For example, pre-market approval is a form of precaution. To protect the health of consumers, safety data are required and reviewed before standards permitting the introduction of new food additives or establishing maximum residue limits for pesticides are promulgated. If data submitted for review are insufficient, additional information is sought. The United States recognizes that Paragraph 5 will be the subject of future comments. However, to emphasize that precaution is an essential and pervasive element of risk analysis, the United States believes that it is important that an example should be added to current Paragraph 5 at this time.
Precaution is an essential element of risk analysis.
This is particularly important where scientific evidence is insufficient and negative effects on health are difficult to evaluate. For example, pre-market approval is a form of precaution. To protect the health of consumers, safety data are required and reviewed before standards permitting the introduction of new food additives or establishing maximum residue limits for pesticides are promulgated. If data submitted for review are insufficient, additional information is sought before a product is introduced or a standard is set.