Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Deepening A Precautionary European Policy

  • Published:
Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In regulatory practice, the principle of precaution is hardly linked to the ideal of sustainable development. In this article, we argue that it should be. We argue that sustainable development is the sense of an ethics of co-responsibility, while precaution is the attitude needed to realize this sense. From this perspective, we comment on some regulatory practices within the European context regarding authorization requests for deliberate releases of genetically modified crops and show some problems that are popping up there, for example, the difficulties in interpreting the meaning of harm” (and of benefit”), the symptomatic gap between regulatory rule and political practice. Finally, we suggest that, in order to respond to such problems, precaution should find an appropriate translation in the fields of both research and innovation policy, of authorization policy and of economic policy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

EEA:

European Environment Agency

GMC:

Genetically Modified Crop

GMO:

Genetically Modified Organism

FRDO:

Federal Council for Sustainable Development (Belgium)

IMSA:

Institute for Environment and Systems Analysis (the Netherlands)

INRA:

National Institute for Agricultural Research (France)

NBC:

National Biosafety Commission (Spain)

NGO:

Non-Governmental Organization

R&D:

Research and Development

SBB:

Section on Biosafety and Biotechnology (Federal Health Institute, Belgium)

STEM:

Research Centre for Technology

SPIRE:

Science and Precaution in Interactive Risk Evaluation

WTO:

World Trade Organization.

References

  • D. Bodansky (1991) ArticleTitleScientific Uncertainty and the Precautionary Principle Environment 33 IssueID(4–5 43–44

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Boehmer-Christiansen (1994) The Precautionary Principle in Germany – enabling Government Th. Riordan J. Cameron (Eds) Interpreting the Precautionary Principle Earthscan London 31–60

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Calman D. Smith (2001) ArticleTitleWorks in Theory but not in Practice? The Role of the Precautionary Principle in Public Health Policy. Public Administration 79 IssueID1 185–204 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-9299.00252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. Carr (2002) ArticleTitleEthical and value-based aspects of the European Commission’s Precautionary Principle Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 15 IssueID1 31–38 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1013825216101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commission of the European Communities, COM (2000) 0001 final.

  • COGEM, Naar een integraal ethisch-maatschappelijk toetsingskader voor moderne biotechnologie (CGM/030618–02).

  • M. L. DeKay M. J. Small P. S. Fischbeck R. S. Farrow A. Cullen J. B. Kadane L. B. Lave M. G. Morgan K. Takemura (2002) ArticleTitleRisk-based Decision Analysis in Support of Precautionary Policies Journal of Risk Research 5 IssueID4 391–417

    Google Scholar 

  • Dommen, E. (ed.), Fair Principles for Sustainable Development. Essyas on Environmental Policy and Developing Countries (Edward Elgar 1993)

  • S. R. Dovers J. W. Handmer (1995) ArticleTitleIgnorance, the Precautionary Principle, and Sustainability Ambio 24 IssueID2 92–97

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameEuropean Environment Agency. (2001) Late Lessons from Early Warnings: The Precautionary Principle 1896–2000 European Environment Agency Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • FRDO (Federale Raad voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling), Advies over de Mededeling van de Europese Commissie over de toepassing van het voorzorgsbeginsel (COM(2000) 1).

  • Goorden, L., Finding a balance between Technological Innovation and Deliberation. Lessons from Belgian Public Forums on Biotechnology. Paper prepared for the Session ‘New Forms of Citizen Participation in Technology Policy: European perspectives’ at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Philadelphia, USA, August 28–31, 2003.

  • D. Haag M. Kaupenjohann (2001) ArticleTitleParameters, Prediction, Post-normal Science and the Precautionary Principle – a Roadmap for Modeling for Decision-making Ecological Modelling 144 IssueID1 45–60 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-3800(01)00361-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Harremoës Gee David Macgarvin Malcolm Stirling Andy Keys Jane Wynne Brian Vaz Sofia Guedes (Eds) (2002) The Precautionary Principle in the 20th Century. Late Lessons form Early Warnings Earthscan Londen

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, C., M. Henry, L’essence du principe de précaution : la science incertaine mais néanmoins fiable (2003).” (Les séminaires de l’Iddri, nr. 11, www. iddri.org).

  • S. Jasanoff (2003) A Living Legacy: The Precautionary Ideal in American Law J. A. Tickner (Eds) Precaution, Environmental Science and Preventive Public Policy. Island Press Washington/Covelo/London 227–240

    Google Scholar 

  • K. K. Jensen (2002) ArticleTitleThe Moral Foundation of the Precautionary Principle Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 15 IssueID1 39–55 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1013818230213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonas, H., The Imperative of Responsibility. In Search of an Ethics for the Technological Age. (translation by H. Jonas with the help of D. Herr of Das Prinzip Verantwortung (1979)). (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1984).

  • M. Kaiser (2003) Ethics Science and Precaution A View from Norway J. A. Tickner (Eds) Precaution, Environmental Science and Preventive Public Policy Island Press Washington/Covelo/London 39–53

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Karlsson (2003) ArticleTitleBiosafety Principles for GMOs in the Context of Sustainable Development International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology 10 15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Levidow (2001) ArticleTitlePrecautionary Uncertainty: Regulating GM Crops in Europe Social Studies of Science 31 IssueID6 842–874

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y., (2003). Wie ist Verantwortungsethik möglich? Zur transzendentalpragmatischen Begründung der Diskursethik in tecnologischen Zeitalter(Dissertation, Freien Universität Berlin).

  • R. E. Löfstedt B. Fischhoff I. Fischhoff (2002) ArticleTitlePrecautionary Principles: General Definitions and Specific Applications to Genetically Modified Organisms Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 21 381–407 Occurrence Handle10.1002/pam.10051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. E. Löfstedt (2004) ArticleTitleThe Swing of the Regulatory Pendulum in Europe: From Precautionary Principle to (Regulatory) Impact Analysis The Journal of Risk and Uncertainty 28 IssueID3 237–260 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:RISK.0000026097.72268.8d

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. Mayer A. Stirling (2002) ArticleTitleFinding a Precautionary Approach to Technological Developments – Lessons for the Evaluation of GM Crops Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 15 IssueID1 57–71 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1013866125341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNelis, N. (2000) EU Communication on the Precautionary Principle, it Journal of International Economic Law 545–551.

  • Mitcham, C., R. Schomberg,The Ethic of Scientists and Engineers: From Occupational Role Responsibility to Public Co-responsibility, in P. Kroes and A. Meijers (eds.), Research in philosophy and technology, vol.20. (JAI Press, Amsterdam [etc.], 2000), 167–189.

  • J. Morris (2002) ArticleTitleThe Relationship between Risk Analysis and the Precautionary Principle Toxicology 181–182 127–130 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0300-483X(02)00268-8 Occurrence Handle12505297

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M. O’Brien (2003) Science in the Service of Good: The Precautionary Principle and Positive Goals J. A. Tickner (Eds) Precaution, Environmental Science and Preventive Public Policy. Island Press Washington/Covelo/London 279–295

    Google Scholar 

  • T. O’Riordan J. Cameron (Eds) (1994) Interpreting the Precautionary Principle Earthscan London

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Riordan, T., A., Jordan, J. Cameron Reinterpreting the Precautionary Principle (Cameron May, London).

  • C. Raffensperger L. deFur P. (1999) ArticleTitleImplementing the Precautionary Principle: Rigorous Science and Solid Ethics Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 5 IssueID5 933–941 Occurrence Handle10.1080/10807039991289211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. F. Ricci D. Rice J. Ziagos L. A. Cox SuffixJr. (2003) ArticleTitlePrecaution Uncertainty and Causation in Environmental Decisions Environmental International 29 IssueID1 1–19 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0160-4120(02)00191-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P Sandin (1999) ArticleTitleImensions of the Precautionary Principle Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 5 IssueID5 889–907 Occurrence Handle10.1080/10807039991289185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Sandin M. Peterson S. O. Hansson C. Ruden A. Juthe (2002) ArticleTitleFive charges against the precautionary principle Journal of Risk Research 5 IssueID4 287–299 Occurrence Handle10.1080/13669870110073729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C Starr (2003) ArticleTitleThe precautionary principle Versus Risk Analysis Risk Analysis 23 IssueID1 1–3 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1539-6924.00285 Occurrence Handle12635718

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J. A. Tickner (Eds) (2003) Precaution, Environmental Science and Preventive Public Policy Island Press Washington/Covelo/London

    Google Scholar 

  • O. Todt (2004) ArticleTitleRegulating Agricultural Biotechnology under Uncertainty Safety Science 42 143–158 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0925-7535(03)00022-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • N. Treich (2000) ArticleTitleDécision séquentielle et Principe de Précaution Cahiers d’économie et sociologie rurales ( 55-56 6–24

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Vanden Belt B. Gremmen (2002) ArticleTitleBetween Precautionary Principle and ‘Sound Science’: Distributing the Burdens of Proof Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 15 IssueID1 103–122 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1013862024432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Von Schomberg (1995) Contested Technology: Ethics, Risks and Public Debate International Centre for Human and Public Affairs Tilburg

    Google Scholar 

  • J. B. Wiener M. Rogers (2002) ArticleTitleComparing Precaution in the US and Europe Journal of Risk Research 5 IssueID4 317–349 Occurrence Handle10.1080/13669870210153684

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Technology, Energy and Environment (STEM), University of Antwerp, Kleine Kauwenberg 12, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium

    Marian Deblonde Patrick Du Jardin

Authors
  1. Marian Deblonde Patrick Du Jardin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marian Deblonde Patrick Du Jardin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jardin, M.D.P.D. Deepening A Precautionary European Policy. J Agric Environ Ethics 18, 319–343 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-005-1499-0

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-005-1499-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation