Research and analysis

Costs of compliance: questionnaire

Published 23 September 2026

1. Introduction: Computer assisted telephone interview

Q1: Good Morning / Afternoon, my name is (name), I’m calling on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade, in connection with the Office for Product Safety and Standards. I need to speak with [if contact name on sample: contact name] [if no contact name on sample] the Compliance Manager, please?

Add if necessary: I am calling on behalf of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) on behalf of IFF Research.

Who is OPSS? OPSS is a government agency that protects people and places from unsafe products and enforces technical, environmental and product legislation.

Who is DBT? It’s the UK government department that handles business growth, trade, and regulatory oversight, including product safety

Respondent not interested - I totally understand, this isn’t a sales call. I just need to speak with the person who handles product safety or compliance.

Job titles could be (not limited to):

• Head of Compliance
• Quality Assurance Manager / Director
• Product Safety Manager
• Risk & Compliance Manager

Do not read out. Single code

Transferred	1	Continue
Transferred to respondent	2	Transfer and re-introduce
Hard appointment	3	Make appointment
Soft appointment	4	Make appointment
Refusal	5	Thank and close
Nobody at site able to answer questions	6	Thank and close
Not available in deadline	7	Thank and close
Engaged	8	Thank and close
No Answer	9	Thank and close
Answer phone	10	Thank and close
Wrong number - no new number provided	11	Thank and close
Needs reassurances	12
New number provided for respondent (enter on next screen)	13
Request reassurance email	14	Collect email address then continue or make appointment (see appendix for email text)
Terminate interview	15	Thank and close
Not a non-domestic property	16	Thank and close

Ask all.

Q2: Good morning / afternoon, my name is (name), calling from IFF research on behalf of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), a regulator within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) that is tasked with ensuring products on the market are safe and comply with legal requirements.

We’re speaking with businesses like yours to understand the real challenges faced when it comes to complying with product safety regulations such as time and cost. Your insights will help shape practical improvements to make compliance simpler and less of a burden.

It would be very helpful to run through some questions on this topics together now please?

Add if necessary:

The call today will take approx. 20 mins dependent on answers, we can make and start and always come back to it, if necessary.

We already comply / don’t have issues with product safety – that’s no problem, we would still be really keen to hear your views

Do not read out. Single code

Continue	1	Continue
Referred to someone else at establishment	2	Transfer and re-introduce
Hard appointment	3	Make appointment
Soft appointment	4	Make appointment
Refusal	6	Thank and close
Refusal – company policy	7	Thank and close
Refusal – Taken part in recent survey	8	Thank and close
Not a senior decision-maker and unable to refer to someone else at establishment	9	Thank and close
Not available in deadline	10	Thank and close
Needs reassurances	11
Request reassurance email	12	Collect email address then continue or make appointment (see appendix for email text)

Reassurances to use if necessary

The interview will take around 15-20 minutes to complete.

We are writing to ask for your help with an important piece of research being conducted for the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT’s) and Office for Product Safey and Standards (OPSS), the UK government office responsible for protecting people and places from product-related harm.

In particular, we want to understand your views and experiences of current product safety regulations and the costs they impose on businesses like yours. Participating in this survey gives you the opportunity to provide feedback on the time and costs involved in complying with product safety regulations.

Please note that all data will be reported in aggregate form and your answers will not be reported to DBT or OPSS in any way that would allow you to be identified, unless you give express permissions for us to do this.

All information collected will be treated in the strictest confidence. Under data protection law, you have the right to have a copy of your data, change your data, or withdraw from the research at any point.

If respondent wishes to confirm validity of survey or get more information about aims and objectives, they can call:

To check IFF’s credentials: Market Research Society on 0800 975 9596

For extra information about the study: Joe Charsley, Connor Davis or Chris Bick via costsofcompliance@iffresearch.com.

To confirm research is genuinely on behalf of DBT:  Dr. Mahvish Faran  (Mahvish.Faran@businessandtrade.gov.uk) or Oliver Dawkins (Oliver.dawkins@businessandtrade.gov.uk).

2. Introduction: website

Welcome to this survey on behalf of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).

We would like to hear from you and other businesses like yours from across the UK about your experiences with the costs of complying with our regulations. This survey should take around 20 minutes to complete and will ask questions about your experience of costs you have incurred while complying with product safety standards or regulations, including labour costs, external costs, and compliance management.

The results from this survey will help us to more accurately understand the costs businesses face in complying with our regulations and will help to shape future regulation and compliance policy , including efforts to reduce the burden for businesses.

All information collected will be treated in the strictest confidence. Under data protection law, you have the right to have a copy of your data, change your data, or withdraw from the research at any point. In order to guarantee this, and as part of our quality control procedures, all interviews are recorded automatically. Is that OK?

3. Screener

Ask all.

I1: How many people work directly for your company across the UK? (If you are a sole trader, please enter 0).

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If I1 is don’t know or prefer not to, say show range.

I1a:  Which of the following bands covers the approximate number of people employed at your business?

Read out. Single code.

Micro (0-9)	1
Small (10 to 49 people)	2
Medium (50 to 249 people)	3
Large (250+ people)	4
Don’t Know	5
Prefer not to say	6

S1b: That’s great, thank you. Before we proceed any further, I want to reassure you that all information collected will be treated in the strictest confidence. Under data protection law, you have the right to have a copy of your data, change your data, or withdraw from the research at any point. In order to guarantee this, and as part of our quality control procedures, all interviews are recorded automatically. Is that OK?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1	Continue
No	2	Thank and close

S1: According to our records [insert sic description from sample] best describes the activity of your business, is this correct?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4
Company is closed	5

S1b: That’s great, thank you. Before we proceed any further, I want to reassure you that all information collected will be treated in the strictest confidence. Under data protection law, you have the right to have a copy of your data, change your data, or withdraw from the research at any point. In order to guarantee this, and as part of our quality control procedures, all interviews are recorded automatically. Is that OK?

Do not read out. Single code

Yes	1	Continue
No	2	Thank and close

S1: According to our records [insert sic description from sample] best describes the activity of your business, is this correct?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4
Company is closed	5

Ask if sample sic code wrong (S1=2 OR 3)

S1a: What is the main activity of your business?

Prompt if necessary.

What is the main product or service?

What exactly do you make or do?

What materials or machinery does that involve using?

Write in. To be coded to 4 digit sic 2007. Allow refused.

Ask all.

S2: And just to confirm, is your business involved in manufacturing of any type?

Do not read out. Single code

Yes	1
No	2	[if CATI] Thank and close [if Web] Route to screen out text]
Don’t know	3	[if CATI] Thank and close [if Web] Route to screen out text]
Prefer not to say	4	[if CATI] Thank and close [if Web] Route to screen out text]

Ask all.

S3a: Do you manufacture any of the following?

Food	1	Thank and close
Pharmaceuticals	2
Cars / Motor vehicles	3
Building products [Read out: This might include any products used in the physical structure of a building as it relates to construction, please note this is not an exhaustive list. e.g. bricks, pre-cast concrete, plasterboard, roof tiles, windows, concrete, steel etc. It does not include tools, machinery or temporary building structures like scaffolding.]	4
None of the above	5
Don’t know	6
Prefer not to say	7

Ask all.

S3b: Do you manufacture any intermediary goods that will be used as a component or   ingredient in a final product? This includes items that will be used in machinery or as part of another manufacturing process.

Read out: An intermediary good is something made to help create other products, not sold straight to shoppers. For example, microchips used in smartphones, glass used in making windows for buildings, and synthetic fabrics produced for clothing manufacturers are all intermediary goods.

Do not read out, single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3

Ask if manufacturers intermediary goods (S3B=1)

S3c. Do you also manufacture any products which have individual consumers as the end customer?

Yes (via an intermediary as a retailer)	1
No	2
Don’t know	3

If only manufacturers intermediary goods (S3C=2 OR 3)

S3d: To the best of your knowledge, what is the end customer base for the final products that your intermediate goods help to manufacture?

Read out. Multicode.

Individual/household consumers (via an intermediary such as a retailer) [if necessary: people/families who purchase the products for personal use, either directly from the manufacturer or via an intermediary such as a wholesaler.]	1
Government/institutional consumers [if necessary: public sector organisations or entities such as schools, hospitals and charities, who purchase the products either directly from the manufacturer or via an intermediary such as a wholesaler]	2
Industrial/manufacturing consumers [if necessary: companies or organisations that purchase the products to use in production or  operations, for example machine parts, tools or specialised equipment that they use to produce their goods, or are products used exclusively in industry or service providers, such as airlines, aerospace or national grid operations.	3	Screen out if singlecode
Don’t know	4	Screen out

S3: What type of products do you manufacture?

Do not read out. Multicode.

Toys	1
Baby products inc. infant clothing	2
Cosmetics	3
Clothing for persons aged 36 months+	4
Electronics	5
‘Smart’ technology / internet enabled devices	6
Large white goods / Large Domestic Appliances	7
Furniture / Soft furnishings	8
Homeware	9
Sport / Leisure items	10
Plumbing or heating components or systems	11
Code removed
Code removed
Code removed
Code removed
Other (please specify)	16
Don’t know	17
Prefer not to say	18

Ask all.

S4: Throughout this survey, we are primarily interested in estimating the compliance costs associated with product safety standards or regulations specifically.

This means we are not asking about compliance with other types of regulation such as environmental or health and safety regulations.

Can you confirm you are able to answer questions about staff time and expenses related to compliance with regulations within your organisation? If you are unsure about how to separate out the time spent on different areas of regulation, your best estimate is fine.

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1	Continue to A2
No	2	Continue to S5
Don’t know	3	Continue to S5
Prefer not to say	4	Continue to S5

If S4=2/3/4

S5: [If CATI: Could you please provide the contact details of the most appropriate individual within your organisation?] [If Web: Could you please pass the link to this survey to the most appropriate individual within your organisation?] This should be the person in charge of maintaining or upholding compliance; this could be a compliance manager, a QA manager, or a Director.

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes, I can	1	[If CATI: Transfer or collect details of best contact] [If Web: restart survey when link reopened]
No, I cannot	2	[If CATI] Thank and close [If Web] Route to screen out text

Screen out/Thank and close. Text: Thank you for your time today. We appreciate your willingness to take part in the survey but on this occasion, we are hoping to speak with businesses that are involved with manufacturing products for consumers and are impacted by product safety standards or regulations. If you have any questions or believe your business is eligible for this research please email: costsofcompliance@iffresearch.com.

4. Awareness of OPSS and regulations

A1 question deleted

Ask all

A1: How long has your business been operational?

Do not read out. Single code.

0-1 years	1
More than 1 year up to 2 years	2
More than 2 years up to 5 years	3
More than 5 years up to 10 years	4
More than 10 years up to 20 years	5
More than 20 years up to 50 years	6
More than 50 years	7
Don’t know	8
Prefer not to say	9

Ask if new businesses in last 2 years (A2=1 OR 2)

Are you able to answer questions about any initial costs related to compliance at the point your business first started operating?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
We did not incur any costs related to compliance when our business first started operating	3
Don’t know	4	[CATI: DNRO]
Prefer not to say	5	[CATI: DNRO]

Ask all

A1: To the best of your knowledge, which product safety standards or regulations impact your business?

[If CATI: if necessary] [If Web just put as text under question]: If you do not know the correct name please give your best description

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

Ask all

Question Deleted

5. One-off costs of compliance

Ask if business operational for more than 2 years or time operating not known (a2=3-9).

In the past 5 years have there been any changes to product safety regulations, or the introduction of new product safety standards or regulations, which have impacted your business?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If experienced change or able to answer on new business setup costs (b1=1 or a3=1).

The next questions will cover any one-off costs related to [IF B1=1: a change in product safety standards or regulations or responding to a new product safety standards or regulations] [IF A3=1: ensuring compliance with product safety standards or regulations when you first set up your business]. Any ongoing costs of compliance will be covered later in the survey.

Did staff at any of the following levels spend any time related to [IF B1=1: changes in product safety standards or regulations] [IF A3=1: product safety standards or regulations when you first set up your business]? This might include learning about regulations, ensuring products complied with regulations or administrative tasks related to compliance.

[IF B1=1: If your business was impacted by more than one change in product safety standards or regulations, please refer to the most recent regulation change.]

Read out. Multicode.

Factory workers, production workers or administrative employees	1
Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	2
Directors or Senior managers	3
None of these	4	Exclusive
Don’t know	5	Exclusive

If experienced change or able to answer on new business setup costs (b1=1 or a3=1 AND b2 ≠ 4 or 5).

[If B1=1: For the most recent change in product safety standards or regulations] [If A3=1: When first setting up your business], what was the total number of hours spent by employees learning about new regulations and how these impact your business (this might include any time spend on reading and learning about regulations, attending formal training or learning to use new technologies or systems).

Read out and write in responses for each category. If no employees in a given band spend time on this task, please put 0.

[If B2=1] Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If B2=2] Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If B2=3] Directors / Senior managers	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

Each B3 that DK or Prefer not to say prompt to range.

Which  of the following bands covers the approximate number of hours [INSERT B3_X] spent learning about the  [IF A3=1 regulation(s) IF B1=1 new or changing regulations?

Read out. Single code per employee type that is DK/PNTS.

0-1 hours	1
More than 1 hour up to 5 hours	2
More than 5 hours up to 10 hours	3
More than 10 hours up to 20 hours	4
More than 20 hours up to 50 hours	5
More than 50 hours	6
Don’t Know	7
Prefer not to say	8

Question deleted.

If experienced change or able to answer on new business setup costs (b1=1 or a3=1 AND b2 ≠ 4 or 5).

[If B1=1: For the most recent change in product safety standards or regulations] [IF A3=1: When first setting up your business], what was the total number of hours employees spent ensuring your products and services complied with [IF B1=1: the new or changed] product safety standard(s) or regulation(s)?

Read out and write in responses for each category. If no employees in a given band spend time on this task, please put 0

[If B2=1] Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If B2=2] Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If B2=3] Directors / Senior managers	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

Each b5 that is DK or prefer not to say prompt to range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate number of hours [INSERT B5_X] spent ensuring your products and services complied with [IF B1=1: the new or changed] product safety standard(s) or regulation(s)?

Read out. Single code per employee type that is DK/PNTS.

0-1 hours	1
More than 1 hour up to 5 hours	2
More than 5 hours up to 10 hours	3
More than 10 hours up to 20 hours	4
More than 20 hours up to 50 hours	5
More than 50 up to 100 hours	6
More than 100 hours	7
Don’t Know	8
Prefer not to say	9

If experienced change or able to answer on new business setup costs (b1=1 or a3=1 AND b2 ≠ 4 or 5).

[IF B1=1: For the most recent change in product safety standards or regulations] [IF A3=1: When first setting up your business], what was the total number of hours employees spent on administrative tasks related to monitoring and complying with [IF B1=1: the new or changed] product safety standard(s) or regulation(s)?

Read out and write in responses for each category. If no employees in a given band spend time on this task, please put 0.

[If B2=1] Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If B2=2] Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If B2=1] Directors / Senior managers	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

Each b6 that is DK or prefer not to say show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate number of hours [INSERT B6_X] spent on administrative tasks related to monitoring and complying with [If B1=1: the new or changed] product safety standard(s) or regulation(s)?

Read out. Single code per employee type that is DK/PNTS.

0-1 hours	1
More than 1 hour up to 5 hours	2
More than 5 hours up to 10 hours	3
More than 10 hours up to 20 hours	4
More than 20 hours up to 50 hours	5
More than 50 up to 100 hours	6
More than 100 hours	7
Don’t Know	8
Prefer not to say	9

If experienced change or able to answer on new business setup costs (b1=1 or a3=1)

Turning to external costs that your business incurred [IF B1=1: due to the most recent change in product safety standards or regulations [IF A3=1: regarding product safety standards or regulations when first setting up your business].

Did your business incur costs for any of the following?

Read out. Multicode.

External legal or accounting advice	1
External training or trainers to help ensure compliance	2
Any other kind of external consultants	3
None of these	4	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]
Don’t know	5	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]

If hired external legal or accounting services (b7=1).

Approximately how much did this legal or accounting advice cost?

Add if necessary: please provide answer in pounds (£).

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If b8 DK or prefer not to say show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate cost of the legal or accounting advice?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not to say	14

Question deleted.

If commissioned external training (b7=2)

How much did the external training or trainers cost?

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If b10 DK or prefer not to say show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate cost of the external training or trainers?

Read out. Single code.

£0-£1,000	1
£1,001-£5,000	2
£5,001-£10,000	3
£10,001-£50,000	4
£50,001-£100,000	5
More than £100,000	6
Don’t Know	7
Prefer not to say	8

Question deleted.

If hired external consultants (B7=3).

[If B7=(1 OR 2) AND (3)] You said you hired any other kind of external consulting services that are separate from legal, accounting or training services.] What was the primary service or services that these consultants provided?

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If hired external consultants (B7=3).

Approximately how much did these other consulting services cost, in total?

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If b13 DK or prefer not to say show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate cost of these consulting services?

Read out. Single code.

£0-£1,000	1
£1,001-£5,000	2
£5,001-£10,000	3
£10,001-£50,000	4
£50,001-£100,000	5
More than £100,000	6
Don’t Know	7
Prefer not to say	8

6. Capital and materials costs of OPSS regulatory compliance

If experienced change (B1=1).

The following section covers capital and materials costs of regulatory compliance. This refers to those costs associated with the investment in new products, equipment or material production inputs as a direct consequence of new or changed product safety standards or regulations.

Please do your best to isolate costs resulting from new or changed product safety standards or regulations from standard running costs, even if you can only provide an estimation.

If experienced change (B1=1).

In the past 5 years, which of the following expenditures has your business incurred to comply with new or changing product safety standards or regulations?

Read out. Multicode.

Investment in new materials	1
Investment in equipment or software related to your production	2
Other (Please specify)	4	Write in
None of these	5	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]
Don’t know	6	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]
Prefer not to say	7	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]

If invested in new materials (c2=1).

Did your investment in new materials replace existing materials that were deemed to be no-longer compliant?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If replaced existing non-compliant materials (C3=1).

What was the approximate percentage increase in your production costs as a result of the introduction of these new materials?

Please only include increases in costs directly related to introducing new materials to comply with new or changing product safety standards or regulations.

Write in figure
No increase in cost	1	DNRO. Exclusive
Don’t know	2	DNRO. Exclusive
Prefer not to say	3	DNRO. Exclusive

If Don’t know exact number or Prefer not to say, show ranges (C4=2/3).

Which of the following bands covers the percentage increase in your production costs as a result of the introduction of these new materials?

Read out. Single code.

0-5%	1
More than 5% up to 10%	2
More than 10% up to 25%	3
More than 25% up to 50%	4
More than 50% up to 75%	5
More than 75% up to 100%	6
More than 100%	7
Don’t Know	8
Prefer not to say	9

If experienced change (B1=1).

Did new or changing product safety standards or regulations cause your business to incur costs associated with losing existing stock that was no longer compliant?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If incurred costs through non-compliant stock (C5=1).

Approximately what was the cost of stock that was lost?

Add if necessary: please provide answer in Pounds (£)

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If C6 Don’t know or prefer not to say.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate cost of the stock that was lost?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not to say	14

If invested in new equipment or software (c2=2).

You mentioned that as a result of changing or new product safety standards or regulations you have invested in new equipment or software related to production. What was the total cost in pounds (£) of this investment in terms of

Write in one cost per iteration

_1 Upfront capital expenditure?	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
_2 Ongoing cost of use over a 12-month period	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

If C7_1=2/3.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate upfront capital expenditure on new equipment or software related to production?

Do not read out. Single code

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	5
£50,000-£74,999	6
£75,000-£99,999	7
£100,000-£149,999	8
£150,000-£199,999	9
£200,000-£249,999	10
£250,000-£499,999	11
£500,000-£999,999	12
£1,000,000+	13
Don’t Know	14
Prefer not to say	15

If C7_2=2/3.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate ongoing cost over a 12 month period of using new equipment or software related to production?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	5
£50,000-£74,999	6
£75,000-£99,999	7
£100,000-£149,999	8
£150,000-£199,999	9
£200,000-£249,999	10
£250,000-£499,999	11
£500,000-£999,999	12
£1,000,000+	13
Don’t Know	14
Prefer not to say	15

If produce toys or cosmetics (s3=1 or 3).

Have you reformulated any of your IF S3=1 and S3≠3: toy] [IF S3=3 and S3≠1: cosmetic] [IF S3=1 AND S3=3: toy or cosmetic] products in the last 5 years?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If reformulated costs and changes to regulations impacted business (C8=1 and b1=1).

Was this reformulation related to the change in regulation that you have already answered cost questions about?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No- we reformulated for another reason	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If reformulated and not related to regulation change (c8=1 OR c9=2,3 or 4).

Thinking about the most recent occasion where you reformulated one of your [IF S3=1 and S3≠3: toy] [IF S3=3 and S3≠1: cosmetic] [IF S3=1 AND S3=3: toy or cosmetic] products. What were the total number of hours spent by internal staff at different levels on ensuring compliance related to this reformulation?

If no employees at a given level spent time on this, please enter zero. Please only include time spent directly on regulatory compliance (do not include time spent on other aspects of the reformulation).

Read out and write in responses for each category. If no employees in a given band spend time on this task, please put 0.

[If B2=1]Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If B2=2] Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If B2=3] Directors / Senior managers	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

If any c10 DK or prefer not to say show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate number of hours [INSERT C10_X] spent on ensuring compliance related to this reformulation?

Read out. Single code per employee type that is DK/PNTS.

0-1 hours	1
More than 1 hour up to 5 hours	2
More than 5 hours up to 10 hours	3
More than 10 hours up to 20 hours	4
More than 20 hours up to 50 hours	5
More than 50 up to 100 hours	6
More than 100 hours	7
Don’t Know	8
Prefer not to say	9

If reformulated not related to regulation change (C8=1 AND C9=2,3 OR 4).

Thinking about the most recent occasion where you reformulated one of your [IF S3=1 and S3≠3: toy] [IF S3=3 and S3≠1: cosmetic] [IF S3=1 AND S3=3: toy or cosmetic] products. What were the direct costs associated with ensuring compliance related to this reformulation?

This could include costs related to testing, gaining regulatory approval, updating packaging and labels, legal consultations, supplier costs and equipment upgrades. Please only include costs directly related to regulatory compliance (do not include wider costs related to the reformulation).

Add if necessary: please provide answer in Pounds (£).

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If DK or PNTS show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate direct costs associated with ensuring compliance related to this reformulation?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not to say	14

7. Labour costs of ongoing regulatory compliance

Ask if experienced regulatory change or able to answer on new business setup costs (b1=1 or a3=1).

Thank you for your responses so far. Have you or your staff spent any time on day-to-day compliance with product safety standards or regulations in the last 12 months, that has not been covered in your previous responses?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

Dummy variable, do not ask.

If not answered about one off costs or said they have more ongoing labour costs or dk if have more ongoing costs or not able to answer about new business costs (b1=2/3/4 or d1=1/3/4 or a3=2/3/4/5)	1
If answered about ongoing costs and said they have no more ongoing labour costs (D1=2)	2

If D1dum=1.

The following questions will ask you about staff time and costs associated with day-to-day compliance with product safety standards or regulations.

[If experienced change or able to answer on new business setup costs(B1=1 OR A3=1): Please separate these costs from any one-time costs caused by changes or new regulations.  Any staff time or costs given in the following questions should be separate to the staff time and costs you have already given.]

In the past 12 months, was the day-to-day work of staff at any of the following levels impacted by tasks related to product safety standards or regulations?

This might include: developing, delivering or attending training, reading about regulations, and monitoring and checking regulatory compliance.

Read out. Multicode.

Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	1
Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	2
Directors / Senior managers	3
None of these	4	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]
Don’t know	5	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]

If d3=1 Or 2 or 3.

In the past 12 months what is the total number of hours employees have spent developing and delivering in-house training to ensure that staff understand and comply with product safety standards or regulations?

Please include just the time taken for developing and delivering training, not the time taken for other staff attending training

Add if necessary: For the purposes of this question, in-house training relates to training that was developed by employees for the purposes of training colleagues to be compliant with relevant regulations.

Read out and write in responses for each category. If no employees in a given band spend time on this task, please put 0.

[If D2=1] Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If D2=2] Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If D2=3] Directors / Senior managers	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

If any d3 Don’t know exact number, prompt with ranges.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate number of hours [INSERT D3_X] spent on developing and delivering in house training to ensure compliance with product safety standards or regulations?

Read out. Single code per employee type that is DK/PNTS.

0-1 hours	1
More than 1 hour up to 5 hours	2
More than 5 hours up to 10 hours	3
More than 10 hours up to 20 hours	4
More than 20 hours up to 50 hours	5
50 hours up to 100 hours	6
100 hours plus	7
Don’t Know	8
Prefer not to say	9

If d3=1 or 2 or 3.

In the past 12 months what is the total number of hours employees have spent staying up to date with product safety standards or regulations and ensuring they understand these regulations?

Please include time spent reviewing and learning about regulations as well as time spent attending in-house or external training about product safety standards or regulations. 

If you do not have staff at a given level of seniority or they are not involved, please enter ‘0’. If you are unsure, please provide your best estimate.

Read out and write in responses for each category. If no employees in a given band spend time on this task, please put 0.

[If D2=1] Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If D2=2] Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If D2=3] Directors / Senior managers	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

If any d4 don’t know exact number, prompt with ranges.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate number of hours [INSERT D4_X] spent on staying up to date with product safety standards or regulations and ensuring they understand product safety standards or regulations?

Read out. Single code per employee type that is DK/PNTS.

0-1 hours	1
More than 1 hour up to 5 hours	2
More than 5 hours up to 10 hours	3
More than 10 hours up to 20 hours	4
More than 20 hours up to 50 hours	5
More than 50 hours up to 100 hours	6
More than 100 hours up to 200 hours	7
200+ hours	8
Don’t Know	9
Prefer not to say	10

If d3=1 or 2 or 3.

In the past 12 months what is the total number of hours employees have spent directly monitoring and ensuring that products and services conform to product safety regulatory standards?

This would include auditing, product testing, inspections, as well as gathering, storing and sharing data about regulatory compliance.

Add if necessary: If you are unsure, please provide your best estimate.

Read out and write in responses for each category. If no employees in a given band spend time on this task, please put 0.

[If D2=1] Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If D2=2] Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
[If D2=3] Directors / Senior managers	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

If any d5 DK prefer not to say show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate number of hours [INSERT D5_X] have spent directly monitoring and ensuring that products and services conform to product safety regulatory standards?

Read out. Single code per employee type that is DK/PNTS.

0-1 hours	1
More than 1 hour up to 5 hours	2
More than 5 hours up to 10 hours	3
More than 10 hours up to 20 hours	4
More than 20 hours up to 50 hours	5
More than 50 hours	6
Don’t Know	7
Prefer not to say	8

8. Ongoing external costs

Ask if experienced regulatory change or able to answer on new business setup costs (b1=1 or a3=1).

Have you incurred any external costs associated with day-to-day compliance with product safety standards or regulations in the last 12 months that have not been covered in your previous responses?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not say	4

Dummy variable, do not ask.

If not answered about one off costs or said they have ongoing external costs (b1=2/3 or A3=2-5 or e1=1 / 3 / 4)	1
If answered about one off costs and said they have no more external costs (E1=2)	2

If E1DUM=1.

Over the last 12 months, has your business hired or retained any of the following external services to help ensure ongoing compliance with product safety standards or regulations? [IF B1=1: That is, not in relation to any changes in product safety standards or regulations already discussed] [IF A3=1: That is, in addition to any services used when you first set up your business]. Please do not include any services that are exclusively related to health and safety here.

Read out. Multicode.

External legal or accounting advisers	1
External training or trainers to help ensure compliance	2
Any other kind of external consultants	3
None of these	4	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]
Don’t know	5	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]

If hired external legal advice (e2=1).

Over the last 12-month period how much did this legal advice cost? [IF B1=1 AND B7=1: Please try and separate this out from any one-off costs mentioned earlier due to changes in product safety standards or regulations] [IF A3=1 AND B7=1: Please try and separate these out from one-off costs associated with product safety standards or regulations when you first set up your business].

Add if necessary: please provide answer in pounds (£).

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If e3 DK or prefer not to say prompt to range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate total cost of this legal advice?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not to say	14

E1DUM=1

Question deleted.

If hired external training (e2=2).

Over the last 12-month period how much did the external compliance training or trainers cost? [IF B1=1 AND B7=2: Please try and separate this out from any one-off costs mentioned earlier due to changes in product safety standards or regulations] [IF A3=1 AND B7=2: Please try and separate these out from one-off costs associated with product safety standards or regulations when you first set up your business].

Add if necessary: please provide answer in pounds (£).

Write In
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If e5 DK or prefer not to say show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate total cost of external compliance training or trainers?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not say	14

Question deleted.

If hired other external consultants (e2=3).

[IF E2= 1 OR 2 AND 3 You said you hired any other kind of external consulting services that are separate from legal, accounting or training services.] What was the primary service that the other external consultants provided?

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If hired other external consultants (e2=3).

Over the last 12-month period how much did these consulting services cost? [IF B1=1 AND B7=3: Please try and separate this out from any one-off costs mentioned earlier due to changes in product safety standards or regulations] [IF A3=1 AND B7=3: Please try and separate these out from one-off costs associated with product safety standards or regulations when you first set up your business].

Add if necessary: please provide answer in pounds (£)

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If e8 DK or PNTS show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate total cost of these consulting services?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not to say	14

9. Uncertainty

Ask all.

Has uncertainty surrounding product safety  standards or regulations affected your business’ decisions on investment, staffing or future decision making more generally?

Do not read out. Single code

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If uncertainty has impacted business (f1=1)

Which, if any, of the following have been the impact of this lack of certainty on your business?

Read out. Multicode.

Reduced investment in hiring	1
Reduced investment in staff training	2
Foregoing internal investment	3
Foregoing external investment	4
Reduced ability / confidence to invest in new projects	5
Reduced ability to attract investment/shareholder pressure	6
Other (please specify)	7	Write in
Don’t know	8	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]
Prefer not to say	9	[CATI: DNRO, EXCLUSIVE]

If uncertainty has impacted business (f1=1).

What, if anything, could be done to reduce this uncertainty?

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

10. Cost of penalties and fines

Ask all.

In the past 12 months has your organisation faced any fines or penalties as a result of not being compliant with product safety standards or regulations?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If faced fine or penalty (g1=1).

Which regulation or regulations did these fines or penalties relate to?

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If face fine or penalty (g1=1).

What were the reasons given for your non-compliance?

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If faced fine or penalty g1=1.

In the past 12 months what was the total cost of these fines or penalties?

Add if necessary: please provide answer in pounds (£).

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If G3 DK or prefer not to say prompt to range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate total cost of these fines or penalties?

Add if necessary: please provide answer in pounds (£).

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not to say	14

Ask all.

In the past 12 months has your organisations been required to conduct a product recall as a result of being non-compliant with product safety standards or regulations?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If faced product recall g4=1.

What was the issue that led to the recall?

Do not read out. Single code.

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If faced product recall g4=1.

What was the total cost of this recall, or these recalls in the past 12 months?

Add if necessary: please provide answer in pounds (£).

Write in
Don’t know	1
Prefer not to say	2

If g5 DK prompt to range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate total cost of this recall or recalls?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not to say	14

11. Compliance management

Ask all.

Does your firm have a dedicated compliance team?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

Ask all

How confident are you in your firm’s ability to understand and comply with new regulations?

Read out. Single code.

	Not at all confident	Not very confident	Neither confident nor unconfident	Confident	No concerns at all	Don’t Know	Prefer not to say
_1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7

Ask all.

Question deleted.

Question deleted.

Ask all.

Have you invested in any software related to regulatory compliance (RegTech)?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If invested in RegTech (H5=1).

When was this investment made?

Read out. Single code.

In the last 6 months	1
Between 6 and 12 months ago	2
More than 12 months ago	3
Don’t know	4
Refused	5

If invested in RegTech (H5=1).

When was this investment made?

Read out. Single code.

In the last 6 months	1
Between 6 and 12 months ago	2
More than 12 months ago	3
Don’t know	4
Refused	5

If invested in RegTech (H5=1).

What have been the costs of this investment in terms of…

Add if necessary: please provide answer in pounds (£).

If no expenditure, please put 0.

_1 Upfront capital expenditure?	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
_2 Ongoing costs over the last 12 month period	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

If upfront capital expenditure DK/PNTS(H6_1=2/3).

Which of the following bands covers the approximate upfront capital expenditure on software related to regulatory compliance (RegTech)?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not to say	14

If ongoing costs (H6_2=2/3)

Which of the following bands covers the approximate ongoing costs over a 12 month period of using software related to regulatory compliance (RegTech)?

Read out. Single code.

Less than £1,000	1
£1,000-£4,999	2
£5,000-£9,999	3
£10,000-£24,999	4
£25,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£74,999	5
£75,000-£99,999	6
£100,000-£149,999	7
£150,000-£199,999	8
£200,000-£249,999	9
£250,000-£499,999	10
£500,000-£999,999	11
£1,000,000+	12
Don’t Know	13
Prefer not to say	14

If invested in RegTech (H5=1).

Has the adoption of this technology made the process of regulatory compliance more efficient?

Do not read out. Single code.

Yes	1
No	2
Don’t know	3
Prefer not to say	4

If RegTech made process more efficient (H7=1)

What is the total amount number of hours you estimate that staff at different levels have been able to save in the past 12 months as a result of this technology compared with before this was introduced?

Read out and write in responses for each category. If no employees in a given band spend time on this task, please put 0.

Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say
Directors / Senior managers	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say

If H7 DK or prefer not to say show range.

Which of the following bands covers the approximate total number of hours [INSERT H8_X] have been able to save in the past 12 months as a result this technology compared with before this was introduced?

Read out. Single code per employee type that is DK/PNTS.

0-1 hours	1
More than 1 hour up to 5 hours	2
More than 5 hours up to 10 hours	3
More than 10 hours up to 20 hours	4
More than 20 hours up to 50 hours	5
More than 50 hours	6
Don’t Know	7
Prefer not to say	8

12. Firmographics

Ask all.

I2. thank you very much for answering these questions. To conclude the survey, we are now going to ask a few questions about your business – this is to help us understand the impact of regulation on different types of business.

Approximately what is the uk turnover of your business?

Do not read out. Single code.

Less than £50,000	1
Over £50,000 up to £100,000	2
Over £100,000 up to £500,000	3
Over £500,000 up to £2 million	4
Over £2 million up to £10 million	5
Over £10 million	6
Don’t know	7
Prefer not to say	8

Ask all.

I3. Approximately what is the average full time equivalent salary of staff at each of the following levels in your business? If you are not sure please give a rough estimate. If you don’t employ anybody at a given level please say ‘not applicable’.

Add if necessary: this is to help us estimate the costs associated with time spent on tasks related to regulation by different levels of staff. An estimate here is fine.

Read out and write in responses for each category. If no employees in a given band at firm please put ‘not applicable’

Factory workers / production workers / administrative employees	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say	Not applicable
Professional staff (e.g. accountants and finance officers)	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say	Not applicable
Directors / Senior managers	Write in	Don’t know	Prefer not to say	Not applicable

If I3 don’t know or prefer not to say, show range.

I3a. Which of the following bands covers the approximate full time equivalent salary of [INSERT I3_X]?

Read out. Single code per iteration.

Less the £20,000	1
£20,000-£29,999	2
£30,000-£39,999	3
£40,000-£49,999	4
£50,000-£59,999	4
£60,000-£69,999	5
£70,000-£79,999	6
£80,000-£89,999	7
£90,000-£99,999	8
£100,000-£149,999	9
£150,000+	10
Don’t Know	11
Prefer not to say	12

Ask all.

G3. Thank you again for taking the time to complete this survey. Would you be willing for us to contact you about:

Read out. Multicode.

This particular study – if we need to clarify any of the information	1
Other research studies which may be relevant to you	2
Neither	3	Exclusive

Recontact (g3=1,2)

G4 [If CATI:  And can I just confirm the best contact details to reach you on? [IF WEB: Great, thank you. Please fill out your contact details below. These will be stored securely in line with GDPR guidelines].

Write in each. Read out

Name:
Organisation name:
Job title:
Email:
Direct line telephone number:

Thank respondent and close interview.