Decisions therefore need frequent periodic review, particularly in the light of new evidence. In another parallel, in chemicals management there is an acknowledgement that new data can show that a chemical poses different, lesser or greater risks than first thought, which could well be the case with COVID-19. At the same time, decision-makers are needing to manage risks of products potentially doing harm, such as tests that could give false negative results. We are seeing regulatory approval processes for some products, for example ventilators, relaxed to meet the needs of the fight against COVID-19, reflecting the large benefit from saving lives. The severity of the outcome of life, death or gross morbidity plays a factor on the extent of precaution that is implemented. In times when the evidence remains uncertain, policies are required that are based on due precaution, balanced against risks, impacts and economic costs to society. They do and should apply societal values to the decisions they make, particularly social attitudes to acceptable balances between risk and benefit. Recognise that science is just one factor, alongside social, economic and ethical considerationsĪlthough science must play an important role by providing sound, trustworthy advice on what can be very complex questions, we recognise it is not the only consideration and scientists are not the decision-makers.Įlected politicians need good information that enables them to balance this evidence with the social and economic drivers. Where this is the case, this must always be acknowledged. In the situation for COVID-19, the science is likely to be highly uncertain at the current time, and based on modelling predictions rather than empirical evidence, given the novelty of the disease. In any situation, however, the limitations and uncertainties in the evidence all need to be explained in a clear and transparent way.

Sometimes this can take time to reach consensus – and with COVID-19 time is in short supply. These mechanisms must allow for all points of view and perspectives to be discussed. To make decisions based on the best information and to help inform this balance, there need to be sound scientific advisory mechanisms, with the right experts at the table to enable decision-makers to draw upon available evidence in a credible and authoritative way.

Even here – where there is quite a lot of evidence – there remains uncertainty and sometimes disagreement between scientists in terms of that the evidence means for society. Some decisions to use chemicals can impact long-term health and environmental protection over decades, such as decisions in the last century, and which continue today, on the use of poly-fluorinated alky sulfonates (PFAS) and bisphenols in consumer goods. Regulatory decisions often rely on seeking to balance precaution in protecting the environment and human health, to an agreed level of risk, alongside estimating what the impacts of certain actions would be to society. In chemicals management, there are often situations where there is partial evidence.

Recognise that science is just one factor, alongside social, economic and ethical considerationsīe transparent, particularly about the limitations of your scientific evidence.

Be transparent, particularly about the limitations of your scientific evidence.

Some relevant points were highlighted for making effective science-informed policy during the meeting, which apply to both regulation and current COVID-19 policy: 'And although decisions on the safe use of chemicals in products and processes has less urgency at the current time, and can be supported by a larger base of evidence and data, we couldn’t help but see clear parallels with measures being taken to contain and suppress COVID-19 in the UK and other countries.” 'We discussed how the precautionary principle is implemented in UK regulation, and considered how it should apply in chemicals strategies – particularly the new UK strategies under development. She told us “We would usually meet in our fabulous venue of Burlington House that enables rich and open discussion on topics such as this, but given the absolute necessity for us all to maintain social distancing, this was our first virtual policy round table.

Fifteen academic and industry experts from the RSC's environment and regulation collective attended a virtual round table on 2 April, chaired by our senior policy advisor Camilla Alexander-White.

Precautionary principle