Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
While the UK was an EU member state, the regulators exerted international influence primarily through...
Recommendation
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 share knowledge, establish best practice and improve standards, and develop cooperation arrangements.57 The regulators told us that for this reason they are beginning to develop strategies for increasing their international presence outside of the EU.58 FSA has recently established a new International and UK Affairs Directorate to lead on its international strategy.59 CMA told us that now it is taking on larger and more complex global competition cases that had previously been reserved to the European Commission, there is “more international attention” paid to its decisions. Similarly, HSE emphasised the importance of sharing knowledge and scientific evidence with counterparts in other developed economies to ensure the UK “remain[s] a globally leading and safe place to do business”.
Government Response Summary
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.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6. PAC conclusion: It will be vital for regulators to continue to develop their engagement on the world stage. 6. PAC recommendation: The regulators should write to the Committee in six months setting out their plans for further international engagement including their objectives and timescales for action. FSA Response 6.1 The FSA agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2023 6.2 The FSA will continue to fulfil international obligations in relation to trade such as contributing advice and analysis on Free Trade Agreements to inform Department for International Trade led Section 42 Reports, supporting government objectives through providing technical input on food and feed safety during negotiations, meeting UK commitments at the World Trade Organization and providing input to other international discussions such as on market access requests. 6.3 The FSA will continue to engage in overarching international fora such as Codex where it can influence and support work to shape global food safety systems. As part of internal prioritisation described at paragraph 3.3 above, it is taking stock of its international ambitions and will be scaling back on bilateral engagements. The FSA will use this space to map out how to best target its international priorities once the external pressures are lifted.