Transitional provisions: EU exit112

1

Where before exit day a site in Scotland has been adopted in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive (list of sites of Community importance), the Scottish Ministers must designate that site as a special area of conservation as soon as possible and no later than six years from the date of adoption of that site.

2

Paragraph (3) applies where a site in Scotland—

a

has before exit day been proposed, in a list of sites transmitted to the European Commission, as eligible for identification as of Community importance in accordance with the procedure laid out in Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive (list of sites of Community importance); and

b

has not yet been so identified as being of Community importance.

3

Where this paragraph applies, the Scottish Ministers must within six years of exit day designate the site as a special area of conservation or give notice of their intention not to designate the site as such and in that case must publish, in such form as they see fit, their reasons for not designating it.

Amendment of Schedules113

1

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations amend schedule 2 or 4 for the purpose of adding, to schedule 2 or 4, any species listed in Annex IV(a) or (b) to the Habitats Directive, where they are satisfied that the natural range of that species includes any area in Scotland.

2

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make such other amendments as they consider necessary for adapting schedules 2 to 4 to technical and scientific progress.

3

Regulation 115 applies in relation to any amendment made under paragraph (1) or (2).

Amendment of the Annexes to the Directives114

1

Paragraph (2) applies for the purposes of the application of the Annexes so far as they are relevant to any reference in these Regulations to—

a

the Directives;

b

the Annexes; or

c

any provisions of the Directives to which the Annexes relate.

2

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make such amendments to the Annexes as they consider necessary for the purpose of adapting them to technical and scientific progress.

3

Regulation 115 applies in relation to any amendment made under paragraph (2).

4

In this regulation, “the Annexes” means—

a

Annexes I to IV to the Habitats Directive; and

b

Annexes I to V to the Wild Birds Directive.

Regulations115

1

Regulations made under regulation 113(2) amending schedule 2, or under regulation 114 amending Annex IV to the Habitats Directive, are subject to the affirmative procedure (see section 29 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010).

2

Regulations made in any other case are subject to the negative procedure.