Regulations

Regulations are rules or directives made and maintained by an authority. They are often associated with laws and governmental entities, and are designed to control or govern conduct.

Definition

Regulations are specific requirements that the legislature has decided are necessary to accomplish the objectives of statutes. They are secondary legislation, as they are derived from the authority of statute law. Regulations are used by a government to implement legislation and to enforce the law.

Types of Regulations

There are several types of regulations, including:

• Administrative law: This type of regulation is enforced by the executive branch of a government rather than the judicial or legislative bodies. It covers a wide range of areas, including international trade, manufacturing, environment, taxation, broadcasting, immigration, and transport.

• Economic regulation: These are rules that control market entries, prices, standards, and competitive practices. They are used to protect consumers and create a predictable business environment.

• Social regulation: These regulations protect public interests such as health, safety, the environment, and social cohesion.

Regulatory Agencies

Regulations are often enforced by regulatory agencies. These are public authorities or government agencies responsible for exercising autonomous authority over some area of human activity. Examples include the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the European Union, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.

Impact of Regulations

Regulations can have both positive and negative impacts. On the positive side, they can protect consumers, improve public health and safety, and ensure fair competition. On the negative side, they can create administrative burdens and compliance costs, potentially stifling innovation and economic growth.

See Also

• Law
• Government
• Administrative law
• Economic regulation
• Social regulation
• Regulatory agencies