The precautionary principle: Making managerial decisions on GMOs is difficult
The precautionary approach of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, if incorporated into legislation of countries as a precautionary principle (PP), could cause great difficulty in decision‑making on genetically modified organisms. No consensus seems to be possible on the interpretation of the PP, as...
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doaj-e30b2418b0fe48e3a88c47338e9713d72020-11-25T02:51:14ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892015-03-011113/41910.17159/sajs.2015/201302553554The precautionary principle: Making managerial decisions on GMOs is difficultFredrika W. Jansen van Rijssen0Jacobus N. Eloff1E. Jane Morris2Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaParaclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaSchool of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United KingdomThe precautionary approach of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, if incorporated into legislation of countries as a precautionary principle (PP), could cause great difficulty in decision‑making on genetically modified organisms. No consensus seems to be possible on the interpretation of the PP, as responsibility often is passed on to political decision‑making and, eventually, to court rulings. A case study on the assessment of possible unintended effects of endogenous allergens illustrates the complexity decision‑makers may experience. We review the descriptions of the PP and the debate on the interpretation and conclusions that a number of authors have come to, as a step closer to a solution in decision‑making. South Africa may have to consider the PP in the broader context of its food security needs, which would require improved communication as an additional step in the process of risk analysis.https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3554genetically modified organismsSouth Africarisk assessmentendogenous allergens |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Fredrika W. Jansen van Rijssen Jacobus N. Eloff E. Jane Morris |
spellingShingle |
Fredrika W. Jansen van Rijssen Jacobus N. Eloff E. Jane Morris The precautionary principle: Making managerial decisions on GMOs is difficult South African Journal of Science genetically modified organisms South Africa risk assessment endogenous allergens |
author_facet |
Fredrika W. Jansen van Rijssen Jacobus N. Eloff E. Jane Morris |
author_sort |
Fredrika W. Jansen van Rijssen |
title |
The precautionary principle: Making managerial decisions on GMOs is difficult |
title_short |
The precautionary principle: Making managerial decisions on GMOs is difficult |
title_full |
The precautionary principle: Making managerial decisions on GMOs is difficult |
title_fullStr |
The precautionary principle: Making managerial decisions on GMOs is difficult |
title_full_unstemmed |
The precautionary principle: Making managerial decisions on GMOs is difficult |
title_sort |
precautionary principle: making managerial decisions on gmos is difficult |
publisher |
Academy of Science of South Africa |
series |
South African Journal of Science |
issn |
1996-7489 |
publishDate |
2015-03-01 |
description |
The precautionary approach of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, if incorporated into legislation of countries as a precautionary principle (PP), could cause great difficulty in decision‑making on genetically modified organisms. No consensus seems to be possible on the interpretation of the PP, as responsibility often is passed on to political decision‑making and, eventually, to court rulings. A case study on the assessment of possible unintended effects of endogenous allergens illustrates the complexity decision‑makers may experience. We review the descriptions of the PP and the debate on the interpretation and conclusions that a number of authors have come to, as a step closer to a solution in decision‑making. South Africa may have to consider the PP in the broader context of its food security needs, which would require improved communication as an additional step in the process of risk analysis. |
topic |
genetically modified organisms South Africa risk assessment endogenous allergens |
url |
https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/3554 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT fredrikawjansenvanrijssen theprecautionaryprinciplemakingmanagerialdecisionsongmosisdifficult AT jacobusneloff theprecautionaryprinciplemakingmanagerialdecisionsongmosisdifficult AT ejanemorris theprecautionaryprinciplemakingmanagerialdecisionsongmosisdifficult AT fredrikawjansenvanrijssen precautionaryprinciplemakingmanagerialdecisionsongmosisdifficult AT jacobusneloff precautionaryprinciplemakingmanagerialdecisionsongmosisdifficult AT ejanemorris precautionaryprinciplemakingmanagerialdecisionsongmosisdifficult |
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