Public risk perception of relaxation of TSE measures in Europe

The so-called " TSE roadmap " was published by the European Commission on 15th July 2005. The TSE roadmap suggests relaxations of BSE measures in the short, medium and long-term. According to the TSE roadmap " any relaxation of BSE measures following the scientific assessment should be initiated by an open discussion with all stakeholders and supported by a strong communication strategy " (European Commission 2005, p 5). With this message in mind, a social scientific project was designed to involve different stakeholder groups, governmental risk managers and their scientific advisors and to get their perception of the TSE roadmap and of its implications for precautionary consumer protection in five EU Member States. This study discusses the risk perception and risk management of the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) in Europe, exemplified by the TSE roadmap. The following question guided the international comparative study: How is TSE risk perceived by the four interviewed stakeholder groups in the five examined countries? The risk perception of TSEs of risk managers from the ministries in charge in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, as well as their scientific advisors and stakeholder groups, were examined. The stakeholder groups were from three different areas concerned by TSEs: farmers, consumers and the meat/food industry. The question to be addressed is if roadmapping is an adequate instrument for stakeholder involvement and for risk decision-making. The study was supported generously by a grant of the European Commission within the Network of Excellence " NeuroPrion " (FOOD-CT-2004-506579).