Regulatory Revolution: How a Notification Procedure Will Simplify Expert Engagement in State Control and Oversight

Russia - Ekhbary News Agency

Regulatory Revolution: How a Notification Procedure Will Simplify Expert Engagement in State Control and Oversight

As part of a comprehensive government initiative aimed at optimizing and automating public services, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation has put forward a proposal set to significantly transform the mechanism for engaging qualified specialists in control and supervisory activities. The initiative suggests radically simplifying the procedure for including experts in a specialized registry, moving away from traditional certification processes towards a notification-based system accessible via the unified public services portal, "Gosuslugi." This strategic move, according to its proponents, is designed not only to facilitate regulatory bodies' access to specialized expertise but also to substantially reduce the overall administrative burden on the system.

This groundbreaking initiative is an integral component of a systemic effort coordinated by the office of Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Staff of the Russian Government, Dmitry Grigorenko. The broader goal is to enhance the efficiency of state administration and dismantle bureaucratic obstacles that often hinder progress. The draft government resolution, meticulously prepared by the Ministry of Economic Development, stipulates that an applicant will be able to attain expert status not solely through the successful completion of an attestation process, but also by simply submitting a notification. This paradigm shift signifies a move towards a "declare and operate until proven otherwise" principle, which is expected to considerably accelerate the process of forming a robust pool of expert specialists.

The core of this new approach lies in empowering control and supervisory bodies, which rely on experts for conducting various assessments, to include them in the registry based on a mere application. Crucially, these agencies themselves will retain the authority to define the specific requirements for such specialists. These criteria will encompass educational qualifications, work experience, and the possession of specific knowledge and skills within a particular domain, such as science, technology, or economic activity. It is anticipated that the act of submitting a notification will automatically serve as confirmation of the applicant's compliance with the established criteria. However, this does not preclude the possibility of subsequent verification of the accuracy of the information provided by the supervisory body. Should any discrepancies be identified, the expert may be removed from the registry, thereby ensuring the necessary level of control and preventing potential abuses of the system.

It is important to underscore that the concept of an "expert" within the context of state control is rigorously defined by Russian legislation. In accordance with Federal Law No. 248-FZ, dated July 31, 2020, titled "On State Control (Supervision) and Municipal Control in the Russian Federation," an expert is characterized as a natural person who has no personal interest in the outcomes of a control measure and is not an individual entrepreneur. Currently, this esteemed status has been conferred upon more than 4,100 specialists across a diverse array of sectors. These experts play a pivotal role in ensuring federal state control and supervision in critical areas such as civil defense, education, healthcare, fisheries, railway transport safety, and veterinary control. The broad spectrum of their application underscores the profound significance of the expert institution for the effective functioning of the state control system.

The implementation of this notification-based procedure is designed to address several key objectives. Firstly, it will significantly streamline the process of engaging external experts, thereby expanding the human resource potential of control and supervisory bodies. This will allow agencies to tap into a wider pool of specialized talent more quickly. Secondly, it promises to substantially reduce the administrative and financial burden on the control bodies themselves, freeing them from the necessity of organizing and conducting complex and resource-intensive attestation procedures, including demanding qualification examinations. Thirdly, this initiative aligns perfectly with the overarching trend of digitalization and simplification of interactions between citizens, businesses, and the state, actively pursued through the "Gosuslugi" portal.

However, like any significant innovation, the notification procedure demands a meticulous approach to its implementation. Individual agencies will be tasked with independently determining in which specific types of control they are prepared to transition to the new system, taking into account the unique characteristics and inherent risks of each respective area. This flexible approach is intended to allow the reform to be adapted to the genuine needs and capabilities of various state structures. The authority granted to agencies to independently define criteria for experts also highlights their crucial responsibility for ensuring the quality and integrity of the specialists they engage.

The Russian Government continues to demonstrate a consistent and resolute commitment to reforming licensing and permitting activities. In recent years, thanks to systemic efforts aimed at optimizing regulatory frameworks and automating processes, over 400 types of licenses and permits have become accessible through the "Gosuslugi" portal. This impressive track record underscores a deep understanding of the imperative to modernize the state apparatus and a strong desire to create a more transparent, efficient, and accessible system for both citizens and businesses. The introduction of a notification-based procedure for experts represents yet another crucial step in this ongoing direction, poised to make the state control process more dynamic, responsive, and adaptable to contemporary challenges.

Ekhbary News Agency