Plenty of people have an opinion on whether the precautionary principle is good or bad, but what exactly is it?
Risk Bites dives into the precautionary principle, and provides an essential background for understanding its relevance in areas like responsible innovation and risk innovation.
RESOURCES
The Precautionary Principle website: http://www.precautionaryprinciple.eu/
UNESCO — The Precautionary Principle (2005) — PDF http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001395/139578e.pdf
Communication from the European Commission on the Precautionary Principle (2000) — PDF http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/library/pub/pub07_en.pdf
The Precautionary Principle and European Union Legislation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/consumer_safety/l32042_en.htm
The Paralyzing Principle (2002) — by Cass Sunstein, in case you are interested in an alternative perspective — PDF http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/regulation/2002/12/v25n4-9.pdf
The Risk Bites Team:
Producer: Andrew Maynard
Research Director: David Faulkner
Risk Bites is your guide to making sense of risk. We cover everything from understanding and balancing the risks and benefits of everyday products, to health science more broadly, to the potential impacts of emerging technologies, to making sense of risk perception. If you enjoy our videos, please subscribe, and spread the word!
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