International Standards

On 14 October 2014, the Government released the Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda. A major component of this policy is the commitment to the principle that: if a system, service or product has been approved under a trusted international standard or risk assessment, then our regulators should not impose any additional requirements for approval in Australia, unless it can be demonstrated that there is a good reason to do so (the principle).

The adoption of international standards and risk assessments can contribute to the Government’s overall regulatory reform agenda by reducing duplication of regulatory approvals and time and money costs associated with the approval processes, encouraging competition and improving productivity.

Health portfolio regulators have high levels of active engagement internationally and already incorporate, to varying degrees, appropriate international standards and assessments into their regulatory processes. The adoption of the principle provides a strong impetus to portfolio regulators to leverage their existing high standing within the international regulatory community to seek even greater international cooperation and further build on their existing adoption of international standards and risk assessments. The potential adoption of international standards and risk assessments, however, will vary having regard to the diversity of international operational contexts and other factors.

In accordance with best practice regulation principles, Health has developed a set of criteria to be used by portfolio regulators for assessing opportunities for reform against the principle. The criteria take into account the risks and practicalities relevant to Health portfolio regulators; and provide a framework, and a transparent process, for assessing potential adoption of new standards and assessments from international sources on a case-by-case basis.

The criteria for the adoption of international standards and risk assessments by Health portfolio regulators and a process flow chart showing how to operationalise the criteria are available below:

Criteria for the adoption of international standards and risk assessments by Health portfolio regulators
PDF version: Criteria for the adoption of international standards and risk assessments by Health portfolio regulators (PDF 105 KB)
Word version: Criteria for the adoption of international standards and risk assessments by health portfolio regulators (Word 319 KB)

Process flow chart for the adoption of international standards by Health portfolio regulators
PDF version: Adoption of international standards and risk assessments flow chart (PDF 78 KB)
Word version: Adoption of international standards and risk assessments flow chart (Word 74 KB)