Food Safety Governance - Integrating Science, Precaution and Public Involvement

Foreword by Robert Madelin

Foreword by Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle

Acknowledgements

Contents

Contributors

Acronyms and Abbreviations

List of Figures

List of Tables

A General Framework for the Precautionary and Inclusive Governance of Food Safety

Introduction

The Need for Change

1.1 Fundamental Challenges

1.2 Policy Imperatives

1.3 Practical Aims of the Present Exercise

Overview of the General Framework

2.1 Historical Precedents

2.2 The General Framework: A Schematic Picture

2.3 An Overview of Framing: Review, Referral and Terms of Reference

2.4 An Overview of Assessment

2.5 An Overview of Evaluation

2.6 An Overview of Management

2.7 An Overview of Communication and Participation

2.8 Summary

The Process of Framing

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Review

3.3 Referral

3.4 Setting the Terms of Reference

The Process of Assessment

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Screening

4.3 Assessment

4.4 Potential Opportunities for Interlinkages Between Different Forms of Assessment

4.5 Outputs of Assessment

The Processes Evaluation and Management

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Tolerability/Acceptability Judgement in Evaluation

5.3 Decision-Making in Management

5.4 Approaches to Management

Legal and Institutional Aspects of the General Framework

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Proposal for Institutional Changes

6.3 Improved Capacities of EFSA

6.4 Interface Between Assessment and Management

6.5 Management: Re-Consideration of the Comitology Procedure

6.6 The General Framework and General Principles of European Law

6.7 The General Framework and WTO Law

6.8 Conclusions

A Structured Approach to Participation

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Participation Through Food Safety Interface Institutions

7.3 A Guiding Tool For Deciding on Extended Participation

Communication About Food Safety

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Definition and Objectives of Risk Communication

8.3 Risk Communication Requirements for Each Stage of the Food Safety Governance Cycle

8.4 Communication Tools

8.5 Evaluation of Risk Communication

8.6 Conclusions

Implementation of the General Framework: Genetically Modified ( Cry1Ab) Maize Case Study

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Framing

9.3 Assessment

9.4 Evaluation and Management

Summary: Key Features of the General Framework

References (Part 1)

Possible Instruments for Extending Public Participation Beyond the Internet Forum and the Interface Committee

A. Epistemic Discourse

References for Epistemic Discourse

B. Reflective and Practical Discourse

References for reflective and practical discourse

Input and Commentaries by Key Actors in Food Safety Governance

Input of Key Actors in the Development of the General Framework

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Overall Response

11.3 Feedback on Suggestions for Procedural Reform

11.4 Feedback on Suggestions for Structural Reform

11.5 The Revised Recommendation for Designing the Food Safety Interface Under Review

References

Commentaries on the Revised General Framework

12.1 A Risk Management Perspective on the Governance Framework

References

12.2 A Risk Assessment Perspective on the Governance Framework, with a Focus on the Proposed Procedural Reforms of Risk Assessment

References

12.3 A Consumers’ Association’s Perspective on the Governance Framework

References

12.4 An Industry Perspective on the Governance Framework

Glossary

Index