ISBN : 9782296049031
THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
Peter Saunders
While there is no definitive formulation of the precautionary principle, there is far more agreement about it than many commentators, especially its opponents, would have us believe. If we look carefully at the various statements, especially those that appear in government documents rather than in academic discussions, we see it really consists oftwo parts. The first, which is common to all formulations, is that the principle is to be applied when (a) there is scientific evidence for a threat to the environment or to health, but (b) the evidence, while sound, is not conclusive. This is crucial: there must be a prima facie scientific case for a threat before the precautionary principle can apply. If there is, we do not have to wait until we are certain about the hazard before we can take measures to mitigate or avoid it. If the evidence is sufficient to raise concern, then we should carry out a careful assessment of the situation and, if in the light of this we judge this to be appropriate, we should adopt measures to prevent damage. We are permitted to take action on the basis of evidence that is not conclusive, but we are not obliged to. What, if anything, we actually do is a matter for judgment on the basis of the evidence that we have in front of us.