Background

The handling of food safety issues has come into sharp public focus in recent years. In response, many governments and concerned international organizations have given priority to strengthening the basis on which food safety decisions are made. At an international level the pre-eminent issue has been the role of science as a basis for food safety measures. However, although acceptance of the fundamental role of science in decisions on food safety measures is necessary, it is an insufficient basis for consensus building in food safety. As the protracted discussion on the ‘other legitimate factors' to be considered in making food safety decisions within the Codex system and the ongoing debate surrounding the question of precaution testify, there are still many issues to be clarified in relation to food safety regulation.

There is a balance that must often be found in discussions of food safety, to ensure that valid social, cultural and economic interests are adequately taken into account. Careful consideration of the ethical dimensions of food safety issues is necessary if there is to be general acceptance of resulting decisions.

Objectives

The objectives of this expert consultation were to develop guidance to FAO and its member governments in the following areas:

• Ethical considerations in the risk analysis process at international and national levels
• Risk management in selected cases such as in food security emergency situations
• Opportunities for FAO to apply the recommendations on ethics to its food safety programme.

FAO expert consultation on food safety: Science and ethics - Final report (2002)
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