IFT Daily News | February 7, 2000
The European Commission adopted on Feb. 2 a Communication on the use of the precautionary principle. The Communication explains how the Commission plans to apply the principle and to establish guidelines for its application. The Communication underlines that the precautionary principle forms part of a structured approach to the analysis of risk, as well as being relevant to risk management. It covers cases where scientific evidence is insufficient, inconclusive or uncertain and preliminary scientific evaluation indicates that there are reasonable grounds for concern that the potentially dangerous effects on the environment, human, animal or plant health may be inconsistent with the high level of protection chosen by the European Union. The Communication also qualifies the measures that can be taken under the precautionary principle. Where action is deemed necessary, measures should be proportionate to the chosen level of protection, nondiscriminatory in their application and consistent with similar measures already taken, according to the Commission.IFT Daily News:
