Regulatory Impact Assessment Manual for Regulations with Potential Impact on Agriculture Conducted September - December 2011

The manual was published in January 2012 and is a result of the support provided by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The RIA manual is designed to provide guidelines for carrying out the Regulatory Impact Assessment for regulations with potential impact on agriculture. It is based on the Methodology for Carrying Regulatory Impact Assessment and Monitoring the Regulatory Act Efficiency, approved through Government Resolution (GR) No. 1230. The manual contains recommendations for applying good practices contributing to the development of a better quality RIA. The authors of the manual used several approaches while developing it, including good regulation principles, RIA quality criteria, and applicability. The manual includes several useful examples that allow a better understanding of the provided recommendations, particularly of the key RIA elements, such as problem determination, identification of options, and assessment of their impact. The examples are taken from the agricultural area and are particularly related to high-value products. The manual addresses the RIA drafting for cases of transposing the EU legislation, providing explanations and examples in this sense. This subject is highlighted in several chapters of the manual, including problem definition and option identification. The manual also provides a summary of quality criteria in Annex 1, which were identified and formulated according to the recommendations of international specialized organizations, such as the OECD, and in line with the best international practices. The RIA manual is intended to support the development of a better quality RIA, which would reduce the risk of RIA rejection by stakeholders in the consulting process, including the business circles, civil society, public sector, and the Working Group for Regulating the Entrepreneurial Activity. The observance of the quality criteria would allow developing better quality draft regulations, which would be to the benefit of both the private sector and the entire society. The manual is divided into several chapters, including General RIA Related Aspects, Principles of Good Regulation, RIA Process, and RIA Stages and Elements. Each chapter provides detailed information on the respective topic, including explanations, examples, and recommendations for applying good practices. The RIA manual is a valuable resource for policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders involved in the development of regulations with potential impact on agriculture. It provides a comprehensive guide on how to conduct a Regulatory Impact Assessment, which is essential for ensuring that regulations are effective, efficient, and do not create unnecessary burdens on businesses and citizens.