A visiting New York-based professor of chemistry urged the Filipinos to apply a precautionary principle that will protect consumers from activities that raise threats of harm to environment or human health.

Speaking at a seminar convened by the EcoWaste Coalition at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in Quezon City, Dr. Paul Connett, a specialist on environment chemistry and toxicology, emphasized the importance of applying the Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle (PP).

The Principle as explained under the statement “where an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.”

“The PP posits the notion that when there is reasonable doubt on the safety of substance or practice, we should err on the side of caution,” Connett said. He also presented his seven-point criteria that will assist citizens in stopping construction of polluting waste disposal facilities.

According to Connett, the “trigger criteria” will help citizens employ the PP in a more disciplined way and thus avoid the criticisms leveled at the principle by supporters of technological and industrial activities regardless of their costs to human health and the environment.

“We find the pursuit of PP crucial in light of the effort to examine and upgrade the country’s chemicals management laws and regulations,” EcoWaste Coalition president Manny Calonzo said.

Calonzo said the timing of the conference is crucial as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau will hold a multi-stakeholders’ consultation to review existing policies on chemicals on December 7 and 8.

“The application of PP and other core principles should lead to an open, informed and democratic citizens’ participation in reforming our chemical policies, affirm the people’s right to know and support alternatives that will prevent grave or irreparable harm,” he added.