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Impact assessment and options assessment templates

Templates for government officials to use when completing an impact assessment (IA) or options assessment (OA) for government policy.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Published:
3 August 2011
Last updated:
10 July 2025
Show all updates

  1. 'Declaration' section of 'Regulatory impact assessment template (2023 reforms)' updated to remove 'Senior responsible officer' (SRO).

  2. Regulatory impact assessment template - evidence base links updated. Options assessment template - EPPS now fully referenced in section 7B. Changes made to both templates - opening paragraph explains the templates are not mandatory and can be adjusted as departments see fit. Section 4 makes clear that the logic model is only for the preferred option. Section 6 makes clear this is where assumptions and calculations of cost-benefit analysis should go. Section 7 introduction allows for no impact (as well as neutral and negligible). Declaration: changed to senior responsible officer to allow departments to use their preferred internal processes.

  3. 'Regulatory Impact Assessment template' removed as this has been replaced by 'Regulatory Impact Assessment template (2023 reforms).

  4. New guidance note added to the 'Business Environment' section of the Regulatory Impact Assessment template (2023 reforms) to consider how the regulatory provision might impact on businesses and traders moving goods and providing services between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Instruction to refer to the FCDO’s Divergence Analytical Framework and DIT guidance or contact the DIT Better Regulation Unit removed from the same document.

  5. Update to Regulatory Impact Assessment template (2023 reforms) and Options Assessment (2023 reforms).

  6. Added new impact assessment and options assessment templates.

  7. Added new impact assessment template. Added links to impact assessment guidance and calculator.

  8. slight tweak to the IA template which removes the row in the RIA template relating to the minimum EU requirements.

  9. Template updated to reflect updates to the Better regulation framework.

  10. Updated IA template has a revised trade question to include a reference to 'International' and the reference to N/A removed.

  11. Changed reference from SME to small and micro businesses.

  12. Updated to reflect the latest version of the template.

  13. Template file updated.

  14. Template file updated.

  15. Template file updated.

  16. First published.

Documents

Regulatory impact assessment template (2023 reforms)

MS Word Document, 113 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Options assessment template (2023 reforms)

MS Word Document, 104 KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Policies should now be developed under the reformed system and should use the impact assessment and options assessment templates. The previous system and template are no longer in use. Queries about this should be directed to brf@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

Impact assessment calculator and guidance

The impact assessment calculator provides help for policy officials to calculate the figures needed for their impact assessment.

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