Overview:
The comment may express support for a specific regulatory project or be an objection to some or all of the provisions of this project. In any case, a constructive comment based on accurate scientific and practical foundations and supported by evidence is likely to have an impact on regulatory decision-making.
These guidelines aim to assist the public in providing comments and feedback that would influence and assist decision-makers in government entities to improve the proposed laws and regulations.
General Guidelines:
You must read and comprehend the regulatory document on which you are commenting.
Do not hesitate to contact the unit if you have any questions.
Be brief and provide a well-supported opinion and feedback.
Rely on common sense and scientific evidence to justify, and explain how the proposal, if implemented, will affect you or the group you represent.
You should consider other opinions in your comment, to reach the best options.
There are no minimum and maximum limits for adding an effective comment.
Commenting is not a vote, as a well-supported comment is usually more effective than an overall vote.
Submitting or adding a comment does not considered voting, as a well-supported comment may be more effective than voting.
Detailed Recommendations:
Providing comments and submitting feedback ends at 11:59 on the project deadline, so it is recommended that the draft be well-read ahead of the deadline.
A good understanding of the issues raised is very important, and if there are any questions or inquiries about the proposed project, it is advised to contact the owner of the project or with the unit.
It is important to specify the issues that will be commented on within the project. If the comment is on a specific word, phrase, or sentence, then the article number, item, paragraph, etc. must be indicated.
It is allowed to give feedback on other comments, in which case it is preferable to indicate the ID of that comment on which you give your opinion.
Issues of particular interest and impact must be identified and understood to provide clear and direct comments and feedback.
Government entities may ask specific questions, or raise issues or proposals, when approving projects, or on topics of interest to the entity aiming to get more information. However, the unit will accept comments on any part of the proposed project, as it is appropriate to put these questions and issues into consideration while providing the comments and feedback.
Although all feedback will be received and appreciated by the government entities, it is more likely that constructive feedback, whether positive or negative, will have the most impact.
In disagreement with any particular procedure that is being proposed, a suggested alternative must be provided, including not rolling out the project at all, and providing an explanation with analysis of how this alternative would achieve the same goal and be more effective.
The comment process is not a vote, as government entities try to reach the best policies and regulations, so when providing a comment, it is important to explain clearly why the comment was submitted.
The difference of opinion from others should be clarified if the comment is about a part of the relevant personal or professional experience, for example: (scientist, lawyer, investor, businessperson, etc.). It is important to clarify this in the comment.
Government entities look for science and common sense in the submitted comments whenever possible. Commentary can be supported by objective data, facts, and expert opinions. Personal experiences can also be presented in commentary as appropriate, with arguments well supported. Accordingly, it may affect the decision-making process of the entity.
Consider including examples of the direct positive and negative impact of the proposed project.
The comment should indicate the expected economic impact as a result of implementing the proposed project.
It is important to include and explain the pros and cons of the comment, and can take into account other points of view, and respond to them with facts and common sense.
It is recommended to keep a copy of the comment in a separate file, as this helps to ensure it does not lose the comment in case of any problems while submitting it through the platform.
Consolidated Comments:
Some entities encourage the public to provide consolidated comments that may contribute to addressing a common problem that entity has, and use these comments to express support or opposition to the proposed project.
Some may think that such comments may represent a "vote" on issues concerning them. Although public support or disagreement may help guide important public policies in some circumstances, the government entities make decisions about proposed projects based on common sense and scientific evidence, not on a majority of votes, and a single well-supported comment may have better value and greater impact than consolidated comments.
Notice: This document is intended to provide general guidelines for providing comments and submitting feedback, and no part of it should be considered legal advice. Please seek advice from an attorney if you have legal questions or concerns.