https://agroecology-appg.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Why-should-the-Precautionary-Principle-be-preserved-APPG-Briefing-in-support-of-amendments-66-112-113-March-2018.pdf
Why should the Precautionary Principle be preserved, post-Brexit? What is the Precautionary Principle?
The Rio Declaration (1992) states that: Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. The Precautionary Principle proposes that when your actions are at risk of causing “serious or irreversible” harm to the natural environment, you must take a step back and choose a different route. The Precautionary Principle encourages innovation. The Precautionary Principle is not limited to the environmental sphere. By preventing actions that are dangerous, the Precautionary Principle supports companies and governments that aim to innovate – in any field – by preventing high-risk business-as-usual. The Precautionary Principle applies anywhere where a threat of serious or irreversible damage, and a lack of full scientific “evidence based” certainty, exists.