From precautionary principle to risk–risk analysis

Applying the Precautionary Principle To

This paper sets out a framework for applying the precautionary principle to the release of new and existing genetically engineered (GE) crops. The framework aims to assist NGOs, scientists, regulators and others who are currently addressing issues related to genetic engineering and/or the precautionary principle. The steps outlined here suggest a way forward in the current genetic engineering d...

An Epistemic Analysis of the Precautionary Principle

In democratic societies restriction of persons’ freedom by the state or any legal authority is justified only in highly limited contexts and for strictly specified purposes. Among these, the first (and for liberalist thinkers, the only legitimate) one is the prevention of unacceptable harm to entities worth of protection. Violation of the privacy right in any form requires also a strong evidenc...

Implementing the precautionary principle.

The precautionary principle can be found in international treaties that protect human health and the environment from a variety of pollutants and perturbations. One of the earliest forms of the precautionary principle was used in the 1980s in Europe to protect the North Sea. In 1992, the Rio Declaration specifically included the precautionary principle in calling on nations to protect the envir...

Expanding the precautionary principle.

Applying the Precautionary Principle to Nanotechnology

The development of molecular nanotechnology (MNT) carries numerous risks, including the production of potentially unhealthy nanoparticles, the possible creation of tiny, destructive, self-replicating robots, and many others. The Precautionary Principle is often invoked when dealing with situations that might be hazardous; however, the label "Precautionary Principle" is attached to at least two ...