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A Brief Comment on Science-based Risk Regulation Within the European Union

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Barbara Stibernitz
Barbara Stibernitz*
Affiliation:
Barbara Stibernitz
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Abstract

Nowadays as political decision making involves such a huge range of complex matters, scientific experts have become more and more involved in European risk regulation. The support by so-called independent experts may, on the one hand, be seen as a guarantee of rational decision making, increasing the quality of decisions as well as the general acceptance of all people affected. On the other hand, the number of expert groups, scientific committees and agencies helping the Commission in fulfilling its duties is vast and confusing.

In addition, scientific advisory bodies often face the burden of unrealizable independence, as well as a lack of transparency and democratic control. This article sums up the central position of science-based risk regulation within the European Union (EU), referring to the necessity for expert opinion as well as to consequent problems concerning the involvement of these experts in risk regulatory actions.

Type
Reports
Information
European Journal of Risk Regulation , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 86 - 91
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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References

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4 Commission Directive 2002/72/EC of 6 August 2002 relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs, OJ 2002 L 220/18.

5 For an overview see <http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/bisphenol.htm?wtrl=01> (last accessed on 16 January 2012).

6 Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavourings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food on a request from the Commission related to BPA, EFSA Journal (2006) 428, 1–75; Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food additives, Flavourings, Processing aids and Materials in Contact with Food (AFC) on a request from the Commission on the toxicokinetics of BPA, EFSA Journal (2008) 759, 1–10; Statement of EFSA on a study associating BPA with medical disorders prepared by the Unit on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids (CEF) and the Unit on Assessment Methodology (AMU), EFSA Journal (2008) 838, pp. 1–3.

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11 SCCS, Opinion on HC Yellow n° 13, SCCS/1322/10, 6.

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14 Enjoying a certain degree of organizational and financial independence, Stefan Griller and Andreas Orator, 1 ELRev (2010), at pp. 8 et sqq.

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17 See Council Decision 2010/759/EU of 2 December 2010 on submitting 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) to control measures, OJ 2010 L 322/44; for further details see Kofler, Barbara, “Tod den (oder durch?) Legal Highs – Hilfe durch europäische Netzwerke am Beispiel Mephedron”, 3 Journal für Strafrecht (2011), pp. 91 et sqq Google Scholar.

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20 Case T-13/99, Pfizer Animal Health SA v. Council of the European Union [2002] ECR II-03305, at para. 201.

21 Case T-13/99, Pfizer Animal Health SA v. Council of the European Union [2002] ECR II-03305, at para. 199.

22 For details see Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents, OJ 2001 L 145/43.