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What is right-touch regulation?
There are eight elements that sit at the heart of Right-touch regulation:
- Identify the problem before the solution
- Quantify and qualify the risks
- Get as close to the problem as possible
- Focus on the outcome
- Use regulation only when necessary
- Keep it simple
- Check for unintended consequences
- Review and respond to change.
What are the principles that underpin right-touch regulation?
Right-touch regulation builds upon the principles of good regulation, identified by the Better Regulation Executive, that regulation should be proportionate, accountable, consistent, transparent and targeted. To these we added 'agile': being able to look forward to anticipate change.
- Proportionate: regulators should only intervene when necessary. Remedies should be appropriate to the risk posed, and costs identified and minimised
- Consistent: rules and standards must be joined up and implemented fairly
- Targeted: regulation should be focused on the problem, and minimise side effects
- Transparent: regulators should be open, and keep regulations simple and user friendly
- Accountable: regulators must be able to justify decisions, and be subject to public scrutiny
- Agile: regulation must look forward and be able to adapt to anticipate change
Reviewing Right-touch regulation
Earlier this year (March 2025), we decided that, with the ten-year anniversary since we last published an updated version of Right-touch regulation, it was time to review it again. We invited feedback on a discussion paper. Though the deadline has now passed, we are still open to receiving comments.