Consistent risk regulation? Differences in the European regulation of food crops. Issue 12 (2nd December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Edvardsson Björnberg, Karin; Zetterberg, Charlotta; Hansson, Sven Ove; Andreasson, Erik; Zhu, Li-Hua
• Is Part Of: Journal of risk research. Volume 22:Issue 12(2019)
• Page Start: 1561
• Page End: 1570
• Publication Date: 2019-12-02
• Subjects: GMO -- legislation -- risk -- consistency -- crops -- EU; Technology -- Risk assessment -- Periodicals; Risk management -- Periodicals; Risk assessment -- Periodicals; 658.155
• DOI: 10.1080/13669877.2018.1501594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1366-9877

Abstract

Abstract: In the EU legal system, there is a large difference between the procedures and requirements for the introduction of crops that are classified as genetically modified (GM) and crops not so classified. In order to investigate whether this regulatory divide is compatible with real risks two cases of GM crops and two cases of non-GM crops are scrutinized. It is concluded that the regulatory divide cannot be justified from the viewpoint of risk assessment, since the GM/non-GM dichotomy is not an accurate indicator of either health risk or environmental risk. Much better such indicators are available and should form the basis of a legislation aimed at preventing the introduction of crops that are harmful for human health or the environment. If the legislator has other reasons to regulate GM crops differently than conventional crops, then those reasons should be stated in the legislation and determine the types of measures that it prescribes.