The Irish Government agreed to the revised guidelines and template for the application of the SME Test.
The SME Test is an impact assessment tool that has been designed to assist policymakers consider the SME perspective when making any new policies, legislation (primary or secondary), or regulatory compliance requirements.
The objective of the SME Test is to ensure the ease of use, understanding and application of policy requirements on SMEs.
The Test identifies disproportionate impacts on SMEs and encourages policymakers to propose alternative policy options or mitigating measures to minimise the impact on small businesses, and to ensure that the regulatory environment allows SMEs to operate, grow and scale-up.
The enhanced Test will be rigorously applied by all Government Departments to major new measures that will directly or indirectly impact small and medium sized enterprises.
Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Peter Burke TD said the revised SME Test will help to ensure “the ‘think small first’ …