Panels

Panel 1:

Promoting science based regulation in Europe – challenges and opportunities

Key issues to be addressed include:

  • The politicization of science based policy making in certain Member States;
  • The need for regulators in member states to work together to support each other to promote science and evidence based solutions;
  • The lack of resources to properly fund and promote evidence based policy making;
  • Understanding cultural differences in Europe and how this can impact science based regulation:
    Some Member State policy makers are more concerned about promoting a tough chemical regulatory policy based on substituting all hazardous substances than their counterparts in other Member States. Other Member States have strong views on the banning of GMOs in foods which are not evidence-based but driven by NGOs;

Panel 2:

Hazard classifications and risk assessments: How do we best regulate?

Key issues to be addressed include:

  • What are the differences between regulatory policy driven on the basis of hazard classifications and risk analysis? Which regulatory method is more scientific and why?
  • When and how should Member State agencies consider using hazard classifications as a basis for regulatory measures?
  • How can regulators and policy makers improve the development of risk analysis techniques, which are often time consuming and resource intensive, to support regulatory decisions

Panel 3:

The role of smart and better regulation: Lessons from the Member States and beyond.

Key issues to be addressed include:

  • Does the UK one in two out system work?
  • What is the future of the use of regulatory impact assessments in the EU and how can they be improved?
  • What are some of the lessons of the better regulation initiatives from the United States and are they applicable in a European context?
  • Going forward what should EU Member States do to best implement smart regulatory policy?

Panel 4:

Risk based policy making and the precautionary principle: Have we got it right?

Key issues to be addressed include:

  • Is the Precautionary Principle consistent with evidence based policy making?
  • Does the European Commission need to develop a new Communication on the precautionary principle?
  • Going forward what do the various European regulatory bodies need to do to better develop and communicate risk-based policy making?