DUELING SCIENCE WITH STAKEHOLDERS

Quarantine and Market Access Conference 2003

Dennis Hannapel

APHIS Area Director-Oceania

US Embassy

Canberra, Australia

Dueling Science?

Who is a Stakeholder?

Stakeholder Tactics

Risk Assessment or Analysis

Scientific Publications

Data

Public Awareness Campaigns

Political Intervention

Risk Assessments

Used by government regulatory bodies

Resource intensive

Technically accurate? (pest lists)

Legally and politically correct

Loss of emphasis

Critiqued by industry and the public

Scientific Publications

Peer-reviewed, published in reputable journalAbstract-Introduction-Materials and Methods-Results and Discussions-ConclusionScientific DuelSpecific ConclusionsProve a “Negative”

Data

Counting and recording events

Trap results, field surveys, pest interceptions, & diseased animals

Non-scientific?

Rarely stands alone

Public Awareness Campaigns

Propaganda

Industry driven-market competition

Selective information

Media coverage and emotional

Political Intervention

Does exist!

Politicians sensitive to constituents

Non-scientific reality

EXAMPLES

New Zealand Apples

New Zealand Apples into Australia

Fire blight transmitted on mature, commercially produced apples?

IRA still pending

US and Japan-WTO dispute resolution

Public perception of fire blight

Outcome?

Stakeholder Influences

IRA-intensely scrutinized by the public and industry, and RAP continues

Scientific PublicationsAmple materials-duelingSpecific conclusions-Japan/US studyWTO decision

Influences (continued)

Data – Not muchNegative field surveysNever been introduced on apples

Public awareness CampaignsNo risk is acceptable Imports are bad for economy

Political Intervention

California Table Grapes to Australia

California Table Grapes to Australia

Grape bunches are the introduction pathway for the glassy winged sharpshooter?

Pierce’s Disease could be so catastrophic to the Australian table grape and wine industry that no risk is acceptable.

Stakeholder Influences-CA Grapes

IRA-heavily critiqued, new information became available – GWSSScientific PublicationsScientific duelSpecific conclusions or prove a “negative”

DataNever found in grape bunchesUnacceptable

CA Grapes (Continued)

Public Awareness CampaignsPossibility of GWSS in grape bunchesNo risk is acceptable

Political InterventionWTO dispute resolutionFree Trade Agreement

Conclusions

Decision makers may be over influenced by the stakeholders

Science on both sides of every issue

Manageable risks are international norm

Political Intervention new driving force

THE END