Businesses take up the Red Tape Challenge

Thousands of businesses and members of the public have taken up the Red Tape Challenge.

The challenge allows people to either speak up for well designed rules that are there to protect, or challenge badly designed or badly thought through regulations that are an unnecessary burden.

At the moment there are more than 21,000 rules and regulations that put barriers in the way of businesses, volunteers and the public.

Comments have called for changes to, and the end of, many of the rules and regulations that affect the retail sector, from Sunday Trading to bike safety.

Over 6,000 comments have been made during the first week of the new website, which is part of the Plan for Growth, including discussion around simplifying the complex range of age restrictions on buying products, making it easier for businesses and consumers to understand and the use of metric and imperial measures and simplifying weights and measures regulation.

Also, amendment of the egg marketing regulations so that small scale producers can sell their eggs to local retailers without eggs having to be stamped, promoting growth and local produce and repeal of Trading with Enemy Orders.

The website also gives the opportunity to comment on a wide range of cross-cutting regulations that affect retailers and consumers, including employment law and health and safety. In future months the website will also deal with other issues that have an impact on the retail sector such as labelling and planning.

Retail sector champion, Dr Kevin Hawkins said: “For the first time the Government wants to hear from those at the sharp end of the complex, sometimes overwhelming, amount of regulation."

"Tell us about those rules that really waste your time and money or better still suggest ways of tackling the issues that will make life better for you and your customers."

Further information":
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills