number realistic for this year (standalone). That is equivalent to a +20% margin.\nIf we assume that Nutranext posts margins of 15% (no indication given), it will contribute another $30 million to that number. That still suggests that leverage comes in at a little less than 2.0 times EBITDA based on net debt. Assuming a similar 2-3% depreciation charge in relation to sales, Nutranext might contribute $25 million in EBIT. That does indeed confirm that this is a strategic investment which grows Clorox by about 3%, but brings little to no short-term earnings accretion as financing charges on $700 million in inc", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive statement", "ipo exit", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "West Offers Patients Even More Oncology Treatment Options. West Offers Patients Even More Oncology Treatment Options\nShare Article\nWest joins launch of new technology platform, OneR, to increase trial therapies for patients.\nIts an exciting time for cancer research, and this new initiative will give our patients and their families more treatment options than ever before!\nMEMPHIS, Tenn. (PRWEB)\nOctober 22, 2020\nAs an affiliate of OneOncology, West Cancer Center & Research Institute now has the ability to further its clinical trial offerings and oncology research knowledge by joining the launch of OneR.\nOneR is a new, unprecedented technology platform and collaboration throughout the OneOncology network that provides seamless clinical trial management, increased access to trial therapies for patients, and more oncology research information readily available to our clinicians. Patients can participate in clinical trials for specific cancer types, in an effort to decrease side effects of current treatments, or with aims to improve disease outcomes and now, with the implementation of OneR, these efforts are supported more than ever before.\nMitch Graves, CEO of West Cancer Center states, We are incredibly excited to join the launch of OneR! This new platform allows us to offer more clinical trials to patients in need by centralizing business functions, regulatory submissions, and clinical trial matching technology while also maintaining our flexibility to participate in other clinical trial initiatives managed by our in-house Clinical Research Department. Its an exciting time for cancer research, and this new initiative will give our patients and their families more treatment options than ever before!\nRecently, West added Research Institute to its name to ensure the priority and focus it has on clinical research was made apparent and embedded into its culture. This new opportunity only further promotes its many initiatives to increase oncology research across the globe.\nShare article on social media or email:\nView article via:", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment", "support & philanthropy", "patent publication", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "108Labs embraces IP incubation model to fund scalable cell-cultured dairy. 108Labs embraces IP incubation model to fund scalable cell-cultured dairy\n108Labs embraces IP incubation model to fund scalable cell-cultured dairy\n22 Mar 2022 --- 108Labs has unveiled its M2 smart bioreactor milk production platform, bringing the US-based company closer to cell-cultured breast milk and bovine dairy ingredients. In addition, licensing the technology will help bring in extra funding, CEO Shayne Giuliano tells NutritionInsight.\nWe know we cant build the 170,000 factories needed to replace cows ourselves, so we are building an intellectual property (IP) incubation and B2B business model that can accelerate the field by creating turnkey solutions. Food, dairy and pharmaceutical companies around the world can then leverage these to build their own Pure M2 factories, he states.\nBy minimizing the barrier to entry for the production of Pure Milks made with M2 and showing what is possible with product development and existing collaborators, 108Labs believes it can convince corporates to invest internally in M2 and Pure.\nWe can then attract all the capital investments worldwide needed to [improve babies well-being] as soon as possible with Pure Human Milk, and replace cow farming for the majority of the worlds supply of bovine milk by 2040.\nPure Milk is any cell-cultured milk made with Pure Mammary Factors cell medium and growth factors.\nSolving all the problems?\nWithin 108Labs, there are numerous entities including Pure Mammary Factors, which aims to reduce the barrier of entry for Pure dairy product research and product commercialization.\nM2 combined with Pure Mammary Factors may solve all the problems with cell-cultured milks, from the first safe to consume cell-cultured milk to scalability to affordability to global accessibility, he states. \nDeveloping M2 combined with Pure Mammary Factors, in particular, is where we think we can have the biggest impact on convincing companies around the world to invest in cell-cultured milk research now.\nThis is to get on the path to commercial phase dairy food replacement, humanized infant formula and prescription drugs as soon as possible.\nThe only way\n108Labs believes technology like M2 is the only path to commercializing cell-cultured milks.\nIt is almost impossible to produce food-grade milk with manual methods because non-food-grade buffers are needed to remove milk bioreactors from incubators by hand to manipulate them.\nTherefore, M2 is billed as a turnkey wetware, software and hardware milk-making stack driven by AI to reduce the cost and accelerate the scaling of cell-cultured milk production worldwide.\nGiuliano estimates that completion of the first stack could take around 18 to 24 months from now.\nBecause of the nature of software-driven solutions, once we have completed our first stack which I actually think of as an artificial cow our second artificial cow can be built in an hour, he notes.\nGiuliano stands in front of redacted M2 architectural design, which reflects plans for cell-cultured cheese.\nTaking advantage of bioactivity\nGiuliano highlights that M2 is a species-agnostic platform that is engineered to produce replacement milks not alternative milks.\nThe same molecules as those found in raw human breast milk or raw bovine milk. Except that M2 produces safe to consume raw milks, which are suitable for therapeutic and food product research and development without pasteurization.\nHe continues that applications are the same as all current milk applications if not more.\nHumanized infant formula, prescription drugs, cheese, butter, French toast anything you can make with milk today, except with Pure Milks, we get to take advantage of the full bioactivity of these molecules in a way no one ever has who doesn't drink raw milk.\nGuiding investment\nGiuliano says the self-funded research incubation model at 108Labs is moving toward licensing and consulting as it transitions to commercial focuses.\nWe have yet to accept investment at 108Labs, but we have accepted investment in 108Labs-affiliated entities. We expect to attract more investment into product development once we complete the transition from research into commercial phases of cell-cultured milk development over the next three to seven years, he states.\n108Labs is also planning to license its emerging fields of cell-cultured milks and antibodies with partners around the world.\nWe dont talk publicly about our partners because these fields are so competitive, and we want to work with everyone possible to impact the world the most, says Giuliano.\nThe company does give exclusivity in some cases, at least geographically, but long-term, it wants to support as many partners as possible.\nElectron microscopy image of secretory milk IgA immunoglobulins.\nEmbracing the full-stack approach\nExpanding on the meaning of a stack, Giuliano explains full-stack usually includes client software and server software serving some purpose.\nIn the case of M2, the client is a smart bioreactor that includes hardware and sensors and pumps connected to our AI and server stack, which includes both distributed and centralized computing.\nAltogether, this allows 108 Labs to control the operations of milk bioreactors around the world with artificial intelligence from its headquarters in Hillsborough, North Carolina.\nDue to the laborious nature of cell-cultured milk production which is actually a tissue engineering rather than suspension cell-culture biotechnology we believe that only through automated, AI-controlled solutions and smart stacks that take into account all the hardware, wetware and software requirements can cell-cultured milks become commercially successful, Giuliano emphasizes.\nThe road ahead\n108Labs has numerous worlds first goals for the next two years, including launching a turnkey smart bioreactor platform capable of producing any species of cell-cultured milk, FDA-approved cell-cultured milk, affordable food-grade medium and growth factors and a replacement cell-cultured cheese.\nWere also targeting the first human milk prescription drug to enter trials and the first infant formula using fully human molecules, says Giuliano.\nAll these goals come from a simple focus on mastering mammary cells. Everything we do right now moves us close to all these goals. We can only achieve all these goals at once by building collaborations with companies that can invest and develop these products with our help, Giuliano emphasizes.\nBy Katherine Durrell\nThis feature is provided by\nFoodIngredientsFirst", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "regulatory approval", "company description", "hiring", "foundation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Local Highgate Senior Living Community Opens New Information Center. Leave a Comment\nSeniors and their loved ones of Flagstaff now have a great local resource for information on all aspects of senior living. Highgate Senior Living opened a premier information center for the Highgate of Flagstaff community. Highgate at Flagstaff Information Center opens at 617 North Humphreys Street, Suite 101 in Flagstaff, AZ 86001.\nJosh Bryant, Highgate Senior Livings Community Relations Coordinator, is now available full time at Highgates new information center to answer questions about assisted living and memory care, personalized programs for couples or singles, what to look for in a senior community and more.\nIts all about finding the best quality of life, said Bryant. Im not just here to sell people on Highgate. Im here to listen to your needs, and help you find the best solution.\nThat said, Bryants excitement about the Spring 2021 opening of Highgate on the Mesa was apparent. The location is stunning. Its one of the best properties in Flagstaff. Its a jaw-dropping view, continued Bryant.\nHaving lived in Flagstaff during his high school years and then moving to Phoenix to pursue his career in the senior living field, Bryant was thrilled with the opportunity to return to the area with his wife and daughter. Bryant explained, I lived with my grandmother growing up, so Ive always had an affinity for the elderly. When Highgate approached me with this opportunity, I couldnt say yes fast enough.\nIn addition to its uniquely spectacular setting, Highgate offers a unique holistic approach to care by getting to know each individual as a whole mentally, physically and emotionally. In the spa, relaxing foot and hand massages are enhanced with Highgates own signature aromatherapy scents. To boost memory and health, residents are encouraged to exercise, eat nutritious foods, hydrate, and find enjoyable ways to stay actively engaged in life. Their care partners also advocate with families and physicians to make sure all medications are right and necessary, as part of a personalized program of care.\nLocated at 1831 N. Jasper Drive, the new Highgate assisted living and memory care community is close to the Flagstaff Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona. Its also right across from Buffalo Park, so residents will be able to take a nice stroll there, and well even have a Walking Club, Bryant noted.\nAt Highgate at Flagstaff Information Center, visitors are welcome to review floor plans, get an update on construction status, discuss living and care options, or even reserve a suite. Were a smaller community compared to some of the others, so well be filling up pretty fast. Now is a good opportunity to select the exact apartment you want, Bryant suggested.\nConstruction of the new assisted living and memory care community officially began on July 9 with a groundbreaking ceremony that included local officials and other members of the community eager to get a peek at the roughly $25 million project that will include 60 suites with studio, one- and two-bedroom options for assisted living residents, and 32 spaces for individuals with mid- to late-stage cognitive impairment.\nHighgate invites anyone interested in learning more to visit them online or stop by the information center.\n###\nMore About Highgate Senior Living:\nHighgate Senior Living is a privately owned company with ten senior living communities in four western states. It is known for its unique holistic approach to care, an emphasis on independence and purposeful living regardless of age or ailment, and a particular expertise with complex medical issues and severe cognitive impairment.\nTo learn more, please visit:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "closing", "company description", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Hudson Regional Hospital Announces Acquisition Of Advanced da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. ,\nJune 28, 2018\n/PRNewswire/ --Hudson Regional Hospital proudly announces its acquisition of the highly advanced da Vinci Xi surgical robot, building towards its promise of providing the residents of\nSecaucus\nand its neighboring communities with a sophisticated, modern facility that provides cutting edge, high-quality healthcare services to its patients.\nHudson Regional Hospital's procurement of the da Vinci XI robotic surgical system which follows its recent acquisition of the Mazor Robotics Renaissance Surgical Guidance System is the most recent example of the hospital's new ownership's commitment towards investing in advanced technologies that will greatly benefit the community. These minimally invasive treatment options can drastically improve the quality of life for patients with significantly reduced recovery time.\n\"As the role of technology in modern medical care grows larger every year, we believe there is substantial opportunity to expand robotic usage across all our practice areas,\" said Dr. Nizar Kifaieh, President and CEO of Hudson Regional Hospital. \"As such, we continuously assess available or emerging technologies, such as the multi-limbed da Vinci system that enables our surgeons to perform better and with minimal invasion therefore benefitting our surgical teams and ultimately, our patients. Our goal is to put the right technology in the hands of our capable and skilled surgeons to provide patients with the best possible clinical outcome.\"\nConsidered one of the most dynamic tools for robotic surgery in the world, the da Vinci robotic surgery system delivers a high degree of fidelity and precision in the control of surgical instruments. Operated by a trained surgeon who is in full control throughout the procedure utilizing dedicated equipment, the system improves comfort for both surgeons and patients alike.\n\"We can now provide a minimally invasive surgical approach for a wide range of patients and surgical complexities,\" said Dr.\nYitzhack Asulin\n, Hudson Regional Hospital's female pelvis reconstructive and robotic surgery director. \"Gone are the days of a long painful recovery from an open traditional hysterectomy or myomectomy; our patients now can take advantage of this state of the art robotic surgery system and undergo the most complex pelvic surgeries which require only a couple tiny incisions that are only 1/3 of an inch in size.\"\nDr. Asulin continued, \"The techniques available with the da Vinci robotic surgical system result in significantly reduced post-operative pain, very small incisions, little to no blood loss, much quicker recovery, and a significantly less aggressive opioid pain medication regimen an important consideration. We can typically send patients home the same day or the morning following a procedure.\"\nIn addition to gynecological procedures, the da Vinci robotic surgical system will provide minimally invasive surgical options for patients who have prostate cancer, herniation, bariatric surgery, and general surgery.\n'\"Led by a 'patient-first' philosophy, it is Hudson Regional Hospital's mission to provide superior and compassionate care no matter what brings them to our hospital,\" said\nYan Moshe\n, Chairman of the Board. \"Acquisitions such as the da Vinci XI surgical robot reflect our commitment to improve the overall patient experience, while working to solidify the medical center's reputation as a leader in the advancements of medicine, facilitator of exceptional care and trusted resource for the Northern Jersey communities we serve.\"\nHudson Regional Hospital is an acute care, 200-bed hospital, located between the shores of the Hackensack River and overlooking the Meadowlands and\nNYC\nskyline. For more information on the new Hudson Regional Hospital please visit www.HudsonRegionalHospital.com\nView original content with multimedia:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "product launching & presentation", "closing", "new initiatives or programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Bancassurance Market Set for Rapid Growth During 2021. ReportsWeb\nBancassurance\nReportsWeb delivers well-researched industry-wide information on the Bancassurance market. It studies the markets essential aspects such as top participants, expansion strategies, business models, and other market features to gain improved market insights. Additionally, it focuses on the latest advancements in the sector and technological development, executive tools, and tactics that can enhance the performance of the sectors.\nGet Sample Copy of the Report @\nhttps://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00014301812/sample?utm_source=openpr&utm_medium=10300\nThe report evaluates the key vendors engaged in the Bancassurance market including:\nABN AMRO, ANZ, Banco Bradesco, American Express, Banco Santander, BNP Paribas, ING Group, Wells Fargo, Barclays, Intesa Sanpaolo, Lloyds Banking Group, Citigroup, HSBC, NongHyup Financial Group, Nordea Bank\nThe study conducts SWOT analysis to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the key players engaged in the Bancassurance market. Moreover, the report undertakes an elaborate examination of drivers and constraints operating in the market. The report also evaluated the trends observed in the parent market, along with the macro-economic indicators, prevailing factors, and market appeal according to different segments. The report also predicts the influence of different industry aspects on the Bancassurance market segments and regions.\nTotal Market by Segment:\nGlobal Bancassurance Market, By Type, 2016-2021, 2022-2027 ($ millions)\nGlobal Bancassurance Market Segment Percentages, By Type, 2020 (%)\nLife Bancassurance\nChina Bancassurance Market, By Application, 2016-2021, 2022-2027 ($ millions)\nChina Bancassurance Market Segment Percentages, By Application, 2020 (%)\nAdults\nOther\nCompetitive scenario:\nThe study assesses factors such as segmentation, description, and applications of Bancassurance industries. It derives accurate insights to give a holistic view of the dynamic features of the business, including shares, profit generation, thereby directing focus on the critical aspects of the business.\nTo inquire about the discount available on this Report, visit @\nhttps://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00014301812/discount?utm_source=openpr&utm_medium=10300\nMajor highlights of the report:\nAn all-inclusive evaluation of the parent market\nThe evolution of significant market aspects\nIndustry-wide investigation of market segments\nAssessment of the market value and volume in the past, present, and forecast years\nMarket share evaluation\nStudy of niche industrial sectors\nTactical approaches of the market leaders\nLucrative strategies to help companies strengthen their position in the market.\nKey Points from TOC:", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "product updates", "closing", "department establishment", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Norwalk photos: Rebel Daughter Day in Art Park. Tweet\nThe Art Park Pop Up Market around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. (John Levin)\nLiz Perpek, marketing director for Frannys Farmacy in Westport. Westport is the first franchise of this hemp and CBD products producer and distributor with a store on 33 Elm Street. They have an application pending for a THC products license in Westport. The store has partnered with Easton Grows to locally grow hemp products on town of Easton owned farm land. (John Levin)\nNORWALK, Conn. John Levin took these photos Tuesday in the Isaacs Street parking lot owned by real estate broker Jason Milligan.\nRebel Daughter Cookies has taken the space formerly solely occupied by Nutty Bunny, on the eastern side of the former Leonard Street municipal parking lot. Owner Anna Grossman organized a women-owned business pop-up and about 30 companies attended, Milligan said. It was a grand opening that coincided with International Womens Day.\nShe was pleasantly surprised with the number of businesses that wanted to participate and with the turnout, Milligan said. It seems like the visitors and businesses would be interested in doing it again.\nGrossman, a Wilton resident, started the business in November 2019, and opened its bakery and pickup location at 21 Isaacs St. last month, Levin said. Her cookies are f amazing I accused her of being a crack dealer.\nInside Rebel Daughter, where other businesses were selling stuff: Nutty Bunny non-dairy ice cream, Sylvias Kitchen, and others. (John Levin)\nJenifer Milano of The Vintage Horse. Shes from Trumbull. (John Levin)\nProducts from Frannys Farmacy in Westport. (John Levin)\nFrom left, Chelsea Daniel, Alix Daher, and Anne Grossman. (John Levin)\nProducts from Frannys Farmacy in Westport. (John Levin)\n(John Levin)\nJohn Levin said he tasted this AMAZING Chili Oil product made by Norwalker Aya Forster and its labeling is accurate. (John Levin)\nNorwalker Aya Forster and her Chili Oil products. (John Levin)\nProducts from Frannys Farmacy in Westport. (John Levin)\nNorwalker Ilana Eck, founded Stylish Spoon to offer gluten free amazing baked goods, and will be opening a production facility on Water Street in April or May, John Levin said. At left is Norwalker Genie Morris, loyal longtime Stylish Spoon customer and also the founder and manager of Norwalk Moms, Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/norwalkmoms/?hl=en and https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/norwalkmoms/ (John Levin)", "answer groups": [ "regulatory approval" ], "distractor groups": [ "product launching & presentation", "foundation", "subsidiary establishment", "funding round" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Lasers penetrate Battleship New Jersey. Lasers penetrated the thick armor of the Battleship New Jersey on the Camden Waterfront Tuesday.\nBut the crew and tourists on the retired ship and floating museum were safe.\nThis was not an attack meant to destroy the nation's most militarily decorated battleship, but an effort to help preserve it.\nA Mount Laurel company used advanced laser and photo technology to create a three-dimensional, near photographic image of the entire 887-foot-long ship with all its decks, compartments and weaponry.\nMuseum officials said the images will form a historical record and be used for educational purposes and ship maintenance.\nEventually they hope to use the images for virtual tours for disabled military veterans and other visitors who cannot negotiate the many ship decks or climb the ladders between them.\nThe technology would show sections of the ship closed to the public and nook-and-cranny spaces too small for anyone to enter.\n\"We are very excited about this opportunity. Never before has the battleship been documented this accurately,\" said Jack Willard, the museum's senior vice president of marketing and sales.\n\"Using this new technology will give us the opportunity to really showcase the No. 2 Gun Turret, featured in our newest premium tour, the Turret II Experience, with three-dimensional views and cross sections never before seen.\"\nHaag 3D Solutions, LLC, a Mount Laurel geo-spacial services division of Haag Engineering, Forensic Engineers & Consultants, digitally documented the ship in conjunction with the digital solutions company Leica Geosystems, a digital solutions company that also supplied equipment for three laser teams.\nOne of the crews concentrated documentation efforts on the interior of No. 2 Gun Turret, one of three main deck turrets, each of which has three guns 16 inches in diameter and 66 feet long.\nCrews arrived just after dawn Tuesday and finished by late afternoon.\nThe all-volunteer project will be completed in time for the Sept. 10 meeting of the West Jersey Chapter of the New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors, which will be held on the battleship.\nThe project was a demonstration of the latest documentation technology a combination of 3D laser scanning, high dynamic range photography and standard survey techniques.\nEach year Haag 3D Solutions selects a nonprofit, historical structure to record and visually document. Last year, the historic Barclay Farmstead in Cherry Hill was laser-scanned and documented. The technology is regularly employed to document large building construction sites.\nChristopher Zmijewski, Haag 3D Solutions vice president, said his firm is dedicated to reaching out and providing its technology and experience to the community.\n\"Having the Battleship New Jersey in our backyard provides a unique opportunity to completely scan the ship,\" he said.\n\"We recognize how ... documentation technology can be used to enhance future visitor and educational experiences while documenting the ship as the engineering marvel she is.\"\nReach Carol Comegno at (856) 486-2473 or ccomegno@courierpostonline.com", "answer groups": [ "service & product providing" ], "distractor groups": [ "regulatory approval", "support & philanthropy", "closing", "executive statement" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Ironbark Zinc Ltd project validated by prospective cornerstone investor. Argo Blockchain mines the crypto vein\nStreamlined ImmuPharma pushes ahead with drug research efforts\nFTSE 100 ends lower as investors shun risk amid rising inflation\nPlenty to Tues from: BP cash bonanza, Ocado robot wars, SSE activist threat, and TUI's dilution risk\nYooma Wellness looks to replicate success of management team in CBD and wellness market\nJoules shares recover some lost ground despite profit shortfall\nTesla holding nearly US$2bn worth of Bitcoin\nBP promises to over invest in Britain as shouts for windfall tax continue\nJubilee builds for the future at Inyoni, as interim results show earnings at 29.5mln\nClearVue Technologies looks to secure place in US supply chain through D2Solar agreement\nPharma & Biotech\nIronbark Zinc Ltd (ASX:IBG)\nhas successfully concluded a Phase I due diligence period with US EXIM Bank and has received a Preliminary Project Letter (PPL) outlining EXIMs intention to extend up to US$657 million in debt funding to Ironbark to cornerstone the development of the Citronen Project in Greenland.\nNote further due diligence and EXIM board approval is still required and the company remains in a trading halt until tomorrow morning.\nThe Citronen Zinc Project has an initial 20-year mine life and the potential to rank as a top 10 global zinc producer.\nIBG expects that with an advanced pathway to securing project financing, the project should attract widespread interest from a range of participants seeking to participate in its development.\nTurning point for Citronen Project\nWe are delighted to announce this US EXIM PPL, which marks a genuine turning point in the life of the Citronen Project, with proper recognition of the scale and quality of the asset from the capital markets for arguably the first time, Ironbark managing director Michael Jardine said.\nWe could not ask for a better prospective cornerstone than US EXIM; they will be an excellent partner for Ironbark and its stakeholders as we move forward into what will be another busy 12 months.\n\"The interest from a top tier financial institution further validates Citronens status as a Tier 1 zinc project and is a testament to the strong fundamentals offered by Citronen, as the company moves closer to becoming a strategic zinc producer.\nWe have seen in the last six months, since Ironbark updated its BFS, a substantial shift in perception with respect to zinc and the role it will play in the future.\n\"Now officially a USGS Critical Mineral, the physical zinc market has also shown a formerly underappreciated tightness and we have seen the price respond in a reasonably sustained fashion in recent months. All these factors are flashing green when considering what a very long-life asset such as Citronen potentially offers the market.\nWe look forward to updating the market on our progress throughout the first half of 2022, as we finalise our project financing package.\nPreliminary Project Letter\nEXIM worked with Washington based Greengate LLC, an independent financial advisory firm, to assess Ironbarks application in relation to the development of the Citronen Zinc Project.\nIt used the initial Phase 1 due diligence process as a pre-requisite for obtaining final approval from the EXIM Bank Board.\nIronbark submitted its loan application in August 2021 and since then US EXIM and its advisers have undertaken considerable due diligence on Citronen.\nThe prospective credit is not yet binding, however, the Preliminary Project Letter (PPL) signals US EXIMs intent to seriously consider Ironbarks funding application and provides project sponsors with a process and issues list to resolve prior to a formal loan offer.\nIBG sees this PPL as a welcome endorsement of the fundamentals of the Citronen Zinc Project.\nIt comes at a time when zinc consumption is growing as the transition to carbon neutrality gains global traction.\nWith the amount of debt funding, IBG should need no additional project debt funding if the EXIM facility is successfully closed on the terms outlined in the PPL.\nThe PPL also provides Ironbark with guidance on key issues for Phase 2 due diligence, including completing further financial, technical, environmental and legal reviews as determined by EXIM Bank (including finalisation of construction arrangements).\nWhats next?\nPhase 2 due diligence will commence in early 2022 and will be focused on addressing the points raised by US EXIM in the PPL.\nFurther information will be provided on the key steps and timing of that process, including the means to obtain US EXIM board approval and subsequent drawdown, when confirmed between the parties.\nIBG has also started to identify and consider prospective equity investors.\nQuick facts:", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "company description", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Tennessee Doubles Down in Support of Animal Cruelty by Showcasing the Big Lick on New State Archives Building. News Search\nSearch\nTennessee Doubles Down in Support of Animal Cruelty by Showcasing the Big Lick on New State Archives Building\nNews Provided By\nNovember 30, 2021, 14:33 GMT\nShare This Article\nTennessee State Archives Building Displays 'Big Lick'\nTennessee State Archives Building Displays 'Big Lick'\nTennessee State Archives Building Exterior | Photo Credit: Elvis Wilson\n#BanTheBigLick\nNew Building Features Tennessee Walking Horse Performing Unnatural, High-Stepping Gait Induced by Torturing and Soring Horses\nIts shameful to see the State of Tennessee double down in support of the pain-based big lick gait thats now displayed on the walls of its new archives building.\nMarty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness Action\nNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, USA, November 30, 2021 /\nEINPresswire.com\n/ -- Today, Animal Wellness Action, the Animal Wellness Foundation, and the Center for a Humane Economy, weighed in on the State of Tennessees New Archives Building that features a giant engraving of a big lick Tennessee Walking Horses on its walls. While the new facility opened in April of this year, the engraving of the big lick horse on its entrance went largely unnoticed until a local anti-soring advocates contacted AWA about the display this week.\nIts shameful to see the State of Tennessee double down in support of the pain-based big lick gait thats now displayed on the walls of its new archives building, said Marty Irby executive director at Animal Wellness Action and a past president of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders & Exhibitors Association who was recognized in 2020 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, II for his work to end soring. This exaggerated movement of the horses front legs is induced by driving nails into the sensitive part of the horses feet or by applying burning chemicals onto their pasterns and then putting giant, stacked shoes and ankle chains on their feet. This image should be archived only as a historical footnote about this animal cruelty that runs rampant in the state.\nThe Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which would help end soring, has long been blocked by Senators from Tennessee and other southeastern states and enforcement of the 1970 Horse Protection Act by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has been intermittent at best, with just a handful of criminal prosecutions of violators. AWA has been pushing for comprehensive legislation to root out soring and stop this abuse from being put on display at numerous horse shows in the South.\nPlacing the big lick on the faade of the new state archive building is a brazen and embarrassing display of animal cruelty, especially when the University of Tennessee and other state institutions dont want anything to do with this kind of malice toward horses, added Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy. Since the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act was first introduced in 2012, more than 350 members of the U.S. House and Senator strong majorities in both chambers, including lawmakers from both parties have called for reform and the end of this abuse.\nEarlier this year, Animal Wellness Action executive director Marty Irby published a series of articleson the scourge of soring, and the political maneuvering that has ultimately led to a stalemate on the issue of soring in Washington, D.C. And this new development comes on the heels of convicted horse-abuser Jackie McConnell returning to the world championship show.\nBackground:\nLeaders at Animal Wellness Action have worked to enact the PAST Act since 2012 when it was first introduced in the U.S. House by Reps. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. The original measure would ban the use of large, stacked shoes and ankle chains in the showring, eliminate the industrys failed self-policing program, and would increase penalties for those caught soring horses.\nThe PAST Act only achieved passage of the measure through the House in 2019 as result of changing the bills name to the U.S. Senator Joseph D. Tydings Memorial PAST Act to honor the late Joe Tydings, a Democrat for Maryland who authored the HPA in 1970 and passed away in 2018. The measure cleared the U.S. House by a vote of 333 to 96, but with opposition from Senators who hailed from Tennessee and Kentucky and 96 House Republicans opposing the measure, the bill was dead on arrival in the Upper Chamber. In light of that circumstance AWA pulled together representatives still involved in the breed to form revisions to the PAST Act that would help get the measure through the Senate, but that effort failed as well.\nThe PAST Act has been reintroduced in the 117th Congress by Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Ida., and Mark Warner, D-Va., now with 51 cosponsor in the Senate, and in the House by Cohen, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., now with 243 cosponsors, and remains pending with referral to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Senate Committee on Science, Transportation, and Technology.\nAnimal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies, and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and thats why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones dont. We believe helping animals helps us all.\nThe Animal Wellness Foundation (Foundation) is a Los Angeles-based private charitable organization with a mission of helping animals by making veterinary care available to everyone with a pet, regardless of economic ability. We organize rescue efforts and medical services for dogs and cats in need and help homeless pets find a loving caregiver. We are advocates for getting veterinarians to the front lines of the animal welfare movement; promoting responsible pet ownership; and vaccinating animals against infectious diseases such as distemper. We also support policies that prevent animal cruelty and that alleviate suffering. We believe helping animals helps us all.\nThe Center for a Humane Economy (the Center) is a non-profit organization that focuses on influencing the conduct of corporations to forge a humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal protection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibilities in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and embrace innovation as a means of eliminating both.\nMarty Irby", "answer groups": [ "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding industry", "service & product providing", "executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Echo3D Has Raised $4 Million for Cloud Authoring AR VR and 3D. No Comment\nNew York-based Echo3Draised $4 million for use in cloud authoring of virtual reality, augmented reality, and 3D content for various applications.\nEcho3D which was previously known as EchoAR wants to change how 3D, VR and AR content is streamed and stored. The company aims to reduce file sizes as well as development times for 3D objects that are used on apps and websites.\nEcho3D demo\nThe funding round was led by Konvoy Ventures. Also participating were Space Capital, Reimagine Ventures as well as the angel investors GitHub, Datadog, and Facebook. The announcement has come following Echo3Ds latest milestone of hitting registrations of 11,000 developer users worldwide since 2020.\nEcho3D was founded in March 2018 and provides tools and infrastructure that assist developers in creating lighter and faster 3D games and apps. It is a cross-platform solution for storing, managing and streaming 3D content to browsers, mobile devices, game engineers as well as smart camera devices at any place while also connecting all of these and extracting analytics.\nEcho3D had about 300 developers before the pandemic but its developer base grew rapidly once the platform took hold and many companies wanted to use it to build solutions with 3D assets.\nThe Echo3D technology can also be used for converting, compressing, and optimizing 3D models, interactive content and animations and streaming these to any headset, smartphone or browser. Developers have used Echo3D to build AR advertisement campaigns, cloud-connected games as well as NFT marketplaces.\nAccording to Echo3D cofounder Alon Grinshpoon, the backend infrastructure its product provides is crucial to the further growth of VR, AR, 3D and even metaverse, a universe of interconnected virtual worlds.\nHe describes Echo3D as a cloud platform for 3D applications which provides the tools and the network infrastructure that companies and developers need to build games, VR experiences, gear as well as 3D applications in general. Echo3D enables developers to store their animations, 3D model as well as interactive content which can subsequently be streamed to headsets, mobile devices and game engines as well as to browsers throughout the world.\nAn architectural firm could, for instance, use the Echo3D platform for its AR models by uploading assets to the platforms for items such as the 3D models of buildings and it becomes a small file that can be easily streamed via an iOS device.\nHow Echo3D Works\nGrinshpoon says his vision is for Echo3D to become like an Amazon Web Services for 3d or a go-to solution for 3d applications.\nThe company plans to use the new infusion of cash to increase its developer relations efforts as well as to grow its team of developers and marketers. Recently, Echo3D was named a Verified Solutions Partner for the Unity game engine by Unity which should make it easier for developers to utilize its 3D-first content management system (CMS) as well as the delivery network (CDN) which enable developers to build their app backend in a matter of minutes and also enables clients to more easily publish content to 3D apps and games without needing the assistance of development teams.\nEcho3D was founded by Alan Grinshpoon, Koren Grinshpoon (his twin brother), and Ben Pedazur.\nRelated Posts", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "subsidiary establishment", "company description" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Revitalist Provides Summary of 2021 Reporting Patient Visits of 5 000 a 128% Increase From 2020. Revitalist Provides Summary of 2021, Reporting Patient Visits of 5,000, a 128% Increase From 2020\nBack to video\nPatient Visits and Sales\nPatient visits grew extensively in 2021, totaling approximately 5,000, up 128% from 2020. Sales for the year ended December 31, 2021, totaled approximately $2,200,000 (unaudited), representing a 110% increase year over year. Monthly visits are listed in the chart above.\nExpansion\nRevitalist commenced the year with one clinic under operation and ended with seven clinics across four states in the USA. January 2022 announcements included the opening of an additional clinic in Washington, D.C and the acquisition of clinic assets in Jacksonville, FL bringing the current total to nine clinics in 6 states. In addition, the Company executed agreements during 2021 securing options to open nine additional clinics in the USA for a period of three years. The Company also proudly announced patient coverage with Medicare and other insurance providers during the year as well as multiple strategic collaborations including US Veterans Affairs and clinical study partners.\nAdvertisement\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\nArticle content\nRevitaland\nRevitalist acquired a 60% interest in Revitaland Meta Tech Inc. to expand virtual clinics in the metaverse (\nRevitaland\n). Revitaland virtual clinics will allow patients to work with clinicians who arent in the same physical space in real time.\nThe Metaverse is an expansive network of 3D worlds and simulations that support continuity of identity, objects, history, payments, and entitlements, and can be experienced synchronously by an effectively unlimited number of users, each with an individual sense of presence.\nAwards & Publications\nRevitalist CEO Kathryn Walker received Microdoses Entrepreneur of the Year award in November 2021 at Wonderland: Miami, the largest psychedelic medicine business event.\nAdvertisement\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\nArticle content\nClarus securities published coverage on the Company on October 25, 2021, with a speculative buy rating and a target of $1.50 per share. Revitalist was also featured by Forbes in an article highlighting the Companys holistic approach to ketamine treatments and the vision of its founder, Kathryn Walker.\nEquity Financing\nRevitalist successfully raised over $11,000,000 in 2021, with its last $3,000,000 financing closing in November 2021 whereby H.C. Wainwright & Co. acted as the exclusive placement agent.\nCapital Markets\nOn August 24, 2021, the Company commenced trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol CALM. Shortly thereafter, Revitalist listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the OTCQB.\nAdvertisement\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\nArticle content\nRevitalist CEO, Kathryn Walker states, We are thrilled with the year we had in 2021 as we continued to form relationships with clinicians in the USA, provided 5,000 patient visits, and further optimized our operations to facilitate long-term growth. We ended the year with seven clinics and announced another two recently, bringing the total clinic count to nine. During the calendar year 2021, Revitalist also made several notable accomplishments in the capital markets, including our public listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange and raising over $11,000,000. On behalf of the Revitalist team, I express my utmost gratitude to everybody who contributed to our success over the past year as we continue to deliver exceptional patient care and corporate growth.\nAdvertisement\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\nArticle content\nABOUT REVITALIST LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS LTD.\nRevitalist Lifestyle and Wellness Ltd. (CSE: CALM) (OTC: RVLWF) (FSE: 4DO) is a publicly traded company, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, with clinics operating across the United States and expanding. Revitalist is dedicated to empowering individuals toward an improved quality of well-being through a combination of comprehensive care and future-centric treatments provided by medical professionals, mental health experts, and chronic pain specialists. Since opening their first clinic in 2018, Revitalist has provided thousands of infusions for patients suffering from treatment-resistant conditions. Additionally, Revitalist offers a number of lifestyle optimization services and vitamin infusions that can bring anyone closer to total wellness. For additional information and to be added to the Companys mailing list, please click here.\nAdvertisement\nThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.\nArticle content", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment", "product launching & presentation", "regulatory approval" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Advancing the Most Comprehensive Care Program in Home Care. 16Reads\nHome Helpers Launches New Website, Larger Strategy to Help Seniors Live Safely at June 15, 2020 // Franchising.com// CINCINNATI - Home Helpers, the leading in-home care franchise that provides exceptional in-home care to seniors and others in more than 1,000 communities across the United States, announced today the launch of its new website as part of a larger strategy to offer the most comprehensive care program in the industry.\nAt Home Helpers Home Care, we are working on ways to advance Home Care, by developing comprehensive care solutions and enhancing the employment experience Caregivers have within our system, Home Helpers President and CEO Emma Dickison said. Launching a new site will allow us to make employment easier than before and also enable our customers to reach information about specific care conditions more quickly and easily.\nThe new website streamlines the employment application process and all communications that follow with prospective hires. With its desire to employ the most qualified applicants, Home Helpers reimagined all touchpoints following application submissions. Rather than using standard settings, the company offers preferred methods of contact so talented prospective hires can be retained quickly. Home Helpers leadership points to the constant need for qualified in-home Caregivers as the demand for aging-in-place grows steadily across the country.\nWe recognize the skills, care and compassion our Caregivers bring to our clients every day, Dickison said. Its essential we have the right Caregivers.\nIn addition to easing employment applications, the new Home Helpers website makes finding information on specific care conditions and their relative offerings easier and quicker. Home Helpers offers several services including companion care, personal care, and Alzheimers and dementia care. The new website gives users an enhanced experience as they seek out the right information for their loved ones.\nWeve provided exceptional in-home care for the past 23 years, and we continue to make strides in securing the best Caregivers and simplifying all that we can for our clients and their loved ones, Dickison said. We see todays demand and future demands, and were laying the foundation so that Home Helpers can help more seniors living safely and independently at home.\nHome Helpers is a leader in the in-home care market and was recently named one of the top franchises by Franchise Business Review. The company has seen double digit growth in the past decade and added 27 new units in 2019.\nAbout Home Helpers Home Care\nSince 1997, Home Helpers Home Care has provided exceptional in-home care to seniors and others. With independently owned and operated offices in more than 1,000 communities across the United States, we are committed to supporting the dignity and independence of the families we serve.\nSOURCE Home Helpers Home Care\n###", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment", "foundation", "ipo exit" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Royal Caribbean Makes a Huge Change Customers Will Love. BMW Hit by News That Could Slow Its Efforts Against Tesla\n1 hour ago\nHaving five ships in the class gives Royal Caribbean a lot of freedom when it comes to how it uses those ships.\nNow, while it's still using four of the five Oasis-class ships for longer itineraries, it plans to deploy Allure of the Seas to Port Canaveral Florida starting in late 2023 where it will offer three- and four-day sailings, Matt Hochberg of the Royal Caribbean Blogfirst reported.\n\"In recent years, Royal Caribbean has steadily improved the vessels offering weekend cruises from Florida, beginning with amplified Voyager Class ships, and more recently the slightly larger Freedom Class ships,\" wrote Hochberg, who has no affiliation with Royal Caribbean. \"\nAllure has been operating longer cruises out of Galveston, Texas, but will be replaced in that market by Harmony of the Seas in late 2022.\nWhy Should Carnival Fear This Change?\nBoth Royal Caribbean and Carnival operate multiple ships running short Caribbean itineraries out of ports on Florida's eastern coast.\nRoyal Caribbean already has a couple of edges when it comes to those trips.\nFirst, it has the more developed private island, with an added-fee water park and a huge pool, while Carnival's island is basically a beach. Second, Royal Caribbean arguably already had nicer, newer ships with more bells and whistles, and bringing in Allure makes that difference much-more pronounced.\nRoyal Caribbean and Carnival compete for the same customers and having a newer ship in its top-tier class may give Royal an edge.\nIt may also allow the company to capture a higher ticket price for passengers on Allure while offering more modest fares on its slightly smaller ships sailing out of Fort Lauderdale and Miami.\nGiving customers a short taste of Allure a ship so big you can't experience it all in three or four days may also help Royal Caribbean sell longer trips on the rest of its Oasis-class ships. That might take further booking away from Carnival, where consumers might otherwise have opted to try Mardi Gras or Celebration. Tags", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "expanding industry", "alliance & partnership", "executive statement" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Behind the Suicide-Stopping App That Could Save Your Child's Life. Don Wright is all about the numbers that he believes can save lives.\nHow does the Clarigent technology work? A therapist records conversations with a patient using the app with permission from parents and the child and gets feedback into their state of mind. Its speech analysis technology was created by researcher John Pestian of Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, using language patterns compiled from a database of more than 1,000 suicide letters as well as voice recordings taken from hospitals and emergency rooms in the Cincinnati area and West Virginia. The early trials show it is at least as effective as specialists at distinguishing between fake and fabricated suicide notes and in many cases, is actually better. One day, Wright hopes the technology will be able to pinpoint the best treatments too, the way doctors can recommend medicine or lifestyle changes to help address a heart attack.\nIt was hardly a given that Wright would make his mark in the Midwest. After graduating from Cincinnatis Xavier University with a computer science major and a business minor, he easily could have headed to Silicon Valley. Beginning his career at AT&Ts Bell Laboratories, the soccer lover worked a dozen years in product development for Seattle-based software company Attachmate and another three for Boston-based ProfitLogic but always keeping his home base in Cincinnati. Eventually, he found the most success and meaning by tapping into his hometowns budding entrepreneurial community. Of Assurex, he says, The most important thing that product ever did was get people off medications that would make them worse.\nWright is reluctant to make Clarigents story personal, instead referencing facts and stats, figures and tests. There are more problems to be worked out. Questions remain about whether regional accents say, the Southern drawl or New Englands dropped Rs will influence the app, or even how close the recorder should be to get an accurate reading. Should the app take video to interpret body language, or will patients be less open on camera?", "answer groups": [ "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [ "regulatory approval", "article publication", "alliance & partnership", "service & product providing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Allevion Therapeutics Announces New Board Members and Successful Completion of Initial Pilot Clinical Study. Handbook of Essential Tremor and Other Tremor Disorders\n. He is also the co-author of the book\nParkinson's Disease: Questions and Answers\n, 4th edition.\nDr. Pahwa commented, \"I am delighted to join Allevion Therapeutics' SAB at this important time in the company's evolution.\"\nStuart H. Isaacson\nis an associate professor of neurology at the\nFlorida International University\nHerbert Wertheim College of Medicine and the director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center of\nBoca Raton, Fla.\nHe is also the medical director of the Parkinson's Research and Education Foundation.\nDr. Isaacson is the director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center of\nBoca Raton\n, where he leads a team of movement disorder neurologists and clinical coordinators combining a holistic approach to medical therapy with access to one of the largest Parkinson's and movement disorders clinical trial centers in the U.S. He has been involved in over 250 clinical trials and has served on national and international committees for many drug and device development programs, seeking to advance development of emerging therapies. Dr. Isaacson has authored or co-authored over 300 abstracts, journal articles, and book chapters and has presented research results at national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Isaacson is board-certified in neurology, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology; a member of the International Association of Parkinson's and Related Disorders, the Movement Disorders Society, the Section on Movement Disorders of the AAN, the Parkinson's Study Group, the Huntington's Study Group; and has been recognized in Best Doctors in\nAmerica List\nFlorida\nSuper Doctors\n. Dr. Isaacson has worked closely with national foundations, including the Parkinson's Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.\nDr. Isaacson commented, \"Effective and tolerated treatment options for common movement disorders, like essential tremor and Parkinson's disease, remain an important unmet medical need. The Allevx smart-band neuromodulation device with its real-time tremor task monitoring, ability for multiple short treatment sessions throughout the day without the need to recharge the device, and the use of a band that can be worn on both arms is a new treatment option that provides benefit to our patients living with these disorders.\"\nPatrick McCartney\nis the executive director of the International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF), the largest focused group dedicated to essential tremor (ET). The mission of the IETF is to provide hope to the ET community worldwide through awareness, education, support, and research.\nMcCartney said, \"We are extremely encouraged and looking forward to working with the team at Allevion Therapeutics to expand therapeutic options for essential tremor patients.\"\nAbout Allevion Therapeutics:\nAllevion Therapeutics is developing a patented next-generation smart wearable neuromodulation device using dual energy fusion technology for the treatment of a wide variety of movement disorders.\nAllevion Therapeutics is dedicated to improving the lives of the millions of people struggling with ET & Parkinson's disease. ET is a movement disorder far more common than Parkinson's disease, which has a significant impact on mobility and quality of life. Incidence of ET is expected to increase more than 6% annually.\nAllevx smart-band utilizes seven touchpoints contacting multiple nerves (radial, median, and ulnar) in combination with low frequency, ultra-low-power ultrasound and multi-phasic electrical stimulation synchronized with a novel algorithm, leading to faster and longer-lasting tremor reduction results. Allevx smart-band device can be used on both hands without the need to buy a separate unit for each hand. The device can learn from patient-specific activities to optimize stimulation parameters for different tasks. Data can be shared with physicians through secure cloud-based access.\nFor more information, visit the company's website at", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "new initiatives or programs", "article publication", "clinical trial sponsorship" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "PrivateDoc prescriptions service in Suffolk rated 'good'. Online Suffolk prescriptions service rated good and taken out of special measures\nPUBLISHED: 16:31 08 December 2020 | UPDATED: 16:31 08 December 2020\nJudy Rimmer\nPrivateDoc co-founder and managing director Paul Marshall Picture: PrivateDoc\nArchant\nDirectors of Suffolk-based prescriptions website PrivateDoc are delighted after the service was taken out of special measures and rated as good by health inspectors.\nEmail this article to a friend\nTo send a link to this page you must be logged in.\nPrivateDoc has been rated good by CQC in its latest inspection Picture: PRIVATEDOC\nThe turnaround comes less than a year after regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had warned the company, based in Stowmarket, could have to close.\nThe service has now been rated as good in all five key areas - meaning it is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.\nThe inspectors report praised the quality of caring, saying: Team members treated patients with kindness and respect and involved them in decisions about their care.\nIt added the service was rated as excellent in 95% of 2,886 online reviews, with an average rating of 4.9 out of five stars.\nMORE: Large care home lifted out of special measures\nPrivateDoc, set up in 2012, allows patients to request prescriptions online by filling in a consultation form. These are reviewed by a GP, and a private prescription is issued if appropriate, before being sent to an affiliated pharmacy.\nThe online clinic had been put in special measures in July 2019, after CQC experts found the process for completing patient identification checks was ineffective.\nFlaws in the providers system also allowed people requesting weight loss medicines to overwrite information such as their height, weight and body mass index.\nFollowing another inspection in February, chief inspector Dr Rosie Benneyworth warned insufficient improvements had been made and the CQC started taking action which could have led to closure.\nHowever, following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the CQC withdrew its proposal to cancel the registration and instead kept the website under review until it could carry out its latest inspection in October.\nThe inspectors latest report noted a whole raft of improvements, including improved identification checks, such as anti money-laundering checks and development of facial recognition technology.\nThe CQC also said patient records and contacts were always completed and recorded, and there were improved processes to deal with emergency medical situations.\nManaging director Paul Marshall said: I am very pleased indeed. This has been a long process and we are very pleased to be coming out of special measures and to be recognised as good.\nIm pleased the inspectors have recognised the amount of work that we have put in.\nHe added PrivateDoc had worked closely with the CQC to put things right after being pulled up over a small handful of cases.\nMr Marshall said the company had improved its systems with new software and quality improvement action systems.\nAlthough it received very few complaints, it had overhauled the system for dealing with these to ensure that all possible lessons were learned.\nLooking to the future, he said PrivateDoc would continue to improve. We are going to expand the scope of the service, and we are looking at introducing face-to-face consultations with doctors online.\nIf you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the East Anglian Daily Times. Click the link in the orange box above for details.\nTopic Tags:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "participation in an event", "executive appointment", "alliance & partnership" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "New Longton construction company fixes dementia day-care centres windows for free. Chorley Dementia day care centre has windows smashed by vandals\nAfter seeing the Post's article, Austin Watson Ltd, builders and joiners of New Longton, decided they wanted to help the charity with their windows at no cost to the church.\nOperations Manager at Austin Watson Paul Biscoe said: \"One of our chaps, whose mum goes to church quite bit, heard about the story and just fired it into one of our Whatsapp groups, asking if there was anyway we could help, so I contacted the church, and our lads went down and sorted it out for them for free.\n\"Its not all about profit for our company, we work a lot in the community, and were quite proud of the fact that were able to help out in incidents like that. We do experience it with schools, when theres been play areas smashed up and things like that, so its just not nice to see and obviously we might lose out on a bit of labour costs but its just nice to help out really.\"\nDirector and Company Secretary of Genesis Care, Pat Albrow, by one of the broken windows, sticky back plastic was covering the hole.\nDirector and Company Secretary of Genesis Care, Pat Albrow, said: \"It came out of the blue, and it made us feel really good, after being a bit down about the actual damage, it was really nice that somebody out there was going to do some good as a result of it.\n\"They were very efficient, they came and measured up and it was only within a couple of weeks that they came along with the glass and swapped it over, so weve no more holes in the window and its lovely.\n\"Were very very grateful and would like to say a big thank you, it meant a lot to us and its really good that they did this for us.\"\nAs well as the charitable deed by Austin Watson Ltd, the Post's original story also prompted another charitable offer from a local woman, who donated 20 to Genesis Care.\nThe team at Austin Watson Ltd help out the community often with incidents like this.\nPat explained: \"We had a telephone call from a lady who had also read the bit in the paper and thought it was quite dreadful that somebody had done that to the church windows and she said she would like to send a donation, so she sent us a cheque which was really kind of her, it will go towards the amenities and doing activities with the service users, so that was lovely.\"\nPat added: \"The responses has been great, theres good people out there as well as bad.\"\nTo find out more about the services Genesis Care provide, visit their websiteor contact 07845969442.", "answer groups": [ "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [ "investment in public company", "closing", "event organization", "new initiatives & programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cape May's Montreal Beach Resort Has New Local Owners Renovation Plans. 6 days ago\nMontreal Beach Resort pool Photo Credit: Montreal Beach Resort\nThe Montreal Beach Resort and Harrys Ocean Bar and Grille are changing owners after 56 years in business.\nPlans also are in the works to renovate hotel rooms and the Cape May resort's lobby, according to its new owner, Madison Resorts.\nMadison Resorts is a locally owned hospitality management company headed by property operations veteran Dan Alicea. Alicea has previously worked in the local market, as well as led the revitalization of two historic resorts on the East Coast.\nMy wife was born and raised in Cape May County. Now operating a piece of its history is a childhood dream coming true for both of us,\" Alicea said.\n\"We are committed to delivering exceptional guest service and ensuring we hold the community first in our heart,\" he added.\nThe Montreal Beach Resort will be keeping the same name for the immediate future as well as much of the long-time staff.\nThe new owners said that Immediate changes to The Montreal Beach Resort at 1025 Beach Ave. in Cape May will be modest. Changes will include fully upgraded hotel rooms and the lobby.\nFor more details about The Montreal, click here: www.montrealbeachresort.com\n.\nPotential guests also can call\n609-884-7011", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "article publication", "event organization", "executive appointment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Empower strives to get patients pain free. Save\nEmpower Physical Therapy and Wellness patients know where to go if they want to get back to their active lifestyle, pain free.\nResidents of Chino Hills and the surrounding cities who are looking to live a life free of painkillers along with getting professional help and advice from expert physicians should visit the Empower Physical Therapy and Wellness clinic.\nThe Clinic on the corner of Soquel Canyon Parkway and Los Serranos Country Club Drive, in the Albertsons shopping center, has been offering pain relief for the last five years.\nThey focus on helping their patients get back to their active lifestyle, stop taking pain medication, avoid dangerous surgery, and finding the source of the problem.\nThe owners Dr. Carlo Sayo and Lisa Sayo, MA OTR/L, say their business mission is to help people make better decisions about their health by specializing in helping active adults in their late 40s get rid of pain so they can get back doing the things they love to do.\nDr. Carlo Sayo, a board-certified orthopedic specialist, and Lisa Sayo, MA OTR/L, an occupational therapist, have been in the practice and helping active adults who have tried other ways to get rid of pain find new relief remedies for the last 15 years.\nEmpower Physical Therapy and Wellness offer a variety of different types of physical therapy for back pain, neck and shoulder pain, knee pain, any sports injury, and orthotics.\nThe therapy clinic is open Monday Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.\nEmpower Physical Therapy and Wellness is located at 15944 Los Serranos Country Club Drive, Suite 250 Chino Hills, CA 91709. Information (818) 907-0805, www.em powerptwellness.com", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment", "article publication", "new initiatives or programs", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Hudson Regional Hospital Secures Long-Term Financing For Bayonne Medical Center Property. ,\nAug. 18, 2021\n/PRNewswire/ -- Hudson Regional Hospital has added another layer of protection and stability for the Bayonne Medical Center property by securing long term, low-cost financing with Cross River Bank. Hudson Regional's fiscal and financial strength was a key component in securing this low-cost loan, which did not require government support or guarantees.\nThis financing assures that residents of\nBayonne\nwill have local access to an acute care facility.\n\"This financing assures that residents of\nBayonne\nwill have local access to an acute care facility,\" says Dr. Nizar Kifaieh, President and CEO of Hudson Regional Hospital.\n\"When CarePoint announced that it was exiting the acute care market, the people of\nBayonne\nwere faced with an uncertain healthcare future,\" says\nYan Moshe\n, Chairman of Hudson Regional Hospital which purchased the Bayonne Medical Center property in 2020 for\n$76 million\n. \"Our purchase of the Bayonne Medical Center property assured that there was a premier healthcare provider with a solid balance sheet ready to step in and operate the facility at a moment's notice.\"\nAbout Hudson Regional Hospital\nHudson Regional Hospital acquired its facility from Meadowlands Hospital in January 2018, with the mission to build a healthier community by providing exceptional care for all Hudson County residents through a significant investment in new technology including the Institute of Robotic Surgery featuring the Da Vinci XI Robotic System, ExcelsiusGPS and the Mazor Robotic Guidance System and access to more physician groups including some of the best physicians in the\nNYC\n-metro area.\nHudson Regional Hospital's ER team provides around-the-clock comprehensive emergency care services that include short wait times, EMS/Ambulance On-Site 24/7, a fully-equipped EMS Lounge, 24/7 Access to Specialty Physicians and a multi-lingual staff.\nIn 2020 Hudson Regional Hospital was designated the Hudson County COVID-19 Testing Site by the County Executive's office and became the first site in\nNew Jersey\nto provide organized by-appointment only COVID testing for\nHudson County", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "regulatory approval", "ipo exit", "new initiatives & programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Weiser dismissed as President of Altru Health System. |Devils Lake Journal\nGRAND FORKS - Altru Health Systems Board of Directors have announced that effective immediately,Dr. Steven Weiser is no longer with Altru Medical.\nStaff was informed of the changeshortly before noon Tuesday in a memo thatalso reiteratedemployees of the upcoming arrival of Todd Forkel, the incoming CEO, on Feb. 28.\nThe board announced thatDr. Joshua Deere will join the executive leadership team as interim chief medical officer, a previously vacant position, assuming oversight of the medical practice. Dr. Deere has been a physician leader at Altru for eleven years, serving as chair of family medicine for four years and most recently as medical director of primary care for seven years. He has practiced as a primary care physician at Altru since 2009.\nWe are pleased to have Dr. Deere join the executive team, Karen Thingelstad, chair of Altrus Board of Directors, said. His commitment to high-quality patient care, experience in leadership and dedication to the community aligns well with the strategic direction of the organization. Altrus Board is excited for the future of our regional health system under the strong, vibrant leadership of Todd, Dr. Deere and the entire executive team.\nThingelstad said the decision to severe ties with Weiser was made \"in the best interest of the organization, and thanked Dr. Weiser for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors.Altru said they will not immediately fill the position to allow a thoughtful review of the role.\nWeiser's dismissal is not the first time an abrupt and unexpected change has occurred in leadership within the company. CEO Brad Wehe and CFO Sara Lusignan were fired by the health systems board in February 2020. Weiser was just elected to serve as the Chairmanof the North Dakota Hospital Association wherehe has been serving on the board of directors since February 2020. He was installed Jan. 28 as the chair of its 11-member board of directors.", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "hiring", "m&a", "investment in public company", "service & product providing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "SCC snaps up Civicas Licensing and Cloud Software Lifecycle business. Published:\n14 Feb 2022 14:01\nSCC has acquired Civicas Licensing and Cloud Software Lifecycle (LCSL) business as it looks to add more muscle to its software services proposition.\nThe deal, the terms of which were not disclosed, means SCC will get the LCSL team and all of its customers, which include local councils, universities and housing associations, plus its partner relationships, with a plan to add those skills to existing software asset management and licensing efforts.\nCivica has a strong reputation across the public sector customer base, which will provide SCC with further opportunities to pitch its wider portfolio to those users.\nWere excited to welcome Civicas talented team into SCC, and we look forward to meeting customers old and new, as this acquisition helps us to drive growth in a key strategic area. The depth of Civicas knowledge, capability and customer relationships presents a wonderful opportunity to complement our existing software business. By joining SCC, Civicas team gains access to a larger market and support team, said SCCchief executive James Rigby.\nLicensing and Cloud Software Lifecycle services are critical in delivering true business through visibility and control of software assets and cloud deployments. We have successfully delivered software asset management for over 20 years, and we have built a reputation for driving some of the biggest and most complex asset programmes. This acquisition will help us deliver the next phase of growth, he added.\nIn response, Civicachief executive Wayne Story said the firm had worked hard to establish itself in the UK market and gain a strong foothold in the public sector space.\nWith over 22 years of unbroken growth, fuelled by year-on-year investment, weve established ourselves as a leading provider of trusted, innovative software for public sector organisations in the UK and around the world. As the pace of public sector digitisation continues to accelerate, our continued investment in innovative software will ensure we capitalise on these exciting opportunities for growth, he said.\nOur market-leading software offering for public sector organisations will support them on their journeys of transformation and ensure they can deliver more for the people and communities they serve, he added.\nCivica has been used to being the acquirer over the past few years as it expanded its business, but SCC has also been active on that front, using expansion as an opportunity to plug gaps and add depth to its services proposition.\nThis deal adds to a growing number that have been struck across the channel in the first few weeks of 2022, with an emphasis being on gaining access to more services to support the ongoing shift to a managed services model.\nRead more on Managed IT Services", "answer groups": [ "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [ "department establishment", "executive appointment", "ipo exit", "product launching & presentation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Chautauqua Institution To Welcome The Washington Ballet For August Residency. Chautauqua Institution\nand The Washington Ballettoday jointly announced a partnership that will bring the Company to the Institution's grounds in August 2022 for two weeks of public programs and performances - including with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra - plus workshops with the Chautauqua School of Dance.\nCelebrated choreographer and teacher Silas Farley, recently retired as a dancer with the New York City Ballet and now serving as dean of dance at The Colburn School in Los Angeles, will join the residency and workshop a new Company commission set to the music of Shakespearean-era composer John Dowland.\nThe residency will last the first two weeks of August, coinciding with Weeks Six and Seven of Chautauqua's nine-week season of summer programming. We couldn't be more thrilled to finally bring The Washington Ballet to Chautauqua after a two-year pandemic delay, and especially in such an expansive and robust way,\" said Deborah Sunya Moore, senior vice president and chief program officer of Chautauqua Institution.\n\"What an amazing opportunity for our young dance students and dance-loving Chautauqua audiences to experience and learn from these performers with one of the nation's elite ballet companies. And we're particularly proud to welcome back Chautauqua School of Dance alum Silas Farley, where he'll reconnect with a community that is committed to fostering new choreography and catalyzing the creative process.\"\nOrganized collaboratively by TWB Artistic Director Julie Kent and Chautauqua School of Dance Interim Director Sasha Janes, TWB's residency will showcase a number of the company's dancers and studio dancers in performance and as part of classes, discussions and talk backs with Company and Institution artistic leadership. Company members will also support the training of dancers within the Chautauqua School of Dance's Festival (13-16) and Pre-Professional (16-21) divisions. The residency will culminate on Aug. 13 in TWB's performance in a program to include: choreographer Jessica Lang's Beethoven Serenade, the world premiere of Silas Farley's Dowland Dances and Balanchine's Apollo, with permission from the Balanchine Trust. The 74-piece Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra will perform on select works and additional repertoire will be announced.\n\"As a young dancer, I first experienced the generative force that is Chautauqua as a trainee and then as a principal dancer. After my son was born, I would bring him to Chautauqua when I taught. Every memory I have of Chautauqua is full of warmth and freedom and a sense of community - the lifeblood of creativity,\" said Kent, who studied at Chautauqua in 1983. \"The Washington Ballet is thrilled to make its Chautauqua debut, and we're particularly excited that Silas Farley will be joining us. We are grateful for the invitation to create and share at such an esteemed and magical place.\"\nFurther details of The Washington Ballet's 2022 Chautauqua residency will be posted as they are determined on the Institution's website, chq.org Tickets to individual events will be available May 3; long-term passes that cover more of the residency will be available beginning March 15.\nRelated Articles", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "funding round", "participation in an event", "service & product providing", "product updates" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Symphony, EarthQuaker invent new sounds with effects pedals, instruments. View Comments\nView Comments\nThe \"EarthQuaker Symphony\" program Saturday night at E.J. Thomas Hall will be all about creating a confluence of different sounds and bringing together seemingly different worlds.\nThe world premiere of the commissioned work \"Confluence,\" the centerpiece of the program, is a collaboration between the Akron Symphony Orchestraand the Akron company EarthQuaker Devices to create a new musical work fusing electronic effects pedals with traditional acoustic instruments. The resulting \"Confluence,\" a Concerto for Orchestra and EarthQuaker Devices, will be performed live by the orchestra and co-composers Jon Sonnenberg and Jake Gunnar Walsh, who will be guest performers.\nSix members of the orchestra will play solos through EarthQuaker's handmade effects pedals as Sonnenberg, at a mixing station center stage, processes the sound electronically by manipulating pedals as the DJ for \"Confluence.\" Orchestral instruments to be featured with live pedal effects include violin, cello, clarinet, horn, piccolo and timpani.\nWalsh, a composer and musician based in Ithaca, New York, also will be featured on oboe with effects pedals as well as on a brand new instrument: the \"confluence harp.\" Sonnenberg invented the latter just for this new concerto because he needed an instrument that creates extra notes, or microtonal sounds with tones between those you'd hear from adjacent notes on the piano.\nThe new instrument features aluminum chimes suspended on piano wire that are struck with mallets. The way the new instrument is designed, the chimes both ring the strings and the strings ring the chimes.\n\"Confluence,\" which means merging, became the perfect name for the two-year collaboration between the orchestra and EarthQuaker Devices to create new sound worlds.\nThe project also became a merging between the co-composers who are from different musical backgrounds. Sonnenberg, who lives in Medina, is an electrical engineer, musician and composer who's an EarthQuaker favorite, having helped founder Jamie Stillman create the Afterneath pedal. Walsh, whom the symphony brought in, is a master of orchestral writing and the oboe who also has experience with electronica and extended effects, Music Director Christopher Wilkins said by phone Feb. 23.\n\"He's young and hip and I just knew that he would immediately get what we were going for, and he did,\" Wilkins said.\nThe co-composers started out with material from Sonnenberg's electronic and synthesizer-based works for video games and films, which Walsh notated for orchestral musicians, and they ended up co-composing more orchestral parts together.\nIn another confluence of worlds, the musical premiere is expected to bring together fans of both the orchestra and the Akron-made EarthQuaker Devices, a local success story founded by guitarist/drummer Stillman in 2004 whose company sales are global.\n\"Not many Akron Symphony patrons will know what an effects pedal is, and not too many people who play around a lot with these effects pedals will have been to the Akron Symphony ever in their lives,\" said conductor Wilkins. \"That's what I Iove about this. We're pushing at the boundaries both the organizations are.\"\nWilkins stressed that the orchestra's collaboration with EarthQuaker is all about mixing up the musical terrain and changing the landscape, like earthquakes do.\n\"It's just a wonderfully Akron project. It's innovation,\" he said. \"It's rock 'n' roll, sort of. We're tapping into Akron's roots in a lot of ways, and it's very much a community-based project. It's two organizations coming together from completely different sides of the tracks.\n\"They have a lot of fans and we have a lot of fans. But I promise you there's almost no overlap between those two, so I think that's pretty cool,\" Wilkins said.\nThe audience will hear the orchestra acoustically and the effects pedals through the amplification system. Those effects will include vibrato, distortions, pitch and timbral modulations, echoes and reverbs.\nFive of the six movements in \"Confluence,\" in fact, are named after EarthQuaker effects pedals. They are \"The Depths,\" \"Afterneath,\" \"Dunes,\" \"Aqueduct\" and \"Astral Destiny.\" The final movement, \"Terrae Motus,\" is Latin for EarthQuaker.\nPlayhouse Square:", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipo exit", "department establishment", "article publication", "company description" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Noftek joins Ipsidy Partner Network to resell biometric solutions in Caribbean. Ipsidy\nPartner Network and resell Ipsidys solutions in the British Virgin Islands.\nIpsidys technology for securing everyday transactions with biometrics fits well with Nofteks focus on data protection and business security, according to the announcement. Noftek supplies solutions for data protection, business continuity, disaster recovery, and legal data compliance policies.\nIn addition to it Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solutions for governments, enterprises, and membership-based organizations, Ipsidy also recently launched a government ID and biometric selfie authentication service,\nProof by Ipsidy\n.\nNoftek will initially focus on selling Ipsidys mobile biometric authentication solution, Verified, though the reseller partnership could eventually be extended to other solutions and jurisdictions.\nWe are delighted to add Ipsidys biometric authentication solutions to our portfolio, says Noftek, LLC Managing Partner Letson Jackson. We believe that the certainty and security that Verified can offer our clients will be a key part of our offering going forward and will enable us to become an early leader in the Caribbean market for this service.\nIpsidy is excited to have Noftek join the Ipsidy Partner Network and help us expand into the Caribbean, adds Ipsidy Inc. Director of Identity James Tuffery. We believe that our entry into this energetic and vibrant market through our partnership with Noftek is a significant opportunity for Ipsidy and we look forward to supporting their sales efforts to expand their well-established foundation in the region.\nIpsidy noted in a recent\nthat in addition to revenue growth of more than 60 percent, it would soon announce reseller agreements for the U.S. and Peru, as well as the Caribbean.\nRelated Posts", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "foundation", "hiring", "ipo exit" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Homethrive Digital Coach for Eldercare Support to be Offered by Alvin Independent School District as Employee Benefit. ,\nJuly 30, 2021\n/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Homethrive, a high-touch/high-tech digital coaching platform for personalized and curated aging and eldercare support, today announced it is partnering with the Alvin Independent School District (ISD) in\nBrazoria County, TX.\nThrough this partnership, Homethrive will offer personalized support, information, navigation, resources, and community experience to Alvin ISD employees, and the aging loved ones for whom they care, to improve outcomes for aging adults living at home, as well as the working loved ones who support them.\n\"Our teachers and administrative support team work hard for our community and growing student population,\" said,\nDonnie Marek\n, executive director of risk management, Alvin ISD. \"Many of our team members have immense responsibilities outside of work and we are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program to support them. Through Homethrive, they have access to trusted resources and experts who can help them navigate milestones and better support their aging loved ones.\"\nAccording to a survey from\nHarvard Business School\n, the U.S. is in the midst of a hidden caregiver crisis that impacts companies and employees alike. Without adequate caregiving support for employees, organizations incur millions of dollars of hidden costs through employee turnover and substantial productivity costs. The survey notes, \"Surveys of U.S. employer and employee attitudes about caregiving reveal that there is a gross misalignment between what companies currently provide and what employees need.\"\n\"One in five Americans is a caregiver [according to AARP's 2020 Caregiving in the U.S.]. An increasing number of organizations, like Alvin ISD, are acknowledging the impact caregiving can have on their employees' wellbeing and how it impacts their jobs,\" said\nDave Jacobs\n, Co-CEO of Homethrive. \"We built Homethrive to help older adults live healthier and independently at home for as long as possible and to reduce the work, worry, and stress that family members (unpaid caregivers) face while trying to balance their career with their family obligations. We are excited for the opportunity to support Alvin ISD employees who are caring for aging loved ones while managing a full workload.\"\nAbout Alvin Independent School District\nAlvin ISD is a large suburban school district south of\nHouston, TX\n, that covers 252 square miles in northern\nBrazoria County\n. Alvin ISD serves the communities of\nAlvin", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "regulatory approval", "ipo exit", "expanding geography" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Seattle start-up raises $4M to develop platform to help with long-term care labor shortages. Share by Email\nTodd Owens\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has exposed even more deeply the dire labor shortages facing the senior living and care industry. In response, Seattle-based startup Kevala now is working to help fill the gap.\nThe firm recently raised $4 million to help fund its integrated workforce management and care orchestration platform, which can be used by long-term care facilities for staffing, compliance and more. Private equity firm Vulcan Capital led the funding round, which also included participation from Costanoa Ventures, High Alpha and PSL Ventures.\nKevala spun out of Seattle startup studio Pioneer Square Labs in April. The startup is focused on helping senior living communities and skilled nursing facilities access supplemental nursing staff. Through the technology, users can build a curated pool of on-call nurses to fill shifts.\nAs the demand for nurses outstrips the supply, and the gap widens, the healthcare labor shortage is becoming a national crisis, Kevala CEO Todd Owens told Geekwire By building an integrated and intelligent software as a service solution, we are able to usher in a modern work environment and significantly impact a facilitys bottom line, he said.\nOne of Kevalas clients, Aegis Living, already has expressed need for the technology.\nWere incredibly excited to work with Kevala to develop a unique platform that will enable us to better manage our care teams time and scheduling to ensure everyone is in the right place, at exactly the right time and do it with the same technology they are already using in other parts of their lives, Kris Engskov, president of Aegis Living, said in a statement.\nYou must be a registered member of McKnight's Senior Living to post a comment\nPlease register or login first to post a comment.\nLogin", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding geography", "subsidiary establishment", "department establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Photos: Day one of World Art Dubai 2020 welcomes art enthusiasts, responsibly. Tweet on Twitter\n(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Dubai's first international event of the season, World Art Dubai 2020, opened its door to the art enthusiasts on Thursday afternoon at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The three-day art and lifestyle fair welcomed a fairly good number of visitors on its opening day. A celebration of the theme, Free Your Mind, the fair is showcasing a range of artworks and experiences across a range of different styles, with works of 120+ solo artists and galleries from 20+ countries.\nAfter months of virtual exhibitions and Zoom openings, the artists, buyers, organisers, and visitors, had a field day out, as they attended the events for the day, including live art walks and painting sessions. In addition, the visitors took part in various workshops like learning button mosaic and paper collage skills. The three curators, incidentally all women, Batool Jafri, Samar Kamel, and Petra Kaltenbach, expressed their happiness and hope at the response, \"Until this noon, we were not sure of what to expect but within 20 minutes of the opening, we were certain of the event's success.\"\nAmong the many new features, this year are the digital art display, Urban Art DXB and a dedicated zone for sculptures and photographers. A wall with psychedelic colours, inspired by Alexa Meade and curated by Batool and Samar, a perfect Instagram friendly space to sit and get clicked was one of the most-visited (and sanitised, each time a person sat and left!) spot on day one! With only one or two visitors allowed in the art booths at a time, and floor stickers with words like, \"Social Distancing Expert\" and \"Wear your masks at all times,\" it was remarkable to note how the fair kept responsibility at its core mission.\nFor those looking to invest in art or simply adorn their homes with canvases, there are ample choices to select from works ranging in prices between $100 - $20,000. \"World Art Dubai remains an extremely innovative show that embraces every corner of the art world. We are leading the region's charge for the restart of events and have curated a show that embraces the latest trends while celebrating art traditions,\" said Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC.\nAll the venue entry points are equipped with thermal scanning, along with smart cameras to ensure social distancing protocols. The venue is getting regularly sanitised and hand sanitisers are available throughout the venue. All visitors are required to wear a mask at all times. The event is on until Saturday (1 pm to 9 pm), visitors can pre-book their tickets worldartdubai.com.\nA year of creativity and opportunity\nA. P. Laitu, one of the participating artists at World Art Expo 2020, said that this has been an unprecedented year in the history of mankind and did not even leave the art world untouched.\nHe added that at the same the year would be remembered as a year of creativity and opportunity. \"It gave us all ample time to create some good art.\" He shared that he is grateful to World Art Dubai for giving the artists the much-awaited platform to showcase their creativity and also meet and greet fellow artists from all over the world. \"This platform is also the evaluation of how constructively we all have spent our time during this period of lockdown and isolation.\"\nWhat is arty-fash style statement?\nIndividuality is the key, and while many of us wish to make a personal statement, we find it hard to express ourselves via colours, shapes and images. At Artify Station by multi-disciplinary artist Ella Orencillo, you can get a bespoke pair of shoes, a cap or a cloth bag, as the artist helps you define your style.\nElla, a Filipino, has been in Dubai for 13 years now. She quit her job in 2017 to be a full-time artist and started her company, Craftology, last year. \"I'd been pursuing art on the side, all this while though, as I worked as a receptionist, personal assistant, executive assistant, etc.\" She hand-painted a bag with Khaleej Times written in signature blue colour. \"People want to be different and have good ideas, but are unable to translate the same visually. I want to be their go-to-person to help them express themselves via accessories. I'll execute them for you on clothing and more.\"\nMENAFN0910202000490000ID1100929509\nLegal Disclaimer:\nMENAFN provides the information as is without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.\nTags", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "article publication", "participation in an event", "foundation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Altru Health System, Economic Development Corp., True North and JLG make big contributions to proposed Grand Forks Career Impact Academy. Email\nAltru Health System has pledged $1 million to a fundraising campaign to create a new technical education center in Grand Forks, one of several organizations to commit large donations totaling more than $1.6 million in recent days.\nAlong with Altrus donation, the campaign this week received $500,000 commitments from the Grand Forks Economic Development Corp., $100,000 from True North Equipment and $50,000 from JLG Architects.\nThe funds will help a core group of local leaders, led by the local school district, as they apply for $10 million in state funding to help realize the project. Critically, winning that funding depends on a local match of $10 million from the community, making this weeks gifts part of an early round of philanthropy that almost certainly must continue before an application deadline in less than two months.\nThis is one of the most significant projects that the community has undertaken, said Keith Lund, president and CEO of the local Economic Development Corporation, and one of the most significant and important projects that weve seen since my time at the EDC over the last 15 years.\nThe EDC's board of directors unanimously approved the commitment during a Thursday morning meeting. Half of the $500,000 will come from the EDC's reserve funds, while the other half will come from the EDC's foundation.\nADVERTISEMENT\nKristi Hall-Jiran, a senior philanthropy official with Altru, told the Herald that she sees Altru's commitment as an investment in the community. That investment will pay dividends for not just the average employer, she said, but also specifically at Altru, which has felt the pangs of a nationwide labor shortage roiling health care and beyond.\nThe health care situation is especially critical, and really an urgent need across the country. Altru is no different, and in particular nursing is one of our disciplines that we're seeing as really a critical workforce shortage right now, Jiran-Hall said.\nA spokesperson said the company currently has 95 hospital-based registered nursing positions open in Grand Forks.\nThe career and tech center, local leaders hope, can ease those workforce shortages. If its built, it would exist somewhere between a trade school and a junior college and a university, helping steer students toward curriculum and careers that match them up with local employers.\nJohn Oncken, CEO and co-owner of True North, said the center is a helpful way to get students excited about jobs they might not otherwise consider, such as agriculture work. Easily dismissed as farm labor, its a huge sector that needs all kinds of workers.\nMy field is around (artificial intelligence), technology, efficiency, automation, (information technology), growing more crop per acre than I've ever done before and working with some really spaceship-type machines. We have an education system that kind of maybe doesn't define where the industry is at, Oncken said.\nThe push for the career center comes as Grand Forks, the state and even the rest of the country wrestle with a workforce shortage one that has roiled labor supply in trucking and service sectors and beyond. Its hard to point to precisely what has caused that shortage, but many observers say its the result of shifting demographics, the lasting effects of COVID or both.\nRELATED:\nAs bus driver crunch wears on, even Grand Forks transit chief pitches in\nADVERTISEMENT\nI do think the pandemic has changed the way people think in general about work. People are being a little bit more selective about where they'll take a job, Hall-Jiran said. I've heard it described as the 'great resignation.' I think it's a trend we're seeing across the country, and clearly Grand Forks is no different.\"\nMeanwhile, Oncken said, \"we have so many opportunities to capture the youth (attention) early and help them understand truly what's available.\"\nMike McLean, principal architect at JLG Architects, said in a statement from the Economic Development Corp. that at JLG, we build community and what better way to help our community thrive than by supporting forward-thinking, collaborative education for the future workforce in our region.\"\nSo far, Lund estimates, theres a little less than $4.5 million of the total $10 million in funding in hand to meet the threshold the state requires. That includes funding announced this week, as well as a $1 million sum from the local school district and a likely land donation from the city of Grand Forks.\nThe project has been hurtling toward development since the summer, with input from many Grand Forks leaders in local schools, universities and city and county governments.\nThe deadline for applying for funding is Dec. 1 though Lund points out that everything needs to be ready for local school officials, who will submit the application, to sign off at a School Board meeting in late November.\nRELATED:\nGrand Forks panel OKs hotel demolition, clearing the way for possible career and tech center\nThat means the clock is ticking, on state funding, and theres only about six weeks to go.\nADVERTISEMENT\nThis center is going to be focused on introducing to and training students for careers that are right here in the Grand Forks region Lund said. In terms of making an investment on local workforce needs, this is the project that is going to have the biggest impact, in my opinion.\n1", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "patent publication", "expanding industry", "department establishment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "London company complete successful flight test of vehicle they say will replace cars. 1642023428\nLondon company complete successful flight test of vehicle they say will replace cars\nA London company have today revealed a successful flight test of a vehicle they say will replace cars.\nBellwether Industries Volar eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) is a flying hypercar for private owners.\nThey say it is the worlds first without a large wingspan or exposed blades, making it ideal for urban use.\nThe futuristic half-scale version flew at an altitude of 13 feet (4 metres) with a speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 miles per hour).\nThe team say the Dubai test flight demonstrated stability and controllability of the prototype.\nSign up to our free newsletters by", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "m&a", "foundation", "support & philanthropy", "investment in public company" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Dollar General Hires Chief Medical Officer as It Looks to Become a Health-Care Destination in Rural Areas NBC 6 South Florida. social media\n31 mins ago\nApple Said to Boost iPhone Production by as Much as 20% Following Last Year's 5G Super Cycle\n\"Our goal is to build and enhance affordable healthcare offerings for our customers, especially in the rural communities we serve,\" he said in a press release.\nThe fast-growing discounter has more than 17,400 stores across the country, including many in rural areas that don't have many other grocers or major pharmacies nearby. However, it has been criticized by some lawmakers for selling few healthy foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and boxing out other retailers that would otherwise open in the areas and sell a wider array of groceries.\nIn recent years, Dollar General has added fresh produce and meats to more of its stores. It has fresh produce in more than 1,300 stores or roughly 7% of its total stores. It has said it may expand that assortment to up to 10,000 stores.\nIt has piloted new ways to provide medical care, too. Last month, it offered free Covid-19 testing at select locations through a partnership with the Virginia Department of Health.\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\nsaid it was in talks with the company about turning stores into Covid vaccine sites, though the CDC and Dollar General have yet to announce any official plans.\nDollar General's new and remodeled locations will also make room for more aisles of health products and coolers of food. The company said in the spring that it is building bigger stores as it opens more than 1,000 new locations this year.\nOn Wednesday, the retailer said it hired Dr. Albert Wu as its chief medical officer. He previously worked for McKinsey & Company, where he led a team that focused on health-care-related projects, such as providing care to thousands of rural patients, modeling how to support pandemic relief efforts and designing a digitally driven health insurance.\nWu joined Dollar General on Monday, according to the press release. Dollar General said he will focus on building relationships with companies that provide health-care products and services, so the retailer can roll out its own offerings.\nIn a research note, Jefferies analyst Corey Tarlowe said the expansion into health care will help the retailer gain market share and boost profitability, as customers visit stores more regularly and toss additional items into shopping carts. Drugstores, in particular, have been a place where Dollar General is stealing market share, he said. Dollar General's prices tend to be 40% cheaper than drugstores, 20% cheaper than grocery stores and in line with mass-market retailers, according to the firm's research.\nWith the effort, he said Dollar General is \"further solidifying the company's moat\" as a leader among value and discount retailers.\nAlso on CNBC", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "service & product providing", "investment in public company", "new initiatives or programs", "patent publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Lending a hand. Save\nJENNINGS The line outside Caring Hands formed early Thursday as clients waited for the doors to open.\nFor the last 16 years, Caring Hands and its dozens of volunteers have been providing basic necessities to those in need throughout the community with their thrift store, utility assistance, food pantry, clothing distribution and other outreach services. It also provides assistance to victims of fires, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters who need a helping hand to get back on their feet.\n\"We are just trying to make a difference in someone's life and try to walk in their shoes,\" Director Rosie Richard said. \"Many who come through our doors are looking for financial help or other assistance, but so many who walk in just want to sit and talk and we are there for them, too.\"\n\"We try to treat the whole person,\" Assistant Director Glenda Laird added.\nAssistance is based on need, not income, she said.\nApplications for assistance are taken 1-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday at Caring Hands, 327 N. Main St. Applicants need to bring a photo identification, Social Security numbers of all household members, proof of income, a copy of monthly expenses, last two bank statements if they have a bank account and food stamp documents if receiving food stamps.\nCaring Hands, a non-profit ecumenical organization, is run by volunteers with only two paid employees the director and assistant director and is overseen by a board of directors with representatives from area churches.\nCaring Hands also sells gently used and new donated items at low cost to the public through their thrift store, which is open 1-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday.\n\"Caring Hands is for the community and all proceeds we get from the sales go back to the general fund to help assist those in need and pay our utilities and rent,\" Richard said.\nItems for the store are donated from the public and include school uniforms, clothing, shoes, books, kitchen items, baby items, art work, knick knacks and other working, usable items in good condition. No dirty or damaged items are accepted. Items can be dropped off at the back door during regular business hours.\nAmong the top sellers is school uniforms, which are now available for 25 cents each. Gently used uniforms can also be traded for new ones.\nMonetary donations are accepted from private individuals, businesses, churches and civic groups.\nSimply making a purchase or a donation can help make a difference for someone in need, President Andrew Nocum said.\nSecond Vice President Kayla Gary said residents should consider their donations carefully.\n\"Don't look at Caring Hands as a place you bring stuff you don't want,\" she said. \"Put some thought in what you are giving and that we are trying to help people who are already down and out.\"\nThe food pantry provides year-round assistance for those struggling financially and relies on donations from the community and local food drives.\nVolunteers carefully inventory each item by category and expiration date. Toiletries and cleaning supplies are also distributed during emergencies.\nCaring Hands also provides utility assistance by helping to pay a portion of the utility bills for those showing a need. Payments are made directly to the utility company.\nNocum is among the board members who would like to see Caring Hands grow to reach more people and provide more services.\n\"I believe that we can do a lot more than we are doing now,\" Nocum said. \"Not many parishes have an organization like this with an open door to feed and cloth anyone in need. Everyone is treated the same way, like a child of God.\"\nVolunteers are the cornerstone of Caring Hands and are always needed to assist with programs. Those wishing to volunteer should visit Caring Hands. Volunteers need a referral from a local minister.\n\"Those who are involved in Caring Hands from the board of directors to the paid employees and volunteers have come to see Caring Hands as a second home and we take great pride in who we are and what we do,\" Richard said. \"Because of that we like to keep our home in order.\"\nMany youth groups also volunteer to help process donations and hold food and toy drives each year.\n\"It's so inspiring to see kids do that,\" Richard said. \"It warms your heart.\"\nFor more information, contact Caring Hands at 616-3081.", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "participation in an event", "new initiatives or programs", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Accuserve Brings Three Firms Together to Provide a Unique Managed Repair Platform Built on Expertise and Service. Top News\n3 days ago\nCode Blue, MADSKY and Accuwin come together as Accuserve, a concierge-style service provider helping property owners invest in and protect their assets so that they can do more of what matters most.\nAccuserve Solutions\nAccuserve Solutions\nSPRINGFIELD, Ohio, Feb. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) When property owners need help responding to unforeseen circumstances, the caring experts at Accuserve Solutions Inc. are there to help. Code Blue, MADSKY, and Accuwin deliver innovative solutions for interior and exterior property repair. All are built on a foundational commitment to accurately assessing damage, defining the right scope of work, and managing restoration projects to completion with care, compassion, and expertise. Today, these distinct business units come together under the Accuserve brand. Accuserve works with property owners, insurance carriers, and a national network of contractors to deliver an unrivaled level of accuracy and service in the property restoration space. This allows property owners to quickly get back to whats most important in their lives.\nAccuserves CEO, Hunter Powell, leads this initiative. Powell took over the role of CEO of Code Blue, MADSKY, and Accuwin in 2020. He quickly recognized an opportunity to provide a superior customer experience by unifying the three companies under one brand. This unified the breadth of expert capabilities and bound the company together through a cultural commitment to caring and compassionate service.\nWe are launching Accuserve to make it easier for all of our stakeholders to work with us and receive our commitment to accurate and high-service outcomes. Our experts help accurately assess damage, connect homeowners with skilled trade professionals, and manage the full restoration process from start to finish,\nstated Hunter Powell.\nOperating under one brand with a shared vision and values, we will create a smoother experience for homeowners, carriers, and contractors.\nAccuserve is launching with a new logo and website, www.Accuserve.com, where contractors can apply to join the network of restoration experts, property owners can access expert content to help with restoration questions or challenges, and carriers can read more about the firms full suite of solutions built on an unparalleled balance of accuracy and service.\nFor every situation, Accuserve provides timely, trusted, and quality solutions that help property owners get back to what matters most. Accuserves staff of trained experts complements its network of trusted and experienced contractors to accurately assess property damage and develop the fastest, most effective restoration plan.\nOur solutions stand out from the rest for several reasons. Weve combined innovative technologies, expertly trained professionals, streamlined processes and caring people into the most accurate, high-touch restoration concierge service out there,\nadds Powell.\nWe define service as a unique balance of care and compassion in lockstep with expert capability.\nABOUT ACCUSERVE\nAccuserve is a full-service managed repair platform that provides concierge-style property restoration services. With expertise in water mitigation, interior general contracting, roofing and exterior, as well as window restoration, Accuserve unifies its contractor and carrier partners in delivering an empathetic home restoration experience for property owners. It blends quality and capability with care and compassion. Accuserves national network of contractors, partnered with its expert staff and supported by its innovative, unique training and customer support capabilities, deliver a level of accuracy and service that cant be matched.\n###", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "participation in an event", "service & product providing", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "ALung Technologies has a respiratory device, Hemolung, that can be used in place of ventilators. ALung Technologies\nhas a device called the Hemolung Respiratory Assist System that has been getting widespread attention lately as desperate physicians search for ways to treat COVID-19 patients.\nThe onslaught of coronavirus has created a national ventilator shortage, as patients rely on them in life-threatening situations to blow oxygen into the lungs while removing carbon dioxide.\nHemolung is designed to keep people off ventilators as much as possible. It removes carbon dioxide directly from the blood, like a dialysis machine does for kidneys, and delivers oxygen directly to the blood. It was created to help COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) patients.\nIts currently in clinical trials in the U.S., where it has been used in 36 hospitals, and approved for use in Europe, where it has been used in 32 hospitals in the UK with thousands of patients.\nIn the U.S., by the way, its been used on a compassionate-use basis, an emergency-use basis, as early as three to four years ago, says Hemolung inventor William Federspiel, co-founder of ALung and professor of bioengineering at Pitts Swanson School of Engineering It was actually done here in Pittsburgh. At UPMC Presbyterian hospital.\nIt can be an alternative or supplement to ventilators, depending on the patients condition, he notes.\nIt definitely could be used to treat these COVID-19 patients, says Federspiel. But its important to point out that its not going to be an answer to the ventilator shortage. Its been a challenge to ramp up the production of ventilators. Ford and GM have gotten involved and its still a rough path.\nVentilators can cause damage to the lungs. Hemolung avoids this and doesnt require intubation or sedation, so patients can remain responsive and mobile during treatment.\nThe company is trying to get approval from the FDA to use the Hemolung under Emergency Use Authorization, says Federspiel. Theyre trying to get that, and then they could treat COVID patients. We hope it will keep them from having to go on mechanical ventilation.\nThey would be able to be awake, not sedated, could move around, talk and eat. Its a very different patient experience on the Hemolung.\nALung is based in the South Side and employs 33 people.", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "hiring", "new initiatives & programs", "clinical trial sponsorship", "product updates" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "OneOncology Partners with Genentech to Bring Personalized Cancer Research to Patients at Community Oncology Sites. ) -- aims to match patient populations with a targetable genomic alteration to a specific investigational agent. OneR will participate in this multi-center, non-randomized phase II basket trial across its national network, along with other community oncology centers throughout\nthe United States\n.\n\"We are very excited about the collaboration between Genentech and OneR which will enhance cancer research and cancer care for patients across the country,\" said\nAxel Grothey\n, MD, Medical Director, OneR, and Director, GI Cancer Research, West Cancer Center. \"One of OneOncology's key strengths is the ability to offer comprehensive molecular profiling to patients with advanced stage cancers. MyTACTIC realizes the promise of personalized cancer therapy by providing access to targeted treatment approaches to patients in a community oncology setting, where the vast majority of cancer patients in\nthe United States\nare receiving care, while also advancing scientific discovery.\"\nOneOncology and Genentech will also establish a joint committee that will design studies to evaluate the impact of personalized healthcare on outcomes for patients, the healthcare system and society. This group will design interventional and non-interventional studies to investigate the integration of CGP into routine practice and generate real-world evidence regarding utilization. The partnership will explore new methods for enabling just-in-time clinical research site start-up and patient identification across OneR.\n\"We are excited to collaborate with OneOncology to bring state-of-the-art cancer care to community oncology practices, where the diverse patient population creates a greater opportunity to advance inclusive research\" said\nJamie Freedman\n, MD, PhD, Head of U.S. Medical Affairs, Genentech. \"The pandemic dramatically highlights the need to rethink how healthcare is delivered, and our goal is to enable a deeper understanding of each individual patient's journey and to deliver the highest quality of research and evidence-based care.\"\nAbout OneOncology:\nOneOncology is a national partnership of independent, community oncology practices working together to improve the lives of everyone living with cancer through a physician-led, data-driven, technology-powered and patient-centric model. OneOncology is comprised of leading community oncology practices representing over 475 providers practicing at nearly 175 sites of care across\nthe United States", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication", "expanding geography", "company description", "executive appointment" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Major Trading Firms Launch Chicago DeFi Alliance to Promote Decentralized Finance. post\npublished by Imran Khan, partner at Volt Capital, four Chicago based firms (named above) have formed an alliance in a bid to boost the growth of the DeFi startup industry. According to Khan, Chicago presents a wide field of futures trading expertise and liquidity a big hindrance to the\nadoption of DeFi applications\n. Additionally, security and compliance has kept a number of investors at bay.\nThe alliance aims to solve the current problems through guidance and meaningful support connecting the experts and startups with respect to trading and applicable regulations. Khan writes,\nWe are providing start-ups with real world trading feedback as early as possible to help them attract liquidity and offer products trading / financial firms are likely to adopt.\nNotwithstanding, the CDA will share their expertise in sourcing liquidity and business strategies to help the early-stage startups to scale their offerings to professional traders globally.\nThe head of fintech investments at Jump Capital, Peter Johnson, shared his enthusiasm in joining the CDA. He said,\nMy hope is that the CDA can help close that gap by helping DeFi startups understand where there are (and are not) real potential opportunities to work with trading firms and involve them in the DeFi ecosystem.\nThe program will incorporate a one-month program to mentor startups on product identification and provide resources that will attract capital firms to startups. Members included in the alliances so far include TD Ameritrade, DV Trading, Arca, dYdX, and Compound.\nGet Free Email Updates!\n*Action*\nEnter Best Email to Get Trending Crypto News & Bitcoin Market Updates\nI will never give away, trade or sell your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time.", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "clinical trial sponsorship", "expanding industry", "patent publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "New initiatives or programs, Executive statement, Description. Mednax Announces Intent to Sell its Radiology Solutions\nCompany intends to return to original name, Pediatrix Medical Group, and to refocus as dedicated pediatrics and obstetrics organization\nJune 5, 2020 Mednax, a leading health solutions partner specializing in prenatal, neonatal, pediatric and radiology services, announced a number of steps it is taking as part of its aggressive transformational activity to position the company for long-term, sustainable growth.\nThe company confirmed that it has been reviewing strategic alternatives for its radiology medical group, Mednax Radiology Solutions Prior to the onset of the COVID-19pandemic, Mednax had been in advanced discussions to divest this organization and plans to move forward with a divestiture, when market conditions are appropriate. Mednax intends to apply the proceeds from a sale of Mednax Radiology Solutions toward debt reduction.\nAs part of the Companys 2020 financial expectations that Mednaxprovided prior to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mednax Radiology Solutions was expected to contribute approximately $550 million and $90 million in revenue and Adjusted EBITDA, respectively, to the companys operating results for the year. In accordance with GAAP accounting, operating results for Mednax Radiology Solutions will continue to be reported as part of Mednaxs continuing operations at this time.\nFor more information:", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "foundation", "clinical trial sponsorship", "closing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Provident Healthcare Partners. Share on Twitter\nMidWest Eye Center (MWEC), a leading multispecialty ophthalmology provider in the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Area, has affiliated with EyeSouth Partners (EyeSouth), a portfolio company of Shore Capital Partners (Shore). MWEC serves over 51,000 patients from 19 clinical locations and two ASCs. Provident Healthcare Partners(Provident) served as the exclusive financial advisor to MidWest Eye Center. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.\nChoosing Provident to represent us was an excellent decision for MWEC. Provident listened to our diverse goals and was able to bring a wide range of partners to the table. They educated us on every step of the process and advised us on a fantastic partnership that ensures our employees, patients and community are taken care over the long run, stated Mark Cepela, President at MWEC.\nRex Adams, EyeSouths CEO, continued We are thrilled to welcome Midwest Eye Center to the EyeSouth network and appreciate the strong, professional support that the Provident team provided throughout the process.\nThe owners had several attractive options presented to them through the process, and ultimately found the opportunity to serve as a regional platform with EyeSouth as the most compelling. EyeSouth, with the support of Shore, has built one of the most successful multispecialty eyecare groups in the country, noted Kevin Palamara Managing Director at Provident.\n, Director at Provident, added As a leading practice in the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Area, MWEC is an ideal hub for EyeSouths initial expansion into the Midwest.\nAbout MidWest Eye Center\nMWEC Center provides primary eye-care in addition to retina, glaucoma, cornea, oculoplastic and pediatric subspecialty care to many underserved areas throughout Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Comprised of 20 ophthalmologists and eight optometrists, MWEC offers a vertically integrated, multidisciplinary platform with a strong clinical reputation and trusted brand within the Cincinnati market. For additional information, visit https://midwesteyecenter.com/\nAbout EyeSouth Partners\nHeadquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, EyeSouth is an eye care management services organization committed to partnering with leading physicians to build a premier network of eye care services throughout the U.S. EyeSouths affiliate network consists of 185+ doctors providing medical and surgical eye care services at approximately 105 locations throughout Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio and Kentucky. For additional information, visit\n.\nAbout Shore Capital Partners\nShore is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on microcap healthcare and food & beverage investments. Shore targets investments in proven, successful private companies with superior management teams, stable cash flow, and significant growth potential, including organic and growth through industry consolidation. Shore has $1.1 billion of equity capital under management through various investment vehicles. For additional information, visit: https://shorecp.com/\nAbout Provident Healthcare Partners\nProvident is a leading healthcare investment banking firm specializing in merger and acquisition advisory, strategic planning, and capital formation for healthcare companies. The firm has a comprehensive knowledge of market sectors and specialties, including a significant track record of success within ophthalmology. Provident also has unsurpassed experience and insight into the M&A process, which includes working with a number of buyers such as private equity firms and strategic consolidators. For additional information, visit www.providenthp.com\nContact:", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "investment in public company", "clinical trial sponsorship", "service & product providing", "expanding industry" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Thorne Launches Healthy Aging Campaign, Empowering Consumers to Live Healthier for Longer Through Personalized, Scientific Testing and Solutions. /PRNewswire/ -- Thorne HealthTech, Inc. (\"Thorne HealthTech\" or \"\nThorne\nTHRN\n), a leader in developing innovative solutions for a personalized approach to health and well-being, today launched its Healthy Aging campaign, which challenges outdated views of aging in support of living longer, healthier lives. Through proactive and personalized knowledge, lifestyle changes, and nutritional supplementation, it is possible to minimize health risks and achieve healthy aging feeling one's best at every age. From adolescence to youth to adulthood to golden years, a person's health and nutrition needs change with each era of life and\nThorne\nis empowering individuals to live healthier for longer.\nThornes Healthy Aging campaign highlights Collagen Plus, NiaCel, and ResveraCel, all of which contain an exclusive form of nicotinamide riboside (NR) that works in the cells to support a number of cellular processes, helping individuals age well, exercise better, stay clear-headed, and maintain normal metabolism and detoxification.\nTo launch the campaign,\nis partnering with veteran tight end and current sportscaster,\nGreg Olsen\n. Olsen has used\nThorne's\nbest-in-class products since his days as a professional football player and remains a current user and brand advocate.\n\"Investing in my health has always been a priority as a pro athlete, especially in a sport that is incredibly physically demanding. My health needs have changed throughout the years, most recently in 2021, when I retired from professional football,\" says Olsen. \"\nThorne\noffers a nutritional supplement product line that supports me at different stages of my life, whether that was training hard as a tight end or now, as a game analyst on TV. These days, my focus is on healthy aging so I can continue to keep up with my kids and enjoy the life I've built. I turn to\nThorne\nas a trusted partner to have the products that are right for me, right now.\"\nTo support his healthy aging goals, Olsen will take\nThorne's\nBiological Age test, which analyzes the impact that lifestyle, nutrition, illness, and genetics have had on the body and vital organs and continue to incorporate various\nThorne\nproducts into his daily wellness routine. In addition, Olsen will donate proceeds from his campaign to his charitable organization, HEARTest Yard, which provides health-care support and services for families of babies born with a congenital heart disease.\n\"Although it's impossible to change the number of times you have gone around the sun each year, it's very possible to lower the rate at which your body experiences problems,\" says CEO of Thorne HealthTech,\nPaul Jacobson\n. \"No matter where you are on the aging spectrum,\nThorne\nprovides rigorous scientific testing and supplement solutions to help you take proactive steps toward optimized health and lowered risk of chronic disease.\"\nFrom testing that provides individualized data to education that teaches consumers about their bodies and products to support specific health goals and needs,\nThorne's\ndeep portfolio of personalized offerings provides consumers with a uniquely comprehensive approach to healthy aging. All of\nThorne's\nHealthy Aging products, including Collagen Plus, NiaCel, and ResveraCel, contain an exclusive form of nicotinamide riboside (NR) that works in the cells to support a number of cellular processes, helping individuals age well, exercise better, stay clear-headed, and maintain normal metabolism and detoxification.\nThe Healthy Aging campaign will launch across numerous formats, including digital out-of-home (OOH), online video (including Hulu and YouTube), social media, influencer marketing, and more running\nMarch 28 through June 19\n. To learn more about\nand their suite of Healthy Aging testing and product solutions, visit www.Thorne.com\nAbout Thorne HealthTech:\nThorne HealthTech is a leader in developing innovative solutions for delivering personalized approaches to health and well-being. As a science-driven wellness company that empowers individuals with the support, education, and solutions they need to achieve healthy aging living healthier for longer Thorne\nutilizes testing and data to create improved product efficacy and to deliver personalized solutions to consumers, health professionals, and corporations. Predicated on the power of the individual,\nThorne\nleverages artificial intelligence models to provide insights and personalized data, products, and services that help individuals take a proactive and actionable approach to improve and maintain their health over a lifetime. Thorne is the only supplement manufacturer that collaborates with Mayo Clinic on wellness research and content and is trusted by more than four million customers, 45,000 health professionals, thousands of professional athletes, more than 100 professional sports teams, and 11 U.S. Olympic teams. For more information, visit Thorne.com\nAbout\n:\nGreg Olsen\nis an American football sportscaster and former tight end who played for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). The three-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro ranks fifth all-time among tight ends with 742 receptions and 8,683 yards. From 2014 to 2016, he recorded 1,000 receiving yards each season, becoming the first tight end in history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Following his retirement at the conclusion of the 2020 NFL season, Olsen joined FOX Sports as an NFL game analyst. Inspired by the challenges facing his son, T.J., who was born with a severe congenital heart defect, Olsen and his wife, Kara, founded the HEARTest Yard Program to offer support and services to families facing similar circumstances. Olsen also recently founded Audiorama, a premium content creation platform, and launched Youth Inc., a journey into the changing world of youth sports in America.\nAbout The HEARTest Yard:\nThe HEARTest Yard, established in 2013, is the first and only family support and service program for pediatric cardiovascular patients and their families in the Carolinas. The HEARTest Yard, a program under Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation, supports families of children with congenital heart disease with in-home nursing care and comprehensive medical services at The HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center. The Foundation seeks to provide a happier, healthier future for heart kids.\nSOURCE Thorne HealthTech, Inc.", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "patent publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "AI focused Nuronics Labs is the winner of Airtel's Startup India Innovation Challenge. x\nHighlights\nThe three winners will get access to Airtels digital innovation labs and partner ecosystem to deploy their innovations at scale.\n237 Indian startups working on solutions for 5G, IoT, cloud communications, digital ads, and digital entertainment took part in the challenge.\nBharti Airtel\n(\"Airtel\"), India's premier communications solutions provider, today announced the winners of the 'Airtel India Startup Innovation Challenge', which was organised in partnership with Invest India.\nThe Challenge invited entries from Indian startups working on innovative solutions across 5G, IoT, cloud communications, digital advertising, and digital entertainment. Over 237 technology startups from across India participated in the challenge, underscoring the strong response the challenge received from homegrown startups.\nNuronics Labs, a provider of real-time intelligence using composite AI on audio files, text files, and images was declared the winner of the challenge. Enthu.Ai, which makes voice data searchable using speech AI, and Chimes Radio, India's first podcast platform for kids, offers educational & entertaining content that encourages creativity and curiosity in them, came second and third, respectively.\nThe three winners of the competition will get access to Airtel's Digital Innovation Lab and an opportunity to be a part of the Airtel Start-up Accelerator Program. The Program invests in early-stage start-ups engaged in developing solutions based on new-age technologies which also complements Airtel's Digital vision across segments.\nAdarsh Nair, CEO of Airtel Digital, said, \"We are thrilled to see the incredible response to the challenge and the innovation that was showcased. It's heartening to see how India's startup ecosystem is thriving. We welcome the winners to Airtel's digital ecosystem and thank everyone who participated and wish them the very best for the future.\"\nAbout Airtel:\nHeadquartered in India, Airtelis a global communications solutions provider with over 480 Mn customers in 16 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India's largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second-largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel's retail portfolio includes high speed 4G/4.5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloudbased communication.", "answer groups": [ "participation in an event" ], "distractor groups": [ "article publication", "partnerships & alliances" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Eleven Genesee County communities contract with Medstar for EMS services. Eleven Genesee County communities contract with Medstar for EMS services\nUpdated: Mar. 10, 2022, 1:36 p.m. |\nPublished: Mar. 10, 2022, 1:36 p.m.\nMedstar Ambulance vehicles line up Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (Roberto Acosta | MLive.com)\nBy\nJoey Oliver | joliver@mlive.com\nGENESEE COUNTY, MIEleven communities across Genesee County will soon be serviced by one EMS agency.\nThe Genesee County 911 Authority voted this week to recognize agreements between 11 municipalities and Medstar, a non-profit EMS joint venture of the Henry Ford Health System, McLaren Healthcare Corporation and Ascension Michigan.\nThe agreement will better allow Medstar to position its ambulances throughout the 11 communities, beginning in approximately 60 days, according to Medstar CEO Kolby Miller.\nThis just changes the current ambulance assignment from 100 percent random to 100 percent predictable, Miller told MLive-The Flint Journal on Thursday, March 10.\nRelated\nMcLaren Bay Region ending EMS services and eliminating 74 jobs, nonprofit to take over service\nThe community contracting model removes some of the uncertainty around who will be responding to calls in a particular area, Miller said.\nWhile Medstar may still lean on mutual aid from other agencies from time to time, just as it will be able to respond to other communities for mutual aid, Miller said residents in the Genesee County communities contracted with Medstar will know who will be responding if they have a medical emergency.\nA system approach to delivering care and service works better than random happenstance that might deliver response times at some level at some time on different days by different providers from different locations, he said.\nThe 11 communities entering into the service agreement with Medstar include Atlas Township, Davison, Davison Township, Fenton Township, Forest Township, Richfield Township, Mundy Township, Gaines Township, as well as the villages of Gaines, Goodrich and Otisville.\nThose communities join more than 70 others across the state in contracting for EMS services.\nMiller, who began his EMS career in Flint in 1987 and has twice served as the President of the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services, said the system currently in place was the best that 2004 had to offer and that the agreement can improve services.\nThe new system, Miller explained, will allow Medstar to allocate the proper number of ambulances to areas based on the volume of calls they produce.\nMedstar is opening a new 12,400-square-foot deployment center at 6210 Lehman Dr. in Mundy Township.\nMiller said the facility will serve as a home base for its ambulances before they head to their respective communities for their shifts. However, the company may eventually set up substations in communities across the county.\nIt also includes a paramedic education facility, public CPR, AED, first aid training space, fleet maintenance and an expanded communications center. The facility will have 55 ambulances and 150 employees.\nThis innovative facility will advance the reliability and clinical performance of Medstars care and service throughout the communities and healthcare facilities we serve in Genesee County, Miller said in a statement. As the needs of the Genesee County community continue to grow, so does Medstars commitment.\nWe needed a larger facility to keep up with the increasing demand and talent recruitment. The new site solidifies our ongoing commitment to providing quality care for our patients and team members.\nRead more on MLive:", "answer groups": [ "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [ "company description", "regulatory approval", "subsidiary establishment", "closing" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "New Chairman Coming At Scandinavian Tobacco Group. Share\nShare\nScandinavian Tobacco Group, one of the largest producers of premium cigars in the world, will soon have a new chairman. Nigel Northridge, who has been chairman since 2017, intends to retire, and has informed the board of directors that he will not run for reelection in March.\nIn a statement released today, the STG board said it will elect Henrik Brandt as the new chairman at the annual meeting on March 31. Brandt presently serves as vice chairman. He joined the board in 2017.\nBrandt has held top positions at tobacco companies including House of Prince A/S, and served as chief executive officer of Denmark-based brewing and beverage company Royal Unibrew A/S from 2008 to 2017.\nSTG is the parent company of General Cigar Co. (makers of Macanudo, La Gloria Cubana, CAO and a host of other cigars) as well as retailer Cigars International.\nMost Popular", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "alliance & partnership", "participation in an event", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Aegis Living Appoints Sandra Preyale As Chief People Officer. and\nNew York\nto support the globalization of Coach and buybacks of their wholesale businesses and led various change-management projects including recreating regional structures, simplifying organizational hierarchies, developing a new regional buying model and overhauling back-office outsourcing. Earlier in her career, she held regional and global positions for the LVMH Group, a multinational luxury goods conglomerate; the L'Oral Group; and served in sales and merchandising with Danone Group. Preyale holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy and psychology from the University College of\nDublin\nand a master's degree in clinical psychology from University of Paris V.\nAs chief people officer reporting to the president of Aegis Living, Preyale will revitalize the company's recruitment and retention strategies with the continued goal of attracting the best and brightest talent and rewarding and retaining top individuals and teams across the organization. She will also be charged with optimizing organization and operations structures that embody, retain and champion the distinctive Aegis Living culture.\nPreyale says, \"I'm so proud to join such a talented team; and I'm looking forward to bringing my skills to help make impact in a company that truly puts people first. We're in the midst of a robust growth phase in a competitive industry. I welcome the opportunity to grow and develop dynamic leaders companywide as we continue to expand in cities across the west coast.\"\nAbout Aegis Living\nAegis Living is a national leader in assisted living and memory care. The privately-held company has been honored by employees and citizen voters consistently including; Top 50 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor.com's Employee Choice Award, Best Place to Work in\nWestern Washington\nby KING5 (NBC), Best Assisted Living by Seattle Business Magazine and Best Family Owned Business and Corporate Philanthropists by Puget Sound Business Journal. Founded in 1997and headquartered in\nBellevue, Wash.\n, the company operates 29 communities in\nWashington", "answer groups": [ " company description" ], "distractor groups": [ "alliance & partnership", "funding round", "regulatory approval" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "GPD, Behavioral Health to start warm handoff in March. Save\nThe Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center has been working on a \"warm handoff\" pilot program, in collaboration with the Guam Police Department and the peer support nonprofit group Toghe Inc., since last fall.\nThe standard operating procedures for the program are in the final stages of review and are expected to be implemented in March, according to GBHWC Director Theresa Arriola.\n\"Warm handoff is happening. We're doing a pilot program as we speak. A few times we tried it out. It works,\" Arriola told The Guam Daily Post on Wednesday.\nSuccess! An email has been sent to\nwith a link to confirm list signup.\nError! There was an error processing your request.\nWhat's trending in Guam news?\nTop stories delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday.\nPlease enter a valid email address.\nSign up\nManage your lists\nA warm handoff is essentially a transfer and acceptance of a client for care.\nArriola said approximately 90% of about 100 monthly admissions were voluntary. Medical clearance is needed for admission to GBHWC. For these clients, who willingly seek help, GBHWC believes GPD shouldn't have to wait until the client is medically cleared, Arriola said.\n\"With the warm handoff of those community members, GPD might pick them up but they're not court ordered. They just had a disturbance, maybe at their home. And they've agreed to come to Guam Behavioral Health for some services ... All GPD does is drive them and do a warm handoff with our warm-handoff program. Once it is determined that they meet the admission requirement, they do the warm handoff and GPD is out on the streets. Toghe will go and be with them at (Guam Memorial Hospital) ... talk to them, de-escalate,\" Arriola said.\nThe remaining 10%\nRight now, anyone can bring another person to GBHWC or a hospital emergency room for examination by qualified mental health professionals.\nA peace officer may also do so if they have probable cause to believe a person is a danger to themselves or others, or is gravely disabled due to mental illness, and only a peace officer can use reasonable force to restrain and detain the person in need of evaluation. But when they do this, the officer must remain until the examination is completed and the person is accepted for involuntary hospitalization.\nBill 238-36\nwould allow peace officers to contact a \"peer support volunteer\" to monitor individuals undergoing a mental health examination instead of having to remain with them if the officer has probable cause to believe the individual is not a danger to themselves or others, or is not gravely disabled because of mental illness, and is compliant.\nA hearing on Bill 238 was held in early February. GBHWC didnt attend but Arriola, who said the bill isnt necessary for the program, submitted written testimony last week.\n\"The 'warm handoff program' will eliminate at least 90% of police officers' time in emergency rooms ... We all agree that GPD should be out on the streets as quickly as possible to catch real criminals rather than accompanying GBHWC clients that require medical clearances before actual admission to GBHWC (Adult Inpatient Unit) for stabilization,\" her testimony stated.\nThe program is not contingent on Bill 238, Arriola told the Post.\nDownload PDF\nThe concern falls on people under a court order and 72-hour holds. Bill 238 as written places a burden on police, who do not have the training to determine if a person needs mental health services, Arriola said.\nShe recommended several changes to the bill. One of them is to utilize a \"qualified mental health professional\" instead of a peer support volunteer.\nArriola also added language that would specify that only a peace officer certified in mental health first aid and is a certified crisis intervention team member can, in consultation with a qualified mental health professional, determine probable cause to believe an individual is not a danger to themselves or others, or is not gravely disabled because of mental illness.\n\"The recommendations offered speaks toward the remaining 10% (72-hour holds) that would still require peace officer attendance,\" Arriola wrote in her testimony.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "expanding industry", "m&a", "article publication" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "HEALTH CARE HEROES: Mahendra Sunkara. HEALTH CARE HEROES: Mahendra Sunkara\nFeb 23, 2022\nProfessor and director, Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville\nCategory: Health entrepreneur\nYears in the industry: 10\nYears in current job: 26\nHobbies: Spending time with friends, traveling, watching movies and mentoring students\nFavorite TV show, movie or book about the medical field: Dont Look Up \nDescribe your job and your responsibilities.\n[My] regular job duties include teaching, administration of Conn Center and mentoring Ph.D. students in research. [My] primary research interests are in discovering and developing materials and processes toward advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.\nThe Conn Center employs about fifty researchers working in solar, biomass, energy storage, energy efficiency and advanced energy materials research topics.\nI serve as on editorial boards of Nanotechnology and Scientific Reports journals. I also serve as a reviewer to various funding agencies (in U.S., Canada, Ireland, Australia, etc.) and to various journals. \nTell us about a major professional accomplishment over the past year.\nIn 2011, I founded Advanced Energy Materials LLC to scale up nanowire materials for various energy applications. When the pandemic hit and everyone was faced with shortage of N95 masks, I saw an opportunity to help the situation through innovation.\nToward this objective, I put together a team from Conn Center and Advanced Energy Materials, LLC to take the inorganic nanofibers produced at the company and made filtration fabrics that can filter particles less than 0.1 micron including Covid.\nThe masks made using these nanowire infiltrated fabrics do not need electrostatic charge for capturing viruses and particles with 0.3 microns or lower. That allowed these masks to be washable and re-usable. This enables public at large to use N95 masks as washable and re-usable for over 20 times.\nThis technology now opened doors for developing fabrics using inexpensive materials right here in U.S., without depending upon supply chain from China and other sources. The innovation was translated to mass production.Many thousands of masks have been made and used by public at large. \nTo you, what makes someone a health care hero?\nIn my viewpoint, everyone involved with health care industry is a hero specially when they had to work long hours while risking their health and their family members.\nThere is no specific measure on what makes a health care hero. In my viewpoint, translation of certain technologies in time such as masks, vaccines and therapies will have the most impact. In that regard, someone who can bring innovations to help public at large in timely fashion will have major impact.\nWhat advancement in health care are you most looking forward to?\nI am looking forward to innovation with rapid health diagnosis at home for indication of onset of disease and a simpler way to investigate internal parts of the body.\nWhat have you learned the most or what has stuck with you in working through the Covid-19 pandemic?\nAs a researcher, it felt like you are in the middle of a war and also felt like working on a weapon which needs to be developed and deployed in the quickest time. Of course, in this situation with Covid-19, it felt good to be working on a solution that could immediately provide a solution for people to protect themselves. I appreciate my colleagues who helped me with this endeavor. The entire team worked hard and tried to bring this innovation to market. Also, it gave me an opportunity to work with a group of investors to setup mass production and this whole exercise gave me great satisfaction when people actually liked the product. Several folks actually used one mask per month by washing them multiple times and sincerely appreciated the quality.\nWhat makes you hopeful about the future of health care in our community?\nU.S. researchers in general have responded to pandemic with greatest speed and innovated many products on masks, diagnostics, vaccines and therapies. The city of Louisville and the region has also responded well both in terms of health care service.\nWhats the biggest misconception about working in the health care field?\nIn my viewpoint, the biggest misconception is that it takes a lot of time to translate technologies to market. Pandemic somewhat changed the concept.\nFeb 23, 2022", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "new initiatives & programs", "hiring", "article publication", "investment in public company" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Alpine green iPhone 13 introduced by Apple. New budget iPhone is going to cost 8% more\nApple's bare-bones iPhone SE will have a significant tech upgrade. That will mean a price hike, too.\nAuthor:\nMICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer\nPublished:\n6:53 PM EST March 8, 2022\nUpdated:\n6:53 PM EST March 8, 2022\nSAN RAMON, Calif. Apple on Tuesday unveiled a new version of its budget-priced iPhone that's capable of connecting to ultrafast 5G wireless networks, an upgrade that's already been available on the companys upscale models for more than a year.\nThe latest iPhone SE marks the first upgrade to the bare-bones version of Apples most popular product in nearly two years. In the latest sign of the inflationary pressures that have been roiling the economy, the new iPhone SE will sell for $429 an 8% increase from $399 price tag for the last version that rolled out it nearly two years agoduring the early stages of the pandemic. The new iPhone SE will be available in stores March 18.\nIn a pandemic precaution, Apple still refrained from inviting the media and other guests to the in-person events that it has traditionally staged to introduce its latest products. Instead, Apple streamed the event from the theater named after co-founder Steve Jobs at its Cupertino, California, headquarters.\nAlthough the latest iPhone SE will feature a faster processer, more durable 4.7-inch screen and longer-lasting battery than the last model, its biggest selling points will likely be its compatibility with still-emerging 5G wireless networks and its relatively low price.\nIt's a sharp discount from the fancier iPhone 13 line-up released last autumn Consisting of four different models, the iPhone 13s prices range from $700 to $1,100. All of them, like the iPhone 12s released during autumn 2020, can connect to 5G phones.\nEven though 5G networks still arent widely available, the allure of faster connections turned out to be a major draw that helped spur more iPhone fans to upgrade from older models. The iPhone 13 proved to be such a hot commodity that it helped Apple to vault past longtime rival Samsungand assume the mantle of the worlds top seller of smartphones during the final three months of last year, according to the research group International Data Corp.\nRelated Articles\nYes, people can use AirTags to track you without your knowledge\nDuring Tuesday's presentation, Apple CEO Tim Cook boasted the company has been attracting more new iPhone users than ever before since last autumn, without providing specific numbers. We are excited for the new iPhone SE to build on this momentum,\" Cook said.\nWedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives expects Apple to sell about 30 million of the new iPhone SE models during the next year, filling a need among less affluent consumers who own one of the estimated 225 million iPhones that are at least three-and-half years old.\nEven though Apple doesnt make as much money from selling iPhone SEs as it does the pricier models, it will still give the company more opportunities to sell subscriptions to music streaming, video streaming, games, and other services that have become huge money makers, said Tuong Nguyen, a smartphone analyst for Gartner.\nIts all about widening the ecosystem, Nguyen said. Its always nice when Apple can get you to buy a new phone. But its even better when they can get you to subscribing everything they can because that turns into recurring revenue.\nSomething else Apple introduced were \"alpine green\" and \"stunning green\" finishes for the iPhone 13. \"Alpine green iPhone\" was trending on Google.\nCredit: Business Wire\nAlpine green and stunning green finishes for the iPhone 13.\nApple services division has mushroomed into a booming business that generated $68 billion in revenue during its last fiscal year, up from $24 billion in 2016 the first year after its music streaming service came out. The companys success in services also has turned into a regulatory mine field, sparking antitrust lawsuits and proposed legislations seeking to loosen Apples exclusive control on its iPhone app store,which collects lucrative commissions from digital transactions processed on the device.\nThe iPhone itself remains Apples biggest gold mine, with sales of $192 billion in its last fiscal year, despite supply shortages that have curtailed production. Apple in January said those problemswere easing as the pandemic let up and suppliers began to catch up with backlogs.\nBesides the new iPhone SE, Apple also used Tuesdays showcase to announce its has struck a deal with Major League Baseball to begin showing two Friday night games each week on its video subscription after the sport resolves a labor dispute that has already delayed the start of its season. The deal marks latest foray by a major tech company into a sports programming niche that traditionally has been dominated by long-established television networks.\nAlthough the addition of baseball games could help Apple sign up from subscribers to its 2-year-old video service, the company initially plans to make them available for free to all viewers.\nApple also a new desktop version of its personal computer called the Mac Studio that will cost $2,000 to $4,000 for the processing unit. A high-resolution 27-inch display screen designed for the Mac Studio will cost another $1,600. The company also rolled out the latest version of its lightweight tablet, the iPad Air, for $600. All those computing devices will be powered by Apple's own in-house chips.\nTravis Pittman contributed to this report.\nIn Other News", "answer groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [ "event organization", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Genprex Doses First Patient in Trial for Lung-Cancer Treatment. Resize icon\nBy Chris Wack\nGenprex Inc. said it has dosed the first patient in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating its lead drug candidate, Reqorsa Immunogene Therapy, in combination with Tagrisso osimertinib in patients with late-stage non-small cell lung cancer whose disease progressed after treatment with Tagrisso.\nIn 2020, Genprex received U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration's Fast Track Designation for treatment of the trial patient population.\nGenprex expects the Phase 1 portion of the trial to enroll up to 18 patients in a dose escalation study to determine the maximum tolerated dose of the combination. The Phase 2 portion of the study is expected to enroll 74 patients to be randomized 1 to 1 to receive either Reqorsa and Tagrisso combination therapy or Tagrisso monotherapy.\nThe primary endpoint of the Phase 2 portion of the trial is progression-free survival, which is defined as time from randomization to progression or death. An interim analysis will be performed at 25 events.\nGenprex recently added four new clinical trial sites in order to accelerate enrollment, bringing the current number of sites to five. The company expects to add additional sites for the Phase 2 portion of the trial.\nGenprex shares were up 3% to $2.34 in premarket trading.\nWrite to Chris Wack at chris.wack@wsj.com\nAdvertisement\nRead Next\nRead Next\nPick your poison but the end result of the fighting in Ukraine is the same: Russian oil and natural gas will fall offline. This is what it means for the U.S. and Europe.\nMore On MarketWatch", "answer groups": [ "regulatory approval" ], "distractor groups": [ "foundation", "expanding industry", "m&a", "new initiatives or programs" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Australia's First LNG Import Terminal Seen Ready By. March 22, 2022\nIllustration only - Mariusz/AdobeStock\nSquadron Energy, the private company building Australia's first LNG import terminal, expects its Port Kembla facility in New South Wales to be ready to take its first gas shipment by the end of 2023, its commercial director said on Tuesday.\nSquadron Energy, owned by Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest, is vying against four other proposed LNG import projects looking to fill a shortfall in gas supplies expected in southeastern Australia from as early as 2024, and across eastern Australia from 2027.\nEarthworks at the Port Kembla site about 90 kilometers (56 miles) south of Sydney have been completed, work on a new wharf has begun and the facility \"will be ready for first gas in quarter four next year,\" Evonne Bennett told a gas conference in Sydney.\nSquadron has lined up the Hoegh Galleon floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) for its terminal, but has not lined up gas supply yet.\nIn contrast, rival Viva Energy VEA.AX has lined up a tentative deal for Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX to supply gas to a proposed import terminal in Geelong, near Melbourne. Read full story\nViva is awaiting state approval for its project and aims to make a final investment decision by the middle of this year, targeting first gas imports by early 2024.\nA third project making progess is run by private group Venice Energy, looking to build an import terminal in the outer harbour of Adelaide, which received approval from the South Australian state government in December.\nVenice Energy is working on lining up gas customers ahead of a final investment decision and hopes to start construction in the second half of this year with first gas shipment ready to go into South Australia's network by 2024.\n(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)\nRelated News", "answer groups": [ "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [ "product launching & presentation" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "ALDI stores in Mt. Laurel, Bridgeton undergo remodeling. Celeste E. Whittaker\nThe Courier-Post\nMOUNT LAUREL - One local ALDI store will shut down temporarily for several weeks in July for a remodel, while another is set to reopen after undergoing renovations.\nThe store at 3105 Route 38 in Mount Laurel in the Larchmont Commons shopping center will close for a few weeks.\nALDI officials confirmed they'll close the store on July 9 and reopen on July 26.\nThe ALDI in Bridgeton in Cumberland County at 18 Cornwell Drive will reopen its doors on Thursday after a renovation. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:45 a.m. followed by a Golden Ticket giveaway offering gift cards to its first 100 customers.\nShoppers at that store will also be able to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a years supply of ALDI produce.\nBoth stores are part of the $1.6 billion ALDI investment to remodel and expand more than 1,300 stores nationwide by the end of 2020, according to a news release from the company.\nMore:\nNew Walmart in Mount Laurel has job openings\nThe company said all of the remodeled ALDI stores will feature open ceilings, natural lighting and environmentally friendly building materials. The Bridgeton store will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.\nOur remodeled store layout will simplify the shopping experience for customers, so they can get out the door with everything they need, said Bob Grammer, Center Valley division vice president for ALDI, in a news release. Were excited to unveil these changes in a great market like Bridgeton, where we already have passionate, loyal customers.\nRenovations at the Mount Laurel store are actually going on currently, but the store will temporarily close next month to complete the work.\nWe are planning to close our Mount Laurel store for renovations on Monday, July 9, and are planning to host a soft opening on Thursday, July 26, Grammer said. We will also host the official grand reopening on Thursday, Aug. 9.\nA sign posted on the interior front doors of the store says Temporarily Closing for Remodeling and says the store will have a brand-new look, including an expanded fresh section, with a new easy-to-shop store layout.\nALDI operates more than 1,750 U.S. stores in 35 states serving more than 40 million customers monthly.\nCeleste E. Whittaker: @cp_CWhittaker; 856-486-2437; cwhittaker@gannettnj.com", "answer groups": [ "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "executive appointment", "clinical trial sponsorship", "event organization", "m&a" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "PDHI Enters into Partnership with VBA. PDHI Enters into Partnership with VBA\nShare Article\nPDHIs digital population health management tools are coming soon to the VBAGateway member portal\nLogo\nThe benefits of partnering with PDHI for our clients are two-fold, said Michael Clayton, CEO & President of VBA. Payers and their end-user companies can deepen engagement with their members while utilizing this new data to identify health risks and impact health outcomes.\nBASKING RIDGE, N.J. (PRWEB)\nFebruary 21, 2022\nPDHI, a leading software provider supporting health plan, point of care, and corporate wellness health initiatives, was selected as a preferred technology partner to support VBAs expansion of population health management and wellness services within its technology platform.\nVBA, whose platform is leveraged by leading health plans, TPAs, and large employers across the nation, has chosen to integrate the ConXus Platform into its VBAGateway member portal. The benefits of partnering with PDHI for our clients are two-fold, said Michael Clayton, CEO & President of VBA. Payers and their end-user companies can deepen engagement with their members while utilizing this new data to identify health risks and impact health outcomes.\nTo help these plan sponsors make a positive impact on members' well-being, PDHI will be customizing a range of digital health solutions for VBA clients. Members will be able to access NCQA certified health assessments and expertly crafted self-management tools covering a breadth of health topics, all available from any device, at any time.\nDue to recent events, health plans, TPAs, and employer groups have been placing a renewed focus on health and well-being efforts, said Jennifer Jolley, President & CEO of PDHI. This partnership is an incredible opportunity for us to do our part to make health improvement tools more easily accessible to plan participants.\nAbout PDHI\nPDHI is a software organization that develops and distributes the ConXus Platform to support health plan, point of care, and employer health initiatives. PDHI is a software organization that develops and distributes the ConXus Platform to support population health management, point of care, and wellness programs. With a 25-year track record of success, PDHI is trusted by hundreds of companies including health plans, wellness providers, and large employers across the United States. Learn more at pdhi.com.\nAbout VBA\nVBA is a proactive, leading-edge software design company providing comprehensive solutions to the insurance industry. Uniquely delivered on a secure, cloud-based platform, VBA provides one common architecture for all benefit administration. Our software development process focuses on continuous improvement to address market demands and ever-changing industry requirements. This empowers our clients to focus on business strategy and growth while streamlining their operations. Learn more at vbasoftware.com.\nShare article on social media or email:\nView article via:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "other", "m&a", "participation in an event" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The innovative and sustainable bus system from the Van Hool. \nThursday, March 10, 2022\nThe solution from the Van Hool - Kiepe Electric - Alstom consortium is intended for the T Zen 4 and T Zen 5 high service bus lines in the south of Paris Non-contractual design for illustration purposes. Van Hool\nAlstoms teams in France are proud to contribute to the realisation of an innovative and sustainable mobility solution for le-de-France Mobilits, alongside our partners, with our conductive ground-based static charging system, SRS. -Jean-Baptiste Eymoud, President of Alstom in France\nA World Premire: an innovative mobility solution consisting of 24-metre bi-articulated electric buses powered by fast-charging high-power batteries and recharged by aconductive ground-based static charging system(SRS).\nThe framework contract includes a minimum of 56 vehicles. The solution is intended for two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines in the le-de-France region, including the busiest line in the Paris area and a third line in option.\nA 100% electric mobility solution that will offer travellers more space, more comfort, more silence, more accessibility, and more speed.\nThe le-de-France region, known worldwide for its ambitious sustainable mobility initiatives, and the transport authority, le-de-France Mobilits, have chosen the innovative and sustainable transport solution from the Van Hool - Kiepe Electric - Alstom consortium. This solution, which will be a world premire, is composed of 24-metre long, bi-articulated Van Hool electric buses, powered by Kiepe Electrics high-power fast-charging batteries which will be charged by Alstoms conductive ground-based static charging system (SRS). The framework contract includes a minimum of 56 vehicles.\nThe solution from the Van Hool - Kiepe Electric - Alstom consortium is intended for the T Zen 4 and T Zen 5 high service bus lines in the south of Paris, as well as a third line in option. It will offer passengers a higher level of space, comfort, silence, accessibility, and speed.\nFilip Van Hool, CEO of Van Hool, commented on this announcement:\n\nWe are happy and proud that Van Hool, in close collaboration with partners Kiepe Electric and Alstom, has been selected by le-de-France Mobilits for the realization of this unique mobility project in le-de-France. The future of public transport is zero emission. This solution, a world first, fully meets the high expectations of the transport authority, the drivers and maintenance staff, and passengers, for quality public transport that is sustainable and economically responsible.\n24 metre bi-articulated electric buses\n100% electric mobility solution\n140 passengers will be carried by each bus\nDr. Peter Radina, Member of the Management Board of Knorr-Bremse Rail Vehicle Systems and responsible for Kiepe Electric GmbH in the Knorr-Bremse Group, observes that\n\nFor this project, le-de-France Mobilits has put its faith in our highly experienced consortium and innovative High-Power Charging (HPC) concept for buses. For Kiepe Electric, this successful bid is a milestone, and heralds our entry into the mass transit market for e-BRT lines.\nAlstoms teams in France are proud to contribute to the realisation of an innovative and sustainable mobility solution for le-de-France Mobilits, alongside our partners, with ourconductive ground-based static charging system, SRS. This solution will be a world first and will offer a high level of service with great ease of operation. It will also benefit from the experience of the Nice tramway, where SRS was deployed and put into service on 15 km and 34 trams, commented Jean-Baptiste Eymoud, President of Alstom in France.\nBuses that meet strict sustainability criteria and offer a high level of service\nThe 24-metre long, bi-articulated, 100% electric Exqui.City 24 vehicles built by Van Hool meet high expectations in terms of passenger comfort and ease of operation. The buses will be able to carry approximately 140 passengers each (compared to 70 for a conventional bus and 100 for an 18-metre articulated bus) in optimal conditions of comfort and modernity: space, lighting, air-conditioning, video surveillance, real-time visual and audio passenger information. The vehicles are fully accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM), thanks to wide sliding doors and low floor, which will make it easier for passengers to get on and off the bus at the station and to move around inside the bus.\nOperation is facilitated and optimised by very fast vehicle recharging thanks to Alstoms conductive ground-based static charging system (SRS) interfaced with an on-board energy system from Kiepe Electric.\nHigh-performance electric equipment\nKiepe Electric is supplying the traction system for two driven axles in each vehicle. The scope of the order also includes traction batteries, auxiliary power converters and cooling systems, as well as power distribution units (high-voltage distribution). In addition, the company is providing the onboard software for energy management and traction drive control. Other Knorr-Bremse Group components will also be installed, including screw-type compressors from Knorr-Bremse and brake resistors from Heine Resistors. Kiepe Electric will ensure a very high level of operational reliability using a cloud-based data application that measures consumption, routing, and performance parameters. This operating data will be collected by the companys Artificial Intelligence-based Smart Fleet Management (SFM) system for subsequent transfer to the operating companys base station via Kiepe Fleet Management (KFM).\nAn innovative ground-based recharging system\nAlstom is providing the conductive ground-based static charging system (SRS). It is an innovative and interoperable technology for electric transport, buses, and trams, of all brands and sizes. As a compact solution, SRS blends invisibly into the cityscape. SRS ensures safe, automated, and fast high-power charging at stops and line terminals. This solution is already in use on 15 kilometres of tramway tracks in Nice, where it allows automatic and fast in-station recharging with no additional constraints for operations and with ground-breaking availability (more than 99.9%). SRS is designed by Alstom in Vitrolles, a world centre of excellence for ground power solutions. Alstoms catenary-free systems are reliable and proven with over 15 years of commercial service in France and internationally. For the T Zen 4 and T Zen 5 project, Alstom will engineer the charging systems, as well as supply the equipment, install, commission, and provide warranty. The framework agreement also includes a service level agreement on reliability and availability of the bus and charging system.\nThe T Zen 4 and T Zen 5 bus lines\nThe T Zen 4 and T Zen 5 lines are express bus lines running on dedicated bus lanes.The TZen4 BRT line will cover the 14.8-kilometre distance between Viry-Chatillon and Corbeil-Essonnes.The new line will replace the existing 402 line, which is the busiest line in the Paris metropolitan area, transpo", "answer groups": [ " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [ "ipo exit", "regulatory approval", "clinical trial sponsorship" ] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Coming soon to your benefits package: student debt relief. Erin Hall, a Fidelity employee benefitted from the companys student loan program and recently bought a new house along with her husband Rob.\nJohn Tlumacki/Globe Staff\nAs companies struggle to hire and retain workers during a nationwide labor shortage and waves of post-pandemic turnover, some are offering to help pay off one of the biggest debts many young people owe: Their student loans.\nEven before the pandemic, interest in student loan repayment programs was rising among employers, said Craig Copeland of the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).\nNow in a historically tight labor market, more companies are looking at student loan relief as an offering to woo workers just like health insurance, transit passes and gym memberships.\nTheres a big need. Roughly 45 million Americans hold student loans, totaling $1.75 trillion in all. A freeze on student loan repayments launched during the pandemic will end in May. And federal legislation passed in 2020 allowed employer student loan repayments (of up to $5,250 annually) to be classified as tax-free benefits through 2025.\nAdvertisement\nLately, youve been seeing more interest, said Copeland. [Employers] really want workers back, and theyre having a hard time attracting and retaining them. So these benefits are becoming more important.\nRelated:\nBiden gives reprieve for student loans, but borrowers want permanent relief\nIn fact, 31 percent of large companies surveyed by the EBRIsaid they plan to offer student loan assistance within the next two years. They might look at the experience of Fidelity Investments, which launched such a program in 2016.\nSince then almost 15,000 Fidelity employees have participated in the benefit, said Jesse Moore, who runs Fidelitys student debt program. In October, the company said it would expand the cap on loan repayment from $10,000 to $15,000.\nFidelity began offering to help pay student debt after hearing the negative impact loans were having on workers futures, said Moore. An employee survey found that 39% of Fidelity workers put off saving for retirement and 30% werent starting families due to student loan stress.\nTake Fidelity employee Erin Hall, for example. Fidelitys student loan repayment program was a big reason she chose to work at the company. Now shes a senior manager of new product marketing at Fidelity, where she met her husband Rob who is also enrolled in the benefit. Each receives $179 a month in loan repayment over a maximum of seven years, or just over $30,000 in all. That, in turn, helped enable Hall and her husband to buy their first house together a few weeks ago.\nAdvertisement\nWeve been more comfortable and confident to take those steps in our personal lives that maybe we wouldnt have been able to do so soon due to our student debt, said Hall. This benefit has really set us up for success for our future and our main life events that weve been going through.\nEmployers who help pay off workers student loans might have a better chance of hiring talent and keeping it, too. A Fidelity analysis of employers who offered student debt repayment plans found a 78 percent reduction in turnover in a one year period. Fidelity employees that work at least 20 hours a week are eligible for the benefit from their first day on the job.\nVertex Pharmaceuticals, too, offers to repay student loans of full-time workers as soon as theyre hired, up to $10,500 per employee. The company began its student loan repayment program in 2019 to ease the emotional toll student loan debt can take on employees financial wellbeing and retirement plans, said a Vertex spokesperson.\nAdvertisement\nSince enrolling [in the student loan repayment program], Ive seen a significant reduction in my student loan principal balances and Im on track to pay them off much quicker than I originally forecasted, said John Dennis, a brand and digital communications associate director at Vertex.\nWith nearly $30,000 of her student loans covered, Erin Hall and her husband, Rob, have been able to buy their first house together.\nJohn Tlumacki/Globe Staff\nOther New England companies offering the benefit include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Amica Insurance and Natixis Investment Managers And while private companies are relatively new to the field of student loan repayment programs, the federal government has long used the benefit to attract potential workers in fields that require advanced degrees but offer relatively low pay, like nursing.\nTake the VA Boston Healthcare System, for example, which uses student loan repayment as a recruiting and retention tool for such candidates, said Winfield Danielson, the facilitys public affairs officer. Employees there (and at many other federal jobs) can receive a maximum payment of $60,000 towards their student loans. But not all workers qualify.\nOne of the challenges of student loan repayment is not all employees necessarily have access, said Danielson. So we can only apply it right now in a targeted fashion. And there are some high-demand entry level professions where it simply doesnt apply, such as food service workers.\nAnd while the federal government and larger companies such as Fidelity have the financial resources to help employees pay off student loans, its harder for smaller employers who are also trying to compete for workers, said Copeland.\nAdvertisement\nIt can be an expensive benefit, so its not necessarily something easy for the small business employer to do, said Copeland. So that makes it a challenge, because theyre also searching for great talent, but they might not be able to provide that type of benefit.\nBorrowers facing the greatest challenges paying back student loans are also less likely to receive this benefit from their employers as they are more likely to be unemployed or have unfinished degrees, said Sameer Gadkaree, president of The Institute for College Access & Success, a nonprofit that advocates for affordable education.\nTo fully target the larger issue of student debt in the US, federal action is needed, he added, such as increasing the Pell grant to help low-income students pay for the costs of college and reforming the student loan default system.\nWhile this employee benefit may help employers get people in the door, and certainly may help a few folks pay down their student loan debt, its not a systemic solution to the problem of student debt payments that people cant afford, said Gadkaree.\nAnnie Probert can be reached at annie.probert@globe.com", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Is Technology Any Match for a Dogs Nose? This Project is Trying.. Is Technology Any Match for a Dogs Nose? This Project is Trying.\nSam Prickett\nApril 14, 2019\nShare this story:\nEric Housh, who co-founded the medical technology company AerBetic, keeps these boxing gloves in his office as a reminder of the fight that comes with starting a small business. (Source: Solomon Crenshaw Jr.)\nIn some ways, Birmingham-based medical technology company AerBetic is attempting to imitate one of the most sensitive detection devices in nature: a dogs nose.\nThe idea came from diabetic alert dogs, said AerBetic co-founder Eric Housh, referring to canines trained to alert diabetic owners when their blood sugar is too low, something they can smell on their owners breath. While those dogs are effective, Housh said, they can be prohibitively expensive. Plus, theres a long wait time to get one, and you cant really take the dog everywhere, right? he added.\nHis proposed solution is a non-invasive diabetes alert device that uses your exhaled breath to infer your diabetic status. Its a product thats been in development in Birmingham for two years, with assistance from the citys medical and technical research community. A limited-run beta model is slated to be completed this year, and the company expects to have a consumer-ready version of the device next year.\nWhen we came up with this idea, we knew we wanted to found the company here, to grow the company here, said Housh, who co-founded the company with current CEO Arnar Thors. Its always been our mission to bring this sort of advanced product to market and do it from right here in Birmingham.\nAerBetic works through tiny gas sensors that can detect down to the parts-per-billion level. Those sensors, once programmed to detect the same exhaled volatile organic compounds that the dog looks for, will be attached to wearable devices, which in turn are connected to a mobile app.\nAerBetics technology uses tiny sensors, which will be attached to wearable devices, to alert diabetics when their blood sugar is too low. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr.)\nT", "answer groups": [ " alliance & partnership", "new initiatives & programs", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Hand care brand Nursem to give 10,000 products to NHS staff fighting coronavirus. To receive the nomination the person must:\nBe 18 years old or over\nBe a registered healthcare professional\nWork in the United Kingdom\nWork at a recognised healthcare establishment, for which you can provide a valid postal address\nIdeally be in involved in frontline healthcare and participant in the fight against Covid-19\nFounder Jonny Philp said: \"Now more than ever, we need to do all we can to give back to our NHS heroes - our lives are quite literally in their hands!\nFounder Jonny Philip says this is the ideal time to help support our NHS staff\nRead More\nYou can adopt a lonely grandparent to keep them company during self-isolation\n\"Weve seen overwhelming demand for our product as the nation experiences the effects of constant hand washing first-hand, so to ensure we have enough product to reach those it was created to serve, weve set aside 10,000 products to lend a helping hand to nurses at this time.\n\"We are forever grateful for the unparalleled strength and tenacity that NHS workers continue to demonstrate, and we are still very much committed to doing all we can to fulfil our mission of providing free hand cream to every NHS nurse and midwife by 2025\".\nAmanda Holden is a fan of the brand too\n(Image: noholdenback/Instagram)", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Charleston fertility startup sold to a Texas health care business. , which was launched in 2019 by technology entrepreneur Halle Tecco, announced Oct. 21 that it has been acquired in an all-cash deal by Everly Health.\nThe sale price was not disclosed.\nCharleston-based women's health startup Natalist expands to major stores\nBy Mary Katherine Wildemanmkwildeman@postandcourier.com\nThe buyer is a woman-owned businessbased in Austin that offers consumers an array of at-home medical test kits and other diagnostic products.\nHalle Tecco launched Natalist in August 2019. Provided\nNatalist workers and executives are joining Everly, which owns three subsidiaries: Everlywell, Everly Health Solutions and EverlyD.\nTecco, whose title is chief women's health officer, said in an email that Natalists operations will remain in Charleston and that employees will have the option to work remotely.\n\"The missions of our two companies have been aligned since day one. We're working to make sure all people especially women have access to care that's simple, convenient, and designed for the way they live,\" she said in a written statement\nCharleston women's health startup closes a $5M investment round\nBy Mary Katherine Wildemanmkwildeman@postandcourier.com\nNatalist CEO Vernita Brown said Everlys full capabilities across testing, telehealth and virtual care delivery will supercharge our ability to help people in ways we're only beginning to explore.\"\nThe Charleston startup raised $5 million in early-stage funding shortly after its website went live more than two years ago. Investors included Everly Health founder and CEO Julia Cheek.\nFounder of Rock Health launches SC fertility startup geared toward millennials\nBy Mary Katherine Wildemanmkwildeman@postandcourier.com\nNatalists products are now carried at nearly 6,000 brick-and-mortar stores, up from 300 a year ago. They include Target, Rite Aid and several supermarket chains.\n\"Creating innovative solutions for women's health was my initial motivation for founding Everly ... and remains a top area of focus,\" Cheek said in the statement. \"A survey of our customers revealed that nearly 70 percent don't trust many of the women's health products available on the market today. Natalist's thoughtfully designed fertility and pregnancy essentials are the solution that so many women are seeking.\"\nSign up for our business newsletter.\nOur twice-weekly newsletter features all the business stories shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free.\nEmail\nContact John McDermott at 843-937-5572 or follow him on Twitter at @byjohnmcdermott\nTags", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Viztek debuts new PACS, DR system at RSNA. Viztek\nhas introduced a new PACS platform and an upgrade to its FIT-DR dual-detector digital radiography (DR) system at RSNA 2013.\nThe company has migrated its entire Viztek PACS platform to a Web-based technology that is supported on any device, allowing for PACS use through any operating system, according to the firm. The new PACS operates with Viztek's electronic health record (EHR) package, which has bundled essential components of the radiology workflow process, including PACS, practice management, billing, order entry, radiology reports, patient portals, and other software products.\nThe company's FIT-DR dual-detector DR system is an upgrade from its previous configuration, FIT-KIT. With two cesium detectors, it now includes Viztek's Leggera wireless DR panel with a fixed panel for improved productivity and easier conversion of remaining analog imaging suites to digital, the company said.", "answer groups": [ " product updates", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Omada Health Announces Integrated Behavioral Health Support. SAN FRANCISCO, March 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the heels of Omada Healths\n$192 million Series E\nthe digital health company announced at\nMindset 2022\ntoday that its investing more deeply in its collaborative care model by embedding its behavioral health support into all existing programs (Diabetes Prevention, Diabetes Management, Hypertension and Musculoskeletal).\nAs a virtual-first care leader, Omada is continually evolving its programs with a goal of providing better, more integrated care to those living with chronic conditions. This latest integration offers members care that approaches both mental and physical health equally to help remove barriers and lead to better outcomes. This update will allows members to have access to the following:\nUpfront assessment of mental health symptoms for anxiety and depression\nDetailed resources to address social determinants of health, including access to healthcare, food insecurity, and barriers in their built environment\nTools to address specific behavioral challenges based on cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness, including stress management and sleep lessons\nCare teams enhanced by ongoing training and mental health specialist support to better support behavioral health\nOut of scope of services, including triaging high-risk situations and guiding immediate intervention in moments of crisis\nOmada Health has always viewed support for mental health as a key component to overall well-being. Our latest investment in integrating support across our programs further solidifies that commitment, said Jennifer La Guardia, Senior Director of Clinical and Behavior Science, Omada Health. With nearly half of our members identifying behavioral health symptoms, were now offering them even more personalized care to help them understand and overcome these challenges.\nThe mental health crisis has reached a point of reckoning across the U.S. Currently,\n52 million American adults\nare struggling with mental health concerns 21% of the population. Mental health issues have often been siloed from other health issues, but they are deeply intertwined when it comes to overall health. Among Omada Health members, 47% show elevated behavioral health symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Addressing these issues for people with medical conditions offers significant potential for cost savings by driving better healthcare treatment compliance and improved overall health outcomes.\nAdditionally, to address chronic conditions more completely, Omada Health is rolling out ways to better identify those with chronic pain and treat these concerns more effectively. The physical therapists within Omada Healths MSK platform have always understood the critical connection between behavioral health and chronic pain, but now they have additional tools to put forward an approach that first focuses on mindset to manage chronic pain.\nprefer drug-free pain management over opioids, and initiating physical therapy at the onset of an episode\nmay reduce future opioid use\nCDC guidelines\nalso state that nonpharmacologic therapy is preferred for chronic pain. As the opioid epidemic continues, Omada Health is looking to improve its approach for those suffering from chronic pain.\nPatients managing chronic pain, similar to our members living with diabetes, have historically not had all of their needs met by the healthcare system, said Kurt Seefeld, VP of Product at Omada Health. At Omada Health, we are empowering members no matter their challenges. We are now rolling out ways to better integrate behavioral and physical health with a mindset-first approach, to deliver more effective care.\nTo learn more about Omada Health's programs, visit:\nhttps://www.omadahealth.com/platform\nAbout Omada Health\nOmada Health delivers integrated, virtual care across chronic conditions, a top clinical need for employers and health plans. By combining clinical best practices with the science of behavior change, Omada Health improves member health and reduces the cost of care. Working with over 1,700+ customers including health plans, health systems, and employers ranging in size from small businesses to Fortune 500s across a wide variety of industries Omada delivers personalized interventions for diabetes, diabetes prevention, hypertension, and musculoskeletal issues. All programs include integrated behavioral health support. Omada Healths virtual care programs are clinically supported and evidence-based, with results published in multiple peer-reviewed journals. To learn more, visit\nwww.omadahealth.com", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Fortnite Creator Pledges To Give All Proceeds To Ukraine Relief For Two Weeks. Tech Desk\nEpic Games has pledged to contribute all the proceeds from the Fortnite game for Ukraine relief efforts for two weeks. The company says that all the purchases made in the game from March 20 to April 2, 2022, will be offered to four non-profit organisations that include the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), UNHCR, the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) and the Direct Relief.\nEpic Games says players purchases using real money during the specified timelines will be provided to the aforementioned entities.\nThe Fortnite creator says the money made through selling of V-Buck packs, cosmetic packs and Fortnite crew will be part of the special program.\nRELATED NEWS\nRussia Ukraine War: Global Regulators Monitor Use Of Cryptocurrency in Ukraine\nChina Says it Will Offer 10 Million Yuan More of Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine\nThe pleasing bit about this contribution is that Epic Games isnt going to wait for the actual money to be processed in its system. It says as the transactions are logged, the money will be sent over to the organisations within days.\nAdvertisement\nThe developer also explained that anybody purchasing with real money in Fortnite during this period cannot opt-out of the relief effort. Epic Games says if you would prefer that the funds for your purchase are not included as part of the program, dont buy anything with real money until April 4, 2022, or later.\nAlso Read: Oppo Enco Air 2 Price in India, Specifications and All Details Ahead of March 23 Launch\nEpic Games is one of the many technology companies showing their support during the battle between Russia and Ukraine. Microsoft and Apple have helped out in their own ways, with the former offering technical support to fight against cyberattacks.\nThe likes of Google, Meta and YouTube decided to suspend their services in Russia. Instagram said people in Russia will not be able to use the platform for a while. Nintendo and Sony also stopped offering their products in the region.\nRussia responded to these actions by restricting Facebook and other social media platforms in the country.\nRead all the Latest News , Breaking News and Ukraine-Russia War Live Updates here.", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "closing", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Mobile Dentist Will Clean Office Employees' Teeth While They Work. Mobile Dentist Will Clean Office Employees Teeth While They Work\n03/12/19\nIvanha Paz\nHenry mobile dental clinic is helping employees use their benefits by taking oral healthcare directly to offices in New Jersey\nA startup called\nHenry\nis bringing the dentists office straight to office workers. The mobile dental clinic, which has raised $2 million in capital, sets up shop directly outside companies, helping employees take advantage of their benefits, as well as saving them the paid time off it may cost them to visit the dentist. Besides making it infinitely more convenient for employees to get yearly checkups, the clinic offers x-rays, exams, Invisalign, fillings and crowns, among other routine procedures.\nAccording to a company\npress release\n, employees arent taking advantage of their health benefits mostly because of the involved travel time, work hours lost and finding a trustworthy dental professional. Along with state-of-the-art equipment and perks like Apple TVs, Henry promises to keep the same staff assigned to each company. We brought together a full-time team of experienced dentists and hygienists for each clinic, ensuring that all our patients receive continuity of care from the same highly trained dental professionals at every visit, said the Dental Director, Dr. Jeffrey Rappaport, in the press release.\nTo schedule Henry visits, the startup works with HR, at no cost to the soliciting companies. For patients with insurance coverage, it functions just like any other in-network dentists office.\nHenry\nA startup called Henry is bringing the dentists office straight to office workers. The mobile dental clinic, which has raised $2 million in capital, sets up shop directly outside companies, helping employees take advantage of their benefits, as well as saving them the paid time off it may cost them to visit the dentist. Besides making it infinitely more convenient for employees to get yearly checkups, the clinic offers x-rays, exams, Invisalign, fillings and crowns, among other routine procedures.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Premier Foods set to explore whitespace categories' amid international push. LinkedIn\nPremier Foods credits its successful branded growth model for building increased stability as the business prepares to expand into new categories and readies for overseas expansion.\nSpeaking on an investor call this morning (16 November), CEO Alex Whitehouse explained Premier Foods plans to extend its branded growth model, which has proved successful across its five core categories, into new whitespace categories where the buisness hopes to generate incremental revenue streams.\nWhat were doing is taking our leading brand positions and strong brands, and were developing new products for our consumers from those brands based on our insight into how their lives are changing and the way they shop, Whitehouse explained.\nMr Kipling, for example, is set to enter the biscuit category for the first time and expand into a range of branded ice cream, backed by TV advertising spend. Ice cream launches are also planned for Ambrosia and Angel Delight.\nThe business is poised to launch a range of insight driven new products in adjacent categories, building on the initial success of its Cape Herb and Spice, and Oxo rubs and marinades products. Branching out from the Oxo core of stock cubes, the range of marinade and rub flavours is set to expand.\nWhat were doing is taking our leading brand positions and strong brands, and were developing new products for our consumers.\nAlex Whitehouse, Premier Foods\nSeveral of the groups brands are said to have retained higher household penetration rates (a measure of how many consumers buy a brand on at least one occasion in a given timeframe), than pre-pandemic.\nWhitehouse noted 800,000 households who tried Sharwoods cooking sauces have continued to buy the brand post-lockdown. The company also saw success by pivoting into new products catering to people cooking more at home, such as Loyd Grossmans pizza-making range and cake mixes from Mr Kipling.\nWhilst its all still early days for us in new categories. Were getting to a point where collectively it all starts to add up to something interesting. Were looking at delivering towards 10m of revenue from those new category extensions over the full year this year, said Whitehouse.\nBisto unveils first new ad in six years amid 4m push to reach next generation\nGoing into the key festive period and the run-up to Easter, Premier Foods plans to maintain marketing spend at similar levels to 2021. The company spent 59.6m during the 26 weeks to 2 October on selling, marketing and distribution costs.\nLooking ahead, this will be the second consecutive year the business has invested in TV advertising for its Ambrosia, Batchelors, Bisto, Mr Kipling, Oxo and Sharwoods brands.\nClearly were able to invest more last year because of the year that we had that was great. So, in terms of overall levels, probably looking to similar levels of marketing compared with last year, but a step up compared to two years ago, said CFO Duncan Leggett.\nOur aim is to grow margin so that we can invest that behind the brands in consumer marketing and thats very much what weve been able to achieve over the last couple of years.\nMr Kipling skips across the pond\nSpurred on by international revenue growth of 7% versus two years ago, the company is going into full rollout mode in Canada with Mr Kipling slices, after seeing high-levels of repeat purchase. A testing phase for the Mr Kipling brand in the US is coming up.\nWhitehouse said the company will follow the same process it did in Canada by stocking the brand with a few retail partners, the expectation being Mr Kipling will land on US shelves by late December or early January.\nIn the US, were going to be following the same process that we followed in Canada. Were going into an initial launch with a couple of customers in the US while were working with those customers, to make sure weve got the model right as we did in Canada, said Whitehouse.\nThe Sharwoods brand is currently on display across 2,400 distribution points in the US, as the company noted the Indian cooking sauce market in the States remains at an early stage.\nPremier Foods on why its ramping up its marketing investment in 2021\nPremier Foods has also been focusing on bringing its UK branded growth model into Ireland, where the company posted growth of 38% compared to 2019. There will be support for brands in Ireland with TV advertising through the winter.\nRevenues for Premier Foods hit 394.1m during the 26 weeks to 2 October, down 6.5% on the 421.5m generated during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but up 7.5% on 2019. The business sales through online channels are up 80% compared to two years ago.\nPremier Foods posted a statutory pre-tax profit of 30.7m, down 39.2% on the 50.5m generated in 2020, but up 104.7% on a two-year basis. Compared to pre-pandemic in 2019, the companys second-quarter group revenue was up 8.5%, with branded revenue ahead by 13.3%.\nFor the half-year period, revenue rose by 11.4% on a two-year basis, reflecting what Premier Foods describes as the strength of its branded growth model.\nWe feel that weve had a really strong first half of the year and weve taken a lot of momentum into the second half with lots of strong plans, Whitehouse concluded.", "answer groups": [ " expanding geography", " new initiatives or programs", " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "High Profile converts to adult-use dispensary. C3 Industries\nreceived adult-use licensing for its High Profiledispensary in Grand Rapids.\nC3, a multi-state cannabis operator headquartered in Ann Arbor, last week converted its High Profile Boutique Cannabis location at 2321 44th St. SE in Grand Rapids from medical to adult-use cannabis sales after receiving adult-use licensing.\nThe location opened in October and carries a wide selection of premium brands, including C3s award-winning Cloud Cover Cannabis and Galactic Meds lines. Consumers can select from a variety of curated flower, concentrates, edibles, topicals and vaporizers, as well as products in other categories.\nThe news of High Profiles conversion to adult-use sales follows a record month for cannabis sales in the state with adult-use hitting $97.6 million in March a 346% increase year over year, according to New Cannabis Ventures Media.\nWith the Michigan adult-use market booming, were thrilled to now offer our curated selection of premium cannabis products at High Profile to recreational consumers in Grand Rapids, Kentwood and Wyoming, C3 Industries CEO Ankur Rungta said. Whether (they are) longtime cannabis connoisseurs or new to the plant, our experienced budtenders can help consumers find the best products to fit their needs and desires.\nThe Grand Rapids location is one of five High Profile stores in Michigan, with the others in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grant and Buchanan. C3 said six more Michigan stores are expected to open in 2021.\nHigh Profile also recently opened its first store in Oregon and plans to expand to Massachusetts and Missouri soon.\nThe store in Grand Rapids is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.\nFacebook Comments", "answer groups": [ " department establishment", "regulatory approval" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Charleston-based women's health startup Natalist expands to major stores. Jun 21, 2021\n24 min ago\nVernita Brown is the CEO of Natalist, a Charleston-based startup in the fertility and pregnancy space expanding this year to major retail stores. Natalist/Provided\nSubscribe today for $4 for 4 months\nKeep an eye out and you might see products on store shelves from a women's reproductive health startup founded in Charleston in 2019.\nNatalist, which sells everything from pregnancy and ovulation tests to prenatal supplements, is looking to put a modern spin on the age-old issues of pregnancy and infertility.\nThe firm began in Charleston in 2019 by offering mostly subscription-based bundles of its products for purchase online. The major big-box store Target gave Natalist a shot in a limited number of stores in 2020, and now the company says its goods are available in Targets in every state, pharmacy giant Rite-Aid and grocers Albertsons, Safeway and Shaws.\nVitamins are just some of the items offered by Charleston-based Natalist. Natalist/Provided\nIt was important to get the products stocked in places where women normally go, said Vernita Brown, CEO of Natalist.\n\"Our company was really founded because of a lack of millennial-friendly products on the market,\" Brown said. \"When you think about fertility and pregnancy, what you find really are products that are just kind of outdated and not user-friendly.\"\nBrown was also the company's first employee.\nThe sense in marketing fertility and pregnancy products to millennials is clear, given most new mothers right now belong to the generation.\nProposal to extend care for new SC moms from 60 days to 1 year has Medicaid agency support\nBy Mary Katherine Wildemanmkwildeman@postandcourier.com\nIn 2021, the millennial generation is between 23 and 38 years old According to the March of Dimes, 92 percent of people giving birth are between 20 and 39 years old. The birth rate is also falling,\nsaying in May the rate had fallen by 4 percent in 2020 compared with the year before; the trend has been downward since the mid-2000s.\nSign up for our new health newsletter\nThe best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly.\nEmail\nSign Up!\nBrown said as consumers, millennials want \"fresh packaging, fresh instructions, and companies that stand for something.\" Natalist also says it has committed to a net-zero plastic footprint.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Benson's Pet Center opens new Saratoga Springs location, hopes to retrieve lost customers to online shops. SARATOGA SPRINGS Benson's Pet Center has opened a new location at 175 Ballston Avenue. The pet retail chain opened the doors of its eighth store quietly in December before fully welcoming customers in January. The only two differences between the Ballston Avenue location and other Benson's shops is this one doesn't have a fish room or livestock. It does, however, have a dog-washing room available to customers with bath supplies for $15. Moira Nowc, the chain's general manager, said the company has sought out an expansion for a while. When the opportunity presented itself to serve the west side of Saratoga and potentially gain back customers it lost to online stores, such as Chewy and Amazon, they jumped at it. Nowc wasn't able to say how many customers the business had lost to e-commerce providers but said she could see customers changing their minds now that another Benson's location has opened locally. \"Since opening this new store, it is very frequent, multiple customers will come in and say 'you're just so you're conveniently located.' Now, I'm going to stop buying on Chewy, I'm going to stop buying on Amazon,\" she said. The new store's location has been helpful to bring back lost customers as well. Being situated in a plaza with a Price Chopper, people who shop for groceries have found their way into Benson's. Benson's locations also offer curbside pick-up and same-day delivery, which Nowc said customers don't often realize. Still, Nowc explained that some customers have said Benson's prices are too expensive compared to big box stores like Target. Nowc said she feels as though Benson's is absolutely in the shadows of larger pet retailers and their buying power, but it's more concerned with being a household name, becoming the Stewart's Shops of pet retail. Benson's also operates pet centers in Colonie, Clifton Park, Wilton, Queensbury, Johnstown and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, plus a fish room in Ballston Spa. Nowc emphasized that Target can't provide the experience and knowledge that her fellow workers at Benson's can nor the personal touch that comes with employees knowing your pet's name and what they need. For Benson's, it's all about the local and personal impact, which is why it works to give back to community organizations. \"The money that you spend in a local independent store stays in your community,\" she said. \"From the owners down, everyone lives here (and) participates in this community.\"", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Azneem Bilwani Proclaims to Target Latest Tech-related Solu.... MENAFN\n- EIN Presswire)\nPAKISTAN, March 28, 2022 /EINPresswire.com / -- ABTACH LTD is undoubtedly a leading tech giant that aims to soars up IT solutions all around the world. The company has incredibly created its footprints in the mobile app development area and robust digital marketing. The firm experiencing a massive transformation to dig best outcomes to accomplish IT venture.\nAzneem Bilwani is ready to follow the IT trends that become the buzzword today. Due to the strong vision and mission, he announces to introduce latest IT trends such as metaverse, artificial intelligence, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Virtual reality, augmented reality, and machine learning in every digital venture.\nThe CEO of ABTACH Azneem Bilwani established this firm in the year of 2015. They hire a team of witty and enthusiastic professionals, who aim to break the barriers to bring something innovative in every product. The company pays lots of attention to adding charisma to the services the firm offer.\nIn the mobile app development area, the firm is ready to laid down the cutting-edge solution to provide remarkable products. To reach the new heights of success and make a name among the leading company, Azneem Bilwani integrates the latest mobile app development trends.\nFrom service-based apps to game apps, the company offers unmatched and creative app development solutions . The founders of ABTACH LTD know how to craft the attention of their targeted audience. Their innovative approach makes impossible things possible.\nIn the field of app development, the firm also uses the latest software and analytical tools to develop creative apps. They have a panel of highly diligent employees, who keep their keen eyes on changes in app development trends. The company has successfully completed thousands of mobile app projects for different leading brands.\nIn establishing unbeatable standards related to all the facets of the IT world, ABTACH always ensures to make their customer satisfied. Creating organic and potential leads is the main aim of this firm. Building a professional brand image and helping customers to gain a massive audience.\nWhen talking about the digital marketing area, this company specializes in different technical and creative fields. They offer a wide range of services including search engine optimization, content creation, persuasive video animation, & pay-per-click advertisement.\nNow moving towards the head of ABTACH LTD Azeem bilwani, who saidtheir passion is to drive more customers and aims to surge the global IT venture. He even mentioned,We love to strengthen our bond with IT enthusiasts who are sincerely committed to taking this firm to a height of unbelievable success.'\nWith transparent business policies, the ABTACH provides a friendly, corporative, and open work environment to its workforce. The firm aims to score greater targets, so with a proper hierarchy system they try harder to leave no stone unturned. Let's see what ABTACH offers to its customer this year.\nMedia Team", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Retired Navy SEAL now senator continues fight for veterans. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs\nPosted On April 29, 2020 15:47:22\nVA is partnering with four technology organizations CaringBridge, IBM, Objective Zero Foundation, and RallyPoint that share VAs commitment to preventing veteran suicide. These organizations are working with VA to promote social connectedness and expand the reach of lifesaving resources using mobile applications and online platforms.\nPartnerships are a vital component of the National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide, which we are implementing at the national, state, and local levels, said Dr. Keita Franklin, executive director, suicide prevention, for VAs Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. Our goal is to prevent suicide among veterans nationwide and across the globe, reaching even those who do not, and may never, come to VA for care. To do that, we are working closely with dozens of important partners across sectors to expand our reach beyond VA facility walls, to deliver care and support to at-risk veterans wherever they live, work, and thrive.\nAs identified in the national strategy, engaging community partners in the technology sector is an important component of VAs public health approach to suicide prevention. While each of our technology partners offers their own unique services, they all use technology to help service members and veterans get the care they need whenever and wherever they need it.\n(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Clayton Cupit)\nCaringBridge\nCaringBridge is a global nonprofit social network dedicated to helping family and friends communicate with and support loved ones during any health journey through the use of free personal websites. A CaringBridge website can be used to share updates and coordinate support for service members, veterans, their caregivers and families during any health journey including mental health and substance use. While enhancing social connectedness, CaringBridge also allows its users to conduct personal fundraisers. Through the partnership with VA and CaringBridge, a tailored destination page www.caringbridge.org/military-service/ to directly focus on the needs of Service members, veterans, caregivers and their families is now available.\nIBM\nIBM and VA launched a collaborative suicide prevention program to develop an innovative mobile application currently under development titled GRIT (Getting Results In Transition). GRIT demonstrates how the real-time and consistent collection of personalized data can help service members and veterans understand and strengthen their emotional well-being and resiliency particularly during the transition from active duty to civilian life. GRIT allows users to create a digital self and gain personal insight into their personality baseline, provides access to a digital assistant powered by IBM Watson, helps to build a squad of social connection and offers employment matching and fulfillment capabilities using IBM Watson Employment Manager among other resources to support the transition out of the military.\nObjective Zero Foundation\nObjective Zero Foundation is a nonprofit organization that uses technology to enhance social connectedness and improve access to mental health resources. The Objective Zero mobile application connects service members, veterans, their families, and caregivers to peer support through videoconferencing, voice calls, and text messaging. Users also get free access to resources on mental health and wellness. Volunteer ambassadors sign up for the application, receive training including VAs own A.V.E. training Signs, Ask, Validate, and Encourage and Expedite, course to then be on the receiving end of those in need of connecting. Objective Zero aims to be more upstream than the Veterans Crisis Line and allows service members, veterans their families and caregivers to both volunteer and connect to others when they need it most. You can download the free Objective Zero mobile application at https://www.objectivezero.org/app.\n(DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley)\nRallyPoint\nRallyPoint is a social networking company designed to gather service members and veterans connect with each other, discuss military life, share information and exchange stories. The platform is now open for families, caregivers and federal employees of service members and veterans. Users can build out their own professional network, share resources, connect with other members of the military and veterans in a safe, secure social media environment. Career opportunities and resources, active community discussions and increasing social connectedness with over 1 million users is free, ready and available at www.rallypoint.com/.\nVA will not stop working to prevent veteran suicide, but we cant do it alone. Everyone has a role to play in preventing Veteran suicide, Franklin said. VAs partnerships in the technology sector enhance social connectedness and expand the reach of VAs suicide prevention resources through these technology platforms. We are working with partners in the technology space and other sectors to ensure we reach all Veterans with lifesaving resources and support.\nThe health and well-being of our nations veterans and former service members is VAs highest priority. Guided by data and research, VA is working with partners, veterans family members and friends, and the community to ensure that all veterans and former service members get the right care whenever they need it regardless of their discharge status. To learn about the resources available for veterans and how you can #BeThere as a VA employee, family member, friend, community partner, or clinician, visit www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/resources.asp.\nIf you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, text to 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.\nMore on We are the Mighty", "answer groups": [ " company description", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Lansing marijuana company to add hundreds of jobs in the next 2 years. MORE\nBuy Photo\nWorkers at Green Peak Innovations in Windsor Township create clones of marijuana plants Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019.\n(Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal)\nLANSING Mid-Michigan will soon have more marijuana jobs.\nMarijuana company Green Peak Innovations employs 80 people and expects to add another 120 jobs at its facilities in Lansing and Windsor Township by the end of the year, said Jeff Radway, the company's CEO.\nThe company, which includes growing and processing facilities, plans to construct an additional 170,000 square feet of space in Windsor Township by the end of the year.\nGreen Peak also plans to open 19 dispensaries throughout the state over the next two years, employing as many as 400 people, Radway said.\nBuy Photo\nWorkers at Green Peak Innovations in Windsor Township pull marijuana plants to be dried, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. Green Peak currently employs anbout 80 people, and expect to employ about 200 by the end of the year.\n(Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal)\n\"We'll be a major employer in the area,\" Radway said. \"We'll be a major employer throughout the state of Michigan.\"\nGreen Peak is in the midst of its first harvest of medical marijuana plants and will ship their first round of product this month, Radway said. The company's products will be sold under its Skymint brand.\nGreen Peak has facilities on Jolly Road and in Havest Park, an industrial site on either side of Creyts Road in Windsor Township that's billed as\nthe largest marijuana business park of its kind east of the Mississippi\n.\nInside the facilities, workers wear hairnets and color-coded scrubs. The marijuana strains grown there have names like Sour Diesel, Super Lemon Haze and Pug's Breath. There are specific rooms for different stages of the plants' life cycles. Each room is climate controlled and has its own HVAC system.\nBuy Photo\nWorkers at Green Peak Innovations in Windsor Township show bags of marijuana buds Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019.\n(Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal)\nOn Wednesday, Green Peak officials walked members of the media through the stages of the growing and harvesting process.\nIts kind of like barbecue low and slow this the way to go,\" said Shawn Hanrahan, Green Peak's director of production as he showed off the facility's drying area. \"Its going to take a bit of time to make sure that quality is there.\nGreen Peak's facilities have the potential to produce around 30,000 pounds of marijuana every year, Radway said.\nMichigan voters approved legalizing marijuana for recreational use in the Nov. 6 general election.\nRadway said the company plans to eventually grow recreational marijuana and could start harvesting the plants next summer.\n\"We believe we can largely meet the demands of the state of Michigan,\" he said.\nBuy Photo\nWorkers at Green Peak Innovations in Windsor Township create clones of marijuana plants Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019.\n(Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal)\nContact reporter Haley Hansen at (517) 267-1344 or hhansen@lsj.com.\nFollow her on Twitter @halehansen.\nCONNECT", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "department establishment", " hiring" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Weekly companion animal news: April 5, 2021. Weekly companion animal news: April 5, 2021\nApril 2021\nShare\nPetco launches Whole Health philosophy to promote pet well-being\nPetco has launchedan industry-wide Whole Health philosophy, highlighting five interconnected dimensions of pet health: physical health, mental health, social health, home health and accessible health. The program was devised with the goal of improving pet well-being and for each dimension to strengthen the others when addressed as a whole, the company said. As part of the launch, Petco will kick off a three-week Petco Whole Health challenge April 5 to reward pet owners for taking initiative to improve their pets overall wellness. The company also said its removing traditional rawhide products from store shelves.\nRussia registers worlds first COVID-19 vaccine for animals\nRussia has registered the worlds first vaccine for animals against COVID-19, its agricultural regulator said, after tests showed it generated antibodies against the virus in dogs, cats, foxes and mink. Mass production of the vaccine, called Carnivac-Cov, can start in April, the regulator Rosselkhoznadzor said. The regulator said the vaccine would be able to protect vulnerable species and thwart viral mutations, Reuters reports Rosselkhoznadzor said Russian fur farms planned to buy the vaccine, along with businesses in Greece, Poland and Austria.\nCOVID-19 in stray dog and cat in Brazil indicates stray animals could also be at risk\nResearchers found COVID-19 antibodies in a stray cat and dog in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, indicating the potential vulnerability of stray animals to the coronavirus, Forbes reports The virus has been detected on public surfaces and in the sewage system in large Brazilian cities, which means these environments could be a potential source of infection. Contact with infected animals and humans are also potential sources of infection.\nU.S. regulators push toward model pet insurance rules\nU.S. insurance regulators are close to creating a legal standard for pet insurance that would address longstanding consumer complaints that insurers rarely pay for their pets care, Reuters reports A National Association of Insurance Commissioners committee was scheduled to meet March 26 to discuss fine-print provisions about several controversial issues. Those issues include determining whether a pets condition is preexisting and how long customers must wait after buying coverage to file claims. The committee is preparing for NAICs national meeting in April, which brings together regulators from all 50 states. Once the committee presents a model pet insurance law for those regulators to approve, state legislatures can then decide whether to adopt the proposed law or create their own versions.\nNew supplement supports joint health in cats\nLintbells has released a feline version of its YuMove Advance 360 nutritional supplement, formulated to support joint health and the bodys anti-inflammatory process. Its available exclusively from veterinary channel distributor MWI Animal Health. The new product is made from New Zealand-harvested green-lipped mussels, which Lintbells reported are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Fellow NAVC publication Todays Veterinary Business has more\nBill would increase access to service dogs for veterans with PTSD\nU.S. senators are uniting in support of a bill that would provide veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder with access to service dogs. The Puppies Assisting Wounded Service Members Act, or PAWS, would establish a three-year program in which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would provide grants of up to $25,000 per veteran to eligible organizations to pair veterans experiencing PTSD with service dogs. A recent study by the VA found that participants who were given service dogs experienced a reduction in their PTSD symptoms and had fewer suicidal behaviors and ideations. WTXL reports\nPoll finds 10% of older U.S. adults adopted a pet during the pandemic\nAbout 10% of U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 80 adopted a new pet between March 2020 and January 2021, a new poll from the University of Michigan found That number was 16% of people aged 50 to 80 with a child under 18 at home and 9% for those with no children at home. Pet ownership was higher among poll participants 50 to 64 years old, women, white respondents, and people who live in single-family detached homes or are employed. Older adults said having a pet helped them enjoy life and reduce stress, gave them a sense of purpose, kept them on a routine and connected them with other people. For dog owners, it helped them be physically active.\nNew SoundByte: Selarid\nSelarid (selamectin) is a topical parasite preventive for cats and dogs offering year-round protection against heartworm and fleas. Its manufacturer, Norbrook, says Selarid is affordable both for clinics and clients. More information is available in the SoundBytefrom Veterinary Advantage.\nShare", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product launching & presentation", " event organization" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Whiting, Oasis merger WHOAsis will double new company's size without adding any new debt. Save\nThey dont yet have a name, but they will soon be the Williston Basins largest asset holder and its No. 2 producer. Whiting and Oasis have announced a merger, WHOAsis if you will, because it's the sort of deal that stops you for a moment as you consider the ramifications. This deal doubles the size of either company alone, giving them 972,000 net acres and 170,000 barrels of oil production per day, all while maintaining an essentially leverage-free company.\nWhiting was one of the first Bakken companies to declare bankruptcy in the wake of the COVID-19-induced downturn in the oil and gas sector in 2020. It had too much debt from the Kodiak deal, which left it too overextended when yet another downturn hit. Oasis followed suit not long after. It had overextended itself in part with what was one of the most expensive entries into the Permian.\nThe two emerged from bankruptcy a few short months later, shedding billions in debt in the process, and followed what seemed like an almost identical playbook. Each company sold off assets in other basins and used the proceeds to scale up in the Williston Basin, snapping up contiguous properties, all while maintaining as low a debt profile as possible.\nNeither of these companies can achieve the size and scale they would need, however, to make further deals on the Williston Basin consolidation that is likely ahead, Enverus analyst Andrew Dittmar told the Williston Herald in an email.\nThis is particularly key, as there are large positions held by multi-basin producers that could be available as acquisition targets for Whiting and Oasis, but were likely beyond the scope of deals that either company could tackle on their own, he said. Further acquisitions should be part of the combined companies strategy, as inventory management is key in a relatively mature play like the Bakken, and further consolidation will continue to broaden the companys relevance in equity markets.\nPeterson appeared to reflect similar reasoning during an investor call when asked if the new company plans to roll up more acquisitions in the Basin.\nI think our visions really align, he said. How weve gone the last year to grow our positions in the Basin. And I think putting the two companies together obviously gives us much, much more financial strength to pursue or chase other situations that might arise.\nPeterson also described the WHOAsis merger as just the first in a series of steps the new company needs to take over the next several years.\nNew financial strength is just one of several advantages Whiting and Oasis gain by merging, Peterson added.\nThe new company will be worth about $6 billion combined and will generate $1.2 billion in free cash flow at $85 WTI pricing and $3.50 MMBtu NYMEX gas. This while remaining basically leverage free.\nWhiting shareholders will own about 53 percent of the combined company upon closing and Oasis shareholders will own about 47 percent. Whiting shareholders will receive $6.25 per share in the form of merger consideration, while Oasis shareholders will get a special dividend of $15 per share.\nAs we look to the free cash flow thats going to be generated by the combined entity, it is a pretty sizable number, Peterson said. So I think returning some to our shareholders up front makes a lot of sense.\nA name will be announced at a later date for the new company, which will be headquartered in Houston, which is where Oasis is headquartered. Whiting's Denver headquarters, meanwhile, will also be maintained for the foreseeable future.\nWHOAsis will be run by top executives from both companies, Peterson said, bringing together two very experienced Bakken teams. Whiting President and Chief Executive Officer Lynn Peterson will serve as Executive Chair and Oasis Chief Executive Officer Danny Brown will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the new company.\nPeterson and Brown outlined $65 million in cost savings they expect on an annual basis starting the second half of 2023, after the transaction closes in late 2022.\nBrown said about $35 million is associated with administrative items, and about $30 million are operational synergies, while Peterson stressed that the executive team is not trying to be overly aggressive on cost efficiency.\nWe are excited to move forward together as a much stronger combined company with a debt-free balance sheet, Peterson said. And were confident that our combined company will continue to be a leader from an ESG perspective.\nBrown said both companies together will be second lowest in the Williston Basin in terms of greenhouse gas emissions intensity, based on gross operating production.\nWhile were pleased with the performance, I think its fair to say were excited to work together ro build on these best practices and reduce our emission intensity further, Brown added.\nOasis and Whiting each plan to continue their existing activity levels, running about the same number of rigs in each company prior to close and for a period of time after the closing, until the management team has put together a new, integrated and optimized development plan.\nAmong the low-hanging fruit as far as opportunities to improve efficiency, Peterson said he foresees longer laterals on a combined acreage position, as well as more flexibility to move rigs and completion crews around, while avoiding any midstream constraints.\nAnalysts are characterizing the merger as a true marriage of equals, but don't think it's necessarily a harbinger for further public company consolidation.\nThere are not that many potential merger pairs out there that have as clear a path to consolidation as these two, Dittmar said, adding, Rather than signaling an exit for a seller or a strategic shift for a buyer, this deal is about two companies that plan to continue down the same path as before the deal, but have merged their parallel tracks. In a highly volatile energy market like we have currently, mergers of equals like this make more sense than a true buy/sell deal that is hard to price.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "State health officials eye Medicaid dental contract shakeup. Print\nElizabeth Hertel\nGov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration wants to consolidate multiple contracts for managed care of dental services for Medicaid recipients into one contract, potentially shaking up the delivery of oral health care for the state's poorest residents.\nThe proposed 2023 budget blueprint Whitmer submitted Wednesday to the Legislature calls for a single contract for three different types of benefits: Medicaid-funded dental services through the Healthy Kids Dental program, the dental benefit of the Healthy Michigan Plan for low-income adults and traditional fee-for-service dental care for adults.\nWhitmer's budget proposal for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also calls for raising the fee-for-service reimbursement rates for providers by $247.6 million annual to get more dentists to accept the lowest-paying Medicaid patients.\nMDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said her department wants a single procurement for managed care of dental services, but that doesn't mean it will be awarded to a single company.\n\"Having a single contract allows for easier management of the beneficiaries and being able to have a network that's adequate across the state,\" Hertel told Crain's.\nThe nearly more than 980,000 low-income adults enrolled in the state's Medicaid program, Healthy Michigan Plan, who get dental benefits through HMP's managed care insurers, such as Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, McLaren Health Plan and Priority Health.\nThose health insurers typically subcontract management of Healthy Michigan's dental benefits to Delta Dental, DentaQuest, DenteMax or another PPO, said Dominick Pallone, executive director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans.\nMAHP supports raising reimbursement rates for dentists, but has \"concerns\" about breaking off a portion of its members' managed care contracts in the Healthy Michigan Plan, Pallone said.\nDominick Pallone\n\"For the Healthy Michigan Plan, we've got that built into our rates,\" Pallone said. \"... If you're going to pull a member's dental benefit out of an integrated benefit and assign it to a different managed care entity, I don't know how you could assume savings.\"\nThe Whitmer administration's proposed increase in fee-for-service provider rates for dentists would cost the state's general fund $69.8 million, while drawing down $177.8 million in matching federal funds, according to the State Budget Office.\nHertel declined to say how much MDHHS spends annually for dental services through all of its Medicaid programs.\n\"We don't generally share what dollar number we're looking at prior to doing a procurement,\" Hertel told Crain's. \"We like to see what people come in at instead of giving them a target.\"\nBy consolidating all Medicaid dental services under one contract, Hertel said, it could eliminate gaps in provider networks.\nCurrently, children in the Healthy Kids Dental program may get service from one dentist who doesn't accept their mother in the traditional Medicaid fee-for-service program or the Healthy Michigan managed care program, Hertel said.\n\"Which is why it's important in this proposal (that) not only are we pulling these together into one managed care contract, but we're also looking to increase the reimbursement rates for dental,\" Hertel said.\n\"The goal here really is to increase access to dental services,\" Hertel said. \"Do I think it will save money? I think in the long run it could save money (by ensuring) adults who currently aren't receiving dental care receive the dental care that they need to avoid more acute or serious issues.\"\nThe contract consolidation move comes four years after the state health department broke up the Healthy Kids Dental contract that Delta Dental of Michigan Inc. had held since its inception in 2000.\nSince 2018, Delta Dental has shared the contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which has used Boston-based DentaQuest as a subcontractor to perform most of the work managing dental benefits for low-income children.\nThat contract survived a court challenge by a third dental benefits managed care firm, Fort Lauderdale-based MCNA Insurance Co. Inc., which alleged Blue Cross acted as a \"shell vendor\" to win a share of the Medicaid business for children's dental care.\nDelta Dental's Healthy Kids Dental contract is valued at $912 million for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30; Blue Cross' contract is valued at $612.7 million, according to the contracts.\nOkemos-based Delta Dental currently serves 795,000 children in the Healthy Kids Dental program and 191,000 adults through four health plans under the Healthy Michigan Plan, said Rick Lantz, vice president and chief lobbyist for Dental Dental.\nDelta Dental supports the health department's proposed consolidation of all Medicaid dental benefits under one procurement because the current system is bifurcated, leading to different oral health outcomes for the same population of low-income adults, Lantz said.\n\"This has the potential to dramatically improve access to care for Michigan's low-income adults. Delta Dental's position is that it's vital that we make this investment as dental disease left untreated can cause severe pain, infection and diminished overall health.\"\nAdults enrolled in Medicaid health insurance programs often struggle to access dental care, Lantz said.\n\"And because of this, they often show up in hospital emergency departments because their dental pain or infection is so severe that they can't tolerate it anymore,\" Lantz said. \"... We believe it's time to apply the successes of Healthy Kids Dental to that adult program to ensure that our state's most vulnerable adults can receive the dental care that they need.\"\nA representative for Blue Cross did not respond to questions seeking comment about the proposed Medicaid dental contract changes.\nThere are 1.1 million children in the Healthy Kids Dental program, according to MDHHS.\nIf the proposal is approved by the Legislature, MDHHS would put out a request for proposals for a new Medicaid dental managed care contract after the 2023 fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, Hertel said.\nHertel didn't rule out having multiple health plans manage a single contract for Medicaid dental services.\n\"It could be, but we haven't begun establishing anything about the procurement yet and what we're actually looking for and what we're asking people to meet,\" Hertel said. \"But the important thing is it's pulling all of these populations into one contract, one procurement process instead of having separate ones.\"\nEditor's note: This Feb. 10 article was updated on Feb. 14 to include comment from Delta Dental of Michigan.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "service & product providing", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Chang Hwa Bank looks to recover profit momentum. Thu, Apr 01, 2021 page12\nChang Hwa Bank looks to recover profit momentum\nBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporter\nBacked by an improving global operating environment, state-run Chang Hwa Commercial Bank () yesterday said that it expects its growth momentum to recover this year, after net income tumbled by double-percentage points last year and remained weak in the first two months of this year.\nNet income slumped 38.53 percent to NT$8.31 billion (US$291.3 million) last year, as bad loans at home and abroad increased, and drastic interest rate cuts weighed on interest and fee income, company data showed.\nWe will make dynamic strategy adjustments to avoid a repeat of last years disappointing performance, the company told an online investors conference.\nChang Hwa Commercial Banks headquarters in Taipeis Zhongshan District is pictured in an undated photograph. The state-run bank yesterday said that it expects its growth momentum to recover this year, after net income tumbled 38.53 percent to NT$8.31 billion (US$291.3 million) last year and remained weak in the first two months of this year.\nPhoto: Lu Kuan-cheng, Taipei Times\nThe bank a week ago appointed a new president, Chou Chao-Chung (), to replace Huang Rui-mu (), who stepped down to take responsibility for poor earnings.\nChou, who served in different positions in another state-run lender, First Commercial Bank (), aims to strengthen Chang Hwa Banks overseas operations and risk controls.\nChang Hwa Bank is seeking to expand its loanbook by 5 to 6 percent this year, led by loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, and mortgage for people with real demand, the bank said.\nOverseas outlets and local branches offshore banking units generated 37.5 percent of overall earnings last year, down from 44 percent in 2019, the bank said, adding that it is looking to raise their contributions to more than 40 percent.\nChou, who headed First Banks Phnom Penh branch, can share his professional expertise and experience in this area, the bank said.\nChang Hwa Bank would be engaged in loans to first-time home buyers, as the central banks two recent waves of credit controls are directed at multiple home owners and property investors, it said.\nThe bank added that it was not surprised at escalating yields in US Treasury and plans to raise its stakes in Taiwanese government and corporate bonds, as well as stocks that offer generous cash dividends.\nWe will adopt more diversified trading tactics and be more active in pursuing investment gains this year as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.\nInterest spread inched up 6 basis points from the third quarter to 1.15 percent late last year, while net interest margin gained 3 basis points to 0.88 percent, signs that the market has stabilized and would improve further, it said.\nHowever, interest spread and margins remain low compared with the same time last year, accounting for weak earnings in the first two months of this year, the bank said.\nNet interest income accounted for 70 percent of Chang Hwas revenue, while fee income and investment gains contributed 16.57 and 12.08 percent respectively, company data showed.\nComments will be moderated. Keep comments relevant to the article. Remarks containing abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user banned. Final decision will be at the discretion of the Taipei Times.", "answer groups": [ " executive appointment", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Bounce launches 1st e-scooter 'Infinity E1'; bets big on battery swapping infra. Rashmi Nair | Trainee Reporter, ET Now\nUpdated Dec 03, 2021 | 20:13IST\nBounce Infinity has launched its first-ever electric scooter with a distinguished feature of swappable battery packs with a price as low as 36000.\nBounce Infinity E1  \nKey Highlights\nBounce Infinity E1 is priced at as low as 36000 for customers who opt for the 'battery as a service' option.\nDeliveries are slated to begin by March 2022 via multiple dealership networks.\nThis year our target is to try and take the production up to a million scooters. - Vivek Hallekere, CEO & Co-Founder, Bounce.\nThe Infinity E1 has stepped into the market at a time when the legacy players and startups are constantly adapting to change and coming up with new technology to woo consumers. As the competition heats up, the players are bringing their best foot forward by offering an array of features one better than the other.\nInfinity E1 offers the 'battery as a service' option that allows customers to swap an empty battery with a fully-charged one from Bounces swapping network. This being one of the key features allows the customer to swap the battery for a fully charged one at Rs 35 per exchange which makes it quicker than charging at an EV Charging Station.\nKaran Mohla, Partner, Chiratae Ventures talks about the stance of Bounce in this competitive market.He told ET NOW that, We should rename OATS as BOATS with Bounce right at the beginning because that is how people are going to refer to it for years to come. Bounce is at the forefront of this innovation. Pricing:\nThe pricing is one of the most significant aspects of the Infinity E-Scooter. It is priced at 68,999 with a battery and charger depending on the specific states government subsidies the price can go as low as Rs 59,999. The customers who opt for the 'battery as a service' option will be purchasing the E-Scooter for the price of Rs 36,000. This stands as a challenge for Bounce Infinitys rivals offering a much higher price slab.\nWhile the E-Scooter is being priced competitively against already established rivals, buyers can book the scooter with an initial payment of just Rs 499. The E-Scooter comes with a warranty of 3 years. Meanwhile, the deliveries are slated to begin by March 2022. It will be available for test rides from mid-December. The Infinity E1 is set to hit roads via 200 dealerships.\nVivek Hallekere, CEO & Co-Founder, Bounce spoke about how he thinks India is ready for the new EV adoption.He said, The swapping network were talking about has already been tested, the batteries have been tested more than 2 crore km across India. Weve done extensive testing on these Scooters and we have very good learnings. We think the time is now and we should be able to deliver the scooters. I think India is ready for E-Scooters and we have made it easy for adoption.\nSpecifications:\nInfinity E1 brings in the first made-in-India Swappable Battery which has a range of around 85 km/hr. The E-Scooter can deliver a top speed of 65 km/hr.\nVivek Hallekere, CEO & Co-Founder, Bounce, spoke to ET NOW about how the range of the E-Scooter isnt something to worry about, The beauty of the model is that people dont have to worry about range. It comes with an infinite range because customers can swap their empty battery for a fully charged one whenever they run out of charge.\nIt will be available in 5 colors. The startup is trying to build a network of swapping stations across cities pan India. It comes with various modes like the Reverse mode, Eco mode, Power mode, and Drag mode which allows the person driving to drag the scooter in case of a puncture.\nWhat is a Swap Station?\nIts a pod-like automated unit that houses six batteries and keeps them charged and ready for use. They can either be attached to a store, or can be independently located, and are open 24X7 for any and every Bounce rider. Every swap takes no longer than 1-2 minutes.\nBounce swap stations are integrated into the Bounce app. This app helps you track your electric scooter's battery charge status. It also alerts you when your battery's low. The Infinity E1 can be tracked remotely using the Bounce app.\nTalking about the target set for Bounce, Vivek Hallekere, CEO & Co-Founder, Bounce in an interview with ET NOW said, The capacity is close to 200 thousand scooters this year, were planning to add another plant which will give us about 500 thousand scooters. This year our target is to try and take the production up to a million scooters.", "answer groups": [ " expanding geography", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Viztek lands DR installation. Viztek\nsaid that MedSpring Urgent Care has installed the company's ViZion Straight Arm digital radiography (DR) system at its 14th center, located in Chicago.\nMedSpring now uses the ViZion Straight Arm DR system in all of its facilities, including six in the Austin, TX, area, five in the Houston area, and three in the Chicago area, Viztek said.\nCopyright 2013 AuntMinnie.com\n\nTo read this and get access to all of the exclusive content on AuntMinnie.com create a free account or sign-in now.\nMember Sign In:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "service & product providing" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Mr Kipling sets sights on US market after exceedingly good trial in Canada. Tue 16 Nov 2021 19.04 GMT\nLast modified on Tue 16 Nov 2021 21.34 GMT\nMr Kipling is heading to the US in January with chocolate and salted caramel cakes after a successful trial in Canada.\nOwner Premier Foodsannounced the move as it recorded a slide in sales and profits in its main markets over the last six months, with shoppers returning to dining out and overseas deliveries hit by shipping problems.\nThe British maker of French fondant fancies and Bakewell slices said Mr Kipling is also widening its range into biscuits and ice-cream for the first time while Premier is also planning Angel Delight and Ambrosia custard flavoured ice-cream, as it extends its well-established brands into new areas.\nThe international expansion comes despite a 5% fall in sales overseas for the group, which also owns Oxo and Bisto, compared with a year before as shoppers returned to more normal behaviour after repeated lockdowns. Deliveries to Australia and North America were also delayed by problems with global shipping.\nThe company said it expected to spend 25m in the year as a whole as it invested in its supply chain to improve efficiency.\nShares in the company slid just over 4% as it said total sales fell 6.5% to 394m in the six months to 2 October and pretax profits fell 39% to 30.7m as shoppers reined in spending at supermarkets and cooking at home to spend their money in restaurants, cafes and workplaces. However, half-year profits were just over double those before the pandemic.\nPremier Foods said it had been able to successfully manage and navigate challenges from widespread supply chain disruption, including a shortage of lorry drivers and cost inflation, and was on track to deliver profit expectations for the year.\nIt said the cake market had been less affected by big changes in consumer behaviour during the first year of the pandemic while the Covid-related costs had reduced.\nAlex Whitehouse, the chief executive of Premier Foods, said price rises for shoppers were likely next yeargiven higher raw ingredient prices on commodities such as sugar, dairy and wheat. However, he said the company was looking for ways to be more efficient and cut costs to offset inflation.\nSign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk\nWhitehouse said the company intended to pay shareholders a full-year dividend for the second time in over a decade. The payment comes as pretax profits were held up by a steady trading performance and significantly reduced interest costs after the firm cut its debts and refinanced the remainder so it was paying lower interest rates.\nI am particularly pleased with how well the business is successfully navigating the widely reported industry wide-challenges including logistics, labour shortages and input cost inflation to deliver such a strong set of results, which again underlines the robustness of our operating capabilities, he said.\nAnalysts said sales and profits at Premier were ahead of expectations.\nThe pandemic has helped revivethe company which spent years struggling with heavy debts and pension liabilities Clive Black, an analyst at Shore Capital, said Premiers debt reduction was liberating the group from financing costs and so allowing for greater investment in innovation and marketing which had helped it gain market share.\nTopics", "answer groups": [ " expanding geography", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Former UC President Janet Napolitano joins Berkeley SkyDeck as adviser. Public Affairs\nFormer U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has joined Berkeley SkyDeck UC Berkeleys flagship startup accelerator, as an adviser She will provide support and expertise for new civic technology companies that aim to enhance the relationships between people and government through technology.\nJanet Napolitano (Photo by Elena Zhukova)\nUC Berkeley has always been seen as one of the universities where change starts, said Napolitano, who founded the campuss Center for Security in Politics As part of the university, SkyDeck has been on the same mission and a home to a growing number of talented startups. As an adviser here, I hope to help startups focused on fostering the growth and preservation of democracy.\nNapolitano has a long and distinguished career in politics, serving as the U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona from 1993 to 1997 and as attorney general of Arizona from 1998 to 2003. In 2002, Napolitano was elected governor of Arizona, and in 2006 she was the first woman to win re-election to that office. Under President Barack Obama, Napolitano served as U.S. secretary of homeland security from 2009 to 2013.\nCurrently, Napolitano the UCs 20th president, from 2013 to 2020 is a professor at Berkeleys Goldman School of Public Policy. She also serves on the council of the American Law Institute and is a board member of the Council on Foreign Relations.\nSkyDeck Executive Director Caroline Winnett said Napolitanos distinguished public service career and depth of experience is second to none and will help support SkyDecks startup companies through her expertise in government, public affairs and education.\nShe has, herself, been an innovator in public life, and she will bring that true spirit of discovery to our founders and our program, said Winnett.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Female Support Worker Dudley West Midlands. Apply for this job now\nJob Description\nCreative Support is a national, fast growing not-for-profit organisation providing support to individuals with a wide range of care needs. We are currently looking to add a Support Worker to our team in Kingswinford, Dudley.\nWe are looking for compassionate, resourceful and sociable Support Workers to support our outgoing and energetic service users at our learning disability supported living service. You will be involved in supporting the people who use our service in many areas of their lives, from introducing healthy eating and budgeting to day trips to the seaside and gardening. If you have a passion for making a difference in people's lives and being an integral part of promoting independence this would be a great opportunity for you to join us. We have an incredibly supportive and friendly team in Dudley that welcome people who share their drive to develop the independence of the people who use our service.\nSupport Worker Duties:\nTo be flexible and responsive to the needs of service users as directed by their Individual Support Plans To advise and support service users in all aspects of managing their tenancy and maintaining the safety, hygiene and comfort of their home To work closely with other professionals and agencies to provide a co-ordinated service which meets the identified needs of the individuals Be willing to work flexibly according to the needs of the service to include days, evenings weekends and bank holidays Have a valid UK driver's license\nExperience is desirable but not essential for this role. We are looking for someone with the right values and a genuine interest in providing excellent support to all service users. In return we provide outstanding training from our academy where we offer a range of internal and external courses advertised on our monthly Training Calendar to support team members in every role to fulfil their potential.\nBenefits of working with Creative Support:\nA one-off bonus of 100 upon successful completion of the 4-month probationary period\nCompetitive pay and a pension with company contribution and 28 days annual leave\nCompany paid enhanced DBS for all staff\nFree employee support programme\nAll our staff are supported 24/7 by our out-of-hours teams\nSupport to complete the nationally recognised Care Certificate and Social Care Diploma\nCreative Support is a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Silver award. We actively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and cultures.\nWe would encourage you to apply to us even if you have not yet had your COVID 19 vaccine. You will be required to have your first COVID 19 vaccine prior to your interview and your second vaccine before you start work with us. This time will be used to complete post interview recruitment checks.\nGender is considered to be an occupational requirement - Equality Act 2010", "answer groups": [ " hiring", "company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Are digital therapeutics the next Amazon investment?. Are digital therapeutics the next Amazon investment?\nBlog\nThe digital health industry has seen dramatic growth in the past few years, and digital therapeutics is helping to create new inroads with physicians and patients due to their simplicity and advanced patient experience. Its use of technology has captured the interest of venture capitalists, investors, healthcare systems, and most notably, big tech. With Amazons recent movements in health investments, could the tech giant be making moves into digital health to help make medical care as reliable as a Prime delivery?\nRecent investments by Amazon Health\nDuring the past year, Amazon has made several investments in the healthcare space. In March, Amazon invested $2M in Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centerto test artificial intelligence tools. The company also partnered with numerous health entities, including Boston Childrens Hospital, Atrium Health in Charlotte, N.C., Livongo, Express Scripts and Cigna.\nIn July, Cerner partnered with AWSas its preferred cloud provider, making access and interconnectivity a priority to share healthcare information across devices. Amazon acquired Health Navigator to provide technology and services to digital health companies. The company also launched Amazon Transcribe Medical, a voice transcription service for physicians that inputs text directly into medical records and integrates into devices or apps.\nPerhaps the largest announcement from Amazon came in Oct. 2020, when they launched Amazon Pharmacy a new platform which aims to make medication management as easy and convenient as shopping on Amazons website. These recent investments and launches continue to signal that Amazon is working to create a new healthcare experience that disrupts the market and revolutionizes the patient position.\nFocus on interconnectivity\nOne area where Amazon continues to invest is the solution of interconnectivity a backbone of digital health. More digital health platforms are being built on Amazons AWS operating server systems, which enable more connectivity, easier sharing of information, and data collection. Amazons existing AWS infrastructure is critical to the success of many of its healthcare initiatives. With more tech giants trying to expand their cloud platforms, this has become a competitive space.\nThroughout all of the acquisitions and investments, Amazon has carefully crafted a network of interconnectivity that unites patients, physicians, payers, PBMs, and the various systems they use. Amazon can support future platforms that unite claims management, patient monitoring, electronic medical records, and supply chain management software. Acquiring a digital therapeutic solution that puts that level of transparency and connectivity into patients hands seems a likely future step.\nAmazon disruption\nAmazons ability to disrupt the retail marketplace is the result of prioritizing the customer experience. The company concentrates on innovation and unconventional ideas, which means its constantly experimenting with new initiatives, but this also means Amazon isnt afraid to fail and move onto the next bright idea.\nBut the tech philosophy of move fast and break things creates a challenge for the healthcare industry that requires evidence-based health solutions. Digital therapeutics offers a caveat to that focus by bringing tech-driven solutions direct to patients, with a focus on supporting care.\nThe rapid growth of digital therapeutics has resulted in the commercialization of evidence-based applications that are becoming major disrupters to the healthcare market something that likely pleases Amazon leadership. Digital therapeutic solutions are already demonstrating their ability to positively impact public health and reduce healthcare costs, with greater support from regulators, payers, and providers. As a result, tech companies are looking to other channels such as the B2B2C selling model in order to increase market penetration and generate more sustainable revenue streams.\nWhats next\nIts clear that a digital therapeutics tool could be the next Amazon health entity. But this move is not unique to the tech giant. Many are advancing in the space by playing to their strengths: Apples patient-centric vision prioritizes consumers, while Google continues to apply AI to everything from medical devices to lifestyle management solutions. And Microsoft is building health data management on top of its cloud platform Azure.\nWhile Amazon has barely scratched healthcares surface, it has the potential to upend the space with its e-commerce expertise. Without the need to make money in healthcare, the high margin and convoluted parts of the healthcare business are ripe for disruption. As the digital health space becomes more competitive, Amazon is particularly well-positioned to create a new environment with a transformative digital therapeutic tool. Due to its success in patient experiences, ability to connect systems, and capture various parts of the ecosystem, Amazons digital health future will either change how the system is designed or force existing players to become more competitive.\nShare", "answer groups": [ " m&a", "product launching & presentation", " alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "HCAOA Names Home Helpers CEO as Board President CMS Chief Medical Officer Leaves for Humana. Send email\nHCAOA elects new board president\nThe Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) has elected Emma Dickison as the new president of its board of directors.\nWashington, D.C.-based HCAOA represents nearly 3,000 companies that employ more than 500,000 caregivers.\nDickison brings her background as CEO of Home Helpers Home Care a company shes been with since 2007 to the role.\nAdvertisement\nThroughout her career, Emma has been an innovative leader who provides a laser focus on the most important aspects of her business, Peter Ross, outgoing president of the HCAOA board of directors, said in a press release. Her track record of exponential growth and expert knowledge of the industry perfectly aligns with our desire to reach the next level.\nHome Helpers was\nin 2016. During her time at Home Helpers Home Care, Dickison has doubled the home care franchise from about 500 communities to over 1,000.\nThe home care space is very dynamic and it is changing,\n. We have been, I believe, a leader in those changes. Not just in franchising, but in home care. Our average growth rate over the last three years was 24%. Weve outpaced the industry in that regard.\nDickison has served on HCAOAs board of directors since 2015.\nHumana snags CMSs CMO\nHumana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) has poached one of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMSs) key leaders.\nPopular Reports", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Meghan Markles Veja sneakers are 25% off at the Amazon Summer Sale. Tory Burch\nand Rebecca Minkoff\nThe line has become a celebrity favorite since Markle was snapped wearing the casual footwearduring a royal visit to Australia with husband, Prince Harry, in 2018. The former Suits star wore a white pairwith black pants and a black Invictus Games jacket as the two hopped on a boat and hit Sydney harbor to watch an Invictus Games sailing event. As always, the 38-year-old royallooked effortlessly stylish despite being dressed down for the event.\nThe sneakers are available in white with a splash of mint greenfor just $75 on Amazon, while the extra white versionis down to $90 in certain sizes.\nChris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation\nAmazon\nVejabecame extremely popular in recent years thanks to theireco-friendly mission and decidedly retro vibe. Veja is a French brand, which uses organically-farmed materials, ethical production processes and leather which is tanned using vegetables. Veja'sstylish sneakers are crafted in Brazil and feature organic cotton, recycled polyester and soles made with Amazonian rubber. The company also says it creates sustainable packaging and ensures fair working practices for their employees. Markle has long supported sustainable fashion brands. Other celebrities who have been snapped wearing Veja sneakers include Emily Ratajkowski, Katie Holmes and shoe-lover Reese Witherspoon\nHead over and g", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "VITAS Grows Florida Footprint with Two New Inpatient Hospice Centers. Send email\nVITAS Healthcare, hospice subsidiary of Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHEM), this week opened two inpatient facilities in Broward county, Florida. One unit is housed at the Broward Health Medical Center, the other at Sunrise Health and Rehabilitation, with VITAS expecting to care for upwards of 900 patients annually through the new centers.\nThe inpatient unit at Broward Health features eight rooms with amenities aimed at providing home-like comfort in a clinical care setting, including overnight accommodations for friends and family. At Sunrise, 16 private patient rooms include similar amenities, along with areas for conversation and reflection. Patients at each facility will receive care 24/7 from an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, volunteers and bereavement experts.\nWe are honored to partner with the Broward Health system to offer comprehensive, compassionate care to their patients and families, said Betty Bel, VITAS vice president of operations. The benefit is two-fold in that patients with advanced illness have greater support to align with their goals of care, and hospital staff can rely on our specialized teams to provide a smooth transition to the nearby in-hospital inpatient unit.\nAdvertisement\nThe two facilities continued expansion in Florida for Miami-headquartered VITAS. The company last year openedan inpatient unit at the AdventHealth Lake Wales Hospital campus and unveiledanother at the Community Health and Rehabilitation Center, also in Florida. Other inpatient centers in the state include Broward Health North, Broward Health Coral Springs and the Florida Medical Center.\nEach of the new inpatient centers feature private bathrooms, a private quiet room and shared family rooms and kitchens. The Sunset location includes an outdoor area, activities for children and specialized therapies. These include Paw Pals pet therapy visits and care specific to the unique needs of veterans approaching the end of life such as bedside salutes and Honor Flight virtual reality experiences.\nVITAS has served patients in the Broward county area since 1980. The company operates 49 hospice programs across 14 states and in the District of Columbia, with 28 inpatient hospice units nationwide. More than 9,880 staff provide advanced illness care, with VITAS reporting an average daily census ticking past 17,780 patients at the close of Q4 last year.\nAdvertisement\nWe are privileged to serve and support patients who require levels of care beyond routine hospice service, said Kathleen Coronado, general manager for VITAS in Broward county. The availability of this hospice unit helps ease the concerns of hospice patients and their families, relieving some of the burden on hospital staff and rooms, while providing the high level of compassionate care that VITAS is known for.\nA growing aging population is driving demand for hospice in the Sunshine State. Seniors 60 and older are projectedto represent 32.5% of Floridas overall population by 2030, a jump from roughly a quarter of adults 65 and older currently living in the state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.\nFlorida in 2018 ranked third nationwide for hospice utilization at 57.9%,among Medicare decedents, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Only Utah and Arizona saw higher rates at 59.4% and 59.2%, respectively.\nThe U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reportedin 2019 that more than 140,700 patients utilized the Medicare Hospice Benefit statewide, with reimbursement totalling more than $1.9 billion.\nFloridas state government lit the wayfor hospice expansion last year. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) initially indicated that it would approve four hospice certificates of need across seven counties during 2021, but ultimately approved nearly twice as many.\nVITAS was among those awarded a certificate of need, along with Alleo Health, Hernando-Pasco Hospice Inc., Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED), Catholic Hospice Inc., Continuum Care of Miami Dade, Affinity Care of Manatee County, among others.\nShare", "answer groups": [ " company description", " alliance & partnership", " executive statement", "expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Amazon completes deal to acquire MGM Studios. The deal\nmight not mean much change for MGM fans, at least for now. For instance, the company does not anticipate changes in planned release dates or projects that MGM already has in progress.\nThough MGMs award-winning library is expected to be used to boost the offerings on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon says it has no plans to make MGM content exclusive to its Prime Video customers. And while the company does intend to back future theatrical releases, it will do so on a case-by-case basis.\nMGM has a nearly century-long legacy of producing exceptional entertainment, and we share their commitment to delivering a broad slate of original films and television shows to a global audience, Mike Hopkins, senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, said in a statement.We welcome MGM employees, creators, and talent to Prime Video and Amazon Studios, and we look forward to working together to create even more opportunities to deliver quality storytelling to our customers.\nIn addition to the Bond and Rocky franchises, MGMs libraryincludes Stargate, Survivor, The Voice, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Handmaids Tale and more. Upcoming movies include Creed, Legally Blonde 3 and Samaritan.\nAdobe\nThe FTC Continues To Examine The Deal\nAlthough the deal closed after a regulatory deadline passed with no action from the FTC, the commission continues to investigatethe giant retailer regarding its industry dominance. If a majority of the five-member commission voted to do so, it could challenge the acquisition later.\nMeanwhile, European regulators have approved the deal. This is Amazons largest acquisition since it obtained Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in 2017. MGM will be overseen by Senior Vice President Mike Hopkins, and no layoffs are planned.\nThis story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money Checkout Don't Waste Your Moneyfor product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money.\nCopyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.\nThe Morning Headlines,\nsign up for a mix of what you need to know to start the day in Colorado, picked for you.\nnow signed up to receive the\nThe Morning Headlines.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Home Helpers Snags New Marketing Talent. Home Helpers Snags New Marketing Talent\nBy:\nHome Helpers Home Care\n|\n18Reads\nTwo New Marketing Hires Bring Experience, Multi-Channel Savvy\nSeptember 21, 2020 // Franchising.com// CINCINNATI - Home Helpershas announced two marketing leadership hires. The in-home care franchise that provides exceptional in-home care to seniors and others in more than 1,000 communities across the United States, announced today that seasoned marketing professionals Alison Lang and Emily Hall have joined the company as Senior Director of Marketing and Senior Brand Manager, respectively.\nWe are grateful to have Alison and Emily join the Home Helpers team, Home Helpers President and CEO Emma Dickison said. As we continue to grow of our organization, we need the right marketing minds to guide us through with data-driven strategies, novel thinking and reliable multi-channel expertise. Alison and Emily have the chops to help us take Home Helpers to the next level.\nLang comes from Fifth Third Bank where she served as assistant vice president of digital marketing. She previously spent time at Cincinnati-based marketing agency Empower where she led cross-discipline teams for several key agency clients. Prior to Empower, Lang served as vice president and media director at Northlich, a since-closed ad agency in Cincinnati. She holds a bachelors degree in Journalism from University of Kansas.\nHall joins Home Helpers from Carrington College, where she served as senior director of marketing and led all multi-channel planning and buying as well as marketing communications, forecasting and vendor management. Before Carrington College, Hall worked as media and marketing director of LCA-Vision. Hall also worked at B2B advertising firm Gyro as a media supervisor and at Empower in a myriad of digital and client strategy roles. Hall holds a bachelors degree in Business Administration and Marketing from University of Cincinnati.\nLang and Hall will work in the companys Cincinnati headquarters and report to Chief Performance Officer Kimberly Demaree.\nHome Helpers has seen steady growth and is leader in the home care industry, Dickison said. We believe Alison and Emily will be integral to our future success in growing the demand for Home Helpers Home Care.\nAbout Home Helpers Home Care\nSince1997, Home Helpers Home Care has provided exceptional in-home care to seniors and others. With independently owned and operated offices in more than 1,000 communities across the United States, we are committed to supporting the dignity and independence of the families we serve. Learn more at HomeHelpersHomeCare.com For franchising information, visit HomeHelpersFranchise.com\nSOURCE Home Helpers Home Care\n###", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Jipmer installs equipment to simulate eye surgeries. Multiple courses: EyeSi, manufactured by VRMagic, Germany, will simulate the environments for cataract and vitreoretinal surgeries. \nIt will provide PG residents risk-free environment to hone their skills\nJipmer has commissioned a surgery simulator at the Department of Ophthalmology that is expected to help trainees hone their skills.\nAccording to a press note, the Kelman Ophthalmic Surgical Simulator Lab was inaugurated recently in the presence of Rakesh Aggarwal, director, Ashok Shankar Badhe, medical superintendent, Subashini Kaliaperumal, head of the department, and former heads of the department Vasudev Anand Rao and Renuka Srinivasan.\nThe installation of the ophthalmic surgical simulator (EyeSi manufactured by VRMagic, Germany), which simulates the environments of cataract and vitreoretinal surgeries, will be a boon to postgraduate residents of the institute.\nThe gadget will help perform defined and standardised surgical tasks in a virtual environment. It has a provision for the educators to create courses with varying levels of difficulty for trainees at different skill levels.\nAccording to a statement from Jipmer, the trainees can practice the surgical steps repeatedly until they achieve a high level of proficiency in the skills involved.\nThis ability to practise the basics of handling intraocular instruments and a surgical microscope in the operation theatre setting in the absence of patients ensures that trainees are already skilled before they operate on a real patient, the statement also said.\nThe department plans to include this training in its competency-based surgical training curriculum for ophthalmology residents. This will enhance patient safety. Dr. Kaliaperumal said workshops to reach out to ophthalmology residents of other institutions were being planned as well.\nLab commissioned\nA Ridley Wet Lab, used to train residents in performing corneal and scleral suturing techniques on goat and cadaver eyes, was also commissioned.\nThis facility will add to the ability of the department to train surgeons to perform cataract surgery more safely without putting patients at risk.\nIn addition, the department has also acquired a new Snellen Ophthalmology Seminar Hall which is equipped with technologically advanced equipment for teaching MBBS and postgraduate students, and for holding clinical case discussions and seminars, Jipmer said.\nYou have reached your limit for free articles this month.", "answer groups": [ " regulatory approval", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Crossover Health Raises $168M in Series D Financing. Crossover Health\n, a San Clemente, Calif.-based tech-enabled, national healthcare organization, raised $168m in Series D financing.\nThe round was led by Deerfield Management Company with participation from new investors Perceptive Advisors, OrbiMed Advisors, Foresite Capital, Avidity Partners, SharesPost100 Fund, Irving Investors, and PFM Health Sciences.\nThe company intends to use the funds to continue the national expansion of its Connected System of Health for employers and payers.\nFounded in 2010 by Scott Shreeve, MD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Crossover Health is a relationship-based, tech-enabled national healthcare organization that provides comprehensive and coordinated healthcare to self-insured employers and health plans, inclusive of primary care, physical medicine, mental health, health coaching, and care navigation to control healthcare costs while enhancing both quality and experience.\nA Gurnet Point Capital portfolio company, Crossover Health currently services over 400,000 eligible employees and dependents throughout the country. Its Connected System of Health creates a national network that delivers online care in all 50 states, as well as in-person care in 48 health center in 11 states. These health centers are located either on employer campuses, near employer campuses, or in the neighborhoods where eligible members and their families live.\nFinSMEs\n29/03/2021\nTagged with: Avidity Partners Crossover Health Deerfield Management Company Foresite Capital Irving Investors OrbiMed Advisors Perceptive Advisors PFM Health Sciences", "answer groups": [ " company description", "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Steel cut for Ocean Infinity's green ammonia-ready vessel. Steel cut for Ocean Infinitys green ammonia-ready vessel\nSteel cut for Ocean Infinitys green ammonia-ready vessel\nFebruary 23, 2022,by\nAjsa Habibic\nThe steel cutting ceremony for the fifth in a series of eight green ammonia-ready vessels being built for marine robotics company Ocean Infinity was held on Monday, 21 February.\nThe vessels are being built at VARDs shipyard Vard Vung Yau in Vietnam while the construction is being supervised by ship management company OSM Maritime.\nAs disclosed, the delivery of the first vessel is expected from mid-2022.\nThe vessels are said to be among the firstto be prepared for green ammonia as a fuelwith fuel cell and battery technology and are designed for an ultra-low carbon footprint.\nAdditionally, the green ammonia-ready vessels will provide safe launch and recovery platforms for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other robotic systems through two large moonpools arranged with an optimised damping system.\nTo remind, back in November 2021, Ocean Infinity revealed its plans to build a marine propulsion test facility with an integrated ammonia marine propulsion system (\nAMPS\n).\nAs informed at the time, the test facility aims to demonstrate clean-fuelled technology eventually capable of powering Ocean Infinitys\nfleet, using an innovative ammonia-based fuel cell system.\nRelated Article", "answer groups": [ " event organization", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Telehealth Company, justmiine, Launches One-of-a-kind Platform, miinehealth, To Help Schools And Companies Reopen Safely During COVID-19. miinehealth\n, a comprehensive COVID-19 solution that brings together COVID-19 testing, telehealth and digital screening solutions, and infectious disease experts on call to help schools and businesses reopen and resume operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.\nMiinehealth is powered by justmiine, a Telehealth - Remote Patient Management technology company developed by doctors, for doctors. Miinehealth reduces the risk of exposure to organizations, deploys at-home COVID-19 live virus testing, provides access to the largest infectious disease medical team in the country, and allows organizations to monitor and manage thousands of individuals in quarantine to ensure that only healthy employees may be physically present.\nMunicipalities, schools, and businesses looking to resume operations will have access to miinehealth's end-to-end medical-grade solutions fostering healthy environments through at-home digital health-checks, COVID-19 live virus at-home testing, telehealth support by infectious disease doctors, and quarantine management and contact tracing. This is a first-of-its-kind solution already being implemented by top companies across\nthe United States\n.\n\"Businesses and schools are doing all they can to open their doors, yet they are overwhelmed by a constantly changing environment, regulations and recommendations. They don't know who or what to trust. The partnership with IBX couples cutting-edge telehealth tech with world-class testing solutions to provide a comprehensive medical-grade solution set,\" says Dr. Luciano Fochesatto, Founder of justmiine and miinehealth. \"Backed by our partnership by top medical professionals at MIDC, miinehealth is the only end-to-end tool in this market to offer safe reentry for organizations while we wait for a COVID-19 vaccine.\"\nThe company partnered with IBX, formerly RUCDR Infinite Biologics, before recently spinning off from\nRutgers University\n, to provide high-quality, FDA-approved at-home saliva test kits. These minimally invasive tests are less risky for healthcare workers, offering faster sample collections and testing, results in 24-48 hours and increased availability of testing with no delays to swab shortages. This joint effort creates the only partnership between a Telehealth/RPM provider with an at-home saliva-based test.\nDr.\nAndrew Brooks\n, Chief Scientific and Executive Officer of IBX explained, \"The IBX Saliva test is quicker and more scalable than swab collections and was the first COVID-19 test to offer at-home collection, all allowing us to reach an incredibly broad population. Now, through our partnership with miinehealth, we have the opportunity to further increase that reach and get this test in the hands of patients across the country.\"\nmiinehealth has also partnered with Metro Infectious Disease Consultants (MIDC) to provide employers and school access to the nation's largest infectious disease team via telehealth. MIDC is working with miinehealth customers to digitally triage employees or students into the proper COVID-19 care plan from self-quarantine to administering an at-home COVID-19 test. The MIDC team takes the burden off customers to then ensure that employees / students are safe and healthy to return for work or school.\n\"miinehealth provides the monitoring infrastructure that will allow entities to return to work in a safe and productive environment,\" according to Dr.\nRussell Petrak\n, the Managing Partner on MIDC. \"miinehealth is the engine that allows us to be comfortable with the data being presented, making rapid evaluations and dispositions possible.\"\nThe miinehealth platform is a one-of-a-kind, full-service platform that allows businesses and institutions to incorporate the following health and safety tools:\nDaily digital health checks that identify risks before employees leave Compliance and safety assurance to gate facility access\nMedical teams and infectious disease experts to support and triage daily organization needs, with expert resources on demand\nFDA-approved COVID-19 testing\nPartnership with IBX, a next-generation central laboratory, to provide contactless, at-home saliva test kits\nFully integrated software for visibility into organizational results\nQuarantine management software - medical grade software can easily track and care for those who are sick, under testing or quarantine\nOrganizational level reporting - fully integrated and includes cluster analysis\nContact tracing to quickly stem the spread of the virus\nMiinehealth software is safe, secure and HIPAA-compliant ensuring that employees are comfortable, and their needs are met first before anything else. For more information on miinehealth and how companies can use its solutions-based platform visit", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Minnesota twins raise $3M to increase accessibility to disability care. Mary Ann Azevedo\n8 hours\nHaving a loved one with specialized care needs is incredibly challenging, but not something that people who have never had to deal with the issue would necessarily quite understand.\nFor anyone who has had to help care for someone with special needs, the lack of options out there to navigate finding access to care providers is almost shocking.\nTwin sisters Melanie Fountaine\nand\nMelissa Danielsen know the problem firsthand, having\nhelped take care of their brother, who had a developmental disability and severe epilepsy, for years.\nWe saw the struggle for our family to find reliable care, Danielsen told TechCrunch.\nAfter he passed away 12 years ago at the age of 29, the siblings decided they wanted to dedicate their careers to making disability care accessible to families with complex care needs. They founded Joshs Place,\na company that provided group home accommodations and other services to adults across Minnesota,\nwhich ended up being acquired by REM Minnesota in early 2020.\nThe pair then came up with the concept behind\nJoshin\n, a digital care platform that aims to connect care providers to families with specialized care needs. (Both companies were named after the sisters brother, who was named Josh). And today, that startup is announcing it has closed on a $3 million seed round of funding co-led by Anthemis Group and The Autism Impact Fund.\nJoshin started out as an app that creates a care plan that helps it match families to a carefully vetted trained caregiver. It has evolved to also include a corporate benefits program that involves Joshin partnering with companies who want to offer an inclusive care benefit to their employees.\nImage Credits: Joshin\nAn estimated one in five families have complex health needs, ranging from children with neurodivergence to dependent adults with developmental and physical disabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted the need for support, making it even more difficult to find necessary care. As such, many people (most of which are women) are finding they have to leave jobs to become full-time caregivers.\nFor too long, people with special health needs and their families have been underserved and had fragmented access to disability care providers, said CEO Danielsen.\nAs ADA turns 30, tech is just getting started helping people with disabilities\nCOO Fountaine says that\nhistorically the care economy has focused on children under 12, or adults over 65 childcare and eldercare, respectively.\nJoshin really is positioned to be the leader in that huge age gap thats out there, she said. We work with people at all stages of life, and I think its unfortunate that until now, thats been missing from the conversation.\nThe company plans to use its new capital in part to grow its network of care providers. It also aims to expand its corporate benefits program.\nWere continuing to scale our technology to lessen the burden of caregiving responsibilities for employees and their families, added Danielsen.\nOver the past 12 months, Joshins community of members and caregivers has grown 200%. With the new funding, the startup plans to expand its services to Los Angeles and Seattle. It is currently operational in its home base of Minneapolis, Minn., Chicago and New York City.\nJoshin will be soft launching in 8 new markets over the next few weeks and hopes to be national very soon, Fountaine said.\nThe startup is starting\nwith employers, and building up the data that it derives from that effort. Over the next year, it intends to partner with managed Medicaid organizations, and with both private and public insurance companies so that it can get families access to this care, quickly, said Danielsen.\nOur goal is to make this to make quality care free for families who need it, she told TechCrunch.\nChris Male, co-founder of the Autism Impact Fund, said his organization backs companies that are addressing unmet needs of the autism community. Finding, retaining, and coordinating care are three of the biggest hurdles that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families face, according to Male.\nJoshin has a proven ability to provide a reliable means to source caregivers with diverse skill sets and potential to serve as a platform for streamlining access to a variety of critical yet highly fragmented services for the special needs community, he said. Given the current insurance payer landscape and employer emphasis on DEI, Joshin is not only generating strong impact for a large disability market, but is a monetizable opportunity as both a reimbursable service and as a benefit to employees.\nBy partnering with employers, Male added, Joshin will help provide an environment of support that will allow employees to quickly and easily access key resources and thus minimize downtime. Matthew Jones, managing director at Anthemis, said his firm doubled down on its investment in the startup because it saw in its founders one of the strongest examples of founder-market fit out there. (Anthemis also led the companys $1.6 million funding round in July of 2020).\nThe progress that they have made since our last investment coupled with the insights that they have collected led us to believe that doubling down in this round was a no-brainer, he told TechCrunch.\nAlso, the complexity that comes with building technology in the space makes the barriers to entry very high, Jones added.\nThe teams grit, combined with their understanding of the problems and opportunities associated with disability-related care, set Joshin apart, he wrote via email. No other platform comes close in terms of having such specialized leaders at the helm, so its no surprise that corporates are lining up to add Joshin to their roster of employee benefits.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cyber Help Desk. CAHO - InnovatioCuris Cyber Help Desk\nComputers have exponentially taken over the functions of organisations due to their efficient performance, error smear and minimal human intervention capabilities. Due to this, they amount to hold an irreplaceable power in any field. However, the sinister side of the computers invoke threats like data stealing and compromising online accounts which can in turn be used for fraud, blackmail, siphoning resources, terrorism and in some cases shutdown of services and businesses.\nDue to this, there is a much needed focus on securing the computer related platforms in any organisation. Your organisation may have been affected with a cyber related issue in the past or you may just be at the brink of being cyber attacked.\nCAHO (Consortium of Accredited Health Organisations) and IC (InnovatioCuris) have come up with a cyber help desk where you may post your cyber related queries and get an answer from cyber security auditors and experts. Please fill the form below.\nLoading\nTweet\nAbout InnovatioCuris\nInnovatioCuris which is commonly known as IC is a unique organization, which brings deep healthcare expertise, a scientific rigour on applying global innovation models & management processes by leveraging IT to deliver healthcare at an optimum cost.\nPolicies", "answer groups": [ " new initiatives or programs", "alliance & partnership", " event organization" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "McAfee sells enterprise business to Symphony Technology for $4 billion. McAfee sells enterprise business to Symphony Technology for $4 billion\nIANS | Mar 9, 2021, 10:56 IST\nSAN FRANCISCO: Anti-virus software company McAfee has sold its enterprise business to a consortium led by Symphony Technology Group (STG) in an all-cash transaction for $4 billion.\nLaunched 30 years ago, McAfee's enterprise business today is a trusted partner for 86 per cent of the Fortune 100 firms around the world and reported $1.3 billion in net revenue in fiscal year 2020.\nThe transaction is expected to close by the end of this year. \"STG is the right partner to continue strengthening our Enterprise business, and this outcome is a testament to the business' industry-leading solutions and most notably to the outstanding contributions of our employees,\" said Peter Leav, McAfee president and CEO.\n\"This transaction will allow McAfee to singularly focus on our consumer business and to accelerate our strategy to be a leader in personal security for consumers,\" he said in a statement late on Monday.\nWith this move, McAfee expects to reduce its debts by approximately $1 billion.\nIn addition to the repayment of approximately $1 billion of existing McAfee indebtedness, McAfee also expects to use a portion of the proceeds from the transaction to pay approximately $175 million in customary transaction expenses and other one-time charges.\n\"We are fully committed to driving the business' strategy to be the leading device-to-cloud cybersecurity company by partnering with McAfee's existing world-class team to continue delivering exceptional performance to enterprises and government clients globally,\" said William Chisholm, managing partner at STG.\nMcAfee also expects to pay approximately $300 million in additional one-time separation costs and stranded cost optimisation, a portion of which will be expenses paid by proceeds from the transaction.\n\"McAfee will retain its name and will continue its singular focus on delivering leading solutions to protect consumers and being a leader in personal security for consumers. The Enterprise business will be re-branded, which is expected to occur in the coming months,\" the company said.\nDownload", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "How the new Avera Behavioral Health Hospital wing will help patients. Avera Behavioral Health Hospital\nadding 60,000 more square feet of space for patients and programming, with several aspects aimed specifically at youth care.\nSpeakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony included Matt Stanley, an Avera psychiatrist and the vice president of the Avera Behavioral Health Service Line, who spoke about how even before COVID-19, it had become apparent that there was a growing need for mental health care in South Dakota.\nAnd with two years of the pandemic continuing to exacerbate those issues, Stanley said it was \"perfect timing\" to open the new wing, officially known as the Helmsley Behavioral Health Center.\nWalter Panzirer a trustee of the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, which donated $13 million of the wing's $28 million cost thanked the nearly 800 donors to the project, calling it \"a one-of-a-kind place.\"\nThe new wing brings the hospital to a total of 146 inpatient behavioral health beds, all in private rooms.\nMore:\nOwner of gun accessory company Silencer Central wins $83,000 in copyright damages\nA 24/7 behavioral health urgent care set to open in late March will act as a \"front door\" to mental health services, said Thomas Otten, assistant vice president for the Avera Behavioral Health Center.\nThe wing will also include eight beds specifically for youth addiction care, 23-hour observation care to stabilize people going through a crisis and \"partial hospitalization\" services for youth, aimed at helping children deal with a behavioral health condition while not fully removing them from school.\nMore:\nThe Link in Sioux Falls saw more than 2,300 'triage encounters' in 2021\nServices at the new wing will be opening in phases as some patients are moved to the wing and other programs begin operating.\n\"It's a real sense of pride,\" Otten said of the building, praising the Avera system for looking at mental health without the stigma that can often come with it. It deeply matters to patients when you build something like this.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Fortescue starts work on world-first \"Infinity Train \" a regenerating battery on rails. 0\nImage: PilbaraRailways.com.au\nFortescue Metals Group has unveiled a $50 million plan to develop a regenerating battery electric iron ore train project dubbed the Infinity Train in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, the British company Fortescue it bought in January\nIn an ASX announcement on Tuesday, Fortescue confirmed it had completed the acquisition of WAE, for a final sum of just over $A300 million ($US221m), and was working closely with the companys industrial battery technology division on the zero emissions train technology.\nIn what it described as a world-first development, Fortescue said the train would use the gravitational energy generated on the downhill loaded sections of the iron or giants rail network to recharge its battery electric systems, removing the need for additional charging on the return trip to reload.\nFortescue said the self-sustaining system would increase the companys operational efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and eliminate diesel and the associated CO2 emissions from its iron ore train network.\nThe project a joint effort of Fortescues green industrial arm, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), and WAE would be carried out over the next two years and classified as operating cost efficiencies.\nFortescue said its current rail operations included 54 operating locomotives that hauled 16 train sets, together with other on-track mobile equipment; each train was able to haul 34,404 tonnes of iron ore in 244 ore cars.\nCurrently, these rail operations consume tens of millions of litres of diesel a year 82 million in financial year 2021 and account for 11 per cent of Fortescues Scope 1 emissions.\nThe goal is for the diesel consumption and associated emissions to be eliminated altogether once the Infinity Train is fully implemented across Fortescues operations, in line with the companys target of being diesel free by 2030.\nOnce that is taken care of, the next goal is to pursue the commercialisation of the Infinity Train, on a global basis.\nThe Infinity Train has the capacity to be the worlds most efficient battery electric locomotive, said Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines in a statement on Tuesday.\nThe regeneration of electricity on the downhill loaded sections will remove the need for the installation of renewable energy generation and recharging infrastructure, making it a capital efficient solution for eliminating diesel and emissions from our rail operations.\nFortescue founder and chair, Andrew Forrest said the zero emissions train technology was also about lowering the companys operating costs, creating maintenance efficiencies and productivity opportunities.\nThe Infinity Train will join Fortescues green fleet under development, and will contribute to Fortescue becoming a major player in the growing global market for green industrial transport equipment, providing great value for our shareholders, Forrest said.\nThe commercial opportunities for FFI as it pioneers this technology, captures its value and distributes it globally are obvious, he added.\nLess obvious, but just as important, is that we lower our operating costs, eliminate the cost of diesel from our company and of course, our carbon emissions.\nThe Infinity Train continues FFIs inexorable march to change the worlds attitude to energy generation. To move business leaders and politicians globally to the realisation that fossil fuel is just one source of energy and there are others rapidly emerging, which are more efficient, lower cost and green. The world must, and clearly can, move on from its highly polluting, deadly if not stopped epoch of fossil fue, Forrest said.\nFortescues $50 million push into electric locomotives follows similar moves by other Australian and global mining giants, including BHP, which announced in Januarythat it was trialling four battery-electric locomotives on its Western Australia Iron Ore rail network, as part of its 2050 net zero target.\nAbout a week earlier, that same month, Rio Tinto made a similar announcement, that it too would buy four battery-electric trainsfrom US-based Wabtec for use at its Pilbara iron ore mines in Western Australia, as part of its own efforts to halve its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.\nSophie is editor of One Step Off The Gridand deputy editor of its sister site, Renew Economy Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.\nPrevious", "answer groups": [ " m&a", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "LibertyPie Translates Protocols Interface on Crowdin. 1 min read\nLibertyPie Translates on Crowdin\nWe are excited to announce our next exciting update about the protocols development. In our quest to reach a global audience, We will be translating the protocols user interface on Crowdin.\nLibertyPie is a permissionless, trustless, non-custodial & smart contract-based P2P exchange with cross-chain asset support & a fraud protection mechanism.\nLibertyPie was conceived from the belief that no\nP\n2P exchange should keep custody of users funds as the risks involved are huge.\nP2P is the basic form of exchange through which selected assets can be sold or bought directly without a middleman, it should be open to everyone without limits of any sort.\nCrowdin is a company-wide localization software, where you can translate and manage your multilingual content. The platform brings people, content, and technology together. It allows developers to automate the localization process and keep localized content up-to-date.\nCrowdin is known to power companies like Trustpilot, Calendly, Kickstarter, Xiaomi, and Discord.\nWith Crowdin you can set up the localization process for the user interface, documentation, website, and other content for a wider user reach and adoption.\nMore info about Crowdin", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product updates" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Contraband a cooperative smuggling game set in the 1970s. Julian Horsey\nContraband is a new game from Avalanche Studios and Xbox Game Studios, offering gamers a cooperative smugglers paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan, check out the trailer below to learn more about what you can expect from the games location and storyline. Contraband is brought to life by the latest iteration of Avalanche Studios Groups Apex Engine and built to take full advantage of Xbox Series X and the consoles unique capabilities.\nContraband is our most ambitious game yet and working closely together with Xbox Games Studios has been a great experience, said Omar Shakir, Game Director at Avalanche Studios. We cant wait to share more about the game and the world of Bayan.\nWere incredibly excited to work together with a partner such as Xbox Game Studios and look forward to laying the foundation for a long-standing partnership, said Pim Holfve, CEO at Avalanche Studios Group. With Contraband, were taking everything weve learned from 18 years of being in the forefront of open world games as well as bringing the knowledge from running successful live game services focusing on our player communities.\nWatch this video on YouTube\nWe are excited to partner with the talented team at Avalanche Studios for Contraband, said Peter Wyse, GM of Publishing at Xbox Game Studios. Experiencing the emergent, open-world craziness of an Avalanche Studios game together with your friends is something we cant wait to bring to players.\nSource :", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Altru Health System, Economic Development Corp., True North and JLG make big contributions to proposed Grand Forks Career Impact Academy. Email\nAltru Health System has pledged $1 million to a fundraising campaign to create a new technical education center in Grand Forks, one of several organizations to commit large donations totaling more than $1.6 million in recent days.\nAlong with Altrus donation, the campaign this week received $500,000 commitments from the Grand Forks Economic Development Corp., $100,000 from True North Equipment and $50,000 from JLG Architects.\nThe funds will help a core group of local leaders, led by the local school district, as they apply for $10 million in state funding to help realize the project. Critically, winning that funding depends on a local match of $10 million from the community, making this weeks gifts part of an early round of philanthropy that almost certainly must continue before an application deadline in less than two months.\nThis is one of the most significant projects that the community has undertaken, said Keith Lund, president and CEO of the local Economic Development Corporation, and one of the most significant and important projects that weve seen since my time at the EDC over the last 15 years.\nThe EDC's board of directors unanimously approved the commitment during a Thursday morning meeting. Half of the $500,000 will come from the EDC's reserve funds, while the other half will come from the EDC's foundation.\nADVERTISEMENT\nKristi Hall-Jiran, a senior philanthropy official with Altru, told the Herald that she sees Altru's commitment as an investment in the community. That investment will pay dividends for not just the average employer, she said, but also specifically at Altru, which has felt the pangs of a nationwide labor shortage roiling health care and beyond.\nThe health care situation is especially critical, and really an urgent need across the country. Altru is no different, and in particular nursing is one of our disciplines that we're seeing as really a critical workforce shortage right now, Jiran-Hall said.\nA spokesperson said the company currently has 95 hospital-based registered nursing positions open in Grand Forks.\nThe career and tech center, local leaders hope, can ease those workforce shortages. If its built, it would exist somewhere between a trade school and a junior college and a university, helping steer students toward curriculum and careers that match them up with local employers.\nJohn Oncken, CEO and co-owner of True North, said the center is a helpful way to get students excited about jobs they might not otherwise consider, such as agriculture work. Easily dismissed as farm labor, its a huge sector that needs all kinds of workers.\nMy field is around (artificial intelligence), technology, efficiency, automation, (information technology), growing more crop per acre than I've ever done before and working with some really spaceship-type machines. We have an education system that kind of maybe doesn't define where the industry is at, Oncken said.\nThe push for the career center comes as Grand Forks, the state and even the rest of the country wrestle with a workforce shortage one that has roiled labor supply in trucking and service sectors and beyond. Its hard to point to precisely what has caused that shortage, but many observers say its the result of shifting demographics, the lasting effects of COVID or both.\nRELATED:\nAs bus driver crunch wears on, even Grand Forks transit chief pitches in\nADVERTISEMENT\nI do think the pandemic has changed the way people think in general about work. People are being a little bit more selective about where they'll take a job, Hall-Jiran said. I've heard it described as the 'great resignation.' I think it's a trend we're seeing across the country, and clearly Grand Forks is no different.\"\nMeanwhile, Oncken said, \"we have so many opportunities to capture the youth (attention) early and help them understand truly what's available.\"\nMike McLean, principal architect at JLG Architects, said in a statement from the Economic Development Corp. that at JLG, we build community and what better way to help our community thrive than by supporting forward-thinking, collaborative education for the future workforce in our region.\"\nSo far, Lund estimates, theres a little less than $4.5 million of the total $10 million in funding in hand to meet the threshold the state requires. That includes funding announced this week, as well as a $1 million sum from the local school district and a likely land donation from the city of Grand Forks.\nThe project has been hurtling toward development since the summer, with input from many Grand Forks leaders in local schools, universities and city and county governments.\nThe deadline for applying for funding is Dec. 1 though Lund points out that everything needs to be ready for local school officials, who will submit the application, to sign off at a School Board meeting in late November.\nRELATED:\nGrand Forks panel OKs hotel demolition, clearing the way for possible career and tech center\nThat means the clock is ticking, on state funding, and theres only about six weeks to go.\nADVERTISEMENT\nThis center is going to be focused on introducing to and training students for careers that are right here in the Grand Forks region Lund said. In terms of making an investment on local workforce needs, this is the project that is going to have the biggest impact, in my opinion.\n1", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Innovet Pet Offers Bigger Discounts to Their Customers. CBD\ncompany in the world.\nAfter experiencing the high cost of CBD in its early days, Innovet says they've made it their priority to offer the most affordable CBD products on the market. In addition to CBD, they've implemented the fair price policy across their entire catalog of pet products.\n\"We're trying to find ways to beat our own costs now; basically, we are our biggest rivals,\" says Innovet's Co-Founder\nDavid Louvet\n. \"We're always on the hunt for ways to beat our prices and not only does it help our customers, but it also strengthens us as a company through innovation. We've recently started a subscription service and cell phone app, where customers will receive specialty discounts, as well as a stress-free shopping experience.\"\nInnovet Pet says they are always looking for ways to improve their customer service and appreciation techniques; discounts are just the beginning for this team of pet lovers.\n\"We want our customers to always have something to look forward to,\" says\nMatt Terrill\n. \"So, throughout May, we're hosting contests where 40 loyal customers will randomly be selected to win free bottles of our most popular CBD product.\"\nAbout Innovet Pet\ninnovetpet.com\n) contributes their success as the number 1 pet CBD company in the world because of their focus on the customer. Innovet Pet is guided by their four principles: most affordable cost without jeopardizing quality, open and direct communication with customers through social media groups, providing 100% transparency and lab-tested results right on the products and website, and offering a 30-day money-back guarantee.\nMedia Contact\nPress Contacts: Gio Sy, PR Coordinator /\nKacy Johnson", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Ziegler Advises Tridiuum On Its Acquisition By New Directions Behavioral Health. ,\nJan. 25, 2022\n/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as exclusive financial advisor to Tridiuum, a leading digital behavioral health company, on its transaction with New Directions Behavioral Health (\"New Directions\"), a provider of comprehensive behavioral health solutions.\nThis combination creates a leading provider of technology-enabled behavioral health services, empowering New Direction's dedicated care teams to supply its more than 15 million members nationally with more direct and immediate access to providers resulting in increased quality of care through measurement-based outcomes. It also builds on the recent successful partnership between New Directions and Tridiuum through their\nFlorida\n-based program, which launched in\nDecember 2021\n. As of\nJanuary 14, 2022\n, five weeks since the partnership began, more than 450 individuals have been screened, with the average speed to first appointment standing at approximately four days. This compares to the current standard of care average of 25 days, with the most challenging timelines exceeding 90 days for a first appointment. Already, more than 100 provider practices have joined the program in its first phase bringing meaningful brick and mortar options, as well as a significant national virtual presence to New Directions' members.\nTridiuum accelerates patient access to the most appropriate care by automating behavioral health screening, triaging, matching and online scheduling through its easy-to-use system that can be seamlessly integrated with existing platforms. Used by nationally recognized medical and behavioral health providers and health plans, Tridiuum's proprietary technology provides real-time information to support improved clinical decision making while also measuring quality of care. Founded on nearly 20 years of behavioral health research, Tridiuum has served more than 1.4 million patients across more than 11,000 providers through its suite of offerings.\nNew Directions improves access to quality behavioral healthcare through a comprehensive suite of coordinated behavioral health services. The company supports over 15 million individuals nationally, in partnership with health plans, employers and higher education institutions. Leveraging more than 25 years of experience, New Directions delivers an integrated approach to whole-person care with a commitment to innovation that puts members first.\nChris Rogers\n, Managing Director in Ziegler's Healthcare Corporate Finance practice, commented, \"We were thrilled to partner with the innovative team at Tridiuum on this opportunity. Tridiuum's comprehensive technology solution-set, when combined with New Direction's coordinated behavioral health services offerings, will reduce the roadblocks associated with access to mental healthcare care, enhance member experience, and ensure provider quality which collectively will lead to demonstrable improvement in outcomes.\"\nMark Redlus\n, the CEO of Tridiuum stated, \"We appreciated the senior level attention Ziegler brought to this partnership. The Ziegler team leveraged both their deep domain knowledge in the behavioral and mental health technology and services sectors and transactional expertise to effectively and efficiently optimize the outcome for the Company. We are very pleased with the decision to engage Ziegler to work with us.\"\nZiegler's Corporate Finance team is focused on delivering best-in-class advisory and financing solutions for companies and organizations across the healthcare industry. In our core practice areas of healthcare services, information technology, hospitals and senior living, Ziegler is one of the most active M&A firms offering innovative sell-side, buy-side, recapitalization/restructuring, equity private placement and strategic partnering services.\nFor more information about Ziegler, please visit us at http://www.ziegler.com\nAbout Ziegler:\nZiegler is a privately held, national boutique investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm. It has a unique focus on healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered in\nChicago\nwith regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, fixed income sales, underwriting and trading as well as Ziegler Credit, Surveillance and Analytics. To learn more, visit http://www.ziegler.com\nCertain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This client's experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees.\n###", "answer groups": [ " company description", "alliance & partnership", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "BlackBern Partners acquires Zentech Mfg.. BlackBern Partners acquires Zentech Mfg.\nEditor: Lisa Lucke\nZentech Manufacturing Inc. has been acquired by BlackBern Partners LLC, in partnership with Zentech management and new CEO Steve Pudles.\nPudles has 30 years experience in the EMS business and is a 20-year member and past chairman of IPC Board of Directors. According to a company press release, outgoing Zentech CEO and President Matt Turpin remains with Zentech as an advisor and investor, and all members of the senior management team will remain with Zentech, post-acquisition. Matt has built Zentech into an outstanding supplier within the aerospace, defense, medical and high-reliability markets. I have always enjoyed meeting with Matt at IPC events and look forward to his counsel as I begin my CEO tenure at Zentech. I am excited to work with this team to sustain and extend Zentechs delivery of uncompromising quality product, said Pudles. BlackBern Partner Jonathan Bernstein said, The loyalty of their impressive customer list affirms this very talented leadership team and the differentiated model they employ. We look forward to partnering with Steve to invest in furthering this model in the current facilities and through strategic acquisitions. Founded in 2010, BlackBern Partners LLC is a New York City-based private equity firm that acquires high-performing businesses in the middle market.\nAd", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Animal Wellness-Led Amendment to Bar Transport of U.S. Equin.... Onaqui Wild Horses in Utah | Photo Credit: Jen Rogers, Wild Horse Photo Safari\nAnimal Wellness Action Executive Director Marty Irby\nWayne Pacelle\nEnding Transport of Horses Across State and National Lines Will Have the Effect of Banning the Trade, Notes Animal Wellness Action\nWe applaud the Members of Congress who are leading this measure and will continue to bring new and creative solutions to ending the most egregious abuses in the equine world\nMarty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness ActionWASHINGTON, DC, USA, June 25, 2021 /EINPresswire.com / -- This week, U.S. Reps. Troy Carter, D-La., Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., John Katko, R-N.Y., Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. introduced an Animal Wellness Action-conceived amendment to H.R. 3684, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST) Act, to ban transport of equines across state lines or to Canada or Mexico for slaughter for human consumption. This amendment, if enacted into law, would prevent a cruel and predatory trade that claims the lives of tens of thousands of horses and burros a year at foreign abattoirs.\nThe original amendment was first filed by Carter, Fitzpatrick, and Katko in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and withdrawn with the consent of Chairman Peter DeFazio , D-Oregon, so it could be perfected. Rep. Titus wanted to cover extend protections to burros and additional work has been done to make it even more workable, and Rep. Cohen wanted to join in with the idea of linking the anti-slaughter provisions with a provision in the bill to forbid use of double-deck trailers to carry horses and burros.\nThe revised amendment filed must still clear the House Rules Committee in order to secure a vote next week, and that prosect is more likely with a surge in support for the measure. The amendment has picked up additional cosponsors, including Reps. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Vern Buchanan (the lead authors of the stand-alone anti-horse slaughter bill); Reps. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Andy Barr, R-Ky., (co-chairs of the Congressional Horse Caucus); and Reps. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., Donald Payne, D-N.J. and Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa. bringing the total cosponsors to 6 Democrats and 6 Republicans. The measure has been endorsed by more than 225 animal and equine groups, orgs., rescues, and businesses in the U.S.\n''Our iconic American equines drove commerce and the development of infrastructure in the first 150 years of the republic, and it's fitting that the INVEST Act pay a debt to them by halting their ruthless exploitation from kill-buyers who cart them off to Canada and Mexico for butchering.'' said Marty Irby , executive director at Animal Wellness Action, who was recently honored by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, II for his work to protect horses. ''We applaud the Members of Congress who are leading this measure and will continue to bring new and creative solutions to ending the most egregious abuses in the equine world.''\n''Rep. Troy Carter was a leader on animal welfare issues in the Louisiana State Senate, and he is picking right back up by leading the amendment to stop the commerce in horses for slaughter,'' said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy. ''Business and enterprise in our nation must be robust, but it must also be humane. Shedding horse slaughter is good for the economy and character of our nation.''\nBackground:\nHorses are revered and cherished in the United States, and 80 percent of Americans oppose the slaughter of horses for human consumption. As public awareness has grown of the inherent cruelty involved in the horse slaughter industry, calls for a federal response have grown louder as the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been implicated in a suspect adoption plan that is allowing ''adopters'' to rake in profits by selling horses and burros to slaughter.\nTransport of horses for slaughter is unsafe and has caused multiple serious accidents on American highways. The list is long of serious accidents on American highways involving trucks loaded with horses bound for slaughter. Most of these involve horrific injuries to and deaths of horses on the trucks. As recently as October 2020, 14 horses were killed and 11 badly injured when a truck driving the animals to slaughter flipped on a highway in Franklin County, Missouri. Similar accidents have happened over the years, and in most, motorists had to avoid the accident and, in some cases, encountered terrified and injured horses running loose in the lanes of traffic. Similarly, in 2017, a truck belonging to the infamous kill buyers who own one of the nation's largest horse slaughter holding facilities in Bastrop, Louisiana, was involved in a terrible crash that led to the deaths of 19 horses.\nWhile horse slaughter does not currently occur on U.S. soil due to a de facto ban achieved through the appropriations process, more than 70,000 domestic and wild horses are shipped to Mexico and Canada each year to be slaughtered for human consumption in those countries, Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.\nStand-alone legislation that would permanently ban both the transportation of slaughter-bound horses and slaughter itself the SAFE Act was recently introduced, but despite the passage of a similar bill fifteen years ago, and the majority of House Members cosponsoring the measure in the 116th Congress, enactment of the legislation continues to be an uphill battle due to industrial agriculture interests and pro-slaughter Members of Congress.\nAnimal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies, and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and that's why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones don''t. We believe helping animals helps us all.\nThe Animal Wellness Foundation (Foundation) is a Los Angeles-based private charitable organization with a mission of helping animals by making veterinary care available to everyone with a pet, regardless of economic ability. We organize rescue efforts and medical services for dogs and cats in need and help homeless pets find a loving caregiver. We are advocates for getting veterinarians to the front lines of the animal welfare movement; promoting responsible pet ownership; and vaccinating animals against infectious diseases such as distemper. We also support policies that prevent animal cruelty and that alleviate suffering. We believe helping animals helps us all.\nThe Center for a Humane Economy (''the Center'') is a non-pr", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Petco Removes Traditional Rawhide Chews for Whole Health Philosophy. March 29, 2021\nPress release: Petco\nPetco Health and Wellness Company, Inc., a complete partner in pet health and wellness, today launched Petco Whole Health an industry-leading, first framework that consists of five interconnected dimensions of pet health physical health, mental health, social health, home health and accessible health created with the focus to improve pet well-being and strengthen one another when addressed as a whole. As a part of the launch, Petco has also kicked off a month-long Petco Whole Health challenge to support and reward pet parents for taking action to improve their pets overall wellness.\nThe Whole Health philosophy is at the core of our journey from pet specialty retailer to a 360-degree health and wellness partner, said Tariq Hassan, Petco chief marketing officer. We know pet parents want to do the best for their pets; they just need support to know how. This provides a clear framework for pet parents to act in the best interest of their pets, further defines our mission to improve lives for pets and pet parents, and sets a baseline for whats to come from Petco in the health and wellness space. The simultaneous launch of our new creative campaign and strategy its what wed want if we were pets brings it all to life by confirming our commitment to delivering the same, if not better, care for the well-being of pets that we expect for ourselves as humans.\nThe Petco Whole Health approach addresses the 80 percent of pet parents who say they feel as close to their pets as they are to their children or partner, the majority of whom also admit they have no idea how to properly care for the pets they love. It also follows the companys moves to stop selling dog and cat food and treats with artificial ingredients in 2019 and the removal of shock collars in 2020, furthering its ongoing commitment to setting industry-leading standards for pet care and welfare.\nTo learn more about the Whole Health philosophy pet parents can visit the Petco website, where they will also find helpful products and services recommendations corresponding to each of the Whole Health pillars so they can begin to take action:\nPhysical Health Providing the nutrition, activity and preventive care that keeps pets fit inside and out.\nMental Health Ensuring pets can lead joyful, enriching lives free from boredom and anxiety.\nSocial Health Nurturing pets to feel confident and comfortable around other animals and humans.\nHome Health Creating safe, stimulating environments where pets feel like they belong.\nAccessible Health Getting affordable, convenient access to everything pets need to live their best lives.\nThe Whole Health challenge a three-week educational commitment asks pet parents to join Petcos revolution for Whole Health and go beyond the basics to deliver complete care that improves pet well-being and helps pets lead full, rewarding lives. Petco will release five tips each week of the three-week challenge, intended to spark pet parent action mapping to the five pillars of the philosophy.\nIn the companys latest step to ensure they are providing better solutions for pets, Petco also confirmed it has\nremoved traditional rawhide options\nfrom store shelves as of March 23, to instead promote safe, long-lasting and highly digestible alternatives.\nWith pet parents spending significantly more time at home with their pets through the COVID-19 pandemic, busy bones and long-lasting chews that keep pets busy and provide needed mental stimulation have become more in demand, with related product sales rising more than 10% last year compared to 2019. According to research from Petcos customer survey (2019), 71% of consumers have concerns with traditional rawhide, including choking, digestibility and origin of ingredients. As a result, the company has removed all 32 traditional rawhide products from store shelves in favor of highly digestible rawhide and rawhide-free meat- and plant-based alternatives, made with perforations to make them easier to digest.\nIn line with veterinary recommendations, Petco is choosing to focus on safer alternatives to rawhide and steer pet parents away from the digestibility health concerns associated with the traditional products, said Dr. Whitney Miller, Head of Veterinary Medicine for Petco. While many dogs enjoy traditional rawhide, the fact that they pose even a minimal risk to pet health led to the conclusion that we should exclusively focus on products that better align with our mission and Whole Health philosophy.\nPet parents in search of long-lasting chew options can consider Petcos new Good Lovin HD Rawhide, launching in May of this year, or Better Bellys highly digestible rawhide assortment and options from Good Lovin, Nylabone, Smartbones and Nothin to Hide, available nationwide now at Petco stores and online.\nPetco offers a variety of safe, convenient ways to shop, including in-store, curbside pick-up, same-day delivery and repeat delivery, and remains committed to providing pet parents with access to everything they need for their pets whole health, including its latest membership program, Vital Care.\nShare This Story On:", "answer groups": [ " product updates", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Reliance invests Rs 1 670 crore to set up EMS venture in Chennai with Sanmina. Oil companies to cushion fuel price shock as crude tests $120\nChennai: In a boost to electronics manufacturing in Tamil Nadu, US-based contract manufacturer Sanmina Corporation and Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited (RSBVL) have signed up for a joint venture. Under the JV, Mukesh Ambani's RSBVL will invest around Rs 1,670 crore in Sanminas existing Indian entity (Sanmina SCI India), which has a 100 acre EMS facility at Oragadam, Chennai to leverage Sanminas 40 years of contract manufacturing experience. RSBVL will hold 50.1% equity stake in the joint venture entity, with Sanmina owning the remaining 49.9%.\nAs a result of the investment, the joint venture will be capitalized with over $200 million of cash to fund growth, the parties said in a statement. The transaction is expected to close by September 2022.\nWhile the two companies did not specify whether the joint venture will set up a new facility in India in addition to the one in Chennai, they said that all the manufacturing will initially take place at Sanminas campus in Chennai \"with the ability for site expansion to support future growth opportunities as well as to potentially expand to new manufacturing sites in India over time based on business needs.\" The day-to-day business will continue to be managed by Sanminas existing management team in Chennai, they added.\nThe venture is set to support Reliances 5G ambitions as it is said to focus on tech infrastructure hardware across areas of communications networking (5G, cloud infrastructure, hyperscale data centers), medical and healthcare systems, industrial and cleantech, and defense and aerospace. It will also create a Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence that will serve as an incubation center to support the product development and hardware start-up ecosystem in India, as well as promote research and innovation. An exchange filing by Sanmina to the SEC mentions that RSBVL and its affiliates will consider SIPL as their preferred contract manufacturer in India for telecommunications network equipment with this deal.\nWe are excited to partner with Reliance to build the premier integrated manufacturing solutions company in India, Jure Sola, chairman and CEO of Sanmina, said. This joint venture will service both domestic and export markets and represents a major milestone in the Indian governments Make in India initiative.\nWe are delighted to work with Sanmina to access the significant market opportunity for high-tech manufacturing in India. For both growth and security, it is essential for India to be more self-reliant in electronics manufacturing in Telecom, IT, Data Centers, Cloud, 5G, New Energy and other industries as we chart our path in the new digital economy. Through this partnership we plan to boost innovation and talent in India, meeting both Indian and global demand, Akash Ambani, director, Reliance Jio, said.\nSanmina provides end-to-end manufacturing solutions, to OEMs primarily in the communications networks, cloud solutions, industrial, defense, medical and automotive markets. The company's India entity posted revenue of approximately Rs 1,230 crore (approx $165 million) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, and it expects to significantly expand its Indian manufacturing footprint to serve the local and global demand with this partnership with Reliance.\nFacebook", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "COMP: 4 Tech Stocks Under $10 Wall Street Believes Will Surge More Than 100% in the Next 12 Months. . The price targets range from a low of $11.00 to a high of $24.00.\nPorch Group, Inc. (\nPRCH\n)\nPRCH provides software and services under the ISN, HireAHelper, Kandela brands to home services companies, such as home inspectors, homebuyers and homeowners, insurance carriers, moving companies, security companies, and TV/internet providers, as well as offers moving concierge services.\nIn January 2022, Homeowners of America (HOA), a property and casualty insurance provider and a subsidiary of PRCH, announced its service launch in Montana, marking HOAs 14th state of operation. This is in line with HOAs national expansion plan and should increase PRCHs presence in the insurance industry.\nIn December 2021, PRCH introduced its new Pay-At-Close module for home inspection companies to simultaneously make the payment processing experience smoother for homebuyers, agents, and inspectors. The program is available to some inspection companies, and a broad roll-out is expected to begin this year. This solution should be widely in demand and should garner significant returns.\nPRCHs revenue increased 191.9% year-over-year to $62.77 million for the fiscal third quarter ended September 30\n.\nAlso, for the nine months ended September 30, the\ncash and cash equivalents stood at $415.83 million, indicating an improvement of 5,010.4% year-over-year.\nThe consensus revenue estimate of $54.57 million for the fiscal fourth quarter ended December 2021 indicates an increase of 179.7% year-over-year. Its EPS is expected to improve 22.2% from its prior-year quarter.\nAll of the seven Wall Street analysts that rated the stock have rated it Buy. The 12-month median price target of $28.29 indicates\n. The price targets range from a low of $21.00 to a high of $34.00.\nindie Semiconductor, Inc. (\nINDI\n)\nINDI operates as an automotive semiconductors and software solutions-based company. The company offers advanced driver assistance systems solutions, including light detection and ranging, connected car, user experience, and electrification applications.\nLast month, INDI unveiled that it has created a Kabushiki Kaisha, or KK, and added some key resources in Tokyo. The company aims to strengthen its foothold in Japan, one of the largest global automotive markets.\nIn December 2021, INDI launched the Surya LiDAR system-on-a-chip (SOC), enabling advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving functionality. This breakthrough development demonstrates its prowess in advancing architecture and should allow it to cash in on the fast-advancing lidar technology.\nINDIs total revenue increased 60.3% year-over-year to $12.16 million in the fiscal third quarter ended September 30. Its non-GAAP gross profit stood at $5.23 million, up 33.3% from the prior-year quarter.\nThe consensus revenue estimate of $21.53 million for the fiscal first quarter ending March 2022 indicates an increase of 165.4% year-over-year. Also, its revenue is expected to grow 172.3% year-over-year in the next quarter.\nEach of the three Wall Street analysts that have rated INDI rated it Buy. The 12-month median price target of $18.33 indicates\n. The price targets range from a low of $16.00 to a high of $22.00.\nAllot Ltd. (\nALLT\n)\nBased in Hod-Hasharon, Israel, ALLT provides network intelligence and security solutions to protect and personalize the digital experience worldwide. The company offers Allot Service Gateway (Allot SG) platforms, including Allot SG-Tera, Allot SG9x000, Allot SG-VE, and CE for in-line deployment in traditional and virtualized network access infrastructure.\nLast month, ALLT announced that Entel, Perus innovative communication service provider, has launched the Allot NetworkSecure cybersecurity solution to protect the companys mobile users against a broad range of cyber threats. Entel and ALLT will share recurring revenues generated by monthly service fees. Earlier, Play, the leading mobile operator in Poland, and Field Solutions Group (FSG), Australias leading rural, regional, and remote challenger telecommunications carrier, selected ALLT cybersecurity solutions to protect customers against cyber threats. Several other companies also chose ALLTs security solutions over the past few months, reflecting ALLTs dominance in the cybersecurity space.\nALLTs revenues increased 9.8% year-over-year to $38.16 million in the fiscal third quarter ended September 30, while its non-GAAP gross profit grew 11.9% from the year-ago value to $26.84 million.\nAnalysts expect the companys revenue to increase 4.1% year-over-year to $40.70 million for the fiscal fourth quarter ended December 2021.\nOf the four Wall Street analysts that have rated ALLT, three rated it Buy, while one rated it Hold. The 12-month median price target of $18.75 indicates\n. The price targets range from a low of $14.00 to a high of $23.00.\nWant More Great Investing Ideas?", "answer groups": [ " subsidiary establishment", " product launching & presentation", " company description", "expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "One Month of Learnings from Flo Healths Bug Bounty Program: A Q&A with CISO, Leo Cunningham. LinkedIn\nThe CISO of Flo Health, the worlds most popular womens health app, knows that enabling his security team with the most advanced security testing methods is of the utmost importance to brand trust and user loyalty.\nWe recently sat down with CISOLeo Cunninghamto hear about Flo Health's learnings from the first 30 days of their bug bounty program. Read on to see what Leo shared about the importance of leveraging the global hacker community and how vulnerability findings help improve Flo Health's internal processes.\nTell us who you are.\nHi, Im Leo Cunningham, the CISO at Flo Health.\nWhat does Flo Health do? Why is cybersecurity so important?\nLeo Cunningham: Flo is the most popular womens health app globally; over 190 million users have downloaded Flo, attaining 40 million monthly active users. With over 80+ medical experts, Flo supports women during their entire reproductive lives. The app provides curated cycle and ovulation tracking, personalized health insights, expert tips, and a private community for women to share their questions and concerns. Flo Health app is available in more than 20 languages on iOS and Android.\nFlo prioritizes safety and keeps a sharp focus on being the most trusted digital source for womens health information. Cybersecurity is the most important thing to our business due to the sensitive data we process and the large amount of user data we store.\nWhat led you to HackerOne?\nLeo Cunningham: Before using HackerOne, we used to run penetration testing via a vendor. However, these traditional pentests limited us because we couldnt access niche skill sets. We wanted to add a modern approach to what we were already practicing. Choosing HackerOne means were not limiting ourselves. We can open up our application and platform to the largest global community of ethical hackers. We wanted to reach a diverse community and pool of talent to push the boundaries, give us a better measure of our security, and detect vulnerabilities that could have been missed internally. By offsetting some of our vulnerability management and testing efforts, we have saved ourselves a huge amount of time and money.\nWhat were some of the first successes?\nLeo Cunningham: Launching the HackerOne program has allowed us to look at our internal processes and refine these to ensure maximum ROI and efficiency when dealing with multiple sources of vulnerability information.\nIn the first month of the program, we reached out to 200 people on the platform to see if they could test what we already put in place. So far, we have had a couple of items disclosed. One of the bugs disclosed so far was a low vulnerability. This bug was already known to our security team and is a legacy item with no impact on Flo. Because the bug bounty submission was from another perspective, we decided to pay $200 for this as it was insightful to know how a hacker viewed this vulnerability.\nThe interaction with the HackerOne team and with the hacker community has been great. HackerOne Triage verifies the findings before being submitted to us for review. This saves Flo so much time and reduces our efforts on checking items.\nHow are hackers helping you reduce business risk?\nLeo Cunningham: The hacker community is assisting us in achieving a position where we are as secure as we can be while allowing the business to operate as usual. This also helps us review current processes, Jira workflows and makes developers aware of security bugs.\nA hacker finds a bug - what happens next? Leo Cunningham: Once a bug has gone through HackerOne triage, we first fully validate the vulnerability ourselves, then add this to our vulnerabilities project, and if eligible, a bounty is paid out. From there, the relevant metadata is added, and the bug is sorted into a list of prioritized items to get fixed according to our internal SLA structure for remediation. The bug is then fixed and closed.\nHow do hackers help you spot vulnerability trends across your attack surface?\nLeo Cunningham: Hackers can spend more time across a wide range of areas to understand our technology and product, then apply their niche skillset to help us paint a picture of any issues that need to be addressed, ultimately helping us maximize our ROI.\nWhat advice would you give to other CISOs planning to start a bug bounty program?\nLeo Cunningham: If you havent already, set up a formalized internal process to deal with items in an orderly fashion. Make sure your teams are ready to understand and remediate upcoming issues. Think about what you want to get from the program and implement your plan accordingly.\nHow do you quantify working with hackers? Leo Cunningham: Working with the hacker community allows us to receive bugs that are not seen in traditional penetration tests and gives us a larger window of time in which to find these bugs. HackerOne provides the largest community of ethical hackers in the world, which makes it the best and biggest resource out there. The more hackers there are reviewing our items, the better.\nEach company is different and has different needs, but in order to quantify working with hackers, I ask myself the following:\nWhat do I currently spend on external penetration tests, and what level of coverage do I get? If I want exposure to a large community of hackers who live and breathe security testing, would this option give me more scope on tests for my product?\nAm I time-boxed with internal or external testing? If so, this adds additional pressure when you can freely open up your product (within a restricted and secure space) and allow hackers to take their time and spend longer on testing.\nHaving a bug bounty program is great from the brand perspective. It shows the world that you are investing in security and that you are open to a varied and wide community of testers who dedicate their time finding security bugs that could seriously impact your company if found by a malicious hacker.\nQ: How do you measure the value of data security?\nLeo Cunningham: At our core, we are a platform that relies on very sensitive data, and our customers need to be able to trust us with this information. Like all companies, a data breach has the potential to cause a lot of damage. Flo, as a result, has a very strong focus on security at all levels, and HackerOne is a crucial part of this process.\nWhats the biggest lesson youve learned so far?\nLeo Cunningham: Be prepared to deal with all sorts of information from various skill sets and keep an open mind.\nWhat does success look like in the future for you?\nLeo Cunningham: Success for us will be when we are getting minimal bugs reported, penetration tests return little to no results, and our internal vulnerability count is minimal.\nAnything else youd like to share?\nLeo Cunningham: The HackerOne customer service and account management team have been world-class.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "IFP Advisors Inc Decreases Stock Holdings in Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF (NASDAQ:EDOC). IFP Advisors Inc Decreases Stock Holdings in Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF (NASDAQ:EDOC)\nPosted by\non\nMay 20th, 2021\nIFP Advisors Inc lowered its holdings in Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF (NASDAQ:EDOC) by 16.6% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.comreports. The fund owned 3,320 shares of the companys stock after selling 663 shares during the quarter. IFP Advisors Incs holdings in Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF were worth $64,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.\nSeparately, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF by 98.7% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 9,986 shares of the companys stock valued at $193,000 after purchasing an additional 4,960 shares in the last quarter.\nGet\nGlobal X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF\nalerts:\nShares of EDOCopened at $17.89 on Thursday. Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF has a 12 month low of $15.20 and a 12 month high of $23.04. The stocks 50-day moving average is $19.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $19.72.\nSee Also:\nWhen is a capital gain realized?\nWant to see what other hedge funds are holding EDOC? Visit HoldingsChannel.comto get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF (NASDAQ:EDOC).\nReceive News & Ratings for Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter", "answer groups": [ " company description", "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Foresight Autonomous (NASDAQ:FRSX) Price Target Increased to $3.00 by Analysts at Aegis. Tweet\nForesight Autonomous (NASDAQ:FRSX)\nhad its price target raised by Aegis from $2.50 to $3.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning, Analyst Ratings Networkreports. Aegis currently has a buy rating on the stock.\nShares of FRSXopened at $1.73 on Friday. Foresight Autonomous has a 12 month low of $0.46 and a 12 month high of $2.75. The firms 50 day moving average is $1.09 and its 200-day moving average is $1.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $91.52 million, a PE ratio of -3.60 and a beta of 2.19.\nGet\nForesight Autonomous\nalerts:\nForesight Autonomous (NASDAQ:FRSX) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 12th. The company reported ($0.10) EPS for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters consensus estimate of ($0.07) by ($0.03).\nAn institutional investor recently bought a new position in Foresight Autonomous stock. Kranot Hishtalmut Le Morim Tichoniim Havera Menahelet LTD purchased a new position in shares of Foresight Autonomous Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ:FRSX) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 118,966 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $109,000. Kranot Hishtalmut Le Morim Tichoniim Havera Menahelet LTD owned approximately 0.23% of Foresight Autonomous at the end of the most recent quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.41% of the companys stock.\nForesight Autonomous Company Profile\nForesight Autonomous Holdings Ltd., a technology company, designs, develops, and commercializes sensor systems for the automotive industry. The company develops in-line-of-sight vision systems and beyond-line-of-site cellular-based applications. It offers QuadSight system, a quad-camera multi-spectral vision system for the semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicle market; V2X (vehicle-to-everything), an accident prevention solution based on real-time multi-agents positioning algorithms that enables communication between vehicles, infrastructure, grid, home, and network; and Eye-Net, a software-based cellular V2X solution to provide real-time pre-collision alerts to vulnerable road users and vehicles by using smartphones.\nRecommended Story:\nReceive News & Ratings for Foresight Autonomous Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Foresight Autonomous and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter\nLatest News", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Donaldson Callif Perez Promotes Katy Alimohammadi Crown to Partner. See All\nLos Angeles-based entertainment law film Donaldson Callif Perezhas promoted associate Katy Alimohammadi Crown to partner.\nCrown specializes in representing filmmakers in all stages of their projects, including production legal services, rights clearance and distribution. She has established herself as a leading production and clearance counsel on documentary series including HBOs Music Box, The Last Dance, Tiger King and Random Acts of Flyness. She has also worked as clearance counsel on scripted projects such as Bombshell, The Front Runner, Zola and Leave No Trace, as well as documentaries including Operation Varsity Blues, Circus of Books, Shirkers and the Oscar-nominated films The Mole Agent and Crip Camp.\nKaty has been a strong voice at our firm from the first day she arrived. Her love for film and books influences all her work in support of the creative community, said Michael Donaldson.\nCrown has been with Donaldson Callif Perez since joining as a law clerk in 2014. She received her Doctor of Law (J.D.) from the UCLA School of Law. She has also served on the faculty of the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Televisions Professional Programs, and has been an advisor for the Womens Center for Creative Work labs.\nOver the past 13 years, Donaldson Callif Perez has build a profile within the world of entertainment, and particularly in documentary. The firm advises clients in all aspects of development, production, clearance and distribution matters related to independent film and television productions.\nFor the last eight years, Katy has been an instrumental part of our growth as a firm and the development of our firm culture, said Chris Perez. She is a tremendous advocate for her clients and has eagerly taken on some of the most impactful and most challenging projects in our office. Shes developed into a thought leader both within our firm and in the industry as a whole. Im proud to stand next to her as partner.\nSome of Crowns most recent projects include serving as clearance counsel on Jerry Seinfelds scripted project Unfrosted; Fyre Fest director Chris Smiths Netflix project Bad Vegan; and handling production legal and clearance work for A24s documentary division and clearance on their scripted projects. Her regular clients include Pineapple Street Studios podcasts, The Ringer and parent company Spotify, A24, Bron, Women In Film, and Film Independent.\nTheres a misconception that lawyers are always the people in the room saying you cant do that. I was drawn to DCP early in my career because of the firms focus on working with filmmakers, rather than against them, said Crown. Its important to the firm that we bring our clients creative vision to life without sugarcoating the law or the risks associated with their specific work. It also helps that I get to advise clients whose work I greatly admire, and on the types of projects I would enjoy as a viewer or listener.\noptional screen reader", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Health professionals bat for cautious easing of COVID-19 quarantine. The Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) said that the easing of community quarantine restrictions should be done cautiously as thousands of people are still being infected daily with the new coronavirus.\n(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)\nPhilippine College of Physicians (PCP) Vice President Maricar Limpin said that community quarantine measures must be eased in a careful manner.\nAng recommendation natin ay huwag agad-agad mag loosen up ang quarantine measure kasi sa ngayon, mataas pa talaga ang COVID-cases, nandoon palang tayo sa start bumaba [Our recommendation is not to immediately loosen up the quarantine measure because right now, we are still seeing high number of COVID cases. The declining of cases is just starting], said Limpin, who is also co-convenor of HPAAC, in an online forum Tuesday, September 22.\nMaybe when [it] comes to a point na talagang mababa na ang cases [where the cases are really low] then thats the time na medyo pwede mag loosen up ng quarantine measures [to slightly loosen up the quarantine measures], she added.\nLimpin said that they observed that some people are still not adhering to the different health protocols, citing as an example the recent scenario in Manila Bay white sand beach wherein a large group of people violated physical distancing rules.\nThe doctor said that physical distancing and wearing of face masks and face shields are very effective as means of controlling the pandemic.\nThe observance of health protocols can also help in preventing the transmission of other diseases, said Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) President Dr. Issa Alejandria.\nYung mga ginagawang protective measures ngayon, hindi lang COVID ang napi-prevent, lahat ng respiratory infection, lalo na ang TB (tuberculosis) [These protective measures can prevent not only COVID, but also respiratory infections especially TB], she said.\nLimpin said that there should be a balance between health and economy.\nLet us stop competing or trying to fight over health (versus) economy. Kailangan magsama ang dalawa and the only way to do that ay kung lahat tayo susunod sa mga dapat gawin sa workplace, school, public places, o kahit sa bahay mismo [The two must come together and the only way to do that is if we all follow what needs to be done in the workplace, school, public places, or even at home], she said.\nPresidential spokesman Harry Roque said last Monday that the government may further ease community quarantine restrictions in some parts of the country as COVID-19 cases have gradually decreased.", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Aegis Living Opens Kirkland Waterfront Community. Aegis Living\n, a national leader in senior assisted living and memory care, opened its second community in 2021, Aegis Living Kirkland Waterfront With this opening and six additional properties underway, Aegis Living charts its future growth, emerging from the pandemic and meeting the growing demand for safe, high-quality senior living options.\n\"Heading into 2020, we set aggressive goals to double in size over the next decade,\" said\nDwayne Clark\n, founder, CEO and chairman of Aegis Living. \"Our goal has always been to grow smart so we can continue meeting the incredible demand for high-quality senior care. Emerging from the pandemic and seeing where we are today is a testament to our entire team our dedication to fighting the coronavirus and never wavering on our deep commitment to our residents and staff as we continue innovating and pushing new boundaries.\"\nThe Kirkland Waterfront community aligns with the company's spirit of continuous improvement and pushing new boundaries for what is expected in senior living. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Amalfi Coast in\nItaly\n, the community brings unrivaled Italian-inspired design to the banks of Lake Washington. Aegis Living combines the old-world, Italian charm with modern amenities for a vibrant resident lifestyle. Residents can choose from 106 apartments, enjoying culinary creations, unparalleled engagement and wellness programming, and a wide array of state-of-the art amenities on-site.\nStarting on the ground floor, residents can go from the \"Amici\" main dining room with an outdoor terrace and dining alfresco alongside a waterfall and romantic greenery to the community wine cave \"Vino.\" A private dining room for special occasions is available while residents may also enjoy the \"Cin Cin\" pub, offering scenes from the bustling waterfront street.\n\"Il Cinema\" and \"Arte\" activity room are central for community gatherings and entertainment while residents can get swept away in the \"Salute\" wellness suite with a salon, barber, massage, and fitness center, all rounded out by the \"Salve\" juice bar for healthy treats and morning or afternoon pick-me ups.\nResidents can capture sweeping views of Lake Washington throughout the community, including the top-floor \"Como Lounge\" and outdoor terrace. No matter what floor or area of the building residents may find themselves, sunbaked stucco walls, warm wood tones, splashes of color inspired by the sea, tumbled stone mosaics, and traditional Italian architecture transport them to the Mediterranean coastline.\n\"This community offers something for all of the senses,\" said\nJeanna Korbas\n, director of interior design at Aegis Living. \"We've focused on every aspect of this community, every last detail, to make living here an unforgettable experience filled with joy and adventure.\"\nIn Life's Neighborhood, the designated memory care floor, experiential design helps ignite fond memories and foster connection among residents. The community's outdoor courtyard features a scene of the Grand Canal in\nVenice\nwith an authentic Italian gondola and Roman \"ruins.\" Inside, an interactive Italian \"road trip\" takes residents on a journey to rekindle memories of a favorite European vacation or inspire them to imagine getaways they may have dreamed of.\nWith a multitude of restaurants, shops and other getaways within walking distance, the community is a central hub for embracing all the\nCity of Kirkland\nhas to offer. Aegis Living's signature Queen Bee Cafis also on the ground floor of the community for residents to enjoy coffee and a variety of sweet and savory treats while giving back. A not-for-profit caf, 100% of Queen Bee Caf profits go to benefit local charities selected each year.\nResident health and wellness continues to be top priority as the community hosts the second Aegis Living wellness program pilot. The program will provide personalized wellness plans for each resident focused on nutrition, sleep, movement, nature, cognitive wellness, and mindfulness. Infection control and safety protocol is unwavering with nearly all staff and soon-to-be residents having received the coronavirus vaccine. Aegis Living mandated the Covid-19 vaccine for all staff beginning\nJuly 1\nand has seen nearly 100 percent participation.\n\"Our goal is to always be one step ahead of what our residents hope to experience and achieve in their later years,\" noted Clark. \"We know this chapter can be filled with so much joy, life, and longevity and we want to bring that opportunity to each person.\"\nAegis Living Kirkland Waterfront located at 1002 Lake Street South,\nKirkland, WA\n98033 houses 106 senior living apartments in the 98,000 square-foot-building. Aegis has six additional communities in development, including communities in the Eastlake/Lake Union,\nBallard", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "OPTAVIA Community Reunites as Global Convention Returns with Hybrid Format. OPTAVIA\n, held its annual OPTAVIA Convention last week from July 29Aug. 1 in a new hybrid format. With an in-person experience held at the Georgia World Congress Center in\nAtlanta\nand a livestream component for attendees who chose to participate from home, the global event saw more than 15,000 registrants.\nAttendees experienced valuable Coach-led educational sessions, panel discussions and company updates along with celebrations of their success in transforming lives around the world. This year's event also placed an increased focus on community engagement and team-building following the 2020 event, when the company pivoted to an entirely virtual format due to the pandemic. The four-day celebration this year began with an OPTAVIA Block Party complete with food trucks serving Lean & Green meals, fireworks and live music.\n\"The 2021 convention was a highly anticipated reunion for our independent Coaches and Community,\" said\nDan Chard\n, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medifast. \"As OPTAVIA's footprint grows worldwide, we continue to emphasize the power of support and connection. After a year fraught with uncertainty and social isolation, we were thrilled to have this moment in time to celebrate our collective victories together and envision how we can impact even more lives in the future.\"\nAs part of 2021 convention registration and onsite donation opportunities, the OPTAVIA Community gave back through the company's philanthropic initiative, Healthy Habits For All. This Coach-led fundraising initiative raised over\n$100,000\nfor worthy nonprofits and advanced the company's mission of providing children with education and access to resources that support healthy habits. To date, alongside its OPTAVIA Community, the company has funded up to 8 million nutritious meals for children facing hunger.\nFollow Medifastand\non social media for a look back at convention activity and future company updates.\nAbout Medifast", "answer groups": [ " event organization", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "ALung Technologies has a respiratory device, Hemolung, that can be used in place of ventilators. ALung Technologies\nhas a device called the Hemolung Respiratory Assist System that has been getting widespread attention lately as desperate physicians search for ways to treat COVID-19 patients.\nThe onslaught of coronavirus has created a national ventilator shortage, as patients rely on them in life-threatening situations to blow oxygen into the lungs while removing carbon dioxide.\nHemolung is designed to keep people off ventilators as much as possible. It removes carbon dioxide directly from the blood, like a dialysis machine does for kidneys, and delivers oxygen directly to the blood. It was created to help COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) patients.\nIts currently in clinical trials in the U.S., where it has been used in 36 hospitals, and approved for use in Europe, where it has been used in 32 hospitals in the UK with thousands of patients.\nIn the U.S., by the way, its been used on a compassionate-use basis, an emergency-use basis, as early as three to four years ago, says Hemolung inventor William Federspiel, co-founder of ALung and professor of bioengineering at Pitts Swanson School of Engineering It was actually done here in Pittsburgh. At UPMC Presbyterian hospital.\nIt can be an alternative or supplement to ventilators, depending on the patients condition, he notes.\nIt definitely could be used to treat these COVID-19 patients, says Federspiel. But its important to point out that its not going to be an answer to the ventilator shortage. Its been a challenge to ramp up the production of ventilators. Ford and GM have gotten involved and its still a rough path.\nVentilators can cause damage to the lungs. Hemolung avoids this and doesnt require intubation or sedation, so patients can remain responsive and mobile during treatment.\nThe company is trying to get approval from the FDA to use the Hemolung under Emergency Use Authorization, says Federspiel. Theyre trying to get that, and then they could treat COVID patients. We hope it will keep them from having to go on mechanical ventilation.\nThey would be able to be awake, not sedated, could move around, talk and eat. Its a very different patient experience on the Hemolung.\nALung is based in the South Side and employs 33 people.", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Universal Flu Vaccine In The Works At Norwood Company. Listening...\n/\nUsing mathematical models developed by a scientist at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, Blue Water CEO Joseph Hernandez says the company has proven in theory that its vaccine will protect people from all strains of the flu with one pill during their lifetime.\n\"We have a little bit of work before we can actually expose humans to the vaccine and that's what this financing does for us. It allows us to get the important toxicology and pre-clinical work that we need done,\" says Hernandez.\nHernandez says the seasonal flu vaccine is based on arcane technology and only protects about 30-50% of the people who get it.\nHe praises the mathematician who developed the technology for Blue Water's universal flu vaccine. He says it protects against strains. \"It should give you protection against all known strains of the virus even going back to the 1934 and\n1918\nstrains that were quite significant. As you know, the Spanish flu wiped out almost half of Europe.\"\n\"The team at Blue Water Vaccines is pursuing the holy grail of vaccines: a universal flu vaccine,\" said Samuel Lee M.D., director at CincyTech. \"We are pleased to support a world class team towards achieving this breakthrough.\"\nCincyTech CEO Mike Venerable acknowledges there are other drug companies working on a universal flu vaccine. \"This is not the only thing in the world that is being developed to do this but we are confident that we have great technology we're licensing. And we have good leadership and that we have vetted it appropriately.\"\nThe National Institutes of Health (NIH)\nand BiondVax are also working on universal flu vaccines.\nBut CincyTech says Blue Water's technology is unique because its mathematical models \"analyzes the way historic flu strains change over time led by the theory that the epidemic behavior of influenza is primarily determined by immune responses acting upon regions of the virus that are limited in variability.\"\nStatistics show more than one billion people contract the flu each year causing 3-5 million hospitalizations and 500,000 deaths.\nCopyright 2019 91.7 WVXU. To see more, visit", "answer groups": [ " service & product providing", " new initiatives or programs", " support & philanthropy", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Office Practicum Names Dr. Dan Feiten Medical Director & Product Leader of Clinical Innovation. (OP), a pediatric EHR and RCM company and the first \"whole child\" digital healthcare platform company, announces that Dr.\nDan Feiten\nhas been named Medical Director & Product Leader of Clinical Innovation. In his new role, Dr. Feiten will drive OP's clinical strategic direction, ensure its offerings meet the demands of the market and oversee the direction of the active OP Physician Advisory Council.\nDr. Dan Feiten, Medical Director & Product Leader of Clinical Innovation, Office Practicum\nDr. Feiten joined OP through its acquisition of\nRemedyConnect\nin February, where he served as its President, Co-Founder, and Chief Medical Officer. RemedyConnect provides a pediatric telehealth solution, business management support, and marketing services, including: website development and SEO, an after-hours answering service, and a patient education symptom tool.\nThis year, OP expanded its portfolio of brands in order to meet the needs of today's pediatric practices. The acquisition of RemedyConnect follows that of\nNextStep Solutions\n, an ONC-certified, fully specialized behavioral health EHR and RCM solution. This expanded initiative will focus on building technology and services that allow pediatric providers to support the whole health and well-being of every child.\nNextStep Solutions will continue to provide both child- and adult-focused behavioral health specialists with EHR and revenue cycle management solutions. Likewise, RemedyConnect will continue to provide its full line of digital media solutions. With Dr. Feiten's guidance, the new OP family of brands will continue to invest in innovative features and functions that help pediatric practices evolve and meet the holistic healthcare needs of children and families nationwide.\n\"We are thrilled to add Dr. Feiten to our leadership team,\" said\nKraig Brown\n, CEO of OP. \"Adding someone like him, with his extensive experience in pediatrics and leadership position in our industry, shows OP's continued commitment to providing the pediatric community with the products and services they need to care for the whole child.\"\nDr. Feiten is a practicing pediatric physician and co-founder of Greenwood Pediatrics, a 26-provider office with three locations in\nDenver, Colorado\n. A 1983 graduate of the CU School of Medicine, he completed his residency and chief residency with UCHSC's Department of Pediatrics. As a founder of RemedyConnect, he speaks nationally to physicians and medical organizations about digital media strategies. He is also a co-founder of PediaClinic, an innovative collaboration of 25 pediatric clinicians to provide more affordable after-hours care for families in metro\nDenver\n.\nIn his new role with Office Practicum, he will apply his clinical and technical expertise alongside contributions to the specialty practice community and industry-leading organizations, most notably AAP and the American Telemedicine Association.\n\"I look forward to helping OP create new technology solutions that focus on the next frontier in Pediatrics the whole child,\" Dr. Feiten said. \"With a focus on innovation and the input of the Physician Advisory Council, we believe we will be able to offer the technology pediatricians need to holistically support children's behavioral, emotional, and physical health.\"\nThe OP Physician Advisory Council is a group of pediatricians and practice managers that provides quarterly product feedback and development direction based on real-time insights sourced from their daily practice management experience. Their rich perspectives, clinical expertise, and focus on improving care will support the whole child initiative and continue to drive innovation and advocacy for the diverse and growing OP community.\nTo learn more, visit\n.\nAbout Office Practicum\nOffice Practicum is the market's first \"whole child\" digital healthcare platform, designed to help pediatric practices and behavioral health clinics provide integrated healthcare that supports the whole health of their patients. We offer a full array of technology solutions including OP's industry-leading pediatric EHR, practice management, and revenue cycle management services, NextStep Solutions' best-in-class behavioral health EHR, and RemedyConnect's portfolio of website, SEO, telehealth, and after-hours answering services. Together, the three brands provide the full suite of technology solutions providers need to holistically support their patients' behavioral, emotional, and physical health. Today, Office Practicum serves over 9,000 pediatricians across 49 states. For more information, visit us at", "answer groups": [ " executive appointment", " new initiatives or programs", " expanding industry", " executive statement", "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cincinnati-based Ms.Medicine expanding to Dayton in 2020. Staff Reporter, Dayton Business Journal\nOct 21, 2020, 6:28am EDT\nA growing concierge care network that focuses on comprehensive care specific to women plans to debut its first location in the Gem City later this month.\nUpon launch, the Dayton site will become the company's fourth affiliated practice in the country.\nNick Davis\n, MD, and Associates will open as a Ms.Medicine primary care practice in late October at 2835 Miami Village Drive, Suite 201, in Miamisburg. Dr. Nick Davis a board-certified family medicine physician and graduate of Wright State University's Boonshoft School of Medicine, will oversee the local practice.\nDavis recently served as a primary care provider with Centerville Family Medicine and Jamestown Family Medicine, and he previously was the department chair for family medicine at Premier Health's flagship Miami Valley Hospital. He currently serves as an assistant clinical professor within the department of family medicine at WSU.\nMs.Medicine, a Cincinnati-based franchised primary care concept, operates a concierge membership modelthat allows providers to opt out of private health insurance and Medicare. The idea is to enable doctorsto maintain a smaller practice with fewer patients, allowing them to commit more time to each patient and address wellness and prevention plus immediate concerns.\n\"\nThrough a membership model practice, I am able to spend more time with patients, allowing us to work together to focus on evidence-based medicine, overall wellness and prevention and not just taking care of you when you are sick,\" Davis said.\nThe Dayton practice will serve patients in the South Dayton area, including Centerville and Springboro.\nThe Ms.Medicine conceptcalls for seeing 14 to 16 patients daily, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier,a DBJ sister outlet. New patients are allotted 60 minutes with the doctor, while follow-ups are 30 minutes.\nThough the network primarily focuses on women's health needs, Davis will provide care to men, women, and children.\nThe Dayton location will join a portfolio of existing Ms.Medicine practices in Cincinnati,\nMichigan\nand Washington, D.C.The company reportedly plans to launchin select cities in Florida, including Naples and Palm Beach, by the end of the year.\nIn March, Ms.Medicine closed on a multimillion-dollar Series A funding roundafter securing an investment from Assure Health, a Cincinnati-based health-tech firm, that should enable the concept to further expand across the U.S.\n\"To be successfulin this arena is going to require finding the right people,\" founder Lisa Larkin said previously.\"Finding the right 75 to 100 clinicians across the country is the network I hope to build.\"", "answer groups": [ " new initiatives or programs", " expanding geography", " executive statement", "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Juggernaut Gets New Armour And New Team in X-Men Infinity Unlimited. Today sees the return of the weekly Marvel Unlimited exclusive Infinity digital comics series X-Men Unlimited. And sees Fabian Nicieza return to bother the Juggernaut and his co-creation, Deadpool, with artist Matthew Horak by way of Krakoa! And it seems that The Juggernaut is now part of his own super-team\nI like it, Juggernaut! So who are these ne'er-do-wells?\nWe have Quicksand\nWe have Primus\nAnd we have D-Cel. Maybe they ,may have another recruit along the way?\nRubber Maid. As long as she's unstoppable, she could be part and parcel.\nAnd everyone likes Deadpool's new armour. Even Deadpool\nX-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic (2021) #13\nPublished: December 06, 2021\nAn all-new story arc in the X-Men anthology series starts here! Deadpool and Juggernaut star in \"Paradise Lost\" by Fabian Nicieza and Matthew Horak! The mouthy merc is involved in a prison break which results in him getting punched in the face. By Juggernaut.\nMarvel Comics has announceda new line of original digital comic booksdesigned for the medium and distributed through Marvel Unlimited, the company's all-you-can-read subscription comics service. Which is also getting overhauled today with a new logo, an updated app, a more streamlined Netflix-style design, improved search, bulk subscribe, creator and character tags, unlimited download, Marvel Insider loyalty program now integrated, and the like. \"Infinity Comics\" is a new line of exclusive comics that have been specifically designed for the vertical form factor of a modern smartphone, with scrolling panels that fill the entire width of a phone or tablet screen. And not to be confused with their former line of Infinite Comics, which weredecampi comics, digital comics that saw changes dropped on top of previous panels before moving to the next. Bleeding Cool may decide to call them Mar-Vertical Comics for less confusion, as they follow the vertical drop reading pattern established by Webtoons.Infinity Comicswill not include any licensing deals with no external editorial control as you may find in DC's current digital first line. The comics are 100% created by the editors and creators who also create the print books Marvel is launching with the following seven Infinity Comics series available today, with plans for over a hundred issues by the end of the year, exclusive to Marvel Unlimited subscribers\nJonathan HickmanandDeclan Shalvey'sX-Men Unlimited Weekly #1 and #2\nSkottie YoungandDax Gordine's return ofGiant-Size Little Marvels #1 and 2\nIt's Jeff,featuring Jeff The Landshark byKelly ThompsonandGurihiru#1 and #2\nShang-Chifour issues series, done in one, byAlyssa WongandNathan Stockman\nBlack Widow: Easter Egg Huntone-shot byMark Russell, Ann MaulinaandIrma Kniivila\nAmazing Fantasy PreludebyKaare Andrews.\nCaptain Americaseries byJay EdidinandNico Leon", "answer groups": [ " company description", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Wilson Dow Grows Global Business Development Team. ,\nNov. 20, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- Wilson Dow Group, a creative production agency dedicated to uniting and activating audiences through the power of shared experience, welcomes Director of Business Development\nMike Matro\n. An accomplished global business development veteran, Matro will develop strategic account relationships with leading brands in multiple vertical markets, broadening the company's expansive portfolio.\n\"The events business is ever-evolving with new challenges and opportunities at every turn. Matro brings a positive influence to each client relationship, leading with an eagerness to collaborate, adapt, and innovate,\" says\nPat Schreiner\n, Vice President at Wilson Dow. \"We're thrilled to continue strengthening our team with talent that shares our passion for client success and innovation in our industry.\"\nMatro comes to Wilson Dow from the global event planning and production agency Ellen Michaels Presents (EMP) where he led highly successful business development efforts and programs with elite clients in the tech vertical such as Dell. Prior to that, he held leadership roles in global sales and marketing with iconic fashion and lifestyle brands like\nRalph Lauren\nand Nautica.\nAbout Wilson Dow Group\nWilson Dow Group is a creative production agency dedicated to uniting and activating audiences through the power of shared experience. For over 24 years, Wilson Dow has cultivated teams of world-renowned creatives, strategists, instructional designers, and specialized production teams to partner with global clients including Domino's Pizza, Genentech, The Clorox Company, Lilly, PwC, Extreme Networks and more. The company designs and delivers live and virtual experiences for audiences that engage around a shared purpose, prepare with critical knowledge and skills, and inspire with meaningful stories that spark change. Wilson Dow Group is headquartered in\nChicago", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Crypto firms face being booted from UK as FCA register deadline nears. Crypto\nAn FCA spokesperson said it has approved just 33 crypto firms' applications so far. More than 80% of the firms it has assessed to date have either withdrawn their applications or been rejected.\n\"We've seen a high number of the cryptoasset businesses applying for registration not meeting standards there to help ensure firms are not used to transfer and or disguise criminal funds,\" the spokesperson said.\n\"Firms that do not meet the expected benchmark can withdraw their application. Firms that decide not to withdraw have the right to appeal our decision to refuse, including through the courts.\"\nWhy it matters\nGemini, the crypto exchange operated by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, was among the first firms to get approved by the FCA.\nBlair Halliday, Gemini's head of U.K., said the licensing regime is important as it provides customers the assurance that they're dealing with a firm that has undergone rigorous scrutiny.\n\"Getting a crypto asset registration in place was a critical step for crypto in this country,\" Halliday told CNBC. \"It gave firms that really have that desire to seek regulatory approvals something to demonstrate as a key differentiator.\"\nCrypto industry association Global Digital Finance's Lavan Thasarathakumar said there has been \"a lot of frustration\" over the process.\n\"Fundamentally, it has been too slow,\" Thasarathakumar said, adding that the FCA has been dealing with a \"huge backlog\" of applications for the register.\nAnd some companies are still withdrawing their applications.\nThat includes B2C2, the London-based crypto trading firm, which recently withdrew from the FCA's temporary register. Since Monday, all of B2C2's spot trading activity has shifted to the company's U.S. entity. The firm said its derivatives business is unaffected as it is handled by an FCA-authorized subsidiary.\n\"We are committed to ensuring this move causes as little disruption as possible and are working closely with our clients to ensure they continue to have a seamless trading experience with us,\" a B2C2 spokeswoman told CNBC via Telegram.\nFirms that have had their applications rejected by the FCA can appeal, but the process is a long one and could need to go through the courts.\nA tribunal recently sided with the FCA's decision to refuse an application from the crypto exchange Gidiplus.\nBrexit dividend?\nMauricio Magaldi, global strategy director for crypto at the fintech consultancy 11:FS, said the current regulatory direction of the U.K. puts the country at risk of falling behind the U.S., European Union and other regions.\nVIDEO", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "regulatory approval" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "new EV sports car jointly developed with Lotus announced. New initiatives or programs, Expanding industry, alliance & partnership, Product launching and presentation, Executive statement", "answer groups": [ " product launching & presentation", " alliance & partnership", " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Green Peak Innovations Introduces Skymint Brand to Michigan Medical Cannabis Market. Green Peak Innovations Introduces Skymint Brand to Michigan Medical Cannabis Market\nJanuary 15, 2019 at 10:03 am\nPublished by NCV Newswire\nGreen Peak Innovations Introduces Skymint Brand for States Largest Vertical Cannabis Company\nLANSING, MI January 15, 2019Lansing-based Green Peak Innovations(GPI) is introducing the Skymint brand for Michigans largest medical marijuana operation that includes growing, processing and provisioning centers.\nSkymint medical marijuana customers and employees personify blue sky thinkers who want only the best in life. Skymint is reimagining what the cannabis experience looks and feels like for both wholesale and retail. We are launching this industry-setting model right here in Michigan and plan to expand it nationally.\nJeff Radway, Green Peaks Innovation CEO\nWe are excited to launch 19 Skymint stores across Michigan within the next 18-24 months, said Joe Neller, executive vice president, Government Affairs & Business Development. We have carefully selected communities that are searching for a professional, best-in-class organization.\nThe new Skymint stores will feature high quality medical marijuana and marijuana products in a contemporary and inviting setting. The first locations of the 19 Michigan stores will be announced after the licenses are issued by the State of Michigan LARA Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation Board. The first store is expected to open in March 2019.\nWe have hired talented people from inside and outside the cannabis industry to produce, process and safeguard our Skymint harvest, said Molly VanSyckle, director of human resources. We have over 50 team members now and will grow to be more than 270 by the end of 2019.\nIn July 2018, Green Peak Innovations received pre-qualification by the LARA Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation for a full vertical suite of medical marijuana licenses including 12 class C cultivation licenses, one processor license and 19 provisioning center licenses. GPI was awarded two Class C cultivation licenses in October, ten additional Class C cultivation licenses in December, and anticipates receiving the remainder of the licenses over the next few months.\nThis month, our 60,000 square foot Windsor Township headquarters in Harvest Park will become fully operational and our first crop will be harvested, added Radway. We are thrilled to be the first cannabis company to bring large-scale supply to the newly-regulated Michigan market.\nABOUT SKYMINT\nSkymint uses nature, science and agricultural best practices to raise cannabis industry standards. Weve built state-of-the-art facilities and are using advanced technology to cultivate high-quality medicine that is safe for our patients, our communities and our state. Parent company Green Peak Innovations is located in Windsor Township, Michigan and is led by CEO Jeff Radway. For more information, visit skymint.com or\nSource: Company\nPublished by NCV Newswire\nThe NCV Newswire by New Cannabis Ventures aims to curate high quality content and information about leading cannabis companies to help our readers filter out the noise and to stay on top of the most important cannabis business news. The NCV Newswire is hand-curated by an editor and not automated in anyway. Have a confidential news tip? Get in touch\nGet Our Sunday Newsletter", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " new initiatives or programs", " hiring", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Beating noise pollution with smart tech. Sue Pearl\nImage caption,\nSue Pearl says she never gets a good night's sleep because of husband David's snoring\nSue Pearl and her husband David wake up feeling grumpy every morning.\n\"My husband snores so loudly that the whole house shakes,\" says Sue.\nDavid, a 65-year-old solicitor from London, has tried just about everything to cure the problem, from nasal drops and strips, to sprays, and even an electric bracelet that gave him a mild electric shock.\nYet nothing has worked, and even his ears, nose and throat doctor is at a loss.\n\"I'm often woken up, my sleep is so disturbed, so I'll send him to the spare room,\" says Sue, who is a voice-over artist. \"It's a nightmare. It's exhausting living with a snorer, neither of us sleep properly, it really isn't great for any relationship.\"\nIt is not just the sound of a snoring partner that can affect your quality of life. From living near a busy road or airport, to noisy neighbours, or blaring music, noise pollution can have a detrimental impact on your mental health.\nIn fact, the European Environmental Agency says that excessive noise is actually killing people. It\nMeanwhile, the World Health Organization says that noise pollution is an \"underestimated threat that can cause a number of short and long-term health problems,such as, for example, sleep disturbance, cardiovascular effects, poorer work and school performance, [and] hearing impairment\".\nImage source,\nImage caption,\nWe live in a noisy world, and excessive noise can seriously damage people's health\nAside from good old ear plugs and noise-cancelling headphones, a number of tech companies have been scrambling to find new ways to drown out increased unwanted sound.\nOne such firm is Israeli business Silentium, which says that its \"Quiet Bubble\" system can significantly reduce unwanted sound - even if it is coming from a husband lying beside you in bed.\nThe technology is based around a speaker and microphone. How it works is rather complicated, but in simple terms the microphone listens to the unwanted sound, and then the speaker emits a noise that cancels it out.\nFor readers that want a more technical explanation - computer algorithms process the unwanted noise, and the speaker releases the same sound waves, but in the opposite phase, or back to front. This creates interference, which cancels out much of both sounds.\nImage source,\nImage caption,\nSilentium's chief executive Yoel Naor points out his company's technology\nCalled active noise cancelation, it has existed in headphones for a number of years, but companies like Silentium have developed the technology to work without having to put a pair of cans over your ears.\n\"You can fit our speaker and sensors to your bed's headboard, and the sound of your partner's snoring would be dramatically reduced, as it generates 'anti-noise',\" says Silentium's chief executive Yoel Naor.\nHe adds that the technology could also be used in cars. \"Your kids could be in the back playing Disney on full blast, or even arguing, and you wouldn't be able to hear much in the front.\"\nThe company says its technology can also create \"individual sound zones\", whereby the sound from an array of speakers is focused on a very specific area of space, and minimised outside of that zone or bubble. The idea is that someone on a train, or plane, can listen to music or watch a film without headphones, and yet still not bother people sitting nearby.\nIn his laboratory Mr Naor has two chairs side by side to demonstrate how this directional sound projection works. Depending on which seat you sit in you hear a different song being played through the assorted speakers. And you cannot hear the other tune.\nSilentium is already working with carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, and hopes to interest other car firms, plus trains and airline companies with its tech.\nNew Tech Economy\nis a series exploring how technological innovation is set to shape the new emerging economic landscape.\nIn some situations you want other people to hear a noise, such as a warning sound when a lorry is reversing. But ideally, you only want people close to the vehicle to hear the sound, and not the surrounding neighbourhood.\nBrigade Electronics, based in Kent, makes such reversing alarms - they are only audible to those pedestrians, and others, in close proximity. They work by emitting sounds that dissipate after 10 metres or so.\n\"A 'ssh ssh' white noise can be heard clearly in the danger area, even when wearing ear defenders, headphones or for those with hearing impairment, but it doesn't wake up the entire neighbourhood.\" says Emily Hardy, marketing manager at Brigade.\nShe adds that the firm's speaker releases \"gentle\" short-travelling multi-frequency sounds, rather than \"painful\" narrowband frequencies that carry through the air for much longer distances.\nIts systems have been fitted to everything from airport buggies, to supermarket delivery vehicles, diggers and some electric cars.\nPoppy Szkiler is the co-founder and chief executive of UK-based Quiet Mark, a global certification programme that awards everything from consumer products to building specifications, hotels, shops, and transport companies for their low noise levels.\nImage source,\nImage caption,\nPoppy Szkiler is the third generation of her family to tackle excessive noise\nShe says that a \"quiet revolution\" is taking place, with the need to reduce unnecessary noise having \"shot to the top of priority lists in environment and health agendas\" over the past two years.\nShe says this was partly to do with coronavirus lockdowns meaning that the noise in cities fell by half. \"And the work from home movement brought an awareness to the impact of sound with all of life happening under one roof,\" she says.\nMs Szkiler established Quiet Mark a decade ago, but her family has been tackling excess noise for three generations.\nBack in 1959 her grandfather John Connell founded the Noise Abatement Society, a charity which has now campaigned against noise pollution for 63 years.\nHis lobbying helped to push the 1960 Noise Abatement Act through the UK parliament. It legally recognised noise as potential nuisance or pollutant for the first time.\nImage source,\nImage caption,\nJohn Connell is the founder of the Noise Abatement Society\nTalya Ressel is a psychotherapist based in London who works with people with high sensitivity to noise. In particular, she helps people deal with the challenges of misophonia, a condition whereby certain noises can trigger a strongly negative emotional response.\n\"We are bombarded by more sounds than ever before,\" she says. \"Understand that sounds, that you may not even hear or notice, can have a very different effect on others.\n\"If you can not avoid an unwanted sound, and noise-cancelling headphones and white noise aren't options, then you need an active plan to manage the situation. Ignoring the issue doesn't mean that your body is not reacting or being affected.\"\nMs Ressel adds: \"Try to find a few minutes every day where you sit in active silence. It's giving you a chance to reset", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "eSimplify Announces the Release of Practice Analytics , a Data Analytics Software Solution that Manages Revenue Flow for Family Practice and Internal Medicine Groups. eSimplify\n, a market-leading provider of Family Practice healthcare analytics announces the release of Practice Analytics. Practice Analytics is a patent pending software platform that enables small-to-medium sized Family Practice and Internal Medicine Groups to increase revenue, improve quality scores and enhance patient care.\nPractice Analytics takes claims data provided by medical practices and using a Patent Pending algorithm produces results that drive revenue for these medical groups. \"Practice Analytics is the result of over 10 years of experience working in the practice management field,\" says\nPradeep Kalmat\n, co-founder of eSimplify. \"Using our proprietary software, we are able to identify areas of missed revenue potential, highlight areas to help improve quality scores and enhance patient care.\"\nCraig Saylor, MA FACHE CPHQ, a senior advisor for eSimplify says, \"Practice Analytics enables family practices to receive payment for everything they do, and it acts as a tool to help independent groups remain independent.\" He adds, \"Practice Analytics addresses the growing issue of physician burnout that is occurring at an alarming rate.\"\nAbout eSimplify\neSimplify's\nPatent Pending Practice Analytics helps independent physician groups, FQHCs and RHCs discover missed revenue. While the rest of the industry is focused only on outcomes and increasing payer and hospital efficiencies, eSimplify leverages both quality outcomes and revenue-generating opportunities with our predictive analytics.\nIn addition, eSimplify brings data and analytics to market that help Healthcare BPO Services, RCM Consultants, and Medical Device Suppliers reduce their customer acquisition costs. Our mission is to help the independent physicians and groups thrive in a value-based payment model and constantly changing healthcare landscape. Join the eSimplify movement!\nContact:", "answer groups": [ " patent publication", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "AI focused Nuronics Labs is the winner of Airtel's Startup India Innovation Challenge. x\nHighlights\nThe three winners will get access to Airtels digital innovation labs and partner ecosystem to deploy their innovations at scale.\n237 Indian startups working on solutions for 5G, IoT, cloud communications, digital ads, and digital entertainment took part in the challenge.\nBharti Airtel\n(\"Airtel\"), India's premier communications solutions provider, today announced the winners of the 'Airtel India Startup Innovation Challenge', which was organised in partnership with Invest India.\nThe Challenge invited entries from Indian startups working on innovative solutions across 5G, IoT, cloud communications, digital advertising, and digital entertainment. Over 237 technology startups from across India participated in the challenge, underscoring the strong response the challenge received from homegrown startups.\nNuronics Labs, a provider of real-time intelligence using composite AI on audio files, text files, and images was declared the winner of the challenge. Enthu.Ai, which makes voice data searchable using speech AI, and Chimes Radio, India's first podcast platform for kids, offers educational & entertaining content that encourages creativity and curiosity in them, came second and third, respectively.\nThe three winners of the competition will get access to Airtel's Digital Innovation Lab and an opportunity to be a part of the Airtel Start-up Accelerator Program. The Program invests in early-stage start-ups engaged in developing solutions based on new-age technologies which also complements Airtel's Digital vision across segments.\nAdarsh Nair, CEO of Airtel Digital, said, \"We are thrilled to see the incredible response to the challenge and the innovation that was showcased. It's heartening to see how India's startup ecosystem is thriving. We welcome the winners to Airtel's digital ecosystem and thank everyone who participated and wish them the very best for the future.\"\nAbout Airtel:\nHeadquartered in India, Airtelis a global communications solutions provider with over 480 Mn customers in 16 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India's largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second-largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel's retail portfolio includes high speed 4G/4.5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloudbased communication.", "answer groups": [ " event organization", " executive statement", " company description", "participation in an event" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Empower strives to get patients pain free. Save\nEmpower Physical Therapy and Wellness patients know where to go if they want to get back to their active lifestyle, pain free.\nResidents of Chino Hills and the surrounding cities who are looking to live a life free of painkillers along with getting professional help and advice from expert physicians should visit the Empower Physical Therapy and Wellness clinic.\nThe Clinic on the corner of Soquel Canyon Parkway and Los Serranos Country Club Drive, in the Albertsons shopping center, has been offering pain relief for the last five years.\nThey focus on helping their patients get back to their active lifestyle, stop taking pain medication, avoid dangerous surgery, and finding the source of the problem.\nThe owners Dr. Carlo Sayo and Lisa Sayo, MA OTR/L, say their business mission is to help people make better decisions about their health by specializing in helping active adults in their late 40s get rid of pain so they can get back doing the things they love to do.\nDr. Carlo Sayo, a board-certified orthopedic specialist, and Lisa Sayo, MA OTR/L, an occupational therapist, have been in the practice and helping active adults who have tried other ways to get rid of pain find new relief remedies for the last 15 years.\nEmpower Physical Therapy and Wellness offer a variety of different types of physical therapy for back pain, neck and shoulder pain, knee pain, any sports injury, and orthotics.\nThe therapy clinic is open Monday Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.\nEmpower Physical Therapy and Wellness is located at 15944 Los Serranos Country Club Drive, Suite 250 Chino Hills, CA 91709. Information (818) 907-0805, www.em powerptwellness.com", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Raymond James Financial To Acquire SumRidge Partners. Save\nST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE: RJF) announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire SumRidge Partners, LLC, a top ranked, technology-driven fixed income market maker specializing in investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds, municipal bonds and institutional preferred securities. The transaction is subject to certain regulatory and other closing conditions.\nThe addition of SumRidge Partners to the firms Fixed Income Capital Markets (FICM) division adds an innovative institutional market-making operation with sophisticated trading technologies and risk management tools. Founded in 2010 with the vision of becoming a premier, technology-enabled fixed income market maker, SumRidge Partners currently ranks among the top liquidity providers for cash trading on most major electronic bond platforms. The SumRidge organization has about 45 employees.\nThis acquisition is further evidence of our commitment to provide cutting-edge technology to advisors, clients and stakeholders, said Paul Reilly, Raymond James chair and CEO. In addition to being a strong strategic fit, SumRidge Partners has a culture that closely resembles our own. Beyond valuing entrepreneurialism and teamwork, we both operate conservatively by prioritizing long-term decision making with high standards for performance and integrity.\nSumRidge Partners institutional market-making operation will sit alongside and complement Raymond James core client-facing business with the goal of identifying additional opportunities for the two business units. Based in Jersey City, New Jersey, SumRidge Partners will operate within FICM under the leadership of its co-founders, CEO and president Tom OBrien and Chairman Kevin Morano, both of whom will become senior managing directors.\nSumRidge is an exciting combination of a strong team and advanced technology that will only enhance Raymond James position in a rapidly evolving fixed income and trading technology marketplace, said Horace Carter, executive vice president and president of Fixed Income. We are pleased that Tom, Kevin and their very capable leadership teams will continue to run the market-making business independently and look forward to the opportunity to leverage their technologies to better serve our clients.\nWe are very excited to become a part of the Raymond James team, said Morano. We share a common vision for how to grow our business and we see tremendous opportunity for both firms in this partnership. Leveraging SumRidges technological strengths with Raymond James robust distribution will allow us to compete at the highest level.\nThe Raymond James Fixed Income division includes more than 500 associates across Sales, Trading, Research & Strategy and Public Finance/Debt Investment Banking.\nPiper Sandler served as exclusive financial advisor and Gunderson Dettmer was legal counsel to SumRidge Partners.\nAbout Raymond James Financial, Inc.\nRaymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE: RJF) is a leading diversified financial services company providing private client group, capital markets, asset management, banking and other services to individuals, corporations and municipalities. The company has approximately 8,700 financial advisors. Total client assets are $1.24 trillion. Public since 1983, the firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RJF. Additional information is available at www.raymondjames.com\nMedia Contact: Steve Hollister Raymond James 727.567.2824 Investor Contact: Kristina Waugh Raymond James 727.567.7654\nCopyright 2022 GlobeNewswire, Inc.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Animal protection group offers $10K reward to hold wolf poachers accountable. Save\nAn animal protection group is offering a $10,000 reward for any reports of illegal wolf killings that lead to an arrest and conviction of any poachers.\nSince Wisconsins wolf hunt has been on hold, Paul Collins, of Animal Wellness Action, said threats of poaching have picked up on social media.\nWe perfectly accept freedom of speech and people saying what they want, but we also want to realize that if theyre going to make these types of threats, they are going to be looked into, said Collins, the groups Wisconsin state director.\nDane County Judge Jacob Frost issued a temporary injunction in October blocking the season that was set to begin Nov. 6. The order came after Animal Wellness Action and other wildlife groups filed a lawsuit to stop the hunt.\nCollins said his group has been following Facebook posts about killing wolves since the Trump administration delisted the wolf from the federal endangered species list in January. He pointed to the Wisconsin Wolf Hunting Facebook page, which include comments like smoke a pack a day.\nOther comments referred to the legal battles as games, and said the wolf population cant go unchecked and unmanaged.\nCollins acknowledged most people posting to the page are blowing smoke.\nEven if 0.1% of those turn out to be real, we think were doing our due diligence by putting the offer out there to get the information to the proper authorities, said Collins.\nState law in Wisconsin requires the state Department of Natural Resources to hold a wolf hunt from November through the end of February when the animal isnt under federal protections.\nAdam Jarchow pushed for the wolfs delisting and advocated for state wolf management as a former Republican state lawmaker. Jarchow, who is running for Wisconsin attorney general, said the comments illustrate peoples frustration with the growing number of wolves in Wisconsin and lack of a season.\nI suspect those people that are saying things are just saying it out of frustration, said Jarchow. Obviously, nobody should be breaking the law or killing wolves illegally. But it does illustrate the importance of having a regulated hunt so that we can control this predator.\nJarchow was among a group of Republican lawmakers from northern Wisconsin that proposed a bill that would block game wardens and police from investigating illegal wolf killings in the state in 2017.\nDNR spokesperson Sarah Hoye said the agency hasnt encountered any trend of illegal killings this fall.\nMeanwhile, we read and monitor all comments on the departments social media. We send any comment that mentions poaching to law enforcement for investigation, wrote Hoye in an email. Additionally, if someone mentions that they know of someone who is poaching, we encourage them to report the information they have via our violation hotline.\nThree wolves have been shot in the act of depredating a domestic animal this year, according to DNR officials. The wolves were shot in Price County in August and September. Since the wolfs delisting, landowners are allowed to shoot wolves in the act of biting, wounding or attacking their animals. Shootings must be reported to the DNR within 24 hours.\nAgency officials have said they havent had any recent reports of illegally killed wolves.\nIn February, state-licensed hunters killed 218 wolves in less than 72 hours, taking nearly double the wolves allowed under a 200-wolf quota.\nThe DNRs report on the February harvest found four wolves were illegally taken during the hunt, which were presented at registration. The agency detected 16 illegal killings of wolves from April 2019 to April 2020.\nResearch has shown that illegal kills account for around 9% of deaths each year. One study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers, found that around 100 wolves were killed on top of the 218 wolves that were harvested during the February wolf hunt.\nThe DNR encourages people to report any suspected violations to its violation hotline: 1-800-TIP-WDNR.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "She couldn't help her dad but now she's helping other dementia patients with tech. LinkedIn\nWhen Melissa Chan was 18 years old, her father went missing again. It had happened four years earlier, but this time he'd been gone for two days. His dementia had gotten worse.\nWe stayed in Woodlands. My mum had dropped him off at his office at Potong Pasir, and when she went to pick him up, she couldnt find him and started panicking, Melissa recalled. There was no Facebook. We had to SMS everyone, and the police followed the missing persons protocol, which meant waiting for 24 hours.\nMelissa Chan with her siblings and her father. (Photo: Melissa Chan)\nHer father was eventually found sitting on a sofa a few blocks from their home he had somehow managed to find his way to the neighbourhood, but not quite home.\nWhen I think about it, I can imagine how painful and confused he was sitting there. When I saw him at the police station, his shirt was tucked out and he had lost his shoes, said Melissa. The sofa he was sitting in was the same colour as the one we used to have.\nProject We Forgot founder and Homage's head of community and outreach Melissa Chan at the latter's office. (Photo: Alvin Teo)\nThat incident, along with many others as she, her siblings and their mother struggled to care for her father, would eventually prompt the 28-year-old Singaporean to start a social enterprise for dementia caregivers and, later, join an even bigger start-up with bigger aspirations.\nGIVING SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS\nFounded shortly after Melissa's father passed away in 2014, the much-lauded Project We Forgothas been actively functioning as a kind of support group for caregivers of persons with dementia, through online forums, workshops and other activities.\nMelissa Chan with volunteers and members of Project We Forgot. (Photo: Project We Forgot>\nIt was community that her family didnt have back then. As a family, we never spoke about it. My mother was struggling to figure out what was happening to her husband, and care for us, said Melissa. Id cancel appointments with friends because I felt a sense of guilt. I decided not to go overseas for education because a part of me worried that my father would forget who I was when I came back.\nOne lightbulb moment to start PWF would also come from an unlikely source: Comedian Seth Rogen.\nHes seen as someone super funny but I saw him speaking in (US) Congress about dementia his wifes mother had it and the two of them had to care for her. I was very impressed because he was using a different way to educate them about the condition, and the struggles of caregivers,\" she said.\n\"I realised there was nothing like that in Singapore. When you Google, you see Western faces. Any information was very medical, and research papers. But its a very human journey.\"\nStarting PWF entailed a sharp career detour. Melissa had previously worked in the hospitality and tech industries (in marketing and communications for W Hotels and later, a travel tech start-up) but both experiences proved crucial.\nI realised that at the end of the day, its about taking (complicated information) and making it accessible for people to digest.\nShe and her PWF team turned to social media after discovering there were caregivers overseas who were using Instagram as a platform. They were sharing stories, talking about day-to-day experiences, videoing themselves about their struggles.\nAnd it worked. Today, PWF continues to organise activities in Singapore (most recently a dementia-friendly design-a-thon at the National Design Centre) and they are aiming to grow in Malaysia, where theyre holding a film event in time for World Alzheimers Month this September. Alzheimer's contributes a large percentage to cases of dementia, which is an umbrella term, said Melissa.\nThey have have also gotten support from organisations like the National Youth Council, Alzheimer's Disease Association and Singtel, which had named it one of its Future Makers start-up companies in 2017.\nCONNECTING CAREGIVERS AND THE ELDERLY\nBut PWF was just the start of her advocacy. Early this year, Melissa also joined Homage another local start-up that is also expanding to Malaysia, which helps connect caregivers with the elderly and their family.\nI decided not to go overseas for education because a part of me worried that my father would forget who I was when I came back.\nFor Melissa, whos now also head of Homages community and outreach, it was a chance to offer something that PWF could not.\nWeve been doing the emotional well-being support (for caregivers at PWF) and now, Homage has a platform to provide on-demand care (for patients).\nIn a nutshell, said Melissa, it's something like Grab but for elderly care.\nThe company has a pool of care professionals, or \"Care Pros\", that people can tap into by using an app or going online, whether its to send a loved one for a medical check-up or simply to look after them at home.\nProject We Forgot founder Melissa Chan is now also head of community and outreach at Homage, which connects caregivers with the elderly. (Photo: Alvin Teo)\nTHE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY\nIt might seem strange to be bringing up technology when talking about an issue where physical, human interaction is whats most vital, but Melissa says being connected has actually become crucial as the population ages and families become smaller and often busy at work.\nThere is a need to shift the way care is delivered, especially if youre looking at the topic of longterm care for an ageing population, she said. If a family needs a caregiver in the next two days, can they get it or do they wait two to three weeks, for example.\nWhenever I think of services at Homage, I think about how my family couldve used it just a few hours to ensure that someone was home to watch over my dad.\nOn top of that, people who are tech-savvy will want information at their fingertips its no longer just putting a parent in a nursing home or with a caregiver and not knowing whats happening for a few hours. Just knowing how your parent is doing there is a big role for technology to play in this space,\" said Melissa.\nFor example, being connected means one can be updated on how the medical appointment or house visit went without being physically there. And the Care Pros, too, can access previous information about the client-patient through the app so theyre prepared before even entering the home.\nThe Homage app lets you book a caregiver for your family member. (Photo: Homage)\nThe current pool of Care Pros number around 1,000, which is a mix of nurses, therapists and non-nurses who are able to provide support. And theyre in-demand. Every hour were delivering care right now, Melissa told CNA Lifestyle.\nJoining Homage also resonated with Melissa on a very personal level.\nWhile taking care of her father, there were times when the familys schedules wouldnt sync and they had to sometimes resort to locking him up at home.\nIt was dangerous and we knew it wasnt the right thing to do, but it was our only option sometimes, she said, sadly.\nMelissa C", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Proactive news headlines: Bango, RedX Pharma, Tirupati Graphite and more. Ironbark Zinc Ltd (ASX:IBG)\nhas set itself up well to advance the Citronen Project in Greenland towards development and into production through a strongly supported placement that realised A$4 million.\nFirm commitments have been received for the issue of 90,909,091 fully paid ordinary shares at A$0.044 per share.\nRead more\nhas signed the first UK contract for its world-leading Sensor AI solutions with the Hippodrome Casino, London, following successful trials.\nThe contract will generate upfront and recurring revenues amounting to $430,000 over the initial three-year contract term.\nRead more\nAladdin Healthcare SE said it has gained approval from OTC Markets Group Inc to have the companys shares quoted on the OTCQB market under the symbol ALDNF, moving up from its current OTC Pink Market listing.\nAlong with the new US stock quotation, Aladdin Healthcare is re-positioning its business through merger or acquisition opportunities to transform its commercial viability and in turn monetise its AI and blockchain technologies.\nRead more\nPower Metal Resources PLC (AIM:POW)\ns part-owned associate Golden Metal Resources has secured 750,000 of pre-IPO funding, ahead of a launch into the London market slated for 2022.\nWith the capital injection Golden Metal, an explorer with acreage in Nevada, USA, becomes self financed and is no longer dependent on funds from Power Metal Resources.\nRead more\nGreatland Gold PLC (AIM:GGP, OTC:GRLGF)\nchief executive Shaun Day told Proactive that sustainability is increasingly important in the market, as he noted that a new report on the Havieron project is on its way.\nAt Havieron, where drilling operations are ongoing, there is a focus on improving its environmental and social governance (ESG) credentials, echoing an industry-wide push.\nRead more\nDirecta Plus PLC (AIM:DCTA, OTC:DTPKF)\nannounced plans to raise 7mln in a share placing to help accelerate the development of its graphene-based products.\nThe placing is being executed via an accelerated bookbuild process targeting new and existing eligible institutional investors. It is being organised by Cenkos Securities and Singer Capital Markets.\nRead more\nZephyr Energy PLC may be set to fuel a new generation of cryptocurrency mining, according to its chief executive officer Colin Harrington.\nThe company is mulling on-location crypto mining as a novel method of monetisation for its breakthrough gas discovery in Utah, in a geological area known as the Paradox basin.\nRead more\nArrow Exploration Corp (TSX-V:AXL, AIM:AXL, OTC:CSTPF)\n. has had a busy second half to 2021, undertaking a listing and a fund-raising on Londons AIM junior market and continuing to progress its projects in Columbia.\nProactive caught up with Max Satel, EVP Corporate Development & Investor Relations at Arrow Exploration to find out how the past few months have gone for the company.\nRead more\n*A corporate client of Hybridan LLP\nRead more\nCustodian REIT PLC (LSE:CREI)\n, the UK property investment company predominantly focussed on small lots of land, announced that it paid 4.5mln to acquire a 46,000 sq ft retail unit in Cromer, Norfolk that is occupied by Homebase.\nThe purchase consideration came from the companys debt resources, which sees net gearing increase to 21.1% loan to value.\nRead more\nLive Company Group PLC (AIM:LVCG)\nhas confirmed the K-Pop festival KPOP.Flex will take place in Frankfurt, Germany on 14 May 2022.\nThe festival, which will be the biggest of its kind in Europe, was previously announced as being in negotiation by the AIM-listed company at the time of its September interim results.\nRead more\nPanthera Resources PLC (AIM:PAT)\nsaid drilling has been completed at the Kalaka gold project in Mali and the rig has now started drilling at the Bassala gold project, also in Mali.\nFive targets were tested at Kalaka and a further two were partially tested. The results are expected later this month.\nRead more\nAnglesey Mining PLC (LSE:AYM)\nsaid it has engaged Micon International to update a 2012 pre-feasibility study (PFS) to investigate the re-opening of the Grngesberg iron ore project in Sweden.\nGrngesberg produced 180 million tonnes (Mt) of iron ore before it was closed in 1989 when iron ore prices were around US$30 a tonne (compared with current prices of around US$110/tonne). It was the third-largest iron ore mine in Sweden and at one time employed more than 1,500 people.\nRead more\nClipper Logistics PLC (LSE:CLG)\nhiked its half-year dividend 12.5% as sales and earnings continue to grow at double-digit rates, with the company on track to meet full-year targets.\nThe provider of value-added logistics solutions, e-fulfilment and returns management said revenue increased 33.1% to 406.1mln in the six months ended 31 October. This figure was boosted by contracts secured in the prior year with H&M, Linenbundle, Revolution Beauty and TM Lewin, as well as new deals with JD Sports, River Island and Farfetch and additional services for John Lewis, Wilko and ASOS.\nRead more\nHorizonte Minerals PLC (AIM:HZM, TSX:HZM, OTC:HZMMF)\nagreed to buy some new and unused ferronickel processing equipment, originally commissioned by Votorantim SA, for its Araguaia ferronickel project in Brazil.\nThe processing equipment comprises the key components of a conventional rotary kiln electric furnace plant (RKEF), excluding the furnace, and is already located in Brazil.\nRead more\nScirocco Energy PLC (AIM:SCIR)\ns SEUK subsidiary signed an exclusivity agreement with SEM, a sustainability technology provider, which will provide digestate management and nutrient recovery technology.\nThe technology, referred to as a H2OPE system, processes digestate, a by-product of the biogas process, into nutrient dense, high-quality fertiliser, nutritionally balanced growth media and a sustainable peat substitute which can be used within a range of growing environments across the sector.\nRead more\nCloudCall Group PLC (AIM:CALL, OTCQX:CLLLF)\nhas agreed to be taken over by Xplorer Capital Management for 39.9mln in cash.\nShareholders in CloudCall will be entitled to receive 81.5p per share, a 71.6% premium to the closing price on Wednesday and 43.8% to the average price for the preceding three months.\nRead more\nGreatland Gold PLC (AIM:GGP, OTC:GRLGF)\nreported high-grade results from the latest drilling campaign at the Havieron gold-copper joint venture project in Western Australia.\nAll 24 holes drilled, as part of the latest campaign, intersected mineralisation with 19 reporting significant mineralisation. The best results included 113.8 metres (m) at 3.4 grammes a tonne gold and 0.1% copper from an infill hole.\nRead more\n4D pharma PLC (AIM:DDDD, NASDAQ:LBPS)\nsaid it is to present microbiome analyses from phase II clinical trials of its drug Blautix, revealing its impact on the two major forms of irritable bowel syndrome IBS-C and IBS-D.\nThe results, to be presented in an e-poster at the Gastro 2021 conference starting December 11, chart changes in gut microbiome structure following administration of the 4D li", "answer groups": [ " ipo exit", " regulatory approval", " alliance & partnership", " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Humana Announces New Care Coordination Services for Members with Kidney Disease. Somatus\n, Humana will offer care coordination to better diagnose and manage kidney disease toward improving members quality of life and their health.\nIndividuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) cannot properly filter blood, causing waste and fluid levels that can be dangerously high.\nAccording to the Centers for Disease Control\n, CKD affects more than 30 million Americans many of whom are not aware of their condition and is the nations ninth-leading cause of death. Management of CKD is complex, and failure to appropriately manage the condition may cause worsening health outcomes and considerable symptoms for those with CKD.\nThrough this collaboration, we will strengthen care coordination for Humana members with kidney disease. Our partnerships will offer customized care options, and will empower patients with education and engagement tools to better manage their condition, said William Shrank, MD, MPHS, Humanas Chief Medical and Corporate Affairs Officer. This multidisciplinary approach will focus on detecting kidney disease earlier, slowing disease progression, and utilizing therapies that enable members to receive care in the convenience of their own home.\nTeams from the two companies consist of clinicians including nephrologists, nurses, dietitians, and social workers who work to break down barriers to integrated kidney care. Services will include care coordination with a members primary care physician and nephrologist; in-home health and medication assessments; patient education about treatment options such as home dialysis; and emotional support through counseling.\nMonogram Health and Somatus will serve eligible Humana Commercial and Medicare Advantage members as follows:\nMonogram Health in Louisiana and Mississippi*\nSomatus in Georgia and Virginia**\nHumana is pleased to be able to offer our members with chronic kidney and end-stage renal disease a range of specific care management services to meet their unique health needs and help them spend more time at home than at a clinical care facility, said Susan Diamond, Humanas Segment President, Home Business. This is a holistic, comprehensive approach to care for members with late-stage kidney disease. Through these agreements, Humana is proud to deepen our longstanding commitment to improve the patient experience and health outcomes, while reducing the cost of care.\n* Services now available\n** Services available starting January 1, 2020\nAbout Humana\nHumana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large.\nTo accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective.\nMore information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the companys web site at", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " service & product providing", " company description", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Joshin raises $1.55M to match people with special needs to the right caregiver. Sure Ventures\n.\n\"This is our first funding round and we feel very fortunate with the partners and the investors that we brought on. Anthemis really, really understood, out of the gate, how underserved the disability population is and how important it is for everybody involved in their day to day life for them to have quality care,\" said Danielsen.\n\"M25 is really predominant, Midwest investor that really understand from a local level the support that we need, so we really feel like we got really lucky.\"\nFounded in 2018, families that use Joshin simply have to download the app, create their Care Plan, build their profile and choose their subscription. Once they do, they will be matched with caregivers, with the ability to message them and book a Care Date.\nThe company initially was used by families who were able to pay out of pocket, but, in January, it was\napproved to utilize Self-Directed Medicaid funding, meaning that families who get Self-Directed Medicaid funding are able to use that funding to pay for Joshin to source and manage caregivers.\n\"That's been a really exciting growth opportunity for us to meet the needs of families who have this funding, are not currently able to find caregivers, turn to Joshin to get matched to the appropriate caregivers, be able to message them, be able to book them, schedule them, manage the schedule,\" Danielsen told me.\n\"One thing that we're super passionate about is making Joshin accessible to everybody. Were a subscription model, and we understand that not everybody can afford any sort of subscription so it's important for us to be in different segments that make us accessible for everybody.\"\nAs a result of that authorization, the company has seen a 30 percent increase in the number of users on its platform since the beginning of the year.\nCurrently, 50 percent of the company's users are privately paying and 50 percent are leveraging Medicaid dollars, but it is projecting that, by the end of this year, that will go to 30 percent private pay and 70 percent Medicaid.\nOn the caregiver side, Joshin has seen 35 percent growth since the beginning of the year, and currently has a waitlist in Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Chicago and San Francisco, all the areas where it has deployed so far.\n\"With the funding announcement now we have the ability to really get out there and share to families that we're here and we're here as a resource for them to get matched to the right caregivers. So, really growing our family user size, or individuals who need that really specialized care, is our focus because weve spoken to the caregiver market, they know we're here and they're excited because we make it so easy for them to get matched to the right families, and earn, on average, $6 more an hour on our platform versus other typical care platforms,\" said Danielsen.\n\nIn addition to allowing families to sign up individually, Joshin has also partnered with organizations to offer Joshin as a benefit to employees and members. It has already operated a beta test withthe Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota in which the organization purchased a bulk subscription and then distributed them to their members for free as a benefit. In addition, Joshin has also talked with other organizations and companies about offering Joshin as a solution for their backup care.\n\"There are backup care companies that are out there today partnering with Fortune 500 and 100 hundred companies, even smaller companies, to really alleviate the stress. COVID has created even more stressors for families in terms of juggling and homeschooling and ensuring that you're working and you're productive. So, it's important for us to be front facing with those companies today and partnering with them, sitting side by side with those typical backup care companies,\" said Danielsen.\nOn the caregivers side, they must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, own a smartphone, have at least 6 months of caregiving experience and be able to pass a background check to qualify.\nThe company has a screening process that Danielsen describes as, \"\nvery scalable, yet extensive.\" It\nfirstvalidates that caregivers have at least six months of experience providing specialized or disability care; that can mean that are special education teachers, paraprofessionals, students, or even siblings or family members who have cared for someone with special needs. After that, the company does an experience review, as well as a video interview and a social media check. And after that, then theyre processed through a background check.\nThe company plans to use the new capital to build out its team, doubling the number of employees by the end of the year; that means hiring in\nareas of marketing and tech and experience. Joshin plans to bring on someone who can lead its tech roadmap, partner with product on understanding the user experience and refine its features. It will also be hiring on additional recruiting and screening.\n\"We screen out 50 percent of our caregivers, so we're ensuring that we hire that trust and safety team so we can continue to be that trusted caregiving resource for families. That is a high priority,\" said Danielsen.\nThe funding will also go toward product development, most specifically a desktop login so that\nusers can create an account, post a job, apply to a job and sign up for care without needing to use their phone, as 65 percent of people find Joshin via desktop versus mobile.\nFinally, the funding will also go toward expanding into new markets, includingAustin, Houston, and Dallas, in the next year.\n\"We look at where the needs are and how the caregivers are getting there. So, first and foremost, we look at the disability population and Texas is in the top five. And then we look at Medicaid funding and accessibility to the funding and how we can help families get connected to it. And then, lastly, we look at the caregiver community and understanding where each of those users are and then we build our playbook around how to match them and how to connect them appropriately. Texas just made sense as they are in that top five on both Medicaid and disability population,\" Danielsen told me.\nOther cities that also fit this criteria, and which are on Joshin's radar, include Phoenix, Miami, Los Angeles and Boston.\nAlong with the funding, it was also announced that Disability Care Activist Michael Kutcher has joined the company as an advisor. Kutcher, the twin brother of actor and investor Ashton Kutcher,is an assistant vice president for Transamerica and has also served as a spokesperson and advisor for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation,Reaching for the Stars, A Foundation of Hope for Children with Cerebral Palsy and the Be the Gift donor registration campaign.\n\"Michael is so wonderful. He's endured a lot. Hes champion and he is somebody I really admire, being a heart transplant recipient, and somebody who thrives with cerebral palsy. He really is an advocate for the disability community. So, bringing on Michael all", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Animal Wellness Calls on New Horseracing Authority and USADA.... - EIN Presswire)\nPhoto: Shutterstock Royalty-free stock photo ID: 67917562 By Cheryl Ann Quigley\nAWA executive director Marty Irby testifying at a House hearing on H.R. 1754 in January 2020\nDisagreement Between Key Parties Threatens Effective Enforcement of Anti-Doping Law\nLearning negotiations between HISA and USADA had broken down just two days before Christmas was an unexpected gut punch to those of us who worked for more than half a decade to enact the new law.\n Marty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness ActionWASHINGTON, DC, USA, January 4, 2022 /EINPresswire.com / -- Today, Animal Wellness Action leaders addressed the recent breakdown in discussions between the new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in letters delivered to the leaders of both organizations.\nUSADA's involvement is the very bedrock and foundation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, said Animal Wellness Action executive director Marty Irby and president Wayne Pacelle , who through the years testified before Congress and urged medication reform in racing.Throughout the course of our engagement with all the members of the Coalition for Horseracing Integrity, there has truly only been one constant within a wide array of bills introduced over the years, and that constant has been USADA as the drug-testing entity.\nQuite frankly, the legislation enacted was written with language specifically tailored to comply with Constitutional concerns and oversight from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to effectively allow USADA to contract with an entity that has authority granted by Congress, and the law calls for a five-year agreement between USADA and the HISA, added Irby and Pacelle.\nAware of the public outrage over the mounting number of race horse deaths on American race tracks, readers at Animal Wellness Action worked for the better part of six years to secure enactment of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act that was signed into law in December of 2020 by President Donald Trump following a Congressional hearing in January of 2020, and the indictment of dozens of individuals involved in illegal doping scandals across the country. The legislation, led by Reps. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Andy Barr, R-Ky., in the U.S. House, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as well as Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Diane Feinstein, D-Calif. was designed to execute and enforce a uniform national standard for drug testing, and national regulations that would be overseen by USADA and implemented at every Thoroughbred racetrack in the U.S.\nThe legislation established the new HISA board of directors, who have been in negotiations with USADA for most of 2021, but the HISA board has failed to secure an agreement with USADA to execute the intent of the legislation. USADA publicly announced on December 23, 2021, that it was walking away from the negotiations due to what it described as insurmountable differences with HISA. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act specifically calls for implementation of the legislation by mid-2022, and a five-year-contract between the HISA board and USADA.\nLearning negotiations between HISA and USADA had broken down just two days before Christmas was an unexpected gut punch to those of us who worked for more than half a decade to enact the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, added Irby.\nIt is critical for the lives of countless horses and the future of American horseracing that the HISA board secure a five-year-contract with USADA and see that there is robust and effective enforcement of the national anti-doping rules, added Pacelle.\nA copy of the letter sent to HISA can be found here and a copy of the letter to USADA can be found here.\nAnimal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization with a mission of helping animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty. We champion causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. We advocate for policies to stop dogfighting and cockfighting and other forms of malicious cruelty and to confront factory farming and other systemic forms of animal exploitation. To prevent cruelty, we promote enacting good public policies, and we work to enforce those policies. To enact good laws, we must elect good lawmakers, and that's why we remind voters which candidates care about our issues and which ones don't. We believe helping animals helps us all.\nMarty Irby", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "R1 RCM Inc. (RCM) Reveals an Earnings Mystery. Share on whatsapp\nR1 RCM Inc. (NASDAQ:RCM)\nwent up by 2.31% from its latest closing price compared to the recent 1-year high of $30.68. The companys stock price has collected 4.60% of gains in the last five trading sessions. The Wall Street Journalreported on 01/10/22 that Zynga, Lululemon, Virgin Orbit, Tilray: What to Watch When the Stock Market Opens Today\nIs It Worth Investing in R1 RCM Inc. (NASDAQ :RCM) Right Now?\nPlus, the 36-month beta value for RCM is at 0.77. Opinions of the stock are interesting as 7 analysts out of 8 who provided ratings for R1 RCM Inc. declared the stock was a buy, while 1 rated the stock as overweight, 0 rated it as hold, and 0 as sell.\n3 Tiny Stocks Primed to Explode\nThe world's greatest investor Warren Buffett has a simple formula for making big money in the markets. He buys up valuable assets when they are very cheap. For stock market investors that means buying up cheap small cap stocks like these with huge upside potential.\nWe've set up an alert service to help smart investors take full advantage of the small cap stocks primed for big returns.\n.\nSponsored\nThe average price from analysts is $32.25, which is $5.34 above the current price. RCM currently public float of 134.48M and currently shorts hold a 4.23% ratio of that float. Today, the average trading volume of RCM was 1.09M shares.\nRCMs Market Performance\nRCM stocks went up by 4.60% for the week, with a monthly jump of 20.18% and a quarterly performance of 4.31%, while its annual performance rate touched -5.04%. The volatility ratio for the week stands at 6.71% while the volatility levels for the past 30 days are set at 4.85% for R1 RCM Inc.. The simple moving average for the period of the last 20 days is 10.77% for RCM stocks with a simple moving average of 16.45% for the last 200 days.\nAnalysts Opinion of RCM\nMany brokerage firms have already submitted their reports for RCM stocks, with Deutsche Bank repeating the rating for RCM by listing it as a Buy. The predicted price for RCM in the upcoming period, according to Deutsche Bank is $30 based on the research report published on February 09th of the current year 2022.\nJefferies, on the other hand, stated in their research note that they expect to see RCM reach a price target of $28. The rating they have provided for RCM stocks is Buy according to the report published on December 02nd, 2021.\nJP Morgan gave a rating of Overweight to RCM, setting the target price at $27 in the report published on October 14th of the previous year.\nRCM Trading at 11.19% from the 50-Day Moving Average\nAfter a stumble in the market that brought RCM to its low price for the period of the last 52 weeks, the company was unable to rebound, for now settling with -14.02% of loss for the given period.\nVolatility was left at 4.85%, however, over the last 30 days, the volatility rate increased by 6.71%, as shares surge +22.47% for the moving average over the last 20 days. Over the last 50 days, in opposition, the stock is trading +4.48% upper at present.\nDuring the last 5 trading sessions, RCM rose by +4.60%, which changed the moving average for the period of 200-days by +7.67% in comparison to the 20-day moving average, which settled at $24.06. In addition, R1 RCM Inc. saw 3.49% in overturn over a single year, with a tendency to cut further gains.\nInsider Trading\nReports are indicating that there were more than several insider trading activities at RCM starting from MANDL ALEX, who sale 140,829 shares at the price of $25.40 back on Nov 18. After this action, MANDL ALEX now owns 93,871 shares of R1 RCM Inc., valued at $3,577,197 using the latest closing price.\nMANDL ALEX, the Director of R1 RCM Inc., sale 34,171 shares at $25.60 during a trade that took place back on Nov 17, which means that MANDL ALEX is holding 234,700 shares at $874,641 based on the most recent closing price.\nStock Fundamentals for RCM\nCurrent profitability levels for the company are sitting at:\n+9.88 for the present operating margin\n+20.95 for the gross margin\nThe net margin for R1 RCM Inc. stands at +6.59. Equity return is now at value -153.90, with -37.80 for asset returns.", "answer groups": [ " company description", "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Illinois Cannabis Business Expo Presents- Northern Weathermakers HVAC Inc. trade show\nSeptember 10, 2019\nCannabis Industrial Marketplace is pleased to have Northern Weathermakers HVAC Inc. from Northbrook, IL exhibiting at our September Cannabis Business Expo in Rosemont, IL, booth number 226. At Northern Weathermakers HVAC, Inc., customer service is the cornerstone of their business. Their customers know that they can purchase the finest quality heating and air conditioning equipment and have it installed and serviced by the best in the industry. Today, Northern Weathermakers HVAC, Inc. offers first-class sales and service on commercial and Industrial heating, air conditioning and building automation systems in IL.\nThey are a full service turnkey heating, air conditioning, building automation controls and engineering company.\n24 Hour Emergency Service\nTheir Service Department provides around-the-clock services for hundreds of planned maintenance customers in addition to on-call customers throughout the Chicagoland area. Their technicians are trained in service, support and diagnosis for all types of HVAC, refrigeration and building automation systems and are backed up by their in-house staff of engineers.\nCheck Northern Weathermakers HVAC Inc. profile on CannabisImp.com for more details", "answer groups": [ " product launching & presentation", "event organization" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Edoc Acquisition Corp. Announces Pricing of $90,000,000 Initial Public Offering. Save\nVictor, NY, Nov. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: ADOCU) (the Company) announced today that it priced its initial public offering of 9,000,000 units at a price to the public of $10.00 per unit. The units are expected to commence trading on November 10, 2020 on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol ADOCU.\nEach unit consists of one Class A ordinary share, one right and one redeemable warrant to purchase one-half of one Class A ordinary share. Each right entitles the holder to receive one-tenth of one Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination, and each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one-half of one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares, rights and warrants are expected to be traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols ADOC, ADOCR, and ADOCW, respectively. Upon consummation of the offering, of the proceeds received from the offering and the concurrent sale of private placement units, $10.17 per unit sold to the public in the offering will be deposited into a trust account.\nI-Bankers Securities, Inc. is acting as the sole book-running manager of the offering. The underwriters have been granted a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,350,000 units offered by the Company to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is expected to close on or about November 13, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions.\nThe offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus related to this offering may be obtained from I-Bankers Securities, Inc. at 535 5th Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017.\nA registration statement relating to the securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 9, 2020. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.\nAbout Edoc Acquisition Corp.\nEdoc Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company organized for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. It intends to focus on businesses primarily operating in the healthcare sector in North America and Asia-Pacific.\nForward-Looking Statements\nThis press release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including with respect to the initial public offering and the anticipated use of the proceeds thereof, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in the risk factors section of the prospectus used in connection with the Companys initial public offering. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Companys expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based, except as required by law.\nContact: Edoc Acquisition Corp. 7612 Main Street Fishers Suite 200 Victor, NY 14564 Attention: Kevin Chen\nCopyright 2020 GlobeNewswire, Inc.", "answer groups": [ " company description", "ipo exit" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "GCP Fund LLC Partners Up with Leading Businesses in New York to Maximize Their Cash Flow. PR.com\n)--GCP Fund has reportedly partnered up with several leading businesses at its headquarters, New York, to aid their post-COVID rehabilitation. The lending firm has increased its structured joint venture approvals to improve the increasingly worrying cash flow situation of old and new investors, developers, and contractors across all boroughs of New York.\nSince its inception, the asset-based lender has streamlined investment, acquisition, and development of many commercial projects across the United States. Structured joint ventures are the latest in a long line of financing solutions the hard money lender has introduced.\nThrough our latest financing solution, we hope to ease the financial burden of New York-based commercial real estate investors and developers, said a source close to GCP Fund. We want to see people back at work as much as the next New Yorker, and by partnering up with us, you can see office buildings, restaurants, and hotels at full capacity sooner rather than later. We hope borrowers will be open to having us on board as more than just lenders and make it a win-win for everyone concerned.\nGCP Fund provides financing for the purchasing and development of the very establishments that were the hardest hit by the pandemic. The firm has invested in warehouses, hotels, motels, hospitals, churches, office buildings, multi-family properties, restaurants, and other places involving personal interaction.\nStructured joint venture financing is the latest in a long line of commercial real estate solutions provided by GCP Fund, including construction loans, bridge loans, permanent financing, acquisition financing, mezzanine loans, private commercial loans.\nThe lending firm grants loans from $1MM to $100MM to experienced and first-time investors and developers across New York. Since these loans are asset-based, they dont require an income or credit check.\nFor more information about the financing solutions and loan application process, go to https://gcpfund.com/.\nAbout Global Capital Partners Fund, LLC\nGlobal Capital Partners Fund is the top asset-based lender of private loans based in New York. The company has approved several private commercial loans for small and large-scale projects. Their financing solutions range between short-term and long-term loans, which come with experienced in-house underwriting services.\nAuthorization\nI, Ricky Taylor, am an authorized distributor of news and have the authorization to use the companys name, Global Capital Partners Fund, in press releases.\nContact Information", "answer groups": [ " company description", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "ICMR/ DHR Policy resonates with PM's motto to 'Innovate, Patent, Produce and Prosper'. |\nUpdated: 24-02-2022 16:27 IST | Created: 24-02-2022 16:27 IST\nProf. Balram Bharagava, Secretary, DHR and Director General, ICMR said The ICMR/DHR policy on Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Medical Professionals is a game changer. Image Credit: Twitter(@MoHFW_INDIA)\nCountry:\nIndia\nSHARE\nDr. Mansukh Mandaviya Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare along with Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare launched the \"ICMR/ DHR Policy on Biomedical Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Medical Professionals, Scientists and Technologists at Medical, Dental, Para-Medical Institutes/Colleges\", here today.\nAcknowledging research and innovation as primary pillars that propel any country towards growth and development in a competitive global canvas, Dr Mansukh Mandaviyasaid, \"It is time that India also demonstrates its strength and mettle through research, entrepreneurship and innovative initiatives in the health sector, including medical devices. Under the leadership and guidance of Hon'ble Prime Minister, India has taken several notable steps towards self reliance and self-sustenance, especially in vaccine development during the pandemic period. I am very hopeful that this Policy of DHR-ICMR unveiled today will motivate, incentivise and give a fillip to all the stakeholders. It will ensure multi-disciplinary collaboration, promote start-up culture and develop an innovation-led ecosystem at the medical institutes across the country by promoting Make-in India, Start-Up-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives of the Government of India.\"\nThe Union Minister stated that \"Our medical workforce comprising of doctors, paramedical staff, technicians have a wealth of knowledge based on their experience of working with fundamental problems at the cutting edge level. They also have ideas for innovations. Till now, these could not get a policy framework and platform for further growth. This Policy will connect the industry, technical institutions and promote commercial translation of these ideas and innovations in the health sector. When our philosophy of Seva Bhaav is clubbed with medical expertise and entrepreneurship, I am confident that this will develop a vibrant ecosystem in India, which will not only benefit our citizens but the society and India as a whole.\"\nDr. Bharti Pravin Pawar Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare appreciated the initiative and congratulated DHR and ICMRfor bringing out this very important policy document and stated \"I strongly believe that this Policy will create innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem at Medical Colleges/Institutes and will create a pipeline of healthcare innovations including medical device and diagnostic products in India. Wider dissemination and implementation of this policy will catalyze biomedical innovation & entrepreneurship in the country in line with Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of New India.\" She added that doctors and medical professionals are ideally positioned to be on the forefront of innovation and research.\nProf. Balram Bharagava Secretary, DHR and Director General, ICMRsaid \"The ICMR/DHR policy on Biomedical Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Medical Professionals is a game changer. It will enable medical institutions to actively support their personnel in contributing towards the innovation and entrepreneurial ventures with the ultimate goal of positively impacting human-health & well-being. It resonates with the motto of our Hon'ble Prime Minister to \"Innovate, Patent, Produce and Prosper\" I am very hopeful that this policy will bring about a paradigm shift in the innovation and entrepreneurship culture in the country and will have far reaching impact on all the medical colleges and institutes across the country.\"\nAs per the Policy, the medical professionals/ doctors will be encouraged to pursue entrepreneurial ventures by forming start-up companies, taking adjunct position in Company- Non-Executive Director or Scientific Advisor. The doctors will also be permitted to undertake inter-institutional and industry projects alone or through companies, license technologies to business entities leading to commercialisation, revenue generation for self-sustenance and societal benefit. The medical professionals will also be permitted to take-up sabbatical for translational and commercialisation of their innovation through their start-up company set-up following institute's permission. The Policy will promote interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, technology development, skill development and foster entrepreneurship development & Make-in-India product development for societal benefit. DHR- ICMRformulated this Policy in consultation with other Government Department/ Ministries/Organisations such as DPIIT, DST, WIPO, DSIR, AIIMS, IIT Delhi etc. This Policy is an attempt to enable medical institutions to actively support their personnel to contribute in innovation and entrepreneurship associated activities.\n(With Inputs from PIB)", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Co-Diagnostics Reports Full Year 2021 Financial Results. Co-Diagnostics will host a conference call and webcast at\n4:30 p.m. EDT\ntoday to discuss its financial results with analysts and institutional investors. The conference call and webcast will be available via:\nWebcast:\non the Events & Webcasts page\nConference Call: 877-317-6789 (domestic) or 412-317-6789 (international)\nThe call will be recorded and later made available on the Company's website: https://codiagnostics.com\nAbout Co-Diagnostics, Inc.:\nCo-Diagnostics, Inc., a\nUtah\ncorporation, is a molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art diagnostics technology. The Company's technology is utilized for tests that are designed using the detection and/or analysis of nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA). The Company also uses its proprietary technology to design specific tests to locate genetic markers for use in industries other than infectious disease and license the use of those tests to specific customers.\nNon-GAAP Financial Measures:\nThis press release contains adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure defined as net income excluding depreciation, amortization, income tax (benefit) expense, net interest (income) expense, stock-based compensation, and one-time transaction related costs. The Company believes that adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to management and investors relating to its results of operations. The company's management uses this non-GAAP measure to compare the company's performance to that of prior periods for trend analyses, and for budgeting and planning purposes. The Company believes that the use of adjusted EBITDA provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing the company's financial measures with other companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors, and that it allows for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision-making.\nManagement does not consider the non-GAAP measure in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitation of the non-GAAP financial measure is that it excludes significant expenses that are required by GAAP to be recorded in the company's financial statements. In order to compensate for these limitations, management presents the non-GAAP financial measure together with GAAP results. Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. A reconciliation tables of the net income, the most comparable GAAP financial measure to adjusted EBITDA, is included at the end of this release. The Company urges investors to review the reconciliation and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate the company's business.\nForward-Looking Statements:\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as \"believes,\" \"expects,\" \"estimates,\" \"intends,\" \"may,\" \"plans,\" \"will\" and similar expressions, or the negative of these words. Such forward-looking statements are based on facts and conditions as they exist at the time such statements are made and predictions as to future facts and conditions. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding the (i) use of funding proceeds, (ii) expansion of product distribution, (iii) acceleration of initiatives in liquid biopsy and SNP detection, (iv) use of the Company's liquid biopsy tests by laboratories, (v) capital resources and runway needed to advance the Company's products and markets, (vi) increased sales in the near-term, (vii) flexibility in managing the Company's balance sheet, (viii) anticipation of business expansion, (ix) benefits in research and worldwide accessibility of the CoPrimer technology and its cost-saving and scientific advantages, and (x) the impact that known and unknown COVID-19 variants may have on us and our products, our customers and suppliers, including disruptions and inefficiencies in the supply chain\n.\nForward-looking statements are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances, a fuller discussion of which can be found in the Risk Factors disclosure in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on\nMarch 24, 2022\n, and in our other filings with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement relating to matters discussed in this press release, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.\nCO-DIAGNOSTICS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Maruti Ertiga vs Mahindra Marazzo. ), Rs. 11.83 16.67 lakhs (Mahindra Marazzo)\nThe Maruti Ertiga offers tremendous value while the Mahindra Marazzo offers more practicality, space and performance\nDespite the ever-growing SUV fanbase, MPVs still remain a popular choice amongst people who want a practical car to carry their family and luggage comfortably. Still dominated by the Toyota Innova, the MPV segment has seen quite a few new launches in recent years. After the lukewarm response to the Xylo, Mahindra has decided to re-enter this segment with the Marazzo. The company is betting big with this MPV. From style to refinement, Mahindra claims to have gotten it all right with the Marazzo.\nOn the other hand, Maruti Suzuki, which was a relatively late entrant into the MPV segment, saw great success with the Ertiga. More than 4 million units have been sold and Maruti, quick to update its products has launched the all-new second-generation Ertiga. Maruti says it is bigger, better, more fuel efficient and more premium than before. The question is can the radical new Marazzo finally be a worthy challenger to the Ertiga and can the Ertiga continue its success story with the Marazzo in the way? It is going to be a close battle!\nMotor Quest: While the Maruti Ertiga has been on sale since 2012 with the second generation model being launched in 2018, the Mahindra Marazzo is in its first generation and is the spiritual successor of the Xylo which was launched in 2009.\nThe Mahindra Marazzo looks off-beat and different\nExteriors Mahindra designs have been a subject of criticism in recent times. Whether its their boxy TUV or the over-styled KUV, their vehicles have failed to garner any praise on the design front. But the Marazzo is a car that is going to make people sit back and take notice. The new Mahindra MPV has a strong and impactful design which is sure to get you noticed. The car carries a cab-forward design and it looks really good how the body subtly rises from the front to the rear. We love the toothed grille but we think a different grille design wouldve made it look even more unique.\nBoth cars have good amount of chrome\nThe headlights of the Marazzo are sharp yet elegant and the pronounced fog-lights with the DRLs on them look really cool. The side is characterised by dominant lines and creases which appear at all the right places and merge beautifully into the body. The chrome line near below the windows and at the bottom make it look upmarket. The wheels have a different design and being 17-inch (on the top-spec M8), they look fit on the tall profile. The chrome door handle also looks nice. The rear features more chrome but it never feels too flashy. The tail-lights are also very dominant and we wouldve actually preferred them in a smaller size.\nThe Marazzo looks fresh and modern as compared to the Ertiga\nThe Marazzo is much bigger than the Ertiga, both inside and outside\nMahindra says the design is inspired by a shark and we will take that. The road presence is immense and this car looks tough like all Mahindra models. But unlike many Mahindra SUVs, the Marazzo does not end up looking utilitarian. The design feels urbane and sophisticated and it is so refreshing to see a Mahindra with an upmarket design. We will go so far in saying that this is probably the best Mahindra weve ever seen. This is because Mahindra took inputs from the Italian design house Pininfarina while styling the Marazzo. However, it is weird to see that despite its shark-themed design, the Marazzo misses out on a shark-fin antenna!\nThe generation change makes the Ertiga look more premium\nThe Maruti Ertiga looks less macho and more car-like in comparison. That is not to say that it looks bad. The new Ertiga looks quite grown up and certainly more premium than the older one. The front looks quite nice with angular headlights that merge into the grille and the detailed, almost triangular housing for the fog-lights. The new Ertiga, however, misses out on a pair of LED DRLs. The side looks plain and timid in comparison to the Marazzo with only a few sharp lines flowing across the body. The larger rear door looks a bit awkward and the 15-inch wheels look a tad too small on the Ertiga. The rear is the best angle with the\nHonda CR-V\n/Volvo XC60 like L shaped tail-lights and the neat spoiler like crease on the hatch. The Ertiga wont turn heads but it is a genuine improvement over the older car and we are sure many people prefer a toned down more car-like design.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Brain Neurotherapy Bio. Leave a comment\nDr. Krystof Bankiewicz\nBrain Neurotherapy Bio, Inc. (BNB) is pleased to announce the treatment of the first patient in its Parkinsons gene therapy study. The CIRM-funded study led by Dr. Krystof Bankiewicz, is one of the 64 clinical trials funded by the California state agency to date.\nParkinsons is a neurodegenerative movement disorder that affects one million people in the U.S alone and leads to shaking, stiffness, and problems with walking, balance, and coordination. It is caused by the breakdown and death of dopaminergic neurons, special nerve cells in the brain responsible for the production of dopamine, a chemical messenger that is crucial for normal brain activity.\nThe patient was treated at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with a gene therapy designed to promote the production of a protein called GDNF, which is best known for its ability to protect dopaminergic neurons, the kind of cell damaged by Parkinsons. The treatment seeks to increase dopamine production in the brain, alleviating Parkinsons symptoms and potentially slowing down the disease progress.\nWe are pleased to support this multi-institution California collaboration with Ohio State to take a novel first-in-human gene therapy into a clinical trial for Parkinsons Disease. says Maria T. Millan, M.D., President and CEO of CIRM. This is the culmination of years of scientific research by the Bankiewicz team to improve upon previous attempts to translate the potential therapeutic effect of GDNF to the neurons damaged in the disease. We join the Parkinsons community in following the outcome of this vital research opportunity.\nCIRM Board Member and patient advocate David Higgins, Ph.D. is also excited about this latest development. For Dr. Higgins, advocating for Parkinsons is a very personal journey since he, his grandmother, and his uncle were diagnosed with the disease.\nOur best chance for developing better treatments forParkinsons is to test as many logical approaches aspossible. CIRM encourages out-of-the-box thinking byproviding funding for novel approaches. The Parkinsons community is a-buzz withexcitement about the GDNF approach and looks to CIRM to identify, fund, and promote these kinds of programs.\nIn a news release Dr. Sandra Kostyk, director of the Movement Disorders Divisionat Ohio State Wexner Medical Center said this approach involves infusing a gene therapy solution deep into a part of the brain affected by Parkinsons: This is a onetime treatment strategy that could have ongoing lifelong benefits. Though its hoped that this treatment will slow disease progression, we dont expect this strategy to completely stop or cure all aspects of the disease. Were cautiously optimistic as this research effort moves forward.\nOther trial sites located in California that are currently recruiting patients are the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Specifically, the Irvine trial site is using the UCI Alpha Stem Cell Clinic one of five leading medical centers throughout California that make up the CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinic (ASSC) Network. The ASSC Network specializes in the delivery of stem cell therapies by providing world-class, state of the art infrastructure to support clinical research.\nFor more information on the trial and enrollment eligibility, you can directly contact the study coordinators by email at the trial sites listed:\nThe Ohio State University:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Wugen Appoints New Vice President and Head of NK Research as the Company Continues to Expand its Pipeline. ,\nNov. 19, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- Wugen Inc., a biotechnology company developing a novel, universal allogeneic CAR-T therapy platform, today announced the appointment of\nRyan Sullivan\n, Ph.D., as Vice President and Head of NK Research. Dr. Sullivan will be overseeing Wugen's Natural Killer (NK) Cell-based therapy programs targeting leukemias and lymphomas, including Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Multiple Myeloma (MM).\n\"Ryan has a deep understanding of Natural Killer cells and a decade of outstanding oncology research experience. We are pleased to welcome a highly experienced talent of Ryan's caliber to our team,\" said\nJohn McKearn\n, Ph.D., CEO of Wugen. \"Ryan is joining us at an exciting time, as we are ramping up our initiatives to strengthen and diversify our therapeutic platform targeting leukemias and lymphomas and dedicating our research to help change the lives of patients with chronic, untreatable diseases.\"\nDr. Sullivan added \"I am delighted to join Wugen's impressive team and look forward to leading the company's NK research programs. Natural Killer cells have shown a great deal of promise in the treatment of cancer and we plan to develop this new cellular therapy to its full potential.\"\nPrior to joining Wugen, Dr. Sullivan was a Principal Scientist and Investigator at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, where he led a group responsible for developing drugs to improve the anti-cancer response of natural killer cells, overseeing the progression of a portfolio of therapeutics across multiple mechanisms of action. Dr. Sullivan performed his post-doctoral research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the laboratory of Dr.\nGlenn Dranoff\nand received his Ph.D. in Immunology from\nWashington University\nin\nSt. Louis\n. Dr. Sullivan has published extensively on natural killer cells and has multiple patent applications related to the use of natural killer cells in cancer treatment.\nAbout Wugen\nWugen Inc., is a biotechnology company developing a novel CAR-T therapy platform including an \"off-the-shelf\" fratricide-resistant CAR-T cell therapy for T-cell malignancies. Wugen's state-of-the-art gene editing technologies and cutting-edge CAR-T cell therapy address some of the challenges that have limited the clinical development of allogeneic CAR-T cells. Wugen was founded based on technology licensed from\nWashington University", "answer groups": [ " executive appointment", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Bensons Pet Center opens in Saratoga Springs. Bensons Pet Center welcomes both two- and four-legged shoppers. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nBy Lauren Halligan| lhalligan@troyrecord.com| Troy Record\nPUBLISHED:\nFebruary 25, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.\n| UPDATED:\nFebruary 25, 2022 at 1:01 p.m.\nSARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. Saratoga County now has one more spot where its all about the pets, with the opening of the newest Bensons Pet Center.\nAn eighth Bensons location is now open at 175 Ballston Ave. in Saratoga Springs. Following a soft opening phase over the past couple of months, the store is now in full swing and fully stocked with supplies for dogs, cats, and more.\nThe opportunity presented itself, and we thought it would fit a good niche for this side of the Saratoga and Ballston Avenue area, said general manager Moira Nowc, who has been with the Bensons for 16 years, on why the company decided to expand in this area.\nBensons has two other centers in Saratoga County, in Wilton and Clifton Park, as well as Bensons Fish Room in Ballston Spa.\nUnlike most Bensons Pet Center locations, the new store does not have live pets for sale, though it does carry feeder crickets and rodents.\nOne of the most unique features of the Spa City center is its do-it-yourself dog wash station, with three bays (two large and one small) where owners can bathe their dogs on site. We kind of jokingly say Come mess up our bathroom instead of yours, Nowc said, noting that the $15 fee includes use of the stores shampoo, towels, aprons, and hairdryers. Then we clean up and disinfect and do the laundry.\nThe dog wash stations have been busy ever since the stores opening. We knew it would be popular, Nowc said. We didnt realize how popular it was going to be.\nThe Saratoga Springs store is the first Bensons location to offer a dog washing station, and due to its success, the company plans to offer it at other locations in the future.\nAlong with this latest expansion, Bensons Pet Center is currently in its 30th anniversary year. The company was originally founded in 1992 in Saratoga County, with a store in the former Saratoga Mall. Over the past three decades, Bensons has grown to become a small independent chain of full-line pet supply stores with locations throughout the greater Capital Region, as well as one in Pittsfield, Mass.\nAs a community-focused business, Bensons Pet Center is pleased to welcome regular customers and their pets at all of its stores. Every time you walk into Bensons we want you to feel like you are home, Nowc said.\nThe new stores staff members are enjoying meeting and learning the names of many visitors and their pets. We love what we do, Nowc said.\nNowc is also glad to be welcoming back local customers that had previously switched to shopping online for their pets needs, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weve gained a lot of customers who are excited to come back to us because they used to be our customers but then they found it more convenient to go to Chewy or on Amazon, she said. So a lot of people are refreshing back into independent stores, which is awesome.\nThe Saratoga Springs store is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.\nSame-day delivery is available within 10 miles of any location for orders placed before 3 p.m. on weekdays.\nCurbside pick-up is available too.\nBensons welcomes walk-ins for the do-it-yourself dog wash station during business hours, until an hour before closing.\nMore information about Bensons Pet Center is available online at bensonspet.com.\nThe new store can be contacted by calling (518) 682-3712.\nBensons Pet Center, a local family-owned and operated company, now has a total of eight locations. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nBensons Pet Center welcomes both two- and four-legged shoppers. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nBensons Pet Center carries lots of different treats for dogs. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nThe new Bensons Pet Center in Saratoga Springs features a dog wash station. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nA large inventory of cat toys is displayed at Bensons Pet Center. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nPet owners can give their pups a bath at the do-it-yourself dog wash station at the new Bensons Pet Center in Saratoga Springs. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nLeft to right: Bensons Pet Center staff members Carrie Barber, Brandon Whalen, Moira Nowc and Christine Pruiksma smile in front of the stores do-it-yourself dog wash station. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nThe new Bensons Pet Center is open seven days a week. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nThe new Bensons Pet Center is located at 175 Ballston Ave. in Saratoga Springs. (Lauren Halligan Medianews Group)\nShow Caption", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "expanding geography", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Healthcare tech firm Indegene acquires DT Associates. AstraZeneca\n, Takeda and Novo Nordisk.\nIt is Indgene's latest acquisition following its buyout of US-based Enicma Group for $16 million in 2016 to ramp up its analytics and omni-channel digital solutions capability. It had also bought Canada's Skura Technologies for $9 million in the same year. In December 2015, the company had acquired SmartCare, a health analytics platform, from Connecticut-based Vantage Point.\n\"While we offer extensive capabilities already in customer experience and hybrid selling enablement, marketing technology, data & analytics, and medical expertise, with the addition of DT we can truly help our clients end-to-endfrom objectively measuring the current maturity of digital and customer excellence, to designing commercial models,said Manish Gupta, Co-Founder & CEO, Indegene.\nFounded in 1998, Bengaluru based Indegene helps US-based life sciences companies through its analytics, technology, operations and medical expertise (ATOM). Its CEO Manish Gupta, an IIT-BHU and IIM Ahmedabad alumnus who worked in Infosys up to 1998, is one of the cofounders.\nIndegene which was catering to the domestic market till 2004, expanded its business globally and focussed more into the overseas market. In 2015, Infosys co-founder NS Raghavans Nadathur Holdings acquired stake in Indgene from existing investor KITVEN Fund, which had invested in Indegene in 2002.\nThe prospect of helping our clients beyond DX/CX measurement, benchmarking, and transformation management consulting, with deep expertise and capabilities in establishing consolidated centers of excellence for digital content, channel operations, performance measurement, and customer innovation is very exciting, said Dennis van Rooij, Managing Partner and co-founder of DT.\nIndegene's major competitors include US absed Veeva Systems Inc, ZS Associates, Accenture, Welltok, Oracle and cloud based platform Inovalon.\nThe global life sciences BPO market which consists of contract reasearch, manufacturiing and technology outsourcing is expected to touch $286 bi", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "XSport Global Inc. Stock Quote (U.S.: OTC). No Headlines Available\nXSport Global Inc.\nXSport Global, Inc. develops internet portal and mobile applications. It also creates, develops, promotes, markets, produces and distributes online or mobile applications. The company operates through the CarePanda platform, which is an online software that helps people to share and control healthcare information. It focuses on developing HeadTrainer mobile application, which primarily focuses on the youth sports markets. XSport Global was founded by Maurice E. Durschlag on September 11, 2017 and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC.\nPartner Content", "answer groups": [ " company description", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Boulder-based CaliberMRI on pace to provide next-generation quality control for MRI scanners worldwide. ,\nNov. 18, 2021\n/PRNewswire/ -- CaliberMRI, today announced a major milestone in transforming MR imaging into an objective scientific practice using quantitative MRI. Combining its unparalleled NIST-traceable imaging phantom products and automated quality control (QC) calibration software, qCal-MR\n\n, CaliberMRI's quantitative performance analysis platform can calibrate MRI machines so that MRI data can be compared across imaging sites.\n\"MRI is a unique technology that, with the application of quantitative biomarkers and our standardization platform, captures the health state of soft tissues to be used for diagnosis and treatment monitoring for a range of diseases, including many cancers\" says\nWilliam Hollander\n, CEO. \"However, the current state of practice limits the utility of scan results. High false positives, especially in breast cancer diagnoses, can occur when data are interpreted subjectively, rather than applying quantitative metrics for objective results.\" CaliberMRI's mission, working with highly esteemed collaborators from around the world including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is to offer top-tier calibration tools that transform MRI into an objective scientific practice.\nMRI standardization and quantitative MRI will be widely beneficial to patients and the medical imaging community. Quantitative MRI can lower costs for patients and hospitals, reduce invasive procedures, improve treatment monitoring, allow for better scan image comparison, and lower liability exposure.\nCaliberMRI will be exhibiting at Booth 3001 at the upcoming Radiological Society of\nNorth America's", "answer groups": [ " product launching & presentation", " product updates", " executive statement", "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Alpine reveals its A522 Formula 1 car for the 2022 season. Alpine\nhas finally pulled the wraps off the A522. It gets a striking new livery that combines the traditional blue of Alpine with the pink of ex-Racing Point and Aston Martinsponsor BWT. Looks fantastic, doesnt it?\nFor the first two races of the season, though, the Enstone-based French firm will run the ultra-pink flipped livery in the pictures you see below. Thats apparently to highlight its new partnership with the Austrian water treatment company.\nPHOTO BY Alpine\nContinue reading below Its with great pleasure that we launch our A522 to the world today, marking the next chapter in Alpines Formula 1 journey, said Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi. We are proud racers and have poured the essence of Alpines racing heritage and passion into this new generation of cars. We have a clear plan and vision in place at Alpine and we have some of the best people in the business to help drive us forward and realize our ambitions.\nContinue reading below Recommended Videos\nOur team is stronger now and, we hope, future-proof. Our driver line-up is the perfect recipe to help deliver the results we want to achieve on track, Rossi added. In 2022, we want to show constant progress with comprehensive developments across all sites to ensure we are contenders for the title in the future. We are going in the right direction and we want to carry on our climb to the summit.\nContinue reading below", "answer groups": [ " alliance & partnership", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Twitter is rolling out Community creation and testing 1080p video uploads. We are reader supported. External links may earn us a commission.\nMarch 2, 2022 10:15am\nMahmoud Itani\nTwitter is rolling out Community creation and testing 1080p video uploads\nTwitter started as a very basic social media platform for sharing ideas and news through no more than 140 characters. The service started to evolve slowly, bringing new features and increasing the character limit in the process. Lately, the company has been introducing plenty of new changes some of which are exclusive to Twitter Bluesubscribers. For example, Labs is a new section that is exclusive to paying users, where the company tests beta features. The latest addition to Labs is support for 1080p video upload on the desktop website. Paying mobile users will possibly get access to this addition at a later date. Apart from that, Twitter is rolling out Community creation to all users paying or otherwise. Prior to this, those interested in creating a Community had to fill and submit a form to the company.\nCommunity creation\nWe have discovered a new plus (+) icon in the Communities tab both on mobile and desktop. This button allows users to create a new Community by providing a name and an optional purpose. Its still unclear if this is a regional rollout or a global one. Weve been able to spot this change in several countries across different platforms, though. This eliminates the need to submit a request to Twitter and wait for approval.\nThose who have received this feature via this server-side rollout will see a new banner mentioning that the wait is over. For the unfamiliar, a Community is similar to a Facebook Group. When a user joins one, they can tweet to other members of the same Community. Interestingly, these tweets dont appear on a users profile/timeline. Theyre simply exclusive to the Community theyve been posted to.\n1080p video uploads", "answer groups": [ " company description", "product updates" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Firms improve healthcare products delivery with technology. Published\n28 March 2022\nGRICD, a cold chain technology company that uses the Internet of Things to enable last-mile delivery of temperature-sensitive products, has partnered with Haultrac, a logistics company, to improve the delivery of essential healthcare commodities to all 36 states of the nation, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on behalf of USAID.\nAccording to the firms, the healthcare commodities include medicines, rapid diagnostic test kits, laboratory reagents, and consumables.\nIn a statement, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Gricd, Oghenetega Iortim, said, Inability to keep temperature-sensitive medical commodities within required temperature range leads to waste of life-saving medication, sometimes loss of life.\nWe are excited to be working with Haultrac and USAID to ensure the safe delivery of these essential commodities across Nigeria and make it easier for all parties to do business with confidence.\nThe CEO of Haultrac, Segun Adeoye, added, Transporting temperature-sensitive commodities over long distances in a country like Nigeria can present many challenges. However, with real-time monitoring, we can move these commodities with confidence and take proactive steps to reduce wastage and maximise the value of these commodities.\nThe firms said, Using Gricds Real-Time Data Loggers and Enterprise Monitoring Software, all parties will be able to guarantee the quality of these commodities during storage, transit, and distribution to the end-user.\nRead Also", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, USA. www.lifesense-group.com\nTactoTek\nTactoTek will demonstrate an IMSE door trim with touch and lighting, this IMSE solution enhances contoured luxury wood vehicle trim with sophisticated touch controls and lighting without increasing the 3mm depth of the part.\nwww.tactotek.com\nMEDICALIP\nMEDICALIP will display MEDIP, which is a medical imaging software for representing a visual interior of a body for clinical analysis, medical intervention and 3D printing.\nwww.medicalip.com/en/\nTCPoly\nTCPoly will demonstrate 3D Printed Heat Sinks and Cold Plates. TCPoly's thermally conductive FDM 3D printing filaments enable new light-weight, corrosion resistant, low cost and high performance products to keep electronics cool.\nwww.tcpoly.com\nIDS - Integrated Deposition Solutions\nIDS will be showing a Nanojet Aerosol Based Desktop Printer. IDS provides direct write electronic printing solutions by employing droplet-based and filament-based processes, enabling deposition of traces on substrates ranging from glass to polymers.\nwww.ids-nm.com\nSutrue\nSutrue will be displaying a Handheld Automated Suturing Device which produces automated sutures more quickly, safely and accurately than suturing by hand.\nwww.sutrue.com\nMYNT\nMYNT will be showing a mobile robot platform that can demonstrate face ID, pathfinding /object recognition and speech.", "answer groups": [ " participation in an event", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Peabody Awards Reveal Inaugural Winners In Digital And Interactive Storytelling. View All\nMarch 24, 2022 10:00am\nThe Peabody Awardson Thursday unveiled 12 winning digital and interactive projects and four special awardees as part of the organizations inaugural Digital and Interactive Storytelling honors.\nThe winners, voted on by the Peabody Awards Interactive Board of Jurors, span virtual and augmented reality, gaming, interactive journalism, social video, interactive documentary and transmedia storytelling among other forms. The honorees constitute a legacy class, recognized for their impact on their fields up to now, and setting the standard for winners going forward.\nSpecial awards were bestowed on Phil Yu, who received the Trailblazer Award for his Angry Asian Man blog; Nonny de la Pea received the Field Builder Award for her contributions to advancements in VR and immersive journalism; The computer program ELIZA, developed in 1964-66, was honored with the Foundational Award; and Forensic Architecture received an Institutional Award for its evidentiary techniques known as counter-forensics to expose crimes of magnitude.\nRelated Story\nPeabody Awards Winners 2021: 'Small Axe', 'The Cave', '20/20' Among Final Honorees As Full List Revealed\nSee the full list of winners below. The projects are now featured on the Peabody Awards website here\nBy honoring these legacy projects and creative innovators, we celebrate dynamic stories that push the limit of what we know storytelling to be across all mediums, said Diana Williams, chairwoman of the Peabody Interactive Board. And we also continue to uphold the Peabodys mission of supporting visionaries who tell stories that illuminate the world around us and can perhaps evoke societal change.\nThe first entry submission window for new projects will open in late June, with future winners to be revealed with the rest of the Peabodys, the annual awards given for stories that reflect the pressing social issues and emerging voices of our day in TV, podcast/radio and digital platforms. The Peabody Awards were founded in 1940 at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.\nHere is the list of winners, with descriptions from the Peabodys:\nTrailblazer Award\nPhil Yu\nLike many people of color coming up in the 1980s and 90s, Phil Yu had grown accustomed to not seeing himself in mass media. But unlike many, Yu also got angry, and then he found a way to channel it. Angry Asian Man is a blog whose name is an ironic play on the model minority trope and asks: Why arent Asians allowed or expected to be angry? The blog began as a way for Yu to express himself and work through how he felt about not seeing his community reflected in media, but found further purpose after successfully helping to mobilize against a clothing company that had released T-shirts featuring racist caricatures of Asian people. This changed the blogs course from criticism to also include calls to action, providing a look, via an Asian American lens, at everything from pop culture to politics to music to academia. As it became a destination for others seeking community, the blog again transformed into a type of short form conversation. The speed in which todays audience can call out media for stereotypical representations and/or erasure was built off of the work that Yu has been doing for the last 20 years. He spoke up when others did not. He amplified the work of organizations covering Asian American issues so that they could find broader coalitions. With the message as important as the delivery and consumption medium, Phil continues to shine a light on Asian American issues beyond his blog and into podcasts and publishing. Mainstream media is listening now.\nField Builder Award\nNonny de la Pea\nNonny de la Pea has been at the forefront of emerging media throughout her career, earning the title of Godmother of VR. She was an important contributor during a historic period of discovery in beyond-broadcast digital media. Her example catalyzed a generation of storytellers and innovators to invest their genius towards meaning-making in emerging media forms. De la Pea brought important insights to the critiques that virtual reality is too immersive for certain content while making compelling arguments for VR journalism, offering eye-opening examples, and providing best practices for designing embodied experiences of challenging events.\nCollaborations with leading news organizations set standards in transparency, accuracy, and sourcing for new media. Significant areas of her innovation include room-scale 5DoF immersion; data visualization; flat game-engine storytelling; techniques to bring flat media documentation into immersive space, stimulating technologists to make VR headsets mobile, higher quality, and less expensive; and a platform that democratizes the immersive power of volumetric VR. Her pieces help audiences become intimately aware of the nuances of news issues and events spanning critical subjects like abortion, LGBTQ+ youth, police brutality, conflict zones, solitary confinement, melting ice caps, the Black Lives Matter movement, and more.\nFoundational Award\nELIZA (1964)\nPrimary Credits: Joseph Weizenbaum, MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory\nIn 1966, Joseph Weizenbaum saw the potential in the computers of his day to create a program for the purpose not of processing information or doing scientific calculations, but for the sole intention of making a relationship. This program was ELIZA. ELIZA took the form of what we now call a chatbot. She was presented as a mock (Rogerian) psychotherapist. Participants would write to her and she would respond with relevant questions or statements that fueled further conversation. The perception of empathy from ELIZA was so strong that participants often requested privacy while talking to her. It can be easy these days to mistake ELIZA for her descendantsnatural language personal assistants like Siri or Alexa. While this software has advanced considerably in the course of the last 50 years, the change in focus to transactional interactionslanguage as interfaceobscures the revolutionary personal narratives that ELIZA created. ELIZA showed the world that a simple computer script could evoke not just one story, but as many stories as there were people who interacted with her. She opened the door to software as a tool not just for business or science, but also for emotional interactions, empathy, and connection.\nInstitutional Award\nForensic Architecture (2010)\nPrimary Credits: Eyal Weizman\nIn the 21st century, states and corporations arsenals include drones, chemical gasses, computational surveillance, sensors, and disinformation, which are launched at targets remotely through complex computer interfaces and dizzying transnational networks. In these next-level true crimes, there is no obvious smoking gun. Conventional forensics cannot adequately find, collect, analyze, and present evidence to make a case against perpetrators. For the last decade, Forensic Architecture has directed a spectacular coordin", "answer groups": [ " company description", " event organization", " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Institute of Optics expands graduate recruitment amid soaring national demand : NewsCenter. Institute of Optics expands graduate recruitment amid soaring national demand\nFebruary 24, 2022\nPhD student Katie Dunn prepares samples for imaging cells using a quantitative phase microscope. I feel like Im part of a unique community at the Institute of Optics, she says. (University of Rochester / J. Adam Fenster)\nTwo new awards will help the University of Rochester prepare a more diverse pipeline of optics professionals.\nTwo recent awards will enable the Institute of Opticsat the University of Rochesterto help address a pressing need for highly trained PhD graduates, including women and underrepresented minorities, in industry, research labs, and academia.\nA $900,000 GAANN (\n) grant from the US Department of Education will pay for six PhD fellowships, at least half of which will be awarded to students from underrepresented groups.\nApply for optics PhD fellowship\nEmail Kat Davies\n, graduate coordinator for the Institute of Optics, to learn more.\nAnother $500,000, to be matched by the University, comes from SPIE, the international society of optics and photonics. The SPIE Endowment Matching Programaward will initially provide stipend and travel support for an additional student but is expected to grow.\nFounded in 1929, the institute is the oldest optics degree-granting program in the nation. To date, it has granted approximately 2,800 degreesabout half of all optics degrees awarded in the US. The institute currently enrolls 102 PhD students.\nRochester has a long history of successful optics education, and many of todays leading optics researchers have emerged from its Institute of Optics. This endowed fund is a critical partnership between SPIE and the University of Rochester, one that will help ensure that pipeline of leaders continues for generations to come, says SPIE president Anita Mahadevan-Jansen.\nTremendous momentum in optics PhD recruiting\nOne of the most important aspects of a gift like this, says Thomas Brown interim institute director and professor of optics, is that it allows us to invest in the best, to continue searching for future Nobel laureates, entrepreneurs, and engineers from all over the world to come to Rochester and be part of our growing family.\nIn 2018, Donna Strickland 89 (PhD) was awarded a Nobel Prizefor work she did at the Universitys Laboratory for Laser Energetics as an optics PhD. Strickland is only the third woman to receive the prize in physicsand her accomplishment was a watershed moment for our PhD program, Brown says. It imparted tremendous momentum in our recruiting.\nThe present employment prospects for optics PhD graduates are excellent, because they are recruited from such a broad range of industries, universities, and government laboratories, Brown says. The requests we receive from prospective employers hungering for fresh PhD students continue at a steady pace. All our recent graduates have found employment before or within a month of graduation, and PhD graduates who are US citizens or permanent residents are in particular demand.\nMany of the institutes graduates find employment in the Rochester region, a hub of more than 90 optics-related companies. AIM Photonics which designs and manufactures complex photonic integrated circuits, and entrepreneurial initiatives such as Luminate which provides startup funding for optics-related initiatives, have cemented Rochesters international reputation in the field.\nCollaboration in the classroom and the lab\nOptics PhD candidate Kareem Garriga researches terahertz electromagnetic waves. The facilities afforded to us and the freedom we have as graduate students allow us to tackle problems and delve deeper in all subfields, he says. (University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster)\nWith its four-to-one ratio of PhD students to faculty, the institute prides itself on fostering a close-knit community. It does so through open-door access to faculty, weekly informal gatherings, as well as annual departmental picnics, holidays parties, and family-friendly events. Despite recent necessary curtailments due to COVID, two current PhD students say theyve benefited from the collegial atmosphere.\nI feel like Im part of a unique community at the institute, says Katie Dunn. When youre taking first-year classes and studying for preliminary exams, its not a competitive environment. Everyone is trying to help each other out.\nFellow optics PhD student Kareem Garriga concurs and adds, We have a very collaborative environment, with access to cutting-edge technology, he says. The facilities afforded to us and the freedom we have as graduate students allow us to tackle problems and delve deeper in all subfields, from quantum optics to laser fusion.\nGarriga, for example, is researching terahertz electromagnetic waves in the lab of Xi-Cheng Zhang a leading expert in field. The waves are hard to detect, but could have interesting applications, for example in detecting drugs or explosives behind barriers, which is why Garriga is working to create a detector to improve the characterization of THz sources.\nDunn, meanwhile, is a member of the research group of Andrew Berger an expert in developing optical contrast mechanisms to analyze untreated cells and tissues. She is using a technique called angularly resolved light scattering to learn more about the organelles within single cells, which could have applications for improved medical diagnosis and treatment.\nBoth students say they appreciate the supportive mentoring theyve received. Berger, for example, really cares about his studentsthat theyre flourishing as researchers, and also as people, Dunn says. He gives us a lot of his time. Another big supporter has been Jim Fienup, the Robert E. Hopkins Professor of Optics, who has taught several of Dunns favorite courses and helped her with the Fourier processing she uses as part of her research. He is on her thesis committee.\nGarriga says that Zhang has been great because hes given me a lot of freedom to approach topics on my own accord and in my own time. Ive also learned a lot about mentoring and grant writing from him. Yiwen E, a research associate in the lab, has helped Garriaga develop his skills as a lab researcher and teaching mentor, he adds. She also taught me how to keep up with the latest trends and how to always be innovating in a field that continues to move as fast as our does.\nBoth say they wholeheartedly encourage aspiring optics PhD students to consider enrolling at the institute. If youre interested in optics, its definitely a wonderful place to be, Dunn says. You are surrounded by a lot of other students and faculty who are very interested in similar things. And everyone is on board to help you with whatever you want to learn.\nWhat sets us apart", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "funding round", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Work under way at Midlands Air Ambulance's Cosford base. A NEW low-alcoholic brew has been launched to help raise funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.\nBirmingham Brewing Company has created the new brew to complement charity's festive gift range.\nThe Stirchley based brewery is rolling out the barrel and pulling out all the hops to launch the new Sober Brummie in time for Christmas to help people stay sober and help raise funds for the lifesaving charity which races to the aid of critically ill and injured patients across the Midlands.\nSuitable for vegans and gluten free, the beverage has been brewed with the charitys core purpose in mind as people can enjoy a drink and still drive.\nThe brewery is donating five per cent of each sale to support Midlands Air Ambulance Charitys critical care aircrew and vital work this Christmas.\nPam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: Its thanks to local businesses showing their support that we are able to continue funding lifesaving missions across the Midlands.\nWe are excited to try the Sober Brummie brew from Birmingham Brewing Company, even more so, knowing that a percentage of the sales will support our rapid response pre-hospital emergency service.\nPaul Harwood, owner and founder of Birmingham Brewing Company, added: After four years in development, were finally ready to take off with our low-alcohol Brummie beer.\nIn contrast to most low and non-alcohol beers our 0.5 per cent ABV brew is brewed in a traditional way to retain its flavour, and like all our other beers, it is gluten free and vegan.\nThere are always times when we need to be a Sober Brummie and we hope this is enjoyed by all.\n\"We are delighted to partner with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity on this low alcohol brew, as it has a perfect synergy with the charitys mission.\nPeople can buy the new festive drink via website birminghambrewingcompany.co.uk/product-page/sober-brummieMAA.\nTo shop the rest of Midlands Air Ambulance Charitys festive merchandise visit midlandsairambulance.com/shop/festive/c-24/c-73.", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", " alliance & partnership", " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Marengo Therapeutics to Participate in Investor, Scientific, Industry Conferences. ,\nMarch 9, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Marengo Therapeutics, Inc., a company pioneering novel therapeutics that selectively activate T cells via the T cell receptor V chain to combat cancer, today announced that it will participate in the following investor, scientific, and industry conferences.\nMarengo CEO\n, M.D., MBA, will present virtually at the Oppenheimer 32nd Annual Healthcare Conference on\nMarch 15\nand in-person at the Immuno-Oncology 360 summit on\nMarch 16\nand at Reuters Events: Pharma\nUSA\nMarch 17\n.\n\"We look forward to participating in the upcoming events with key stakeholders across the end-to-end biomedical innovation value chain,\" said Dr. Su. \"These diverse engagements will continue the momentum we have enjoyed since Marengo's launch in November, and allow us further opportunity to highlight the rigor of our science and our commitment to patients.\"\nDetails are as follows:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "participation in an event" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Largest and Most Interactive Virtual Cannabusiness Expo is Back. There were 148 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 213,660 in the last 365 days.\nThe Largest and Most Interactive Virtual Cannabusiness Expo is Back\nNews Provided By\nMarch 15, 2021, 12:30 GMT\nShare This Article\nEINPresswire.com\n/ -- Following the tremendous success of our 2020 Virtual Expo series Cannabis Industrial Marketplace has expanded our virtual expo offerings into the 2021 season, including the Spring Virtual Expo on April 14 - 15, 2021. http://cannavirtualexpo.com/\nOur goal is to continue giving cannabis businesses an opportunity to connect and do business with other industry professionals, said Jen Wynn, vice president of expositions for Cannabis Industrial Marketplace.\nUnlike other cannabusiness events, Cannabis Industrial Marketplaces series of expos targets qualified attendees with fair-priced tickets while staying hyper-focused on the business and interactivity. Our events are held for businesses and during prime business hours to ensure genuine connections are made between exhibitors and attendees.\nUsing our interactive show floor attendees can communicate directly with exhibitors and network with other participants through a safe and secure video feed, guaranteeing the genuine connection that is vital to an events success.\nFrom downloadable handouts, live chat features, and breakout rooms, attendees are able to source essential products and services, while exhibitors are able to generate new leads with ease.\n\"Feedback from our December virtual event confirmed what we assumed, given the right audience and a good platform business connections can be made virtually, said Jen Wynn, vice president of expositions for Cannabis Industrial Marketplace.\nUsing the live video feed chat feature gave individuals a chance to have those face-to-face interactions. Like our in person events, the educational seminars are always well attended and bring in that quality audience our exhibitors are looking for,\" Wynn added.\nThe 2021 Virtual Expo has exciting features that are of particular value in the current business climate:\n1. Regional, National, and Global Connections\n2. 1-on-1 Chats with Other Participants\n3. Round Table Topic Based Discussions\n4. Advocacy Sponsor Booths and Sessions\nThe cannabis market continues to demonstrate its essential status as the market continues to expand and flourish. Utilize this opportunity to make connections and establish a foothold in this mainstream market through our network of top-tier cannabusiness exhibitors and other industry professionals.\nFor more information and to purchase tickets for our Spring Virtual Expo, please visit", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "event organization" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Top 8 Companies Owned by Oracle. ORCL\n) are just a few examples of Oracles reach in the technology market. Acquisitions like this have helped develop Oracle in a multitude of ways, including application development, industry solutions, middleware, server expansion, storage capabilities, and network development.\nOracle has spent a significant amount of money on its acquisitions but its most expensive has been its purchase of PeopleSoft for $10.3 billion in 2005; however, Oracle's announcement in late 2021 of its acquisition of Cerner, if it goes through, will be its most expensive at $28.3 billion.\nDue to the numerous products, services, and industries Oracle caters to, it is no surprise that there are a substantial number of important subsidiaries and integrated companies that result in Oracle having the second-highest gross revenue across all softwarecompanies.\nKey Takeaways\nOracle is known as a global leader in enterprise software and IT solutions; it is the second-largest software company in the world by revenue.\nOracle's cloud computing and database packages are well-known throughout the industry, but the company also has relied on an aggressive acquisition strategy to bolster its portfolio.\nIncluded under the Oracle banner are BEA Systems, Hyperion, Siebel Systems, and Sun Microsystems, among several others.\nOracle's largest acquisition was of PeopleSoft in 2005 for $10.3 billion but will be eclipsed by its acquisition of Cerner for $28.3 billion in 2021 if the deal goes through.\n1. Acme Packet\nAcme Packet produced session border controllers, security gateways, and session-routing proxies. It allowed secure and reliable communications across devices, regardless of network. Oracle entered into an agreement to acquire Acme Packet in 2013 for $2.1billion. At the time of the acquisition Acme Packets solutions were utilized by almost 90% of the worlds top 100 communications companies. Acme Packet was founded in 2000 and was headquartered out of Bedford, Massachusetts.\n2. BEA Systems\nOracle acquired BEA Systems in 2008 for $8.5 billion. The acquisition was made to bolster Oracles Fusion middleware software suite. Founded in 1995, the three founders of BEA were all former employees of Sun Microsystems. BEA Systems three major product lines were a transaction-oriented middleware platform called Tuxedo, an enterprise infrastructure platform, and a service-oriented architecture platform. All three products are utilized today, including the development of the Oracle Weblogic Server and Oracle Service Bus.\n3. Hyperion Corporation\nHyperion Corporation, a provider of performance management software, was acquired by Oracle in 2007 for $3.3 billion. It offered enterprise resource planningsolutions, financial modules, and reporting products. The combination of the two companies resulted in the creation of the Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition.\n4. MICROS Systems\nIn September 2014, Oracle completed the acquisition of MICROS Systems Inc. Previously headquartered in Maryland, MICROS provided enterprise applications to restaurants, hotels, casinos, and other entertainment businesses. The $5.3 billion deal to acquire MICROS enabled Oracle to expand its Retail and Hospitality Hardware and Software division. At the time of acquisition, MICROS technologies were used by over 330,000 customers in 180 countries.\n5. NetSuite\nOracles 2016 acquisition of NetSuite expanded Oracles operations in cloud services. NetSuite was the first cloud company and was founded in 1998. NetSuite provided customers with a suite of softwareservices to manage business operations and customer relationships.NetSuiteprovidedproducts to over 40,000 companies in 100 countries. NetSuitewas one of the biggest acquisitions ever made by Oracle, costing the company $9.3 billion,and giving their library of software a huge boost.\nOne of Oracle's most important and successful products is Java, which it acquired through its purchase of Sun Microsystems.\n6. PeopleSoft\nPeopleSoft provided numerous financial and business applications to address a range of business requirements. Oracles hostile takeoverof PeopleSoft in 2005 cost $10.3 billion. Modules created by PeopleSoft included Human Capital Management, Financial Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Enterprise Service Automation, Supply Chain Management, and PeopleTools.\n7. Siebel Systems\nSiebel Systems specialized in customer relationship management solutions. After paying $5.85 billion in 2005, Oracle acquired its main competitor in the sales automation program industry. Siebels customer relationship manager provided solutions to more than 20 industries and was integrated into Oracles Customer Experience portfolio. Founder Thomas Siebel was an Oracle executive from 1984 to 1990 before founding Siebel Systems in 1993. Siebel itself now operates as a product under the Oracle branding.\n8. Sun Microsystems\nFounded in 1982, Sun Microsystems was acquired by Oracle in 2010 for $7.4 billion and was utilized in the production of Oracle Optimized Systems. Sun Microsystems helped develop a high-performance infrastructure for the Oracle Database, as well as the first Oracle Exalogic Elastic Cloud. Sun Microsystems personal portfolio of software developments has expanded under Oracle with the releases of Oracle Solaris, MySQL, and Java.\nHow Many Acquisitions Has Oracle Made?\nIn its lifetime, Oracle has made 144 acquisitions, as of March 2022. The acquisitions have been both large and small and have allowed Oracle to expand its presence in a variety of fields.\nWho Did Oracle Recently Buy?\nOracle's most recent acquisition, which is still pending, is that of Cerner in December 2021, for $28.3 billion ($95 a share). This acquisition will put Oracle in the IT healthcare space; a new frontier for the company.\nDoes Oracle Make Hardware?\nYes, Oracle makes hardware. Its hardware products include servers, storage, and engineered systems, with the goal of optimizing database performance at lower costs.\nArticle Sources\nInvestopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our", "answer groups": [ " company description", "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Law At Work expands via trio of acquisitions Daily Business. Magnus Swanson: strengthening our services\nLaw At Work is expanding its operations through three acquisitions by parent company Marlowe.\nIn deals worth a combined 5.15m, Dundee-based HR software provider Youmanage; employment law firm and employee relations technology business ESPHR; and third sector specialist HR Services Partnership, will join Marlowes employment law and HR division.\nThe firms will be led by Law At Work and Ellis Whittam which deliver Marlowes extensive employment law and HR services across the UK. The transaction represents a major step for the group.\nMagnus Swanson, chairman of Law At Work, said: Since becoming part of Marlowe, our ambition has been to acquire further businesses that complement our own, in order to strengthen the services we provide to our clients.\nYoumanage supports approximately 200 clients and was acquired for 1.25m, comprising a 750,000 upfront consideration and a deferred element of 500,000.\nNick Pye, CEO at Youmanage, said: Technology is set to play an increasingly important role in the delivery of HR and advisory services to business owners, HR professionals and people managers alike.\nThe entire Youmanage team look forward to working with Law At Work and the Marlowe group of companies to provide technological advances in the HR tech space.\nESPHR, based in Woking, supports about 170 retained clients, including Greene King, Randstad and Entain.\nHorsham-based HRSP specialises in delivering bespoke HR support to charities and not-for-profit organisations. Its team of 21 HR consultants provides project-based and retained support to around 200 clients each year.\nShare The News", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Get Ready For The World Premiere Of The Twenty-Sided Tavern Times Square Chronicles. Get Ready For The World Premiere Of The Twenty-Sided Tavern\nGet Ready For The World Premiere Of The Twenty-Sided Tavern\nMarch 19, 2022\nThe Twenty-Sided Tavern\n, is an experiential entertainment event that will have its World Premiere on Friday, April 15, at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Operas famously unique Greer Cabaret (719 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA) where they will push the margins of audience participation and advance the opportunities of the live experience as we know it today.\nOver 29 million Americans attend the theatre, annually, another 173 million play video games.\nThe Twenty-Sided Tavern\nis an experiential phenomenon that has been created, written and designed specifically for all 202,000,000 of them.\nUsing Gamiotics, a ground-breaking software designed for audience interaction,\nThe Twenty-Sided Tavern\nis theatre of the audience, by the audience and for the audience.\nThere were eleven developmental performances. The audience reaction was built exponentially until the final performance when they would have blown the roof off the tiny theatre if it hadnt been attached to the floor of the Gristedes.\nThe grocery store employees were not ready for the seismic reaction. No one was.\nCreated by David Andrew Laws, Sarah Reynolds and David Carpenter and written by David Andrew Laws with the production design by Caite Hevner and the props and costumes design by Katie Mcgeorge. The game design is by Sarah Reynolds\nNick OLeary is directing Alex Abney, Aubrey Lace Taylor, DAGL, Eryn Barnes, Jack Corcoran, Madelyn Murphy, Mateo Ervin, R. Alex Murray, Sarah Reynolds, Travis Klemm and Yordy Rosso, a cast that has been gifted with the acting assignment of their careers.\nThe audience chooses the characters.\nThe audience chooses the paths those characters will travel.\nThe audience chooses the outcome of their journeys.\nThe audience chooses the ending of the tale.\nFrom their phones.\nThe evenings heroes begin in a tavern, down on their luck and hungry for a new journey. Adventure strikes when they are summoned to the nearby town of Crochanvale to help oversee the mysterious Ritual of the Crystal Cauldron. The success of the ritual will ensure the safety of the region for the next 99 years, but there are those would rather see the world fall into chaos. The heroes, and the audience, must solve riddles, overcome physical challenges, and interact with a whole host of outlandish NPCs (Nonplayer Characters) in order to gather the necessary ingredients. But who they meet, where they succeed, and how accurately they complete the ritual will determine a unique ending to the audience-driven story and fate of the very land in which they live, EVERY NIGHT.\nInspired by the world created by Dungeons and Dragons, this is a High Fantasy Interactive Quest driven and controlled by Twenty-First Century gaming enthusiasts let loose in the one place that can handle them, a famous theatre in Pittsburgh.\nThe show is produced by Session Zero LLC a partnership between David Andrew Laws, Sarah Reynolds and David Carpenter/Gamiotics, the creative brain trust behind this remarkable show.\nNick OLeary is a New York based theatermaker and director of performance and live events. As a creator of interactive experiences, his practice bridges immersive theater, games, and interactive performance. Nick is a founding board member of the Playable Theatre non-profit and is a producing company member with Dacha Theatre in Seattle, WA. Born and raised in New England, he has developed new work with The American Repertory Theater (MA), Actors Theatre of Louisville (KY), Guerilla Opera (MA), The Flea Theater (NY), The Museum of the Moving Image (NY), The 24 Hour Plays (NY), Dacha Theatre (WA), Sinking Ship Creations (NY) and as a guest artist at Dartmouth College (NH).\nDavid Carpenter is the CEO of Gamiotics, Inc., a live entertainment software company that enables real time communication between audience and content and is powering the next generation of immersive and experiential entertainment. Gamiotics mission is to deliver authentic experiences through audience agency. He is a twenty-year veteran of the entertainment industry and a Tony nominated producer. He is currently a managing partner in the new interactive experience, The Twenty-Sided Tavern. Bringing a D&D style RPG game into live entertainment space using Gamiotics technology to power the audience engagement, this exciting new project will premiere in 2022. In 2019 he was the lead producer of the Broadway run of Slavas Snow Show (NY Times Critics Pick). He helmed the off-Broadway record breaking the comedy Puffs which ran for three years in New York and is in the top ten most licensed shows in the US. He produced Puffs in Australia for two years with a record-breaking engagement in Melbourne before touring to Sydney and Brisbane. He was also the Executive Producer of Puffs: Filmed Live Off-Broadway which debuted on screen nationwide with Fathom Events and now can be viewed on any streaming platform. He is also the licensor and publisher of the play. A former Dreamworks Theatricals executive overseeing sales operations for Shrek The Musical, he got his start many years ago at the renowned theatrical office The Dodgers. He is a graduate of Bucknell University and has lectured on producing at Columbia University, Bucknell University, The University of New Mexico and the University of Florida at Gainesville.\nDavid Andrew Laws, a.k.a. DAGL, is the co-creator and resident Gamemaster of\nThe Twenty-Sided Tavern\n. He has spent the past four years professionally running tabletop role-playing games like D&D for first time adults, veteran players, and adventurers as young as six years old. His writing has been performed all over the country, as well as internationally, and he was part of the writing team for Seize the Shows award-winning interactive experience Saving Wonderland. As an actor, he has surpassed 300 performances as Macbeth in the off-Broadway hit\nDrunk Shakespeare\nSarah Reynolds is the co-creator and resident Tavern Keeper of\nThe Twenty-Sided Tavern\n. She is a multidisciplinary artist, manager, and facilitator whose work has been seen on Broadway (\nSlavas Snowshow, Oklahoma!\nPuffs, Rock of Ages, Get On Your Knees\n), Internationally (Toronto Next Stage Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival), and on Tour (\nCruel Intentions, The Stand In\nwith the American Czech Theatre). She has been designing gameplay experiences in performance spaces for over a decade and has worked with Gamiotics for over 3 years, providing extensive development and game design integration on over 25 productions, brand activations, and client experiences. She holds a graduate degree from NYU Steinhardt.\nCaite Hevner is a theatrical designer based in NYC. Her designs have been seen on Broadway, off-Broadway, across the United States, and internationally. Caite is a proud member of USA829, where she serves as co-chair of the Respectful Workplace Committee and of the Accountability Taskforce, and has served on Broadwa", "answer groups": [ " company description", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Green Peak Innovations launches new Two Joints flower line in support of marijuana crime expungement. Courtesy of Green Peak Innovations\nFlower power.\nSmoking weed is cool. But smoking weed and working to release people behind bars for marijuana-related crimes is even cooler.\nGreen Peak Innovations Michigans largest vertically integrated marijuana company, has launched a new affordable flower line in partnership with\nThe Last Prisoner Project Clemency Initiative\n, a criminal justice reform non-profit with a focus on record expungement and the release of those incarcerated for non-violent cannabis crimes.\nThe new line, Two Joints, will be offered in hybrid, Sativa, and Indica varieties and will come in pre-rolls or pre-ground flower. Touted as reasonably priced, Two Joints products will be available later this month at Ann Arbor's Skymint provisioning center, as well as centers in Bay City and Lansing and White Cloud. Green Peak's hope is that it brings awareness to the cause and nationwide cannabis inequality.\nAs restrictions against cannabis sales and consumption relax throughout Michigan, many nonviolent offenders remain behind bars for acts that are no longer illegal in our state, GPI co-founder Jeff Radway shared in a press release. We wanted to make the launch of Two Joints meaningful and felt the Last Prisoner Project was the perfect partner to bring awareness to an issue which impacts so many lives in our community.\nFounded by the father of the legal cannabis industry, Steve DeAngelo in 2019, The Last Prisoner Project hasalso been a leading voice in demanding that those incarcerated for cannabis crimes be released amid\nthe COVID-19 crisis,\nwhich is raging through America's prison systems,\nincluding those in Michigan.\nIt's a new era for marijuana in Michigan. Sign up for our weekly weed newsletter, delivered every Tuesday at 4:20 p.m.\nTags: Marijuana News Michigan Marijuana Green Peak Two Joints Last Prisoner Project COVID-19 Steve DeAngelo\nDetroit Metro Times\nworks for you, and your support is essential.\nOur small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Detroit and beyond.\nUnlike many newspapers, ours is free and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe,\nnow more than ever\n, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.\nWhether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Detroit's true free press\nfree.", "answer groups": [ " new initiatives or programs", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Overjet Secures U.S. Patent for its Revolutionary AI Technology Enabling Accurate Measurements on Dental X-rays. ,\nFeb. 22, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Overjet, a leader in dental artificial intelligence solutions for DSOs and insurance companies, announced today that it has secured a United States Patent (U.S. Patent No. 11158046B2) for its invention of breakthrough AI technology to accurately measure anatomical structures and quantify disease on dental X-rays.\nBefore Overjet's invention, it was impossible for any software to accurately measure distances in dental X-rays without using calibration objects during the image capture. Overjet's new AI technology eliminates the need for foreign calibration objects. Using deep learning, Overjet's software can identify anatomical features individual teeth, restorations, implants, CEJ, bone levels and other physical attributes to equip dental professionals to make accurate calibrated measurements and to determine pixel-to-millimeter ratio of an image.\n\"Enhancing clinical decision-making to improve oral health is cornerstone to everything we do at Overjet,\" said Dr.\nWardah Inam\n, PhD, CEO and Co-founder of Overjet. \"We strive to deliver the best possible results for providers, payors, and patients through continued innovations in dental AI. We are incredibly proud of the U.S. Patent Office's recognition of Overjet's leadership in pioneering transformational dental technologies that advance patient care.\"\n\"This patent will not only assist Overjet in serving our payor and provider customers better, but is a win for the entire dental industry,\" said Dr.\nTerri Dolan\n, Chief Dental Officer of Overjet. \"It gives Overjet a strong foundation in the development of innovative technologies for improving oral health.\"\nThis patented technology helped Overjet receive FDA clearance for\nOverjet Dental Assist\n. Also, it gives Overjet exclusive ability to offer this technology to its customers. Overjet's invention allows automated measurements, enabling many applications, including:\nIdentification of implant type and determination of implant angulation\nDetermination of distortion due to angulations of dental X-rays\nMeasuring root canal length during endodontic procedures and bone level measurements for periodontal procedures\nInsurance medical necessity verification based on quantitative review guidelines\nAbout Overjet\nOverjet is the global leader in dental artificial intelligence, helping both payors and providers improve patient care. The company was founded by experts from the\nMIT\nand\nHarvard School of Dental Medicine\n, and has assembled the largest and most seasoned team of technologists and domain experts with deep AI, dental, and insurance experience. Follow Overjet at", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " regulatory approval", " company description", "patent publication" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Is Facebook Ready To Buy A Major Gaming Stock?. ) and Mark Zuckerbergs big push into the metaverse the concept of a shared 3D virtual platform where people can socialize, work, and play spurred a sector-wide move by tech companies to branch out into other areas like gaming.\nThe burgeoning\nhas transformed into a $198.4 billion sector in 2021, far exceeding the combined market size of the box office and the music industry, according to market research firm Mordor Intelligence.\nMeta and VR gaming\nEven before Meta announced its push into the metaverse in October 2021, the social media behemoth has built a presence in the gaming market with its acquisition of virtual reality company\nSONY\n) PlayStation VR.\nA sharper focus on gaming would encourage Facebook to double down on its investments in the gaming sector far beyond hardware and building a metaverse. The company, which also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, could soon build an army of tech talents that specialize in gaming.\nMeta gobbles up gaming studios\nIn the months before it rebranded into Meta, Facebook went on an acquisition spree buying small gaming studios. Among its most recent acquisitions in the gaming space are studios Ready at Dawn, Unit 2 Games, VR firm BigBox VR, Downpour Interactive and Sanzaru Games.\nHowever, Meta has yet to spend billions of dollars on a gaming company since its acquisition of Oculus in 2014 for $2 billion, raising the prospect of a potential acquisition of a larger gaming studio similar to recent moves by Sony, Microsoft (NASDAQ:\nATVI\n), the studio behind the Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch and Call of Duty franchises, for $68.7 billion in cash.\nMicrosoft said the deal would make it the worlds third-largest gaming company in terms of revenue behind Tencent (HKG:0700) and Sony. Two weeks later,\nsaid it is buying Bungie, the video game developer behind the Destiny and Halo franchises, for $3.6 billion.\nWhich gaming studio is Facebook eyeing?\nWith Metas intentions to promote the metaverse concept, industry watchers are now waiting for the companys next big move. Meta will likely look to gobble up a gaming studio with a massive presence in the market such as Frances Ubisoft (OTC:", "answer groups": [ " expanding industry", " m&a", " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "ENT Partners Announces Acquisition of Suburban Otolaryngology. ,\nNov. 18, 2021\n/PRNewswire/ -- ENT Partners, LLC, a leading Physician Practice Management Company (PPMC) specializing in the Ear, Nose, Throat & Sleep industry, today announced it has acquired Suburban Otolaryngology in\nBerwyn, IL.\nSuburban Otolaryngology is recognized as a premiere practice in ENT medical and surgical services. From sinus and snoring to sleep apnea, allergies and hearing, Suburban Otolaryngology's comprehensive offerings provide the\nBerwyn\ncommunity with high quality, state of the art care.\nDr.\nDaniel Kurtzman\n, Medical Director and senior member of Suburban Otolaryngology, said, \"ENT Partners is an ideal partner to support the continued growth of Suburban Otolaryngology and we are excited about their partnership during this next phase for our organization.\"\nThe provider team at Suburban Otolaryngology includes two board-certified otolaryngologists: Dr.\nDaniel Kurtzman\nAnand Ponnappan\n.\n\"We are thrilled to welcome Suburban Otolaryngology to the ENT Partners family,\" said ENT Partners CEO,\nJim Feinstein\n. \"The team at Suburban Otolaryngology brings tremendous experience and expertise to our group and further solidifies our geographical footprint in the Chicagoland area. Suburban Otolaryngology's established relationships with\nRush University\nMedical Center and Loyola Medicine introduce ENT Partners to new health system opportunities in the Chicagoland market.\"\nTo learn more about Specialty Care Institute, visit suboto.com\nAbout ENT Partners\nENT Partners, LLC is dedicated to the private practice ENT physician and their teams, through a flexible partnership model. The cornerstone of ENT Partners' values is to provide unwavering attention to patient satisfaction, understanding that will positively impact employee engagement. Elevated employee engagement will translate to physician satisfaction and positive culture, ultimately creating practice growth through the fundamentals of word-of-mouth referrals and new patient volume. Currently, Suburban Otolaryngology joins Chicago ENT, Arlington ENT, Specialty Care Institute and Maryland ENT within the ENT Partners portfolio. To learn more about ENT Partners, LLC, visit", "answer groups": [ " expanding geography", "m&a", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest. Share on Stocktwits\nEdoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in May. As of May 14th, there was short interest totalling 1,800 shares, a growth of 38.5% from the April 29th total of 1,300 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 28,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.\nInstitutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Panagora Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Edoc Acquisition in the fourth quarter worth about $124,000. Walleye Trading LLC purchased a new position in Edoc Acquisition during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $145,000. Peddock Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Edoc Acquisition during the first quarter valued at approximately $191,000. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. purchased a new position in Edoc Acquisition during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $205,000. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new position in Edoc Acquisition during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $218,000.\nGet", "answer groups": [ " company description", "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "book published looking at the Air Ambulance. Published:\n1 hour ago\nThe Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has celebrated its 30th anniversary year, by teaming up with local creative organisation, The Word Association, to create a celebratory and thought-provoking anthology of poems and creative writing.\nSubscribe to our daily newsletter!\nSign Up\nMMAC30 Cover Section Revised.indd\nThe project was funded via a National Lottery project grant from Arts Council England, and printing of the book was kindly sponsored by solicitors firm, Irwin Mitchell. Past patients, aircrew, volunteers and charity staff have all reflected on their own experiences with the charity and contributed to creating On a Mission: 30 Years of Rapid Response.\nThe anthology is now available and on-sale for just 10 from the website, midlandsairambulance.com/shop or from one of the charity's shops.\nThe idea to create the memoir was first brought about by Giovanni Spoz Esposito, director of The Word Association, which is a community interest company based in Worcestershire.\nGiovanni Spoz Esposito, the award-winning poet who initially had the idea for the poetry anthology, said: Poetry and writing of any kind, is a lovely way of expressing one's self and can be a healthy release of emotion too. Reading the poems, stories and letters from people affected and/or involved with MAAC, has been a humbling, yet uplifting experience for me. I hope the book resonates with many others too.\nEmma Gray, chief operating officer at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, added: The anthology provides an incredible reflection of peoples experiences of the charity over the last 30 years. Our team of staff, patients, volunteers and supporters found it extremely rewarding to work with The Word Association. We are proud of the three-decade story that this book tells.\nAs our daily missions are entirely funded by the generosity of the public and local businesses, we hope people across the communities we serve purchase On a Mission to find out more about the impact of our service, but also to support us during our milestone anniversary year.\nOn behalf of Irwin Mitchell, Hilary Wetherell, added: It was wonderful to be able to support Midlands Air Ambulance Charity with the publication of this amazing collection of creative writing and then to attend the launch event and hear some of the incredibly moving poetry brought to life by the talented authors. So many of our clients and their families have been supported by the incredible service Midlands Air Ambulance Charity provides and to be able to meet up with them again and hear their stories is a real privilege.\nPeter Knott, Area Director for Arts Council England, said: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has provided thousands of people with lifesaving medical care, were so proud to have supported the anniversary celebrations with the creation of a series of poems, prose and creative writing through National Lottery Project Grants.\nIts fantastic to see that the anthology includes the reflections and experiences of so many people, being able to share stories through creativity allowing people from all communities to connect.", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Real Estate Firm Waterton Acquires Controlling Stake in Pathway to Living. Waterton, a Chicago-based commercial real estate investor and operator, has bought a controlling interest in senior living developer and provider Pathway to Living. Also based in Chicago, Pathways portfolio consists of 32 properties across the Midwest, totaling 2,900 units.\nFinancial terms of the deal were not disclosed.\nThe deal deepens the relationship between two firms, which began in 2015 when Waterton bought a 50% stake in the company and took control of half of the six seats on Pathway to Livings board, Pathway to Living CEO Jerry Finis told Senior Housing News.\nAdvertisement\nSince that time, Waterton helped finance several Pathway to Living developments including:\nAspired Living of LaGrange, a 116-unit assisted living and memory care facility in LaGrange, Illinois opening in Spring 2020\nAspired Living of Westmont, a 107-unit assisted living and memory care community in Westmont, Illinois, which was the first senior housing community in the U.S. to provide residents with Spark of Life, a breakthrough program of treatment and support for dementia care\nThe $33.8 million acquisition of The Grandbrier, a 101-unit assisted living and memory care community in Prospect Heights, Illinois\nThe deal further aligns Pathway to Living with a capital partner with experience operating a national real estate platform, which will facilitate the operators growth outside the Midwest Pathway has another development in the pipeline in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.\nLast year, Waterton closed on a $920 million fund its largest ever. The firm closed on $1 billion in transactions last year, Waterton CEO David Schwartz told SHN. Dont expect the Pathway deal to change that funds investment strategy.\nAdvertisement\nWith senior housing, that strategy is not part of our investment mandate in current funds, Schwartz said. Other acquisitions would be done outside of our current funds.\nThrough a value-add investment strategy, Waterton controls a $4.8 billion portfolio of multifamily and hotel assets across the country.\nVertically integrated teams, sharing synergies\nRecommended SHN+ Exclusives\nBoth Waterton and Pathway to Living have vertically integrated teams able to handle acquisitions, development and asset management. Pathways operational model was a major attraction to Waterton, Schwartz said.\nSenior housing is such a distinct specialty, he said. Its less of a commodity and more complicated in operation.\nThe deal does bring operational synergies to the partnership, such as the ability to raise capital and investment management expertise, Schwartz said.\nWe also have a market research function we now share with Pathway, investor relations and other services well fold in, as needed, he said.\nWatertons staff training platform, Resitality was a draw to Pathway, Finis said.\nWaterton cross-trains its residential and hospitality staff in best practices, providing residents with the best qualities of both product types. Finis believes the hospitality component inherent to senior housing operations would be ideal for integrating into Resitality.\nUnlike apartment residents, our residents are in their homes all the time, he said. It marries up very well.\nShare", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " expanding geography", " company description", "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Civica Rx will provide insulin for no more than $30 a vial. Her insulin is too expensive ... so she's been forced to cut doses\n02:28\n(CNN)\nCivica Rx, a non-profit generic drug maker backed by hospitals, insurers and philanthropies, announced Thursday that it plans to manufacture and sell insulin for no more than $30 a vial. It is expected to be available as soon as early 2024, pending federal approval.\nInsulin, which more than 8 million Americans with diabetes depend on, has been a poster child for the soaring cost of prescription drugs\nThough insulin was discovered more than a century ago and costs little to make, the list price of the brand name products that Civica Rxis targeting is roughly $300 per vial, according to the Gary and Mary West Foundation, which co-founded Civica Rx. The cost has nearly tripled since 2010.\nThe high cost has led an estimated 1 in every 4 people with diabetes to ration or skip doses, according to a study published in 2019 in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine. Patients who are Black, Latino or Native American are disproportionately affected since they are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured.\nThere have been multiple efforts to help diabetics afford their medication, the latest being a $35 cap on insulin prices that President Joe Biden called for in his State of the Union addresson Tuesday. Congress, however, has yet to pass such a measure. It was contained in the Democrats' $1.75 trillion Build Back Better package which is on hold in the Senate\nRead More\nCivica Rx, which was founded in 2018 to manufacture generic drugs that are in short supply or subject to price spikes, aims to produce three insulin products that will be available in vials and prefilled pens. They would be interchangeable with Lantus, Humalog and Novolog and be co-developed by GeneSys Biologics, a biopharmaceutical company based in India.\nA box of five pen cartridges will cost no more than $55.\nBefore it can roll out the medications, however, Civica Rx needs to complete clinical trials and receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Also, it must finish building a 140,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Petersburg, Virginia.\nThe non-profit is raising $125 million to undertake the insulin effort and has secured commitments for more than two-thirds of the funds, Ken Boyden, executive director of The Civica Foundation, said in a statement.\nThe venture will eventually be self-sustaining, said Shelley Lyford, vice chair of Civica Rx's board. It will initially produce enough insulin to cover about 30% of the market.\n\"Those who are going to benefit greatly from this opportunity that we are providing at Civica are those who are underinsured or uninsured who cannot afford to pay for their drugs,\" Lyford said.\nUnlike other efforts, which focus mainly on lowering what patients pay for insulin, Civica Rx aims to reduce the price of the medication itself.\n\"Civica's goal to produce and sell insulin at very low prices could be an important disruption to the current system,\" said Stacie Dusetzina, associate professor of health policy at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. \"There are a couple of big potential wins for consumers.\"\nSearch", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "regulatory approval" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Aegis CEO: Old Staffing Philosophy 'Going Out The Window ' In-House Agency Launching. Send email\nAegis Living is set to pilot its own staffing agency in a move aimed at saving millions of dollars in workforce expenses and potentially creating a new business line down the road.\nThe Bellevue, Washington-based operator in January plans to launch the new agency in Seattle, where it has 17 communities and five more under development. Aegis expects to pilot the new agency, called Aegis Staffing, for a period of about 12 to 18 months. The agency will exist as a separate entity from Aegis, with its own staffing software and management.\nWhile the initial goal of the pilot will be to help with staffing at only Aegis communities in Seattle, CEO Dwayne Clark believes there are opportunities to expand the service to other regions and potentially even other senior living companies down the road.\nAdvertisement\nThe [staffing] philosophy that weve used for years and years and years is going out the window, Clark told Senior Housing News.\nThat usual philosophy entails hiring full-time workers at wage rates that are competitive for their markets, with two days off per week, with some perks and bonuses and benefits. But workers expectations and their priorities related to work-life balance have shifted over the last 18 months, Clark observed.\nIn 2021, Clark estimates that Aegis will end up spending around $10 million to $11 million in agency staffing. But with an in-house staffing agency, he sees a chance to save money on workforce while creating a new revenue stream by leveraging Aegis reputation as a quality senior living company. The company will also gain access to a new flexible trained workforce.\nAdvertisement\nThe decision to launch a staffing agency comes amid intense staffing headwinds for senior living operators across the country. Conditions are such that Clark said, in his 36 years in the industry, he has never seen anything like it although hiring at Aegis has picked up in recent months, he added.\nAegis has made headway whittling down its number of open positions in 2021. Over the summer, the operator was facing 450 vacant positions, but as of today, that number is about 250.\nMore generally, Aegis is making good headway on regaining the occupancy lost in 2020 and last year. At the outset of the pandemic, Aegis dipped from an average occupancy of 93% to less than 82%. But by December typically a slow month for move-ins the company was already back to 88% average occupancy.\nWhat we have seen in the last four months is like the light switch flipped on, especially in the last two weeks, Clark said. We had a 1% surge in census just last week.\nThis recent occupancy growth is particularly noteworthy given usual seasonal trends, of move-ins slowing around the holidays, he added.\nAegis agency pilot\nUnderpinning Aegis Staffing will be a centralized system to deploy workers where they are needed within Aegis portfolio.\nAlthough Aegis already employs many seasoned caregivers, the company wont draw from its own workforce to staff the agency. Instead, the company will look to recruit workers from existing staffing agencies and tap other alternative recruiting sources.\nWhen recruiting workers from other staffing agencies, Aegis plans to leverage the fact that it is a large company with a stable balance sheet. When faced with a choice between working at Aegis Staffing or a typical mom-and-pop staffing agency, Clark believes the answer is simple and that workers will take the former.\nThe company will also look to recruit people from all walks of life, including recent refugees, retired military personnel and even older adults themselves. Clark gives an example of a stay-at-home parent. While they may not want to work swing shifts five days a week, they may be open to working two days a week while their kids are at school.\nThats a workforce that we havent been exposed to, Clark said.\nWhile Aegis Staffing workers wont get benefits like full-time employees in Aegis communities do, they will be paid at a higher hourly rate comparable to what other local agencies are paying for staff.\nTo prevent taking employees from other Aegis communities, the operator has mandated that prospective workers must have a break from the company either three months or six months before they can work at the staffing agency.\nWhat we dont want to do is just shift our people over from working in our buildings, causing disruption, Clark said.\nInitially, Aegis Staffing will meet the operators own needs in Seattle, where Aegis has a large concentration of communities, with workers being kept to one location as much as possible. But down the road, Clark believes there will be opportunities to work with other senior living operators.\nIt could be a $30 million, $40 million business pretty easily, Clark said.\nAt a recent senior living industry conference in Santa Barbara, California, Clark asked other attendees about their experience using staffing agencies and got a range of responses, most complaining about poor training or a lack of sophistication. Once Clark mentioned Aegis was piloting a staffing service that could be offered at a similar or even lower rate than other agencies, they were all over it.\nI dont think theyre going to look at us from a competitive standpoint as much as a resource, Clark said. Theyre going to look at their current situation and go, Hey, this is not very good, and if you can solve this problem, thats interesting.\nOccupancy comeback\nStaffing is just one challenge facing senior living operators at the moment, and Clark believes that providers must be open about sharing their challenges as well as their victories.\nI think thats one of the pivots that we have to make as an industry, is to be very transparent, honest about the challenges we face, whether thats in staffing, whether its supply chain issues, whether its, our occupancy has been low, and were trying to get it up, he said. You have to be transparent about that, because thats the only way you win consumer confidence back.\nWhile the big challenge of the moment is staffing, the occupancy story is a brighter one for Aegis.\nThe company is not back to normal, but has seen huge, huge traffic, particularly in the two buildings that opened in the last six months. One of the communities open for four months so far is $2.5 million ahead of budget, while the other open for six months is $1.2 million ahead of budget, according to Clark.\nAegis senior living residents and their families are also more willing to pay additional community fees and higher rates than they were just two years ago, he has observed. This is a view shared by other industry executives, such as Brookdale Senior Living CEO (NYSE: BKD) Cindy Baier, who believes 2022 will be a year of rate and occupancy growth for the industry.\nAt the same time, the pandemic has muted new development and construction, which Clark believes will be a tailwind for further occupancy growth in the months ahead.\nI think there is going to be more demand, which is goin", "answer groups": [ " company description", "department establishment", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Medisafe raises $30 million for predictive AI that reminds people to take their pills. Image Credit: Medisafe\nData: Meet ad creative\nFrom TikTok to Instagram, Facebook to YouTube, and more, learn how data is key to ensuring ad creative will actually perform on every platform.\nMedisafe\n, a startup developing a personalized medication management platform designed to help patients stay on top of their prescriptions, today announced that it raised $30 million. The company says this new investment will enable it to expand its solutions while accelerating revenues growth.\nFear of or discomfort from needles are among the many reasons patients refuse to take or keep up with medications. According to a\nreview\nin the Annals of Internal Medicine, 20% to 30% of medication prescriptions are never filled and approximately 50% of medications for chronic disease arent taken as prescribed. This lack of adherence is estimated to cause approximately 125,000 deaths and to\ncost the American health care system\nbetween $100 billion and $289 billion per year.\nIn 2012, Medisafe cofounders Omri Shor and Rotem Shor, who are brothers, faced a family health emergency. Due to a miscommunication about his medication schedule, their father, a diabetic, accidentally took an extra dose of insulin. In an effort to address and prevent these sorts of mistakes from happening in the future, the brothers created Medisafe, which helps to manage prescription schedules by leveraging AI and big data.\nMedisafe employs what it calls digital drug companions to ensure medication takers follow through with their prescriptions. After a patient enters a medication into Medisafes smartphone app, the app guides them through a process that entails collecting release forms and helping them through titration schedules. Powered by Medisafes predictive AI engine, the Just-in-time-Interventions (JITI), the apps content changes as the patient matriculates through therapy and recovery, delivering instructions on how to administer medication, assessing eligibility for financial support programs, and ordering refills as well as collecting information for providers via surveys.\nMedisafe can email and text patients to remind them to take their medications on time. Moreover, the platform can target rising-risk patients with analytics and insights based on real-time behavioral assessments, boosting adherence up to 20%.\nWith AI integration, users friends and physicians can be alerted if a user has missed doses, when specific steps have not been completed, or when a patient has some kind of challenging event throughout their journey, a spokesperson told VentureBeat via email. Through [Medisafes] platform, the company delivers average adherence rates by users of 86%, well above industry norms of 50%. Billions of successful medication doses are managed through Medisafes platform, preventing more than 500,000 potentially harmful drug-to-drug interactions.\nOn the backend, Medisafes in-app Care Connector enables clinicians to remotely connect with patients should they need additional assistance. And the companys Maestro product provides a summary of patient census, compliance configuration settings, access to program reporting, and integrations with other vendor data.\nWhile Medisafe directly competes with Walmarts CareZone, Shop Apothekes MyTherapy, TrialCards Mango, and Healthprize, it claims to be among the largest medication management platforms in the world with over 7 million registered users. Over the past eight years, through partnerships with pharma companies including Merck, the company has amassed a database of over four billion dosage behaviors informing JITI.\nTodays investment allows Medisafe to expand holistic treatment support for patients to impact behavior change and ultimately outcomes. Medisafe is continuously advancing its technology to meet the dynamic needs of patients managing complex therapies, Omri Shor said in a press release.\nSanofi Ventures and Alive Israel HealthTech Fund led Medisafes series C funding announced today, which had participation from Leumi Partners, Menorah Mivtachim, and Consensus Business Group, as well as previous backers Pitango Ventures, 7Wire Ventures, Merck Ventures, Octopus Ventures, Lool HealthTech, Triventures, and OurCrowd. It brings Israel- and Boston, Massachusetts-based Medisafes total raised to date to roughly $55 million.\nVentureBeat\nVentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative technology and transact.Our site delivers essential information on data technologies and strategies to guide you as you lead your organizations. We invite you to become a member of our community, to access:\nup-to-date information on the subjects of interest to you\nour newsletters\ngated thought-leader content and discounted access to our prized events, such as Transform\nnetworking features, and more\nBecome a member\nTransform 2021\nJoin us for the worlds leading event about accelerating enterprise transformation with AI and Data, for enterprise technology decision-makers, presented by the #1 publisher in AI and Data", "answer groups": [ " company description", "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Nigeria and World News Nigeria The Guardian Nigeria News Nigeria and World News. Share on Telegram\nA Nigerian, Korede Azeez, has emerged one of the winners in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Netflix groundbreaking short film competition tagged African Folktales, Reimagined.\nA Nigerian, Korede Azeez, has emerged one of the winners in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Netflix groundbreaking short film competition tagged African Folktales, Reimagined.\nWinners, which cut across Sub-Saharan Africa, are to receive training and mentorship from industry professionals.\nThey will also get $75,000 production grant to create short films to premiered on Netflix this year as an Anthology of African folktales.\nBesides Azeez, five other winners announced yesterday, in a statement by Ayomide Olumide of Hill+Knowlton Strategies on behalf of the organisers, include Gcobisa Yako from South Africa; Loukman Ali (Uganda); Mohamed Echkouna (Mauritania); Voline Ogutu (Kenya) and Walter Mzengi of Tanzania.\nEach victor gets $25,000 in addition to a production budget of $75,000 to create short films through a local production company and under the guidance of Netflix-appointed supervising producer and industry mentors from across the continent.\nThe contest, launched by Netflix and UNESCO in October 2021, is aimed at promoting diverse local stories and bringing them to the world, via African Folktales.\nIn his congratulatory message, Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay said: The fact that their films will be shown to a global audience is part of our commitment to promoting cultural diversity around the world.\nNetflix Director of Content in Africa, Ben Amadasun noted: Its been a truly inspiring journey for us to experience the level of creativity from our candidates.\nIn this article", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "event organization", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "EV battery maker LG will add up to 1 200 jobs in Michigan. Save to Read Later\nLANSING, Mich. (AP) Electric vehicle battery maker LG Energy Solution plans a $1.7 billion expansion in western Michigan that will add up to 1,200 jobs by 2025, officials announced Tuesday.\nFILE - LG Chem Michigan Inc.'s plant is Holland, Mich., is seen in this March 15, 2013 photo. Electric vehicle battery maker LG Energy Solution, a joint-venture partner with automaker General Motors, plans a $1.7 billion expansion in western Michigan that will add up to 1,200 jobs by 2025. The project at the companys site in Holland was approved Tuesday, March 22, 2022, for $56.5 million in state grants and a 20-year tax break worth $132.6 million.(Mark Copier/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)\nLANSING, Mich. (AP) Electric vehicle battery maker LG Energy Solution plans a $1.7 billion expansion in western Michigan that will add up to 1,200 jobs by 2025, officials announced Tuesday.\nThe project at the company's site in Holland, located about 155 miles (249 kilometers) northwest of Detroit, was approved for $56.5 million in state grants and a 20-year tax break worth $132.6 million.\nMichigan Economic Development Corp. CEO Quentin Messer Jr., who chairs the Michigan Strategic Fund, said the expansion will quintuple the plant's ability to produce battery components. The average wage will be $1,257 a week, or about $65,000 annually, plus benefits.\nWe look forward to the incredible impact this project will have on the region's economy, small businesses and workforce for generations to come, Messer said.\nWant to get a head start on your day?\nGet the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.\nSign Up\nI agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies and CASL agreement\nA state memo requesting the incentives says LG was considering facilities in the southeastern U.S. and potentially in Poland and China.\nThe company, which is headquartered in South Korea, could begin hiring later this year. It manufactures large lithium-ion polymer battery cells and packs for electric vehicles and other applications.\nIt has joint-venture partnerships with General Motors, with which it is building three U.S. battery plants in Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, and Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler. Stellantis would not confirm reports that it will build a battery factory in Windsor, Ontario, with LG. The site of a planned fourth GM-LG battery plant has not been announced.\nLG has been operating in Holland since 2009 and has nearly 1,500 Michigan employees, including more than 1,300 in the city near Lake Michigan. The company plans to construct several new buildings totaling 1.4 million square feet on vacant land it already owns.\n___\nFollow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00\nAdvertisement", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "expanding geography", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "JonnyPops and Kowalskis team up for winter clothing drive. St. Louis Park-based JonnyPops and grocery store chain Kowalskis Market are pairing up to provide in-store winter clothing donation boxes benefiting Josephs Coat and Sharing & Caring Hands.\nThe effort coincides with World Kindness Day Friday, Nov. 13.\nAll 11 Kowalskis Market stores across the metro area will house multiple donation bins for winter clothing and hygiene product collection Saturday, Nov. 7, through Sunday, Nov. 15. JonnyPops will provide each donor with a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for its pops that can be used at any retail location.\nEveryone has the power to change the world with something as simple as an act of kindness, said Erik Brust, CEO of JonnyPops. It is so important to recognize that we are all better when we stand together.\nThe frozen treat company has built a kind-deed generator online to help promote creating good deeds. All submissions will be considered for new stick sayings in 2021.\nFor more information and a list of most needed donation items for the donation drive, visit jonnypops.com/winter-clothing-drive", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "alliance & partnership", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Glasgow's Law At Work gains firepower with owner's 5m acquisition spree. Law firm Gilson Gray acquires East Lothian-based Practical Legal Solutions\nMagnus Swanson is chairman of employment law, HR, and health and safety specialist LAW and former chief executive of Maclay Murray & Spens, now Dentons.\nHe hailed the deals, adding: Since becoming part of Marlowe, our ambition has been to acquire further businesses that complement our own, in order to strengthen the services we provide to our clients. These acquisitions reinforce our current offering with more high-quality legal expertise, market-leading software and greater capability in our HR consultancy offering.\nIm very excited about our future, the opportunities that this will bring for our brilliant team, and the enhanced level of support this will offer our [small and medium-sized enterprise] and mid-market clients.\nYoumanage is seen as reinforcing LAW and Ellis Whittams software offering, and was bought for 1.25m, comprising a 750,000 upfront consideration and the remainder a deferred element.\nThe firm helps employers improve the quality and effectiveness of their HR management processes through a new breed of subscription-based HR technology, and it supports about 200 clients, having developed a platform it says addresses the needs of both smaller and larger organisations.\nYoumanage chief executive Nick Pye said: Technology is set to play an increasingly important role in the delivery of HR and advisory services to business owners, HR professionals and people managers alike.\nTurning to ESPHR, the Woking-based employment law compliance specialist was bought for 3.2m. It is billed as a new model employment law firm and ER technology business comprised of a 14-strong team, including top employment lawyers. Established in 2003, it now supports some 170 retained clients including Greene King, Randstad and Entain.\nESPHR is expected to build on the existing strength of Ellis Whittam and LAW in the legal space, combining technology and employment law knowledge to compete with traditional law firms.\nHRSP was bought for 700,000 and the Horsham-based firm specialises in delivering bespoke HR support to charities and not-for-profit organisations.\nIts team of 21 HR consultants provides project-based and retained support to around 200 clients each year, offering help with administrative, operational and strategic HR requirements. It says it has experienced strong growth in the last year, with an annual turnover of 1m, and will enhance LAW and Ellis Whittams presence in the third sector.\nA message from the Editor:\nThank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.\nIf you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription\n0", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "In brief: Orinda team heads to Odyssey of Mind state tourney. By compiled by East Bay Times|\nMarch 17, 2019 at 5:00 am\nORINDA\nA rookie team from Orinda took first place in the Odyssey of the Mind regional competition and is going to Santa Rosa for the March 30 state tournament. On March 2 the Orinda Rotary #42350 team competed at the San Francisco Bay Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament at Concord High School and advanced to the Northern California Association tournament by placing among the top three teams in their divisions. Northern and Southern California will have separate representatives for the world tournament, which takes place in Michigan in May.\nOrinda Rotary #42350, consists of seven fifth-grade girls: five from Sleepy Hollow Elementary School Abby Kim, Aimee Steinmeier, Caitlin Chan, Ava Yap and Sannam Tognotti; and two from Hillcrest Elementary School in Oakland Livia Phan Fields and Zia Cohn. Orinda Rotary #42350s participation in Odyssey of the Mind is coordinated and coached by Sleepy Hollow Elementary parents Zimian Huang and Angelica Steinmeier.\nThere were two components to the competition. The first component was a Spontaneous Challenge for which five of the girls were given a problem they did not know about ahead of time and was challenged to address the problem on the spot. The second component was a long-term problem, of which the girls chose from five options ahead of time.\nOdyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. While teams have adult coaches, the students are responsible for all planning, collection and construction of materials and writing of the presentations, which often include humor and musical elements. For more details visit sfbayodysseyofthemind.orgonline.\n Orinda Rotary #42350\nWALNUT CREEK\nCaring Hands volunteers make seniors their ministry\nThe Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers program has just celebrated its 20th anniversary of caring for frail and/or isolated seniors in Contra Costa County. Kam Baloue, John Muir Healths department secretary for pastoral care, joined Caring Hands as a volunteer in 2012. She has always made a point of reaching out to seniors, whether through her church or by caring for the mothers of close friends.\nI see the colors of human frailties and the circle of life in the care receivers I serve, and I am reminded that I will be walking in their shoes one day, Baloue said.\nShe feels that helping the programs seniors on weekends brings her closer to her own mother, who was wheelchair-bound due to severe health problems for much of her later life. Now Kam always finds a way to clear her calendar so a local senior can have groceries, get a needed audiobook or have some company.\nAnyone who can serve one to three hours a week is asked to consider attending the upcoming Caring Hands Volunteer Training in Walnut Creek from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 22. Enriching matches and deep relationships are created with seniors who treasure a visit, walk, social outing or an occasional ride to the doctor or grocery store. For a required application or more information about having a Caring Hands interview, contact Volunteer Coordinator Stacy Appel at 925-952-2999 or email caring.hands@johnmuirhealth.com\n Caring Hands Volunteer Caregivers\nOAKLEY\nOakley Library STEAM-ing up local kids spring break\nWhen kids explore, create and experiment in an informal learning environment such as the library, they learn a lot and have fun at the same time. The Oakley Library will have a new hands-on project from 3 to 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday during local schools spring break (March 19-23 and March 26-30). Projects will explore the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and are perfect for ages 7-13.\nSTEAM programs help prepare kids to become innovative and creative learners. As always, library programs and events are free of charge. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Oakley Library. For more information, visit ccclib.orgor call the library at 925-625-2400.\n Contra Costa County LIbrary\nCONCORD\nBus tours of former Naval Weapons Station offered\nThe city of Concord will host first-come, first-served public bus tours of the Base Reuse Project at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station on April 6 and May 4. The two-hour tours will give the public a chance to see where new housing, retail and office buildings are planned on the property, as well as the Mount Diablo Creek restoration project, and areas intended for a higher education campus district, tournament sports complex and a regional park.\nTwo tours will be conducted each day at 9 a.m. and noon, starting from Concord Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive. There is no charge for the tours. To sign up, participants can make a reservation through the EventBrite links located at concordreuseproject.org where those interested can also learn more about the Reuse Plan for the former base.\n city of Concord\nWALNUT CREEK\nBead & Design Show coming to Marriott March 22-24\nThe Walnut Creek Bead & Design Show is bringing artisans to the Walnut Creek Marriott. The show promotes handcraft and jewelry design and hosts 200 artisan exhibits of handmade beads, artistic jewelry, gemstones, ceramic arts, clothing and textile design. Come see the Walnut Creek Marriott transformed into a 25,000 square-foot exhibition of originality, natural color, organic texture, and sustainable materials products reflecting artisan design and authentic handcraft, one-of-a-kind products not found elsewhere offered for the first time by the artisans themselves and that can be purchased directly from artisans, designers and tradespeople.\nWorkshops will be taught by artists in residence, who provide step-by-step instruction in handcraft design projects such as jewelry design, art clay, wirework, stone setting, beadwork, leatherwork, hand knotting, micro chasing and metal work. Come and buy directly from artisans, designers and tradepeople from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 22-24 at the Marriott Walnut Creek, 2355 North Main St, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door (good for all three days), and the show is open to the public. Visit beadanddesign.comfor more details.\n Garan-Beadagio\nPLEASANT HILL\nCommunity Foundation accepting grant applications\nThe Pleasant Hill Community Foundation has released its 2019 Community Grant application for public and nonprofit organizations in Pleasant Hill. The proceeds from the Annual Appeal held last fall are funding these grant awards. Any recreational, cultural or educational program that serves the residents of Pleasant Hill can apply.\nThe Foundation is again very proud to be able to provide this opportunity to organizations in our community. Our mission is to enrich the lives of the residents of Pleasant Hill through cultural, educational and recreational activities, said Betty Geishirt Cantrell, the groups grants allocation chair. Applications can be downloaded from the foundations webs", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "event organization" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Contraband Is the Next Game From the Just Cause Studio. Contraband is the next game from the Just Cause studio\nBy\nJoseph Yaden\nJune 13, 2021 10:40AM\nContraband is coming to Xbox consoles and PC from developer Avalanche Studios, the same team that worked on the Just Cause series. This project will be an open-world cooperative game, though not much else is known about it.\nAs part of Microsofts E3 showcase,the company showed a brief teaser trailer for Contraband.\nWhile we dont know much about the upcoming game, we do know itll be published by Microsoft, so its unlikely itll come to other platforms outside of the Xbox and PC ecosystem. Contraband is still early in development, and its release date is unknown.\nEditors' Recommendations", "answer groups": [ " participation in an event", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Singapore Biotech Firm To Begin Human Clinical Trial For COVID-19 Treatment. Singapore will embark on human clinical trials next week, for a potential monoclonal antibody treatment for\nCOVID-19\nThe phase one trial, developed by Singapore-based biotechnology company Tychan, will be conducted by the SingHealth Investigational Medicine Unit and take about six weeks.\nAFP\nIt is meant to determine the safety and effectiveness of TY027, a monoclonal antibody or immune system protein that specifically targets\nSars-CoV-2\nthe virus that causes COVID-19\n, said Tychan in a statement on Wednesday (June 10).\nAntibodies are generated in the body to fight off infection. Monoclonal antibodies mimic natural antibodies and can be isolated and manufactured in large quantities to treat diseases in patients.\nTY027 is being explored for the treatment of COVID-19 patients by slowing the progression of the disease and speeding up recovery, as well as potentially to provide temporary protection against infection, the company said.\nRepresentational Image\nIf phase one is successful, Tychan will seek approval for the antibody to be administered to a larger population of volunteer patients in subsequent trials.\nThe treatment is aimed at\nCOVID-19\npatients for now. Whether it could be used for other applications, such as for healthcare workers or even overseas travellers, would depend on the results of the trial.\nProfessor Ooi Eng Eong of Duke-NUS Medical School, who is one of the founders of Tychan, said that besides using the drug as a treatment for Covid-19, it could potentially be used to prevent infections.\n\"If the drug is indeed safe enough, we could, for instance, give (it) to healthcare workers who are treating Covid-19 patients so they don't get the infections themselves.\n\"And, as well as other scenarios like, for instance, if one travels to places with a lot of COVID-19 cases, this could be used to prevent infections when they are away from Singapore,\" he said.\nTY027 was developed together with the Singapore's Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health, the Economic Development Board, and other government agencies.\nThe", "answer groups": [ " regulatory approval", "clinical trial sponsorship", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Least & Most Stressful Cities in 2021 According to this Report. BellaNaija.com\nThe CBD and well-being company VAAY.comhas launched research that rates cities according to how stressful their settings are for their residents. The firm chose to investigate prevalent exterior elements that make city living difficult for urbanites as part of its aim to encourage inner balance and mindfulness.\nDuring this process, VAAY discovered that it could analyze numerous stress indicators among cities around the world to identify which cities are the least and most stressful for their residents. The resulting index shines a light on the ever-present factors that influence a persons stress levels and gives insight into which global cities perform best in different areas and can be an example for their peers.\nOur objective with this study is to show what cities can achieve for their citizens through effective governance, robust environmental policies and well-resourced social welfare systems. The aim is not to single out the cities which may lag in any of these areas, but rather highlight those which are leading examples of what can be done to improve the wellbeing of their inhabitants, comments Finn Age Hnsel, co-founder of VAAY.\nWe hope that the results of the study serve as a useful barometer for cities and citizens alike to reassess their environments and work together towards developing cities that are less stressful places to live.\nHow the study was conducted:\nTo begin the study, VAAY considered which macro factors contribute to stress, narrowing them down to four broad categories. Next, over 500 global cities were assessed against several stress indicators in these categories, before those without reliable data were removed, leaving a final line-up of 100 cities.\nThe study started with factors related to governance assessing safety and security, and socio-political stability as indicators of how comfortable someone can feel in a city. To include stress indicators for all segments of society, levels of gender and minority equality were also scrutinised, as these demographics often have a higher chance of experiencing stress due to societal frameworks shaped by local laws and policy decisions.\nFollowing this, VAAY compared how stressful each citys urban environment is by looking at population density statistics in addition to air, light, and noise pollution levels, the amount of traffic congestion and weather conditions. These indicators were included to capture the stress-inducing effect of atmospheric contamination and extreme weather conditions, for example, wildfires, heatwaves, and periods of extended darkness, which are strongly associated with both physical and mental health conditions.\nNext, several financial factors were evaluated, including unemployment rates, social security structures and local purchasing power. These indicators were included to reflect that economic problems are a cause of significant stress for many people, and have become increasingly widespread since the beginning of the pandemic.\nThe quality and accessibility of healthcare in each city was then compiled, as well as the availability of mental healthcare. Finally, a Covid Response Stress Impact score was generated by looking at how stressful each governments pandemic response was for its population, as well as how successful it was. The study reveals which cities have the most stressful environments for their citizens, and which lead by example as the least stressful cities.\nClick here to view the full press release and click this link to view the results and full methodology of the study\nRelated Topics:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "article publication" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Hospice of Wichita Falls Partners with WellSky to Streamline Clinician Workflows and Boost Caregiver Satisfaction. Hospice of Wichita Falls\n, the first and only community-based nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider in North Central Texas, has partnered with WellSky a leading health and community care technology company, to streamline care transitions, strengthen referral relationships, and increase staff satisfaction with WellSky Hospice & Palliativesoftware.\nSince its inception in 1985, Hospice of Wichita Falls has served more than 13,000 patients and their families through end-of-life care. The hospice and palliative care provider is committed to providing comfort, care, and hope for their patients and their families.\nAfter using legacy, on-premise electronic health records (EHR) technology for their hospice and palliative care teams since 2007, Hospice of Wichita Falls began to explore new avenues to enhance staff morale and productivity due to the strain of duplicative documentation and burdensome charting. After evaluating the WellSky Hospice & Palliative solution, Hospice of Wichita Falls recognized that WellSkys cloud-based, certified, and unified hospice and palliative platform could consolidate redundant processes and streamline care delivery across service lines.\nIn evaluating WellSky Hospice & Palliative, our team was impressed by the flow of documentation and the work it does for them, said Alisa Echols, LMSW, executive director of Hospice of Wichita Falls. Having interoperable, easy-to-use software that can support our entire business from one platform is crucial to maintaining high staff satisfaction and delivering great care.\nLeveraging WellSkys interoperable solutions, Hospice of Wichita Falls can strengthen their relationships with referral sources and improve care coordination and transitions, allowing the agency to deliver high-quality, individualized care at the most important time.\n\"There is tremendous pressure on hospices to do more with less, and WellSky is committed to removing barriers to success in todays rapidly evolving regulatory and reimbursement environment, said Wes Little, chief analytics officer and general manager at WellSky. We work tirelessly to provide solutions that enable our clients to deliver seamless, quality care. Im thrilled WellSky can empower the Hospice of Wichita Falls organization to extend outstanding end-of-life care to even more people within their communities.\nWellSky Hospice & Palliative V.500 technologies have achieved Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC-Health IT) 2015 Edition Health IT Module Certification. To learn more and to request a demonstration, visit wellsky.com/hospice\nAbout WellSky \nWellSky is a technology company leading the movement for intelligent, coordinated care worldwide. Our next-generation software, analytics, and services power better outcomes and lower costs for stakeholders across the health and community care continuum. In todays value-based care environment, WellSky helps providers, payers, health systems, and community organizations solve tough challenges, improve collaboration for growth, harness the power of data analytics, and achieve better outcomes by further connecting clinical and social care. WellSky serves more than 20,000 client sites around the world including the largest hospital systems, blood banks, cell therapy labs, blood centers, home health and hospice franchises, post-acute providers, government agencies, and human services organizations. Informed by more than 40 years of providing software and expertise, WellSky anticipates clients needs and innovates relentlessly to ultimately help more people thrive. For more information, visit WellSky.com\nAbout Hospice of Wichita Falls\nHospice of Wichita Falls is the first and only community-based nonprofit hospice in North Central Texas, serving the area since 1985. Hospice of Wichita Falls provides physical and medical care for patients of any age with life-threatening illnesses, as well as emotional and spiritual support for patients and their families. Since its inception, Hospice of Wichita Falls has provided care and support to over 13,000 patients and many times that number of family members. For more information, visit HOWF.org\nView source version on", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "alliance & partnership", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "hsa: Fedo launches Health Savings Account in partnership with neo bank Open. Comment\nSynopsis\nFedo said that there is a very large and urgent need to simplify and bridge the financing gap between insurance policy coverage and hospitalization expenses. This offering will enhance the value proposition for insurers and banks alike, and more importantly will address the needs of consumers, with empathy.\nGetty Images\nAI driven Health- tech company Fedohas announced a announced Health Savings Account, called Fedo HSA in collaboration with neo bank Open\nFedo HSA will be offering a combined account that helps customers meet their required spends through a combination of smart savings, insurance, line of credit all bundled in a powerful savings account that comes with a health Credit/ Debitcards with health benefit features and rewards.\nThere is a dire need of transformation on the healthcare sector to address the issues with the rising healthcare costs and the aftermath of the pandemic. We are happy to be a part of Fedo HSA journey that has the potential to transform the industry by taking a personalised approach towards healthcare finance clubbed with incredible customer innovation by technology,\" Anish Achuthan, CEO, OPEN said in a statement.\nFedo said that there is a very large and urgent need to simplify and bridge the financing gap between insurance policy coverage and hospitalization expenses. This offering will enhance the value proposition for insurers and banks alike, and more importantly will address the needs of consumers, with empathy.\nWith the right mix of data and machine intelligence, Fedo HSA aims to provide a systematic way of planning for health needs based on predictable health risks and solve the financial crisis which impacts millions of families each year due to medical emergencies,\" Prasanth Madavana, CEO & Co-Founder at Fedo said.\nThe company has partnered with insurers, card issuers and banks to expand the network of Fedo HSA service. This development comes after the company developed the proprietary Fedo score which helps insurance companies successfully underwrite its users and helps Fedo consumers understand how healthy they are.\nWere looking at this as an end-to-end solution that addresses healthcare access and affordability. Our goal is to not only transform the experience on the front-end for the customers, but also to streamline operational processes in the back end in ways that most providers arent thinking,\" Arun Mallavarapu, CTO & Co-Founder at Fedo said.\nRead More News on", "answer groups": [ " alliance & partnership", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Aegis Living Forms Coronavirus Advisory Council. Save\nBELLEVUE, Wash., June 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic reinforces the urgent need to provide leading-edge care for the country's most vulnerable seniors. As one of the nation's most established providers of assisted living and memory care services, Aegis Living recognizes the long-term implications of the virus on the safety, health and wellness of its residents, families and caregivers. The company is taking bold, new steps guided by the latest clinical expertise to keep its residents and staff safe and healthy during this unprecedented health crisis and beyond.\nToday, the company announced the creation of the Aegis Living Coronavirus Advisory Council, a group comprised of physicians and medical experts from some of the nation's leading medical and research institutions and representing a core set of disciplines critical to the health of older adults. The Council is launching with seven initial members representing epidemiology, immunology, geriatrics, psychology, naturopathy and more.\nCharles Bernick, M.D., MPH, University of Washington, UW Medicine\nRebecca Conant, M.D., University of California, San Francisco\nGlenn Hammel, Ph.D., Private Practice\nJoseph Pizzorno, ND, Institute for Functional Medicine\nJoshua T. Schiffer, M.D., M.Sc., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center\nEric Sievers, M.D., BioAtla\nBecky Su, L.Ac, M.D. (China), Private Practice\nFor over 20 years, Aegis Living has leveraged clinical expertise to help develop and inform its standards, practices and approaches to exceptional resident care. The new Council will extend this expertise even further.\n\"Aegis Living has and will continue to lead the industry through this pandemic and into the future based on deep scientific understanding of the virus and the latest best practices for protecting our senior population,\" said Aegis Living CEO Dwayne Clark. \"The coronavirus and its devastating impact on the fragile population we serve has brought into sharp focus the immediate need to evolve how we care for aging adults, keeping them safe while helping them live full lives. The creation of the Coronavirus Advisory Council is a critical part of this effort.\"\nAs the world looks ahead beyond the coronavirus pandemic, senior living companies will be a critical component of the health care continuum, a relatively new role for senior living and one that will increasingly require more advanced clinical knowledge, innovation and knowhow.\nAegis will look to researchers to teach the organization about how the virus travels, how it is evolving and where it may be headed next. It will look to leading medical experts and institutions for progressive thinking on how to best care for its fragile population physiologically, emotionally and cognitively. And it will look to naturopathic doctors to understand how alternative medicine may aid in long-term wellness. The company will leverage this knowledge to evolve its care planning in the short- and long-term.\n\"It is an honor to join Aegis Living's proactive mission as we collectively confront the pandemic,\" said Eric Sievers, M.D., Virus Council member. \"The swift dissemination of best practices based upon scientific evidence now enables us to actively prevent new infections. I am confident Aegis Living will continue to improve both the lifespan and health span of its residents and lead the way for others serving vulnerable populations.\"\nThe Council will meet four times annually, starting in July 2020, with other ad-hoc meetings, as needed. The company is evaluating how to best share its learnings so other senior living providers can benefit as well.\nFor more information on how Aegis Living is responding to the coronavirus crisis, visit: https://www.aegisliving.com/communications\nAbout Aegis Living\nAegis Living\nis a national leader in senior assisted living and memory care with a simple philosophy: make every day count. With more than 22 years of experience, it is known for its innovative approach to supporting residents along the continuum of care, from light assistance to advanced dementia; an eye for innovation and staying on the frontlines of design; and an employee-centric company culture. With every community, Aegis Living creates a living environment where residents can feel at home and inspired to live life to the fullest. The privately held company is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and operates 32 communities in Washington, California and Nevada, with 7 additional communities currently in development.\nFor more information, visit www.aegisliving.com Follow the company on Twitter @Aegisliving and Facebook at www.facebook.com/AegisLiving\nView original content to download multimedia:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Center for Breakthrough Medicines Appoints John Lee, Ph.D. as Vice President, Head of Cell Therapy. (CBM) announced today the appointment of\nJohn Lee\n, Ph.D. to Vice President, Head of Cell Therapy. Dr. Lee is an accomplished CAR-T immunobiologist with over 20 years of cancer cell biology expertise spanning small and large molecules, as well as cell-based therapeutics.\n\"We have an opportunity to become a global leader in cell therapy,\"\nJohn Lee\n, Ph.D.\nAmong his accomplishments, Dr. Lee possesses more than 15 years of clinical research and cell therapy experience including positions of increasing responsibility at The Wistar Institute, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and GlaxoSmithKline.\n\"I am excited to lead cell therapy at CBM and for the opportunity to cure patients,\" said Dr. Lee. \"My goal is to build a highly functional, diverse, and agile team that embraces the challenges associated with our shared mission. By creating an infrastructure that supports both the team and our clients, we have an opportunity to become a global leader in cell therapy.\"\nDr. Lee previously built the Cell Therapy Platform team at Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The group led and supported end-to-end therapy discovery and development across nearly a dozen CAR-T programs, including the recently approved cilta-cel (Carvykti). During his subsequent tenure as Vice President, Head of Oncology Cell Therapy at GlaxoSmithKline, Dr. Lee's team operated within a heavily matrixed organization to support an array of activities establishing multiple preclinical assets and several clinical-stage lete-cel programs targeting the NY-ESO cancer-testis antigen.\n\"My collective experience leading cell therapy programs in these large organizations will help me build a fit-for-purpose infrastructure here at CBM while also creating a culture where both the team and its individual contributors can thrive,\" he added.\nA native Pennsylvanian (from\n), Dr. Lee is passionate about the\nPhiladelphia\nlife science sector. He believes CBM has the solution to attract top talent and deliver services to the capacity-starved cell and gene contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) market. He also feels that\nKing of Prussia\n(KoP) is an ideal location for employees seeking a high quality of life. Compared to other life science clusters like those found in\nCambridge\nand\nNew Jersey\n, KoP offers a better quality of life with lower taxes, more affordable housing, excellent schools, and world-class restaurants.\nCBM is creating the world's largest end-to-end advanced therapy CDMO. CBM will provide preclinical through commercial manufacturing services including process development, plasmid DNA, viral vectors, cell banking, cell processing, and supporting testing capabilities.\nA core element of CBM's growth strategy is the construction of 700,000 square feet of GMP facility in KoP. \"This capacity is part of our mission to accelerate the development and manufacturing of life-saving advanced therapies,\" said\nJoerg Ahlgrimm\n, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Breakthrough Medicines. \"We are assembling a world-renowned executive leadership team with unique combination of experience in cell and gene therapy. John's addition to the team is another vital step in our planning for success.\"\nTo support its rapid growth, CBM is hiring positions at all levels and is actively working to develop talent among emerging professionals coming out of colleges. The company is working closely with academic institutions, as well as initiatives to retrain displaced employees. CBM is also committed to building an organization that recognizes and values diversity.\nCBM is Hiring\nhttps://bullseyehiringsolutions.com/companies/breakthroughmedicines\nAbout The Center for Breakthrough Medicines\nCBM is a cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) based in the heart of\nPhiladelphia's\nCellicon Valley. CBM offers pre-clinical through commercial manufacturing capabilities including process development, plasmid DNA, viral vector manufacturing, cell banking, cell processing, and a full suite of complimentary testing and analytical capabilities. Through a single-source, end-to-end solution, CBM accelerates time to market without compromising quality.\nMedia Contact:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " executive appointment", " company description", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Alliance Steel begins work to move from Chicago suburb to Gary. Alliance Steel begins work to move from Chicago suburb to Gary\nGregory Tejeda/Post-Tribune\nAlliance Steel President and CEO Andy Gross, center, with other company officials and attorneys, is seen in a file photo from early December.\nAlliance Steel President and CEO Andy Gross, center, with other company officials and attorneys, is seen in a file photo from early December. (Gregory Tejeda/Post-Tribune)\nGregory Tejeda\nPrivacy Policy\nGary Common Council members have yet to give their final approval to a tax abatement for a Chicago suburban steel distributor to relocate to the city, yet the firm is beginning work toward making their move possible during 2019.\nLee Companies, a Gary-based consulting firm, has been retained by Alliance Steel LLC to help them convert a one-time Republic Steel plant at 2700 E. 5th Ave into a facility for their company. Alliance currently operates out of Bedford Park, Ill., near Chicagos Midway Airport.\nPatrick Lee says his consulting firm is seeking bids for a partial demolition project at the site, with parts of the structure to be taken apart to give officials a better idea of how structurally sound the building is, and how much renovation will need to be done to bring the building up to the needs of Alliance Steel.\nLee said his firm has been soliciting bids for Alliance for the project, which is expected to cost about $20,000. Bids are expected to be received by Jan. 4 and reviewed, with a decision to be made in mid-January.\nThen in the spring months, Lee Companies will be seeking a contractor to handle the major renovation project, which is expected to take place during the summer and fall months, with completion by November or December.\nAlliance officials have said they hope their new plant in Gary, which would be a consolidation of three structures in Bedford Park into a single campus in Gary, will be operational by the first quarter of 2020.\nThe company has said it expects to spend some $19.7 million toward development of the new facility.\nThis preliminary work by Lee Companies is taking place even though Alliance is depending upon a tax abatement to be granted by Gary municipal government.\nThat abatement, totaling $1.2 million over a six-year period, has received tentative approval by the Common Council, whose Finance committee on Thursday reviewed four resolutions that would make it final.\nCouncilwoman Linda Barnes Caldwell said the full council will review the ordinances to create the Alliance Economic Revitalization Area, which will make the tax abatement possible. It is likely to approve them when they meet again Tuesday at the Genesis Convention Center, officials said.\nThe company currently has about 100 people on its payroll. A move to Gary would add about 30 more positions, and Gary Redevelopment Commission Executive Director Joseph Van Dyk said officials expect that some of the Illinois-based employees will not want to make a move to Indiana thereby creating more jobs that will need to be filled by Gary-area residents.\nVan Dyk said Alliance officials have agreed to work with city officials to ensure that Gary residents are given opportunities to apply for the jobs. Also helping the city with the effort will be staff at Indiana University Northwest and Ivy Tech Community College, to ensure that the local residents who apply for jobs have the qualifications necessary to do the work.\nAlliance Steel takes raw steel material and makes products ranging from school bus parts to satellite dishes. The company also maintains its own trucking company for product distribution, and that function also is to be transferred from Bedford Park to Gary.\nGregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "service & product providing", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "AirDNA Announces Acquisition Partnership with Alpine Investors. -based technology startup AirDNA was founded by\nScott Shatford\nin 2014 to empower hosts and investors with the market intelligence they needed to thrive. Now, their range of software and reports equip over 85,000 all-time customers across 65 countries with solutions to make data-driven decisions in this rapidly-growing industry which generated an estimated\n$113 billion\nin 2021.\n\"Since its humble beginnings as four people in a garage, AirDNA has stayed true to its mission of opening opportunities through short-term rental data. We are proud to provide insights to hosts and also be powerful enough for enterprise organizations,\" said Shatford. \"Alpine immediately recognized the power of our platform. Alpine's expertise in building software and data businesses, paired with their values-driven model, makes them the perfect partner.\"\nAs part of the partnership, AirDNA will welcome\nDemi Horvat\nas COO to scale the business to the next level with her wide expertise: Demi joins from Alpine's CEO Program, an in-house talent program that recruits, develops, and places emerging leaders into its portfolio companies.\nScott Shatford\nwill continue as AirDNA's CEO to lead the global product strategy.\n\"The STR industry has shaken up the broader lodging and real estate industries, and it's exciting to be in an area where change is creating so much opportunity for growth and innovation. AirDNA has a proven track record of success,\" said Horvat. \"I'm delighted to be joining a company that aligns so closely with my values, and I'm excited to help expand the market-leading software they already offer.\"\n\"Our first priority will be to listen to the AirDNA team and customers as we invest in expanding the engineering and customer-facing capabilities of this business,\" said\nMark Strauch\n, partner at Alpine. \"We're excited to welcome AirDNA into the Alpine community and help scale their impact to meet the needs of the fast-changing STR industry.\"\nFor AirDNA,", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " executive appointment", " company description", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Pathway to Living COO: New Community Shows Our Progress in Managing Covid-19. Send email\nPathway to Living was ready to receive its first move-ins at Aspired Living of LaGrange, a 117-unit assisted living and memory care community in LaGrange, Illinois, in early April. Construction was completed. The facility received a provisional license from the Illinois Department of Public Health.\nThen the coronavirus pandemic intensified across Illinois, forcing the owner and operator to rethink that target opening date, Chief Operating Officer Maria Oliva told Senior Housing News.\nPathway eventually postponed the opening and turned its attention to controlling the spread of the virus across its portfolio. And as more was learned about the virus, the operator was able to incorporate that knowledge into its Covid-19 response and open Aspired Living of LaGrange in mid-May.\nAdvertisement\nThe delay allowed us the opportunity to continue to learn and evaluate what was happening, Oliva said. It also gave us the opportunity to take a look at LaGrange and see what we can modify now because its new.\nIn fact, alterations were quickly made to the new building in order to make it more secure from the virus, and to operate more smoothly under the new protocols developed by Pathway. In a recent interview with Senior Housing News, Oliva shared further details about how the company has adapted to operational and financial challenges posed by the pandemic, including how it is leveraging a relationship with real estate development and investment firm Waterton to execute a more sophisticated strategy than would have been possible in the past.\nBased in Chicago, Pathway to Living owns and operates a portfolio of 33 communities across the Midwest\n: Azpira Place, Aspired Living and Victory Centre. Waterton acquired a controlling stake in Pathway in January 2019.\nAdvertisement\nThis interview has been edited for length and clarity.\nWere there any concerns about postponing opening Aspired Living of LaGrange?\nIt was originally slated to open as Covid-19 cases intensified in Chicago and suburban markets. We felt that we needed to take an abundance of caution, and thats how we approach everything that we do as an organization.\nOur initial thinking was [postponing] until mid-May and, at the latest, well have to push it into June. We were in a good position to do that.\nDid postponing have any impact on the communitys lease and operating proformas?\nWe were ahead of our pro forma in this building, so we had some savings from our construction. We did have a list of potential additional expenses that we wanted to do, once we opened the community. That was very helpful for us to be able to utilize some of those savings to modify rooms, install UV lighting and additional air filtration.\nWhat other changes were put into place?\nWe focused on how to create an environment where we can minimize the high-touch areas. So we replaced all of our light switches so that theyre touchless. We repositioned one of our discovery rooms at the front entrance of the community into a room where team members would change into clean scrubs at the beginning of a shift. They then leave them in laundry bins and change back into their [civilian] clothes before they go home. That ensures that when theyre on duty, they are wearing clean scrubs in addition to their PPE, depending on the risk level of the community.\nAnd were creating external access from our courtyard into an apartment that will be repositioned as a family visitation room. Well have all those same safety protocols: high disinfection; UV lighting. Were doing that for this community so residents have the ability to get together in groups of 10 or less, inside the community.\nAre new move-ins required to quarantine?\nWe require two negative tests for residents before they move in, as well as once they arrive. It gives us, them and their families a sense that the community is Covid-19 free.\nWe want [the new community] to open with some ability for residents to have smaller group gatherings inside the community, while also encouraging them to use the outdoor spaces. This community has a large courtyard in the front of its building which also allows for significant family visits. They are not necessarily coming into the building but theyre able to visit while maintaining social distance guidance.\nWhat is the pace of move-ins at Aspired Living of LaGrange currently?\nThe community is ahead of our [lease] pro forma. The majority of our depositors were excited to move in. We had some of the individuals that were in other communities that planned to move in, pre-coronavirus. That was a little slower because those communities had shelter in place protocols.\nWere seeing pent-up demand and continued interest in the community from prospects and their families, because of the lifestyle afforded the residents who live here.\nHow has the pandemic pressured operations and move-ins across Pathway to Livings portfolio?\nWe didnt see any move-outs related to fear from the pandemic. We saw a decline in occupancy for a couple months as we had to delay move-ins, but as we reopened, we found that demand is still there. Aspired Living of LaGrange shows that people are looking at senior housing as a safe environment.\nThe operational pressures stem from the slow occupancy. Weve experienced higher costs associated with managing the virus, and they are the same regardless of the brand, such as increased sanitation, sourcing PPE, and testing early on. We leveraged relationships with our own private labs where we paid for the tests, beginning in late February and early March. We provided premium pay, which has been the biggest impact on expenses.\nDo you envision the premium pay structure and increased incentives establishing a new, post-pandemic wage baseline?\nI think it will require that we look at compensation, and require that we look for efficiencies in how we operate, to offset some of those costs.\nAs an industry, we have to be able to recognize the value of the roles in this space. The ability to attract and retain talent are now highlighted as are how critical workers are to the health and safety of the residents in our communities.\nThat gives us an opportunity to evaluate how we compete in the long-term care environment and how we establish new rates. Weve been trying over the last several years to increase wages in every state where we could hire team members and retain them. Were constantly looking at how we compete in our markets where we operate not just in health care, but beyond to attract talent.\nPathways Victory Centre communities are an affordable model, licensed for supportive living. Has that made the company available for advance Medicaid relief under the CARES Act stimulus?\nWeve applied for funds but have yet to receive any. Were also participating in the payroll tax deferral program.\nHas Pathways relationship with Waterton provided efficiencies for slowing the pace of cost increases?\nWe share a robust, fully integrated infrastructure. The relationship has been extremely beneficial. We hav", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Here's What Makes Reliance Steel (RS) a Solid Choice Right Now. Free Report\n) is benefiting from strong demand across key end-use markets, a diversified product base and strategic acquisitions. Shares of the company have risen 21% in the past three months.\nWe are optimistic about its prospects and believe that the time is right to add the stock to the portfolio as it looks poised to carry the momentum ahead.\nLets delve deeper into the factors that make this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock an attractive choice for investors.\nEstimates Northbound\nOver the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for Reliance Steel for 2022 has increased 11.2%. The consensus estimate for first-quarter 2022 earnings has also been revised 16.5% upward over the same time frame. The favorable estimate revisions instill investor confidence in the stock.\nPositive Earnings Surprise History\nReliance Steels earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 12.3%.\nSuperior Return on Equity (ROE)\nROE is a measure of a companys efficiency in utilizing shareholders funds. ROE for the trailing 12-months for Reliance Steel is 24.8%, above the industrys level of 23.9%.\nUpbeat Prospects\nDemand in non-residential construction, which is Reliance Steels biggest end-market, has gradually expanded and is nearing the pre-pandemic levels. Demand in this market is expected to remain healthy on solid bidding activity. The company expects non-residential construction activities to strengthen through 2022.\nReliance Steel is also witnessing strength in semiconductors and an accelerated recovery in the energy (oil and natural gas) market. Demand in the heavy industry also remains steady. The company is also seeing improved demand in commercial aerospace on a recovery in activities. It remains optimistic about the business environment and sees robust underlying demand in the majority of its end markets in the first quarter of 2022.\nThe company has also been following an aggressive acquisition strategy for a while as part of its core business policy to drive operating results. Its latest acquisitions of Rotax Metals, Admiral Metals and Nu-Tech Precision Metals are in sync with its strategy of investing in high-quality businesses.\nRotax Metals diversifies the company's products by widening its portfolio of specialty bronze, brass and copper products. Massachusetts-based Admiral Metals strong reputation in the metal industry with high levels of customer service and next-day delivery flexibility promises to further solidify Reliance Steels position.\nNu-Techs reputation in the key markets that it serves through its proprietary processes and quality certifications and its support for Reliance Steels customer, product and geographical diversification strategies make it a solid choice. RS anticipates the acquisition to aid its growth in the nuclear, aerospace and other industries.\nReliance Steel also remains focused on offering incremental returns to its shareholders. Last month, its board raised its quarterly dividend by 27.3% to 87.5 cents per share. It repurchased around 2.1 million shares of its common stock for $323.5 million in 2021. The company also returned more than $500 million to its stockholders in 2021 through dividends and share repurchases.\nThe company also generated cash flow from operations of $799.4 million in 2021 and ended the year with $300.5 million of cash. It has adequate liquidity to meet its short-term debt obligations.\nReliance Steel & Aluminum Co. Price and Consensus", "answer groups": [ " expanding industry", "m&a", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Clinical Computer Systems, Inc. Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for OBIX BeCA Fetal Monitor. Clinical Computer Systems, Inc. Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance for OBIX BeCA Fetal Monitor\nNews provided by\nJul 15, 2020, 11:12 ET\nShare this article\n,\nJuly 15, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- Clinical Computer Systems, Inc. (CCSI), a leading provider of perinatal software, is looking forward to a successful launch of the new OBIX BeCA fetal monitor which recently obtained FDA 510(k) clearance. Through the cooperative agreement with manufacturer Huntleigh Healthcare Limited, CCSI will be the sole distributor of this fetal monitor in the United States.\nOBIX BeCA - A stylish & intuitive fetal monitor\nAndy Head\n, Global Business Development Manager at Huntleigh, comments \"This relationship is very exciting for both organizations. Pairing CCSI's innovative perinatal software with our technology and experience, this new fetal monitor will help clinicians deliver the best obstetric care.\"\nDarren Meilak\n, Huntleigh's Global Head of Marketing adds \"We are looking forward to working with CCSI and assisting hospitals in the care of their moms. It's a testament to the strength of Huntleigh's brand that CCSI chose to work with us. Our wealth of experience, credibility, quality, and strategic thinking complements their approach to help support and improve perinatal healthcare.\"\nThe OBIX BeCA fetal monitor contains Huntleigh's unique, patented \"Locate and Track\" technology that easily detects and maintains contact with the fetal heartbeat. This, combined with high sensitivity ultrasound transducers, supports fetal monitoring in antenatal and labor settings even for moms with difficult assessments, such as early gestation or elevated BMI.\nIn addition to the OBIX BeCA, comes the launch of a wireless transducer solution, a natural accompaniment called OBIX Freedom. This wireless option allows mom the freedom to ambulate untethered from cables, to settle into a more comfortable position while resting in bed, and to safely submerge for waterbirth monitoring.\n\"We are very excited to be joining forces with Huntleigh Healthcare to provide the maternity-care market with a new and easy-to-use maternal-fetal monitoring choice for their day-to-day patient care needs. Just like CCSI's approach to innovation and creative solutions, the OBIX BeCA fetal monitor will be a strategic part of our continued support for perinatal healthcare in the U.S., and our commitment to deliver the best in class products and services to those we serve,\" says CCSI Vice President, Business Development Rick Daniells.\nAbout Clinical Computer Systems, Inc.\nCCSI is an employee-owned, high technology company located in\nHoffman Estates, Illinois\n. For more than 20 years, CCSI has been a leader in perinatal monitoring systems with innovative, customer-driven, products, and support services. The company is dedicated to the development of the OBIX Perinatal Data System and works to incorporate changes in technology, regulations, and standards in the obstetrical department that support hospitals' strategic initiatives.\nAbout Huntleigh Healthcare Limited\nA proud member of the Arjo family, Huntleigh has been committed to supporting healthcare professionals in improving outcomes and enhancing patient wellbeing since 1979. They do this through their proven solutions for Vascular Assessment & Treatment and Fetal & Patient Monitoring. With innovation and customer satisfaction as guiding principles, they strive for clinical excellence and improved performance, for life.\nFor more information, contact", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " regulatory approval", " alliance & partnership", " company description", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Innovet Pet's New 5lb Equine PCR Pellets Gives Customers More Bang for Their Buck. CBD product\nthat is better suited for treating multiple horses and equine that require larger doses usually due to size.\nFurther highlighting the advantages, Innovet Pet says they saw this as the perfect opportunity to give back to their loyal customers by charging less per pound. By purchasing the new\nover the original 1lb Bag, customers will pay 38% less per pound \n$28 USD\n$45 USD\nrespectively.\n\"There is little doubt that CBD products are the next big thing of holistic health, whether that's CBD for people or horses,\" says Co-Founder\nDavid Louvet\n. \"At Innovet, we plan to be at the front of it all. But like always, we are carefully entering the equine market. It's easy to rush, but we've all too often seen the negative consequences of other companies doing so.\"\nInnovet Pet says they worked with veterinarians and horse trainers for over a year to design a Hemp CBD product that caters to horses' unique needs.\nHemp Equine PCR pellets features:\n25 mg full spectrum CBD per tablespoon\nGrain-free\nSupplemental Omega 3-6-9 fatty acids\n50% fiber, 30% carbohydrates, 20% protein, and 0.3% hemp extract\n\"CBD in the shape and form we commonly consume it is inadequate for horses, and for that matter, other farm animals. With Equine Hemp, we created a CBD product that's personalized to grazing animals like horses. Not only is it rich with CBD, but it also provides bountiful amounts of fiber and omega fatty acids for additional aid and support. This can help fill gaps missing in their diets, and it provides horses with a more complex anti-inflammatory supplement.\"\nInnovet says the overwhelming reception of their first product for equine health has helped solidify themselves in the equine market, but now they are setting their eyes on leading it.\n\"When we entered the CBD market for cats and dogs, it was our goal to create a high-quality CBD product that drove market prices. We're proud to say we've accomplished that, and now, we challenge ourselves as leaders to lower our prices even further. We're confident we can do the same in the equine market. Customers shouldn't have to struggle to afford the thing that's improving their pet's health.\"\nCustomers can find Equine PCR Pellets 5 lb Bag with additional chances to save money at both innovetpet.com and on their shoppers' app.\nAbout Innovet Pet\ninnovetpet.com\n) contributes their success as the number 1 pet CBD company in the world because of their focus on the customer. Innovet Pet is guided by their four principles: most affordable cost without jeopardizing quality, open and direct communication with customers through social media groups, providing 100% transparency and lab-tested results right on the products and website, and offering a 30-day money-back guarantee.\nMedia Contact\nPress Contacts: Gio Sy, PR Coordinator /\nKacy Johnson", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Plans for new Ypsilanti-area indoor gun range, firearms retailer advance. Lucas Smolcic Larson | lsmolciclarson@mlive.com\nWASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Plans for an indoor shooting range and firearms retailer in the Ypsilanti area, to be occupied by an operator with locations across the Midwest, are moving forward.\nElected leaders gave a preliminary OK to the project, voting unanimously to advance it at a March 1 Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees meeting, according to minutes.\nThe development includes a 15,000-square-foot indoor gun range with 20 shooting lanes, teaching areas and firearms sales space on a property along I-94 just south of Ypsilanti city limits in the township.\nThe roughly 2.8-acre parcel, at 660 James L. Hart Parkway, is currently the parking lot of a nearby bank supply business. Ohio-based developer ComptonAddy aims to build the latest location of Range USA, the newly-rebranded chain of gun ranges that previously went by Shoot Point Blank.\nRange USA will occupy the space on a 15-year lease, and developers peg the cost of the project at between $1.5 and $1.8 million, said Ken Knuckles, whose firm Project Management Group has been hired to oversee the process.\nI think it fits in well with the community, and the use is a desirable use for most folks, Knuckles said, adding the tenant has been clamoring for a location in the area and was happy to see the excitement from Ypsilanti Township after meeting some opposition within the City of Ypsilanti itself.\nThe location chosen by developers is part of a planned development with the neighboring bank supplier and its underlying zoning, general business, allows indoor recreation, township Planning Director Jason Iacoangeli told the township board during the meeting.\nThe company that will operate the new shooting range claims to be the worlds largest firearms educator, training around 20,000 people a year and aiming for a welcoming atmosphere even for novices, according to Jon Zilch with ComptonAddy, who also addressed township leaders.\nOne of their main things is going after the housewife, teaching them to shoot properly, and anyone who hasnt shot a gun, he said.\nThe Range USA location will also sell handguns, shotguns and rifles, following regulations and performing FBI background checks on potential buyers, Zilch said.\nThe gun range operator has existing Michigan locations in Clinton Township and Wixom, in addition to current or planned locations in 10 states across the Midwest and the South, according to its website.\nYpsilanti Township Treasurer Stan Eldridge, a former Ypsilanti law enforcement officer, said he paid a visit to the Wixom location, adding he knows from experience there is a vast, vast difference in quality between different shooting ranges.\nIn the short time I was there in Wixom, I was impressed, he said during the discussion over the proposed range.\nPlans for the project, which developers hope to start building this spring, according to meeting minutes, have passed once through the townships planning commission, before also getting preliminary approval from the board.\nOfficials have placed several conditions on the project. They include the inclusion of two electric vehicle charging stations, some native Michigan drought-tolerant plantings with the landscaping and the requirement that security footage be saved and made available to police upon request.\nKnuckles noted Range USA strives to partner with local law enforcement. They love having them in the store, they love having their cars in the parking lot, he said of officers of all levels of government.\nResponding to questions about noise coming from the proposed range, developers assured township leaders the building, described by Knuckles as a concrete box inside a concrete box, would keep any outside noise to a muffled level.\nYoull hear more sound from the highway than this actual building, Zilch said.\nThe range, staffed by certified instructors and employing roughly 25 people, according to Knuckles, will have security cameras inside and out and follow safety regulations and rules about the disposal of ammunition, he said.\nPlans for the Range USA location are set to go through a second stage of township review for final engineering details. Residents can follow along as the Planning Commission takes up the project on Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the township Civic Center.\nThe development will then need final approval from the township Board of Trustees before developers can more forward toward making the building a reality.\nMore from The Ann Arbor News:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cryo-Cell International plans new Durham facility to attract biopharma business. Staff writer, Triangle Business Journal\nMar 23, 2022\nA Florida-based biomedical firm continues to grow its presence in the Triangle with a 56,000-square-foot facility in Durham that will expand its cryopreservation and cold storage business.\nCryo-Cell International (Nasdaq: CCEL), entered into a purchase agreement with Scannell Properties of Indianapolis on March 14 to acquire a roughly 7-acre property within Regional Commerce Centerfor $11.2 million, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is funding the purchase with cash on hand, cash flow from its operations and future additional financing.\nCryo-Cell announced earlier this month that this facility will be the site of a new service called ExtraVault, through which it'll offer its biostorage services to biopharmaceutical companies and health care institutions.\n\"The new facility is being constructed to offer state-of-the-art biologics, reagents, vaccine samples and/or entire freezer storage at cost effective prices,\" the company said in its announcement.\nThe company was founded in 1989 as a private cord blood bank that separates and preserves stem cells from umbilical cords for families. The company says more than 500,000 parents from 87 countries have utilized this private cord blood storage service.\nIn an annual letter to shareholders released earlier this month, company co-CEO David Portnoy said the facility could house the company's cryogenic freezers to provide cold storage services to pharmaceutical companies, academic centers and others; produce cellular therapy products for phase 3 clinical trials and commercialization; and accommodate the long-term needs of the Cryo-Cell Institute for Cellular Therapies.\nThe company acquired a space in Durham last yearfor its first Cryo-Cell Institute for Cellular Therapies clinic site. At the site, the company will offer FDA-regulated cord blood treatments for conditions such as autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy and hypoxic brain injuries, according to a statement it released in August.\nCryo-Cell's investment in physical locations in the Triangle follows the company entering into an exclusive partnership with Duke University in early 2021. The agreement grants Cryo-Cell the rights to proprietary processes and regulatory data related to cord blood and cord tissue developed at Duke.\nAccording to its annual financial report filed Feb. 22, the company's revenue in fiscal year 2021 was $28.9 million, down from $31.1 million the previous year. The company reported a net income of $2.1 million compared to $3.6 million in 2020.\nThe company's stock was trading at $8.85 a share Wednesday afternoon. Its 52-week is $14.16.\nBy", "answer groups": [ " alliance & partnership", "service & product providing", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Health Care Heroes 2021 Innovator winner. Health Care Heroes 2021 Innovator winner - Aziza Ismail\nAug 26, 2021\nTitle: Co-founder\nOrganization: LiteraSeed\nWhat inspired you to choose health care as a career? I was motivated to get involved in the health care industry after a personal tragedy in my family. My cousin died of a preventable medical condition caused by miscommunication due to language and literacy barriers between her family and the care team at a hospital emergency room. When I learned more about the cause of her death and circumstances surrounding it, I knew that I wanted to find ways to prevent similar catastrophes from happening to others. Sadly, miscommunication leading to medical errors is not an uncommon problem in the United States. Simply put, we have access to some of the most advanced medical technologies in the world yet simple communication errors often stand in the way of people receiving the care they need when they need it.\nWhat motivates you in your work? Coming from a family that immigrated to the United States with nothing, I want everyone, no matter their ethnicity, income levels or any other defining characteristics, to have the tools to pursue their American dream. That can only be accomplished if every individual can first take care of themselves, starting with their health and wellbeing. I am motivated by the desire to create a positive impact by improving peoples quality of life and preventing harm, in particular for those who may be disadvantaged.\nI firmly believe that we as individuals can rise above our circumstances to be the best versions of ourselves and to make the best of our situation. My mission is to \"seed health through literacy\" as a means to facilitate this for others, and make the world a better place as a result.\nWho is a leader you admire and why? Ive always admired my grandmother. She was an incredibly strong woman who went through so much in her life from a very young age. She lived in Afghanistan where the conditions were very harsh, especially for a young woman. She struggled in poverty, was widowed young, suffered through war and abuse, endured the death of her young children, and so much more. Yet, despite the adversity and hardships she faced, she had nothing but love to give. An inspiring leader often endures great hardship, but remains kind-hearted and compassionate towards other people.\nWhat are two main ingredients for a successful health care career? As a socially conscious technology entrepreneur entering the industry in a nontraditional way, the keys to success in health care have been patience and perseverance. It can take a long time for things to get rolling, and progress can be slow. Due to the large nature of health care systems, you need grit and determination to achieve your goals, especially if the product or service youre offering is new to the industry.\nWhat did you want to be when you grew up? Growing up, I wanted to be a number of different things. At one time I wanted to be a teacher. Ive always enjoyed learning, and I loved to teach other people. I then started to really love all things design and architecture, but it didnt make me feel whole. Thats when I realized what I really enjoyed is tackling big systemic challenges and offering realistic, simple solutions that not only educate, but empower people. Thats LiteraSeed.\nWhat silver lining has come out of your organizations Covid-19 experience that you will carry forward? LiteraSeed is an early stage company. When Covid-19 initially struck, I feared that this would be the end of our efforts. The health care system was experiencing rapid change on an unprecedented scale, and had to be laser-focused on saving lives during the pandemic. However, two silver linings emerged from this global crisis that have enabled LiteraSeed to gain extraordinary momentum and opportunity to help even more people.\nCovid-19 quickly surfaced the disproportionate impact that minorities face within the healthcare system. National coverage of the unfortunate deaths of thousands of minority individuals across the USA throughout the pandemic contributed to this heightened awareness and momentum started to build. This recognition, and ultimately a new consciousness, accelerated our work as people both inside and outside the healthcare sector began to understand the problem and its prevalence and magnitude.\nDue to the pandemic, all communication, networking and meetings became remote overnight. With more organizations and individuals recognizing that work could be accomplished remotely as successfully as in-person, the door was opened to building relationships across state lines as well as internationally.\nWhat will bring the biggest change in your area of expertise in the next 10-15 years? Health literacy is increasingly being recognized as an important factor in patient communication, quality health care and patient safety. That awareness is beginning to be more widely recognized, evident by an increasing number of digital health startups being founded and funded to address these issues. Health literacy plays a huge role in the effectiveness of health care and can impede the quality of care that a person receives. Patients are often fully observant of ongoing symptom progression, but lack the medical knowledge to communicate or request the right service. Doctors have the medical knowledge and ability to identify and provide the right care, but are limited to a brief snapshot of symptoms during a hurried, time-constrained encounter. I foresee an increase in the use of digital health tools that bridge the patient-provider communication divide and empower patients to monitor, record, and communicate their own health. Future healthcare systems will utilize digitally connected tools to facilitate more personalized, focused care. Providers will have access to patient symptoms and severity data before the patient arrives at the facilities, enabling the care team to be better prepared to meet the needs of the patient. By reducing the impact of communication barriers, we can empower all patients to have equitable access to higher quality care.\nAug 26, 2021", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Netflix Expands Unscripted Content Slate in Japan. Netflix\nGlobal streamer Netflixhas expanded its slate of unscripted entertainment programming in Japan\nThe company says it has 15 shows in the comedy, reality television and documentary genres in different stages of development. Of these, seven will launch on the platform in the current calendar year.\nUpcoming shows include: dating seriesLove Village, \nThe Future Diary\n, and a second season of Love is Blind: Japan, whichis now casting and will play next year. Japanese documentariesinclude: LiSA Another Great Day, which celebrates the titular artists career as one of the top singers of wildly popular anime theme songs; Sing, Dance, Act: Kabuki, featuring former-idol-turned-actor Toma Ikutas immersion in the world of New Kabuki; and \nTokyo Crime Squad\n: The Lucie Blackman Case.\nThe update was announced in a blog posting by Kobayashi Mitsuko Koyabashi and Goto Taro, managers of live action creative, Japan. Their messaging attempted to straddle the local and the universal. As a global studio, we try to entertain both local and global audiences. Unscripted shows allow us to accomplish both in interesting ways, said Kobayashi and Goto. Our priority for each local language show is to make sure it resonates with the respective local audiences, and when we stay true to each culture and make them as authentic as possible, the shows tend to tap into something universal.\nReality shows Ainoriandthe since canceled FujiTV coproduction Terrace Housewere some of the first shows to resonate strongly for Netflix with Japanese audiences after it launched in the country in 2015. At the time country managers said that Terrace House was not typically something they would want to make as an original series\nHowever, the company has adapted to local conditions and has recently enjoyed success with unscripted comedy seriesLast One Standing, which became the most popular show on the platform in Japan after its premiere.\nIn November, Netflix put on a two-day presentation of some fifty new shows from Japan The first day was dedicated to animation, the second to live-action.\noptional screen reader", "answer groups": [ " expanding geography", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "How wellness platforms like Shyft used Zoom to thrive during the pandemic. How wellness platforms like Shyft used Zoom to thrive during the pandemic\nHow wellness platforms like Shyft used Zoom to thrive during the pandemic\nZoom became one of the popular and most used video collaborative tools in the world during the pandemic. But its technology and integration is also helping wellness apps such as Shyft scale up.\nWritten by\n| New Delhi |\nUpdated: March 25, 2022 9:13:58 am\nShyft has integrated Zoom into its platform to offer live classes to consumers looking for wellness solutions such as Yoga, meditation, etc. (Image credit: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)\nThe coronaviruspandemic made Zoom one of the popular and most used video collaborative tools in the world. But its technology and integration is also helping wellness apps such as Shyft scale up and reach new consumers. According to Anand Bala, SMB Lead for India and SAARC at Zoom Video Communications, there has been increased adoption of collaboration platforms such as theirs across the wellness industry.\nOne reason is definitely because of the ability to scale and reach out to more customers, patients. Plus the ease of use that a platform like Zoom provides ensures they can get their integration done much faster. Our software development kit (SDK) is key, and it makes it easy for companies to integrate with their application, Bala told indianexpress.comover a video call.\nIn fact, Shyft (formerly Mindhouse) started as an offline wellness platform, just before the pandemic. But just three months in and the pandemic struck. For the wellness brand, which focuses on providing yoga, nutrition and meditation lessons via live Zoom classes on its app, the pandemic meant a 360-degree pivot in approach.\nhttps://images.indianexpress.com/2020/08/1x1.png\nAnand Bala, SMB Lead for India and SAARC at Zoom Video Communications\nWhat helped them thrive in the last two years: going online and integrating with Zoom. We had to move online. We wanted the experience for our offline users to be super smooth. The reason we chose Zoom was the ease of use. We werent also sure how long this is going to last, but its been two years now, Pooja Khanna, co-founder at Shyft, told indianexpress.com.\nThe way Zoom views it, they can help players like Shyft scale up fast since they are built for video. The video and audio quality is phenomenal. Our partners like Shyft can in turn focus on their strengths, in this case, being wellness, Bala said, stressing that the ease of use component is critical for their business customers.\nPooja Khanna, co-founder for the Shyft platform.\nAccording to Khanna, there is an overall indication that consumer behaviour has shifted drastically in the past two years. Users want to rely on online platforms for their daily wellness as it is more convenient.\nRead more\nWith Covid onset, retail consumer use saw unanticipated surge on Zoom: Iravati Damle\nWe actually saw a slight dip towards the end of 2020 when things opened up for the first time. But in 2021, we only saw an increase. People started to adjust to online platforms being more accessible and more convenient to them. And that is a true indication of that consumer behaviour, she said, adding that the new model also means there is no travel time involved for users in getting to the wellness studio, which is a break from the pre-pandemic times.\nWhat the Shyft app looks like.\nThe company claims to be doing about 200 live sessions every day combined between yoga and nutrition, and each class has anywhere between 10 to 35 people, which it expects to double soon.\nSwitching to Zoom and online also meant access to a new pool of talent for the wellness platform, with instructors now spread all across the country, something that was limited in the offline model. We have 70 instructors right now. They are in you know, tier-2 and tier-3 towns. And it has given us access to a really large pool of people. With offline, that is actually one challenge we used to face for talent since you could only hire people who are in that city, said Khanna.\nFor Zoom, the idea is to ensure that such integrations with other platforms remain a very seamless experience and the platform doesnt have to worry about the video experience. Were very carefully listening to customers and building our developer integrations around these feedbacks, Bala said. The way we handle data packets and the way we are engineered to do that is I think they will be a very, low data packet loss, Bala pointed out.\nBut what happens once the pandemic ends? Zoom knows that theres been a cultural shift and they are confident of continuing to scale up in 2022. In their view, the future will be hybrid and many workplaces, including companies such as Shyft, will continue to rely on collaborative tools such as theirs to stay connected with employees.\nYou will find that hybrid a given now that employees are going to be spread all over. Collaboration tools such as ours also provide a way through which you can connect with a wider range of customers too, Bala pointed out.\nSubscribe Now: Get Express Premium to access our in-depth reporting, explainers and opinions\nFor all the latest Technology News download\nThe Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards.\nIE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd\nTags:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "service & product providing" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Hospice of South Carolina/Agape Hospice is first in the state of South Carolina to adopt the Muse Predictive Modeling Technology. the announcement of Hospice Care of\nSouth Carolina's\n(HCSC) acquisition of Agape Hospice, the new company is proud to announce the adoption of the Muse predictive modeling technology. Using Muse technology insights, our employees caring daily for over 1400 patients across\nSouth Carolina\nare enabled to provide the right care for patients and families when they need it most.\n\"By adopting a supportive tool like Muse, we can ensure our patients are receiving enhanced hands on care in those critical last 7- 10 days of life,\" said\nTroy Yarbrough\n, Chief Executive Officer. \"Muse gives our caregivers additional insights to the patient needs and allows us to quickly identify which patients require focused support. There is no other product in the market that provides this kind of detail and insight.\"\nFor many years, CMS has been monitoring and publicly reporting certain hospice care data points with a primary mission of promoting the delivery of high-quality hospice services. Recently, CMS updated the way it measures quality for hospice programs to include the frequency of visits at the very end of life with an expectation that quality is demonstrated by an increase in patient visits over the last 3 and last 7 days of life. HCSC has been working diligently to enhance care during this time, consistently providing care above the state average of 6 visits. \"After implementing the Muse tool, we are now providing 10 or more intense visits for the patients. We believe this dedicated deployment of resources demonstrates our commitment to provide the utmost quality care to the patients and families across\nSouth Carolina\n,\" said Yarborough.\n\"Implementation of Muse and integrating this best in class analytics tool into our existing technology platform was amazingly quick and easy\", said Carry vandenMaagdenberg, HCSC's Chief Operating Officer. \"The Muse team has done an exemplary job creating a tool so intuitive that it takes minimal time to learn and adopt. The Muse tool does not replace clinical judgement but rather emphasizes clinical findings. It alerts us when a patient would benefit from additional visits to ensure our patients and their families receive the care that matters most in the final days and hours of the patient's life.\nJennifer Maxwell\n, Muse Healthcare's President and Co-Founder said, \"We are proud to work closely with the HCSC team on implementing our solution. We believe the Muse transition product will change hospice care as we know it today. With all the activity and discussion around improving quality at the bedside, adopting enhanced tools to support the clinical effort will ensure the hospice is prepared for the future.\"\nAbout Hospice Care of\nHospice Care of\nSouth Carolina\nhas been delivering comprehensive hospice services across the Palmetto State for more than 20 years. With the\nJanuary 2020\nacquisition of Agape Hospice, the combined organization is now the largest provider in end of life care services across the state of\nSouth Carolina\n, servings patients with a commitment to quality and compassion. Their mission is to be the leader in\nend-of-life", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Chem-Dry seeks 75 new franchises for 2022. Save\nCarpet and upholstery cleaning business Chem-Dry is seeking to add 75 franchises across the United States and Canada this year.\nA release does not note the markets the Nashville-based company is targeting. The effort will follow a 2021 during which Chem-Dry exceeded its expansion goal with 72 signed agreements and 65 openings.\nHaving begun operations in 1977 and with a network of 1,800 franchises, Chem-Dry serves more than 11,000 homes and businesses per day in 55 countries.\nEd Quinlan\nCourtesy of Chem-Dry\nMany of our franchisees are labeling 2021 as their best year yet,\" Ed Quinlan, Chem-Dry president, said in the release. \"The past year and a half has shown us just how much our customers are looking for home service capabilities from someone who is local, who they can trust in providing consistent and high-quality services. We look forward to another year of growth as we help our franchisees strengthen their community relationships and continue to build on their tremendous success.\"\nChem-Dry is affiliated with Belfor Franchise Group, which is also locally based.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "108Labs embraces IP incubation model to fund scalable cell-cultured dairy. 108Labs embraces IP incubation model to fund scalable cell-cultured dairy\n108Labs embraces IP incubation model to fund scalable cell-cultured dairy\n22 Mar 2022 --- 108Labs has unveiled its M2 smart bioreactor milk production platform, bringing the US-based company closer to cell-cultured breast milk and bovine dairy ingredients. In addition, licensing the technology will help bring in extra funding, CEO Shayne Giuliano tells NutritionInsight.\nWe know we cant build the 170,000 factories needed to replace cows ourselves, so we are building an intellectual property (IP) incubation and B2B business model that can accelerate the field by creating turnkey solutions. Food, dairy and pharmaceutical companies around the world can then leverage these to build their own Pure M2 factories, he states.\nBy minimizing the barrier to entry for the production of Pure Milks made with M2 and showing what is possible with product development and existing collaborators, 108Labs believes it can convince corporates to invest internally in M2 and Pure.\nWe can then attract all the capital investments worldwide needed to [improve babies well-being] as soon as possible with Pure Human Milk, and replace cow farming for the majority of the worlds supply of bovine milk by 2040.\nPure Milk is any cell-cultured milk made with Pure Mammary Factors cell medium and growth factors.\nSolving all the problems?\nWithin 108Labs, there are numerous entities including Pure Mammary Factors, which aims to reduce the barrier of entry for Pure dairy product research and product commercialization.\nM2 combined with Pure Mammary Factors may solve all the problems with cell-cultured milks, from the first safe to consume cell-cultured milk to scalability to affordability to global accessibility, he states. \nDeveloping M2 combined with Pure Mammary Factors, in particular, is where we think we can have the biggest impact on convincing companies around the world to invest in cell-cultured milk research now.\nThis is to get on the path to commercial phase dairy food replacement, humanized infant formula and prescription drugs as soon as possible.\nThe only way\n108Labs believes technology like M2 is the only path to commercializing cell-cultured milks.\nIt is almost impossible to produce food-grade milk with manual methods because non-food-grade buffers are needed to remove milk bioreactors from incubators by hand to manipulate them.\nTherefore, M2 is billed as a turnkey wetware, software and hardware milk-making stack driven by AI to reduce the cost and accelerate the scaling of cell-cultured milk production worldwide.\nGiuliano estimates that completion of the first stack could take around 18 to 24 months from now.\nBecause of the nature of software-driven solutions, once we have completed our first stack which I actually think of as an artificial cow our second artificial cow can be built in an hour, he notes.\nGiuliano stands in front of redacted M2 architectural design, which reflects plans for cell-cultured cheese.\nTaking advantage of bioactivity\nGiuliano highlights that M2 is a species-agnostic platform that is engineered to produce replacement milks not alternative milks.\nThe same molecules as those found in raw human breast milk or raw bovine milk. Except that M2 produces safe to consume raw milks, which are suitable for therapeutic and food product research and development without pasteurization.\nHe continues that applications are the same as all current milk applications if not more.\nHumanized infant formula, prescription drugs, cheese, butter, French toast anything you can make with milk today, except with Pure Milks, we get to take advantage of the full bioactivity of these molecules in a way no one ever has who doesn't drink raw milk.\nGuiding investment\nGiuliano says the self-funded research incubation model at 108Labs is moving toward licensing and consulting as it transitions to commercial focuses.\nWe have yet to accept investment at 108Labs, but we have accepted investment in 108Labs-affiliated entities. We expect to attract more investment into product development once we complete the transition from research into commercial phases of cell-cultured milk development over the next three to seven years, he states.\n108Labs is also planning to license its emerging fields of cell-cultured milks and antibodies with partners around the world.\nWe dont talk publicly about our partners because these fields are so competitive, and we want to work with everyone possible to impact the world the most, says Giuliano.\nThe company does give exclusivity in some cases, at least geographically, but long-term, it wants to support as many partners as possible.\nElectron microscopy image of secretory milk IgA immunoglobulins.\nEmbracing the full-stack approach\nExpanding on the meaning of a stack, Giuliano explains full-stack usually includes client software and server software serving some purpose.\nIn the case of M2, the client is a smart bioreactor that includes hardware and sensors and pumps connected to our AI and server stack, which includes both distributed and centralized computing.\nAltogether, this allows 108 Labs to control the operations of milk bioreactors around the world with artificial intelligence from its headquarters in Hillsborough, North Carolina.\nDue to the laborious nature of cell-cultured milk production which is actually a tissue engineering rather than suspension cell-culture biotechnology we believe that only through automated, AI-controlled solutions and smart stacks that take into account all the hardware, wetware and software requirements can cell-cultured milks become commercially successful, Giuliano emphasizes.\nThe road ahead\n108Labs has numerous worlds first goals for the next two years, including launching a turnkey smart bioreactor platform capable of producing any species of cell-cultured milk, FDA-approved cell-cultured milk, affordable food-grade medium and growth factors and a replacement cell-cultured cheese.\nWere also targeting the first human milk prescription drug to enter trials and the first infant formula using fully human molecules, says Giuliano.\nAll these goals come from a simple focus on mastering mammary cells. Everything we do right now moves us close to all these goals. We can only achieve all these goals at once by building collaborations with companies that can invest and develop these products with our help, Giuliano emphasizes.\nBy Katherine Durrell\nThis feature is provided by\nFoodIngredientsFirst", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Singapore biotech firm Tychan starts final phase of Covid-19 antibody drug trials. Singapore biotech firm Tychan starts final phase of Covid-19 antibody drug trials\nFriday, 11 Dec 2020 04:20 PM MYT\nThe team of researchers at Tychan, the biotech company that developed the antibody drug. TODAY pic\nSINGAPORE, Dec 11 The Singapore-based biotechnology company Tychan hasstarted the third and final phase of its clinical trials on an antibody drug for patients with Covid-19 after it received the nod from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in October.\nThe trials, which began today, will involve 1,305 volunteers. The company is in the process of recruiting trial candidates.\nTrials for the drug, known as TY027, will be done at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National University Hospital (NUH). Patients may also check if they are suitable for the trials at Changi General Hospital and Sengkang General Hospital. If so, they will be referred to SGH or NUH.\nOwing to the low incidence of the coronavirus in Singapore, the trials will also involve hospitals overseas, such as Israels Sheba Medical Centre.\nTY027 is being explored as a treatment forpatients with Covid-19 to slow the progression of the disease and speed up recovery. It could also provide temporary protection against infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.\nInfectious diseases expert Ooi Eng Eong, who co-founded Tychan, told reporters in a video conference today that the firm had chosen Israel as a partner because the country allows it to carry out studies in a similar fashion asSingapore.\nIsrael is also not overwhelmed by the pandemic and has the capacity to conduct the trials.\nIsrael has recorded more than 352,000 Covid-19 cases and 2,960deaths.\nProfessor Ooi, who is also deputy director of Duke-NUS Medical Schools emerging infectious diseases programme, was unable to reveal the other countries Tychan is in talks with because of a non-disclosure agreement.\nOn why Tychan has to tie up with other countries to conduct the trials, Prof Ooi said that Singapore has been successful in containing Covid-19 and, thus, there are not enough suitable candidates.\nCandidates for the trial must be Covid-19 patients within the first six days of illness.\nThe lack of suitable trial volunteers in Singapore is also why Tychan had delayed moving into the third phase of clinical trials, even though media reports previously quoted Prof Ooi saying they were slated to start in August.\nTY027 has been in development since February 25. It is a partnership between Tychan and a stable of government departments, including the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and Economic Development Board.\nIn June, it entered the first phase of human trials, which involved 23 volunteers.\nProf Ooi said the Phase One trial went very well and the antibodies were so safe, with no serious adverse effects, that researchers increased the dosage from 20mg per kg to 30mg per kg.\nThe decision was made to give ourselves the best chance of eliciting a quick antiviral effect.\nHe added that researchers debated among themselves on whether to move to Phase Two trials this phase would only further test whether the drug is safe. A decision was made to skip to Phase Three.\nPhase Two is not powered to address efficacy you cannot conclude that a drug works, only that it is safe and has a chance of working, he said. In this time of pandemic, and with all the uncertainty, we might as well go to the direct answer (in Phase Three).\nThe results of Phase Three trials will hinge on how quickly Tychan can recruit volunteers.\nVaccines alone not enough\nWhen asked how the antibody drug differs from a vaccine, Prof Ooi said that a vaccine alone would not get rid of Covid-19.\nFor example, he noted that the protection a vaccine offers against the disease is about 95 per cent. That means there is still a chance for vaccinated individuals to contract the virus.\nFurthermore, vaccination may not be suitable for patients undergoing cancer treatment or those with a history of allergies.\nMoreover, we do not know how long the protection from vaccines will last. At some point, as the vaccine immunity wanes, there is a chance that Covid-19 could reappear, he said.\nIt is thus important to have both forms of treatment.\nAn antibody drug will allow those unable to be vaccinated to be protected in some way, said Prof Ooi.\nHe does not foresee issues mass-producing TY027, as the technology for such production of antibody drugs is mature, compared with new vaccine production.\nTo really tackle this problem of a re-emergence of a Covid-19 epidemic... having treatment (with antibody drugs) for Covid-19 that really drives the virus load down, so that we do not get severe disease, is still important to prevent our healthcare system from being choked up with severe cases. TODAY\nRelated Articles", "answer groups": [ " partnerships & alliances", "clinical trial sponsorship", " expanding geography" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Home Helpers Observes National Hire a Veteran Day. , a leading network of in-home Caregiving providers, will commemorate National Hire a Veteran Day this\nJuly 25\nby pushing through the home stretch of its recruitment goal to hire 3,000 veterans and service families.\nHome Helpers is aggressively recruiting military families and veterans at www.HomeHelpersHomeCare.com/military.\nTo help achieve its veteran recruitment goal set in 2017, Home Helpers will host a Facebook Live session next\nThursday, July 25\n, from\nNoon to 1 p.m. EDT\nin partnership with the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP). The social media event will give a behind-the-scenes look at the company's commitment to military and veteran communities and its active hiring efforts. It will also detail what types of opportunities Home Helpers offers and how to apply.\n\"Veterans and veteran families perform extremely well across the Home Helpers network,\" said Home Helpers Home Care CEO,\nEmma Dickison\n. \"In honor of National Hire a Veteran Day, we aim to connect with veterans and provide them a platform to share with us in real time. Veterans have an innate ability to servebe that their country or their fellow neighbor in needand right now we're in need of their skills, talents and values.\"\nWith locally-owned offices serving more than 1,000 communities nationwide, Home Helpers has open employment opportunities across the country. It offers flexible scheduling and comprehensive job training that builds a transferable skill set in caregiving, service planning, coordination, supervising and administration roles.\nThe company also has a franchise incentive for qualified veterans with an honorable discharge. Veterans receive\n$9\n,780or 20 percent of the new ownership feetoward their initial franchise ownership. Additionally, in recognition for its exceptional programming, in 2018, the International Franchise Association's\nprogram awarded Home Helpers a Five-Star rating; its highest level.\nTo participate in the Facebook Live event, visit the Home Helpers Facebook page at", "answer groups": [ " hiring", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Cellnex finds taker for 3 200 French towers. Cellnex finds taker for 3,200 French towers\n21 MAR 2022\nInfrastructure player Cellnex Telecom reached an agreement to divest more than 3,200 sites in France to Phoenix Tower International (PTI) and its JV partner, a deal which fulfils conditions imposed as part of an acquisition of Altice Europes tower business in the country in 2021.\nOf the towers set to change hands, 1,226 will be owned by PTI directly while the other 2,000 will be held within the latters venture with operator Bouygues Telecom.\nAll the assets transferred are in very dense areas, Cellnex explained in its statement on the transaction.\nIn a separate disclosure, PTI noted the addition of the 1,226 towers it will own in their entirety would see it add SFR as a second major operator client in France. The 2,000 being put into its JV will enhance its relationship with partner Bouygues Telecom, it added.\nCellnex was obliged to divest the sites as part of terms imposed by the French Competition Authority (FCA) to approve its acquisition of Altice Europe infrastructure business Hivory and associated holding company.\nThe FCA will have to approve the divestment to PTI before the deal is finalised.", "answer groups": [ " alliance & partnership", " m&a", " executive statement", "service & product providing" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "OneOncology Launches OneR, a Community Oncology Research Network. GDPR\nOneOncology Launches OneR, a Community Oncology Research Network\nOneOncology Research Network Will Enhance Practices' High-Quality Clinical Trials Programs While Improving Patients' Access to Innovative Oncology Therapies\nNews provided by\nOct 19, 2020, 06:01 ET\nShare this article\n,\nOct. 19, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- OneOncology, the partnership of independent oncology practices, today announced the formation of a separate subsidiary, the OneOncology Research Network (OneR). OneR is a national non-exclusive clinical trial site management organization (SMO) that will enhance the current high-performing research programs underway at participating community oncology practices by providing operational, regulatory and research support services to more efficiently execute multi-center clinical trials.\nOneR is a national non-exclusive clinical trial site management organization that will enhance the current high-performing research programs underway at participating community oncology practices by providing operational, regulatory and research support services to more efficiently execute multi-center clinical trials.\n\"OneR will not only improve patient access to cutting-edge care, it will also help to advance scientific discovery.\"\nTweet this\nSince clinical trials are increasingly integral to the standard of care for precision oncology, the OneR platform will expand community practices' access to more innovative therapies for their patients. At the same time, OneR provides clinical trial sponsors access to the large and diverse populations of patients who are treated in community centers throughout their cancer journey, and not episodic as is more common in research-based academic centers. With a majority of cancer care being delivered in community-based centers, OneR ensures diversity in clinical trial participation including ethnicity, gender, geography, disease status, socioeconomics and various other dimensions.\n\"OneR is a community oncology network designed for and built by community oncology practices,\" said\nLee Schwartzberg\n, MD, Chief Medical Officer, OneOncology and Medical Director, West Cancer Center. \"Our north star is improving the lives of everyone with cancer which is fundamentally dependent on advancing the science of oncology treatments. We look forward to working with practices and sponsors who want to expand diverse patient access to precision oncology and other high-quality cancer clinical trials through our portfolio of therapeutic and observational studies.\"\nOneR's focus on precision oncology will offer clinical trials across tumor types with innovative trial designs based on precision oncology to oncology practices within the network like basket and umbrella trials. A basket trial tests how well a new drug works in patients who have different types of cancer that all have the same mutation or biomarker. In umbrella trials, patients with one specific cancer receive treatment based on the molecular profile of their individual cancer.\n\"With too many of our patients disproportionately impacted by health disparities, we believe that by providing community oncology practices with enhanced operational efficiencies we can ensure that more patients will benefit from the groundbreaking clinical trials,\" said\nAxel Grothey\n, MD, Medical Director, OneR and Director, GI Cancer Research, West Cancer Center. \"OneR will not only improve patient access to cutting-edge care, it will also help to advance scientific discovery.\"\nAs oncology practices invest in their clinical trial infrastructure and conduct more trials, OneR's efforts will enhance a practice's ability to increase clinical trial participation, by centralizing business functions, regulatory submissions and clinical trial matching technology while also ensuring practices maintain their flexibility to participate in other clinical trial initiatives. OneOncology's technology platform and collaboration throughout the network allows for seamless clinical trial management across all of its research sites. As a non-exclusive SMO, practices are not limited to only participate in OneR clinical trial programs.\nOneR will be co-headquartered in\nNashville", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Candid and dntl bar partner to enhance the dental office experience.. Candid and dntl bar partner to enhance the dental office experience.\nNews provided by\nMar 22, 2022, 11:37 ET\nShare this article\n,\nMarch 22, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to marrying sophistication and technology in dental offices, Candid and dntl bar are ideal partners. Candid's innovative clear aligner system helps its clinical partners streamline high-demand clear aligner treatments while emphasizing patient experience. And dntl bar, a dental service organization (DSO), offers the contemporary amenities and expanded hours that patients want in beautiful retail locations. Now, these startups are partnering to serve more patients elegantly and efficiently.\n\"It's a pleasure to join forces with a like-minded partner,\" says Candid CEO and co-founder\nNick Greenfield\n. \"Both companies are fully committed to improving patient experiences, expanding access to high-quality clear aligner treatments, and elevating our clinical partners along the way.\"\nFor a company like dntl bar, these time-saving tools are key to driving whole-practice growth in any location.\nTweet this\nSince 2019, dntl bar has expanded its locations in the NYC market, giving patients extended office hours seven days a week which makes scheduling around work, family, and other commitments easier. In addition to convenience, dntl bar also provides patients with a highly aesthetic office environment, sustainable oral care products, and next-level service. Candid clear aligner treatment is realized through a mix of remote and in-person treatmentmaking it an ideal offering for dntl bar.\n\"At dntl bar, our motto is, 'Dental for the people.' For me, that means placing priority on respecting our patients' busy schedules and giving them an experience that makes them feel at ease,\" says dntl bar President Dr.\nRoshan Parikh\n. \"Offering Candid at our locations means we can provide our patients excellent clear aligner treatment with minimal follow-up appointments.\"\nSince 2020, Candid has provided dental practices and DSOs with an advanced clear aligner system that minimizes in-person time for both doctors and patients. Their patent-pending CandidRx and virtual CandidMonitoring check-ins give clinicians a reliable method of moving teeth. For a company like dntl bar, these time-saving tools are key to driving whole-practice growth in any location.\n\"We aim to scale dntl bar quicklyfrom five locations today to around 50 in the next 35 years,\" says Dr. Ro. \"Candid is one piece of the puzzle to how we scale. By transforming our patients' smiles in our luxuriously-appointed locations, our practices will drive lifetime patient loyalty and cement dntl bar as a major player in the DSO world.\"\nAbout Candid\nCandid is a clear aligner orthodontic system that makes treatment accessible and affordable for doctors and patients. Since 2020, Candid has brought high-quality clear aligners and patient support to dental practices and dental service organizations across\nthe United States", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "alliance & partnership", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Genprex Doses First Patient in Trial for Lung-Cancer Treatment. Resize icon\nBy Chris Wack\nGenprex Inc. said it has dosed the first patient in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating its lead drug candidate, Reqorsa Immunogene Therapy, in combination with Tagrisso osimertinib in patients with late-stage non-small cell lung cancer whose disease progressed after treatment with Tagrisso.\nIn 2020, Genprex received U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration's Fast Track Designation for treatment of the trial patient population.\nGenprex expects the Phase 1 portion of the trial to enroll up to 18 patients in a dose escalation study to determine the maximum tolerated dose of the combination. The Phase 2 portion of the study is expected to enroll 74 patients to be randomized 1 to 1 to receive either Reqorsa and Tagrisso combination therapy or Tagrisso monotherapy.\nThe primary endpoint of the Phase 2 portion of the trial is progression-free survival, which is defined as time from randomization to progression or death. An interim analysis will be performed at 25 events.\nGenprex recently added four new clinical trial sites in order to accelerate enrollment, bringing the current number of sites to five. The company expects to add additional sites for the Phase 2 portion of the trial.\nGenprex shares were up 3% to $2.34 in premarket trading.\nWrite to Chris Wack at chris.wack@wsj.com\nAdvertisement\nRead Next\nRead Next\nPick your poison but the end result of the fighting in Ukraine is the same: Russian oil and natural gas will fall offline. This is what it means for the U.S. and Europe.\nMore On MarketWatch", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "regulatory approval" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "BioSkryb Launches Researcher Early Access Program for Genomic Amplification Technology. BioSkryb Launches Researcher Early Access Program for Genomic Amplification Technology\nNews provided by\nAug 03, 2020, 09:30 ET\nShare this article\n,\nAug. 3, 2020\n/PRNewswire/ -- BioSkryb, Inc. (\"BioSkryb\"), a developer of genomic amplification technologies that deliver higher coverage and fidelity for gene sequencing, today announced that it has launched an Early Access Program (EAP) for researchers to test its proprietary genomic amplification technology (Primary Template-directed Amplification or PTA). Enrollment in the program secures dedicated workflow support to ensure their participants receive the highest quality results possible to enable their next discovery.\n\"Historically, the challenge has been that the quality of data produced from existing genome amplification methods is insufficient and limits genomic discoveries. Our revolutionary technology will enable EAP participants to make complex, transformative discoveries that will advance their research,\" said\nJay West\n, Ph.D., CEO, and Co-founder of BioSkryb.\nEAP participants will utilize BioSkryb's ResolveDNA Whole Genome Amplification Kits as a discovery-enabling method to whole-genome amplification (WGA) that addresses the inherent challenges of single-cell genomics by producing high quality gene sequencing data. The technology provides the required breadth, specificity, and sensitivity to define cellular heterogeneity at the level of the most basic building blocks of life - the single cell.\n\"PTA is our method of choice if you want reproducible, efficient and evenly amplified genomes from single cells for single nucleotide variant detection,\" said\nChristopher A. Walsh\n, M.D., PH.D. Bullard Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at\nHarvard Medical School\n, Chief Division of Genetics at Boston Children's Hospital, and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.\nThe new, proprietary amplification technology employs controlled reaction parameters to reproducibly recover >95% of the genomes of single cells and low-input samples with unprecedented fidelity and uniformity. This industry-leading performance is highly scalable and supports robust, reliable, and routine single-cell genomic applications.\nFor more information about BioSkryb, its products, and the Early Access Program, please visit: https://bioskryb.com\nAbout BioSkryb\nBioSkryb is a venture-backed developer of genomic amplification technologies based in\nDurham, North Carolina\n. Their proprietary Primary Template-directed Amplification (PTA) system delivers reproducible, high coverage breadth and uniformity for various low or ultra-low input sequencing applications. Its products support sequencing library generation produced from limiting samples that have undergone whole genome amplification, resulting in the highest quality genetic analyses available today. For more information, please visit: https://www.bioskryb.com/\nCONTACT", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Medication management solution Medisafe raises $30M. https://vator.tv/n/51de\nThe company works with pharma companies to increase medication adherence\nMedication adherence is a big problem, and a bigger one that most people likely think, with roughly half of peoplenot taking their medications as prescribed. Thatleads to 125,000 annual deaths which were otherwise preventable, and about $300 billion in additional healthcare costs.\nOmri Shor had his own experience with this when it came to his own father, which is what led him to to co-found Medisafe a medication management solution thatannounced that it raised $30 million in a Series C funding round on Thursday.\n\"In 2012, we faced a family health emergency. Due to a miscommunication about the medication schedule, my father, a diabetic, accidentally took an extra dose of insulin. It was a mistake which put his life in grave danger. My brother and co-founder, Rotem, and I soon discovered that his experience was far from uncommon,\" he told me.\n\"We realized that such mistakes in medication management have created a global health crisis in need of a solution. We decided to build that solution and created Medisafe to help patients manage complex prescription schedules.\"\nFounded in 2012, the Boston-based Medisafe works withmore than a dozen top pharma organizations, both large and medium sized, in the US and across the globe, helping them create personalized technology so that people can better manage their medications. The companies, in turn, get insight into the patient's daily behavior.\n\"The solutions we co-create with our partners free patients from the stress of managing complicated medications, enabling them to lead healthier, safer, and fuller lives,\" said Shor.\n\"We work alongside pharma teams to create both guided patient journeys for those on specific pharma medications, as well as more comprehensive digital drug companions that provide a more immersive experience within our digital platform.\"\nThere are now more than 7 million users on Medisafe to, and the company is seeing steady year-over-year growth, especially now because of COVID, whichhas demonstrated the value in supporting patients digitally through virtual care and leveraging data-driven insights.\nMedisafe's funding round as led by Sanofi Ventures and ALIVE Israel HealthTech Fund. Leumi Partners, Menorah Mivtachim and Consensus Business Group, along with previous investors Pitango Ventures, 7Wire Ventures, Merck Ventures, Octopus Ventures, lool HealthTech, Triventures and Ourcrowd, also participated.\nThe company says it plans to use the new funding to further expand its end-to-end solutions supporting patients managing medications and accelerate revenues growth. That means adding additional resources to its team to help support growth initiatives, as well as making some strategic investments that will further enhance its capabilities in terms of function, interconnectivity, and new tools.\nThis capital will also allow used to accelerate the launch of an advanced digital first patient experience.\nAlong with the funding announcement, it was also revealed that the company has added two new members to its board of directors: Cris De Luca, Global Head, Digital Investments at Sanofi Ventures and David Klein, Co-Founder, Managing Partner ALIVE Israel HealthTech\n\"Both Cris and David bring a unique perspective to our organization, with extensive experience in helping early-stage companies transform their technologies to become the gold standard in the industry. Im excited to have both of them as part of our board and helping to execute on our long-term vision.\"\nIn the last few years, Shor said, there has been an explosion of growth in the healthtech space, both vertically and horizontally. There has also been more segmentation of healthtech at the same time, as more systems are looking to achieve greater interconnectivity. His expectation, then, is that there is going to be even more collaboration among healthtech, health systems, and payers to create a more connected patient experience.\n\"Recent moves by Amazon and GoodRx show that there is still a wide-open market to transform medication management, and I see Medisafe as a transformative platform that can help to close the gaps in the ecosystem. We offer a digital entity that makes the medication journey more personal, more connected, more engaging, and more supportive to patients daily lives,\" Shor told me.\n\"Our vision has always been around helping patients manage medication therapies and the journey that extends beyond diagnosis. I would like to see the potential for Medisafe to be deployed at the time a physician writes a prescription and becomes a complement to all specialty medications.\"", "answer groups": [ " executive appointment", " executive statement", " company description", "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Plans for Infinity-Nissan dealer near Danbury airport latest sign that high-end auto niche is taking off. DANBURY A Nissan-Infinity dealership that wants to take over an empty retail building near Danbury Fair mall is the latest sign that an emerging high-end auto niche is taking off on the citys west side. It was subtle a few years ago with some of these high-end automotive uses but its anything but subtle now, said P.J. Prunty, executive director of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. Prunty was speaking of an application by Bruce Bennett Nissan of Danbury to renovate the 78,000-square-foot retail building on Sugar Hollow Road that once housed Sports Authority and Bed, Bath and Beyond. The 8-acre property in question, which will be the subject of a public hearing on Tuesday, would become the latest addition to the high-end automotive market along an industrial stretch that hugs the eastern perimeter of Danbury Municipal Airport. The stretch is home to Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen dealerships, high-end auto garages such as Speedsport Tuning and Collector Car Services, luxury auto garages including a soon-to-open 50,000-square-foot storage and restoration center billed as the largest of its kind in Fairfield County, and specialty manufacturers including a film directors company that makes $450,000 sports cars. Just last month at Sugar Hollow and Miry Brook roads, Danburys wetlands commission moved plans forward by a New York car dealership to build a Mercedes-Benz sales and service center on a 2.5-acre construction materials site. It speaks volumes about Danbury as a place to locate and grow your business, and it speaks to the pro-business approach that this economy invites, Prunty said. I also tip my hat to the commercial real estate brokers who are deep in this process and contributing to the strong economic boom over there. The Nissan proposal, which already has approvals from the citys Planning Department and the citys Environmental Impact Commission, needs a certificate to sell new cars in the commercial zone from the Zoning Commission, which could come as soon as Tuesday night. The applicants attorney says the proposal fits in with the corridors future. There are other car dealerships neighboring this property, and, therefore, this site and this neighborhood are appropriate for this new Nissan car dealership, said attorney Thomas Beecher in a letter to the citys Zoning Commission. The proposal calls for refitting the retail store with a showroom, an office, a 15-bay service center, and a storage area for parts. The emergence of the high-end auto corridor is part of a larger commercial boom on Danburys west side. In addition to the redevelopment of the 1.2 million-square-foot Summit office complex on Reserve Road, a proposed 11-building complex of apartments and commerce on Mill Plain Road has been in the headlines. The city has also approved a $36 million rehabilitation hospital and an $80 million proton therapy cancer center on the west side, among other projects. These commercial real estate brokers are playing a key role in bringing these deals across the finish line, Prunty said. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "National Medical Billing Services Announces Acquisition of National Billing Partners. $7.4 billion\nin assets under management.\nThe ASC Revenue Cycle It's all we do. It's all we think about. And it shows. (PRNewsfoto/National Medical Billing Servic)\n\"We are ecstatic to add NBP to the National Medical family as we continue to build scale in our core market,\" said\nNader Samii\n, National Medical's CEO. \"As a recognized leader in the ASC market, National Medical is highly discerning in adding partners with demonstrated success of providing significant value for its clients. NBP is no exception to this and brings additional expertise of serving surgical practices, an area of considerable growth opportunity for National Medical.\"\nFounded in 2008 and located in\nAustin, TX\n, NBP provides end-to-end revenue cycle management services to ASCs and surgical practices nationwide. The Company employs an experienced team of medical billing professionals with multi-specialty surgical experience, including orthopedics and cardiovascular, among others. NBP deploys a highly consultative approach with a relentless focus on maximizing value for its surgeon and physician partners while meeting or exceeding all regulatory and compliance standards.\n\"NBP has always taken pride in its client service, reliability and expertise,\" said\nRobert Schwing\n, Co-Founder of National Billing Partners. \"The combined organization gives NBP additional resources and access to best-in-class ASC revenue cycle practices to continue its mission of being an invaluable partner to its clients.\"\nStory continues\nAbout National Medical Billing Services\nNational Medical Billing Services is a national healthcare revenue cycle management company with a sophisticated, boutique-like approach to operational delivery and client services. The company focuses solely on servicing ambulatory surgery centers and their affiliated surgeons. National Medical's team of professionals consults with ASCs and their surgeons to aid them in maximizing revenue while adapting to and overcoming industry challenges and changes. National Medical also provides its clients with industry insights, education, and analytics to enable them in rendering the best business decisions possible. For more information about National Medical Billing Services, please visit", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Deadline looms for North East Business Awards entries. privacy notice\nThe deadline for the North East Business Awards 2022 is fast approaching.\nBusinesses from across the region will be celebrated and recognised with ten prestigious awards ready to be won. Make sure you take advantage of the exciting opportunity and win the recognition your business deserves.by entering online before 5pm on March 28.\nThe North East Business Awards - which are headline sponsored by Middlesbrough College Groupand\n- shine a light on companies large and small, new and established, and celebrate the determination, entrepreneurial spirit, enterprise, innovation and creativity of our local businesses.\nLast years overall Company of the Year winner was Double Eleven Ltd.\nFollowing the win, Lee Hutchinson, the firms founder and CEO, said: All award wins mean a lot to us, but winning company of the year means more and feels all the more special because it recognises what we have been doing. We have strong links with the university and colleges as well as with local people, so its great for that work to be recognised.\nWe have been trying to build a great management team and we now have loyal employees, some of whom have been with us since the start 12 years ago.\nThe North East Business Awards 2022 are open for entries until March 28, with the sub-regional heats taking place in May and June, and the grand final on September 29.\nMiddlesbrough College and Sage are the North East Business Awards headline sponsors for 2022\nThe North East Business Awards give us the chance to celebrate businesses and individuals around the region - to recognise their work and achievements across a range of industries. We're thrilled to be holding the awards again this year - and the 2022 awards have two main sponsors: Middlesbrough College, and Sage\nMiddlesbrough College\nMiddlesbrough College works extensively with businesses across the north, to ensure that workforces have the skills they need to succeed.\nWith courses at a range of levels - including apprenticeships, university-level courses and specialists training courses - and staff with a wealth of hands-on experience, Middlesbrough College is dedicated to helping learners and businesses reach their full potential.\nPrinciple and chief executive at Middlesbrough College, Zoe Lewis said: \"Middlesbrough College Group is delighted to once again sponsor the prestigious North East Business Awards, celebrating the innovative and ambitious businesses that are boosting our economy and enriching the opportunities available to young people in our region\"\nSage\nSage is the global market leader for technology that provides small and medium businesses with the visibility, flexibility and efficiency to manage finances, operations and people. With our partners, Sage is trusted by one million customers in the UK and Ireland to deliver the best cloud technology and support. Our years of experience mean that our colleagues and partners understand how to serve our customers and communities through the good, and more challenging times. We are here to help, with practical advice, solutions, expertise and insight.\nNorth East Business Awards 2022 sponsor panel\n(Image: North East Business Awards)\nThe categories are:", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Program's Data Shows Increased Telemedicine Usage. Save\nAKRON, Ohio, July 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pet owners have drastically increased their usage of virtual veterinary visits since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, according to claims data from the ASPCA Pet Health Insuranceprogram. To help support this growing trend, veterinarians and their staff can learn more about the topic during a complimentary, RACE-Approved continuing education course available online\nSome of the findings discovered by evaluating year-over-year claims data* include the following:\nSubmitted claims for telehealth services or phone/online consultations increased by 379 percent in a one-year time frame, from March 2020 to February 2021, compared to the same period one prior year.\nIn April 2020, there was a 170 percent increase in claims for telemedicine services compared to March 2020.\nAnother spike was seen in October 2020, when telemedicine service claims increased by 240 percent compared to the prior month.\n\"The COVID-19 pandemic has changed much of our daily life, and pet owner behavior is no different,\" said Wendy Hauser, DVM, AVP of Veterinary Relations, Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group, providers of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. \"While many clinics and hospitals have adapted to limit exposure within their physical locations, it's become apparent that telemedicine services have become part of the new normal and a convenient option for certain situations.\"\nContinuing Education Course Offered\n\"Telemedicine can be a successful part of your service offering and help grow client loyalty, improve patient care, and grow the practice,\" said Hauser. \"Whether using technology to triage patients, follow up on progress, or consult with specialists, what was once a veterinary novelty is now a staple of veterinary medicine.\"\n\"Through this RACE-approved CE course, titled 'Telemedicine Communication Strategies for Success,' attendees will learn critical skills and best practices to help connect with clients and colleagues effectively in a virtual setting,\" added Hauser.\nThe course, presented by award-winning author and speaker Sandy Weaver, is available at no charge, and attendees can earn one CE credit hour. More information can be found here: https://vet.aspcapetinsurance.com/ce/telemedicine-communication-strategies/\nLearn more at https://www.cfpetinsurance.comand https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com\nAbout Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group\nCrum & Forster Pet Insurance Group (C&F Pet) is committed to helping pet parents get access to reliable and affordable pet health insurance plans. With a history dating back to 1997, making it one of the original providers in the U.S., C&F Pet utilizes various go-to-market strategies, including direct-to-consumer, employee benefits, white labels, and other partnerships. Products are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company (NAIC #21113. Morristown, NJ), produced and administered by C&F Insurance Agency, Inc (NPN # 3974227), a Crum & Forster company. More information can be found at www.cfpetinsurance.com\n* Internal Claims Data, [2019-2021]\nThe ASPCA is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance. Through a licensing agreement, the ASPCA receives a royalty fee that is in exchange for use of the ASPCA's marks and is not a charitable contribution. More information about ASPCA Pet Health Insurance can be found at www.aspcapetinsurance.com\nC&F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group is a trademark of United States Fire Insurance Company. The Crum & Forster group of companies is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best Company 2020.\nMedia Contact:", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Is There Kangaroo in Your Shoes?. Treehugger Voices\nAnimal rights groups and legislators are joining forces to attempt to ban the importation of kangarooproducts into the United States.\nThe Kangaroo Protection Act (H.R. 917) would prohibit the sale of all kangaroo body parts. The bill was introduced in February by U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal, a Democrat from California, and Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Pennsylvania.\nIn introducing the legislation, Carbajal said, \"Commercial shooters kill roughly two million wild kangaroos a year to profit from the trade in their skins, despite the availability of alternative fabrics that are of similar or better quality. While California has banned the sale of kangaroo products, enforcement of this inhumane practice is lacking.\nA coalition of animal rights groups including SPCA International and Animal Wellness Action has launched a campaign called Kangaroos Are Not Shoeswhere they point out that two million kangaroos are killed in Australia each year. Their skins are used to make many products including soccer cleats by major manufacturersincluding Nike and Adidas. The meat is often used for pet food.\nThe coalition calls it the worlds largest commercial slaughter of terrestrial wildlife, and asks Why kill the beloved Australian icon? when Americans protect bald eagles, New Zealand protects kiwi birds, and China protects giant pandas.\nThe killing is occurring on a staggering scale; the kill is ten times larger than the infamous slaughter of baby seals in Atlantic Canada at its zenith 15 years ago, Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, tells Treehugger.\nAnd its important to note that the two million figure is just the commercial component of the slaughter. Theres a small amount of recreational hunting of kangaroos, but farmers and ranchers kill another 2 million kangaroos a year, so the body count is more than double the number you mentioned.\nPacelle said the primary product for kangaroo skins are soccer cleats. He says his group has found more than 70 models from nine manufacturers that are sold to U.S. shoppers as k-leather. Other products can include motorcycle wear, hiking boots, and purses.\nIts important to note that athletic shoe makers produce soccer cleat models that do not use any kangaroo leather or any other animal product, Pacelle points out. Innovation has made animal products entirely unnecessary and the kangaroo-skin shoes are a hold-over from an earlier generation of marketing and manufacturing.\nPacelle says he is confident about the bill's chances of becoming law. But whether or not the law is passed, it could prompt companies to remove kangaroo materials from their products to avoid a backlash.\nReactions from Australia\nThe commercial kangaroo industry is worth more than $200 million to the Australian economy, so many industry leaders are against the proposed legislation.\nThe recent Bill introduced to the US Congress is misguided because no threatened species of kangaroos are commercially harvested in Australia nor are kangaroos harvested for their skins alone, said Dennis King, executive officer of the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia, in a statement. The KIAA represents the commercial kangaroo industry.\nAustralia has one of the most regulated and humanely managed wildlife management programs in the world,\" King said. \"State governments manage the populations of six abundant species as a conservation measure and, without a commercial industry, conservation culling would still continue.\nThe KIAA points out that kangaroo meat has one-third the carbon footprint of beef and the skins are turned into viable products instead of ending up in a landfill.\nAs part of the campaign, animal rights advocates have also asserted that kangaroo killings are often done in a savage manner.\nAustralias Agriculture Minister David Littleproud appeared on 4BC, a news/talk radio station in Brisbane, and disputed these claims.\n[Its] an outrageous lie, and one that slurs on the standing of the industry and farmers themselves, he said. Animal cruelty is not accepted by Australian farmers in any way, shape, or form.\nLittleproud added, What these animal activists forget is what is a crueler death, [is] that we have many kangaroos, particular in drought, dying of starvation.\nView Article Sources\nhttps://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/917/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22hr+917%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=2\nhttps://www.einnews.com/pr_news/535368291/u-s-lawmakers-introduce-kangaroo-protection-act-to-blunt-the-world-s-largest-wildlife-slaughter\nWayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy\nhttps://www.kangarooindustry.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/KIAA_Factsheet_Valuable_0221.pdf", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", " alliance & partnership", " executive statement", "new initiatives & programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Chicago Senior Housing. Alex Nitkin\nWaterton CEO David Schwartz (left) and Pathway to Living CEO Jerome Finis with the Pathway to Living facility in Oak Hill (Credit: Pathway to Living)\nReal estate investment firm Waterton bought a majority stake in Pathway to Living, a Chicago-based senior living operator with 29 facilities totaling more than 2,600 units.\nIn 2015, Waterton bought a 50 percent share and half the seats on the board of Pathway to Living, Waterton CEO David Schwartz told The Real Deal. The Chicago-based investor last month paid an undisclosed sum to boost its share to 80 percent.\nIn the four years Waterton has shared ownership of the housing operator, it helped finance the development or acquisition of nine new facilities, including its\n$33.8 million\npickup of the Grandbrier in northwest suburban Prospect Heights last year.\nPathway has another three residences in its development pipeline, including one each in suburban La Grange and Westmont. The third is planned in the Philadelphia area, marking the first step in an East Coast expansion push Waterton will help power.\nPathway to Living offers a mix of independent-living, assisted-living and memory-care facilities, with an average resident age of 83. The companys expansion will put it in prime position to catch a wave of Baby Boomers, the oldest of whom are now in their early 70s, Schwartz said.\nWe wanted to be well situated for that massive demographic bulge thats coming in the next 10 years, Schwartz said. Demand is going to be so strong, its unlikely well even be able to develop enough senior living facilities to accommodate that demographic.\nThe majority shareholder will line up one-off investments for each new facility but anticipates creating a larger investment vehicle to allow backers to buy into the senior living space as Pathways expands its reach beyond the Midwest, Schwartz said.\nWaterton specializes in apartment management, with more than 60 properties across 15 states combining for about $4.8 billion in total assets. Its portfolio lists eight Chicago", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " expanding geography", " company description", "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Disney Star deploys new technologies to enhance IPL 2022 broadcast. Television\nDisney Star deploys new technologies to enhance IPL 2022 broadcast\nThe tech innovations have been developed by Star Lab - the R&D arm of Disney Star.\n29 Mar, 2022 - 06:12 PM IST | By indiantelevision.com Team\nMumbai: Disney Star has announced a slew of technological innovations to enhance IPL 2022 broadcast on the network.\nThese technologies, adopted across Star Sports network and streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar, have been spearheaded by Disney Stars R&D arm Star Lab which develops innovation in emerging technologies.\nThe broadcaster has brought the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos to fans, unique online voting, and polling platform, enhanced analytics in the commentary box, mixed reality analysis, a behind-the-scenes (BTS) technology venture and the robot assistant Cricko. However, only Star Sports1 HD and Star Sports1 Hindi HD will be integrated with the Dolby Atmos experience. Viewers will experience multidimensional sound with incredible clarity that allows them to hear details never heard before during the live sporting action, according to the statement.\nDisney Star has been committed to elevating the experience of Tata IPL, bringing millions of viewers closer to the game, the heroes, and the action, said Disney Star head sports Sanjog Gupta. With fans being allowed in the stadium, we wanted viewers to get as close to the real feel of the atmosphere at the venues and this is why we decided to produce the Tata IPL 2022 in Dolby Atmos for the first time. The Star Lab has also enhanced the presentation of the tournament by deploying AR and VR across match coverage and programming initiatives. We will also experiment with the worlds first interactive cricket show in the metaverse, in our ambition of making this the most interactive and immersive season of Tata IPL.\nOnline voting and polling platform through megaphone:\nStar Sports is introducing a new online voting and polling platform. It will deliver a live and interactive experience that will allow viewers to shape the editorial discourse during shows and build a connection between the opinions of Star Sports experts and audiences.\nMixed reality analysis:\nPresenters will be able to visualise and interact with data-driven Hawkeye graphics using an MR headset, proprietary technology developed in-house by Star Lab.\nEnhanced analytics:\nWith enhanced analytics in the commentary box, commentators will be teleported from the ground to the studios.\nBTS tech venture:\nA new BTS tech venture will be the implementation of cloud production. Cloud workflows and distributed production models have been accelerated by the global chip shortage. Eliminating hardware and geographical location dependencies means more resources can be deployed into creating quality content and storytelling and collaboration is accelerated which will result in benefits to the environment by reducing carbon emissions.\nOther enhancements include ball-by-ball fielding analysis linked to live on-ground player tracking, enabled within digital twins of stadiums as well as 3D player avatars, virtual multi-screen telestration, and a bespoke virtual studio environment that leverages a stereoscopic talent positional tracking system to create the magical illusion that the graphics are real, 3D physical objects.\nThe robot assistant Cricko is armed with a huge database of IPL facts and figures to ensure analysts are equipped with the most up-to-date and in-depth statistics to share with audiences.\nThe media company will continue to leverage the power of the unreal gaming engine to create virtual studios and augmented reality graphics. AR graphics will be enabled on drone cameras flying high above the stadium, said the statement.\ntags", "answer groups": [ " product updates", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Rakuten plays 5G cloud-native Symphony with Robin.io. Robin.io\n, the Kubernetes storage startup with a 5G edge infrastructure operations and management software stack, has been snapped up by Rakuten Symphony.\nRakuten, regarded as Japans version of Amazon, is an online retail company that owns mobile carrier Rakuten Symphony, originally Rakuten Mobile. The Symphony business unit was spun off in August 2021 and has both 4G/5G technology and services in its portfolio.\nRakuten Symphony CEO Tareq Amin said in a statement: We plan to continue to invest into Robin.ios cloud-native portfolio of products to further advance our capabilities and offer the most advanced and highly integrated cloud platform mobile operators demand.\nEdge cloud requirements are unique and critical as mobile operators transition to 5G. The next era of digital experience requires another level of performance, responsiveness and consistency that enables telecom operator and enterprise transformation to be safely accelerated while creating a platform to support the next 10 years of experiences.\nRobin.io diagram\nRobin.io was founded in 2013 by CEO Partha Seetala and has raised $86m in venture capital funding. It has more than 70 patents for its cloud-native storageand associated technologies, and started collaborating with Rakuten in 2019 when Rakuten Mobile used Robin.io in production for the Japanese deployment of the worlds first end-to-end fully virtualised cloud-native mobile network. Robin.io has petabyte-size deployments with its software running on tens of thousands of servers in production.\nRakuten said that the addition of Robin.ios multi-cloud mobility, hyper automation and orchestration capabilities to the Rakuten Symphony portfolio allows the creation of highly efficient, consistent high performance cloud infrastructure and operations, from edge to central data centre. The new business unit wants to accelerate and strengthen the complete end-to-end automated cloud offering for customers across the globe.\nSeetala, who will become president of Rakuten Symphonys Unified Cloud business unit, said: I am delighted that Robin.ios technology innovations over the last several years will now get a much bigger canvas to lead the vision for cloud-native transformation for the industry. Our vision to deliver simple to use, easy to deploy hyperscale automation is very well aligned.\nThe acquisition terms are confidential and the deal is subject to closing conditions. As Robin.io is apparently doing extremely well and has unique cloud-native, 5G edge automation technology, we might expect a 4x or 5x return for its investors.\nTAGS", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "m&a", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Interface Appoints Laurel M. Hurd as Chief Executive Officer. ,\nMarch 7, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Interface, Inc. (Nasdaq: TILE), a worldwide commercial flooring company and global leader in sustainability, today announced it has appointed\nLaurel M. Hurd\nas President and Chief Executive Officer, effective\nApril 18, 2022\n. She will lead Interface on its next phase of growth, while also delivering on its mission to become a carbon negative enterprise by 2040. Hurd will succeed\nDaniel T. Hendrix\n, who has served a second stint in the CEO role since\nJanuary 2020\n. Hendrix will continue his 39-year tenure with the company remaining as Chairman of the Board of Directors.\nHurd is a results-driven leader who brings to Interface 30 years of sales management, product development, and brand stewardship experience in both the consumer-packaged goods and the consumer durables sectors. As Segment President of Learning and Development at Newell Brands, Hurd oversaw the company's largest segment representing more than\n$3 billion\nin revenue in 2021, or more than a quarter of Newell's overall revenue, and approximately\n$600 million\nof operating profit. She has a proven track record of driving profitable growth through innovation and global expansion, and has been lauded by her teams and colleagues as a passionate and inspirational leader.\n\"Laurel has had great success building new market and growth opportunities for some of Newell's most well-known brands. We're excited to have her strategic mindset and her passion for design and sustainability coming to Interface to accelerate our growth,\" said Hendrix. \"In addition to a focus on results, she is a well-respected and highly effective leader known for developing top talent and building high-performing teams, all while driving a customer-centered philosophy that helps to win in the marketplace. We are delighted to have attracted such coveted leadership talent to Interface to propel us forward. I'm confident that with Laurel at the helm, we have the company, our people, our customers, and our brands in the right hands.\"\n\"Interface is a special company. I'm drawn by its powerful purpose and honored to step into the CEO position to build on the company's foundation as a leader in design, innovation, and sustainability,\" said Hurd. \"Interface has a strong culture and reputation among business and sustainability leaders, the architect and design community, and with its employees. I see amazing potential to further extend the company's impact by continuing to deliver on its sustainability mission and purpose. I'm grateful for the opportunity to build upon Dan's unwavering dedication and successful stewardship over the past four decades, particularly through the challenging dynamics of the past two years. I intend to take us forward to capitalize on the re-emergence of the commercial interiors market and to continue to take share globally as we successfully diversify across segments and expand our mix of products.\"\nHurd continued, \"I'm incredibly optimistic about the potential for future growth and market leadership at Interface. I believe the company has the perfect combination of innovation, passion, and unique expertise to deliver on promises to clients globally. I'm proud to join Interface to lead this incredible team on the next phase of our journey.\"\nHurd has spent the majority of her career at Newell Brands. In her most recent role as head of the Learning and Development segment, she led double-digit growth of the segment and was responsible for market share expansion for the Writing category in the U.S.,\nCanada\n, the U.K., and\nAustralia\n. She oversaw a global supply chain including eight manufacturing plants in seven countries. Hurd also was recently appointed as an independent director of the board of directors of THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO), where she serves on the audit and compensation committees.\nChris Kennedy\n, CEO selection committee member and Lead Independent Director of the Interface Board, said: \"Laurel is an impressive operational leader, bringing to Interface her experience with global P&L responsibility in brand-oriented consumer spaces and a strong track record of developing and leading diverse, inclusive teams at Newell Brands. I knew the founders of Interface, and I'm convinced Laurel will extend the legacy of sustainability, innovation, great design, a love for customers, and an appreciation of the team that is here, which has been the hallmark of Interface's leadership.\"\nAbout Interface\nInterface, Inc. is a global flooring company specializing in carbon neutral carpet tile and resilient flooring, including luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and nora® rubber flooring. We help our customers create high-performance interior spaces that support well-being, productivity, and creativity, as well as the sustainability of the planet. Our mission, Climate Take Back, invites you to join us as we commit to operating in a way that is restorative to the planet and creates a climate fit for life.\nLearn more about Interface at interface.comand blog.interface.com our nora brand at nora.com our FLOR® brand at FLOR.com and our Carbon Neutral Floors program at interface.com/carbonneutral Learn more about our carbon negative products at interface.com/carbonnegative\nFollow us on Twitter YouTube Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Instagram and Vimeo\nSafe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995\n:\nExcept for historical information contained herein, the other matters set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as \"may,\" \"expect,\" \"forecast,\" \"anticipate,\" \"intend,\" \"plan,\" \"believe,\" \"could,\" \"should,\" \"goal,\" \"aim,\" \"objective,\" \"seek,\" \"project,\" \"estimate,\" \"target,\" \"will\" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements set forth above involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such statement, including but not limited to the risks under the following subheadings in \"Risk Factors\" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended\nJanuary 2, 2022\n: \"The COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on our ability to operate, our ability to keep employees safe from the pandemic, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, capital investments, our near term and long term ability to stay in compliance with debt covenants under our Syndicated Credit Facility and Senior Notes, our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness, and our ability to obtain financing in capital markets\"; \"Sales of our principal products have been and may continue to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, adverse economic cycles, and effects in the new construction market and renovation market\"; \"Our earnings could be adversely affected by non-cash adjustments to goodwill, when a test of goodwill assets indicates a material impairment of those assets\"; \"Our substantial international operations are subject to various political, economic and other", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "executive appointment", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Singapore-based biotech firm Tychan to begin human trials for COVID-19 treatment next week. Reuters\nJun 10, 2020 15:33:16 IST\nSingapores Tychan, a biotechnology firm backed by state investor Temasek Holdings, said it will begin human clinical trials next week for a potential monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.\nThe first phase of the trial to be conducted on 23 healthy volunteers will take about six weeks to evaluate the safety and tolerability of TY027 a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.\nAntibodies are generated in the body to fight off infection. Monoclonal antibodies mimic natural antibodies and can be isolated and manufactured in large quantities to treat diseases in patients.\nMany scientists and researchers believe antibody-based therapies hold great promise for treating people already infected with the disease.\nThe structure and cross-sectional view of Human Coronavirus. It shows depicting the shape of coronavirus as well as the cross-sectional view. Image shows the major elements including the Spike S protein, HE protein, viral envelope, and helical RNA. Image credit: Wikipedia\nWe will continue with the fast pace of development as we are conscious that a day saved is a day less of misery, said Teo Ming Kian, chairman of Tychan. He added that the company reached human trials in four months, when it would usually take 12-18 months.\nTY027 is being explored for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 to slow the progression of the disease and accelerate recovery, as well as for its potential to provide temporary protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2.\nAfter passing key milestones in the first phase trial, Tychan will seek approval from the Singapore regulator to expand TY027 to a larger population of COVID-19 volunteer patients to establish its efficacy.\nTemasek Holdings is the founding investor of Tychan, which has previously developed therapeutic treatments for Zika and yellow fever.\nUpdated Date: Jun 10, 2020 15:33:16 IST\nTags :\nCoronavirus Treatment Human Trials Covid-19 Antibody Therapies COVID-19 Human Trials COVID-19 Treatment COVID-19 Treatment Tychan COVID-19 Tychan Human Trials For Coronavirus Treatment Monoclonal Antibody Treatment SARS-CoV-2 SARS-CoV-2 Treatment Singapore Tychan Temasek Holdings Temasek Startup ty027 Covid-19 ty027 SARS-CoV-2\nFind latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets.Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.\nAlso See", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "clinical trial sponsorship" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Travel nurses can make four times what a staff nurse makes. 4:15 PM PST December 17, 2021\nUpdated:\n4:35 PM PST December 17, 2021\nPORTLAND, Ore. Amid a critical nurse shortagenationwide, many staff nurses at Portland area hospitals are frustrated that travel nurses working alongside them are making far more money for doing the same duties.\nTravel nurses, who fill gaps in staffing in hospitals and clinics for weeks at a time, can make four times the hourly wage of a permanent staff nurse. Ads online show weekly stipends of $5-10k, depending on the type of nursing job.\nIt is such a large problem on many levels, said Matt Calzia with the Oregon Nurses Association, the union that represents nurses throughout the state. We are becoming way too dependent upon travelers and it's not a functional system for how you staff a hospital.\"\nCalzia said staff nurses are very frustrated that their traveling counterparts are making far more money for the same job.\nOur members are not feeling valued by their employers, said Calzia.\nA complicated problem\nThe pandemic exacerbated an already critical nurse shortage, with nurse burnoutreaching record levels.\nA recent poll from OHSU showed 60% of nurses considering leaving the profession.\nRELATED:\nHospital nurses feel despair 19 months into the pandemic\nBecause of the nurse shortage, hospitals are left in a tough spot for staffing. Thats where travel nurses come into play.\nHospitals often hire directly through staffing agencies, and the state of Oregon also has several contracts with staffing companies, which bill the state based on an hourly rate.\nAccording to the Oregon Health Authority, as of early November, the state had almost 1,000 contract healthcare workers in hospitals and clinics.\nIn late November, Oregon extended the expiring contract for Jogan Health, a medical staffing company, through January of 2022.\nThe rates in Jogan Healths contract, for example, include travel, lodging and per diem. On the high end, an ICU nurse can cost the state of Oregon up to $237 an hour. A registered nurse can cost $204 an hour.\nFor comparison, according to the Oregon Nurses Association, the average salary for a registered nurse in Oregon is around $80,000 a year. Thats an hourly rate of just over $40 an hour.\nThe travel nurse phenomenon is a band aid at the end of the day, said Iman Abuzeid, the CEO of Incredible Health a career marketplace for healthcare workers.\nIncredible Health helps match and place staff nurses in hospitals around the country, and in the Northwest.\nAccording to the company, 80% of hospitals have reported an increase in permanent nurse turnover during the pandemic.\nCredit: AP\nAn ICU nurse cares for a COVID-19 patient at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Nurses and medical staff say that one of the hardest parts of this whole experience for them, is caring for people suffering and dying of a syndrome that is preventable with a vaccine. (Kristyna Wentz-Graff/Pool Photo via AP)\nBut nurse burnout isnt the only factor contributing to the staffing crisis. Abuzeid cites early retirements, relocations, career advancement opportunities and fallout from vaccine mandates\nWhat we are seeing is 20% of nurses around the country have chosen not to get the vaccine. What that has created, is even more turmoil in the market when it comes to making nurse hiring and nurse retention happen, she added.\nThere's no information available on how many nurses in Oregon were fired over the states mandate, as there isn't a statewide agency that kept track. Not even the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems or the Oregon Nurses Association.\nAbuzeid said the cost associated with travel workers isnt sustainable. She said most hospitals can only afford about 5% of their workforce to be temporary. Many are topping 20% right now.\nRELATED:\nHospitals were already facing nursing staff shortages. The pandemic made it far worse\nIt's a cost issue. Hospitals run on low margins, and when you are spending three to four times on your temporary labor, that is going to eat into what are already low margins, said Abuzeid.\nThe Oregon Nurses Association is now calling on hospitals and the state to stop relying so heavily on travel nurses, out of fear that more staff nurses will quit their jobs to take these higher paying positions.\nWhen we look at the impact to the healthcare system, it's just profound, said Calzia.\nThe ONA wants hospitals to focus on creating better nurse retention programs and offer more mental health support for workers. It would also like to see more continuing education opportunities for nurses.\nIn Other News", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "service & product providing" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "$895.50 Million in Sales Expected for Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR) This Quarter. Get Rating\n) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 2nd. The utilities provider reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters consensus estimate of $1.31 by ($0.17). The firm had revenue of $555.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $548.70 million. Spire had a net margin of 10.29% and a return on equity of 10.13%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.42 earnings per share.\nSR has been the topic of several recent research reports. Guggenheim cut shares of Spire from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $71.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, January 20th. Bank of America cut shares of Spire from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and dropped their price target for the company from $63.00 to $58.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 23rd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Spire from $68.00 to $65.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 18th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Spire from $78.00 to $67.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 22nd. Finally, Mizuho cut shares of Spire from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $68.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, January 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Spire currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $71.78.\nA number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of Spire during the third quarter valued at about $29,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Spire during the fourth quarter valued at about $33,000. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of Spire by 114.3% during the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 555 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 296 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Spire during the third quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, Missouri Trust & Investment Co purchased a new position in shares of Spire during the fourth quarter valued at about $52,000. 81.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.\nShares of SR opened at $66.35 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $65.77 and a 200-day moving average of $64.34. The company has a market cap of $3.43 billion, a PE ratio of 15.32, a P/E/G ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.31. Spire has a one year low of $59.60 and a one year high of $77.95.\nThe firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 11th will be paid a $0.685 dividend. This represents a $2.74 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.13%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 10th. Spires dividend payout ratio is presently 63.28%.\nAbout Spire (", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Abiteboul back in F1 with Alpine-linked company. - 08:16\nCyril Abiteboul will remain connected with the world of Formula 1.\nAt the end of last year, Renault - having decided to re-brand as Alpine - suddenly ousted its French team boss as Davide Brivio arrived from MotoGP and Marcin Budkowski was promoted.\nLittle has been heard about 43-year-old Abiteboul since then - until now.\nMecachrome, a French engineering company best known for its ties to Renaults Formula 1 program, has now signed Abiteboul as a motorsport advisor.\n\"We are very proud that Cyril will support and share his experience with our group of companies,\" said CEO Christian Cornille.\n\"Since 1983, Mecachrome has helped various companies in the worlds leading racing series - in Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, endurance racing and rally,\" he added.\n\"We need to understand the current trends and opportunities in this sector in order to align them with the Groups objectives and the transformation that is underway in its other businesses.\"\nReports indicate that Mecachrome continues to provide the Alpine team with support in developing, manufacturing and assembling the Formula 1 engines.\n\"Working with Mecachrome, our historical partner, gives the project an advantage that will help to return us to the top level in Formula 1,\" Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi said.\nFernando Alonso has struggled since returning to Formula 1 with the team this year, but he showed some of his former flair in the race in Portimao.\n\"We fought against McLaren and Ferrari, which would have been unthinkable in Imola or Bahrain,\" said the Spaniard.\n\"My weakness is currently on Saturdays - squeezing the maximum out of the car on one lap,\" Alonso added. \"In Barcelona and Monaco, Saturdays are the key so I have some homework to do for the coming weekend.\"\nkeyboard_arrow_left", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Conflicts Arise as Health Insurers Diversify. Conflicts Arise as Health Insurers Diversify\nUnitedHealthcare's purchase of Executive Health Resources creates a conflict of interest according to some.\nBy\nLast Updated:\nMay 1, 2012\nSUNDAY, April 29, 2012 (Kaiser Health News) Like hospitals and doctors everywhere, Banner Health fights a daily battle to get paid by insurance companies and government agencies for the care it delivers.\nSo the hospital system hired a company called Executive Health Resources to fight back against the likes of Medicare and UnitedHealthcare when they deny claims or pay bills for less than what Banner thinks it is owed.\nBut Banner executives began to worry about EHR's independence when the firm was acquired in 2010 by UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare's parent.\n\"It does seem as though there is reason for concern because they can use our own information against us,\" said Dennis Dahlen, CFO of the Phoenix-based Banner.\nCritics call United's ownership of EHR a troubling conflict of interest that could give it confidential information about rivals as well as patients and limit EHR's power to demand payment from its much larger corporate sister. \"How is that ownership going to affect the mission of a company whose business is to extract more money from payers?\" said Scot Silverstein, a physician and specialist in medical software and patient records at Drexel University. \"Imagine going to a plaintiff's lawyer to take your malpractice case and not knowing that plaintiff's lawyer actually works for the hospital that you're suing.\"\nThe problem isn't limited to United.\nAs insurers eager to add revenue streams convert themselves into diversified health-services companies, they often buy traditional business adversaries, including physician groups and hospital consultants such as EHR. They're also buying technology companies and research firms that serve medical-care providers, raising questions not only about independence but about the privacy of patient information.\n\"I am not convinced that, even with proper disclosure, that an entity owned by United could aggressively advocate against United's interests,\" said Mila Kofman, a Georgetown professor who was Maine's insurance superintendent.\nUnited says it maintains rigorous separation between its insurance wing and the health-services companies.\n\"We continue to grow and strengthen our relationships with hospitals,\" said Thomas J. Mercer, EHR's chief executive. \"We earn our clients' trust by adhering to the highest ethical standards, and our client agreements contain confidentiality restrictions which preclude us from sharing their confidential information outside of EHR.\"\nOne client satisfied with EHR's work is Bethesda Healthcare System in Florida.\n\"They operate under separate umbrellas,\" since United took over, said Joanne Aquilina, its chief financial officer. \"They work with all our payers in making sure we collect every dime. They're very careful about the information they're collecting and making sure it doesn't get back to the United side.\"\nComplications of diversification\nEven so, United's ambition to diversify has brought complications. This year, one of its newly acquired doctor networks, Monarch HealthCare in California, was accused of acting as a sales force for United's insurance company, recruiting members from rival plans. Three years ago United agreed to a $350 million payment to doctors and patients and a $50 million deal with the New York attorney general to settle allegations that it rigged a database to underpay doctors.\nWhile United has \"made the most aggressive push\" for diversification among health insurers rivals have expanded their portfolios as well, said Thomas Carroll, a managed-care analyst for Stifel Nicolaus.\nIn March, for example, Blue Cross plans in Pennsylvania and New Jersey teamed up with technology company Lumeris to buy NaviNet, which combines medical and claims data on one network for doctors. One of those Blue Cross plans, Highmark, is also taking control of hospitals and physician practices in the Pittsburgh area.\nLast year, Aetna bought Medicity, which builds information exchanges for doctors and hospitals to share patient data electronically.\nFor its part, United has bought physician networks such as Monarch; Axolotl, which allows doctors, hospitals, labs and radiologists to share patient information electronically; Picis, which specializes in data networks involving seriously ill patients; and CareMedic, a claims consultant that promised hospitals they would \"Get PAID\" by insurance companies.\n\"We're in the beginning of a lot of these kinds of conflicts in historically stable relationships,\" said Glenn Melnick, a health economist at the University of Southern California.\nIn 2007, United, which owns one of the country's biggest private health insurers, with more than 30 million members, bought the Lewin Group, a health-policy researcher. Critics say the relationship raises questions about the group's independence, pointing to Lewin work used in 2009 to undermine the case for a government, \"public option\" insurance plan that would have competed with United.\nIn February, Blue Shield of California claimed that the Monarch doctor network, whose management arm United bought last fall, \"actively steered our members away from Blue Shield\" and refused to treat Blue Shield patients.\nThe health plan sought binding arbitration and damages from Monarch of at least $10.5 million. Monarch disputed the allegations, saying in a prepared statement that it was \"aware of no instances of a Monarch physician declining to provide care to a Blue Shield member.\"\nAlso in February, a federal judge approved the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars paid by United in compensation for what New York authorities said was a long-running scheme to minimize insurance reimbursements. A database run by the same United unit that now owns EHR led UnitedHealthcare and other insurers to underpay out-of-network physicians for years, according to allegations in a 2009 settlement with Andrew Cuomo, who was then New York's attorney general.\n'Payers generally don't like to pay'\nThe other victims were patients, who were billed \"billions of dollars\" for what insurance didn't cover, an investigation by the Senate Commerce Committee found the same year. Doctors received about $200 million of the $350 million settlement paid by United, according to the American Medical Association, which had sued the insurer over the database. Patients received a lesser amount.\nUnited denied that the unit involved, Ingenix, committed fraud. In addition to financial settlements, the company acknowledged a conflict of interest and agreed to switch management of the billing database to an independent nonprofit. UnitedHealth Group's chief executive, Stephen Hemsley, said he regretted \"that we were not more forceful in our broad disclosures\" about Ingenix's billing database ties to United's insurance company.\nThe next year Ingenix bought EHR, another company that deals with medical provider claims. Soon afterward,", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Gettysburg Cancer Center Joins OneOncology Platform. /PRNewswire/ -- Gettysburg Cancer Center (GCC), with clinics in\nGettysburg\nand\nHanover, PA\n, will join OneOncology, the national platform for independent community oncology practices, OneOncology announced today. By joining OneOncology, Gettysburg Cancer Center will remain independent and have the capital, technology and expertise to grow into the premier cancer care provider in\nPennsylvania\n.\nGettysburg Cancer Cancer is the latest practice to join the OneOncology platform\n\"OneOncology gives us the best path to continue to bring our patients advanced cancer care,\" said Satish Shah, MD.\nGettysburg Cancer Center is led by\nSatish Shah\n, MD, who has practiced in the community for more than 25 years and run more than 100 clinical trials throughout his career.\nGettysburg Cancer Center offers patients comprehensive medical and radiation oncology care, including a robust clinical trial program. GCC currently has 17 patients enrolled in 14 open clinical trials. As part of the OneOncology partnership, GCC will join OneR, OneOncology's clinical trial network. OneR will enhance GCC's clinical trial program with scale and resources to bring additional innovative therapies to patients in\nPennsylvania\n\"OneOncology gives us the best path forward to continue to bring our patients in\nCentral Pennsylvania\nadvanced cancer care and to grow our clinical trial program,\" said\nSatish Shah\n, MD. \"Working with other leading oncology practices across the country who share our vision for delivering the highest quality care in the community setting is what sets OneOncology apart.\"\nGCC currently has three medical oncologists, one radiation oncologist and four full-time staff dedicated to clinical research. In advance of going live on the platform, OneOncology's physician recruitment team has already grown the number of providers on staff by adding an additional medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and two advanced practice providers, all of whom will start this fall.\nGCC's expansion plans include offering additional services along the continuum of cancer care in their\nGettysburg\nand\nHanover\nclinics as well as bringing additional independent oncology practices into GCC and onto the OneOncology platform.\n\"Gettysburg Cancer Center is known as a leading clinical practice, making them a perfect fit for OneOncology,\" said\nJeff Patton\n, MD, CEO, OneOncology. \"We look forward to bringing resources and expertise to our colleagues at GCC to help the practice grow and provide additional services along the continuum of cancer care for their patients.\"\nWith the addition of GCC, there are now more than 600 providers on the OneOncology platform caring for approximately 280,000 patients annually at 189 sites of care across the country.\nAbout OneOncology\nOneOncology is the national platform for independent community oncology practices working together to improve the lives of everyone living with cancer through a physician-led, data-driven and patient-centric model. OneOncology is comprised of leading community oncology practices representing more than 600 providers practicing at 189 sites of care across the\nUnited States", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "UNest and Avibra Announce Strategic Partnership to Offer Affordable Wellness and Insurance Benefits to Parents. UNest and Avibra Announce Strategic Partnership to Offer Affordable Wellness and Insurance Benefits to Parents\nBusiness Wire\n-- First-of-its-kind program will provide families with a compelling suite of integrated resources to support their financial and emotional health --\nNORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.\nUNest\n, an app that empowers parents to invest and save for their kids future, and Avibra, a leading provider of personal well-being, risk, and protection solutions, today announced a partnership that offers families access to valuable services including no-cost life insurance policy and a 15% discount on Avibras\nDollar Benefits Store\nThe partnership between the two fast-growing companies will give UNest customers access to a\n$10,000\ncomplimentary AD&D insurance policy, with the ability to earn up to\n$5,000\nmore, powered by Avibra. UNest families can also select a la carte benefits for\n$1\nper week through Avibras\nDollar Benefits Store\n. These benefits include Critical Illness,\nAccident Medical Insurance\n, Telemedicine, and more.\nTogether with Avibra we are addressing three key areas for families -- financial, insurance, and healthcare, said\nKsenia Yudina\n, CFA, Founder and CEO of UNest. As the leading app to help parents save for their kids future, we have insight into other focus areas for our customers. Alongside pragmatic saving and investment tools, families need insurance coverage and access to healthcare. Avibra shares our customer-centric philosophy and desire to create solutions that empower underserved communities.\nWe are both mission-driven companies and the close alignment in our ethos makes this collaboration a natural fit, said\nYogesh Shetty\n, Founder and CEO of Avibra. Similar to UNest, we believe that everyone deserves access to top-quality healthcare and financial solutions. Avibras team is focused on improving the lives of hard-working families. Through this partnership, we hope to inspire parents and their kids to be proactive in preparing for each life stage.\nParents on the UNest platform will be able to access Avibra through the UNest Rewards section of the app. The partnership between the two companies democratizes access to new ways for families to get their finances and well-being on track and live their best lives.\nUNest has built one of the largest collections of rewards partners offered through a savings and investment app. UNest customers receive cash back when they sign up for and shop with over 100 national brands.\nAbout UNest\nUNest is a purpose-driven fintech company empowering parents to invest and save for their kids future. Since launching in February of 2020, UNest has helped thousands of families give their children a financial head-start and road map. Opening a UNest Investment Account for Kids requires no paperwork, and takes just five minutes to set up through its award-winning app. UNest leadership team includes senior team members from Acorns, Marqeta, and\nCapital Group", "answer groups": [ " service & product providing", "alliance & partnership", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Islanders Open Coliseum to Healthcare Heroes. Islanders Open Coliseum to Healthcare Heroes\nIslanders Open Coliseum to Healthcare Heroes\nThe Islanders treated 1,000 Northwell Health employees and their families to the first game in front of fans in over a year\nby Cory Wright\n@WrightsWay\n/ NewYorkIslanders.com\nFor a full year, healthcare heroes have been looking out for everyone else. On Thursday night, the New York Islanders wanted to make sure that someone was looking out for them.\nOne day shy of the one-year anniversary of the NHL's COVID-19 pause, the Islanders opened Nassau Coliseum to fans, with 1,000 healthcare heroes - deservedly - being the first ones through the door.\n\"Having the healthcare workers in there tonight is extra special,\" Head Coach Barry Trotz said pregame. \"We make sacrifices as coaches and athletes and families, but they've made the ultimate sacrifice. They put themselves in harm's way to keep other people safe and alive. It's special for them to be back in the building and I think our building deserves to have people in it.\"\nThe game was a small gesture from the team, who welcomed the healthcare heroes as special guests. The night was dedicated to them, from free t-shirts waiting on their socially-distanced seats, to personalized thank you video messaging from the team, Trotz and General Manager Lou Lamoriello. Four Northwell Health workers, each outfitted with a blue \"Hero\" jersey, dropped the puck in a pre-recorded ceremony. Sparky banged a pot at 7 p.m. sharp, an acknowledgement of the nightly salute to healthcare heroes from early on during the pandemic.\n\"We've been looking forward to getting fans back in the building for a long time,\"\nJosh Bailey\nsaid. \"It was a great way to honor our healthcare workers tonight and to have them be the first ones in attendance, they brought some energy for us and we fed off it. It was about saying thank you for all the sacrifices they made along the way and it was about them tonight and happy to get the win in front of them.\"\nVideo: Islanders Thank Healthcare Heroes\nThe excitement was reciprocated by the healthcare heroes, who described returning to the coliseum as emotional and as an exhale, a chance to relax after working relentlessly over the past year.\n\"It's a great feeling,\" said Rebecca Reinold, an Outpatient Nurse at Family Medicine in Lindenhurst. \"My fianc and I are Season Ticket Members, we were at the last game before the COVID pandemic started, so it really boosted our morale to watch games when they started coming back and playing and even better to see it live. It's very emotional. I feel like I get choked up, it's a very good feeling to have a little bit of normalcy. Everyone in this company works really hard, so everyone deserves it.\"\nReinhold, who was an honorary flag captain earlier in the year, wasn't in her usual seats in section 213, though they were occupied by her cardboard cutout. She said watching the video tributes before the game was an emotional experience and thanked the Islanders for everything they'd done for Northwell Health employees, especially after a chaotic and demanding year.\n\"It means a lot that they value healthcare workers,\" Reinhold said. \"It's been chaotic, there have been a lot of questions, a lot of things as healthcare workers we didn't think we'd have to face, but especially Northwell, everyone is very team oriented and I think that's why we gravitate towards hockey and towards the Islanders because we all really pulled together. There was not one second where I didn't feel safe or supported or important to this company, or to this team.\"\nVideo: Healthcare Heroes Drop Puck\nThere was a buzz in the building right as doors reopened for the Coliseum. Laurie Zottarelli, a 32-year Northwell employee who has helped supply and distribute medical equipment for LIJ and Cohen Children's Medical Center, described it as surreal. The good kind though, not the type she'd seen in the hospital for the past year.\n\"I've been there 32 years and I've never seen anything like this,\" she said of the pandemic. \"We had adults in [Cohen's]. That's never happened. We moved out the kids to bring adults in. It's crazy. And we built a 65-bed unit, that's the biggest thing I'm proud of, that we came together all the teams and had a unit built in three weeks to house COVID patients. It is a 65-bed unit and we only have 22 patients currently, which is a good thing.\"\nZottarelli, who was decked out in a blue Bryan Trottier jersey, said she was appreciative for everything Northwell had done to keep staff safe and for all the work the Islanders had done for healthcare heroes, including food and cookie drops at the hospitals throughout the pandemic.\n\"The doctors, the respiratory therapists, the first responders, they deserve all the props,\" Zottarelli said. \"They're still on the front lines.\"\nThe healthcare heroes had something to cheer for, as the Islanders beat the Devils 5-3. Six fans also went home with team-signed jerseys as the lucky seats of the game and the team saluted the crowd after the win. Reinhold, who was at the last game with fans before the pandemic last March, said it just felt good to be back.\n\"It feels like I never left in a way,\" Reinhold said. \"I know it's a little different and the precautions are great, everyone is being as safe as possible, so it's just a different feeling, but feels like things are getting better finally.\"", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "event organization" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Get Ready Brooklyn Chop House is Coming to Times Square Times Square Chronicles. Get Ready Brooklyn Chop House is Coming to Times Square\nGet Ready Brooklyn Chop House is Coming to Times Square\nSuzanna Bowling\nMarch 21, 2022\nOne restaurants loss is another ones gain. Brooklyn Chop House where Chinese meets traditional American steakhouse has taken 25,000-square-foot space on West 47th Street where Buffalo Wild Wings use to be. The space has room for 650 guests over five levels, including six private dining rooms, three bars and a rooftop bar that seats 150 with a retractable cover.\nWhen Buffalo Wild Wings, vacated the space at the start of the pandemic, they left behind a $15 million build-out that included hundreds of bottles of liquor, cabinets, big screen TVs and an $850,000 Jumbotron.\nThe owners are Stratis Morfogen, Robert Don Pooh and David Thomas who also own the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop. The company is a majority black-owned business, which is perfect for todays times.\nOpening in May 2022, look for a Fros Tropical Bar at the Brooklyn Beach House Rooftop Bar. On the menu is a four-pound, salt-and-pepper ginger lobster, seven-pound Peking ducks, three-pound dry aged Porterhouse steaks, homemade dumplings, noodles, 35-day dry-aged prime steaks and double thick-cut chops. There will also be vegan, gluten-free and plant-based menu.\nMmm almost time to check this out!", "answer groups": [ " company description", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Glazer Capital LLC Sells 72 569 Shares of Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC). Share on Stocktwits\nGlazer Capital LLC trimmed its holdings in Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC) by 41.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 103,816 shares of the companys stock after selling 72,569 shares during the quarter. Glazer Capital LLC owned 0.88% of Edoc Acquisition worth $1,043,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.\nSeveral other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Yakira Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Edoc Acquisition by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Yakira Capital Management Inc. now owns 394,321 shares of the companys stock worth $3,967,000 after acquiring an additional 2,293 shares during the last quarter. Radcliffe Capital Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Edoc Acquisition by 12.2% in the 1st quarter. Radcliffe Capital Management L.P. now owns 126,897 shares of the companys stock worth $1,267,000 after acquiring an additional 13,749 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in shares of Edoc Acquisition by 7.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 260,491 shares of the companys stock worth $2,626,000 after acquiring an additional 18,100 shares during the last quarter. Peddock Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Edoc Acquisition in the 1st quarter worth approximately $191,000. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Edoc Acquisition in the 1st quarter worth approximately $257,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.12% of the companys stock.\nGet\nEdoc Acquisition\nalerts:\nShares of ADOCopened at $10.15 on Friday. Edoc Acquisition Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $9.85 and a fifty-two week high of $10.37. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $10.10 and a 200-day moving average price of $10.07.\nEdoc Acquisition Profile\nEdoc Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company. The company intends to focus on businesses primarily operating in the health care and health care provider space in North America and the Asia-Pacific. Edoc Acquisition Corp. was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Victor, New York.\nFeatured Article:\nWhat is a stock portfolio tracker?\nWant to see what other hedge funds are holding ADOC? Visit HoldingsChannel.comto get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edoc Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:ADOC).\nReceive News & Ratings for Edoc Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edoc Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter", "answer groups": [ " company description", "investment in public company" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Green Peak Innovations raises $30 million in debt round, plans medical marijuana retail. The Windsor Township-based medical marijuana manufacturer is looking to expand\nTo open 19 provisioning centers in Michigan branded as Skymint\nCEO says oversubscribed debt round means investors \"excited about our business strategy\nSkymint\nWindsor Township-based Green Peak Innovations LLC has introduced a new brand, Skymint, for its medical marijuana provisioning centers.\nA mid-Michigan medical cannabis manufacturer plans to open 19 retail centers in Michigan and has raised more than $30 million in an oversubscribed debt round.\nGreen Peak Innovations LLC would open the first store, branded as Skymint, in the next several months and the rest within two years, according to a news release.\nIt also plans to expand and possibly double its 60,000-square-foot headquarters facility in Windsor Township, southwest of Lansing.\n\"This is an important step for Green Peak Innovations as Michigan's largest holder of vertical medical marijuana licenses,\" CEO Jeff Radway said in the release. \"Significant demand resulted in exceeding our planned funding goal in record time. Clearly our investors are excited about our business strategy ...\"\nRadway said Green Peak aims to grow in Michigan and then use its model in other states.\nCanaccord Genuity and Beacon Securities were co-lead agents in the mezzanine funding round.\nGreen Peak was one of the first companies to get pre-approved for integrated medical cannabis manufacturing and distribution in the state.\nCompanies and the Michigan government are\n. As of January, Michigan had let 70 medical pot businesses reopen as it works to get a new regulatory system off the ground.\nGov. Gretchen Whitmer is also\nreshaping the state's medical marijuana licensing\n, abolishing the current board and folding its functions into a new agency as she targets \"inefficiencies.\"\nAt the same time, the state is working on a regulatory scheme that would clear the way for retail sales of recreational marijuana, which residents voted to legalize last November.\nLetter", "answer groups": [ " new initiatives or programs", "funding round", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Why Allot Stock Dove Today. NASDAQ:ALLT\n)\nshareholders lost ground to the market on Tuesday as the stock plunged 19% by 11 a.m. ET compared to a 1.2% increase in the S&P 500.\nThe cybersecurity specialist announced surprisingly weak operating results for the selling period that ended in late December.\nImage source: Getty Images.\nSo what\nAllot revealed in an early-morning press release that sales rose just 5% in the fourth quarter, marking a slowdown from the prior quarter's 10% increase Allot has now posted two consecutive quarters of weak revenue, mainly thanks to delays launching several new security services.\nStill, management said it was encouraged by the success it saw in growing the customer base for cloud-based network security services \"We see this as a testament to the accelerated growth in the ... market, as well as our leadership and strength in the market,\" CEO Erez Antebi said in a press release.\nNow what\nInvestors weren't happy to hear Allot's official 2022 outlook that calls for sales to remain roughly flat, landing between $147 million and $153 million. Those sluggish gains won't provide much financial heft for management to direct toward growth initiatives, either.\nThat's why the company announced a new private financing deal providing Allot with $40 million in exchange for a significant share of the company. Lynrock Lake Master Fund, a major investor, loaned the cash and has secured the right to buy Allot shares for $10.30 per share at any time over the next three years.\nThe deal will give Allot more flexibility as it works to bolster its portfolio, especially through the slow-growth period ahead. But investors understandably cringed at the prospect of a rising share count combined with flat sales in 2022.\nThis article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.\nMotley Fool Returns", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Nashville-based woman-led precision nutrition startup Rootine lands $3M. August 10, 2021\nFrom vitamins to minerals to weight loss pills, consumers have thousands of dietary supplements to choose from.\nBut what if you could find a formula made just for you?\nEnter\n, a Nashville-based precision health startup. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to look at individual DNA, blood, and lifestyle test results, Rootine creates a hyper-customized daily micronutrient formula.\nAnd it seems to be taking off.\nIn addition to gaining celebrity clients like Carolina Panthers player Brian Burns, Rootine has landed $3 million in seed funding.\nThe future of health is data-driven and personalized, said Rachel Soper Sanders co-founder and CEO.\nThe raise boasts an eclectic mix of investors, including Novogenia GMBH, DSM Venturing, Duro VC, Launch TN Impact Fund, Cleo Capital and 20-plus angels including founders, executives, and clinicians from Havenly, Eterneva, Facebook, SoFI, Notion and Eight Sleep, among others.\nSanders said around 50% of participants are from underrepresented investor communities including women, people of color and the Latinx community.\nThe funds will be used towards investing in product and software development and expanding its team, which is currently at eight full-time employees.\nWe are actively hiring specifically in engineering and customer experience, Soper said.\n\nBooming business\nThe global dietary supplements market size is expected to reach $272 billion by 2028, according to a recent report\nThe pandemic has only helped fuel this growth, with the increasing demand for immunity-boosting supplements, including vitamins, minerals, and several herbs, it said.\nBack in 2018, Sanders, a Harvard Business School grad who previously worked in product and strategy at naviHealth, founded Rootine alongside Daniel Wallerstorfer a molecular biologist and geneticist based out of Manchester, England.\nThey had met through a mutual mentor at Techstars, a global platform for investment and innovation, and the professional sparks flew, Sanders recalled.\nWe both knew that nutrition was a key part of optimizing how we felt and performed every day, but when we looked at the solutions available at the time, we were unimpressed with the status quo, so we did something about it.\nFrom his lab in Manchester, Wallerstorfer built the foundation for their precision nutrition technology and a micronutrient product.\nThe result of our unique scientist/CEO partnership is Rootine.\nEven before the pandemic, they started building a remote-first workplace with headquarters in Nashville.\nNashville is the center of healthcare in the United States, has a great startup community that is growing fast, tons of entertainment, and the cost of living is more affordable than many cities on the coasts, Sanders said. For logistical reasons, the central location also makes a lot of sense to service the US market.\nGoing forward, Sanders said the company will continue operating remote-first but will have a physical location in Nashville as a home base post-pandemic for in-person events and collaboration both for the Rootine team and our member community.\nWe are entering a new era of human performance, Sanders said. Finally, there is a health stack for the empowered consumer and Rootine is an essential contributor.", "answer groups": [ " expanding geography", " alliance & partnership", " executive statement", "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Tychan. ANTIBODY\nType: Monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting SARS-CoV-2\nStatus: Tychan said June 10 it is launching Phase I clinical trials to assess TY027 in patients with COVID-19, following approval by Singapores Health Sciences Authority. The Phase I trial, to be conducted by SingHealth Investigational Medicine Unit, is expected to take six weeks, during which it aims to establish the efficacy of the mAb. Efficacy data is expected to be available in the third quarter, Tychan said.\nTY027 showed full clearance of the virus in lab studies, demonstrated safety in preclinical studies, and achieved a successful three-week drug stability test, Tychan said.\nTychan developed TY027, including discovery and lab and preclinical studies, in four months using its rapid-response platform, through which the company developed a mAb against Yellow Fever in seven months from design to first-in-human infusion, and a mAb against Zika in nine months., developed by the companys founders, Profs. Ram Sasisekharan, PhD, of MIT/Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) and Ooi Eng Eong, PhD, of Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, and their team.\nAs for antibody engineering, we use computational methods to target functionally important, and evolutionarily stable, regions on the virus, and our bioprocessing method makes antibodies in a matter of weeks, instead of the many months usually required if working with a master cell bank, Sasisekharan told GEN in May We showed there is no difference between the antibodies from the traditional approach and our technique.\nSingapore-based Tychan developed TY027 in partnership with several of the countrys government agencies, including Singapores Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health, and the Economic Development Board.\nCOVID-19: 200 Candidates and Counting\nTo navigate through the >200 potential therapeutic and vaccine options for COVID-19, GEN has grouped the candidates into four broad categories based on their developmental and (where applicable) clinical progress:\n\n the most promising therapeutics/vaccines based on clinical progress, favorable data or both.\n\n earlier phases with promising partners, or more advanced candidates in development that have generated uneven data.\n\n interesting technology, attracting notable partners, or both, but preliminary data.\n TOO SOON TO TELL longshots pending additional experimental and/or clinical data.\nGEN has also tagged the most common treatment types:", "answer groups": [ " regulatory approval", "clinical trial sponsorship", " alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Medisafe Secures $30M in Series C Funding to Build Future Model of Patient Support. Medisafe Secures $30M in Series C Funding to Build Future Model of Patient Support\nPress Release\nInvestments led by Sanofi Ventures and ALIVE Israel HealthTech Fund\nThe digital health leader readies for solution expansion across the healthcare ecosystem with latest round of funding\nFebruary 25, 2021, Boston, MA Medisafe a leading digital therapeutics company creating digital drug companions, today announced that it has raised $30 million in Series C funding with investments led by Sanofi Ventures and ALIVE Israel HealthTech Fund, joined by Leumi Partners, Menorah Mivtachim and Consensus Business Group, previous investors Pitango HealthTech, 7wireVentures, M Ventures, Octopus Ventures, lool Ventures, Triventures, Ourcrowd, and Qualcomm Ventures.\nWith this new investment Medisafe will further expand its end-to-end solutions supporting patients managing medications and accelerate revenues growth. Cris De Luca, Global Head, Digital Investments at Sanofi Ventures and David Klein, Co-Founder, Managing Partner ALIVE Israel HealthTech Fund will join Medisafes board of directors.\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has proven to us that supporting patients digitally through virtual care and leveraging data-driven insights, is going to be foundational to future models of healthcare and improving outcomes, De Luca said.\nWeve been following Medisafe and witnessed its massive growth as the healthcare industry is rapidly deploying digital solutions, said David Klein, Co-Founder, Managing Partner ALIVE Israel HealthTech Fund. Were excited to partner with the company, its investors and partners at this inflection point to drive together to new heights.\nFounded in 2012, Medisafe is the largest medication management platform with over 7M registered users globally. Medisafes growth is rapidly accelerating as the healthcare industry turns to digital health solutions to support patients. Partnering with top global pharma companies and expanding opportunities across the health ecosystem, Medisafe deploys digital drug companions to holistically support patients throughout their unique therapy journey. Medisafes advanced technology transforms patient behaviors powered by JITI (Just-in-Time-Interventions), AI data-driven personalized engine providing support for patients.\nOver the past eight years, Medisafe has amassed a database of over four billion dosage behaviors informing JITI to maximize engagement and driving outcomes. In 2020, Medisafe expanded its platform first launching Medisafe Care Connector which links the all-critical human element into patient support programs digitally connecting patients with clinicians. Last September, Medisafe introduced Maestro, a proprietary no-code technology to build, deploy and optimize personalized journeys. Medisafe Maestro provides a scalable solution to activate patient journeys, orchestrate patient support interventions and increase overall speed to market.\nThis investment allows Medisafe to expand holistic treatment support for patients to impact behavior change and ultimately outcomes. Medisafe is continuously advancing its technology to meet the dynamic needs of patients managing complex therapies, said Omri Shor, CEO and Co-Founder of Medisafe. The future model of patient support is not purely digital but adaptable to empower human connections. In fact, we are seeing impressive results connecting clinicians and care givers into the support solutions with adoption rates 4x that of pure digital and increasing nurse-to-patient connectivity by 1.8x. We are excited to build out further capabilities to meet the evolving needs of the industry.\nAbout Medisafe\nMedisafe is the leading evidence-based digital therapeutics company providing medication management solutions across the healthcare continuum, a $300 billion problem in the US alone. Medisafe supports patient journeys with AI driven technology that dynamically engages patients during the course of their treatment based on each patients regimen, condition and specific circumstance. Medisafe fosters collaboration among patients, their loved ones and healthcare professionals, and partners with the healthcare ecosystem, from pharma companies to payers and providers, to improve outcomes. With seven million registered patient and caregiver users have recorded on Medisafes platform over two billion successful medication doses on their iOS and Android smartphones and tablets and contributed 350,000 user reviews that average 4.7 out of 5 stars in the App Store and Google Play stores. Medisafe is a HIPAA and GDPR compliant solution and ISO 27001:2013 certified. For more information please visit www.medisafe.com", "answer groups": [ " company description", "funding round", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "The Concept Of Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions, And How To Measure Them For Carbon Management By Fossil Energy And Other Companies. Part 1.. Why Do Fracking Opponents Ignore Its Moral Benefits?\nBIO: Josh Weber founded nZero (then called Ledger8760) with Josh Griffin in 2017. At that time, he was practicing as an energy and regulatory attorney focused on electric and natural gas regulation, renewables development and policy, and customer-driven sustainability initiatives. His experience in regulatory and market issues shaped nZero's approach to building accessible, accurate, and transparent data to drive decarbonization and guide customer strategy.\n1. Your company nZero is new. Can you tell us about the company, its mission goals, employees, and location(s)?\nnZero is a 24/7 climate management platform that gives companies, cities and communities accurate emissions data they need to make decisions that will allow them to reach net zero. We provide our customers with actionable and audit-ready insights that empower them to take tangible steps to lower their carbon impact and meet the increasing demands for ongoing and transparent reporting, driving climate action and accountability across a variety of industries. Unlike other carbon management offerings who rely on outdated third-party data and opaque averages, we gather accurate, first-party, contextual data into a comprehensive view, because better data leads to better decisions. The data we provide to our customers empowers them to pinpoint inefficiencies within their operations, easily implement carbon reduction actions, and spend smarter.\nOur customers own or operate over 3,000 buildings and discrete sites, spanning multiple industries in North America and Europe. We are quickly expanding globally, growing our client roster by 20% month-over-month and can help clients in any industry meet their carbon goals by providing them access to 24/7 and on-demand emissions data.\nAs of now, nZeros client base is largely split between individual facilities and a growing number of whole company assessments. In the first category of individual facilities, we work primarily on large commercial complexes and industrial sites. However, these projects tend to upgrade to company-wide tracking as the value of the work with the individual projects quickly becomes apparent. Building a tool for individuals and homes is something we feel strongly about, but there are logistical and privacy-related challenges to manage if you want to maintain the same high level of accuracy and quality that defines the nZero product. However, these challenges are not insurmountable, and we hope to have more on this soon.\nJosh Weber, co-founder of nZero.\nwww.craigmitchelldyer.com, 2017 Craig Mitchelldyer\n2. How will measurements of GHG emissions help us get to net-zero by 2050 the goal of the Paris agreement?\nTo put it simply, you cant change what you cant measure. Access to accurate emissions data gathered on a 24/7 basis is key to creating an actionable roadmap to achieve more sustainable operations. Relying on averages leads to costly blind spotsfor example, documented organizations under-reporting, or sometimes over-reporting certain emissions by as much as 35%. Because we make our technology easy to implement, our clients can focus on how to improve their carbon footprint, versus just how to calculate it.\nOur insights help users weigh the carbon and cost impact of decisions and understand not only which investments can produce the greatest reductions, but which investments can have the highest Carbon ROI, so they can quickly and confidently make operational decisions to reduce emissions faster than ever before. This instant access to accurate data will enable companies to move towards their net-zero goals much faster than previous measurement methods have allowed while allowing them to report their process to their stakeholders and consumers along the way.\n3. Please define Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and say why Scope 3 emissions are important.\nIts important to communicate these categories in a manner that the average consumer can easily understand. We like to tell people that Scope 1 is what you personally emit, Scope 2 is what you directly induce someone else to emit, and Scope 3 are the embedded emissions you buy or sell. So, if I drive a car that burns gasoline and emits GHG, it falls under Scope 1. If I flip on a light switch, someone, somewhere turns up a generation unit that likely emits greenhouse gases, and since Ive directly induced them to do so, it falls under Scope 2.\nIf I purchase a sandwich, Ive paid for packaging that was created using fossil fuel, bread that was grown with fertilizer and baked in a gas oven, and meat, cheese and mayonnaise that was processed, all of which involved significant GHG emissions and the sum of those emissions Ive purchased make up my Scope 3. Another way to look at it is that my Scope 3 impact is someone elses scope 1 and scope 2. My Scope 1 and Scope 2 are someone elses Scope 3.\nScope 3 emissions are important for two reasons. Firstly, the impact of all the things I buy and sell may outweigh the impact of the fuel I burn and the electricity I use. Secondly, Scope 3 emissions are an acknowledgment that we are all in this together, and my behavior as a consumer, a corporation, or a public entity is utterly entwined with others. It is a problem we all must solve, and a problem that we all can influence.\nIf our goal is simply to maintain a correct inventory of emissions, then, theoretically, we could do that by knowing the Scope 1 and Scope 2 of everyone out there emitting greenhouse gases. But our goal is much bigger; we need to understand and reduce our impact. I can choose between the ham sandwich or a garden salad, and neither will change my Scope 1 or Scope 2, but my choice may materially affect my Scope 3 impact. On a larger scale, there is a significant difference between the full lifecycle Scope 3 impact of choosing to buy a brand-new home rather than purchasing a remodeled cottage. My new, energy efficient home may have lower Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, but how long will it take to offset the Scope 3 impact of the new lumber, steel, and concrete required to build it?\nFrom a corporate perspective, looking at downstream emissions, failure to consider the Scope 3 impact of the gasoline sold by an oil and gas company hides the massive impact of that oil companys primary product, and it removes any incentive for that company to sell a more renewable product instead of gasoline. Scope 3, then, is essential to move beyond taking carbon inventories to understanding the GHG impacts of doing business. And it reminds us that nothing we do takes place in a vacuum. We are all part of the problem, and we must all be part of the solution.\n4. Give an example of where Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions come from in a major oil and gas company like BP, or Shell, or ExxonMobil.\nnZero does not have access to any proprietary data about any of the companies you mention, so I cannot comment on the activities of any major oil or gas company beyond what you find reported in the public domain. But pu", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Groups applaud feds for targeting cockfighting in Alabama. William Thornton | wthornton@al.com\nTwo animal welfare groups are applauding action by the federal government against what they say are suspected cockfighting operations in Alabama.\nRepresentatives of Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) in a virtual news conference today lauded federal law enforcement authorities for a series of recent actions against alleged cockfighting operations in Alabama, including a suspected fighting pit near two game fowl farms in Chilton County.\nWayne Pacelle, president of AWA, said he hopes the action is the first of many.\nThis is not something that should be tolerated in our society, Pacelle said. I hope this is a turning point in Alabama, and across the nation, and we can really start to see major action against cockfighting and drive people out of the business. Theyve been acting with impunity.\nIn June, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson issued a restraining order through Aug. 13 covering about 2,400 roosters, hens, young chickens, and unhatched chickens at three locations in Chilton County.\nAccording to the document requesting the restraining order, U.S. Department of Agriculture investigators are looking into the activities of three members of a Chilton County family they believe are involved in cockfighting and gambling operations which violate the Federal Animal Welfare Act. The order seeks to restrain the breeding population, saying that the chickens were found during the execution of a search warrant on June 21. The documents argue the birds should be restrained in place, as moving them and isolating them would be cruel.\nAccording to the 10-page document requesting the restraining order, investigators say one of the men promoted the business on social media for selling birds and cockfighting implements, such as knives and boots. The document also alleges one of the men bragged in an audio message, with the sound of roosters crowing in the background, that he got 50 percent of any money won with my roosters. He later bragged in social media messages of having large pots totaling $125,000 and $200,000 in his house, according to the documents.\nThe family has not been formally charged with anything related to animal fighting. An attorney representing the family did not immediately respond to inquiries.\nPacelle said Alabama has been a long-time hotbed of cockfighting, but the trail leading to the operation began in Guam, a U.S. territory in the western Pacific. Pacelle said records showed 60 people in the U.S. had been responsible for shipping fighting birds through the U.S. Mail there.\nAlabama was one of the top five shippers, he said. We found a whole set of operators in Alabama who were engaging in illegal animal fighting activities.\nMarty Irby, executive director of Animal Wellness Action, said the animal welfare groups have stayed focused on suspected cockfighting operations in Alabama, North Carolina, California, Tennessee, Kentucky and Oklahoma, which involved about 9,000 birds shipped to Guam. Of those, at least 783 were shipped from Alabama, and the ratio of birds were 8 or 9 to 1 male to female.\nIf you had an egg or broiler industry, it would be quite the opposite, Irby said. So we know those are going there for cockfighting purposes.\nAbout a year ago, AWA released a report on about seven Alabamians it says are involved in cockfighting, saying that some bragged on social media about their operations and the derbys the roosters won.\nThey seem to be very proud of these cockfighting birds and they actually hold events in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, many of the other U.S. territories, Irby said. Investigators focused on individuals in Walker, Jackson and Marshall counties.\nIrby said efforts to shut down cockfighting operations are mostly focused at the federal level, because Alabama law warrants a $50 fine for cockfighting -less than a parking ticket, he said. The statute hasnt been updated since the 19th century, while dogfighting carries harsher penalties.\nNote to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.\nDisclaimer\nRegistration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 5/1/2021).", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "regulatory approval", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Advocacy groups renew $5K reward for tip about cockfights. Save\nAnimal rights advocacy groups are renewing their efforts to find and arrest people who are illegally fighting and transporting roosters into Guam.\nAnimal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation have renewed their offer of a $5,000 reward to any individual providing information leading to the federal prosecution and conviction of any individual involved in illegal trafficking of fighting animals to Guam or cockfighting itself on the island.\nThe announcement follows solid evidence (emerging) of illegal fighting and mass transports of fighting animals to the island. AWA and AWF said the illegal shipment\" of birds to Guam rose 600% in 2021.\nThe organizations had made note of their findings but Department of Agriculture Director Chelsa Muna Brecht said theres no validity to their claim.\n\"They're all following the letter of the law when they're being shipped. I think that's kind of colorful language to describe them as illegal shipments,\" Muna-Brecht said.\nThe groups, Animal Wellness Action and Animal Wellness Foundation, stated that most of the shippers sending birds to Guam come from Oklahoma or Hawaii, including two reportedly well-known Oklahoma cockfighting traffickers.\nIt is a federal felony to participate in animal fighting ventures and related activities, the AWA and AWF press release states.\nIt has been illegal since 2002, and a felony since 2007, to transport or sell roosters for fighting across state or territorial lines.\nIt has been a federal felony since December 2019 to operate a fighting pit or to participate in an animal fight.\nFederal agencies and officers have a duty to enforce our laws against the barbaric practice of cockfighting, said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. But their good works depend on the cooperation and participation of citizens to make our communities safer for people and for animals. We ask people who know about illegal cockfighting to help us root it out and end this knowing disregard for our nations anti-cruelty laws.\nAWA and AWF have received reports of major fights staged on Guam, including at the fighting arena in Dededo known as The Dome. This is no surprise given a surge in transports of fighting animals to Guam that pass through its Department of Agriculture.\nIndividuals can provide tips to animalcrueltytips@animalwellnessaction.org according to the press release. AWA and AWF are already providing information on illegal fighting activities to the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal authorities and will provide confidential information to these authorities if credible information is obtained in the coming days.", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "support & philanthropy" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Honely.com Signs Licensing Agreement for Its Property and Area Forecast APIs with Forescite, Inc.. /PRNewswire/ -- Honely, a\nBoca Raton\n-based prop tech firm that uses proprietary AI/ML techniques to forecast the values of over 100 million properties, is pleased to announce that they have entered into a strategic relationship with Forescite, a leading\nNew York City\n-based FinTech company revolutionizing the journey to a secure financial future with their AI/ML-powered mobile app, Investall. Forescite will now have the capability to help calculate a user's net worth and equip them with statistics pertinent to the real estate market through a major licensing deal with a big data player in the Prop Tech space.\nHonely, LLC\nHonely, LLC\nForescite will be licensing Honely's Property and Metro Level Forecast APIs which will allow them to give a true assessment of their users' financial position.\n\"This major partnership will be the first of many to come,\" said\nMaxwell Schwarz\n, President of Honely. \"We understand how impactful our statistics can be especially on a robust real time wealth management platform such as the Investall APP. The use case of our statistics can vary over a broad spectrum of industries, however the first one the public will be able to interact with is on Forescite's Budgeting and wealth management platform.\"\nFORESCITE EXECUTIVE\nBala Shagrithaya\n, Investall CEO commented, \"After an exhaustive search of data from industry leaders such as Zillow, we're thrilled to have found a partner in Honely, that far exceeds the complexity and reliability of data available on any property, which is important when trusting an algorithm that our users can rely on.\"\nAbout Honely:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "alliance & partnership", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Trilogy Launches Workforce Initiatives Considers New Services in Ongoing Pandemic Response. Send email\nTrilogy Health Services has invested millions into employee education and retention a process that continues as the coronavirus pandemic surges across the country, CEO Leigh Ann Barney told Senior Housing News.\nThe Louisville, Kentucky-based owner and operator is partnering with two colleges to provide continuing education opportunities for its workforce.\nFirst, Trilogy employees and their direct dependents are eligible for scholarships of up to $7,500 to study at the University of Louisville, through an existing partnership between the school and Trilogy Health Services Care Tuition Scholarship program. The scholarship is available to all of the universitys 200 degree programs undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.\nAdvertisement\nIn February, Trilogy and the University of Louisville announced a program offering priority admission to Trilogy employees to attend the colleges nursing program, beginning this fall. The school will work toward accepting up to 25 Trilogy employees per semester, and up to 50 annually. Trilogy Health Services and The Bufford Family Foundation also jointly committed $250,000 towards revitalizing the U of L School of Nursings simulation lab.\nTrilogy is also in the process of formalizing a similar partnership with the Galen College of Nursing Louisville to offer employees priority admission, in the schools Louisville and Cincinnati campuses. These partnerships are intended to give Trilogy employees seeking a career path an opportunity to do so, and in highly competitive nursing programs.\nNursing schools traditionally have limited spots, so they can be difficult to get into. That makes it a little bit more challenging for someone who wants to go from an LPN to an RN, Barney said. If we have designated spots within these nursing programs, then we can put our employees in there and that gives us a leg up.\nAdvertisement\nTrilogy was the 33rd-largest senior living provider in the United States in 2019, according to rankings compiled by industry association Argentum. Overall, the company has a portfolio that includes 110 communities spread across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. The company is jointly owned by Griffin American Healthcare REIT III and NorthStar Healthcare Income.\nIn this interview, Barney shares details of Trilogys Covid-19 response including how it has segmented its communities to address potential outbreaks; the impact the pandemic is having on its development pipeline; and permanent operational changes stemming from the outbreak including potential involvement in new service lines.\nThis interview has been edited for length and clarity.\nRecommended SHN+ Exclusives\nHow is Trilogy handling markets where there are surges in positive coronavirus cases?\nWe operate in the Midwest, so weve never had the large cases like the Northeast or California or the Southeast. It was a little bit different based on each state and probably had to do with how each state closed and when they closed for business.\nAs communities started to reopen, the biggest thing weve seen recently has been a larger uptick of positives from employees. We attribute that to the vacation season. We had numerous employees taking off and going places. We have a process in place, especially if they go to a hotspot, they have to get tested and have a negative test before they come back to work. We are seeing more positives from those tests. The good thing about this is now that we have testing, we can quarantine those employees and were not seeing the spread as significantly within our facilities. We are catching it from our testing processes that we didnt have access to as readily back in March when things were starting.\nHow are the communities set up to prevent outbreaks, and to isolate residents who test positive?\nWeve split our communities into green units, yellow units and red units. The folks that are in the green units have all been tested and theyre negative for Covid-19. The yellow unit is a transitional unit. This would be where a new admission would come into the facility. Theyll go into the yellow unit for at least two weeks, and theyll be tested. Once we have two negative tests, theyll move off to the green.\nIf someone tests positive, we put them into the red unit and we only have staff that works exclusively on a red unit, so theres no cross contamination between any of the units. They have a separate entryway, PPE is lined up for everybody within that unit. We keep it very contained and very manageable. I think that has helped us.\nThis was something that we developed early on in one of our campuses when we had an outbreak. And we figured that this was the best way to manage it. That also gave us more comfort in our ability to take people from outside the community as admissions, because we know that were not going to mingle them in with everyone else.\nHas Trilogy considered moving staff working in these red units\non-site\n?\nWe havent asked anyone to stay away from their family. Working on the red unit has been voluntary. For the folks that are willing and want to do that, there is extra compensation. Typically the people that do work in that unit, you have the ability to quarantine or maybe it wouldnt be someone who has an underlying health issue.\nWhat other incentives is Trilogy offering its employees?\nOur foundation has historically been known for educational opportunities, as well as employee assistance. We continue to help our employees through that employee assistance program. Weve seen more needs along the lines of child care assistance, as well as helping with food, and we may pay bills. We have seen an increase in the need. Weve also tried to increase our foundation contributions.\nHave there been any changes to Trilogys educational initiatives since the virus spread across the country. Specifically, what is the status of the\nPurdue University Global Initiative\n?\nWe did a pause on new enrollment, but everybody thats in the program is able to continue. We expect that in January well be able to open it back up to new enrollees.\nThe apprenticeship programs that we run, were still promoting, and those all come with pay increases, from the workforce grants that we were able to receive to help fund those programs. Participation in our high school internship programhas also slowed due to the fallout from COVID-19: who could work and who couldnt work; what age they had to be within the facility; as well as parents being concerned about their children. We would love to hire more of these students, but these hurdles have presented a challenge.\nWhat other service lines has Trilogy been able to leverage for operational and cost efficiencies?\nWe already had our own pharmacy and therapy company. That was very helpful. Any time you can control an ancillary service, you get the financial benefits, but also the service that you need in those areas. Going through the pandemic has further reiterated for us with the importance of that, but also having us look at oth", "answer groups": [ " new initiatives or programs", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "OneOncology and Employer Direct Healthcare Announce Partnership to Advance Leading Oncology Solution. ,\nMarch 15, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Employer Direct Healthcare (EDH), a leader in specialty healthcare solutions, and OneOncology, the national platform for independent community oncology practices, today announced a broad partnership to strengthen EDH's comprehensive oncology offering. Through this partnership, OneOncology will collaborate with Employer Direct Healthcare to revolutionize the delivery and reimbursement for cancer care, including improved community-based access to precision medicine, clinical trials, and emerging therapies such as CAR-T. The companies will also work together to lower costs for employers by expanding OneOncology's novel episode-based payment model.\nThe partnership will expand patient access to innovative therapies and serve as a platform to bring more patient-centric, value-based care programs to patients while lower costs for employers.\nThe companies will work to lower costs for employers by expanding OneOncology's novel episode-based payment model.\n\"OneOncology's leading network of community oncology practices significantly expands our ability to provide patients access to expert cancer care close to home,\" stated Dr.\nCarolina Escobar\n, EDH's Chief Medical Officer. \"As a physician-led organization that has made extensive investments in clinical excellence, precision medicine, clinical research, and value-based care, OneOncology represents an ideal partner to advance our mission.\"\nBeyond expanding patient access to innovative therapies, the partnership will serve as a platform to bring more patient-centric, value-based care programs to patients.\n\"Community oncology is the definition of value-based care,\" said\nJeff Patton\n, MD, CEO of OneOncology. \"In addition to the benefits of improved patient access and experience, community oncology provides material cost savings compared to hospital-based care. This is further enhanced by the value-enabling tools and payment models we are developing at OneOncology to help combat rising healthcare costs.\"\nWith over 700 cancer care providers across more than 260 sites of care, OneOncology will complement EDH's growing network of NCI-designated cancer centers and enhance employees' access to high quality cancer care in their own communities.\n\"Employer Direct Healthcare's solution is exactly what oncology care needs,\" added\nDavey Daniel\n, MD, Chief Medical Officer of OneOncology. \"Their truly comprehensive offering, including longitudinal navigation and support, extensive center of excellence network, and expert second opinions, provides a differentiated patient-centered experience. We look forward to collaborating with EDH to advance care delivery, including development of optimal clinical pathways, patient experience measures, and access to clinical trials.\"\nAs a national leader in value-based care, OneOncology will integrate with all aspects of Employer Direct Healthcare's end-to-end oncology solution, which includes Jasper's platform as the digital entry point for members, AccessHope providing best-in-class expertise, and Employer Direct Healthcare providing nurse-led guidance and support.\nAbout Employer Direct Healthcare and SurgeryPlus\nEmployer Direct Healthcare is a market-leading healthcare services business providing high-quality and cost-efficient solutions for self-funded employers and their members. The company's solutions transform healthcare for its members, facilitating access to top-quality care at fair prices nationwide.\nEmployer Direct Healthcare's first product, SurgeryPlus, is the market-leading surgical benefit, providing full-service concierge and network services to millions of covered members across hundreds of employers. In 2022, the company will launch a first of its kind, comprehensive end-to-end oncology solution.\nFor more information and the latest updates about Employer Direct Healthcare, visit EDHC.comand follow us on LinkedIn\nAbout OneOncology\nOneOncology was founded by community oncologists, for community oncologists, with the mission of improving the lives of everyone living with cancer. Our goal is to enable community oncology practices to stay independent, improve patient access to care in their communities, all at a lower cost than in the hospital setting. OneOncology supports our platform of leading community oncology practices through investments in clinical research, clinical innovation, operational optimization, and value-based care. Our 700 cancer care providers care for 420,000 patients at 260 sites of care nationwide. To learn more, visit", "answer groups": [ " new initiatives or programs", " service & product providing", " clinical trial sponsorship", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Satellite Applications Catapult and NHS organisation strengthen partnership. Search\nSatellite Applications Catapult and NHS organisation strengthen partnership\nOxfordshire-based Satellite Applications Catapult has already been working with the NHS Arden & GEM CSU for the past year and a half.\nBy\nMay 23, 2019\nShare\nInnovation and tech company Satellite Applications Catapult and the NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit (CSU) announced this week that they have agreed a formal partnership that looks at leveraging the potential of satellite technology in the digital transformation of healthcare.\nOxfordshire-based Satellite Applications Catapult, which was established by Innovate UK in 2013, has been working with the CSU for the past year and a half, and the partners now want to take their collaboration even further.\nThis exciting partnership will drive cross-industry understanding and expertise to deliver innovation within digitally-enabled care, said Wendy Lane, Arden & GEM consultancy services director, in a statement.\nOver the past 18 months, their projects have included the use of satellite technology in management of long term conditions, such as diabetes and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). In Scotland, the partnership has been involved in a trial to combine satellite connectivity with ingestible endoscopy technology, an initiative that later led to the rollout of the solution across the country, according to the CSU.\nWHATS THE TREND\nThe partners hope that their projects will raise awareness of the potential of using satellite and related technology across the NHS.\nIn June last year, innovators were invited to bid for a share of 5m to turn technology originally designed for space into medical applications addressing major challenges faced by the NHS, with funding from the UK Space Agency, NHS England and the European Space Agency. The projects selected were unveiled in April this year.\nProfessor Tony Young, NHS England national clinical director for innovation, said at the time that the NHS was open to innovations from any industry, anywhere in", "answer groups": [ " expanding geography", "alliance & partnership", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Olympus offers advantages of light sheet microscopy and high-quality optics in Alpha system. Profile\nMar 29 2019\nOlympus Corporation today announced the addition of the Alpha light sheet microscope to its Life Sciences line of high-quality and high-performance optics products. This announcement is the result of a new partnership with PhaseView, an advanced 3D microscopy and scientific imaging company based out of Paris, France. Combining Olympus BX43 upright frame and optics with PhaseViews advanced multiview selective plane illumination technology, the Alpha is a cost-effective light microscopy solution. This collaboration between Olympus and PhaseView aims to facilitate the distribution of the Alpha light sheet system in the Americas.\nAdvantages of Light Sheet (LS)\nThe Alpha from PhaseView complements Olympus imaging product line and wide array of leading-edge microscopy technologies. The Alpha light sheet microscope (LSM) system provides high temporal and spatial resolution of both fixed and live biological samples for 3D imaging. The optional Smart 3D scanning technology allows for fast z-stacking and perturbation-free acquisition at 75 images/second. Unlike traditional confocal technologies, which experience a drop in brightness with increasing depth, light sheet offers a greater depth of field over the entire field of view. Owing in part to its dual illumination units, the Alpha can provide greater subcellular resolution without compromising the speed or excitation efficiency.\nRelated Stories", "answer groups": [ " alliance & partnership", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Naborforce Unveils Plan to Support Businesses Committed to Addressing Challenges Faced by Caregivers in the Workforce. ,\nOct. 12, 2021\n/PRNewswire/ -- Naborforce, a fast-growing, tech-enabled company that connects aging adults to a network of trusted care providers, unveiled a new service offering today for businesses and other organizations committed to supporting their teammates who are assisting with the care of an older family member. The new program, called Naborforce for Laborforce, will provide resources and backup eldercare benefits designed to help employees balance work and caregiving, while boosting productivity and reducing turnover.\nToday, one in four employees has the added responsibility of caring for an older family member. The number of employees providing caregiving while managing a career is predicted to double over the years ahead as the U.S. population ages. As a result, employees with caregiving responsibilities state that the most important workplace benefits go beyond flexible work schedules and paid time off, and instead include a caregiving resource. The need for caregiving benefits and resources has further surged in the past year as the COVID-19 pandemic has exponentially increased the challenges for employee caregivers.\n\"There is no question that the pandemic has elevated the awareness of the toll that caregiving is taking on employees and it's not just challenges around childcare,\" said\nPaige Wilson\n, Founder and CEO of Naborforce. \"As COVID-19 blurred the lines between work life and home life, proactive employers are taking note and eager to support the overall well-being and mental health of caregivers in the workforce.\"\nTo address the call for caregiving as a top benefit demand, the new program offers employers of all sizes the power of Naborforce's award-winning, eldertech platform, which has made over 10,000 connections between older adults and the growing support system of \"Nabors\" available for on-demand assistance in\nVirginia", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Johnson Controls advances data center sustainability through industry-first Data Center Solutions hyperscale platform. Johnson Controls advances data center sustainability through industry-first Data Center Solutions hyperscale platform\nNews provided by\nMar 29, 2022, 07:45 ET\nShare this article\nShare this article\nThe Data Center Solutions platform delivers innovative, energy-efficient and water-saving cooling solutions that help hyperscale cloud providers meet sustainability targets\nWith Silent-Aire solution\ns\n, Johnson Controls is a leader in providing hyperscale data centers with mission-critical, custom cooling equipment and modular data center technologies\nLeveraging OpenBlue smart buildings technology and services, this platform delivers greater energy efficiency and leadership in sustainability\nMILWAUKEE\n,\nMarch 29, 2022\n/PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has leveraged its Silent-Aire solutions to offer the industry's first hyperscale data center platform focused on helping cloud providers meet ambitious sustainability targets. The Johnson Controls Data Center Solutions platform delivers innovative solutions that conserve water and reduce energy consumption, including air-cooled chillers, liquid cooling, combination air handler units, future-ready refrigerants and prefabricated modular data centers.\nJohnson Controls suite of OpenBlue connected solutions empowers data center customers to drive significant energy savings and corresponding drop in carbon emissions.\n\"Through its Data Center Solutions platform, Johnson Controls is offering something unique and valuable to global hyperscale companies,\" said\nLindsey Leckelt\n, vice president of Data Center Solutions at Johnson Controls. \"Johnson Controls is the first to provide innovative digital technologies combined with standard and bespoke cooling equipment and modular data center solutions that optimize energy consumption and water usage. We have the experience and capability to deliver these solutions as global integrated programs at-scale to our hyperscale partners.\"\nReaching Ambitious Energy and Water Targets\nMission critical data center operations typically require significant amounts of water and energy for cooling, and hyperscale server rack power density is expected to double as soon as 2023. Many cloud providers are prioritizing investments that improve their environmental sustainability and making climate pledges specific to decarbonization.\nA 2021 survey conducted by Forrester Consulting commissioned by and developed in collaboration with Johnson Controls, \"\nThe Race to Decarbonization: A Spotlight on Data Centers\n\", found that nearly half of the data center decision-makers surveyed have indicated that they plan to reduce energy consumption across their portfolio by at least 50% by an average reported target date of 2024. The Silent-Aire and Johnson Controls team is uniquely positioned to support data center leaders in meeting these goals by designing and deploying cooling solutions that minimize environmental impact while maximizing efficiency and productivity.\nRedefining Hyperscale Data Center Sustainability\nJohnson Controls with its Silent-Aire solutions has been focused on innovative, effective ways to support hyperscale customers as they respond to these challenges. Through Silent-Aire, Johnson Controls is a leading provider to hyperscale companies. With its hyperscale leadership and its global sustainability services, world-class engineering and advanced research and development, Johnson Controls is set to support one of the fastest growing segments of the technology industry as it takes on and solves environmental challenges.\n\"We're thinking beyond singular projects; we're investing in ongoing partnerships,\" said\nMaik Bohlmann\n, vice president and general manager, Data Center Solutions, Johnson Controls. \"We're carefully listening to our customers, and we're best positioned to support them as they redefine data centers and their energy profiles. From innovative technologies to continuous support through the lifecycle of their progress, it's as much a revolution in our approach as it is an evolution of design for the data centers.\"\nThe Data Center Solutions platform is backed by Johnson Controls own commitment to sustainability. To date, Johnson Controls has reduced its energy and greenhouse gas intensity by 70% since 2002. Johnson Controls is honored to be recognized as AAA MSCI rated, among the \"Top 100 Most Sustainable Companies\" by Corporate Knights and first in its industry segment. The company's OpenBlue suite of connected solutions empowers customers to drive environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals by enabling significant energy savings and corresponding drop in carbon emissions.\nTo learn more about how to win the race to decarbonization and how companies are pursuing their sustainability goals, read the study here\nMedia Contacts:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " alliance & partnership", " company description", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "NJ families receive free Thanksgiving dinner at Meadowlands YMCA. View Comments\nView Comments\nA line of cars stretched over a mile on Tuesday morning as families waited to receive a free Thanksgiving meal at the Meadowlands YMCA in East Rutherford.\nAs each car reached the front of the line, the driver opened the trunk and a volunteer dropped in a white bag with turkey, produce and the fixings for a holiday meal.\nThe Meadowlands YMCA and Hudson Regional Hospital partnered to distribute 200 Thanksgiving dinners to families experiencing food insecurity. Inserra Family ShopRite has also donated 200 pies.\nAccording to Table to Table, a New Jersey-based food program, nearly 14% of households in the state struggle to find enough food for the week.\n\"Food insecurity became a reality at the start of the pandemic,\" said Meadowlands YMCA President and Executive Director Dave Kisselback.\n\"During the second week of the lockdown, the Y had 160 food distributions feeding 90,000 families,\" he said.\nHudson Regional Hospital has offered families gift cards and meals daily.\n\"As a hospital, we have been providing food support to 50 to 60 families,\" said President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nizar Kifaieh.\n\"We are in sync with the Y's mission and understand it has been hard for the past year, and it's only natural to provide,\" he said.\nTraveling for Thanksgiving?:", "answer groups": [ " support & philanthropy", "alliance & partnership", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Will.I.Am Praises Plant-Based Diet For 'Transforming' His Life. 2\nminutes\nAmerican rapper Will.i.amhas credited a plant-based diet for transforming his life, and has invested in a vegan CBD brand,\nThe former Black Eyed Peas star ditched animal products back at the end of 2017 after a visit to the doctor prompted a lifestyle change.\nHealth benefits\nHe has spoken publicly about the health benefits of being plant-based, such as lowering his cholesterol, blood pressure and losing weight.\nThe cholesterol is down but it runs in my family, and diabetes, Will.i.am said following shortly after his switch to veganism.\nSo I want to get it under control now so I dont have to worry about it later on.\nWhat I crave now is juice\nNow, the star says his four-year journey of eschewing from animal products has really transformed his life.\nHe told the\nEvening Standard:\nOnce youve cleaned your body out of all the toxins, you dont have any cravings What I crave now is juice.\nIve always worked out but when you work out and eat right its a totally different realm. Not that Im trying to build muscle and get all swoll. I just wanted to tone up.\nVegan CBD\nLast year, Will.i.am along with a slew of other celebs including Justin Bieber invested in vegan CBD brand VAAY.\nThe German startup offers a range of products such as CBD-infused bath bombs and oils. Its products are available in both the UK and Germany.\nOne thing that I like is when people build brands and companies and products, that to me is heaven, The Voice judge added.\nGetting behind people and investing and helping other entrepreneurs get on and bring a product to market, that to me is calming and peace because thats all I know: hunting the dream.\nWhat is CBD for?\nAccording to VAAY the majority of German CBD consumers use CBD for pain relief, relaxation, general well-being, sleep aid, to fight inflammation, for muscle relaxation after sports (8,5%), and to promote concentration.\nHowever, the brand states: Yes, theres evidence which suggests that CBD may help for some conditions. But, theres more research needed to examine the effects of CBD on its own.\nTagged:", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "funding round" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Non-profit drug maker could bring $30 vials of insulin to U.S.. Mar 4, 2022 / 01:16 PM EST\nUpdated:\nMar 4, 2022 / 01:16 PM EST\nSHARE\nWTAJ Insulin prices might be dropping soon in the United States thanks to a non-profit drug-making company based in Utah.\nCivica RX announced plans to make and sell insulin in the U.S. at $30 or less for a vial and no more than $55 for a box of five pen cartridges.\nThat price is roughly 10 times cheaper than current name-brand products. During President Joe Bidens State of The Union address on March 1, he called for a price cap on insulin to be $35.\nDiabetes is arguably Americas most expensive chronic condition, and it is heartbreaking that millions of\npeople are rationing their care and putting their lives at risk because they can no longer afford insulin, said\nDan Liljenquist, Board Chair of Civica and the innovator behind Civicas non-profit business model.\nIf approved Civica will produce three insulins glargine, lispro, and aspart which are interchangeable with Lantus, Humalog, and Novolog respectively. All three will be available in both vials and prefilled pens with Civica co-developing and manufacturing the drug products.", "answer groups": [ " article publication", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Replica Analytics and Euris Launch Cloud-Based Data Synthesis Platform. Jun 3, 2021\nShare\nReplica Analytics, a leading provider of health data synthesis technology, is partnering with Euris Health Cloud bringing to market a unique and easy-to-use cloud-based data synthesis solution: Replica Synthesis. While Euris Health Cloud provides a secure hosting platform designed to meet strict regulations for the processing of personal health information in\nEurope\n, Replica Synthesis allows users to upload their data or access their existing data on the Euris platform.\nRecommended AI News:\niClick Interactives Partnership with Baili Commercial Helps Drive Outstanding Business Growth\nReplica Synthesis rapidly trains generative models and creates synthetic variants of data that retain the statistical properties and patterns in the original data. The synthetic data are non-identifiable information and can be used and disclosed with minimal constraints, and the generative models can be further used as simulators.\nReplica Synthesis is designed to meet the huge demand for high quality health data for AI modeling and classical epidemiological analysis. Comprehensive utility reports are produced comparing the real and synthetic data, allowing users to assess the quality of data synthesis immediately. More details will be available at our webinar on 17\nth", "answer groups": [ " service & product providing", "alliance & partnership", " product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Gene Quigley Joins VERTESS as Managing Director. ), announced today that\nGene Quigley\n, an experienced executive with several healthcare organizations, has joined the company as a Managing Director. Gene most recently helped lead a recapitalization process and successfully transitioned ownership to a PE firm at Home Care Delivered.\nContinue Reading\nGene Quigley, VERTESS Managing Director\nFor over 20 years Gene served as a commercial growth executive in several PE-backed and public healthcare companies such as Schering-Plough, Bayer, CCS Medical, Byram Healthcare, Numotion, and, most recently, as the Chief Revenue Officer at Home Care Delivered. As an operator, he has dedicated his career to driving value creation through exponential revenue and profit growth, while also building cultures that empower people to thrive in competitive environments. His passion for creating deals has helped many companies' platform and scale with highly successful Mergers and Acquisitions.\nAt VERTESS, Gene will leverage his extensive expertise in HME/DME, Diagnostics, and Medical Devices within the US and international marketplace to support clients through the M+A process as a Managing Director. Gene brings hands-on experience and knowledge to champion the business owners he represents during a transaction.\n\"I have enjoyed a lengthy career working with numerous large organizations,\" Gene stated. \"It was enormously rewarding to help grow and expand those companies. To be able to take all that I have learned and experienced as an executive and work with so many new clients looking to either exit or recapitalize their \"babies\" is exciting. It is energizing to be working alongside the team at VERTESS.\"\nBrad Smith\n, VERTESS Managing Director/Partner, said, \"Gene is exactly the right combination of talents we look for in a new Managing Director. He has the insider's perspective on the healthcare industry, an enviable drive to be successful, and a positive attitude he shares with his clients and the rest of the team. I am certain there are no limits to the success Gene will achieve with his clients.\"\nGene Quigley", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "executive appointment" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Senior Support Worker Kirby Muxloe Leicestershire. Apply for this job now\nJob Description\nAre you passionate about delivering high quality, respectful, and person centred care and support to individuals in Glenfield and Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire? Creative Support are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced individual to join us as a Senior Support Worker and lead a passionate and friendly team of staff across 2 of our services, supporting four gentlemen and four ladies living in their own homes.\nOur services in Glenfield and Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire provide excellent care and support to individuals with learning disabilities. As Senior Support Worker, you will work alongside the Team Leader, Service Manager and Registered Area Manager to assist with the coordination and delivery of high quality outcome-focussed, person centred support to enable the tenants to achieve greater independence.\nYour role will include:\nDeveloping and leading the team to enable the tenants to have a high quality of life, and to be important and valued members of the local community,\nBe responsible for ensuring personal, practical, emotional and social support is delivered at all times,\nYour full time hours will be worked flexibly according to the needs of the service including daytimes, evenings, weekends and bank holidays.\nAt least two years' experience in providing care and support to people with a range of learning disabilities is essential for this role. As Senior Support Worker, compassion, motivation, diligence and an ability to empathise with individuals is also essential.\nYou must be warm, well organised, and conscientious and demonstrate good verbal and written communication skills. You will be required to work on a rota, undertaking early, late and weekend duties as required.\nBenefits of working with Creative Support:\nFree 24/7 counselling and employee support programme,\nCompetitive pay and a pension with company contribution and 28 days annual leave,\nCompany paid enhanced DBS for all staff,\nAll our staff are supported 24/7 by our out of hour's teams.\nCreative Support is a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Silver award. We actively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and cultures.\nWe would encourage you to apply to us even if you have not yet had your COVID 19 vaccine. You will be required to have your first COVID 19 vaccine prior to your interview and your second vaccine before you start work with us. This time will be used to complete post interview recruitment checks.\nWe would encourage candidates to apply to this post as soon as possible. If we receive a large number of applications we may process these prior to the deadline.", "answer groups": [ " hiring", "company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "KSS Stock Shareholders Face a Difficult Choice. LVMUY\n) Sephora unit, which had previously been at JC Penney.\nGass now hopes the Sephora connection can save her strategy. Placer.AI says shops specializing in beauty have been a retailing bright spot lately. At an Investor Day event this month, Gass said she is planning to open 400 Sephora shopswithin Kohls stores in 2022. Placer.Ai says Kohls is seeing increased sales in the rest of its stores as a result Gass wants to make Sephora a $2 billion businessfor Kohls. But she is still just predicting low single-digit growth for the chain.\nThe Bottom Line on KSS Stock\nWhen Macellum announced its slate, Kohls reportedly sent its corporate jet to Seattle the home base of Amazon. There has since been speculation Amazon might make a bid, seeing it as a cheap way to jump-start its physical retail ambitions.\nAnalysts said they were unimpressed by Kohls Investor Day but it is unclear whether Macellums strategy is any better.\nThe only buyers to step up so far have been private equity companies who want to break up Kohls. Starboard Value reportedly offered $9 billion but that is not a huge premium to Kohls current market cap of $7.6 billion.\nStarboards plan seems to be to get debt financing, then finance the purchase with Kohls own real estate through a sale-and-leaseback. This would lock Kohls into long-term rental agreements, which to critics like Bank of America (NYSE:\nBAC\n), looks like what killed Sears.\nGass has acknowledged some mistakes. She wants to open 100 new stores in the next few years, but admits they will be smallerthan current locations.\nThe choice for investors is now between a risky strategy and a breakup of the company. If I owned the stock now, my heart would prefer the strategy, but my head would be looking to see Starboards money.\nOn the date of publication, Dana Blankenhorn held a long position in AMZN, BAC and DG. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Digital Labor Law Launches Platform Allowing Federal & State Labor Law Posters to be Accessible from Anywhere. Digital Labor Law Launches Platform Allowing Federal & State Labor Law Posters to be Accessible from Anywhere\nShare Article\nOrganizations turn to Edoc Services Digital Labor Law platform to post and distribute mandatory and newly-updated compliance posters.\nJim Mullaney, founder and president/CEO of Edoc Service, Inc.\nCOVID-19 has shifted many businesses and organizations teams to a working-from-home model. We are looking to make compliance easier for employers, especially now, says Jim Mullaney, founder and president/CEO of Edoc Service, Inc., a totally remote company based out of Fairfield, Ohio.\nFAIRFIELD, Ohio (PRWEB)\nApril 27, 2020\nA pandemic can spur change in a lot of areasand one such area is employer compliance.\nThats why Edoc Service, Inc. is seeing a surge in interest over its Digital Labor Law platform, a subscription service that offers up-to-date compliance posters in a digital format.\nThe customized workplace posters are typically added to an employers website or intranet for staff to access, but they are also printable. No matter where they are posted digitally, all workers can access and digitally sign off on posters required by federal and state governments.\nAn employer can select which posters they want to show in their portal, and even customize posters that require additional verbiage.\nCOVID-19 has shifted many businesses and organizations teams to a working-from-home model. We are looking to make compliance easier for employers, especially now, says Jim Mullaney, founder and president/CEO of Fairfield, Ohio-based Edoc Service, Inc.\nEdoc Service is a totally remote company thats been virtual from the start23 years ago. Over that time, the companys service offerings have evolved, but Edoc Service continues to offer tools and services that help other organizations to be more productive and more collaborative. With more than 70 remote transcriptionists, we hope that our services help other teams to thrive in a more virtual environment, says Mullaney.\nOur purpose from the start has been to transform business in America. Our Digital Labor Law platform is one example of just that, adds Mullaney, who is a self-described late bloomer who launched Edoc Service in 1997 after a successful, decades-long career with Marriott.\nSimilar to other software and tools Edoc Service provides, Digital Labor Law started as a project for Edoc Service to use internally. With remote workers across the nation and in 6 states, they needed a way for workers to reasonably be able to access the workforce posters, according to Mullaney.\nOnce we created it for ourselves, we thought it was a great idea to offer the Digital Labor Law service to other multi-state employers and other remote teams, too, says Mullaney.\nMullaney is confident that businesses across the nation are also ready for a simpler approach to workplace posters. Its more practical to send a link to staff to have them review and digitally sign off on compliance postings. Its much more accessible now.\nAt the start of April, the Department of Labor released guidance and required posters for new paid leave mandates enacted by Congress in response to the coronavirus.\nThese mandates, which cover the vast majority of small businesses, had a start date of April 1, 2020. All businesses covered by the law, including private sector employers with fewer than 500 employees, were expected to post that Families First Coronavirus Response Act Notice (FFCRA) notice on that day. Thats an example of where we were able to have that poster available through our platform, and those using the platform were able to send that out to employees, explains Mullaney.\nTo learn more about Digital Labor Law by Edoc Service, visit", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product launching & presentation", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "New Chairman Coming At Scandinavian Tobacco Group. Share\nShare\nScandinavian Tobacco Group, one of the largest producers of premium cigars in the world, will soon have a new chairman. Nigel Northridge, who has been chairman since 2017, intends to retire, and has informed the board of directors that he will not run for reelection in March.\nIn a statement released today, the STG board said it will elect Henrik Brandt as the new chairman at the annual meeting on March 31. Brandt presently serves as vice chairman. He joined the board in 2017.\nBrandt has held top positions at tobacco companies including House of Prince A/S, and served as chief executive officer of Denmark-based brewing and beverage company Royal Unibrew A/S from 2008 to 2017.\nSTG is the parent company of General Cigar Co. (makers of Macanudo, La Gloria Cubana, CAO and a host of other cigars) as well as retailer Cigars International.\nMost Popular", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "executive appointment", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Nationwide, NeuralMetrics Partner to Accelerate Small Commercial Insurance Quoting for Agents. NeuralMetrics\nto help agents serving the small commercial segment save valuable time in the quoting process, improving their profitability as they focus on growing their businesses.\nToday's small businesses expect quick service. To help meet those expectations, Nationwide utilized NeuralMetrics technology to boost its small commercial quoting tools, now enabling agents to enter client information just once and leverage pre-fill data to evaluate underwriting exposures and quickly generate a precise quote.\n\"Small commercial accounts are an important growth segment for many independent agents, but historically many have shied away due to high time commitments and other factors,\" said\nDawn Thompson\n, associate vice president of expedited underwriting for commercial lines at Nationwide. \"With the NeuralMetrics tool, we're able to streamline the quoting experience for agents serving small commercial clients, creating more lucrative opportunities to grow their books of business in the small business sector.\"\nAccording to Thompson, the key to the technology's success is ensuring accurate inputs on the front-end. \"When the initial information, like business name and location, is entered accurately and the business is visible online, we're able to achieve a 70% success rate or higher with bypassing the data entry and classification processes to provide a fast and accurate experience for agents and their customers,\" said Thompson.\nNeuralMetrics is an insurtech data provider using natural language processing to power a real-time quoting experience. The company's Smart Ratio platform uses machine learning to extract actionable information from hard-to-access, unstructured public data.\n\"Through our partnership, NeuralMetrics had the opportunity to work closely with the Nationwide team and imagine a customer centric experience in small commercial,\" said", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Dr. Amol Soin makes breakthroughs in pain care. Managing Editor, Dayton Business Journal\nSep 13, 2021\nDr. Amol Soinis on a mission to treat pain without causing a dependency or addiction to pain medication.\nSoin, who specializes in anesthesiology and pain medicine, operates the Ohio Pain Clinic in Centerville and has an office at Soin Medical Center - Kettering Health.\nSoin is a 2021 Health Care Hero in the Innovator category.\nA large part of Soin's work is also clinical research conducted at Soin Neuroscience on the upper level of his Centerville clinic.\n\"The basic crux is how to treat pain without narcotics and addicting painkillers,\" Soin said. \"Learning about nerves, the nervous system, and opportunities to block or turn nerves off from pain signals.\"\nSoin said his work is especially meaningful for the Dayton region, which was once the epicenter of the most overdose deaths in the U.S.\n\"We werent managing pain well,\" Soin said.\nHe continues to develop new techniques and various patents, such as using electric impulses to influence the brain. He said repeated electric signals can be sent to nerves to turn off their pain.\n\"In our studies, we can do that now; we can turn off pain now,\" Soin said.\nThrough his research, Soin also founded Motility Medical https://motilitymedical.com/ in 2020. The biotech startup uses a device \"to interface with nerves and muscles to facilitate bowel activity without the use of oral pharmaceuticals,\" according to the website.\nSoin said this is particularly helpful in paralyzed patients who lose the ability to tell their brain to do an action.\n\"We can send signals to nerves to make muscles move and contract,\" Soin said. \"It stimulates the nerve. When you're paralyzed your brain can't fire the signal.\"\nSoin's work also includes developing new non-narcotic drugs for treating pain, such as for patients with diabetic nerve pain. He said another new drug he's developing will be used to treat complex regional pain syndrome.\n\"Dayton has been the first place to try some of these things,\" Soin said. \"In medical research we test with healthy volunteers. Interestingly, for patient volunteers we use Craigslist.\"\nErin Barker\n, director of operations and clinical services, research coordinator at Ohio Pain Clinic, has worked with Soin for over a decade. She actively recruits research candidates and assists on various clinical studies.\n\"Dr. Soin has extensive experience in the research arena,\" she said. \"He employs his expertise towards meaningful breakthroughs in the management of chronic pain through technology and collaboration. ... He has made it his lifes mission to derive methods of providing relief from debilitating conditions without the dependency of addicting medications.\"\nWhen reflecting over the last 18 months during the pandemic, Soin said he's proud of the entire healthcare system of workers.\n\"Health care workers were there; on the frontline before a vaccine,\" Soin said. \"I think that piece really needs to be recognized.\"\nSoin is a native of the Dayton area and attended Beavercreek High School. Soin completed his medical school training at University of Akron. He completed a residency at Rush University in Chicago, and his fellowship training at Cleveland Clinic.\nBy", "answer groups": [ " product launching & presentation", "foundation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Script to Screen Announces Insider Interview on Direct Response Television: How Storytelling Can Grow Your Brand. Script to Screen Announces Insider Interview on Direct Response Television: How Storytelling Can Grow Your Brand\nShare Article\nDRTV Expert Ken Kerry and Chief Marketing Officer of Dental Choice Holdings Bob Molhoek on How to Know if Retail is Right for Your Brand in 2022\nScript to Screen logo\nWe have decades of experience assisting brands such as Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, Nike, BMW, and others getting their messages straight to the consumer.\nLOS ANGELES (PRWEB)\nMarch 24, 2022\nIn the latest in a series of ThoughtLeaderThursday Insider Interviews hosted by integrated Direct Response/Direct-to-Consumer agency Script to Screen, its Co-Founder and Executive Creative Director Ken Kerrywill join with Chief Marketing Officer of Dental Choice Holdings, Bob Molhoek on Direct Response Television: How Storytelling Can Grow Your Brand on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 2:00pm ET / 11:00am PT.\nAs CMO of Dental Choice Holdings, Molhoek runs campaigns for AIRWAAV, Game On Mouthguards and CustMbite Dental Products. He is an experienced leader who has used his creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and marketing expertise to help dozens of businesses and brands create momentum and marketplace success. Most of Molhoeks career has been spent leading strategy and business development at agencies including Fallon, Olson, and SixSpeed or leading startup ventures with company exits totaling more than $300 million. He has worked on leading global brands or their subsidiaries including BMW, Nike, Target, Allianz and UnitedHealth Group.\nInsider Interview attendees will learn:\nWhy DRTV is essential for educating customers and how to break into retail (move to line up)\nLong form vs. short form content: which is right for your brand?\nThe importance of channel diversity and media layering\nHow to create problem-solution oriented content\nTo watch this Insider Interview, please visit:\nhttps://www.scripttoscreen.com/join-us-for-direct-response-television-how-storytelling-can-grow-your-brand/\nWe have decades of experience assisting brands such as Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, Nike, BMW, and others getting their messages straight to the consumer. We demonstrate in this Insider Interview how we can apply our successful methods to a variety of consumer products and industries, said Molhoek.\nKerry said, Our discussion with Bob will highlight how he and Dental Choice Holdings have used DRTV brilliantly to garner record-breaking success for products such as AIRWAAV. Direct response advertising can be the answer for similar products in various industries that will benefit from reaching the consumer quickly with vibrant and detailed visuals detailing new and innovative features. Join our Insider Interview to learn the secrets of how to make direct response ads work for your product or service.\nKerry serves as Executive Creative Director at Script to Screenand his hands-on involvement ensures the highest production values are combined with solid Direct Response principles. He co-founded Script to Screen in 1986, along with his wife, Barbara, CEO. Script to Screen has produced more long-form infomercials for more marketers than any other company.\nAbout Script to Screen\nEstablished in 1986, Script to Screen is an industry-leading Integrated Direct Response Agency, delivering a single, end-to-end solution for Direct-to-Consumer sales, lead generation, web traffic and conversions, and retail lift. Specializing in a strategic combination of cost-effective customer acquisition and brand building, Script to Screen has successfully collaborated with entrepreneurs and big brands alike to expand revenue channels and build businesses. Clients such as AAA, Amazon, Bare Escentuals, Beachbody, Blink, Bose, Church & Dwight, Cleva, Comcast, Conair, Ehealthinsurance, Este Lauder, Generac, Guthy-Renker, Hoover, Keurig, LifeLock, LOral, Nescaf, Netspend, Nugenix, Nutrisystem, Omaha Steaks, philosophy, SharkNinja, Snow Joe, SoClean, Tria Beauty, Pfizer, and Wahl are among the major companies that have turned to Script to Screen for creative strategy, messaging and production in all channels in both offline and online of their DRTV campaigns.\n###\nShare article on social media or email:\nView article via:", "answer groups": [ " company description", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Innosphere Ventures Colorado BioScience Association and Colorado BioScience Institute Announce New Incubation Program to Grow Life Sciences Startups. State Funding from Advanced Industries Business Accelerator Grant to Support Program\nAbout Innosphere Ventures\nInnosphere accelerates the success of science and technology-based startups through its unique accelerator and commercialization programs, specialized laboratory facilities, and venture capital fund. Innosphere has supported founders and CEOs building high-tech companies for 24 years and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a strong mission to grow the regions entrepreneurial ecosystem.\nDenver, CO, Feb. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Innosphere Ventures, Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), and Colorado BioScience Institute (The Institute) today announced their plan to launch a comprehensive incubator program for life sciences startups with support from the State of Colorado. Colorados Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) released the names of winning recipients of their 2022 Advanced Industries Business Accelerator Grant earlier today, which included the life sciences incubator program proposed by Innosphere, CBSA, and The Institute.\nThe state-funded life sciences incubator program will offer startups developing will offer startups who are developing or commercializing technologies, products, devices, and life-saving breakthroughs the combined expertise and insights of the three organizations. Participants will access Innospheres leading incubation program for entrepreneurs, CBSAs resources and programming, which are designed to build a collaborative environment and supportive business climate for life sciences innovation, and the Institutes expertise in life sciences-specific educational programs.\nThis is an exciting partnership with CBSA and The Institute to support early-stage life sciences founders through this first-of-its-kind life sciences incubation program, said Mike Freeman, Innosphere CEO. There hasnt been a better time for health innovation, so this is a great opportunity for technical founders, university researchers and physician entrepreneurs who are ready to accelerate the progress of their startup.\nInnosphere, CBSA, and The Institute will launch the first cohort in 2022, with the goal of selecting ten life sciences startups developing promising innovations that could save and change lives. A second incubator program will be run in 2023. Due to the state grant funding, the one-year incubator program will be offered at a minimal cost to companies selected for the cohort.\nColorado BioScience Association is thrilled to supercharge the growth of our communitys most promising early-stage companies and support startups in our ecosystem with this new incubator, said Elyse Blazevich, Colorado BioScience Association and Colorado BioScience Institute President & CEO. We thank our partners at OEDIT for recognizing the future impact of a comprehensive incubator program for life sciences startups and the Colorado state legislature for continued funding of the business-critical Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant and Tax Credit programs.\nThe Advanced Industries Business Accelerator Grant provides funding to programs in Colorado that have developed or are developing programming for early-stage companies in the states advanced industries. The state funding will allow founders of ten selected life sciences companies to take part in the year-long Innosphere-led incubator, membership in Colorado BioScience Association, with access to more than 30 education and networking opportunities each year, and fully funded participation in The Institutes Foundations of Leadership or Executive Leadership programs.\nLife sciences leaders from Colorados best-known companies, institutions, and organizations have advanced their careers and expanded their networks through our executive leadership programs, said Meg John, Colorado BioScience Institute Vice President. We are pleased to build on the strong track record of these highly-regarded programs and welcome participants in the new Innosphere, CBSA, and CBSI incubator.\nInnosphere and Colorado BioScience Association also seek to continue the comprehensive incubator past the two-year period funded by the state. A Colorado Coalition, led by Innosphere Ventures, is seeking $100 million in a U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Build Back Better grant to grow the Colorado Front Range regions R&D-intensive growth cluster. The Build Back Better proposal would rapidly scale the local life sciences and cleantech industries. The Colorado Coalitions grant proposes five construction projects along with a variety of non-construction projects, including: growing cluster employment, particularly focused on growing the regions Black and LatinX workforce; and incubating startup ventures, especially increasing those owned by people of color. Continued funding of this incubation program is included in the proposal.\n###\nAbout Colorado BioScience Association\nColorado BioScience Association (CBSA) creates co-opportunity for the Colorado life sciences community. CBSA champions a collaborative life sciences ecosystem and advocates for a supportive business climate. From concept to commercialization, member companies and organizations drive global health innovations, products and services that improve and save lives. The association leads Capital and Growth, Education and Networking, Policy and Advocacy, and Workforce Cultivation to make its members stronger, together. Learn more: cobioscience.com\nAbout the Colorado BioScience Institute\nColorado BioScience Institute is a non-profit that provides workforce development and STEM education programs to cultivate and diversify the life sciences talent pipeline in Colorado. The Institute provides educational programs for students and teachers, individuals and companies contributing to the overall workforce cultivation efforts in our state. The Institutes programs reach students and teachers beginning in middle school and professionals at all stages of their careers. All Institute programs either prepare students for careers in life sciences or promote growth to those already in the industry, providing the life sciences community with a highly skilled workforce.\nAttachment", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " alliance & partnership", " company description", "new initiatives or programs" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Common Citizen to hold job fair in Marshall. 5:36 PM, Sep 09, 2021\nand last updated\n2021-09-09 17:36:25-04\nMARSHALL, Mich. Common Citizen has announced a job fair will be held Friday, Sept. 10 at Marshall City Hall.\nThe cannabis producer says the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.\nAt Common Citizen, were proud to continue expanding job opportunities and helping boost local economies in the communities we serve, says CEO Michael Elias. Each of our open positions will play a central role in our commitment to Cannabis for Humanity and serving the unique, individual needs of our amazing patients and adult-use customers.\nWere told there are openings in accounting, Human Resources, packaging, greenhouse and distribution.\nFace masks are required while attending the job fair.\nApply online", "answer groups": [ " hiring", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Gig Drivers Have Access to Affordable Wellness Benefits for the First Time Ever, Thanks to Gridwise-Avibra Partnership. over half of the U.S. population\nis predicted to have engaged in gig work by 2027.\nGridwise, which launched in 2017, is a mobile app that helps rideshare and delivery drivers maximize their earnings across platforms. As of this month, Gridwise now integrates with Avibra, a mission-driven company that provides affordable and accessible financial, insurance and wellness benefits to everyone.\nFor the first time ever, gig drivers across the United States will have access to affordable wellness benefits.\nThe new partnership will provide Avibra memberships with a-la-carte benefits options to Gridwise's user base of over 300,000 rideshare and delivery drivers, a growing category of contract workers in\nthe United States\nwho often lack access to benefits through a full-time employer. Gridwise users will receive no-cost life insurance and AD&D coverage as well as options to select\n$1\n/week benefits from Avibra's Dollar Benefits Store. Options include enhanced life and AD&D, accidental medical benefit, cell phone repair, roadside assistance, critical illness, family vision and dental savings benefits, risk advisor, telemedicine, teletherapy and more from a growing list.\n\"We are committed to helping America's growing population of gig drivers get the most value from their work to provide for themselves and their families,\" said\nBrian Sigal\n, Vice President of Business Development and Partnerships at Gridwise. \"Avibra makes the perfect partner to achieve this goal. Their unique offerings meet gig drivers' needs for affordable and flexible wellness options as Gridwise works to maximize their income for their hard work.\"\n\"Rideshare and delivery drivers are a large and growing segment of today's worker class who've been stuck in limbo when it comes to having access to affordable benefits as policies are slow to adjust to the way many people work today,\" said\nYogesh Shetty\n, CEO, Avibra. \"Gridwise is doing amazing work to help gig drivers through its service and as an advocate for greater transparency for fair pay in the industry. We're proud to partner with them to provide affordable access to benefits for their users and further our mission of helping more Americans get the options they need to be healthy, happy and have greater peace of mind.\"\nAlready being piloted with a select group of users, Gridwise's users nationwide will have access to Avibra benefits immediately.\nAbout Gridwise\nSince launching the app in 2017, Gridwise has empowered over 300,000 drivers across more than 50 rideshare and delivery services. Drivers who download the Gridwise app can track their mileage to maximize tax deductions, analyze earnings across different rideshare and delivery services, and use real-time data to decide when and where they should drive to maximize their earnings. https://gridwise.io/\nAbout Avibra\nAvibra is an ecosystem-based well-being, risk and protection advisor offering no-cost and affordable financial, insurance and lifestyle benefits. It provides both direct-2-consumer access via app and enterprise distribution through its embedded platform offering. Founded in 2019 by a finance and life insurance industry veteran to better serve a U.S. population faced with increasing costs for shrinking benefits, Avibra helps consumers from all walks of life connect with its growing selection of benefits. A-la-carte options, offered for just\none dollar\na week, range from increased life and AD&D coverage, telehealth and teletherapy services, to phone repair and roadside assistance. For more information, visit Avibra.com.\nSOURCE Avibra", "answer groups": [ " service & product providing", "alliance & partnership", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Paige Schulte Partners With Side In Neighborhood Experts Real Estate, A Modern Digital Agency and Boutique Real Estate Company. ,\nMarch 1, 2022\n/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Paige Schulte today announced Neighborhood Experts Real Estateand its partnership with Side the only real estate technology company that exclusively partners with high-performing agents, teams and independent brokerages to transform them into market-leading boutique brands. The collaboration will ensure that Neighborhood Experts Real Estate, a company that stays connected to its clients, its communities and the latest digital marketing trends, is powered by the industry's most advanced platform.\nSchulte, the No.1 Realtor in\nGig Harbor\n, has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years. Known for growing her real estate production from zero to\n$160 million\nin just five years, she mentors ambitious agents through her popular online course and podcast, Master Your Real Estate Marketing With Paige. Also a philanthropist, Schulte has donated more than\n$300,000\nthrough her nonprofit, The Chelsea Paige Foundation, and was named Inman Innovator of the Year in 2020 for her help raising donations for a nonprofit providing food to families during the pandemic. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal,\nUSA\nToday, Mercury News, Inman, and Tacoma News Tribune, among others.\nSchulte's Neighborhood Experts is more than an elite group of brokers and agents who are experts in the markets they serve. It's a creative agency staffed by designers, copywriters, video editors, podcast specialists and advertisers. It features a state-of-the-art media center and offers a full lineup of trainings, speakers, happy hours, networking opportunities and pop-ups at local businesses.\n\"Being a Neighborhood Expert means being the go-to expert in one community or neighborhood and creating personal connections with those who live, work and play there,\" said Schulte. \"It means studying the local housing market data like a hawk. And it means becoming a master of modern digital marketing. That's exactly what you'll get with every single agent on my team.\"\nPartnering with Side will ensure Neighborhood Experts Real Estate remains on the cutting edge of the evolving real estate market while continuing to deliver premium services to its clients. Side works behind the scenes, supporting Neighborhood Experts Real Estate with a one-of-a-kind brokerage platform that includes proprietary technology, transaction management, branding and marketing services, public relations, legal support, lead generation, vendor management, infrastructure solutions and more. Additionally, Neighborhood Experts Real Estate will join an exclusive group of Side partners, tapping into an expansive network from coast to coast.\nSchulte continued, \"The partnership with Side gives our agents access to the latest tech and top-tier support, which means they will have more time to connect with their clients and their community. We love giving back and getting to know everyone in the markets we serve, so this is a great fit for us.\"\nAbout Neighborhood Experts Real Estate\nNeighborhood Experts Real Estate is a boutique real estate company and modern digital agency located in\nGig Harbor, Washington\n. It's a place where entrepreneurial-minded, ambitious brokers and agents collaborate with forward-thinking, practiced creatives and strategists to ensure top results for clients. With a state-of-the-art media center, happy hours and local pop-ups, Neighborhood Experts is home to the new breed of real estate experts today's buyers and sellers need. To learn more, visit http://www.NeighborhoodExpertsWA.com\nAbout Side\nSide is a behind-the-scenes brokerage platform that exclusively partners with top-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to create and grow their own boutique brands without the cost, time, or risk of operating a brokerage. Side's proprietary technology platform and premier support solutions empower its agent partners to be more productive, grow their business, and focus on serving their clients. Side is headquartered in\nSan Francisco\n. For more information, visit http://www.sideinc.com\nMedia Contact", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", " support & philanthropy", " company description", "alliance & partnership" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Apricorn Updates Aegis Padlock SSD, Nearly Doubles Speed for Remote and Hybrid Work Environments. Aegis Padlock SSD\nencrypted portable drive. The updated device is nearly twice as fast as its predecessor, reaching read speeds of up to 350MB and write speeds up to 310MB. Smaller than a deck of cards, the USB 3.2 Gen 1 device is extremely secure both inside and out, featuring FIPS 140-2 level 2 validated encryption module as well as a rugged, crush-resistant aluminum closure. The updated device comes in a variety of storage capacities including 240GB, 480GB, 1, TB, 2TB and 4 TB, and\npricing starts at\n$209\n.\nThe updated Padlock SSD introduces a new patented feature called Provision Lock, an advanced function that allows an admin to \"lock in\" their security policy enforcement as it pertains to removable USB storage devices. With Provision Lock, a user can't usurp the security measures an Admin prescribes at the time of device configuration. Once configured and deployed, all of the programmable settings, permissions, and recovery PINs, cannot be reset without the Admin PIN.\n\"Keeping sensitive data protected can sometimes be a tough and dirty job, which is why we continue to innovate with new features that protect data at the highest level,\" said\nKurt Markely\n, U.S. Managing Director, Apricorn. \"The Aegis Padlock SSD is built to withstand both physical and digital threats while reading and writing data quickly. Between new chip technology, lower SSD cost, and Provision Lock ensuring security policies are set in stone, we have brought to market a faster, more affordable, highly secure device that fits in your pocket. This encrypted SSD will help workers at any location protect their data at the highest level.\"\nOver the past 18 months, a significant number of organizations have shifted to a remote or hybrid workforce, creating an environment where data is on the move or accessed from a variety of locations. Apricorn research in Q2 2021showed that 49% of IT professionals noted that individual employees in their organization do not consider themselves as targets that attackers can use to access company data. Markley continued, \"SSD devices are not cost-prohibitive as prices have dropped to be roughly one-third of the of the original MSRP of the original Aegis Padlock SSD when it was first introduced eight years ago. Having access to portable, secure and easy to use encrypted devices, such as the Aegis Padlock SSD, is a reliable and affordable way to protect data regardless of location.\"\nLike all Apricorn products, the AegisPadlock SSD comes standard with AegisWare, Apricorn's proprietary firmware and feature set which was developed to address constantly-evolving security threats and business needs for highly regulated sectors such as government, defense, finance, manufacturing and healthcare. Additional security advantages of Apricorn's USB 3.2 Gen 1 Aegis Padlock SSD hardware encrypted USB storage devices include:\nFIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated encryption module\nOn-the fly 100% hardware-based encryption\nSoftware-free setup and operation\nOS Agnosticcompletely cross platform compatible\nOnboard wear-resistant keypad for authentication\nReal-time 256-bit AES-XTS hardware encryption\nSeparate administrator and user modes\nForced-enrollment / user forced enrollment\nAdvanced configurations for enhanced security\nInterchangeable type-A and type-C connector cables\nRugged crush-resistant aluminum enclosure\nIP-67 validated against water and dust damage\nTo learn more about the Apricorn Aegis SSD, please visit:\nhttps://apricorn.com/padlock-ssd\nAbout Apricorn\nApricorn provides secure storage innovations to the most prominent companies in the categories of finance, healthcare, education, and government throughout EMEA,\nNorth America\nand\nCanada\n. Apricorn products have become the trusted standard for a myriad of data security strategies worldwide. Founded in 1983, numerous award-winning products and patents have been developed under the Apricorn brand as well as for a number of leading computer manufacturers on an OEM basis.\nMedia Contact", "answer groups": [ " executive statement", "product updates", " company description" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Gwyneth Paltrow Shared A Post With Her Bare Feet On Her Counter. Gwyneth Paltrow Shared A Post With Her Bare Feet On Her Kitchen Counter And We Have Thoughts\nNot our first choice of things to do.\nBy\nFebruary 2, 2022 | 5:00 p.m. CST\n(Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times)\nGwyneth Paltrow just announced her new brand partnership deal with Monogram Appliances with a photo, but her Instagram post has some scratching their heads, and others just plain grossed out.\nFans Express Discomfort With An Element Of Paltrows Pic\nThe focal point of our home is always the kitchen, Paltrow captioned her picture. Whether its a dinner or an afternoon snack for the kids, the happiest moments of the day are centered around food. Which is why I couldnt be more excited to announce my partnership with @monogramappliancesthey elevate kitchen design to an entirely new level, and the gorgeous aesthetic perfectly complements the design of any home. Ps this is the best range I have ever cooked on.\nA post shared by Gwyneth Paltrow (@gwynethpaltrow)\nThe photo shows the actress in a black jumpsuit, sitting on her kitchen counter next to her Monogram stove with her bare feet on the counter. Feet on the counter.. just no, one follower commented. Another wrote, Even the feet? Gotta be kidding!\nIt seems strange to put bare feet on the counters where you prepare and eat food, especially in a brand partnership post where youre promoting kitchen appliances, but, then again, Paltrow is no stranger to controversy.\nGoop Faces Allegations Of Exploding Candles\nLast year, Paltrows lifestyle brand, Goop, was sued after someone claimed one of the candles he purchased from the company exploded and became engulfed in high flames after burning for about three hours. A warning on the candle tells customers not to burn it for more than two hours, but the lawsuit claimsthat Goop knew the candles were defective.\nWere confident this claim is frivolous and an attempt to secure an outsized payout from a press-heavy product. We stand behind the brands we carry and the safety of the products we sell, a Goop spokesperson said about the lawsuit.\nHowever, this wasnt the first time that specific candle exploded. A UK woman wrote an essay for The Guardian alleging that her candle exploded a few minutes after it was lit. Flames roared half a metre out of the jar and bits of molten wax flew out as it fizzed and spat, she wrote. Luckily, I had placed it on concrete, at the base of what was once a fireplace.\nA Goop representative said at the time\n, Were in touch with the woman to see if she followed the specific fire safety instructions included with the candle, such as trimming the wick and not burning it for more than two hours. At goop, we vet the products we sell and make customer safety a priority, so weve alerted the manufacturer to the womans issue and have also reached out to her to send her some goop products to help pass the days in quarantine.\nBare feet on the counter is less serious than exploding candles, for sure, but still, its not the best look, is it?\nMore Trending News", "answer groups": [ " hiring", "executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Emagine Portage operator now among 10 largest movie theater chains in United States. Man convicted of murdering teen girl found bound in alley\nThe company expects to complete $22 million in renovations later this year of the theaters it acquired in Portage, Noblesville, south suburban Batavia and Kochville Township, Michigan. It's been in the process of turning them into \"state-of-the-art movie palaces\" with amenities like heated reclining faux leather chairs, stadium-style seating, a full bar and olive oil-flavored popcorn.\nWe are not done yet, added Anthony LaVerde, CEO of Emagine Entertainment. We are continuing to evaluate other opportunities that provide growth value to our brand, that will allow us to bring the Emagine experience to other communities.\nNWI Business Ins and Outs: Olive Garden, Anytime Fitness, I Dig Dinos opening; Easter Bunny coming to Southlake Mall\nComing soon\nExterior construction is largely complete on the new Highland Olive Garden, which is tentatively slated to open on May 9.\nOlive Garden took over the former Old Country Buffet at 10445 Indianapolis Boulevard in the Highland Grove Shopping Center. The Orlando-based chain of sit-down Italian restaurants has been renovating the 10,179-square-foot restaurant for months.\nHighland Building Commissioner Ken Mika said the construction cost an estimated $1.8 million and that materials shortages have delayed the project.\nJoseph S. Pete\nDelays\nOlive Garden was originally eyeing a new location in Schererville's new Oak District, where Chick-fil-A and LongHorn Steakhouse just opened, but opted for Highland a few miles north to more easily obtain a three-way liquor license, typically crucial to a restaurant's profitability.\nThe chain is known for its pasta, breadsticks, wine and unlimited soup and salad lunch specials.\nOwned by Darden Restaurants, Olive Garden has 900 restaurants around the globe, including in Lansing, Michigan City and Hobart at the Southlake Mall.\nJoseph S. Pete\nRelocating\nAnytime Fitness is moving across the street to a much larger 7,400-square-foot location in Winfield that will offer more coaching.\nThe 24/7 gym chain has been constructing a new two-story gym at the site of the old Evolution Fitness at 7954 E. 108th Ave. for the last seven months. The new gym will feature a 1,080-square-foot purple turf area with state-of-the-art functional training equipment people can work out on in both team training and personalized one-on-one sessions.\nAt the new location, Anytime Fitness will offer a wide area of team training sessions with MyZone heart rate monitors that track heart rate and calories burned during the workout.\nJoseph S. Pete\nNew location\nAt the new location, Anytime Fitness will offer a wide area of team training sessions with MyZone heart rate monitors that track heart rate and calories burned during the workout.\nThe Anytime Fitness is owned by Muayad and Vicki Musleh, who have opened nine clubs in Indiana and two in Illinois. The second floor of the new Anytime Fitness will serve as the corporate headquarters for their business, which has 13,000 members.\nThey also own the Anytime Fitness locations in Dyer, Schererville, Lowell, Crown Point, Cedar Lake and Hobart. The Winfield Anytime Fitness has repeatedly been voted The Times of Northwest Indiana's Best of the Region.\nJoseph S. Pete\nOpens April 18\nRegional Coach Eric White said the brand-new gym is slated to open on April 18.\n\"It's right across the street from the current location,\" he said. \"It may be Winfield's tallest building. It will be a new coaching club design. It's the only Anytime of its kind. There's no guarantee other new ones will be built this way, but the franchise owner is committed to this new model here.\"\nJoseph S. Pete\n'A lot of cool stuff'\nThe fitness club will feature equipment like TRX Suspension Trainers, air bikes, row machines, weights, kettlebells, tire flips and sleds.\n\"There's a lot of cool stuff coming coaches can train the members how to use,\" he said. \"The new MyZone technology shows you on the screen how hard you're working during your workout.\"\nMembers can work out on their own at all hours or sign up for more than 40 team training sessions from Monday through Sunday. Scheduled throughout the day during the week and in the mornings on the weekends, they range from cardio sessions meant to burn calories to weight training sessions meant to build muscle.\nJoseph S. Pete\nBoth gym use and coaching\nBetween five and 20 people typically work out with a coach each session.\n\"The goal is to hook people up with a trainer so they're not just signing up for a gym membership. They're getting the education, learning how to use the new stuff out there, and have the benefit of accountability during their workouts,\" White said. \"But what separates us from the F45s, Orange Theories and UFC facilities is we have both gym use and coaching. Clients get the best of both worlds.\"\nJoseph S. Pete\n'Our job is to change their life'\nCoaching is a big trend in the fitness industry, from Peleton stationary bikes to many of new fitness club concepts opening up.\n\"We take pride in knowing members by name,\" he said. \"I feel our job is to change their life. We're there to help them achieve the results they're looking for.\"\nJoseph S. Pete\nOpen\nA new interactive and immersive dinosaur, toy and fossil store has brought the Mesozoic era to downtown Griffith.\nI Dig Dinos opened Friday in the former An-Dee's Floral space at Main and Broad streets in downtown Griffith. It was most recently occupied by the Power Up Fitness and Training gym.\nThe space at 100 S. Broad has been transformed into something out of \"Jurassic Park.\" It's filled with model dinosaurs, including a huge animatronic Utahraptor in the front window that kids can ride.\nJoseph S. Pete\nDinosaur attraction\nBusiness partners Kevin Pete (full disclosure: my younger brother) and Ruben Luna opened the dinosaur attraction, which sells dinosaur products like fossils, collector rocks, space rocks, meteorites, gems, jewelry, toys, figures, figurines, stuffed animals, candy, and graphic novels about dinosaurs, sharks and whales.\nThere's an explorer section with hardhats, binoculars, magnifying glasses and other archeological tools. It also carries 4D dinosaurs that can be snapped together, dinosaurs that grow when submerged in water, puzzles and science kits with DIY volcanos and tornados.\n\"It's the kind of things you'd find in a museum gift shop, just way more elaborate,\" Pete said.\nJoseph S. Pete\nPlay paleontologist\nI Dig Dinos offers many activities for kids, including a fossil dig, geode-cracking and gold panning to find gems. The hands-on experiences give kids a chance to play paleontologist.\n\"It's interactive fossil mining where they can fill a bag for $5,\" he said. \"They pick and choose what to take home. It's not a perfectly articulated skeleton like in a kid's museum but it's how it plays out in real life.\"\nThe store is decorated with about 30 dinosaur head mounts and another 30 full-size dinosaur models. It plans to add 40 more in the coming months.\nJoseph S. Pete\n'Immersive experience'\nVisitors", "answer groups": [ " expanding geography", "new initiatives or programs", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "First clean jets will be ready for commercial flight by 2035, industry says EURACTIV.com. LinkedIn\nWhatsApp\nCarbon-emission free aircraft either electric or hydrogen-powered will be developed within six years, with the first jets commercially carrying passengers from 2035 onwards, industry experts have forecast.\nIf achieved, it would mark a green revolution for an industry that has become synonymous with carbon-intensive travel.\nAirlines will be able to make a down payment on concepts such as hydrogen-powered jet engines by 2028, with the large-scale deployment of the aircraft by 2035. By 2050, it is foreseen that 75% of aircraft globally will use the clean technology currently under development.\nThe tight timeline is necessary to achieve the EUs environmental aim of climate neutrality by 2050, explained Axel Krein, head of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, an EU and industry-backed programme to accelerate green aircraft innovation.\nWe looked backwards from the 2050 target in terms of what needs to be done by when in order to make it a success. If you want to have climate neutrality by 2050, you need to have those new aircraft entering into service into the airline fleet from 2035 onwards, he said.\nHaving this technology available by 2028 is necessary for manufacturers, such as Airbus, to offer the aircraft to airlines shopping for fleet renewals, explained Ron van Manen, Clean Aviations head of strategic development.\nAny later and we cant [achieve] the fleet replacement. And if we havent made a very significant step in aviation [emissions] by 2050 then were going to be the tobacco industry, the bad guys, he told EURACTIV.\nSpeaking at a gathering of policymakers and industry organised by the Clean Aviation joint undertaking, Guillaume Faury, chief executive officer of Airbus, the worlds largest aircraft manufacturer, said environmental improvements will help to end questions over the viability of flying in a time of climate crisis.\nAs a result [of efficiency improvements] aviation is the transport mode of the future, not of the past, in terms of environmental protection, he said.\nDisruption\nIndustry giants are heavily investing in disruptive propulsion technology, eager to avoid the fate of the automotive industry, which saw incumbent players market value surpassed by Tesla a new market entrant offering an environmentally friendly vehicle.\nManufacturers are looking at hybrid electric aircraft, hydrogen-propulsion systems, and ultra-efficient aircraft design as a means of slashing aviation emissions.\nAirbus is currently preparing a flight test for a hydrogen-powered jet engine, which the company says will take place by 2025.\nAirbus to test hydrogen jet engine in step towards zero emission aviation\nAirbus has announced plans to test a hydrogen-powered jet engine by the middle of the decade, as the worlds largest plane manufacturer pushes to meet its 2035 deadline of building a zero emission aircraft.\nAirbus engineers are focusing on passenger aircraft capable of short-haul journeys of less than 4,000km, a range that produces around two thirds of global emissions.\nOnce there is broad market acceptance of the technology, the size of clean aircraft will be scaled up according to Airbus.\nAs engineers grapple with how to cut aircraft weight while providing sufficient space for alternative fuels, they have jettisoned the typical fuselage and wing design that has been a hallmark of the industry since the 1950s.\nThe new planes are designed to use less fuel and better fuel, explained Eric Dalbies, senior executive vice president of French aircraft equipment manufacturer Safran.\nDeveloping carbon-free aircraft is not just an environmentally beneficial proposition, but a highly lucrative one European industry is racing to establish itself as a leader in the nascent market, which has the potential to bring an estimated 5 trillion in economic value.\nBut developing clean sheet aircraft, in which present-day designs are completely overhauled rather than gradually improved, is expensive.\nThe EU has pledged 1.7 billion to the Clean Aviation joint undertaking through its R&D funding programme Horizon Europe, with a further 2.4 billion coming from Europes aviation industry.\nHowever, much more is needed to meet the goals of zero-emission flying, according to van Manen.\nWe think the journey towards these aircraft being ready for product development will require around 12 billion over the next decade. Thats three times the size of Clean Aviation, he said.\nChanging passengers mindset\nTypically, electric or hydrogen-powered aircraft have been seen as a means to decarbonise short-haul flights, with sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), made from biofuels and electro-fuels, considered the solution to decarbonise long-haul flights.\nHowever, changing how long-distance flights are broken up could make clean aircraft technology viable for journeys of over 8,000km according to van Manen.\nThe aviation expert said that passengers may need to accept that long-distance flights will require more frequent layovers, as hydrogen powered planes are likely to have a limit of around 10,000km before refuelling.\nAlready today, many passengers are content to have a stop-over during long journeys, whether its to save money or to stretch their legs, he said. This will need to become more common given the space limitations of clean aircraft, van Manen believes.\nPassengers and airlines today have the mindset of being able to go anywhere in the world non-stop. I would challenge that. I would challenge whether in a sustainable aviation environment in the 2040s or 2050s you can afford to do that, he said.\nI think the travelling public is going to go through a reconsideration, he added.\nReFuelEU\nIn the immediate term, both industry and lawmakers are turning to SAFs to cut aviation emissions.\nUnder proposals tabled by the EU Commission in July, all aircraft refuelling in the EU would be required to uplift kerosene mixed with a set percentage of green jet fuel. This percentage will scale up over time, reaching 63% of the fuel mix by 2050.\nSAFs are popular with airlines as they can be dropped into current aircraft models without changes to the engine. Adaptations are required only when the share of SAF goes over 50%.\nWillie Walsh, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), called on lawmakers to incentivise the production of SAFs, calling it key to meeting the 2050 climate goals.\nAirlines are willing to pay higher SAF prices, which can be up to three times that of kerosene, but are hamstrung by the lack of supply, according to Walsh.\nA draft European Parliament report calls for greater ambition in the EUs proposed green jet fuel law, including a higher percentage of mandatory sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for planes refuelling in the bloc.", "answer groups": [ " funding round", "product launching & presentation", " executive statement" ], "distractor groups": [] }, { "question": "What events are related to the document above?", "paragraph": "Puratae, LLC Announces LIVEDEN as its New Brand Name and DBA. There were 122 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 184,816 in the last 365 days.\nPuratae, LLC Announces LIVEDEN as its New Brand Name and DBA\nNews Provided By\nMarch 06, 2022, 03:20 GMT\nShare This Article\nPuratae, LLC of Highland Utah announced LIVEDEN as its new DBA company and brand name, as well as its new product brand name LIVEDENONE and website https://liveden.com.\n/\n/ -- Highland, United States, March 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --\nPuratae, LLC, of Highland Utah announced today that it has launched its new company,\nLIVEDEN\n, a DBA (doing business as) company of Puratae, LLC. The new DBA company was formed in late 2021, and an announcement to Purataes existing customers and brand partners was made on February 9. In conjunction with the launch of LIVEDEN, Puratae LLC replaced its former puratae.com domain with the\nhttps://liveden.com\ndomain.\nAccording to company spokesman and COO, Bob Hilke, LIVEDEN is the new brand name, replacing Puratae. The Company name is pronounced LIV-EDEN. Their product also has a new name, LIVEDENONE. LIVEDEN has a strong philanthropic base and, just like its parent company Puratae has done from the beginning, will continue to provide 10 meals to children in need with the purchase of every LIVEDENONE. LIVEDEN is currently operating in six major global markets.\nCo-founder and joint CEO, Heather Holker, states: Our vision has always been a global one. Helping people is what we love LIVEDEN embodies who we are now and our commitment to the future. LIVEDEN is all about getting back to the basics. Clean, healthy, simple living. This is what inspires us.\nCo-founder and joint CEO, Marty Holker, reflected on Purataes success over the recent years, and with the launch of LIVEDEN he shared his vision looking forward for the new companys brand, LIVEDEN: Puratae celebrated its third anniversary in August 2021. During that time we had significant growth and acquired many faithful customers. We gave considerable consideration to the brand name to represent our company going forward as well as our product brand name. We feel our new brand name LIVEDEN will help our customers and prospective customers better identify with the vision we have for our company. I could not be more excited about our future going forward as we begin to share LIVEDEN with the world!\nCompany information is available at", "answer groups": [ " new initiatives or programs", "product launching & presentation" ], "distractor groups": [] } ]