3 ms·
This is one area where the scientific method feels like a subpar approach to deciding policy. I'll grant that it's likely better than the alternative in most ca
by rgrieselhuber 9y ago
This is one area where the scientific method feels like a subpar approach to deciding policy. I'll grant that it's likely better than the alternative in most cases but man does it create some really dangerous blind spots.
- TazeTSchnitzel 9y agoThe EU temporarily banned the chemical four years ago on the precautionary principle. I like this approach: the harm done by not being able to use these pesticides for a while, were they to turn out to not be harmful, would surely be outweighed by the risk of further harming the ecosystem.
- nisa 9y agoThis approach was also under attack while negotiating TTIP and other trade agreements. Ironically it was badmouthed as unscientific - as if it's better to throw any new heavily patented chemical on the market and let science figure out reliably that it's problematic - something that can take up to 20 years if it's with possible at all with enough scientific rigor - of course public research can't get any details due to patents and trade secrets - also ecosystems are not exactly easy to replicate in the lab.
- pbhjpbhj 9y ago>of course public research can't get any details due to patents and trade secrets // Not sure about other jurisdictions but UK patent law allows an invention to be worked for research purposes. Presumably companies don't get licenses to produce chemicals for widespread release to the environment without disclosure of the details, so trade secrets shouldn't be a problem?