Föreskrift

Föreskrift is a rule or regulation issued by a public authority or certain organizations in Sweden to regulate conduct, procedures, or technical requirements within a defined area. It is a form of subordinate regulation that derives authority from a higher law or statute, which authorizes the issuer to prescribe detailed rules. Föreskrifter are binding on those who fall under the issuer's jurisdiction and can be amended or repealed by the same authority.

Föreskrifter are common in areas such as safety, health, environment, transport, and financial regulation. Examples include Arbetsmiljöverkets föreskrifter on occupational safety, Transportstyrelsens föreskrifter on vehicle standards and road traffic, and Finansinspektionens föreskrifter on financial market conduct.

In relation to other normative acts, föreskrifter are lower in status than laws (lag) but higher than individual administrative decisions. They may be complemented by non-binding guidelines (allmänna råd) and by government decisions (förordningar) in certain contexts. Some föreskrifter are binding, while others are framed as guidelines within the issuer’s remit.

Enforcement and challenges: Authorities monitor compliance, and violations can lead to administrative penalties or injunctions. If a föreskrift conflicts with higher law or exceeds the issuer’s authority, it can be appealed or challenged in administrative courts.

Private organisations and international bodies can also issue internal föreskrifter, though in public administration the term most often describes formal rules issued by a public authority.