Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Environment Protection Act 1970 - SECT 1C

The precautionary principle

1C. The precautionary principle



(1) 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) Decision making should be guided by-

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

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