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The challenges of consulting the public on science policy: examining the development of European risk assessment policy for genetically modified animals

Hartley, Sarah; Millar, Kate M.

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Authors

Sarah Hartley

Kate M. Millar



Abstract

With the growing importance of public engagement in science policy-making and declining levels of public trust in food production, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has attempted to embed ‘good governance’ approaches to strengthen scientific independence and open-up risk decision-making, which include the use of public consultations. However ‘opening-up’ of risk assessment policies reveals some tensions, namely: balancing the goals of scientific excellence and transparency; protecting science from interests; addressing value judgments; limited opportunities to debate ethical and social issues. EFSA’s development of risk assessment policy for genetically modified animals is used as a case study to analyse these tensions. This analysis suggests that in order to fulfil good governance commitments and maintain trust in risk governance closer cooperation between EFSA and the European Commission is required to provide ‘space’ for debating the broader risk management issues. This publically-accessible space may be needed alongside rather than instead of EFSA’s consultation.

Citation

Hartley, S., & Millar, K. M. (2014). The challenges of consulting the public on science policy: examining the development of European risk assessment policy for genetically modified animals. Review of Policy Research, 31(6), https://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12102

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 20, 2014
Online Publication Date Oct 27, 2014
Publication Date Nov 1, 2014
Deposit Date Jul 20, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Review of Policy Research
Print ISSN 1541-132X
Electronic ISSN 1541-1338
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 31
Issue 6
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12102
Keywords biotechnology; international governance; civil society; developed countries; risk; risk assessment; GMO; genetically modified organisms; food safety; Europe; European Commission; public engagement
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/993936
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12102
Additional Information This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Hartley, S. and Millar, K.M. (2014), The Challenges of Consulting the Public on Science Policy: Examining the Development of European Risk Assessment Policy for Genetically Modified Animals. Review of Policy Research, 31: 481–502, which has been published in final form at doi: 10.1111/ropr.12102. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

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