Summary
The position paper from June 2018 addresses the transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment model in the food chain, highlighting the need for procedural safeguards in handling confidentiality requests. Cefic raises concerns about the European Commission’s proposal, which mandates significant proof of harm to deny disclosure, risking the protection of commercially valuable information (CBI). Concerns also include the inclusion of the Aarhus Emissions Rule, potentially undermining sector-specific confidentiality safeguards, and the early publication of studies exposing business strategies prematurely. Cefic advocates for fair, predictable, and proportional measures to protect CBI while maintaining transparency in the risk assessment process.
Concrete Takeaways
- Procedural Safeguards for Confidentiality: The need for additional procedural safeguards, such as the ability for internal review, to protect CBI in regulatory processes.
- Risk from Aarhus Emissions Rule: Concerns about the reference to the Aarhus Emissions Rule compromising sector-specific confidentiality protections.
- Impact of Early Publication: The risk that early publication of confidential business information could disadvantage companies by revealing strategies to competitors, potentially discouraging innovation and investment.