Policy paper

International regulatory cooperation for a global Britain: government response to an OECD review

Government response to the OECD review of international regulatory cooperation of the UK.

Documents

International regulatory cooperation for a global Britain: government response to the OECD review of international regulatory cooperation of the UK (print-ready PDF)

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Details

In 2018 the government invited the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to review the UK’s international regulatory cooperation practices. The OECD review (May 2020) recommended that the UK government take action to ensure more systematic consideration of international regulatory cooperation across government and regulatory bodies.

International regulatory cooperation, which involves systematically considering the implications of regulation beyond national borders, will play a critical role in adapting our regulations to the rapidly evolving needs of a globalised world. It will ensure Britain plays a constructive role in tackling issues of collective global responsibility, and acts as a champion of free trade, seeking to counter the proliferation of non-tariff barriers.

The government response sets out plans for a cross-government strategy to take forward the OECD recommendations, including:

  • developing a whole-of-government international regulatory cooperation strategy, which sets out the policies, tools and respective roles of different departments and regulators to achieve this
  • embedding international regulatory cooperation considerations within the better regulation framework and other government guidance
  • developing specific tools and guidance to policy makers and regulators on how to conduct international regulatory cooperation
  • establishing networks to convene international policy professionals from across government and regulators to share experience and best practice on international regulatory cooperation

Call for evidence

We have launched a call for evidence to identify priorities for our future strategy and ensure it meets the needs of the wider UK regulatory and business community. We’d like views from regulators, industry, standards-setting bodies and other interested parties.

Please respond by 25 November 2020.

Published 2 September 2020