EUROPEAN regulations are costing British business £8bn a year, according to the Chamber of Commerce, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
The cost to British business of new regulation has risen to more than £20bn, up £6bn on last year, it says.
According to Paul Dawson at the chamber, 40 per cent of the £20bn red tape bill comes from Europe.
He said the figure was based on the Government's own regulatory impact assessments.
David Frost, director general of British Chambers of Commerce, said it was the first time the legislative burden had been researched to show the effect of Europe on British regulation.
"Some people will be surprised that the proportion is only 40 per cent, others may have expected it to be much higher," he said.
"Either way, the impact on British business amounts to over £20bn according to the Government's own published assessments."
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