6. The precautionary principle and civil society participation

We have seen that the "standard" model of food risk analysis sees risk communication as a third phase in the process, following on from the work of experts and managers. Its aim is to inform the public about the work carried out in the first two phases. The interactive nature of exchanges is sometimes envisaged, but experts and managers retain full control over their work. For example, the Codex Alimentarius General Principles Commission defines risk communication as "an interactive exchange of information and opinions on risks between those responsible for their assessment and management, consumers and other interested parties". The aim of risk communication would therefore be to reduce, a posteriori, the perception gaps between experts, who would have arrived at an accurate vision of the "real" risk, and ordinary citizens, who, not having the same observation tools, would have a distorted...