Strength of the national policy framework for better regulation

Existence of a whole-of-government policy to promote better regulation and evidence-based policymaking

Review of all valid, official government policy or reform programmes and/or strategies in the area of better regulation and evidence-based policymaking. Checks are carried out on the objectives and scope of those document(s) to ensure that those aim to establish priorities, principles and standards of regulatory policymaking that cover the whole government and all policymaking institutions. The policy framework and/or the document may only cover selected topics and elements of better regulation and evidence-based policymaking based on the priorities and needs of the country (such as the principles of ex ante or ex post analysis of policies, the principles of stakeholder engagement, public consultation, improvement of quality of data and evidence and/or use of new advanced tools for regulatory policy management). The criterion can be considered fulfilled if there is an official government website and/or an official statement which establishes the government’s commitment to apply better regulation principles and tools during policymaking.

An institution is assigned to lead on government regulatory policy and better regulation agenda

Review of the structure and regulations of the central government ministries and institutions to check if there is a dedicated ministry and/or minister of state which has a formal mandate to lead on the government regulatory policy management, better regulation and/or promotion and use of evidence-based policymaking tools across the whole of government. As a minimum, responsibility for impact assessment, public consultation and legal drafting must be formally assigned to a government ministry/minister and/or institution(s).