Changes

==Risk Management==

==Risk Management==

Here the risk manager looks at the risk assessors results & using their own judgement balances potential benefits against assessed risks to reach a desision on the acceptable level of risk. It is based on this judgement that policy is made. Cost-benefit analysis or risk-benefit analysis may be used. Risk management also includes a structured process consisting of the following:

Here the risk manager looks at the risk assessors results & using their own judgement balances potential benefits against assessed risks to reach a desision on the acceptable level of risk. It is based on this judgement that policy is made. Cost-benefit analysis or risk-benefit analysis may be used. Risk management also includes a structured process consisting of the following:

##Becoming aware that a risk issue exists (i.e. a situation with one or more unwanted potential outcomes).

#Becoming aware that a risk issue exists (i.e. a situation with one or more unwanted potential outcomes).

##"Scoping the problem"-This includes deciding what further action is required, this depends on if the risk manager sees the risk issue as being of importance. He may decide that a formal risk assessment is not required. He may decide to use the Precautionary Principle & put in place measures to deal with the percieved risk even before the formal risk assessment is undertaken.  

#"Scoping the problem"-This includes deciding what further action is required, this depends on if the risk manager sees the risk issue as being of importance. He may decide that a formal risk assessment is not required. He may decide to use the Precautionary Principle & put in place measures to deal with the percieved risk even before the formal risk assessment is undertaken.  

##Obtaining relevant information - e.g. in the form of Hazard Identification or a Risk Assessment, potential costs & benfits (which could take the form of a Cost-Benefit or Risk-Benefit analsysis).

#Obtaining relevant information - e.g. in the form of Hazard Identification or a Risk Assessment, potential costs & benfits (which could take the form of a Cost-Benefit or Risk-Benefit analsysis).

##Identifying the management options.

#Identifying the management options.

##Deciding which measures should be put in place to deal with the risk (called Risk-Reduction Measures).

#Deciding which measures should be put in place to deal with the risk (called Risk-Reduction Measures).

##Making sure that these decisions are carried out & monitoring the consequences of actions taken.

#Making sure that these decisions are carried out & monitoring the consequences of actions taken.

##Evaluating the outcomes of these decisions & actions taken.

#Evaluating the outcomes of these decisions & actions taken.

##Re-evaluating the problem in light of these outcomes.<br><br>During this process new information may arise, this may lead to the need to try to identify new hazards, do more risk assessments leading to a requirement for more management with different risk management options available. This cylce of activity highlights the fact that risk management is an iterative process. The risk assessment is usually carried out by different people to the those that carry out the risk management.<br><br>The risk manager will consider what level of risk is acceptable. But the an "Acceptable Risk" for one preson maynot be acceptable to another. Often those that reeps the benefits from a situation (i.e. importing meat from a country) are not those that would suffer due to any undesirable outcomes (e.g. the infection of cattle in the importing country with Foot & Mouth Disease brought in with the imported meat). Therefore agreement on the acceptable level of risk is required between all involved parties. This requires the level of risk to be assessed in a manner that is accepted by all parties & also communication between the parties & the risk managers & risk assessors.

#Re-evaluating the problem in light of these outcomes.<br><br>During this process new information may arise, this may lead to the need to try to identify new hazards, do more risk assessments leading to a requirement for more management with different risk management options available. This cylce of activity highlights the fact that risk management is an iterative process. The risk assessment is usually carried out by different people to the those that carry out the risk management.<br><br>The risk manager will consider what level of risk is acceptable. But the an "Acceptable Risk" for one preson maynot be acceptable to another. Often those that reeps the benefits from a situation (i.e. importing meat from a country) are not those that would suffer due to any undesirable outcomes (e.g. the infection of cattle in the importing country with Foot & Mouth Disease brought in with the imported meat). Therefore agreement on the acceptable level of risk is required between all involved parties. This requires the level of risk to be assessed in a manner that is accepted by all parties & also communication between the parties & the risk managers & risk assessors.

#'''Risk Communication.'''<br>As mentioned, this requires open communication between all parties affected by both the risk & decisions made (collectively these parties are called the stakeholders), risk managers & risk asssessors; this should begin as early as possible. Risk Communication achieves the following:

==Risk Communication==

##It allows the exchange of factual information between stakeholders.

As mentioned, this requires open communication between all parties affected by both the risk & decisions made (collectively these parties are called the stakeholders), risk managers & risk asssessors; this should begin as early as possible. Risk Communication achieves the following:

##It helps the risk manager to assess the different stakeholders '''perceived''' level of risk.

#It allows the exchange of factual information between stakeholders.

##It helps the risk manager to assess the different stakeholders '''acceptable''' level of risk.

#It helps the risk manager to assess the different stakeholders '''perceived''' level of risk.

##It allows understanding of the acceptablility & feasibility of different risk management options.

#It helps the risk manager to assess the different stakeholders '''acceptable''' level of risk.

##It allows understanding of the effects of different management options.

#It allows understanding of the acceptablility & feasibility of different risk management options.

##It encourages stakeholders to trust the risk manager, the process of the risk analysis & each other.

#It allows understanding of the effects of different management options.

#It encourages stakeholders to trust the risk manager, the process of the risk analysis & each other.

Risk communication may include public meetings, discussion documents, telephone help desks web-based forums, etc...

Risk communication may include public meetings, discussion documents, telephone help desks web-based forums, etc...

''The terminology in this section is that used by the OIE.

''The terminology in this section is that used by the OIE.