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14 - The Precautionary Principle as a Barrier to GMO Risk Analysis: Elicitation of Experts’ Viewpoints

from Part III - Risk-Analysis-Based Regulatory Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2017

By
Ademola A. Adenle
Edited by
Ademola A. Adenle ,
E. Jane Morris  and
Denis J. Murphy
Ademola A. Adenle
Affiliation:
Colorado State University
E. Jane Morris
Affiliation:
University of Leeds
Denis J. Murphy
Affiliation:
University of South Wales
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Summary

GMOs remain controversial around the world partly due to the fragmented authoritarian framework set up for their risk analysis. To formally explore some of the challenges that are associated with the risk analysis, detailed interviews were conducted with 16 leading experts on politics, barriers and governance process of GMOs at the national and international levels. The results of the interviews revealed some of the barriers to GMO regulation and risk analysis. This chapter argues that the precautionary principle still remains a big barrier particularly in the way it has been interpreted or used by regulators and environmental activists to undermine the application of GMOs around the world particularly in developing countries. Competing interests among different organisations especially private sector and government agencies also make risk analysis procedures more complex as reflected in regulatory mechanisms and procedures adopted in different countries. The possible implications of current GMO policy on emerging technologies such as gene editing are discussed. Finally the chapter concludes with recommendations and suggests a possible way forward.
Type
Chapter
Information
Genetically Modified Organisms in Developing Countries
Risk Analysis and Governance
 , pp. 162 - 174
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2017

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