Work

The Challenges of Consulting the Public on Science Policy: Examining the Development of European Risk Assessment Policy for Genetically Modified Animals

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: With the growing importance of public engagement in science policy making and declining levels of public trust in food production, the E uropean F ood S afety A uthority ( EFSA ) has attempted to embed “good governance” approaches to strengthen scientific independence and open up risk decision making, which include the use of public consultations. However, “opening up” of risk assessment policies reveals some tensions; namely, balancing the goals of scientific excellence and transparency, protecting science from interests, addressing value judgments, and limited opportunities to debate ethical and social issues. EFSA 's development of risk assessment policy for genetically modified animals is used as a case study to analyze these tensions. This analysis suggests that in order to fulfill good governance commitments and maintain trust in risk governance, closer cooperation between EFSA and the European Commission is required to provide “space” for debating the broader risk management issues. This publically accessible space may be needed alongside rather than instead of EFSA 's consultation.

Source: Review of Policy Research

DOI: 10.1111/ropr.12102

Authors: Sarah Hartley, Kate M. Millar

Institution: University of Nottingham

Language: English

Topic: Risk Perception and Management

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Stiftelsen för Miljöstrategisk Forskning, European Food Safety Authority, Leverhulme Trust

Award: G4336413209