Precautionary Principle

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Precautionary Principle
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What is PP?

• Is there an agreed upon definition?
• Beyond cliché and colloquialisms
• Look before you leap
• better safe than sorry
• Up to 14 different versions
• Burden of proof shifted
• Applied when consequences are unknown or
  unpredictable and possibly dire
• Not enough information for Risk Assessment
• minimum allowable harm vs minimum possible
  harm

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What is PP?

• Commonly invoked with issues related to human
  health or the environment
• Wingspread Statement (1998) is commonly used as
  an acceptable definition by proponents
• Where an activity raises threats of harm to the
  environment or human health, precautionary
  measures should be taken even if some cause and
  effect relationships are not fully established
  scientifically.
• In this context the proponent of an activity,
  rather than the public bears the burden of proof.
  
• The process of applying the Precautionary
  Principle must be open, informed and democratic,
  and must include potentially affected parties. It
  must also involve an examination of the full
  range of alternatives, including no action.

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What is PP?

• In general, strong and weak versions
• Strong
• Requires absolute proof of safety before moving
  forward
• Critics argue no new technology would ever meet
  standards
• GMO activists
• Weak/lenient
• Greater flexibility and compromise
• Allows for innovation to minimize risk while
  maximizing benefits
• Allows for some cost/benefit
• Kyoto Protocol

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Burden of Proof

• Reasonable certainty of no harm
• Precautionary Principle
• Lack of certainty of harm
• Bodies-in-the-street principle
• Post market regulation tends to be less
  precautionary than Pre-market approval

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Guidelines for Using PP

• Proportionality
• Goal for risk level should not be zero
• Measures should be proportional to desired level
  of protection
• Nondiscrimination
• Similar situations should be treated similarly
• Consistency
• Measures taken for new situations should be
  comparable to similar situations where scientific
  data is available
• Cost/Benefit of Action/No Action
• Either economic analysis or other method
• Provisional on scientific developments
• Measures should be provisional
• More data should always be sought
• Foster et al. 2000

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Controversial or Common Sense

• Critics argue has been used inappropriately
• Trade barriers
• Irrational risk choices
• Driving vs. pollution risk
• Already used in some form
• Product testing
• New drugs
• Food safety regulations
• Some risks sufficiently dire despite low
  probability?
• GMOs
• Mad Cow

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Controversial or Common Sense

• Peterson (2007) argues
• PP would rule out all clinical trials, mobile
  phones, and GM foods
• Focuses on risks alone offers no implications
  for what ought to be done
• Qualitative refuses to assign expected utility
  to outcomes
• Incompatible with rational decision making
• Suggests it is better as an epistemic principle
• Assume dangerous until evidence of safety
• Believing something dangerous when safe is rarely
  catastrophic

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PP and Risk Aversion

• Meaning of Precaution- Biological Invaders
• Ecologist- Prevention activities first, then
  control if necessary
• Economist- Risk aversion maximize welfare given
  a set of risk reduction technologies
• Control measures (benefits certain)
• Prevention measures (uncertain benefits)
• Finnoff et al. 2007

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PP and Risk AversionBiological Invasion

• The more risk averse manager favors control over
  prevention
• Outcome per dollar spent is more certain
• Societal consequences of this are higher risk of
  invasion
• Economic risk neutrality accepts and accounts
  for scientific uncertainty
• May be most consistent with PP
• Finnoff et al. 2007

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PP Discussion topic

• Are Anti-microbial Soaps Breeding Tougher Bugs?
  (Washington Post Nov. 13th 2007)
• Triclosan common additive to soaps, cleansers,
  plastics, sponges, clothing
• Health benefits have not been demonstrated
  (compared with traditional soap)
• Possible negative health consequences
• Antibiotic resistance
• Weaker immune systems and increased allergies in
  kids
• Alter beneficial flora

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PP Discussion topic

• Anti-microbial soaps (cont)
• Negative (health) consequences also not
  substantiated
• Resistance has been shown in labs no evidence
  for your kitchen
• Possible environmental consequences
• Anti-microbial ingredients found in 60 of NA
  streams and rivers (USGS 2002)
• May also be a source of dioxin
• Triclosan chlorine sunlight dioxin

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PP Discussion topic

• Anti-microbial soaps (cont)
• We have a widely used product with
• Uncertain benefits
• Possible, yet uncertain risks
• What, if anything, should be done?
• And who should have the burden to prove their
  case?

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References

• Carter, L. (2007). "A case for a duty to feed the
  hungry GM plants and the third world." Science
  and Engineering Ethics 13(1) 69-82.
• Finnoff, D., J. F. Shogren, et al. (2007). "Take
  a risk Preferring prevention over control of
  biological invaders." Ecological Economics 62(2)
  216-222.
• Foster, K. R., P. Vecchia, et al. (2000). "Risk
  management - Science and the precautionary
  principle." Science 288(5468) 979-981.
• Goudey, R. (2007). "Do statistical inferences
  allowing three alternative decisions give better
  feedback for environmentally precautionary
  decision-making?" Journal of Environmental
  Management 85(2) 338-344.
• Mishori, R. (2007). Are antimicrobial soaps
  breeding tougher bugs? Washington Post November
  13th, 2007
• Peterson, M. (2007). "The precautionary principle
  should not be used as a basis for
  decision-making." EMBO Reports 8(4) 305-308.