'Splitting Alley Regulations' Presents 6 Discussion Topics
Ministry of SMEs and Startups to Kick Off Killer Regulation Innovation TF on 28th
As the government emphasized the need to eliminate so-called 'killer regulations' that hinder corporate investment, small business owners, self-employed individuals, and venture and startup companies are also raising their voices to remove unreasonable regulations.
According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on the 29th, a total of six discussion topics were presented at the 'Breaking Down Neighborhood Regulations in Daily Life' event held on the 20th.
Minister Lee Young of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (center front row) is taking a commemorative photo with attendees after the "Breaking Down Alleyway Regulations in Daily Life" event held on the 20th at Tipstown S1 in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Ministry of SMEs and Startups
Small Business Owners and Venture/Startup Companies: "Unreasonable Regulations Must Be Lifted"
First, small business owners classified barrier-free kiosks for the disabled as an issue to be improved. Due to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities, barrier-free kiosks must be mandatorily installed in all business establishments except those with a floor area under 50㎡ starting January 2025. The problem is that the installation cost of barrier-free kiosks incurs several million won in additional expenses compared to existing kiosks. Accordingly, small business owners proposed alternatives such as establishing face-to-face ordering and payment counters for the disabled.
The cargo electric bicycle business is also facing difficulties. Although cargo electric bicycles can be an alternative for environmental protection and resolving conflicts between delivery motorcycles in apartments and traditional markets, commercialization is challenging due to the lack of legal status. Im Seong-dae, CEO of Ecobr, suggested adding cargo electric bicycles to the definition clause of Article 2 of the Bicycle Act and establishing KC safety standards as measures.
There were also calls for institutionalizing pet-friendly cafes and allowing the mixed sale of finished pet food products. Under current law, food service establishments allowing pets must provide separate spaces to separate people and animals, and even simple mixing of finished pet food products is illegal without manufacturing permits. A representative example is the 'Meongpuchino,' a pet dog milk topped with powder, which received a corrective recommendation due to the lack of a pet food manufacturing permit.
Additionally, discussions included expanding the recognized main ingredients of traditional liquor to develop various flavors, permitting pet registration using biometric information, and easing regulations on cosmetic refill sales for zero waste.
Earlier, at the 'Breaking Down Bio Venture and Startup Regulations' event held on May 30, companies also identified regulations hindering growth.
Video dispensing machines are non-face-to-face medicine vending machines that allow consultations with pharmacists via video calls and the purchase of over-the-counter drugs without time restrictions. However, laws prohibiting the sale of medicines outside pharmacies are seen as obstacles by companies. Although the necessity is recognized and the device was developed 10 years ago, commercialization is difficult due to opposition from stakeholders such as the Pharmacists Association.
In the case of digital therapeutics, even if safety concerns are not significant, the procedures are excessively complicated, which is cited as a difficulty. Approval standards vary depending on the person in charge, so the industry explains that product launches depend on the luck of the responsible official.
Conducting clinical trials remotely is also underway in some cases, but the absence of related guidelines is reported as an obstacle.
O Gi-woong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, is presiding over the "1st SME and Startup Killer Regulation Innovation TF Meeting" held on the 28th at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups building in Sejong. [Photo by Ministry of SMEs and Startups]
Ministry of SMEs and Startups Begins Full-Scale Efforts to Remove Regulations
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups appears to be taking full-scale action to eliminate regulations. On the morning of the 28th, it held the '1st Kickoff Meeting of the Small and Medium Venture Killer Regulation Innovation Task Force (TF)'.
The TF is responsible for two areas under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups among the 15 killer regulations selected by the government. It plans to propose improvement measures regarding neighborhood regulations affecting small business owners and self-employed individuals, as well as regulatory obstacles to the growth of venture startup companies.
At the meeting, the TF's operational direction for the rapid discovery and improvement of killer regulations in the small business and SME sectors, as well as candidate killer regulation tasks, were discussed.
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