<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Food norms are embodied within all the essential components of food security; availability, access, utilization, and stability. However, the adverse economic influences of these norms are largely under–researched in developing countries. Unique in its scoop, this study thus investigates the impacts of food taboos and preferences (FTP) on food security in Ethiopia, one of the world’s food–insecure nations combined with a culture of strict food norms. On the basis of a qualitative research design with semi–structured in–depth interviews, primary data was collected from eleven key informants of pertinent multidisciplinary backgrounds, experts and decision–makers. The empirical evidence revealed that religious and secular– based FTP have put significant restrictions on the efficient utilization of the existing edible resources in the country. For example, during Orthodox Christian (OC) and Muslim fasting days, the overall food supply chain undergoes economic turbulence. Particularly, the economic challenge of OC fasting is expressed by (1) a decrease in consumption and supply of non–vegan foods, (2) the temporary closure of butcher and dairy shops, (3) an increase in the demand and price of vegan foods, and (4) an overall reduction in consumption and economic transactions. Moreover, the tradition of animal consecration at home has made many Ethiopians to rarely depend on supermarkets, groceries, and other licensed meat shops. In turn, this impedes the country’s endeavor of attracting local and foreign private investors in the general food sector. It also alienates people from access to food labels, meat quality controls, price, size, and choice advantages, all of which are essential for better, adaptive, and stable food utilization. The results discovered in this thesis enrich our understanding on the role of food norms in the economic systems. Particularly, the study sheds light on the indispensable need to consider the subject of FTP in policies and programs aiming to end food insecurity.
</abstract>

The Impacts of Food Taboos and Preferences on Food Security in Developing Countries: Evidence from Ethiopia

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> Article 4 of the Unified Customs and Practices of Documentary Letters of Credit establishes the notion of autonomy principle by separating credit from underlying contract between account party and beneficiary. Article 5 by recognizing the autonomy principle confirms that effectuate the payment under credit, banks only deal with documents and not with goods. As a result, while documentary letters of credit are meant to facilitate the process of international trade, their sole dependency on compliance of presented documents to bank by beneficiary to actualize the payment will increase the risk of fraud and forgery in the course of their operation. Interestingly, UCP (currently UCP600) takes a silent status regarding the problem of fraud in international LC operation and leaves the ground open for national laws to provide remedies to affected parties by fraudulent beneficiary. National Laws have different approaches to the problem of fraud in general and fraud in international LC operation in particular which makes the access of affected parties to possible remedies complicated and difficult. Current paper tries to find answer to the questions of (i) what available remedies are provided to affected parties in international LC fraud by different legal systems? (ii) And what are conditions for benefiting from such remedies under different legal systems? In achieving its objective, paper will be divided in two main parts to study remedies provided by intentional legal frameworks as well as the ones offered by national laws. Part one will study the position of UCP and UNCITRAL Convention on Independent Guarantees and Standby Letters of Credit (UNCITRAL Convention) and remedies, which they provide to LC fraud in international trade. Part two in contrary will study available remedies to LC fraud and condition for access them under English and American legal system.</abstract>

Remedies to Fraud in Documentary Letters of Credit: A Comparative Perspective / Opravné Opatrenia Pri Podvodoch S Dokumentárnymi Akreditívami: Komparatívna Perspektíva

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The paper aims to critically analyse the theory of environmental racism as a part of the concept of environmental justice in order to point out possible overuse of the term racism. Through theoretical analysis, the author tries to prove that labelling any negative impacts of the environmental burden on racial or ethnic minorities with racism is an unnecessary overwork which moreover might be, according to available data, inconsistent with reality.</abstract>

Is Environmental Racism Truly Racist?

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Consumer protection has been included among the EU policies by the Maastricht Treaty and has become one of the EU dominant policies. A consumer is considered as a weaker party in the private legal relationships and therefore should be protected against a stronger contract party. However, the question “who is a consumer” arises very often. The judicature of the Court of Justice of the EU proves that the notion of consumer is still not clearly defined in the secondary law of the EU. The present paper brings the overview how the notion of consumer has developed in the EU secondary law and in the judicature of the Court of Justice of the EU and it points out actual issues related to the notion of consumer.</abstract>

Department of International Law and European Law, Faculty of Law, Pan–European University Bratislava

Department of European Policies, Faculty of European Studies and Regional Development, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

The Notion of Consumer in the EU Law

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The article presents the reasons and goals of the new Water Act development, which was supposed to replace amended many times the 2001 Water Act. A new Water Act has been approved 1 July 2017. The main aim of new Water Act is an achievements the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive and other EU directives related to water management. The most important change of new Water Act is the establishment of a new water management organization in Poland, for which since January 1, 2018 is responsible the State Water Enterprise Polish Waters. The second new fundamental change is the introduction of nine water management financial instruments. Water services fees are one of them. The mechanism for determining the amount of these fees was one of the most debatable problems when adopting this legislative document. The article also presents the voices criticizing the detailed introduced solutions, including changes in investment of water infrastructure and their maintenance in agriculture.</abstract>

New Water Act in Poland – Changes and Dilemmas

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> Distilling industry is among the traditional sectors of the food industry. It is a significant producers of agricultural primary production and the most stable component of demand in the labour market. Among all the sectors of the food industry, however, it is subject to the greatest extent of the regulation of the business by state, when a crucial component of regulation is the legal regulation of the selection of the excise tax on alcohol. Given the considerable degree of regulation of excise taxes on alcoholic beverages by one of the secondary law of the EU, it is considered appropriate to assess the level of transposition of basic elements of excise tax on alcohol, as defined by literature, into the legal order of the Slovak Republic.</abstract>

Excise Tax on Alcohol According to Legal Law of Slovak Republic In Terms Of Eu Secondary Law Transposition / Spotrebná Daň Z Liehu V Právnom Poriadku Slovenskej Republiky Z Hľadiska Transpozície Sekundárneho Práva Eú

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The specific nature of agriculture, and in particular its natural conditions, imply the occurrence of specific risks leading increasingly to crisis situations. These result in agricultural producers being unable to cope on their own with worsening production and consequently living conditions, and in extreme cases abandoning agricultural activity. A recurrent negative phenomenon in recent years that causes many losses is drought. Its occurrence is a certain challenge for the legislator, who, by eans of specific legal norms, at least to a limited extent, can shape the existence of agricultural producers and protect them from abandoning agricultural activity. The aim of this article is to assess the legal norms adopted at EU and national level which affect agricultural producers in the context of the occurrence of drought. Furthermore, it aims to answer the question of whether and to what extent the legislator protects their livelihoods. The approach of the national and EU legislator with regard to the forms of support provided should be assessed positively. The national legislator, on the basis of the dispositions contained in the EU law, supports agricultural producers in the face of the occurrence of crisis situations, however, it should take into account the necessity of adopting additional, special solutions in this respect strengthening the livelihood of producers.
</abstract>

Agricultural Crises – Selected Legal Aspects of Drought

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The importance of addressing the effective functioning of competence execution in the construction sector primarily lies in its impact on the efficiency and quality of these competences. Currently, in Slovakia (SR), municipalities exercise the competences of spatial planning and building regulations within their transferred competence from the state. Through the government’s program statement for the years 2020–2024, the SR government committed to abolish municipal building authorities. With the new legislation that becomes effective on April 1, 2024, there will be a reverse transfer of construction competence from municipalities to state administration, to the newly created Office for Spatial Planning and Construction of the Slovak Republic and regional building authorities.The authors take a critical approach to the original construction legislation (de lege lata) as well as to the newly adopted laws on construction and spatial planning in terms of substantive and procedural provisions, noting the exclusion of the application of Administrative Code in spatial and building proceedings. Through our research on this issue, we suggest de lege ferenda two alternatives regarding the exercise of construction competences at the municipal and state levels and the preservation of dual jurisdiction in building proceedings according to the current administrative procedure.
</abstract>

Construction Legislation – Current and Future in the Legal System of the Slovak Republic

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Precision farming, or precision agriculture, represents a paradigm shift in modern agriculture, integrating advanced technologies and data-driven techniques to optimize crop production processes. This paper provides an overview of precision farming, discussing its historical evolution, key technologies, benefits, challenges, and potential regulatory questions. The adoption of precision farming practices holds promise for enhancing resource efficiency, increasing crop yields, and promoting environmental sustainability. Additionally, this paper delves into the economic, environmental, and social implications of precision farming, highlighting its potential to shape the future of agriculture.
</abstract>

The Benefits, Challenges and Legal Regulation of Precision Farming in the European Union

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
On May 1, 2021, Act No. 151/2021 Coll., amending Act No. 504/2003 Coll. on the lease of agricultural land, agricultural business and forest land and on the amendment of certain laws as amended by later regulations, which amend Act of the Slovak National Council No. 330/1991 Coll. on land adjustments, arrangement of land ownership, land offices, land fund and on land communities as amended (hereinafter referred to as “Amendment No. 151/2021 Coll.”) entered into force. Amendment No. 151/2021 Coll. fundamentally changes the rules and obligations of the municipality as the owner of agricultural land when leasing agricultural land to other persons. The paper clearly explains the most important institutes related to the lease of agricultural land by the municipality and points out the new legal regime of the lease of municipal agricultural land effective from 1 May 2021.
</abstract>

New Legislation on the Lease of Agricultural Land by the Municipality

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, have rapidly transformed from niche gadgets to versatile tools with widespread applications across various sectors. This paper investigates the regulatory landscape of drones within the European Union (EU) and its intricate balance between fostering technological innovation and addressing safety, privacy, security, and environmental concerns. Drones’ exponential growth in Europe’s airspace has prompted the EU to establish a legal framework that addresses their multifaceted implications. While drones offer unprecedented opportunities in areas like disaster response and remote sensing, they also pose challenges such as airspace congestion, potential privacy breaches, and ecological disturbances. This paper examines the evolving legal frameworks, policy developments, and technological advancements that characterize drone regulation in the EU. The study delves into key considerations including air traffic management, data protection, privacy preservation, environmental sustainability, and international collaboration. By analysing EU regulations, such as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and European initiatives on unmanned aircraft systems, this paper uncovers the complex interplay of legal, technical, and ethical dimensions.
</abstract>

The Development of Drone Techology and its Regulation in the European Union

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Agricultural land, as a component of the environment, is one of the irreplaceable natural resources and, at the same time, through its functions, is an integral part of the quality of human lives. Several international institutions or scientists point to problems with land loss or decline in quality and, ultimately, to the increased need for soil protection, based on which governments implement various tools. The aim of the paper is therefore to compile a general overview of existing tools for the protection of agricultural land in Slovakia and to analyse selected strategies for land protection in the EU. The main source of information was represented by literary sources of publications by scientific researchers, Slovak and European bodies or institutions, and, last but not least, legal acts. The paper points to a wide range of existing tools and innovative strategies for the protection of agricultural land in Slovakia and the EU.
</abstract>

An Overview of Selected Tools and Strategies for Agricultural Land Protection in Slovakia and the European Union

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Land administration and land consolidation are two pillars of the Austrian land management sharing a long tradition and duties defined by the constitution. Land administration supports measures of land consolidation with cadastre data, land registry data and other geo–technical data. New methods and instruments of geodata assessment provides a more detailed information about land and its changes. The geo–products are contributing to an improved process efficiency of land consolidation authorities. In addition, the role of land consolidation changed from an instrument to improve farming structures to a multifunctional tool of land management.</abstract>

Land Administration and Land Consolidation as Part of Austrian Land Management

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>At present, the issue of agricultural land protection resonates in a wide range of scientific disciplines. Individual approaches to the subject are in line with the relevant field, but the basis should always be grounded in the current legislation. The paper is a technical description focused on identification of the basic terms, relations, problems, goals and challenges and possible legal or legislative solutions of the physical protection of the agricultural soil and the legal protection of the agricultural land as an object of legal relations in the Slovak Republic. Achievement the goals and their legal realisation is possible only if certain legal obstacles are resolved on the national level and level of European Union. This paper represents a basic analysis, which can possibly serve as a support for an attempt to resolve the defined problems by the legislative means.</abstract>

Agricultural Soil and Agricultural Land – Problems and Challenges from the View of Legal Regulation

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Land is an essential resource and plays a vital role in providing food and food security, water, ecosystem services and territorial resilience. However, the past few decades have generated enormous and increasingly unsustainable pressures on land use. The objective of this research is to analyse the main land use changes in Spain between 1987 and 2011 using data provided by the Corine Land Cover (CLC) project. The general trends in land use change at CLC level 1 in this period, and more specifically the changes occurring at CLC level 3 in land destined for agricultural use are analysed. The main reasons that explain these changes, including policy influences, are then identified. The results show that the area occupied by buildings and infrastructure has doubled, agricultural land has decreased and irrigated land has increased; forested areas have also increased, but their ecological quality has been degraded. These trends question the future sustainability of that land use in the analysed period.</abstract>

Land Use Changes in Spain. Drivers and Trends in Agricultural Land Use

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The purpose of the discussion is an attempt to determine in what forms, which meet the criteria of local food systems (LFS), it is possible under Italian law to sell agri-food products by the farmer who is their producer. These forms imply a direct sale, or with the participation of at most one intermediary, to the final consumer, in close geographical distance between the place of production and sale. The analysis showed that Italian legislator, national and regional, provides for many instruments that are crucial in creating LFS, such as direct sales of agri-food products, farmers’ markets reserved only for the local farmers; the sale of meals consisting of the farmer’s products at the agritourism; wine routes; regional designation “products from zero kilometres”, emphasizing the geographical proximity between the place of manufacture and the place of sale; as well as a support for the social initiatives such as Solidarity Purchasing Groups.</abstract>

Legal Instruments to Support Local Food Systems in Italian Law

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EU agrarian Law

The Journal of Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

 Journal "EU Agrarian Law" is a scientific journal of the Faculty of European Studies and Regional Development of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. Journal is...

 Journal "EU Agrarian Law" is a scientific journal of the Faculty of European Studies and Regional Development of the Slovak University of...