Beyond Substantial Equivalence: Ethical Equivalence

摘要: The concept of substantial equivalence,introduced for the risk assessment geneticallymodified (GM) food, is a reducing because itignores context in which these products have beenproduced and brought to consumer at end thefood chain. Food quality cannot be restricted meresubstance food acts on human beings not only atthe level nutrition but also through theirrelationship environment society. To make thiscontext explicit, I will introduce an ``equivalencescale'' evaluation chains (GM or notGM). By contrast with equivalence, whichinvolves mainly quantitative, analytical methods ofevaluation, ``qualitative equivalence'' refers ``less''or non-substantial factors that require new methodsof based qualitative principles.``Ethical show themoral value contained products. analyze thedifferent levels ethics needed foodchains, use French principles: ``Liberty,Equality, Fraternity,'' freedom, equality,solidarity, add fourth principle:sustainability. Sustainability, solidarity, andfreedom can applied ofenvironmental, socio-economic, socio-culturalethical respectively. Equality tojustice should operate so as guarantee thatsustainability, freedom are satisfied.I suggest provide basis arenewal chain concept. Besides QualityAssurance, it now essential develop ``EthicalAssurance'' this equivalence scale could abasis set up ``Ethical Assurance Standards'' (EAS)for chains.