GOC seeks views on approach to setting registrant fees

The General Optical Council (GOC) is seeking views from registrants on its approach to setting the annual registration renewal fee, with a paper open for comments until 20 July.

The regulator published a new discussion paper seeking views on whether the fees paid by different registrant groups should vary depending on the costs of regulating them on Monday (27 April).

Options that could better support registrants in managing the costs of registration also forms part of the discussion paper, such as payment by instalments and setting fees two or more years in advance.

Steve Brooker, director of regulatory strategy, shared that the release of the discussion paper delivers on a commitment in the corporate strategy 2025–2030 for the regulator to review its approach to setting registrant fees, enhancing fairness and delivering value for money.

The GOC explained that it requires a minimum level of income annually in order to carry out its regulatory functions, but it wishes to gain feedback on the options for changing how this income is distributed among different registrant groups.

The options outlined in the paper fall into five groups: key principles underpinning the approach to setting fees, differential fees, enhancing payment flexibility, business registrant fees, and providing clarity for registrants.

The discussion paper outlines that the GOC is not making specific proposals at this stage but gauging an “appetite for change and preferred direction of travel.”

Brooker commented: “Given our strategic objective of creating fairer and more inclusive eye care services, and acknowledging a wider backdrop of difficult economic conditions, we wish to explore options for a fairer model for setting registrant fees.”

“We also want to improve transparency around our fees and explore ways of better supporting registrants in meeting the costs of regulation,” he added.

The GOC noted that the paper does not seek views on the level of registration fees, which are set by Council every year according to the financial strategy 2025–2030 to increase broadly in line with inflation.

Registrants can submit responses through the GOC consultation hub or share their view by contacting the GOC by email. The deadline for responses is 20 July 2026.