5Precautionary principle

5 Precautionary principle

5 Precautionary principle

(1) In this Act, the precautionary principle is the principle that, if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.

(2) In applying the precautionary principle, decisions should be guided by—

(a) careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment, and

(b) an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options.