FPB criticises EU red tape-cutting drive

Claims that the EU has relaxed the red tape burden for small businesses may be misleading, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has said.

According to Martin Smith, European spokesperson for the FPB, many of the regulations that are being withdrawn as part of the EU's Better Regulation programme are having "little or no impact on smaller businesses in the UK".

He added: "Meanwhile the continued creation of fresh regulations that are ill conceived and costly to implement is strangling the small business community."

Mr Smith cited food regulations which came into effect last January as providing evidence of the predicament.

Although the FPB says they were "flexible and welcome" in principle, it adds that associated clauses and regulations "will leave food businesses open to abuse".

The group also said that the work programme for 2007 contained more new initiatives than simplifications.

For more information about legal advice, please click here.