The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 19721 and sections 85(1)(a) and (b), (3), (5) and (7) and 86(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 19952 (“the Act”) as read with paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 19723.

The Secretary of State is a Minister designated4 for the purpose of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 in relation to measures relating to the safety of ships, and the health and safety of persons on them.

These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and it appears to the Secretary of State that it is expedient for references to the Annexes to Directive 2000/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work (seventh individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)5 to be construed as references to those Annexes as amended from time to time.

In accordance with section 86(4) of the Act the Secretary of State has consulted the persons referred to in that section.