英国制造业：有效监管的案例

UK MANUFACTURING:THE C ASE FOREFFECTIVE REGUL ATION INTRODUCTION Over the last decade, regulation in the UK has changed rapidly. Manufacturers haveadapted and re-adapted to meet new circumstances, whether they were expected(such as the UK’s exit from the European Union) or unexpected (such as health andsafety requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic). Manufacturers have been fleet-of-foot to keep up with a fast-changing landscape. However, the pace of this change has been unrelenting. Rapidtechnological advancement, the challenge of net zero, changesin trade rules with the EU and other global economic disruptionaffecting supply chains, have all had significant implicationsfor how trade and economic prosperity is conducted andshared. With supply chains already experiencing high levels ofvolatility, the sector is currently juggling several issues at once,all of which could be improved by a simpler and more stableregulatory regime. also indicates Government’s desire to consider alternatives toregulation, an earlier and more holistic scrutiny of regulatoryproposals, and a greater focus on monitoring and evaluation.4Make UK welcomes these commitments and recognises thevital importance of regulation in allowing industry to operateefficiently and effectively. Now is the time for the Government to reimagine the regulatorylandscape. A key component of realising the opportunitieswithin the upcoming Industrial Strategy will be to ensure thatregulatory practice provides certainty and stability and doesnot prove to be a blocker on growth. Regulations play a crucial role in guiding businesses andensuring consistency. In a world where the EU and othermajor trading economies such as the USA, India and China,are advancing ambitious regulatory agendas in areas like AI,energy, and industrial decarbonisation, the UK must be readyto respond. The Brussels Effect, referring to the EU’s unilateralpower to shape the global business (and therefore regulatory)environment, is one that has influence everywhere, includingthe UK.1 In this report, we advocate for a new approach to howregulations are devised, implemented and then reviewed,guided by clear principles. In applying this to both existingand new regulation, Government can create regulations thatwork for the growth of businesses, the rights of workers andconsumers, and the good of the environment. Recently, the manufacturing sector has been at the forefrontof responding and adapting to many new regulations,encountering challenges (though sometimes also advantages)posed by both intentional and unintentional regulatorydivergence. These changes, however beneficial, impactproduction and distribution, and therefore productivity in theshort-term, with amplified consequences for SMEs. As leadtimes for investment in manufacturing extend well beyondstandard election cycles, regular shifts in regulation can causeuncertainty and hamper growth. Over the course of her time in office, the Chancellor hasbeen clear on her ambition to cut red tape for businesses,emphasising that the UK needs to “tear down regulatorybarriers” to enable greater economic growth.2The PrimeMinister has reiterated this, saying he had heard “loudand clear” about the desire of business for less onerousregulation.3The Government’s Better Regulation Framework More manufacturers thinkthat the UK has a worse taxand regulation system thanChina, Germany, France, Italy,and South Korea5 THE CASE FOR EFFECTIVEREGULATION At the same time, in any effective regulatory regime, thosewho fail to abide by the rules are sanctioned, thereforecreating a level playing field for all companies. This maintainseffective compliance with regulatory principles and preventsincentivisation to cut corners. An effective regulatory regime supports more efficient andeffective policy delivery, therefore reducing costs to the publicpurse, driving higher-performing regulators, and improvingbenefits for consumers, business and workers. It is also clear and consistent, creating powerful benchmarksthat consumers around the world know and trust. Very oftenthese are global or regional standards, measured against thebest of countries around the world on an approved whitelistor similar. The UK has a big role to play in developing and improvingglobal standards, which support its technical regulations.Here, the work of the British Standards Institution (BSI),the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO),the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), andEuropean Standards Bodies, such as CEN, CENELEC andETSI, is critical. To maintain our influence, the UK needsto continue and enhance the excellent work of theseorganisations over the coming years. It is crucial thatbusiness and Government work together to continue to punchabove our weight in this area. An effective regulatory regime recognises that too muchchange introduced too often creates confusion. It canlead to regulations that are either too complicated ortoo lax, and most impo