Abstract
In 1998, Greenpeace, Natuur en Milieu(Nature and Environment), Milieudefensie(Environmental Defense), and the National ConsumersUnion presented a report about the possible risks andhazards associated with pesticide residues on fruitsand vegetables. Although these organizationsexplicitly denied having unassailable evidence on theharmful effects of pesticides, they claimed that bynow there are sufficient indications that pesticidesmay indeed lead to such health hazards. They used anappeal to the so-called precautionary principle tounderpin their claims. The committee officially incharge of deciding on the admission of pesticidesaccused the organizations of scaremongering. Afterdistinguishing three possible versions of theprecautionary principle, we then show that the fourorganizations used in their campaign an improperversion of the precautionary principle to convince thegeneral public.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Allsopp, M., D. Santillo, and P. Johnston, Poisoning the Future; Impact of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Wildlife and Human Health (Amsterdam: Greenpeace, 1997).
Bast, A., “Misleidende campagne tegen, sla, aarbeien en paprika,” Trouw (1998), 25-26.
Beekman, M, R. Luijk, and H. Mullerman, Dagelijkse Kost; dossier hormoonverstorende bestrijdingsmiddelen op ons voedsel en in ons milieu (Amsterdam: Greenpeace, Natuur en Milieu, Consumentenbond, Milieudefensie, 1998).
Brom, F. W. A. and E. Schroten, “Ethics and Animal Biotechnology,” Animal Issues 2(2) (1998), 37-51.
Engels, J. and G. ten Haaft, “Ons Dagelijks Risico,” Trouw (juni 27-28, 1998) 33-35.
Giddens, A., The Third Way; The Renewal of Social Democracy (Polity Press, 1998).
Hannigan, J., Environmental Sociology (London and New York: Routledge, 1995).
Milne, A., “The perils of green pessimism,” New Scientist. June 12, 1993.
O'Rirordan, T. and A. Jordan,”The Precautionary Principle in the Contemporary Environmental Politics,” Environmental Values 4(1995), 191-212.
Santillo, D., T. Belazzi, and P. Johnston, “A Precautionary Approach to the Regulation of Endocrine Disrupting Substances.” Paper presented at “Endocrine Disrupters - How to Address the Challenge,” Joint Conference of the European Commission, DG XI and the Austrian Presidency, Vienna (1998).
Verweij, M., “Moral Principles: Authoritative Norms or Flexible Guidelines?” in Reflective Equilibrium, Essays in Honour of Robert Heege (Dordrecht: KLuwer, 1998), pp. 29-40.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gremmen, B., Belt, H.V.D. The Precautionary Principle and Pesticides. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 12, 197–205 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009511319040
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009511319040