Precautionary principle

The precautionary principle is a moral and political principle which states that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action. [Raffensberger C. & J. Tickner (eds.) (1999) Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle. Island Press, Washington, DC] The principle implies that there is a responsibility to intervene and protect the public from exposure to harm where scientific investigation discovers a plausible risk in the course of having screened for other suspected causes. The protections that mitigate suspected risks can be relaxed only if further scientific findings emerge that more robustly support an alternative explanation. In some legal systems, as the European Union Law, the precautionary principle is also a general and compulsory principle of law. [Recuerda, Miguel A. (2006)Risk and Reason in the European Union Law, 5 European Food and Feed Law Review]

Formulations of the precautionary principle

There are many definitions of the precautionary principle. Precaution is caution in advance, ‘caution practised in the context of uncertainty’, or even more succinctly, informed prudence. All definitions have two key elements.

# an expression of a need by decision-makers to anticipate harm before it occurs. Within this element lies an implicit reversal of the onus of proof: under the precautionary principle it is the responsibility of an activity proponent to establish that the proposed activity will not (or is very unlikely to) result in significant harm.
# the establishment of an obligation, if the level of harm may be high, for action to prevent or minimise such harm even when the absence of scientific certainty makes it difficult to predict the likelihood of harm occurring, or the level of harm should it occur. The need for control measures increases with both the level of possible harm and the degree of uncertainty.

The 1998 Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle summarizes the principle this way: "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically." (The Wingspread Conference on the Precautionary Principle was convened by the Science and Environmental Health Network).

The February 2, 2000 European Commission Communication on the Precautionary Principle notes: "The precautionary principle applies where scientific evidence is insufficient, inconclusive or uncertain and preliminary scientific evaluation indicates that there are reasonable grounds for concern that the potentially dangerous effects on the environment, human, animal or plant health may be inconsistent with the high level of protection chosen by the EU".

The January 29, 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety says: "Lack of scientific certainty due to insufficient relevant scientific information . . . shall not prevent the Party of import, in order to avoid or minimize such potential adverse effects, from taking a decision, as appropriate, with regard to the import of the living modified organism in question."

It is important to emphasize that although this principle operates in the context of scientific uncertainty, it is considered by its proponents to be applicable only when, on the basis of the best scientific advice available, there is good reason to believe that harmful effects might occur.

The precautionary principle is most often applied in the context of the impact of human actions on the environment and human health, as both involve complex systems where the consequences of actions may be unpredictable.

As applied to environmental policy, the precautionary principle stipulates that for practices such as the release of radiation or toxins or massive deforestation the burden of proof lies with the advocates. [http://www.biotech-info.net/rachels_586.html] Concerning potential risks to public health, examples of cases in which the precautionary principle has been advocated (but not always accepted) are: the commercialization of genetically modified foods, the use of growth hormones in cattle raising, measures to prevent the "mad cow" disease, health claims linked to phthalates in PVC toys, among many others.

An important element of the precautionary principle is that its most meaningful applications pertain to those that are potentially irreversible, for example where biodiversity may be reduced. With respect to bans on substances like mercury in thermometers, freon in refrigeration, or even carbon dioxide exhaust from automobile engines and power plants, it implies:

The concept includes an implicit ethical responsibility towards maintaining the integrity of natural systems, and acknowledges the fallibility of human understanding.

Some environmental commentators take a more stringent interpretation of the precautionary principle, stating that proponents of a new potentially harmful technology must show the new technology is without major harm before the new technology is used. [European Environmental Bureau. [http://www.eeb.org/publication/1999/eeb_position_on_the_precautionar.htm EEB Position on the Precautionary Principle.] December 1999.] [Science and Environmental Health Network. [http://www.mindfully.org/Precaution/Precautionary-Principle-Common-Sense.htm The Precautionary Principle: A Common Sense Way to Protect Public Health and the Environment.] January 2000.]

Origins and theory

The formal concept evolved out of the German socio-legal tradition in the 1930s, centering on the concept of good household management. [http://www.agobservatory.org/library.cfm?refID=30236] In German the concept is "Vorsorgeprinzip", which translates into English as "precaution principle".

Many of the concepts underpinning the precautionary principle pre-date the term's inception. For example, the essence of the principle is captured in a number of cautionary aphorisms such as "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", "better safe than sorry", and "look before you leap". [http://www.biotech-info.net/rachels_586.html] The precautionary principle may also be interpreted as the evolution of the ancient medical principle of "first, do no harm" to apply to institutions and institutional decision-making processes rather than individuals.

The precautionary principle is in some ways an expansion of the English common law concept of ‘duty of care’ originating in the decisions of the judge Lord Esher in the late 1800s. According to Lord Esher: “Whenever one person is by circumstances placed in such a position with regard to another that everyone of ordinary sense who did think, would at once recognise that if he did not use ordinary care and skill in his own conduct with regard to those circumstances, he would cause danger or injury to the person, or property of the other, a duty arises to use ordinary care and skill to avoid such danger”. This statement clearly contains elements of foresight and responsibility, but does not refer to a lack of certainty, as the word “would” is used rather than “might”, or “could”. The other important difference is that the duty of care applies only to people and property, not to the environment.

In economics, the precautionary principle has been analysed in terms of the effect on rational decision-making of the interaction of irreversibility and uncertainty. Authors such as Epstein (1980) [Epstein, L.S. (1980), "Decision-making and the temporal resolution of uncertainty", "International Economic Review" 21(2):269-283.] and Arrow and Fischer (1974) [Arrow, K.J. and Fischer, A.C. (1974), "Environmental preservation, uncertainty and irreversibility", "Quarterly Journal of Economics" 88(2):312-319.] show that irreversibility of possible future consequences creates a quasi-option effect which should induce a "risk-neutral" society to favor current decisions that allow for more flexibility in the future. Gollier et al (2000) [Gollier, Christian, Bruno Jullien & Nicolas Treich. "Scientific Progress and Irreversibility: An Economic Interpretation of the ‘Precautionary Principle’", "Journal of Public Economics" 75(2):229-253. (2000)] conclude that "more scientific uncertainty as to the distribution of a future riskndash that is, a larger variability of beliefsndash should induce Society to take stronger prevention measures today."

Application

The application of the precautionary principle is hampered by both lack of political will, as well as the wide range of interpretations placed on it. One study identified 14 different formulations of the principle in treaties and nontreaty declarations. [http://www.biotech-info.net/science_and_PP.html] R.B. Stewart (2002) [Stewart, R.B. "Environmental Regulatory Decision Making Under Uncertainty" "Research in Law and Economics" Vol. 20, pp.76 (2002) reduced the precautionary principle to four basic versions:

# Scientific uncertainty should not automatically preclude regulation of activities that pose a potential risk of significant harm (Non-Preclusion PP).
# Regulatory controls should incorporate a margin of safety; activities should be limited below the level at which no adverse effect has been observed or predicted (Margin of Safety PP).
# Activities that present an uncertain potential for significant harm should be subject to best technology available requirements to minimize the risk of harm unless the proponent of the activity shows that they present no appreciable risk of harm (BAT PP).
# Activities that present an uncertain potential for significant harm should be prohibited unless the proponent of the activity shows that it presents no appreciable risk of harm (Prohibitory PP).

In deciding how to apply the principle, analysis may use a cost-benefit analysis that factors in both the opportunity cost of not acting, and the option value of waiting for further information before acting. One of the difficulties of the application of the principle in modern policy-making is that there is often an irreducible conflict between different interests, so that the debate necessarily involves politics.

International agreements and declarations

The World Charter for Nature, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1982, was the first international endorsement of the precautionary principle. The principle was implemented in an international treaty as early as the 1987 Montreal Protocol, and among other international treaties and declarations [http://www.biotech-info.net/treaties_and_agreements.html] is reflected in the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (signed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development).

"Principle" vs. "approach"

No introduction to the precautionary principle would be complete without brief reference to the difference between the precautionary principle and the precautionary approach. Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration 1992 states that: “in order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall be not used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.” As Garcia (1995) pointed out, “the wording, largely similar to that of the principle, is subtly different in that: (1) it recognizes that there may be differences in local capabilities to apply the approach, and (2) it calls for cost-effectiveness in applying the approach, e.g., taking economic and social costs into account.” The ‘approach’ is generally considered a softening of the ‘principle’.

European Commission

On 2 February 2000, the European Commission issued a Communication on the precautionary principle, [http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/library/pub/pub07_en.pdf] in which it adopted a procedure for the application of this concept, but without giving a detailed definition of it. Earlier, the Maastricht Treaty adopted the principle as a fundamental element of environmental policy: [http://europa.eu.int/constitution/en/ptoc46_en.htm Article III-233] of the draft Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe [http://europa.eu.int/futurum/constitution/part3/title3/chapter3/section5/index_en.htm] :

:Union policy on the environment shall aim at a high level of protection taking into account the diversity of situations in the various regions of the Union. It shall be based on the precautionary principle and on the principles that preventive action should be taken, that environmental damage should as a priority be rectified at source and that the polluter should pay.

After the adoption of the European Commission's Communication on the precautionary principle, the principle has come to inform much EU policy, including that in areas beyond that of environmental policy. It is implemented, for example, in the EU food law and also affects, among others, policies relating to consumer protection, trade and research, and technological development. While a comprehensive definition of the precautionary principle was never formally adopted by the EU, a working definition and implementation strategy for the EU context has been proposed by Rene von Schomberg in Fisher et al. (2006): [Fisher, Elizabeth, Judith Jones & Rene von Schomberg (eds). "Implementing the Precautionary Principle: Perspectives and Prospects", Cheltenham, UK and Northampton, MA, US: Edward Elgar (2006)]

"Where, following an assessment of available scientific information, there are reasonable grounds for concern for the possibility of adverse effects but scientific uncertainty persists, provisional risk management measures based on a broad cost/benefit analysis whereby priority will be given to human health and the environment, necessary to ensure the chosen high level of protection in the Community and proportionate to this level of protection, may be adopted, pending further scientific information for a more comprehensive risk assessment, without having to wait until the reality and seriousness of those adverse effects become fully apparent".

USA

On July, 18, 2005, the City of San Francisco passed a [http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=14134&sid=5 Precautionary Principle Purchasing ordinance] , which requires the city to weigh the environmental and health costs of its $600 million in annual purchases – for everything from cleaning supplies to computers. Members of the Bay Area Working Group on the Precautionary Principle including the Breast Cancer Fund, helped bring this to fruition.

Australia

The most important Australian court case so far, due to its exceptionally detailed consideration of the precautionary principle, is Telstra Corporation Limited v Hornsby Shire Council. The case was heard in the New South Wales Land and Environment Court under Justice CJ Preston (24 April 2006).

The Principle was summarised by reference to the NSW "Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991", which itself provides a good definition of the principle:

"If there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reasoning for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. In the application of the principle… decisions should be guided by:(i) careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment; and(ii) an assessment of risk-weighted consequence of various options".

The most significant points of Justice Preston's decision are the following findings:
# The principle and accompanying need to take precautionary measures is "triggered" when two prior conditions exist: a threat of serious or irreversible damage, and scientific uncertainty as to the extent of possible damage.
# Once both are satisfied, "a proportionate precautionary measure may be taken to avert the anticipated threat of environmental damage, but it should be proportionate."
# The threat of serious or irreversible damage should invoke consideration of five factors: the scale of threat (local, regional etc); the perceived value of the threatened environment; whether the possible impacts are manageable; the level of public concern, and whether there is a rational or scientific basis for the concern.
# The consideration of the level of scientific uncertainty should involves factors which may include: what would constitute sufficient evidence; the level and kind of uncertainty; and the potential to reduce uncertainty.
# The principle shifts the burden of proof. If the principle applies, the burden shifts: "a decision maker must assume the threat of serious or irreversible environmental damage is… a reality [and] the burden of showing this threat… is negligible reverts to the proponent…"
# The precautionary principle invokes preventative action: "the principle permits the taking of preventative measures without having to wait until the reality and seriousness of the threat become fully known".
# “The principle should not be used to try to avoid all risks."
# The precautionary measures appropriate will depend on the combined effect of "the degree of seriousness and irreversibility of the threat and the degree of uncertainty… the more significant and uncertain the threat, the greater…the precaution required". “…measures should be adopted… proportionate to the potential threats".

Corporate

The Body Shop International, a UK-based cosmetics company, recently included the Precautionary Principle in their [http://www.thebodyshopinternational.com/NR/rdonlyres/D7F2A9D1-416A-47B8-8BC3-1E858A37F81C/0/BSI_Chemicals_Strategy.pdf. 2006 Chemicals Strategy.]

Environment/health

Fields typically concerned by the precautionary principle are the possibility of:
* Global warming or other abrupt climate change
* Extinction of species
* Introduction of new and potentially harmful products into the environment, threatening biodiversity (e.g., genetically modified organisms)
* Threats to public health, due to new diseases and techniques (e.g., AIDS transmitted through blood transfusion)
* Persistent or acute pollution (asbestos, endocrine disruptors...)
* Food safety (e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)
* Other new biosafety issues (e.g., artificial life, new molecules)
* Threat of an uncontrolled insane future superintelligence

The precautionary principle is often applied to biological fields because changes cannot be easily contained and have the potential of being global. The principle has less relevance to contained fields such as aeronautics, where the few people undergoing risk have given informed consent (e.g., a test pilot). In the case of technological innovation, containment of impact tends to be more difficult if that technology can self-replicate. Bill Joy emphasized the dangers of replicating genetic technology, nanotechnology, and robotic technology in his article in "Wired Magazine", "Why the future doesn't need us", though he does not specifically cite the precautionary principle. The application of the principle can be seen in the public policy of requiring pharmaceutical companies to carry out clinical trials to show that new medications are safe.

Oxford based philosopher Nick Bostrom discusses the idea of a future powerful superintelligence, and the risks that we/it face should it attempt to gain atomic level control of matter. [Nick Bostrom 2003 Ethical Issues in Advanced Artificial Intelligence - section 2] .

Application of the principle modifies the status of innovation and risk assessment: it is not the risk that must be avoided or amended, but a potential risk that must be prevented. Thus, in the case of regulation of scientific research, there is a third party beyond the scientist and the regulator: the consumer.

In [http://www.crnano.org/precautionary.htm an analysis] concerning application of the precautionary principle to nanotechnology, Chris Phoenix and Mike Treder posit that there are "two forms" of the principle, which they call the "strict form" and the "active form". The former "requires inaction when action might pose a risk", while the latter means "choosing less risky alternatives when they are available, and [...] taking responsibility for potential risks."

Change of laws controlling societal norms

Associate Justice Martha Sosman's dissent [http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/same-sex.htm] in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, the decision of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts that mandated legalization of same sex marriage, is an example of the precautionary principle as applied by analogy to changes in culturally significant social policy. She describes the myriad societal structures that rest on the institution of marriage, and points out the uncertainty of how they will be affected by this re-definition. The disagreement of the majority illustrates the difficulty of reaching agreement on the value of competing perspectives. Although the Goodridge case involved interpreting the state constitution, the substantive canon in Anglo-American jurisprudence that derogations of fundamental societal values should be narrowly construed [http://books.google.com/books?id=Cls8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA389] is analogous to the precautionary principle favoring a statutory interpretation that comports with rather than damages the common law and established norms. See, for example, "Holy Trinity Church v. United States", 143 U.S. 457 (1892).

Resource management

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thumb|right|350px|The_Traffic_Light_colour_convention,_showing_the_concept_of_Harvest Control Rule (HCR), specifying when a rebuilding plan is mandatory in terms of precautionary and limit reference points for spawning biomass and fishing mortality rate.] Several natural resources like fish stocks are now managed by precautionary approach, through Harvest Control Rules (HCR) based upon the precautionary principle. The figure indicates how the principle is implemented in the cod fisheries management proposed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

In classifying endangered species, the precautionary principle means that if there is doubt about an animal's or plant's exact , the one that would cause the strongest protective measures to be realized should be chosen. Thus, a species like the Silvery Pigeon that might exist in considerable numbers and simply be under-recorded or might just as probably be long extinct is not classified as "data deficient" or "extinct" (which both do not require any protective action to be taken), but as "critically endangered" (the conservation status that confers the need for the strongest protection), whereas the increasingly rare, but probably not yet endangered Emerald Starling is classified as "data deficient", because there is urgent need for research to clarify its status rather than for conservation action to save it from extinction.Fact|date=February 2007

Criticisms

Threshold of plausibility

The Wingspread Statement version of the PP takes the form "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically". Does mankind need a minimal threshold of scientific certainty or plausibility before undertaking preventative action? Normally, no minimal threshold of plausibility is specified as a “triggering” condition, so that even the slightest indication that a particular product or activity might possibly produce some harm to human health or the environment will suffice to invoke the principle. And just as often no other preventative action is contemplated than an outright ban on the incriminated product or activityDebating the Precautionary Principle: “Guilty until Proven Innocent” or “Innocent until Proven Guilty”? Henk van den Belt Plant Physiol. 2003 132: 1122–1126. [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=526264] ] .

Negative consequences of poor application

In some applications, the Precautionary Principle may cause more hatred than it alleviates. This is because people are more acutely aware of negative changes than they are positive changes. Because of this effect, a technology which brings great advantages may be ruled out by the Precautionary Principle because of its potential for severe negative impacts, leaving the overriding positive benefits unrealized.Sunstein, Cass R. [http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv25n4/v25n4-9.pdf The Paralyzing Principle: Does the Precautionary Principle Point us in any Helpful Direction?] Regulation, Winter 2002-2003, The Cato Institute.]

The Hazardous Air Pollutant provisions in the 1990 amendments to the U.S. Clean Air Act are an example of the Precautionary Principle where the onus is now on showing a listed compound is harmless. Under this rule no distinction is made between those Hazardous Air Pollutants that provide a higher or lower risk and there is a perverse incentive to use less well studied agents that are not on the existing list. [Goldstein, BD & R.S. Carruth. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15212219?dopt=AbstractPlus Implications of the Precautionary Principle: is it a threat to science?] Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2004;17(1):153-61 (2004).]

Perspective

* Critics of the principle argue that it is impractical, since every implementation of a technology carries some risk of negative consequences."Paralyzing Principle" - sourced above]
**Proponents counter that the principle is not an absolute rule, it is a conceptual tool to clarify arguments, and especially an issue of where the burden of proof lies.Fact|date=December 2007

* Critics also claim that proponents are sometimes selective in their use of the precautionary principlendash applying it for political reasons, rather than scientific reasons. They note that the selective application of principles in government is considered a fundamental form of injustice, which is why selective enforcement is considered an abuse of power.
**Proponents counter that acting with insufficient knowledge of risk (e.g., spreading new lifeforms into the biosphere) can also be socially unfair, costly, and detrimental when applied to complex environmental choices. They note that the reckless application of technology is a worse abuse of power.Fact|date=December 2007

* A well-cited summary of some representative objections to the precautionary principle are described in a Reason article by Ronald Bailey [Bailey, Ronald. [http://www.reason.com/news/show/30977.html Precautionary Tale] . Reason. April, 1999] which, using the Wingspread consensus as a starting point, argues the possibilities for misapplication of the principle.

References

Other publications

* Arrow, K.J., et al. (1996), "Is There a Role for Cost-Benefit Analysis in Environmental, Health, and Safety Regulation?" "Science", No. 272.
* European Commission, Communication from the Commission on the Precautionary Principle, Brusells (2000).
* European Union (2002), European Union consolidated versions of the treaty on European Union and of the treaty establishing the European community, Official Journal of the European Union, C325, 24 December 2002, Title XIX, article 174, paragraph 2 and 3.
* Greenpeace, "Safe trade in the 21 Century, Greenpeace comprehensive proposals and recommendations for the 4th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation" pp. 8-9 [http://archive.greenpeace.org/politics/wto/doha_report.pdf]
* Harremoës, Poul, David Gee, Malcolm MacGarvin, Andy Stirling, Jane Keys, Brian Wynne, Sofia Guedes Vaz. "The Precautionary Principle in the 20th Century: Late Lessons from Early Warnings", Earthscan, 2002. Review, "Nature", 419, Oct 2002, 433
* O’Riordan, T. and Cameron, J. (1995), "Interpreting the Precautionary Principle", London: Earthscan Publications
* Raffensberger C, Tickner J (eds.) (1999) Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle. Island Press, Washington, DC.
* Recuerda Girela, M.A., (2006), Seguridad Alimentaria y Nuevos Alimentos, Régimen jurídico-administrativo. Thomson-Aranzadi, Cizur Menor.
* Recuerda Girela, M.A., (2006), "Risk and Reason in the European Union Law", European Food and Feed Law Review, 5.
* Ricci PF, Rice D, Ziagos J, Cox LA Jr. "Precaution, uncertainty and causation in environmental decisions." Environ Int. 2003 Apr; 29(1):1-19. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12605931&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=5&itool=pubmed_DocSum]
* Sandin, P. "Better Safe than Sorry: Applying Philosophical Methods to the Debate on Risk and the Precautionary Principle," (2004).
* Stewart, R.B. "Environmental Regulatory Decision making under Uncertainty". In An Introduction to the Law and Economics of Environmental Policy: Issues in Institutional Design, Volume 20: 71-126 (2002).
* Sunstein, Cass R. (2005), "Laws of Fear: Beyond the Precautionary Principle". New York: Cambridge University Press

ee also

* (similar concept)
*Best Available Technology
*Biodiversity
*Biosafety
*Biosecurity
*Complex systems
*Diffusion of innovations
*Ecologically sustainable development
*Environmental law
*Health Impact Assessment
*Informed consent
*Maximin principle
*Opportunity cost
*Pascal's Wager
*Postcautionary principle
*Proactionary Principle
*Risk aversion
*Safe trade
*Sustainability
*Tombstone mentality

External links

* [http://www.asmalldoseof.org/ A Small Dose of Toxicology]
* [http://www.takingprecaution.org Bay Area Working Group on the Precautionary Principle]
* Roberto Andorno, "The Precautionary Principle: A New Legal Standard for a Technological Age", "Journal of International Biotechnology Law," 2004, 1, p. 11-19 [http://www.ethik.uzh.ch/ibme/downloads/publikationen/andorno/Andorno-Precautionary_Principle.pdf]
* Report by the UK Interdepartmental Liaison Group on Risk Assessment, 2002. [http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/ilgra/pppa.pdf "The Precautionary Principle: Policy and Application"]
*David Appell, "Scientific American", January 2001: [http://www.biotech-info.net/uncertainty.html "The New Uncertainty Principle"]
* "The Times", July 27 2007, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article2148188.ece Only a reckless mind could believe in safety first]
* "The Times", January 15 2005, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1072-1440820,00.html "What is . . . the Precautionary Principle?"]
* [http://www.adamsmith.org/blog-archive/000995.php Mismanaging risk - Adam Smith Institute Blog]
* Bill Durodié, "Spiked", March 16 2004: [http://www.durodie.net/articles/spiked/20040316precautionaryprinciple.htm The precautionary principle assumes that prevention is better than cure]
* European Environment Agency (2001), [http://reports.eea.eu.int/environmental_issue_report_2001_22/en/Issue_Report_No_22.pdf Late lessons from early warnings: the precautionary principle 1896–2000]
* [http://www.crnano.org/precautionary.htm Applying the Precautionary Principle to Nanotechnology] , "Center for Responsible Nanotechnology" 2004
* 1998 " [http://www.sehn.org/wing.html Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle] "
* Science and Environmental Health Network, [http://www.biotech-info.net/handbook.pdf The Precautionary Principle in Action - a Handbook]
* Gary E. Marchant, Kenneth L. Mossman: "Arbitrary and Capricious: The Precautionary Principle in the European Union Courts". American Enterprise Institute Press 2004, ISBN 0-8447-4189-2; [http://www.policynetwork.net/uploaded/pdf/Arbitrary-web.pdf free online PDF]
* [http://www.pprinciple.net The Precautionary Principle Project: Sustainable Development, Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity Conservation]
* [http://www.infra.kth.se/~sandin/dissintro.pdf Better Safe than Sorry: Applying Philosophical Methods to the Debate on Risk and the Precautionary Principle]
* [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2000&nu_doc=1 COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION on the precautionary principle]
* UK Interdepartmental Liaison Group on Risk Assessment (ILGRA): The Precautionary Principle: Policy and Application [http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/ilgra/pppa.htm]
* Report of UNESCO's group of experts on the Precautionary Principle (2005) [http://portal.unesco.org/shs/en/ev.php-URL_ID=8050&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html]