VIEWPOINT: Closing the Gap Between Industry Regulators and the Regulated

摘要

The thorny issue of regulation never used to grab headlines, but that all changed when banks across the globe were bailed out by governments during the credit crunch. Economists and politicians are still debating if there is a need for closer regulation of banks or if too much burdensome red tape damages their profitability and actually harms the financial sector. There's a parallel debate to be had in the food industry. Of course, regulation is vitally important. No one would downplay the public health imperative to ensure that food is labeled clearly, doesn't mislead consumers and enables people to make informed decisions about their diet. What does concern the food industry is that some of the regulatory decisions being taken could not only damage businesses but actually harm public health as well - a true lose-lose outcome.