Considerations of uncertainty are undertaken throughout the whole risk assessment process. The risk assessment methodology as set out by the Cartagena Protocol states that “where there is uncertainty regarding the level of risk, it may be addressed by requesting further information on the specific issues of concern or by implementing appropriate risk management strategies and/or monitoring the living modified organism in the receiving environment”.
Although uncertainty can be often addressed by requesting additional information, the necessary information may not always be available or new uncertainties may arise as a result of the provision of additional experimental data. Uncertainty is inherent to the concept of risk thus it is important to consider and analyze, in a systematic way, the various forms of uncertainty (e.g. types and sources) that can arise at each step of the risk assessment process.
