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> Worryingly, the “precautionary principle” that led to the phase-out, and is enshrined in EU law, is in danger from Brexit. The precautionary principle is not

> Worryingly, the “precautionary principle” that led to the phase-out, and is enshrined in EU law, is in danger from Brexit. The precautionary principle is not a vademecum — indeed, it can be taken far too far and become an excuse for either unthinking conservatism (banning anything new out of an overabundance of precaution).

Erlangolem 9y ago
It can be, but it manifestly isn’t and hasn’t been anytime in recent history. We’re so far from an abuse of it that radical and prolonged changes in society would be required before we had to worry about that particular slippery slope.
- DenisM 9y ago
  GMO is banned for no reason in EU. Their loss though.
  - Erlangolem 9y ago
    There is a reason, which is mainly a total loss of trust in the companies and institutions which would otherwise allay people’s fears. A lot of people also object to GMO, not for some crystsl-gripping reason, but because they don’t trust companies patenting genes and plants.
qubex 9y ago
For professional reasons I am aware of the ongoing controversy regarding titanium dioxide (used in paints and so forth) where an apparently flawed rat study has triggered off major pandemonium at the heart of REACH (EU’s materials risk assessment and management system) and threatens to run my industry aground, all because of the ”precautionary mechanism” and some possibly bad science. I’m not terribly confident about how bureaucracies process this kind of information.
- SlowRobotAhead 9y ago
  >I’m not terribly confident about how bureaucracies process this kind of information. My reaction to “let’s have politicians establish tax schemes to ‘solve’ global warming”. Apparently to the gloom and doomers there is no nuance in the topic at all, odd for the people who claim to be such ardent supporters of science.
  - lmm 9y ago
    Cap and trade is both the mainstream theoretical economic consensus recommendation, and worked well in practice in solving acid rain.
userbinator 9y ago
The classic saying "life is a terminal illness that affects everyone" comes to mind.

Erlangolem 9y ago

It can be, but it manifestly isn’t and hasn’t been anytime in recent history. We’re so far from an abuse of it that radical and prolonged changes in society would be required before we had to worry about that particular slippery slope.

DenisM 9y ago
GMO is banned for no reason in EU. Their loss though.
- Erlangolem 9y ago
  There is a reason, which is mainly a total loss of trust in the companies and institutions which would otherwise allay people’s fears. A lot of people also object to GMO, not for some crystsl-gripping reason, but because they don’t trust companies patenting genes and plants.

qubex 9y ago

For professional reasons I am aware of the ongoing controversy regarding titanium dioxide (used in paints and so forth) where an apparently flawed rat study has triggered off major pandemonium at the heart of REACH (EU’s materials risk assessment and management system) and threatens to run my industry aground, all because of the ”precautionary mechanism” and some possibly bad science. I’m not terribly confident about how bureaucracies process this kind of information.

SlowRobotAhead 9y ago
>I’m not terribly confident about how bureaucracies process this kind of information. My reaction to “let’s have politicians establish tax schemes to ‘solve’ global warming”. Apparently to the gloom and doomers there is no nuance in the topic at all, odd for the people who claim to be such ardent supporters of science.
- lmm 9y ago
  Cap and trade is both the mainstream theoretical economic consensus recommendation, and worked well in practice in solving acid rain.

userbinator 9y ago

The classic saying "life is a terminal illness that affects everyone" comes to mind.