Risk assessmentshould be flexible in order to deal with the complexity of real-life situations. No single method is applicable in all cases. Risk assessmentshould be able to accommodate the variety of animal commodities, the multiple hazards that may be identified with an importation and the specificity of each disease, detection and surveillance systems, exposure scenarios and types and amounts of data and information.
Both qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods are valid.
The risk assessment should be based on the best available information that is in accord with current scientific thinking. The assessment should be well documented and supported with references to the scientific literature and other sources, including expert opinion.
Consistency in risk assessment methods should be encouraged and transparency is essential in order to ensure fairness and rationality, consistency in decision-making and ease of understanding by all the interested parties.
Risk assessments should document the uncertainties, the assumptions made and the effect of these on the final risk estimate.
Risk increases with increasing volume of commodity imported.
The risk assessment should be amendable to updating when additional information becomes available.
