Mexico, 13 July 2011

The purpose of the workshop was to explore and develop ways of improving how risk-based regulations are designed and delivered in Mexico.

Risk-based regulation forms part of a responsive policy process that includes risk assessment, risk management and risk communication. Risk assessment is a key analytical tool to identify and assess the extent of a likely hazard and to estimate the probability and consequences of negative outcomes for humans, property or the environment. Risk management refers to the design and implementation of actions and remedies to address risks through a consideration of potential treatments and the selection of the most appropriate course, or combination of courses, of action. Risk communication is fundamental to the entire risk policy cycle, and assists in identifying the nature and extent of the risks as well as educating and informing the public about risks when making risk tradeoffs. Improving public understanding of the nature of the risks and the risk management measures can increase the public acceptance of the risk elements that cannot be reduced through further management.

The workshop examined the application of risk-based regulation in the Mexican context. The term “risk-based regulation” has been used in a number of OECD countries in at least two contexts: promoting better regulatory design and securing better regulatory compliance and enforcement. The first application concerns the design of regulations based on a rational scientific assessment of the consequences of the risk to society that the regulation is intended to avert. The second application of the term applies to the practice of using evidence based approaches to target enforcement and inspection resources based on a transparent assessment of the risks posed by the regulated entity to the public value objectives of the regulator. Both of these approaches were assessed during the workshop.

Full agenda in English.

• George Gray, Director of the Centre for Risk Science and Public Health, George Washington University, United States of America (in English)
• Julio Rocha, General Coordinator for Regulatory Reform of Economic Sectors, COFEMER, Mexico (click here for the English version)
• Nancy Beck, Office for Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget, United States of America (in English)
• Christian Turegano, General Director of Technical Regulation, Ministry of Economy, Mexico (in Spanish)

• Patricio Caso Prado, Legal and Consultative General Coordinator, COFEPRIS, Mexico (in Spanish)
• Julio Sanchez y Tepoz, Chieff of Staff of the Head of COFEPRIS, Mexico (in Spanish)
• Professor George Gray, George Washington University, United States of America
• Nancy Beck, Office for Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, United States of America
• Nick Malyshev, Deputy-Head of Division, Regulatory Policy, OECD

• Josef Konvitz, OECD Secretariat, “The draft OECD Recommendation on Regulatory Policy and Governance and its relevance to regulatory development in Mexico” (in English)
• Alfonso Carballo, COFEMER, Mexico, “Prompting and reviewing domestic regulations in Mexico” (click here for the English version)
• Nancy Beck, Office for Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, United States of America, “International co-operation in evaluating and improving the quality of domestic policies and regulations” (in English)