The European Risk Summit which was hosted by the Irish Medicines Board, King’s Centre for Risk Management and the Nickel Institute at Trinity College Dublin (11-12 June 2013), brought renewed focus to the issue of evidence and risk-based rulemaking, and highlighted the critical role that science plays in policy formation at EU level.
The purpose of the Risk Summit was to discuss the advantages of evidence and risk based rulemaking, as well as the challenges of formulating European directives/regulations – and by extension – national legislation on hazard classifications. The summit was divided up into a series of panel discussions that highlighted the challenges for risk-based policy making in a number of distinct regulatory areas/issues. The ultimate objective of the overall debate was to explore international principles as a way forward for science-based decision making.
This remains a discussion of primary importance, which will have a considerable impact on the future of European sustainability, innovation, and economic development on the global stage.
The Summit was attended by 100 Irish and international experts comprising policy-makers, regulators, governing bodies, industry and academia from the chemicals, food, environmental, healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors.
The Summit was an associated event of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Pat O’Mahony, Chief Executive, Irish Medicines Board
Professor Ragnar Löfstedt, Director, King’s Centre for Risk Management
Dr Kevin Bradley, President, Nickel Institute