The conference entitled “The Precautionary Principle: A Rule of Law or a Meta-Legal Principle?” will be held at Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.

Scheduled for Wednesday, 12 November and Thursday, 13 November 2025, the event will take place in the PRABB Conference Hall, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, Rome. It will bring together distinguished academics and representatives from institutions and the business community to discuss the evolution of the precautionary principle, which is playing an increasingly central role in European and international law.

The event is organised by Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma as part of the PRIN PNRR project “Integral WELLbeing for Human Flourishing: Healthcare and Food from an Ethical and Legal Perspective” (I-WELL), whose Principal Investigator is Professor Francesco Bruno.

The event will also serve as the national conference of AIDA – the Italian Association of Food Law, with the participation of the Accademia dei Georgofili – Central-Western Section and the University of Pisa.

First Session: The Precautionary Principle – Evolution and Limitations

The first day, Wednesday, 12 November, will focus on the evolution and limitations of the precautionary principle.

The session will open at 2:30 p.m. with institutional greetings, followed by an introductory address by Francesco Bruno, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, and Roberto Saija, Università San Raffaele di Roma, entitled “The Precautionary Principle between Law and Evocation”.

The proceedings will be chaired by Antonio Jannarelli, University of Bari, and will include the following contributions:

• Daniele Manzella, FAO: “The Precautionary Principle in International Law”
• Elena Quadri, Council of State: “The Precautionary Principle in Administrative Case Law”
• Gian Domenico Mosco, Luiss Guido Carli: “Precaution in the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Corporate Governance”
• Matteo Benozzo, University of Macerata: “The Precautionary Principle in Environmental Disputes and Climate Change”

The session will conclude at 6:00 p.m., followed by the national assembly of AIDA and, at 9:00 p.m., the conference dinner.

Second Session: The Precautionary Principle in the Agri-Food Supply Chain – Opportunities and Challenges

The second day, Thursday, 13 November, will focus on the ethical and legal dimensions of precaution.

The morning session will be chaired by Sonia Carmignani, University of Siena, and will include the following contributions:

• Antonio Gullo, Luiss Guido Carli: “The Precautionary Principle and Criminal Food Law: Individual and Corporate Liability”
• Paolo Borghi, University of Ferrara: “The Precautionary Principle between Business Needs and Consumer Protection”
• Adriano Fabris, University of Pisa: “Precaution, Control and Responsibility in Technological Contexts”
• Alessandra Di Lauro, University of Pisa: “The Precautionary Principle and Sustainability”
• Marta Bertolaso, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma: “The Precautionary Principle at the Intersection of Epistemology, Ethics and Law”

First Roundtable – The Precautionary Principle in the Agri-Food Supply Chain: Opportunities and Challenges

The first roundtable will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will be chaired by Francesco Adornato, University of Macerata.

Participants will include:

• Irene Canfora, University of Bari
• Marianna Giuffrida, University of Messina
• Pamela Lattanzi, University of Macerata
• Stefano Masini, University of Rome Tor Vergata
• Luca Petrelli, University of Camerino
• Giuseppina Pisciotta Tosini, University of Palermo
• Luigi Russo, University of Ferrara
• Antonio Sciaudone, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”

The discussion will conclude at 1:00 p.m. and will be followed by lunch.

Second Roundtable – The Precautionary Principle, Institutions and Business Activities

Following the lunch break, the second and broader roundtable will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be chaired by Francesco Bruno, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma.

The discussion will feature:

• General Daniele Melis, Commander of the Carabinieri Command for Agri-Food Protection
• Gianfrancesco Romeo, Directorate-General for Consumers and the Market, Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy
• Iside Cesarini, MASE – CORUC Directorate-General
• Pierluigi Sassi, Roullier Group
• Raffaele Coppola, University of Molise
• Emanuele Marconi, CREA Food and Nutrition
• Cristian Bolognini, Philip Morris International
• Davide Mauta, CIRFOOD
• Andrea Camaiora, The Skill

The programme will also include scheduled contributions by:

• Alice Artom, lawyer admitted to the Milan Bar
• Domenico Monci, University of Molise
• Ginevra Brutto, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
• Angelo Marinucci, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

The concluding remarks will be delivered by Ferdinando Albisinni, University of Tuscia.

Organising Committee

The conference Organising Committee is composed of:

• Francesco Bruno, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
• Roberto Saija, Università San Raffaele di Roma
• Ginevra Brutto, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
• Gelsomina Russo Corvace, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

Conference Accredited by the Rome Bar Association

Participation in the conference entitles attendees to six continuing professional development credits.

Conference Registration

Attendance is open to the public, subject to prior registration through the form below and subject to availability.