Regulatory impact statements
Whenever policy work might make, change, or repeal Acts or regulations, government departments must do regulatory impact analysis.
What to expect in a regulatory impact statement
A regulatory impact statement (RIS) is a government agency document that summarises an agency's best advice to its Minister and Cabinet, including:
- a definition of the problem to be addressed
- the objectives of any solution proposed
- the full range of practical options and an analysis of each one
- any consultation done
- how the solution will be implemented, monitored, and reviewed.
A RIS should be an objective, balanced presentation of the analysis of the impact a policy change is likely to have. It needs to explain and justify conclusions the agency reached. By publishing all RIS after decisions are made, Government ensures its decisions are transparent to the public.
The Treasury offers a detailed guide on regulatory impact analysis, how to prepare a RIS, and quality assurance for all proposals. Treasury also publishes all government departments' RIS.
Visit the Treasury website to view the Regulatory Impact Analysis Handbook


This Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared by the Ministry of Fisheries. It provides an analysis of options to collect information on the activity and catch of amateur charter vessels, and the size of the amateur charter vessel fleet.

This Regulatory Impact Statement provides an analysis of options to fund MPI’s dairy export assurance programme once the dairy industry transitions to the electronic export certification system used for non-dairy animal product exports (AP E-cert).

This RIS provides an analysis of an option to incorporate an additional 55 hectares (ha) between Elephant Head and the Manukatahi Stream (the Additional Area) within the Akaroa Harbour Taiāpure1 (the Taiāpure). MPI prefers this option to the status quo.


This Regulatory Impact Statement provides an analysis of the Dairy Industry Regulations 2001 were made under the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 to provide for the regulation of herd testing, the provision of information to the core database, and access to data in the core database through an Access Panel. The public policy objective is to enhance research flexibility and reduce disincentives for research, by reducing compliance costs for researchers, while safeguarding the provision of data to the core database.

This Regulatory Impact Statement provides an analysis of the public policy objective is to enhance research flexibility and reduce disincentives for research, by reducing compliance costs for researchers, while safeguarding the provision of data to the core database.

This Regulatory Impact Statement has been prepared by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). It provides an analysis of options to control American foulbrood (AFB), a disease of honey bees, within New Zealand.

This Regulatory Impact Statement provides an analysis of regulations to implement amendments to a significant number of areas of the Act that limits flexibility. The preferred option is to amend the Act, so that the framework can be retained for protecting the public but made less prescriptive and more flexible.

This Regulatory Impact Statement provides analysis of amendments to the Veterinarians (Fee) Regulation 1999.

This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to assess the Government’s options for responding to public concern at the use of animals to test non-essential products, such as cosmetics. This concern manifested itself during the Primary Production Select Committee process of the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill (the Bill).

This Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) provides an analysis of options for safeguarding the welfare of young calves. These options for safeguarding the welfare of young calves are based on minimum standards, recommended best practices and guidance in codes of welfare under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 (the Act) and /or accepted good practice across the industry.

This Regulatory Impact Statement provides an analysis of options to improve the way that offences and penalties relating to the ill-treatment and neglect of animals are defined in the Animal Welfare Act 1999 (the Act).


Establishment of a proposed new levy under the Biosecurity Act 1993 for the avocado industry to meet its cost-share commitments for any implemented operational agreements

This Regulatory Impact Statement provides an analysis of the National Animal Identification and Tracing proposal, and changes to legislation and regulations that are proposed to give effect to the NAIT system.