Author (Person) | Majone, Giandomenico |
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Series Title | Journal of Common Market Studies |
Series Details | Vol.40, No.1, March 2002, p89-109 |
Publication Date | March 2002 |
ISSN | 0021-9886 |
Content Type | Journal | Series | Blog |
Abstract: The European Commission is actively promoting the precautionary principle as a 'key tenet' of Community policy, as well as a general principle of international law. This article explains why this promotional effort is likely to fail or to produce unanticipated and undesirable consequences. The principle has a legitimate but limited role to play in risk management, for example whenever there is an imminent danger of irreversible damage. As a general approach to risk regulation, however, it suffers from a number of shortcomings: it lacks a sound logical foundation; it may distort regulatory priorities; it can be misused to justify protectionist measures; it undermines international regulatory co-operation; and it may have undesirable distributive consequences. What is perhaps an even greater cause for concern is that the principle, as interpreted by the Commission, tends to favour a double standard for what is permissible internationally and in intra-Community relations. |
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Source Link | Link to Main Source http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/ |
Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Environment, Trade |