Role of the precautionary principle in the EU risk assessment process
on industrial chemicals
J. de Bruijn, B. Hansen, and S. Munn
European Chemicals Bureau, Joint Research Centre, 21021
Ispra (VA), Italy
Abstract: This paper discusses the practical implementation
of the precautionary principle in the area of management of industrial
chemicals in the European Union. An analysis of a number of recent cases
where the precautionary principle was invoked shows that the main reason
for doing so were the uncertainties in the risk assessment (or the underlying
effects or exposure data), which were, according to the scientific experts,
so high that the "normal" level of certainty could not be obtained.
The challenge for the future is to try to develop general guidance or
rules that will support the policymakers in their decision as to whether
this uncertainty is so large that action is warranted or whether it
is acceptable to wait until further information has become available.
*Report from a SCOPE/IUPAC project: Implication of
Endocrine Active Substances for Human and Wildlife (J. Miyamoto and
J.Burger, editors). Other reports are published in this issue,
pp. 1617-2615.
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