The Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (England) Regulations 2017 PIR: RPC Opinion (Green-rated)
Regulatory Policy Committee on Defra's Environmental Protection (Microbeads) (England) Regulations 2017 PIR
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The Department has reviewed the 2017 regulations that were introduced to prohibit the manufacture and sale of ‘rinse-off’ cosmetics and personal care products containing microbeads.
As originally submitted, the PIR was not fit for purpose; the RPC found that the PIR did not clearly set out level of evidence to proportionately support the recommendation. The Department had not provided sufficient justification of why there are the large gaps in the evidence base. The RPC now considers the post-implementation review (PIR) to be fit for purpose. The recommendation to keep the ban is now supported by proportionate evidence and analysis given the relatively low-level of estimated impacts of the measure. The PIR provides a relatively light-touch assessment of impacts on business and achievement of policy objectives, although this draws upon, for example, survey evidence. The assessment is reasonable overall and sufficient to support the recommendation, although the PIR could have been improved by more robust monitoring and evaluation