The Precautionary Principle and Harm Reduction
October 10, 2025 by thefirebreak.org
The Precautionary Principle and Harm Reduction
Precaution is essential for safety, but when translated into regulatory concepts by the European Commission, conflicts arise. The Gee Definition shifts the burden of proof for safety onto producers, hindering innovation. This approach, applied to GMOs and tobacco harm reduction products, leads to bans despite strong evidence of safety. Activists push a hazard-based approach, impacting regulations like the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive. The Commission's confusion between the precautionary principle and risk management hinders the acceptance of harm reduction alternatives. A shift towards understanding and implementing basic risk management concepts is crucial for rational policymaking.
