Tag Archives: regulation

Higher taxes for ebooks than books in Europe

An article in the New York Times (Dec 2, 2011) describes the classification of ebooks as a service in Europe, thus facing sales taxes close to 20% vs a tax close to 5% for paper books.  In addition, books a … Continue reading

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Orphan drug laws and attractiveness for pharmaceutical companies

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (Nov 5, 2011) describes the Orphan Drug Act, a competition free seven year period for manufacturers of drugs to treat diseases affecting less than 200,000 patients.  This exclusive period enables drug prices for dosages to reach … Continue reading

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Slow down Postal delivery to save USPS ?

An article in CNNMoney (http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/05/news/economy/postal_service/index.htm?iid=HP_LN&hpt=hp_t2) describes a proposal by the US Postal service to change the delivery guarantee for first class mail from the current one to three days to a slower two to five days.  The slower delivery will … Continue reading

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The “Save our Industries Act” Poplin agreement Involving the US and Philliphines

A report on the “Save our Industries Act” (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/342819/shorter-garment-export-categories-okayed) describes the potential agreement between the US and Philippines under which poplin cloth, exported from US producers to the Philippines for garment manufacturing, would be granted zero duties when exported back … Continue reading

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Light Bulb regulation in January 2012 and supply chain impact

An article in he New York Times (Nov 16, 2011) describes the impending regulation that bans manufacturing of the traditional light bulb in January 2012. While sales from inventory can continue, new light bulbs will be required to be more … Continue reading

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Expiring Lipitor patent, supply chain impact

An article in the Wall Streeat Journal (Nov 22,2011) describes a plan by Pfizer to sell Lipitor (a cholesterol reducing drug) direct to consumers once its patent expires on Nov 30. Health care plans that have contracted to sell Lipitor … Continue reading

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Cargill – matching global supply and demand of agricultural commodities

An article in Fortune (Nov 7, 2011) describes Cargill’s role inmatching global supplies of soyabean, cotton, palm oil, beef and salt from Indonesia, Australia, Argentina and North America to customers. Charter ships are routed to minimize empty miles – as … Continue reading

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A closed loop CO2 Supply chain?

An article in Fortune (Oct 17,2011) describes the mismatch between demand for CO2, its indequate supply in pure form, but its prevalence in the air.  Demand for CO2 is from soda manufacturers to make bubbles, greenhouse gases to speed plant … Continue reading

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Ozone regulation, local compliance and manufacturing impact

An article in the New York Times (17 Nov, 2011) describes the Federal govt’s decision to retreat from the EPA recommended standard of 70 parts per billion (ppb), a revision of the current 84 ppb rule.  Resistance from manufacturers was … Continue reading

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Chinese oversight of US sources of apple juice in the global supply chain

An article in the wall street journal (Nov 4,2011) states that 72 % of US apple juice is sourced from China, and is part of over $3.2 billion in food imports. But concerns about food quality has caused the US … Continue reading

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