>To be serious, is the precautionary principle not just risk assessment by
another name?

No.  However, I think you may have confused risk assessment with risk mitigation.  The precautionary principle would be an example of risk mitigation.

The problem with the precautionary principle is that it ignores the economic reality that there is a direct correlation between risk and reward.  When risk is reduced, the potential reward is also reduced.  The precautionary principle stifles and discourages activity that would otherwise have the potential to be productive.

Under the precautionary principle, you should not keep bees because you might get stung.  Now only are stings painful, you might be allergic and die.  The reality is, some of us believe the potential rewards of beekeeping outweigh the risks of being stung or having allergic reactions.

The precautionary principle attracts beta personality fools, while some folks with a little wisdom gladly keep bees.

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