Established domestic regulatory frameworks are reaching their limits to cope with
today’s increasing cross-boundary policy challenges. Only united action can effectively
navigate the rapid growth of economic integration and interdependencies, particularly
driven by innovative technologies. Yet, contemporary regulatory frameworks tend to
build on national jurisdictional boundaries constraining common solutions to meet
the growing transboundary nature of policy challenges. In the aftermaths of global
crises, such as the 2008 financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed
the vulnerabilities of global health, economic and governance systems, it is time
for a true paradigm shift towards more systematic consideration of the international
environment in domestic regulatory frameworks. The OECD Best Practice Principles on
International Regulatory Co-operation provide practical guidance supporting policy
makers and civil servants in adapting regulatory frameworks to the interconnected
reality. They outline key elements in defining a dedicated whole-of-government strategy
and governance structure, embedding international considerations throughout the domestic
regulatory design, development and delivery, and leveraging bilateral, regional and
multilateral international co-operation on regulatory matters to support national
policy objectives. Compiling various ways of international regulatory co-operation
and experiences from countries, the OECD Best Practice Principles on International
Regulatory Co-operation provide impetus for policy makers and civil servants in a
variety of legal and administrative environments on how to promote quality and resilience
of regulatory frameworks in times of an increasingly interconnected world.
Published on July 30, 2021Also available in: Spanish, French
In series:OECD Best Practice Principles for Regulatory Policyview more titles
What will the OECD Best Practice Principles on International Regulatory Co-operation Change for Countries?
"Challenges to our societies like the Covid-19 pandemic, like the climate change and many others demonstrate clearly that no regulator sits on an island. Whatever we do, all of those challenges are cross-border challenges. Single action of single countries won’t provide solutions to these challenges".
Stephan Naundorf, Chair of OECD Regulatory Policy Committee
"Supply chains are global. Problems are global. They aren’t felt specifically within one jurisdiction, they don’t know geographic boundaries. (…) The OECD Best Practice Principles are important to help regulators look at the impact of their regulations beyond our own borders."
Jeannine Ritchot, Assistant Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada and Former Chair of OECD Regulatory Policy Committee
"It is extremely difficult to establish the cooperation framework while fighting the crisis. If there is a silver line in the current crisis, it is the awareness that the international regulatory co-operation framework needs to be established in time of peace as part of the future resilience of regulatory frameworks. The OECD’s BPPs are the first international tool in support of IRC."
Céline Kauffmann, Former Deputy Head of the Regulatory Policy Division, OECD
“International regulatory co-operation has been important for a long time, but the increased use of e-commerce, the digital economy and the growth of emerging tech, COVID-19, and climate change, have exacerbated the need for us to focus on it"
Julie Nind, Principal Policy Advisor, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New-Zealand
"As a small country, Israel depends in few areas a lot on exports and imports, and IRC is essential for that. At the same time, Israel can learn from other big trade areas like the European Union, the United Sates and others. We don’t need to reinvent our regulatory system. (…) We can use OECD Best practice principles to overcome the very natural fears to let free of our system, to be open to learn from others.”
Amichai Fisher, Israel, Bureau member to the OECD Regulatory Policy Committee
"It’s important to remember what the inherent principles of the better regulation are. It’s trying to ensure that regulations are effective and they are efficient. How can a regulation be effective if the harm that any regulator is trying to solve occurs across the border? (…) We really think that BPP provide some very solid advice in terms of how you use the tools of better regulation to really support better outcomes."
Nick Malyshev, Head of Regulatory Policy Division, OECD
"Domestic policymaking can be improved by being informed by overseas practices. (…) The OECD Best Practice Principles on IRC are helpful to us in the UK in disseminating IRC across government and in demonstrating how the UK can use it to achieve our broader governmental objectives."
Sarah Montgomery, Deputy Director, Regulatory Horizons Council and International Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), United Kingdom
“La guía de buenas prácticas de cooperación regulatoria internacional que nos ofrece la OCDE, desarrollada con todos sus miembros, va a ser muy importante para avanzar de manera sincronizada. En los temas regulatorios sale a reducir la importancia de la coordinación para eliminar los cuellos de botella en un país, que ya no existen en otros. La suma de los componentes es mucho mayor que las partes que la componen y la guía es clave para acelerar la implementación de esta agenda para lograr una economía global mucho más resiliente, prospera y equitativa.”
Subdirector General Daniel Gómez, Departamento Nacional de Planeación, Colombia