In this blog post, we will look at why European-style GMO regulation should take precedence over American-style GMO regulation, focusing on the precautionary principle in Europe.
GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) The application of genetic engineering technology to agriculture is expected to bring about revolutionary changes in productivity, nutrition, and the environment. Against this backdrop, some countries, including the United States, are producing and exporting GM crops, but the United States and Europe have adopted conflicting GMO regulatory policies due to concerns about potential risks to the human body and the environment and infringement of the rights of small farmers. South Korea’s GMO regulations are similar to those of the United States, but we believe that the European approach should be prioritized.
The Precautionary Principle in Europe Based on the precautionary principle, Europe strictly examines the harmfulness of GMOs and conducts continuous monitoring. The precautionary principle is a principle that prevents environmental damage in advance when it is expected and reduces the damage. It is also considered an important element in international environmental law. Europe initially adopted the substantial equivalence principle of the United States, but following the raising of concerns by NGOs and the spread of the movement questioning the safety of GMOs among experts, it has adopted the precautionary principle. In contrast, the United States continues to regulate based on the substantial equivalence principle, and recognizes the safety of GM crops if they are scientifically determined to be at the same level of safety as existing foods.
Expertise Studies on the dangers of GMOs are not yet sufficient and the results are inconsistent. Some studies claim that GMOs are deadly dangerous, while others claim that there are no problems, which is confusing. In addition, in areas where it is difficult to judge only on the basis of scientific facts, it is important to reflect the opinions of NGOs, consumers, and small farmers, and the precautionary principle in Europe realizes this. This allows for a variety of social voices to be reflected in policy-making, rather than solely relying on the perspectives of experts and corporations.
The risks of GMOs GMOs can contribute to the development of agriculture because they can be superior to existing crops in terms of productivity and nutritional value. However, Europe does not ban GMOs and continues to monitor their harmfulness through mandatory labeling and monitoring. The United States also regulates the establishment of non-GM refuge areas and limits the concentration of pesticides, but the intensity of these regulations is lower than in Europe. The degree to which each society feels the risk may differ depending on the culture of each society, but in the case of GMOs, which have a high potential for harm and can affect future generations, it is desirable to strictly regulate them in accordance with the precautionary principle.
Characteristics of Regulatory Science The precautionary principle in Europe is sometimes criticized for causing unnecessary controversy and costs, but the current scientific limitations make it impossible to accurately measure the risks of GMOs. European regulatory policies reflect social and political motivations and incorporate the opinions of consumers and environmental groups on GMOs, thereby securing procedural legitimacy.
The right of farmers The GMO regulatory policy is intertwined with various social issues in addition to scientific issues. The patenting and commercial use of GM crops by multinational corporations infringes on the seed control rights of small farmers, causing difficulties for small family farms. Since GMOs affect countries around the world beyond the problems in the US and Europe, many countries will not be able to avoid importing GMOs from the US unless the precautionary principle is established in Europe.
The United States accepts the risks of GMOs as part of technological innovation, but it is not necessary to accept all risks for the sake of innovation. GMOs are a complex issue involving social, economic, and environmental factors that cannot be judged solely on the basis of scientific knowledge. Europe has implemented procedurally just regulations by reflecting various social factors as well as science in the regulatory decision-making process, so the European regulatory approach should take precedence over the US approach.
