Regulatory analysis requirements for discussion documents

Regulatory analysis is required in discussion documents that include proposals that would require a regulatory impact statement (RIS). Departments must include in the discussion document questions and/or discussion of the substantive elements required for a RIS (problem, objectives, options, impacts of those options, and, where relevant, implementation and review strategies) or a draft RIS. Further guidance on these requirements is set out in the Regulatory Impact Analysis Guidelines available on the Treasury website at http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/guidance/regulatory/impactanalysis.

The Regulatory Impact Analysis section in Cabinet papers seeking agreement to release discussion documents should state whether the substantive RIS elements (or a draft RIS) have been included in the discussion document at a level that is reasonable given the stage of the policy development process and whether the approach in the discussion document complies with the Code of Good Regulatory Practice.

Where there are discussion documents that are expected to result in proposals likely to have a significant impact on economic growth, the discussion document should be submitted to the Regulatory Impact Analysis Team in Treasury to comment on whether the design of the discussion document is likely to result in an adequate final RIS.

Related pages

Regulatory impact statement requirements

Regulatory proposals requiring assessment by Treasury's Regulatory Impact Analysis Team