Process-based regulation specifies risk identification, assessment and control processes that must be undertaken to achieve a desired regulatory result. Examples include: Requiring companies across an industry to adopt a specific emissions reducing technology to meet target levels, setting the maximum travel distances to fire exits etc.
Outcomes-based regulations specify the desired result that a regulation intends to achieve, rather than describing a specific process or action that must be followed. Examples include: Requiring companies to reduce their emissions to target levels by pursuing their own independent actions etc.