The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced plans to undertake an internal regulatory review, spearheaded by economist Dan Corry. This initiative aims to evaluate whether the current regulatory framework meets today’s needs and propose recommendations to ensure regulations support economic growth while safeguarding the environment.
The review will address three main areas:
Regulators' Readiness for Growth: Defra will assess if its regulators are equipped to foster economic growth, attract private investment, and protect environmental interests.
Customer and Stakeholder Experience: The impact of regulation on businesses and other stakeholders will be scrutinised to gauge the effectiveness of the current system.
Regulatory Efficiency: The review will also examine whether there are redundancies or contradictions in existing regulations, exploring potential improvements for a more streamlined and efficient framework.
Defra has yet to specify a timeline for this review, but it forms part of a broader effort to enhance the department’s contribution to the UK’s economic growth, including advancing the development of a circular economy. This economic model emphasises reusing materials and reducing waste in sectors like construction and packaging, aiming to lower business costs and cut carbon emissions.
Dan Corry, currently the chief executive of think tank New Philanthropy Capital, brings significant experience to the role, having served as policy director under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and later as a senior economic adviser. His expertise is expected to shape a forward-looking regulatory approach that balances economic and environmental priorities.
As part of its future regulatory reforms, Defra is set to introduce measures such as Simpler Recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR). Margaret Bates, head of the scheme administrator for pEPR, recently reaffirmed Defra’s commitment to achieving the Simpler Recycling timeline, initially outlined by the previous government in October 2023. Bates also confirmed that local authorities would receive indicative payments for pEPR in November 2024, while producers received updated base fees for the scheme at the end of September.
Defra’s planned regulatory improvements reflect the department’s commitment to aligning environmental protection with economic objectives. The upcoming review will be instrumental in identifying opportunities to create a regulatory framework that not only supports sustainable growth but also responds to the needs of both businesses and the public
