Reglugerð

Reglugerð refers to a form of delegated or subordinate legislation in Icelandic law. It is issued by the government or by a minister under authority granted by an act of Alþingi (the Icelandic Parliament) and serves to implement, detail, and operationalize the provisions of primary legislation. Reglugerðir fill in technical or procedural gaps left by statutes, prescribing rules, standards, forms, deadlines, and enforcement mechanisms.

Legal basis and hierarchy: A reglugerð derives its authority from an enabling provision in a statute and must stay within the scope of that authorization. They cannot alter the fundamental purpose of the statute they implement. Reglugerðir are subordinate to the statutes they regulate and may be challenged in court if they exceed the ministerial or governmental mandate or infringe higher-law principles. They can be repealed or amended by subsequent reglugerðir or by new enabling laws.

Process and publication: Typically, a reglugerð is drafted within a ministry, subjected to consultation or review as required, and published in the official gazette. It comes into force on a specified date and binds individuals, businesses, and public authorities within its scope.

Content and effect: Reglugerðir cover administrative procedures, licensing and registration requirements, technical standards, fee schedules, forms, and compliance rules. While they have the force of law, their legitimacy rests on their conformity with the enabling statute and the broader constitutional framework.

Relation to other instruments: They operate alongside statutes (lög) and procedural regulations, forming a two-tiered system of national law where reglugerðir implement and specify the operation of primary legislation.