Regulatory instruments

The regulatoiy environment will continue to change. As of this writing, the key regulatory instrument is OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 that pertains to process safety management within plants in which certain chemicals are present. 

The Food Standards Code [10] is the main regulatory instrument which controls the quality of food, contaminant levels, approved additives, processing aids, sanitisers and disinfectants and these standards are performance based. If a chemical or a group of chemicals is covered by a food standard then they must only be used in food in accordance with the standard. However, if a chemical is not mentioned in a standard, then this does not preclude its use in food. For a new chemical not previously used in food production, it would be necessary for the supplier to undertake a detailed risk analysis of the product to demonstrate its safety and suitability. The assessment would need to consider both the toxicological profile of the chemical and the levels of human exposure that are likely to arise from residues in food. 

Differentiating between the extent of regulatory action and the probability of a regulatory response being necessary can facilitate the selection of the most-appropriate type of regulatory instrument. For instance, in case (1) certain chemical uses could be banned to reduce the number of exposed individuals, whereas in case (2) product standards could be set to reduce exposure levels. 

Jdrgens, H. and Tews, K. 2005. The global diffusion of regulatory instruments The making of a new international environmental regime. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 598(l) 146-67. 

Local level regulatory instruments (user taxes and zoning)... 

Clearly, therefore, one has to turn to a regulatory solution to take into account the accumulation problem. What are the costs involved The administrative and enforcement costs are always higher with regulation than under a liability system. It is therefore important to look for a regulatory framework that encompasses the accumulation problem with the lowest possible costs. Four regulatory instruments are discussed here the... 

A Directive defines the results required but leaves member states to decide the form and means of achieving these results. The member states are required to implement the necessary laws or regulatory instruments within a designated time limit. 

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