A Primer on Scientific Risk Assessment at Health Canada

Abstract:     
This Primer provides an introduction to how science is used at Health Canada to assess and manage health risks, particularly risks that may be associated with products regulated by Health Canada. Corporate, ethics, legal and economic risks are not covered in this Primer. The focus of the Primer is on the use of the natural sciences in decision making. The main purpose of this Primer is to introduce these concepts in the context of their use. The scientific assessments carried out at Health Canada require sophisticated technical skills and a complex system of cooperation between players in the public and private sectors. The Primer addresses three fundamental questions that represent the basic elements of a risk management system. The question “Who is at risk?” is addressed first. It is followed by the questions “What causes the risks?” and “How does Health Canada deal with the risks?”

Number of Pages in PDF File: 20

working papers series