World trade restrictions must be based on the findings of risk assessment, not the politics of the past. Risk assessment as a formal academic discipline is young enough that the definition of terms in the field are not standardized. To complicate matters, risk studies took words from the vernacular and endowed them with special significance. The lack of unanimity about the meaning of the terms adds another layer of complexity in mutual understand. In 1991, a basic set of terminologies were established for agricultural use to avoid unnecessary differences about items on which there is actual agreement.
Risk analysis is the term used to encompass risk assessment, risk management and risk communication.
Risk assessment is the term used to define the analytical approaches, processes, models, methods and calculations. Risk assessment answers three basic questions about hazard and risk. The question for hazard identification is what can go wrong. This latter question may be answered in biological or economic terms. Risk management is the decision making activity in which results of the risk assessment are incorporated.