Jurisdiction: UK
Commencement: 31st January 2020
Amends: European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (2018 c.16)
The principal purpose of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (2018 c.16) is to ensure that the UK has a functioning statute book on the day it leaves the EU. As a general rule, the same rules and laws will apply on the day after exit as on the day before. The Act does not aim to make major changes to policy or establish new legal frameworks in the UK beyond those which are required to ensure that the law continues to function properly from exit day.
These Regulations bring into force many of the provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (the ‘2020 Act’), giving effect to international obligations contained in the draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
Paragraph 1(1) and (2) of Schedule 5 of the 2020 Act (which extends provisions of subordinate legislation to come into force immediately before, on or after ‘IP completion day’*) is brought into force immediately before the 31st of January 2020 (exit day). The rest of the provisions brought into force by this act (Paragraph 4) are done so immediately after exit day.
*IP completion day is on the 31st of December 2020.