The EU needs more anticipatory funding of health and environmental research

In recent months, there have been several attacks on the Precautionary Principle and how the principle has been used in the EU. For example, the scientific advisor to the President of the European Commission, Ann Glover, has accused Commissioners of having “crazy ideas” about the safety of nanotechnologies, genetically modified organisms, shale gas, endocrine disrupters, etc. (See EU twisting facts to fit political agenda, chief scientist says and EU science advisor: 'Lots of policies are not based on evidence'.) Similarly, it has been argued that policymakers often misuse the precautionary principle.