New legislation due to come into force at the start of next month should cut the regulatory burden for businesses, it has been claimed.
Writing in the Newcastle Journal, Emma Feeney, a solicitor at Dickinson Dees, explains that the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act (2008) (Resa) should also give firms great certainty.
The act will give regulators the power to impose civil penalties for non-compliance, rather than criminal prosecutions, Ms Feeney states.
"Use of the new civil penalties will be available to most statutory enforcement authorities once the government minister responsible for their policy has granted the powers," she says.
Possible penalties include a fine, probably capped at £5,000, or a number of sanctions aimed at rectifying the breach, Ms Feeney adds.
The act will come into force on October 1st.
Recently, the Federation of Small Businesses claimed that rate relief for small firms should be applied automatically as many are missing out because they do not apply for it.
