How can regulation solve firearms problems?

Originally born as an instrument for the modernisation of armies, firearms have proliferated to become a contemporary global problem. Over 250,000 people were killed by firearms worldwide in 2019 and higher still, are those affected by firearms-related health problems, both physical and psychological. Strict regulation is required to combat indiscriminate sales to opposition groups, terrorists or criminals who undermine the rule of law, destabilise societies and perpetuate conflicts. With the aim of creating safer societies, lawmakers have established guidelines to regulate firearms. This howtoregulate article aims to cover the life cycle of firearms: manufacture, marking, possession, storage, destruction and deactivation. Continue reading How can regulation solve firearms problems? →

Model Law on Artificial Intelligence

The Model Law on Artificial Intelligence is a continuation of the Regulatory Institute’s popular series of model laws. The scope of the Model Law on AI applies to the development, operation and use of software that constitutes artificial intelligence or of items that use artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is a relatively new topic of regulation and presents a good opportunity for lawmakers to regulate in a comprehensive way, free from any legacy legislation. Continue reading Model Law on Artificial Intelligence →

The legislature’s ex post control of public finances (Part 2)

In this Part 2 on regulating the legislature’s ex post control of public finances we provide reference regulation for oversight of the government’s finances and expenditure. Part 1 covered substantive questions to consider for the ex post control of public financial management (PFM) and the international, multilateral and regional regulatory standards for legislative scrutiny. Continue reading The legislature’s ex post control of public finances (Part 2) →

Model Law on Alcohol, Cannabis and Tobacco Products

Model laws have existed since the 19th century. They mostly aim to impose or provide suggestions for particular content of law and thus to harmonise laws. Most model laws pre-empt choices. Model laws of the Regulatory Institute are different. The purpose of the model laws elaborated by the Regulatory Institute are to facilitate the tasks of regulatory practitioners, be they working for administrations or parliaments, to improve the quality of laws by triggering more conscious choices. The model laws of the Regulatory Institute should serve as inspiration, as a toolbox, checklist, raw material or a basis for the development of an adapted law and optimised as such. The model laws are not intended to be used exactly as they are drafted. They try to point to important decisions to be taken by the regulatory practitioners without pre-empting respective choices. Often they present choices, either as alternatives, or add-on modules that can be kept or deleted. Continue reading Model Law on Alcohol, Cannabis and Tobacco Products →

The legislature’s ex post control of public finances (Part 1)

Democratic governance requires government finances to be administered and supervised well so that public goods and services contribute to the prosperity of the state and its citizens. The legislature plays an important role in the public financial management system as an institution of oversight. Parliamentary oversight of government finances can be separated into two broad phases: consideration and approval of the government’s plans for the raising and spending of revenue ex ante, through the proposed budget; and the monitoring of expenditure ex post, to ensure that it has conformed to the terms which parliament approved. This howtoregulate article will focus on the monitoring of expenditure ex post and the regulatory controls necessary to maximise the effectiveness of parliament’s role. Continue reading The legislature’s ex post control of public finances (Part 1) →

Part 2: Drawing a clear health line under addictive products (alcohol, cannabis and tobacco) regulations

This Part 2 of addictive products (alcohol, cannabis and tobacco) regulation will focus on national reference regulation covering regulatory measures for demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction in both alcohol and tobacco regulatory frameworks. National reference regulation for cannabis regulation will be addressed separately at the end to highlight the range of regulatory controls of the, usually new, regulatory framework. This is in contrast to most alcohol and tobacco control regulation which amends legacy legislation. Continue reading Part 2: Drawing a clear health line under addictive products (alcohol, cannabis and tobacco) regulations →

Part 1: Drawing a clear health line under addictive products (alcohol, cannabis and tobacco) regulations

According to the Lancet’s latest Global Burden of Disease Study, around 11 million global deaths are attributed to tobacco and alcohol consumption, over 11.5 million if you include illicit drug (opioids, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis) use.1 This is more than the number of deaths from all cancers in the world.2 Lancet’s study shows that tobacco use is declining, albeit from a very high rate, highlighting the success of stricter tobacco control regulations worldwide. Consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs are, however, on the rise. This Part 1 howtoregulate article analyses techniques for regulating alcohol, cannabis and tobacco so that the regulatory control measures can effectively control the public health and welfare costs of the harms caused by these addictive products. Part 2 will look at reference regulations showing how such regulatory techniques operate in the jurisdictions that have implemented them. Continue reading Part 1: Drawing a clear health line under addictive products (alcohol, cannabis and tobacco) regulations →

Part 2: Beyond the prevention of animal cruelty and abuse: regulating animal welfare

We published Part 1 of this two part howtoregulate article on moving beyond traditional prevention of animal cruelty legislation to regulating animal welfare and now we present Part 2. Part 1 provided an overview of animal welfare regulatory frameworks at the international, supra-national, national and state levels. Part 2 focuses on regulatory techniques for strengthening particular aspects of animal welfare regulation (A) and highlights some missed regulatory opportunities (B). Continue reading Part 2: Beyond the prevention of animal cruelty and abuse: regulating animal welfare →

Part 1: Beyond the prevention of animal cruelty and abuse: regulating animal welfare

Modern history has come to expand the net of rights holders: slaves, women, indigenous people and children. Before their rights were ‘recognised’, various regulations concerned their protection as property. The rights of animals are also gaining recognition and jurisdictions are starting to move away from animals as property to animals as sentient beings whose welfare is important in a humane society. This two part howtoregulate article focuses on moving beyond traditional prevention of animal cruelty legislation to regulating animal welfare, recognising either animal rights, animal sentience or the requirement for humane treatment. This Part 1 provides an overview of animal welfare regulatory frameworks at the international, supra-national, national and state levels. Continue reading Part 1: Beyond the prevention of animal cruelty and abuse: regulating animal welfare →