ketenregeling

Ketenregeling, literally “chain regulation” in Dutch, refers to rules and agreements that govern how responsibilities, obligations, or processes are passed along through a chain of actors in a project, contract, or service delivery chain. The term is used in multiple sectors and does not denote a single, unified law; instead, it describes the way in which duties and liability are organized as work or care moves from one party to another.

In practice, ketenregeling is applied to ensure continuity, clarity, and accountability when several organizations or individuals participate in a sequence of actions. Common contexts include construction projects with primary contractors and subcontractors, healthcare or social care chains where information and responsibility move between providers, and employment or procurement processes where tasks are delegated or transferred. Key elements often addressed in ketenregelingen are transfer of obligations, liability allocation (such as joint or several liability), data and information sharing, and practical remedies for non-performance or delays.

Implementation typically occurs through sector-specific regulations, collective labor agreements, and contract clauses that specify how a transfer in the chain is handled, what each party is responsible for, and how risks are managed. The aim is to reduce ambiguity, improve coordination, and protect clients or patients, while balancing the interests and capacities of different participants in the chain.

Critics may argue that ketenregelingen can add administrative burden or shift risk to smaller actors; supporters see them as tools for safer, more reliable, and more transparent collaboration across complex networks. See also: supply chain management, liability in construction, chain of responsibility.