Scientific Evaluations in the DRD: A Case of Asymmetries and Uncertainties

Abstract

The chapter examines the informational asymmetries between notifiers and risk assessors in terms of who generates and possesses the required technical knowledge. It looks at the main sources of the generation of biosafety data in Europe and the prominent role of industrial actors in the generation of knowledge in the field of agricultural biotechnology. It also focuses on EFSA’s portrayal of the notified field trial findings as an all-encompassing and objective basis for evaluation judgements and control measures in the DR framework. Section 6.3 examines whether EFSA recognises and addresses the plurality of scientific approaches or technical interpretations that have been given to the same notification data, as well as how this pan-European risk assessor of GMO-related risks has so far reflected upon the absence of a solid, commonly agreed, scientific threshold and evaluation framework in agricultural biotechnology, its consideration of the relevant scientific uncertainties and the constant resort of the GMO Panel to the artificial analogy of familiarity as the main means for shaping safety assessments.