Recommendations & Conclusions
11 items
8
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
The regulators set out a number of ways in which they are addressing these skills shortages. On recruitment and retention of veterinarians, FSA has worked with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to agree a temporary arrangement that allows veterinarians who do not meet the language requirements to be employed …
Government response. The FSA has already taken steps to address the shortage of qualified veterinarians by working with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to allow overseas-trained vets to improve their English skills while working, improving the attractiveness of public health veterinary …
HM Treasury
10
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
The regulators have since been asked (along with the rest of government) to model headcount reductions of 20%, 30% and 40%, which would have significant impacts on these plans. In HSE’s case, it explained that if the reductions are modelled on its existing headcount, the cuts will include all planned …
Government response. The FSA's budget will be maintained at the level agreed at Spending Review 2021, until March 2025, though will need to absorb inflationary pressures. HSE will continue to prioritize its resources on the strategic objectives set out in the HSE …
HM Treasury
11
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
On leaving the EU, the regulators lost access to EU data sharing and cooperation arrangements. CMA can no longer share confidential information with the European Commission or member states in merger, competition or consumer enforcement cases.28 FSA has also lost full access to the EU’s Rapid Alert System on Food …
Government response. The FSA and HSE will write to the Committee in six months setting out progress in taking forward the cooperation arrangements set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
HM Treasury
12
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
The regulators told us they are taking action to mitigate issues around access to data. For example, in competition and consumer law enforcement, CMA can investigate itself and use its own powers to gather information.31 Despite no longer being able to share confidential data, it also told us that it …
Government response. The FSA and HSE will write to the Committee in six months setting out progress in taking forward the cooperation arrangements set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
HM Treasury
13
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) includes a provision to establish a separate agreement on competition enforcement cooperation (including the 28 Q 52, 29 Q 52, C&AG’s Report, para 2.17 30 Q 57–58 31 Q 56 32 Q 65 33 Q 54 34 Q 52 35 Qq 57–58 36 …
Government response. The FSA will write to the Committee in six months (April 2023) setting out progress in taking forward the cooperation arrangements set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and continues to provide input into discussions on the TCA, exchanging …
HM Treasury
14
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
Following EU Exit there is already some divergence in regulatory approach between the UK and EU. The regulators gave us examples where divergence was happening or could happen due to differences in opinion on what the evidence said or how this related to the UK. For example, the CMA told …
Government response. The FSA and HSE already have robust monitoring in place to keep track of regulatory divergence and its implications, including horizon scanning, stakeholder engagement, and tracking EU regulations related to pesticides, biocides, REACH, and CLP.
HM Treasury
15
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
The regulators also provided examples of divergence where the UK and EU were making decisions to different timetables. HSE has been able to get a chemical onto the market quicker than the EU as it has carried out reviews of the active substance and the product simultaneously, rather than one …
Government response. The FSA and HSE already have robust monitoring in place to keep track of regulatory divergence and its implications, including horizon scanning, stakeholder engagement, and tracking EU regulations related to pesticides, biocides, REACH, and CLP.
HM Treasury
16
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
CMA stated that “there is some benefit, particularly for business certainty, in there being consistency as between the UK and the EU.”46 This applies more widely than just in the area of competition and consumer protection, although the overall impact of divergence on trade with the EU is not yet …
Government response. The FSA has put in place a range of monitoring activities across its regulatory regime to keep track of differences in regulation within the UK and has processes to manage divergence with the EU, engaging with industry stakeholders.
HM Treasury
18
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
There is a risk that over time regulatory divergence (both between the UK and the EU and between the four nations of the UK) may lead to increased administrative burden and regulatory costs for businesses. All three regulators use fee models, in whole or in part, to fund their work. …
Government response. The FSA has put in place a range of monitoring activities across its regulatory regime to keep track of differences in regulation within the UK and has processes to manage divergence with the EU, engaging with industry stakeholders.
HM Treasury
19
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
While the UK was an EU member state, the regulators exerted international influence primarily through the EU, even where they took part in international fora as individual organisations.56 The regulators now represent the UK’s interests outside of the EU. The regulators recognise the importance of strengthening their international links to …
Government response. The FSA will write to the Committee in six months setting out their plans for further international engagement including their objectives and timescales for action.
HM Treasury
20
Recommendation
Nineteenth Report - Regulation after EU…
Accepted
The regulators are taking steps towards increasing their participation in international fora, as well as developing bilateral agreements and relationships with counterparts.60 CMA signed a mutual assistance and cooperation framework with its counterparts in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, and also told us it had agreed a …
Government response. The FSA will write to the Committee in six months (April 2023) setting out their plans for further international engagement, including objectives and timescales, and will continue to fulfill international trade obligations and engage in international fora like Codex, but …
HM Treasury