FAO.org

H10.00-13.00 CEST

What is implementation, compliance and enforcement and why does it matter?

Legislation plays a critical role in our society as an instrument through which rights and responsibilities are created and protected. It is also where national policy is anchored, strong and transparent institutions are established, and institutional accountability is ensured. Legislation is foundational in achieving lasting change, and development of a reasonably adequate draft for consideration and debate by legislature culminating in the enactment of a bill into law is only the starting point. 

Institutions created through legislation may be tasked with safeguarding and securing the rights protected under the legislation. Maintaining these institutions and ensuring their proper functioning, including enforcement-mandated agencies, requires adequate capacity and resources. It is therefore important that the institutions charged with enforcing such laws have adequate capacity and resources, including financial and knowledge resources for the lack of such capacity and resources has frequently been raised as major obstacles. The challenges associated with implementation, compliance and enforcement of law are multi-faceted and complex and ultimately undermine its relevance.

What is its relationship with food, agriculture and natural resources?

Regulation of agrifood systems, as with any area of law, is built on several layers and processes: starting with sound legal drafting, enactment of appropriate laws, and their effective implementation, compliance, and enforcement. The latter includes the identification and allocation of the necessary tools and equipment, knowledge and training, sufficiently skilled officers, administrative staff and enforcement officers, and effective coordination between sector-specific government institutions, as well as financial resources.

Having a functioning triad of legislation drafting/implementation, compliance and enforcement is key to effective agrifood systems including the protection and sustainable use of our natural resources. Consequently, it is important to look at how these can be made as effective and efficient as possible. Protecting our agrifood systems in an inclusive way has positive spill-over effects. 

 Why are we talking about it?

This roundtable discussion takes a step back, looking at the entire process of legislation starting from the drafting up until its enforcement. The event will bring together a high-level panel of experts, discussing topics such as innovative solutions for better law-making as well as challenges and opportunities in implementation, compliance and enforcement. The event will in particular look at innovative and new ways to close gaps in compliance and enforcement in order to achieve sustainable governance of agrifood systems and natural resources and the role of relevant players including FAO.

Objectives of the roundtable discussion:

• Bring together leading experts from public and private sectors to lead foucused round-table discussions and answer questions
• Create understanding on the topic of implementation, compliance and enforcement and their interactive relationship with legislation
• Open dialogue about challenges and opportunities ahead in the various technical areas of agrifood systems and natural resource governance, focusing in particular on innovation

For more information, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Register here. 

Download the Agenda.