GOC consults on business regulation

Views are being sought by the GOC on business regulations that would extend regulation to all businesses providing specified restricted functions. 

Among the proposals were: extending regulation to all entities providing the specified restricted functions, like universities; replacing the maximum fine of £50,000 with an uncapped penalty for business registrants receiving a sanction; changes to the consumer redress scheme, and removing requirements for corporate businesses to have a majority of registrant directors. 

As of March 31, 2024, the GOC had 2,852 business registrants compared with an estimated total of 5,040 retail opticians (57%). 

Steve Brooker, GOC director of regulatory strategy, said: 'The current framework has resulted in an outdated, complex, and piecemeal system, where only around half of optical businesses are regulated by the GOC. This creates a public protection gap and an uneven playing field for businesses.