European Risk Forum releases Precautionary Principle Study

The European Risk Forum announced on 10 November the release of its study “The Precautionary Principle: Application and Way Forward”. The study provides an overview on the history of the Precautionary Principle, shows how it is used and interpreted in various jurisdictions, and how the Precautionary Principle is applied in various EU institutions. It also examines how the Precautionary Principle has been considered by the European Courts in the judgment of various cases. The study closes with some recommendations clarifying that the EU institutions should integrate the Commission Communication on the Precautionary Principle with other guidelines on risk assessment and impact analysis. It further recommends that applications of the Precautionary Principle should specify the degree of scientific uncertainty and be both provisional and proportionate to the potential risk.

The document can be downloaded here.