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European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018

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General and final provisionU.K.

20InterpretationU.K.

(1)In this Act—

  • [F1assimilated direct legislation” means any direct EU legislation which forms part of domestic law by virtue of section 3 (as modified by or under this Act or by other domestic law from time to time, and including any instruments made under it on or after IP completion day);]

  • [F1assimilated direct minor legislation” means any assimilated direct legislation which is not assimilated direct principal legislation;]

  • [F1assimilated direct principal legislation” means—

    (a)

    any EU regulation so far as it—

    (i)

    forms part of domestic law on and after IP completion day by virtue of section 3, and

    (ii)

    was not EU tertiary legislation immediately before IP completion day, or

    (b)

    any Annex to the EEA agreement so far as it—

    (i)

    forms part of domestic law on and after IP completion day by virtue of section 3, and

    (ii)

    refers to, or contains adaptations of, any EU regulation so far as it falls within paragraph (a),

    (as modified by or under this Act or by other domestic law from time to time);]

  • Charter of Fundamental Rights” means the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union of 7 December 2000, as adapted at Strasbourg on 12 December 2007;

  • [F2“Commons sitting day” means a day on which the House of Commons is sitting (and a day is only a day on which the House of Commons is sitting if the House begins to sit on that day);]

  • devolved authority” means—

    (a)

    the Scottish Ministers,

    (b)

    the Welsh Ministers, or

    (c)

    a Northern Ireland department;

  • domestic law” means—

    (a)

    in [F3sections 3, 7A and 7B], the law of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and

    (b)

    in any other case, the law of England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland;

  • the EEA” means the European Economic Area;

  • enactment” means an enactment whenever passed or made and includes—

    (a)

    an enactment contained in any Order in Council, order, rules, regulations, scheme, warrant, byelaw or other instrument made under an Act,

    (b)

    an enactment contained in any Order in Council made in exercise of Her Majesty's Prerogative,

    (c)

    an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament,

    (d)

    an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales,

    (e)

    an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, Northern Ireland legislation,

    (f)

    an enactment contained in any instrument made by a member of the Scottish Government, the Welsh Ministers, the First Minister for Wales, the Counsel General to the Welsh Government, a Northern Ireland Minister, the First Minister in Northern Ireland, the deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland or a Northern Ireland department in exercise of prerogative or other executive functions of Her Majesty which are exercisable by such a person on behalf of Her Majesty,

    (g)

    an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, a Measure of the Church Assembly or of the General Synod of the Church of England, and

    (h)

    except in sections [F41B] and 7 or where there is otherwise a contrary intention, any [F5assimilated direct] legislation;

  • EU decision” means—

    (a)

    a decision within the meaning of Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, or

    (b)

    a decision under former Article 34(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union;

  • EU directive” means a directive within the meaning of Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

  • EU entity” means an EU institution or any office, body or agency of the EU;

  • EU reference” means—

    (a)

    any reference to the EU, an EU entity or a member State,

    (b)

    any reference to an EU directive or any other EU law, or

    (c)

    any other reference which relates to the EU;

  • EU regulation” means a regulation within the meaning of Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

  • EU tertiary legislation” means—

    (a)

    any provision made under—

    (i)

    an EU regulation,

    (ii)

    a decision within the meaning of Article 288 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, or

    (iii)

    an EU directive,

    by virtue of Article 290 or 291(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or former Article 202 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, or

    (b)

    any measure adopted in accordance with former Article 34(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union to implement decisions under former Article 34(2)(c),

    but does not include any such provision or measure which is an EU directive;

  • exempt EU instrument” means anything which is an exempt EU instrument by virtue of Schedule 6;

  • exit day[F6means [F731 January 2020] at 11.00 p.m. (and] see subsections (2) to (5));

  • [F8future relationship agreement” has the same meaning as in the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 (see section 37 of that Act);]

  • [F9“Joint Committee” means the Joint Committee established by Article 164(1) of the withdrawal agreement;

  • “Lords sitting day” means a day on which the House of Lords is sitting (and a day is only a day on which the House of Lords is sitting if the House begins to sit on that day);]

  • “member State” (except in the definitions of “direct EU legislation” and “EU reference”) does not include the United Kingdom;

  • Minister of the Crown” has the same meaning as in the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975 and also includes the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs;

  • modify” includes amend, repeal or revoke (and related expressions are to be read accordingly);

  • Northern Ireland devolved authority” means the First Minister and deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland acting jointly, a Northern Ireland Minister or a Northern Ireland department;

  • primary legislation” means—

    (a)

    an Act of Parliament,

    (b)

    an Act of the Scottish Parliament,

    (c)

    a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales, or

    (d)

    Northern Ireland legislation;

  • public authority” means a public authority within the meaning of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998;

  • [F10“ratify”, whether in relation to the withdrawal agreement or otherwise, has the same meaning as it does for the purposes of Part 2 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 in relation to a treaty (see section 25 of that Act);]

  • relevant criminal offence” means an offence for which an individual who has reached the age of 18 (or, in relation to Scotland or Northern Ireland, 21) is capable of being sentenced to imprisonment for a term of more than 2 years (ignoring any enactment prohibiting or restricting the imprisonment of individuals who have no previous convictions);

  • F11...

  • retrospective provision”, in relation to provision made by regulations, means provision taking effect from a date earlier than the date on which the regulations are made;

  • subordinate legislation” means—

    (a)

    any Order in Council, order, rules, regulations, scheme, warrant, byelaw or other instrument made under any Act, or

    (b)

    any instrument made under an Act of the Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland legislation or a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales,

    and (except in section 7 or Schedule 2 or where there is a contrary intention) includes any Order in Council, order, rules, regulations, scheme, warrant, byelaw or other instrument made on or after [F12IP completion day] under any [F13assimilated direct] legislation;

  • tribunal” means any tribunal in which legal proceedings may be brought;

  • Wales” and “Welsh zone” have the same meaning as in the Government of Wales Act 2006 (see section 158 of that Act);

  • F14...

(2)In this [F15Act references to before, after or on exit day, or to beginning with exit day, are to be read as references to before, after or at 11.00 p.m. on [F1631 January 2020] or (as the case may be) to beginning with 11.00 p.m. on that day.]

(3)Subsection (4) applies if the day or time on or at which the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union is different from that specified in the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1).

(4)A Minister of the Crown [F17must] by regulations—

(a)amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and

(b)amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.

(5)In subsections (3) and (4) “the Treaties” means the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

[F18(5A)In this Act references to anything which continues to be domestic law by virtue of section 1B(2) include—

(a)references to anything to which section 1B(2) applies which continues to be domestic law on or after exit day (whether or not it would have done so irrespective of that provision), and

(b)references to anything which continues to be domestic law on or after exit day by virtue of section 1B(2) (as that body of law is added to or otherwise modified by or under this Act or by other domestic law from time to time).]

(6)In this Act references to anything which continues to be domestic law by virtue of section 2 include references to anything to which subsection (1) of that section applies which continues to be domestic law on or after [F19IP completion day] (whether or not it would have done so irrespective of that section).

F20(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8)References in this Act (however expressed) to a public authority in the United Kingdom include references to a public authority in any part of the United Kingdom.

(9)References in this Act to former Article 34(2)(c) of the Treaty on European Union are references to that Article as it had effect at any time before the coming into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.

(10)Any other reference in this Act to—

(a)an Article of the Treaty on European Union or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, or

(b)Article 10 of Title VII of Protocol 36 to those treaties,

includes a reference to that Article as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty.

Textual Amendments

F17Word in s. 20(4) substituted (9.9.2019) by European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019 (c. 26), ss. 4(1), 5(5) (with saving in s. 4(2))

21Index of defined expressionsU.K.

(1)In this Act, the expressions listed in the left-hand column have the meaning given by, or are to be interpreted in accordance with, the provisions listed in the right-hand column.

ExpressionProvision
[F21Anything which continues to be domestic law by virtue of section 1B(2) Section 20(5A)]
Anything which continues to be domestic law by virtue of section 2Section 20(6)
F22. . .F22. . .
Article (in relation to the Treaty on European Union or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union)Section 20(10)
[F23Assimilated case law Section 6(7)
Assimilated direct legislation Section 20(1)
Assimilated direct minor legislation Section 20(1)
Assimilated direct principal legislation Section 20(1)
Assimilated domestic case law Section 6(7)
Assimilated EU case law Section 6(7)
Assimilated law Section 6(7)]
Charter of Fundamental RightsSection 20(1)
[F24Commons sitting day Section 20(1)]
Devolved authoritySection 20(1)
Direct EU legislationSection 3(2)
Domestic lawSection 20(1)
The EEASection 20(1)
EEA agreementSchedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978
[F25EEA EFTA separation agreement Section 7B(6)]
EnactmentSection 20(1)
The EUSchedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978
EU decisionSection 20(1)
[F26EU-derived domestic legislation Section 1B(7)]
EU directiveSection 20(1)
EU entitySection 20(1)
EU institutionSchedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978
EU instrumentSchedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978
Euratom TreatySchedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978
EU referenceSection 20(1)
EU regulationSection 20(1)
[F27European Communities Act 1972 Section 1A(7)(a)]
European CourtSchedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978
EU tertiary legislationSection 20(1)
EU TreatiesSchedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978
Exempt EU instrumentSection 20(1)
Exit day (and related expressions)Section 20(1) to (5)
Former Article 34(2)(c) of Treaty on European UnionSection 20(9)
[F28Future relationship agreement Section 20(1)]
[F29Implementation period Section 1A(6)
IP completion day (and related expressions)Section 1A(6)
Joint CommitteeSection 20(1)
Lords sitting daySection 20(1)]
Member StateSection 20(1) and Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978
Minister of the CrownSection 20(1)
Modify (and related expressions)Section 20(1)
Northern Ireland devolved authoritySection 20(1)
Operative (in relation to direct EU legislation)Section 3(3)
[F30Part (of withdrawal agreement or EEA EFTA separation agreement) Section 1A(7)(b)]
Primary legislationSection 20(1)
Public authoritySection 20(1)
Public authority in the United Kingdom (however expressed)Section 20(8)
[F31Qualifying Northern Ireland goods Section 8C(6)
RatifySection 20(1)]
Relevant criminal offenceSection 20(1) (and paragraph 44 of Schedule 8)
[F32Relevant separation agreement law Section 7C(3)]
F33. . .F33. . .
F33. . .F33. . .
F33. . .F33. . .
F33. . .F33. . .
F33. . .F33. . .
F33. . .F33. . .
F33. . .F33. . .
F34. . .F34. . .
Retrospective provisionSection 20(1)
Subordinate legislationSection 20(1)
[F35Swiss citizens' rights agreement Section 7B(6)]
TribunalSection 20(1)
WalesSection 20(1)
Welsh zoneSection 20(1)
Withdrawal agreement [F36Section 1A(6)]

(2)See paragraph 22 of Schedule 8 for amendments made by this Act to Schedule 1 to the Interpretation Act 1978.

Textual Amendments

22RegulationsU.K.

Schedule 7 (which makes provision about the scrutiny by Parliament and the devolved legislatures of regulations under this Act and contains other general provision about such regulations) has effect.

23Consequential and transitional provisionU.K.

(1)A Minister of the Crown may by regulations make such provision as the Minister considers appropriate in consequence of this Act.

(2)The power to make regulations under subsection (1) may (among other things) be exercised by modifying any provision made by or under an enactment.

(3)In subsection (2) “enactment” does not include primary legislation passed or made after [F37IP completion day].

(4)No regulations may be made under subsection (1) after the end of the period of 10 years beginning with [F38IP completion day].

(5)Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 8 (which contain consequential provision) have effect.

(6)A Minister of the Crown may by regulations make such transitional, transitory or saving provision as the Minister considers appropriate in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act (including its operation in connection with exit day [F39or IP completion day]).

(7)Parts 3 and 4 of Schedule 8 (which contain transitional, transitory and saving provision) have effect.

(8)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 9 (which contains repeals not made elsewhere in this Act) are repealed to the extent specified.

Textual Amendments

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Commencement Information

I1S. 23(1)-(4)(6) in force at Royal Assent and s. 23(7) in force for specified purposes at Royal Assent, see s. 25(1)(f)(g)

I2S. 23(5)(7)(8) in force at 4.7.2018 for specified purposes and s. 23(8) in force for further specified purposes on exit day by S.I. 2018/808, regs. 3(g)(h)(i), 4(a)

I3S. 23(5) in force at 31.1.2020 for specified purposes by S.I. 2020/74, reg. 2(b)

I4S. 23(5)(7) in force at 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(i)

I5S. 23(7) in force at 1.3.2019 for specified purposes by S.I. 2019/399, reg. 2(b)

I6S. 23(8) in force at 31.12.2020 for specified purposes by S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 2(a) (with reg. 22)

I7S. 23(8) in force at 31.12.2020 for specified purposes by S.I. 2018/808, reg. 4(a) (as amended by S.I. 2020/74, reg. 3(2)(3))

I8S. 23(8) in force at 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 3(j) (with regs. 8, 9, 22)

24ExtentU.K.

(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(2)Any provision of this Act which amends or repeals an enactment has the same extent as the enactment amended or repealed.

(3)Regulations under section 8(1) or 23 may make provision which extends to Gibraltar—

(a)modifying any enactment which—

(i)extends to Gibraltar and relates to European Parliamentary elections, or

(ii)extends to Gibraltar for any purpose which is connected with Gibraltar forming part of an electoral region, under the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002, for the purposes of such elections, or

(b)which is supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional, transitory or saving provision in connection with a modification within paragraph (a).

25Commencement and short titleU.K.

(1)The following provisions—

(a)sections 8 to 11 (including Schedule 2),

(b)paragraphs 4, 5, 21(2)(b), 48(b), 51(2)(c) and (d) and (4) of Schedule 3 (and section 12(8) and (12) so far as relating to those paragraphs),

(c)sections 13 and 14 (including Schedule 4),

(d)sections 16 to 18,

(e)sections 20 to 22 (including Schedules 6 and 7),

(f)section 23(1) to (4) and (6),

(g)paragraph 41(10), 43 and 44 of Schedule 8 (and section 23(7) so far as relating to those paragraphs),

(h)section 24, and

(i)this section,

come into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

(2)In section 12—

(a)subsection (2) comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed for the purposes of making regulations under section 30A of the Scotland Act 1998,

(b)subsection (4) comes into force on that day for the purposes of making regulations under section 109A of the Government of Wales Act 2006, and

(c)subsection (6) comes into force on that day for the purposes of making regulations under section 6A of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(3)In Schedule 3—

(a)paragraph 1(b) comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed for the purposes of making regulations under section 57(4) of the Scotland Act 1998,

(b)paragraph 2 comes into force on that day for the purposes of making regulations under section 80(8) of the Government of Wales Act 2006,

(c)paragraph 3(b) comes into force on that day for the purposes of making regulations under section 24(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998,

(d)paragraph 24(2) comes into force on that day for the purposes of making regulations under section 30A of the Scotland Act 1998,

(e)paragraph 24(3) comes into force on that day for the purposes of making regulations under section 57(4) of the Scotland Act 1998,

(f)paragraph 25 comes into force on that day for the purposes of making regulations under section 30A or 57(4) of the Scotland Act 1998,

(g)paragraph 43 comes into force on that day for the purposes of making regulations under section 80(8) or 109A of the Government of Wales Act 2006, and

(h)paragraphs 57 and 58 come into force on that day for the purposes of making regulations under section 6A or 24(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998;

and section 12(7) and (12), so far as relating to each of those paragraphs, comes into force on that day for the purposes of making the regulations mentioned above in relation to that paragraph.

(4)The provisions of this Act, so far as they are not brought into force by subsections (1) to (3), come into force on such day as a Minister of the Crown may by regulations appoint; and different days may be appointed for different purposes.

(5)This Act may be cited as the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

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