The role of the precautionary principle in European chemicals regulation
BeeCaution and the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (SVT) welcomes you to a seminar on the precautionary principle in European chemical regulation.
Main content
The precautionary principle has many critics. Considered jointly, the critics appear to agree that Europe suffers from excessive precaution, and that an uncritical application of the principle threatens both Europe’s competitiveness and fundamental legal principle. We find this observation difficult to square with current responses to the on-going climate and nature crises.
BeeCaution and SVT invited Christina Rudén, professor of toxicology and regulatory ecotoxicology at the University of Stockholm, to present the role of the precautionary principle in the European chemicals regulation (REACH).
Ketil Hylland, professor at the Department of Biosciences at the University of Oslo, was invited to give a comment. His research areas are toxicology, aquatic ecotoxicology, in vitro toxicology and marine ecology.
Which forms and sources of knowledge are prioritised, which are not, and which knowledge gaps persist? The design of the assessment and authorisation procedures has direct implications for societal capacity to make use of the precautionary principle in the face of uncertain but plausible threats to human health or the environment. What is to be done?
The seminar was held in English on Zoom.
Tentative schedule
10:00-10:15: Welcome and introduction by the SVT
10:15-10:45 Christina Rudén
10:45-11:00 Invited comment by Ketil Hylland
11:00-11:15 Break
11:15-12:00 Q&A
12:00-13:00 Open café*
* For anyone interested, it will be possible to continue the discussion at the "café."
