Of Mice and Men: European Precautionary Standards Challenged by Uncertainty
Résumé
For several years, the official European method for deciding whether or not shellfish were fit for human consumption was the mouse bioassay, which was eventually replaced by chemical testing. In this paper, we examine the process of this change, looking at how devices of social, technical, and organisational risk management were re-negotiated locally, nationally, and across the continent. We also show how the political decision to replace a precautionary standard with a management-vigilance device was the result of various dynamics. These included unpredictable events (sanitary crises, unknown toxins, etc.), enhanced scientific knowledge, collective mobilisations (corporate bodies, public controversies), and multi-level statutory, commercial, and ethical orders.