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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

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  • 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, and 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 analyze these tensions. This analysis suggests that in order to fulfill 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Hartley & Kate M. Millar, 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, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 31(6), pages 481-502, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:revpol:v:31:y:2014:i:6:p:481-502
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/ropr.12102
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    Cited by:

    1. Sarah Hartley & Adam Kokotovich & Caroline McCalman, 2023. "Prescribing engagement in environmental risk assessment for gene drive technology," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), pages 411-424, April.
    2. Laura Devaney & Maeve Henchion & Áine Regan, 2017. "Good Governance in the Bioeconomy," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 16(2), pages 41-46, August.
    3. Richard Helliwell & Sarah Hartley & Warren Pearce, 2019. "NGO perspectives on the social and ethical dimensions of plant genome-editing," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 36(4), pages 779-791, December.

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