In recent times, awareness of the environmental protection issues affecting businesses has increased, and the influx of environmental legislation from the EU has resulted in hundreds of Regulations being applicable in the UK. The Government's Red Tape Challenge aims to reduce the pressure on businesses from what is deemed to be overly complicated regulation.
The initiative began in April 2011, and relies heavily on public consultation, with those dealing with legislation on a daily basis being asked to inform the Government on what is and what is not working, and to offer suggestions to improve matters. The Red Tape Challenge is now seeking views on the practical effectiveness of legislation in order to decide which of the 287 current environmental Regulations should stay and which should go. They have been categorised as follows:
After this period of consultation, the next task for ministers is to compile submissions and use them in preparing proposals aimed at reducing regulatory red tape. A "Star Chamber" will then review the proposals and the Regulations considered "onerous" will go, unless their continued application can be justified. In addition, the Department of Energy and Climate Change has published a list of 334 Regulations to be reviewed under the energy theme, which will formally begin on 25 November.
For further information on the Red Tape Challenge, visit http://cedr.ec/rtc and for details on DECC's review, check out http://cedr.ec/decc.
