Update of risk assessments of main marine biotoxins in the European Union

Professor Ragnar Lofstedt has written a very interesting and thought provoking paper “Risk versus Hazard Assessment – How to Regulate in the 21st Century”. The paper reflects upon the advantages and disadvantages of using risk assessments compared to hazard assessments of chemical compounds. It investigates the debate that has been going on in recent years in Europe between regulators, politicians, NGOs and industry on the subject.This commentary will discuss some of the assumptions that the analysis rests on as well as some of the conclusions that are presented in the paper.First, the commentary will discuss the definition and critique of the “risk assessment” approach that Lofstedt presents. The commentary here concludes that Lofstedt's analysis of risk assessment does not take sufficiently into account the fact that risks can not always be calculated in an exact way because uncertainty rather than certainty is the condition when analysing chemicals.

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Advances in identifying GM plants: current frame of the detection of transgenic GMOs

10.19103/as.2021.0097.04 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 43-86

Author(s):

Yves Bertheau ◽

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Random Mutagenesis ◽

Epigenetic Modifications ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

Matrix Approach ◽

The European Union ◽

Current Frame ◽

Detection Techniques ◽

Gm Plants ◽

The Matrix

Transgenic GMOs were welcomed in the 1990s due to the difficulties distinguishing genetic and epigenetic modifications from random mutagenesis and their ability to insert new nucleic sequences more rapidly but still randomly. Their marketing in Europe has been accompanied by health and environmental risk assessments, specific monitoring and traceability procedures to preserve the free choice of consumers and allow the coexistence of different supply chains. This chapter reviews the regulations, detection techniques, strategies and standards that have been put in place in the European Union since 1996 to ensure the analytical traceability of these GMOs. The capacity of the matrix approach, initially targeted at transgenic GMOs, to trace other types of GMOs is discussed in an accompanying chapter.

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Regulations and Risk Assessments on the Ecotoxicological Impact from the Use of Plant Protection Products in the European Union — an Industry Viewpoint

Archives of Toxicology - Applied Toxicology: Approaches Through Basic Science ◽

10.1007/978-3-642-60682-3_16 ◽

1997 ◽

pp. 177-185

Author(s):

Nazim Punja

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Plant Protection ◽

Plant Protection Products ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

The European Union

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Regulations and Risk Assessments of the Ecotoxicological Impact from the Use of Plant Protection Products in the European Union

Regulation for Chemical Safety in Europe: Analysis, Comment and Criticism ◽

10.1007/978-94-011-5316-4_10 ◽

1998 ◽

pp. 157-169

Author(s):

Nazim Punja

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Plant Protection ◽

Plant Protection Products ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

The European Union

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PEELING THE ORANGE: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE LEGALITY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES REGIME AGAINST CITRUS PRODUCE FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Obiter ◽

10.17159/obiter.v37i3.11514 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Clive Vinti ◽

Loyiso Makapela

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

European Union ◽

Scientific Evidence ◽

Black Spot ◽

Scientific Basis ◽

Critical Assessment ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

The European Union ◽

Scientific Certainty ◽

Phytosanitary Measures

This article examines the legality of the European Union’s sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regime implemented against citrus produce from South Africa. In essence, South Africa contends that the European Union’s SPS measures lack a technical and scientific basis in violation of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. It is clear from the Pest Risk Assessments discussed in this article, in accordance with the requirements of the relevant articles of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, that the likelihood of Citrus Black Spot establishing itself and spreading in the European Union is miniscule. This article concludes that the European Union SPS regime is neither based on sufficient scientific evidence nor scientific certainty; rather, it is based on speculation and conjecture, both of which are never grounds for establishing an appropriate level of protection.

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