The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has developed a Consumer Data Right sandbox to allow participants to test their CDR systems.

The ACCC said the sandbox, which is free, will reduce the time and cost of becoming a data provider or accredited recipient, or updating a CDR offering.

The regulator is responding to feedback from industry that the CDR accreditation processes are complex, time-consuming and costly.

The sandbox is a hosted environment that functions like the CDR. It allows businesses to set up their software and communicate with existing mock solutions and other participants in the sandbox.

It has been designed to provide “pre-live” development support and assist in improving data quality for data shared between participants.

ACCC commissioner Peter Crone said in a statement: “As the CDR develops, it is important that flexible testing options are available for participants wanting to become active in the CDR, so that the ecosystem can expand and consumers can have more and more choices.”