“Evidence-informed regulation: integrating science into European policy – where do we stand today?”

Following the works of the 9th THR Summit (September 28-30, 2026 – virtual), and in specific of the session entitled “Evidence-Informed Regulation: Integrating Science and Public Consultation into European Policy”, SCOHRE schedules a webinar on Thursday, November 19th, entitled “Evidence-informed regulation: integrating science into European policy – where do we stand today?”.

Building on the discussion initiated during the 9th THR Summit, this webinar takes a broader look at the role of scientific evidence in European policymaking and the challenges involved in translating evolving knowledge into effective regulation.

In areas where science, public health and policy intersect, evidence is rarely static or unequivocal. New findings emerge, uncertainties remain, and policymakers are often required to make decisions while balancing potential benefits and risks, population-level considerations, behavioural realities and wider societal impacts.

Against this background, the discussion will explore what evidence-informed regulation means in practice:

• How should policymakers assess evolving or sometimes conflicting evidence?
• How can uncertainty be addressed without becoming a barrier to action or innovation?
• What role can harm reduction play within a broader public-health framework?
• How can regulatory approaches evolve as the evidence itself evolves?

Bringing together different scientific and policy perspectives, the webinar aims to move beyond the question of whether science informs policy, and examine how scientific evidence can be translated into proportionate, adaptive and effective regulation, while maintaining public-health objectives at its core.

Moderator: Konstantinos Farsalinos

Speaker: Clive Bates

Discussant: David Sweanor

For more information on the webinar, click here!