Lecture 5 - Risk assessment Flashcards
Risk:
The probability that an event will occur, e.g. that an individual will become ill or die within a stated period of time or age.
Risk analysis:
A process consisting of three components: risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication.
Risk assessment:
A scientifically based process consisting of the following steps:
(a) hazard identification,
(b) hazard characterisation,
(c) exposure assessment, and
(d) risk characterisation.
Risk assessment consists of the following steps: (4)
(a) hazard identification,
(b) hazard characterization,
(c) exposure assessment, and
(d) risk characterization.
Risk characterization:
The process of determining the qualitative and/or quantitative estimation, including attendant uncertainties, of the probability of occurrence and severity of known or potential adverse health effects in a given population based on hazard identification, hazard characterization, and exposure assessment.
Risk communication:
The interactive exchange of information and opinions concerning risk and risk management among risk assessors, risk managers, consumers, and other interested parties.
Risk Estimate:
Output of risk characterization.
Risk factor:
An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, an environmental exposure, or an inborn or inherited characteristic that is associated with an increased occurrence of disease or other health-related event or condition.
Risk Management:
The process of weighing policy alternatives in the light of the results of risk assessment and, if required, selecting and implementing appropriate control options, including regulatory measures.
CAC
Codex Alimentarius Commission,
an intergovernmental body managed by FAO and WHO.
he only international organization dealing with the global rules of trade between nations
The World Trade Organisation (WTO)
HACCP-systems
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.
The basic concepts of the risk analysis process as a whole are those which should anyway be part of good decision making, i.e. …?
collecting the information available, assessing public health risks as well as the consequences of different control options, evaluating other factors (e.g. practical, political and financial) and making decisions based on all these considerations.
This process has been defined in a food safety context as risk analysis, which comprises (3)
risk assessment, risk management and risk communication.
Codex Alimentarius: primarily focuses on
the safety of food products.
Its risk assessments are centered on protecting consumer health from foodborne hazards and ensuring fair practices in the food trade.
It deals more with domestic food safety risks, including a broad range of biological, chemical, and physical hazards in food that could affect human health.
WOAH (OIE ): primarily addresses issues related to
animal health and zoonotic diseases.
Its risk assessment is more geared towards understanding and managing risks associated with the international trade of animals and animal products, including the spread of animal diseases and pathogens that could impact animal health, public health, and economies.
What is the SPS Agreement?
The SPS Agreement provides WTO Members with the right to use SPS measures to protect human, animal or plant life or health.
Each WTO Member is entitled to maintain a level of protection it considers appropriate to protect human, animal or plant life or health within its territory.
The international standards, guidelines and recommendations for risk analysis according to the SPS-agreement are given by (3)
the Codex Alimentarius (CAC), WOAH (OIE) and
by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
The WOAH (OIE) also includes the cost evaluation into the risk assessment, whereas Codex Alimentarius (CAC) includes it to the
risk management.
WOAH (OIE) mainly focuses on import risks whereas Codex Alimentarius stresses
domestic risks or risks related to specific products.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission defines three components for food safety risk analysis:
- risk assessment
- risk management
- risk communication
Hazard:
A biological, chemical or physical agent in, or condition of, food with the potential to cause an adverse health effect.
Risk:
A function of the probability of an adverse health effect and the severity of that effect, consequential to a hazard (or hazards) in food.
Risk analysis:
A process consisting of three components: risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication.
Risk assessment:
A scientifically based process consisting of the following steps: (i) hazard identification; (ii) hazard characterization; (iii) exposure assessment; and (iv) risk characterization.
Hazard identification:
The identification of biological, chemical, and physical agents capable of causing adverse health effects and which may be present in a particular food or group of foods.
Hazard characterization:
The qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation of the nature of the adverse health effects associated with biological, chemical and physical agents that may be present in food.
For chemical agents, a dose–response assessment should be performed. For biological or physical agents, a dose–response assessment should be performed if the data are obtainable.
Exposure assessment:
The qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation of the likely intake of biological, chemical, and physical agents via food as well as exposures from other sources if relevant.
Risk characterization:
The qualitative and/or quantitative estimation, including attendant uncertainties, of the probability of occurrence and severity of known or potential adverse health effects in a given population based on hazard identification, hazard characterization and exposure assessment.
Risk management:
The process, distinct from risk assessment, of weighing policy alternatives in consultation with all interested parties, considering risk assessment and other factors relevant for the health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair trade practices, and, if needed, selecting appropriate prevention and control options.
Risk communication:
The interactive exchange of information and opinions throughout the risk analysis process concerning hazards and risks, risk-related factors and risk perceptions, among risk assessors, risk managers, consumers, industry, the academic community and other interested parties, including the explanation of risk assessment findings and the basis of risk management decisions.
The Terrestrial Animal Health Code and the Aquatic Animal Health Code (‘the Code(s)’) of the WOAH (OIE) describe four components in import risk analysis (fig.3):
- hazard identification
- risk assessment
- risk management
- risk communication
Once the risk assessment has carried out the hazard, exposure and context assessments, a level of risk should be assigned. This process is called
risk characterization.
A useful tool to assist the team is risk characterization, is a risk matrix in which what is placed?
where estimates of the likelihood are combined with estimates of the consequences.
As the majority of acute public health event risk assessments are qualitative, the categories used in the matrix are not based on numerical values but on
broad descriptive definitions of likelihood and consequences.
Risk communication is often listed last when it comes to risk management, which is not an accurate reflection of its importance.
To be effective, risk communication needs to be
planned and initiated early in a risk assessment.
Surveys show that the public trust information from environmental groups or consumer organizations much more than that from
government sources (and experts).
Similarly, information provided by the media is trusted more than official government statements.
Powell and Leis (1997) defined 10 lessons in risk communication based on analysis of case studies of a range of animal health, food safety and public health issues:
- a vacuum in information on risk is a primary factor in the social amplification of risk
- regulators are responsible for effective risk communication
- industry is responsible for effective risk communication
- if you are responsible, act early and often
- there is always more to a risk issue than what the science says
- always put the science in a policy context
- ‘educating the public’ is no substitute for good risk communication practice
- banish ‘no risk’ messages
- risk messages should address the ‘contest of opinion’ directly
- communicating well has benefits for risk management.
Which organization
Centers on animal health and zoonotic diseases.
WOAH (OIE)
Which organization
Includes consequence assessment in the risk assessment process.
WOAH (OIE)
Which organization
Addresses risks associated with foodborne hazards.
Codex Alimentarius
Which organization
Focus on domestic food safety risks.
Codex Alimentarius
The public’s and stakeholders’ subjective evaluation of risk describes…?
Risk perception
The process of assigning a level of risk based on hazard, exposure, and context assessments describes…?
Risk characterization
A visual tool used in risk assessments describes..?
Risk matrix
Exchange of information to encourage informed decision-making and maintain trust describes..?
Risk communication
What aspect is NOT included in WOAH (OIE)’s risk assessment process for import risk analysis?
Economic evaluation
What is NOT a component of food safety risk analysis as defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission?
Risk mitigation
What is the primary function of a risk matrix in the context of public health event risk assessments?
To offer a visual tool for discussion and agreement on risk levels.
