A critical appraisal of the UNESCO version of the Precautionary Principle

Bjørn Myskja; Anne Ingeborg Myhr

A critical appraisal of the UNESCO version of the Precautionary Principle

In: Ethics and the politics of food

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Bjørn Myskja

Bjørn Myskja ¹NTNU, Department of Philosophy, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway, bjorn.myskja@hf.ntnu.no

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Anne Ingeborg Myhr

Anne Ingeborg Myhr ²Norwegian Institute of Gene Ecology, The Research park, N-9294 Tromsø, Norway, annem@fagmed.uit.no

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 197–202

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086865758_033

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A recent report by an UNESCO expert group on the Precautionary Principle suggests a new science-based approach for implementation of the principle. We intend to explore the advantages and disadvantages of this precautionary approach to the issue of DNA vaccines in aquaculture. Introduction of DNA vaccines hold promises for protection against diseases caused by pathogens. In aquaculture it is estimated a 10% loss due to problems of infections by various pathogens and another concern is the detrimental effects of the use of antibiotics. DNA vaccines may provide a technological solution to these problems. However, there are reasonable concerns that the benefits associated with distribution of DNA vaccines may also be accompanied with risks to environment and health. There is wide agreement that full certainty about negative and positive consequences of the use of genetic engineering in the environment is unattainable prior to fullscale employment of the technology. The complexity of natural and social systems involved implies that the information acquired in quantified risk assessments, however valuable, must be inadequate for evidence-based decisions. One controversial strategy for dealing with this kind of uncertainty concerning harm is the Precautionary Principle. We will argue that the UNESCO version of the Precautionary Principle represents a significant improvement compared to earlier attempts. We intend to highlight the advantages and disadvantages with the UNESCO version compared to other versions of the Precautionary Principle, using introduction of DNA vaccines as a case study. In addition, we discuss whether a combined scientific and ethical analysis that does not involve the concept of precaution will provide a sufficient basis for sound decision-making in areas of scientific uncertainty.

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Ethics and the politics of food

Preprints of the 6th Congress of the European Society for Agricultural and Food Ethics

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086865758

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 10 Oct 2006

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- Life Sciences

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A critical appraisal of the UNESCO version of the Precautionary Principle

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Ethics and the politics of food

Preprints of the 6th Congress of the European Society for Agricultural and Food Ethics

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