Newsletter 5 Stakeholders Consultation On Potential Socio-behaviour Factors
Taking the outcome of WP2 SWOT analysis of current risk assessment practice (HEROIC newsletter n.2) as a starting point, we selectively expanded this initial work for more in depth analysis of the socio-behavioural factors that have a potential influence on the effectiveness of the overall risk analysis procedure.
Our objective was to outline how socio-behavioural factors influence and contribute to shape current policy priorities, protection goals and perception among different societal groups, on how knowledge in risk assessment is interpreted by risk managers and translated into risk management options, influencing the final decision making process. To explore these aspects, we selected the sector-specific regulatory framework for plant protection products.
The web-based stakeholders consultation was launched in June and was closed at the end of September 2013.
The survey confirms there are factors limiting the effectiveness of the risk assessment phase. These are mainly linked to how the knowledge is produced and how the knowledge produced in the risk assessment phase then is interpreted and used for establishing monitoring programs and/or mitigation measures. The survey also highlighted the strong influence of socio-psychological factors and the cultural quality of pesticide risk evaluations.
Principles guiding the evaluation are not solely the national environment, spatial framework and economic aspects, which are still considered important, but also those related to the ethical issues and social behavioural aspects linked to responsibility, trust, reliance, that can strongly influence the choice of the approach to be taken.
Stakeholders clearly indicate that education level influences the attitude towards risk and pesticide use education is a societal need that we have to take into consideration but also that attitude toward risk is not properly considered in the risk assessment phase.
The results indicate that there is an interest in an interdisciplinary approach in risk analysis that involves also other different scientific disciplines, but also that this aspect have not yet been fully explored and the role of socio-behavioural factors have not been fully recognised among all stakeholders. The survey highlighted the importance of the qualitative component of “chemicals risk analysis” that should be practically relevant but also ethically acceptable. These qualitative components could help to produce better economic estimate, more faithful to human psychology, and to support risk managers to better communicate on risks and mitigation measures.
We wish to thank all the stakeholder participants for being part of this consultation process and for providing important information and useful comments and we will consolidate and evaluate all contributions to prepare for a follow up roundtable discussion with a panel of selected experts. The insights gained from this process will help to improve and promote the integration, where useful and possible, of the human and environmental RA in a manner suitable for its coupling with Socio Economics Analysis (SEA).
