Red tape challenge
United Kingdom: The environmental section of the UK Government’s “Red Tape Challenge” initiative, led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), has caused much criticism for threatening the country’s environmental acquis. According to environmental groups, such as WWF UK, DEFRA’s declared aim to “free up business and society from the burden of excessive regulation” is welcome. However, under the pressure of the present economic crisis, focus seems to be placed on removing environmental safeguards that are deemed as “burden” on businesses.
Particular policy themes that have raised heated controversy between environmental groups and DEFRA include the implementation of the EU’s Habitats Directive and the REACH Regulation.
According to WWF UK’s solicitor Carol Day: "The Red Tape Challenge suggests that the Habitats Directive Regulations were a 'burden on business', but when we asked Defra we were told that the review received no submissions to substantiate that point and found no evidence of delays to decision-making or gold-plating. It is therefore puzzling, in the least, to see that reference.
It is too early to give a definitive answer on whether this shake up will leave the UK's precious habitats and species more vulnerable or not. What is still not clear however is precisely what problem this exercise was supposed to be solving. We have yet to see anything that demonstrates that these regulations were a burden to business".
On the REACH Regulation, DEFRA announced that “We are also changing the way that REACH is implemented in the UK, so that businesses will no longer need to remove asbestos from second-hand articles before selling them. This is line with Health and Safety Executive Guidance and will prevent unnecessary risk to human health and the environment by disturbing the source of asbestos. This is anticipated to save businesses £29 million a year.”
Sources: WWF UK on the Red Tape Challenge, DEFRA (Red Tape Challenge – Environment Theme proposals)