8. The European Commission's viewpoint

Policy-makers are faced with the ongoing dilemma of balancing the rights and freedoms of individuals, industries and organizations, on the one hand, with the need to reduce the risk of adverse effects on the environment and human, animal or plant health, on the other. Consequently, finding the right balance to enable proportionate, non-discriminatory, transparent and consistent decisions requires a structured decision-making process, based on detailed scientific data and other objective information.

The Commission considers that, like other WTO members, it has the right to set the level of protection, particularly in terms of the environment and human, animal and plant health. It considers the application of the precautionary principle to be an essential element of its policy. The choices it makes to this end will continue to influence the positions...