Manufacturers urged to take up the Red Tape Challenge

For the next three weeks, the Red Tape Challenge will focus on 140 different regulations that manufacturers and producers have to deal with every day. 

The Red Tape Challenge asks whether the regulations are good and should be retained or if they are burdensome or redundant and should be scrapped.

The campaign also asks for suggestions on how regulations can be improved or simplified to reduce the burden that they place on businesses but maintain protections for employees, consumers and the public.

“Our manufacturing sector is at the centre of our plans to rebalance the economy and promote sustainable private sector growth,” says Mark Prisk, enterprise for minister. “That’s why cutting back the bureaucracy and the red tape that you have to deal with every day is one of my main priorities. I want our manufacturers to be making things, not filling out forms.

“To do that, we need your help. Do we really still need laws on the nationalisation of British Steel? Tell us about the regulations you deal with every day; not just those that are aimed at manufacturers but other legislation and inspection regimes that serve no useful purpose, get in the way of growth and keep you looking over your shoulder.”

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation is helping to spearhead this phase of the campaign through its chief executive, Terry Scuoler, who will act as sector champion. 

Once businesses have made their contribution, the government has committed to working out within three months which regulations will be kept and why. Crucially, the default presumption will be that regulations that cannot be justified will go. If ministers want to keep them, they will need to make the case for them to stay.

Have your say by visiting the Red Tape Challenge website.

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