The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation Regulations 2012

PART 1 U.K. Citation, commencement and extent

Citation and commencement U.K.

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation Regulations 2012.

(2) Except as provided under paragraph (3), these Regulations come into force on 27th August 2012.

(3) These Regulations come into force on 12th July 2012 so far as necessary to enable anything to be done for the purposes of granting, refusing or reconsidering licence applications, or varying, suspending or revoking licences in respect of activities required by virtue of these Regulations to be authorised by a licence from 27th August 2012, including but not limited to—

(a) giving directions under section 23(1) of, or paragraph 2(4)(c) to (f) of Schedule 3 to, the 2004 Act;

(b) publishing guidance under regulation 12;

(c) establishing the Framework under regulation 13; and

(d) the fixing of fees.

Extent U.K.

2.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), these Regulations extend to England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

(2) Regulation 25(2), (3), (4) and (7) extends to England and Wales and Northern Ireland only.

(3) Regulation 29 extends to Scotland only.

PART 2 U.K. Interpretation and designation of the competent authority

Interpretation U.K.

3.— [F1 (1)]  In these Regulations—

“the 2004 Act” means the Human Tissue Act 2004 ;

“the 2006 Regulations” means the Human Tissue Act 2004 (Persons who Lack Capacity to Consent and Transplants) Regulations 2006 ;

“the 2006 Scotland Act” means the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 ;

“the 2006 Scotland Regulations” means the Human Organ and Tissue Live Transplants (Scotland) Regulations 2006 ;

“the 2007 Regulations” means the Human Tissue (Quality and Safety for Human Application) Regulations 2007 ;

“the Authority” means the Human Tissue Authority established under section 13 of the 2004 Act;

“consent”, in respect of a donor, means [F2 , where retrieval of an organ takes place] —

(a)

in England [F3 or] Northern Ireland, appropriate consent as defined in the 2004 Act ; F4 ...

(b)

in Scotland, the authorisation referred to in Part 1 (transplantation etc.) of the 2006 Scotland Act or, as the case may be, the authorisation or lack of unwillingness of the donor referred to in the 2006 Scotland Regulations [F5 ; or

(c)

in Wales, express consent where that is required under any of sections 4 to 7 of the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013 or, where express consent is not required, deemed consent under section 4 or 9 of that Act;]

“the Directive ” means Directive 2010/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7th July 2010 on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation [F6 , as it applies in relation to Northern Ireland];

“disposal” means the final placement of an organ where it is not used for transplantation;

“donation” means donating organs for the purposes of transplantation;

“donor” means a person who donates one or several organs, whether donation occurs during lifetime or after death;

“donor characterisation” means the collection of relevant information on the characteristics of the donor needed to evaluate the donor's suitability for donation, in order to undertake a risk assessment and to minimise the risks for the recipient, and optimise organ allocation;

[F7 “the Implementing Directive” means Commission Implementing Directive 2012/25/EU laying down information procedures for the exchange, between Member States, of human organs intended for transplantation [F8 , as it applies in relation to Northern Ireland;]]

“licensed activity”, in relation to a licence, means an activity which the licence authorises under Schedule 1;

“licence holder” means a person who holds a licence under Schedule 1;

“organ” means a differentiated part of the human body, formed by different tissues, that maintains its structure, vascularisation, and capacity to develop physiological functions with a significant level of autonomy; and a part of an organ is also considered to be an organ if its function is to be used for the same purpose as the entire organ in the human body, maintaining the requirements of structure and vascularisation;

“organ characterisation” means the collection of the relevant information on the characteristics of the organ needed to evaluate its suitability for transplantation, in order to undertake a risk assessment and minimise the risks for the recipient, and optimise organ allocation;

“operating procedures” means written instructions describing the steps in a specific process, including the materials and methods to be used and the expected end outcome;

“preservation” means the use of chemical agents, alterations in environmental conditions or other means to prevent or retard biological or physical deterioration of organs from procurement to transplantation;

“procurement” means a process by which a donated organ becomes available for transplantation;

“procurement activity” means all or any of the following activities, undertaken for the purposes of procurement—

(a)

donor characterisation;

(b)

organ characterisation;

(c)

preservation of an organ;

(d)

making arrangements to transport an organ;

(e)

retrieval of an organ;

[F9 “procurement organisation” means a healthcare establishment, a team or a unit of a hospital, a person, or any other body which undertakes or coordinates the procurement of organs, and is authorised to do so by the Authority;]

“recipient” means a person who receives a transplant of an organ;

“serious adverse event” means any undesired and unexpected occurrence associated with any stage of the chain from donation to transplantation that might lead to the transmission of a communicable disease, to death or life-threatening, disabling or incapacitating conditions for a patient or which results in, or prolongs, hospitalisation or morbidity;

“serious adverse reaction” means an unintended response, including a communicable disease, in the living donor or in the recipient that might be associated with any stage of the chain from donation to transplantation that is fatal, life-threatening, disabling, incapacitating, or which results in, or prolongs, hospitalisation or morbidity;

“traceability” means the ability to locate and identify the organ at each stage in the chain from donation to transplantation or disposal, including the ability to—

(a)

identify the donor and the licence holder who retrieved the organ from the donor;

(b)

identify the licence holder who implanted the organ in the recipient;

(c)

identify the recipient at the premises at which the organ is implanted into the recipient; and

(d)

locate and identify all relevant non-personal information relating to products and materials coming into contact with that organ;

“transplantation” means a process which is intended to restore certain functions of the human body by transferring an organ from a donor to a recipient; and

“transplantation activity” means all or any of the following activities, undertaken for the purposes of transplantation—

(a)

organ characterisation;

(b)

preservation of an organ;

(c)

making arrangements to transport an organ;

(d)

implantation of an organ.

[F10 (2) In these Regulations, as they apply in relation to Great Britain, a reference to ensuring compliance with these Regulations includes a reference to ensuring compatibility with the principles set out in Article 13 of Directive 2010/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation as modified by section 32(3C) of the 2004 Act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 3 renumbered as reg. 3(1) (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(2)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F2 Words in reg. 3 inserted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013 (Consequential Provision) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/865), arts. 1(2), 3(a)

F3 Word in reg. 3 substituted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013 (Consequential Provision) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/865), arts. 1(2), 3(b)(i)

F4 Word in reg. 3 omitted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013 (Consequential Provision) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/865), arts. 1(2), 3(b)(ii)

F5 Words in reg. 3 added (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013 (Consequential Provision) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/865), arts. 1(2), 3(c)

F6 Words in reg. 3(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(2)(b)(i) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1305, regs. 1, 4(a)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F7 Words in reg. 3 inserted (14.7.2014) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1459), regs. 1(1), 3

F8 Words in reg. 3(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(2)(b)(ii) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1305, regs. 1, 4(b)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F9 Words in reg. 3(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(2)(b)(iii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F10 Reg. 3(2) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(2)(c) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1305, regs. 1, 4(c)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

[F11 Designation of the competent authority U.K.

4.   In relation to Northern Ireland, the Authority is designated the competent authority for the purposes of the Directive.]

Textual Amendments

F11 Reg. 4 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(3) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1305, regs. 1, 5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

PART 3 U.K. Licensing

Licensing requirement U.K.

5.—(1) No person shall carry out a procurement activity or a transplantation activity otherwise than under the authority of a licence under Schedule 1.

(2) The authority conferred by a licence extends to the licence holder, any person designated by the licence holder and any person acting under the supervision of either of them.

(3) The Authority shall specify in the licence which procurement activity or transplantation activity a person may undertake under the licence.

(4) The Authority shall permit a person making an application for two or more—

(a) procurement activities;

(b) transplantation activities; or

(c) procurement activities and transplantation activities, to make single application in respect of the activities,

to make a single application in respect of the activities.

(5) Schedule 1 has effect.

[F12 (6) Schedule 1A (which specifies information to be collected in certain circumstances for the purposes of paragraph 5 of Schedule 1) has effect.]

Textual Amendments

F12 Reg. 5(6) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Application of the 2004 Act in relation to licences under Schedule 1 U.K.

6.—(1) The provisions of the 2004 Act referred to in paragraph (2) shall apply, subject to the modifications specified in [F13 paragraphs (4) and (5)], in relation to a licence under Schedule 1 to these Regulations as they apply to licences under paragraph 1 of Schedule 3, (licences for the purposes of section 16) to that Act.

(2) The provisions are—

(a) section 19(1), (2), (5) and (7) (right to reconsideration of licensing decisions);

(b) sections 20 to 24 (which relate to appeals and powers to give directions);

(c) section 37(1) to (5) (directions); and

(d) paragraphs 2(4)(c) to (f) and (5), 5, 7 to 11, and 13 of Schedule 3 (licences for the purposes of section 16).

(3) In their application by virtue of this regulation, those provisions extend to Scotland (as well as to the rest of the United Kingdom).

(4) In their application by virtue of this regulation—

(a) section 19 (right to reconsideration of licensing decisions) shall apply as if in subsection (2) the words “, or designated individual,” were omitted F14 ...;

(b) section 23 (conduct of licensed activities) shall apply as if subsection (1) were limited to directions that the Authority considers necessary to ensure compliance with [F15 these Regulations, as they apply in relation to Great Britain, and with the Directive and the Implementing Directive, as they apply in relation to Northern Ireland];

(c) section 24 (changes of licence circumstance) shall apply as if subsection (1) were limited to directions that the Authority considers necessary to ensure compliance with [F15 these Regulations, as they apply in relation to Great Britain, and with the Directive and the Implementing Directive, as they apply in relation to Northern Ireland] and as if for subsections (2)(b) and (3)(b) there were substituted—

“(b) on any other person who has authority to act under the licence;”;

(d) section 37 (directions) shall apply—

(i) as if the reference in subsection (1) to “this Part” were to these Regulations; and

(ii) as if any reference in subsection (5) to a licence were to a licence under Schedule 1 to these Regulations;

(e) paragraph 2(4)(c) to (f) and 5 (characteristics of licence) of Schedule 3 shall apply as if it were limited to directions that the Authority considers necessary to ensure compliance with [F15 these Regulations, as they apply in relation to Great Britain, and with the Directive and the Implementing Directive, as they apply in relation to Northern Ireland];

(f) paragraph 7 (power to revoke licence) of that Schedule shall apply as if sub-paragraphs (1)(b) and (2)(b), (e) and (f) were omitted and as if for sub-paragraph (2)(b) there were substituted —

“(b) if it is satisfied that the licence holder has failed to discharge, or is unable because ofincapacity to discharge, any of its duties,”;

(g) paragraph 8 (power to vary licence) of that Schedule shall apply as if sub-paragraphs (1), (2)(b), (3) and (4) were omitted;

(h) paragraph 9 (power to suspend licence) of that Schedule shall apply as if for sub-paragraph (3) there were substituted the following sub-paragraph—

“(3) Notice under sub-paragraph (1) shall be given to the licence holder or to any otherperson who has authority to act under the licence.”;

(i) paragraph 10 (procedure in relation to licensing decisions) of that Schedule shall apply as if sub-paragraph (2)(b) were omitted; and

(j) paragraph 11 (notification of licensing decisions) of that Schedule shall apply as if sub-paragraphs (1)(b) and (3)(b) were omitted and as if for sub-paragraphs (2)(b) and 4(b) there were substituted—

“(b) any other person who has authority to act under the licence.”;

(5) In its application by virtue of this regulation, section 22 (appeal on a point of law) of the 2004 Act is to have effect in Scotland as if the reference to the High Court were a reference to the Court of Session.

Textual Amendments

F13 Words in reg. 6(1) substituted (14.7.2014) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1459), regs. 1(1), 4(a)

F14 Words in reg. 6(4)(a) omitted (14.7.2014) by virtue of The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1459), regs. 1(1), 4(b)

F15 Words in reg. 6 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(5) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1305, regs. 1, 6); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Extension of other provisions of the 2004 Act to Scotland U.K.

7.—(1) The following provisions shall extend to Scotland (as well as to the rest of the United Kingdom), so far as they relate to activities within section 14(1)(i) of the 2004 Act—

(a) section 14 (remit of the Human Tissue Authority); and

(b) section 15(a), (b), (d), (e) and (f) (general functions), subject to the modifications in paragraph (2).

(2) In its application by virtue of paragraph (1) section 15(e) and (f) of the 2004 Act is to be read as including a reference to advising the Scottish Ministers.

Breach of requirement to hold a licence U.K.

8.—(1) A person who contravenes regulation 5(1) commits an offence unless that person reasonably believes that—

(a) the activity being undertaken is not an activity to which regulation 5(1) applies; or

(b) they are acting under the authority of a licence under Schedule 1.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or

(b) on conviction on indictment—

(i) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years,

(ii) to a fine, or

(iii) to both.

Preconditions to grant of a licence U.K.

9.—(1) The Authority may not grant a licence under Schedule 1 unless the following requirements are met.

(2) The Authority must be satisfied that the applicant—

(a) meets the relevant conditions in Schedule 1 and will continue to do so; and

(b) meets any other conditions or requirements that the Authority has imposed.

(3) A copy of the conditions to be imposed by the licence must have been shown to, and acknowledged in writing by, the applicant for the licence.

Duty of the licence holder U.K.

10.  It shall be the duty of the licence holder to secure compliance with—

(a) the conditions of the licence granted by the Authority to the licence holder under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1; and

(b) any requirements imposed by directions given under section 23(1) (conduct of licensed activities) or 24(1) (changes of licence circumstance) of, or paragraph 2(4)(c) to (f) (characteristics of licence) of Schedule 3 to, the 2004 Act, as applied by regulation 6.

Directions U.K.

11.—(1) The Authority shall give directions to a licence holder under section 23(1) (conduct of licensed activities) of the 2004 Act, as applied by regulation 6, in accordance with Schedule 2.

(2) The Authority shall revise directions given by virtue of paragraph (1) as it considers necessary.

(3) Schedule 2 has effect.

Guidance U.K.

12.—(1) The Authority shall publish such guidance to licence holders as it considers necessary to ensure compliance with [F16 these Regulations, as they apply in relation to Great Britain, and with the Directive and the Implementing Directive, as they apply in relation to Northern Ireland] .

(2) The Authority shall keep the guidance published under paragraph (1) under review and prepare revised guidance when it considers it necessary to do so.

(3) The Authority shall publish the guidance under this regulation in such a way as, in its opinion, is likely to bring it to the attention of licence holders.

Textual Amendments

F16 Words in reg. 12(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(6) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1305, regs. 1, 7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

PART 4 U.K. Other obligations of the Authority

Framework and compliance with licensing conditions and directions U.K.

13.—(1) The Authority shall establish and keep updated a framework which shall specify how their requirements for the quality and safety of organs for transplantation shall be met F17 ....

(2) The framework shall cover all stages of the chain from donation to transplantation or disposal and shall include information about the—

(a) procurement activities and transplantation activities that are required to be carried on under the authority of a licence under Schedule 1;

(b) licensing application process;

(c) requirements that licensees must comply with, including the licensing conditions and any directions that the Authority has given under section 23(1) (conduct of licensed activities) of, or paragraph 2(4)(c) to (f) (characteristics of licence) of Schedule 3 to, the 2004 Act, as applied by regulation 6; and

(d) guidance that the Authority has given under regulation 12.

(3) The Authority shall ensure that licence holders are audited for the purposes of ensuring compliance with—

(a) the licensing conditions in Schedule 1; and

(b) any requirements imposed by directions given under section 23(1) or 24(1) (change of licence circumstance) of, or paragraph 2(4) of Schedule 3 to, the 2004 Act, as applied by regulation 6;

at such intervals that the Authority considers appropriate to ensure compliance with such licensing conditions and directions.

Textual Amendments

F17 Words in reg. 13(1) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Records and reports U.K.

14.  The Authority shall—

(a) keep a record of—

(i) the aggregate number of living and deceased donors, and

(ii) the types and quantities of organs procured and transplanted, or otherwise disposed of;

(b) publish an annual report on the activities referred to in paragraph (a); and

(c) establish and keep updated a record of licence holders.

Living donors U.K.

15.—(1) The Authority shall keep a record of living donors for the purposes of ensuring the follow-up of living donors.

(2) In cases where a person licensed to carry out the procurement activity of retrieving an organ ceases to be licensed by the Authority, the Authority shall make arrangements which—

(a) ensure that reasonable endeavours are made to follow-up all relevant donors for the purposes of identifying and managing any event potentially relating to the quality and safety of the donated organ and any serious adverse reaction in the living donor that may result from the donation; and

(b) identify and manage any event or reaction identified under sub-paragraph (a).

(3) In paragraph (2), a relevant donor means a living donor from whom the person who has ceased to be licensed retrieved an organ.

Serious adverse events and serious adverse reactions U.K.

16.—(1) When a licence holder reports a serious adverse event or a serious adverse reaction to the Authority, or the Authority is otherwise made aware of such an event or reaction, the Authority shall—

(a) rapidly notify that information to [F18 the] persons that the Authority considers may be affected by that information;

(b) investigate the matter where the Authority considers that an investigation will promote the quality and safety of organs; and

(c) register that information.

(2) In carrying out its duties under paragraph (1), the Authority shall ensure the interconnection with the reporting systems established under regulation 20 (duties of the Authority in relation to serious adverse events and serious adverse reactions) of the 2007 Regulations.

Textual Amendments

F18 Word in reg. 16(1)(a) substituted (14.7.2014) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1459), regs. 1(1), 7

Traceability U.K.

17.—(1) The Authority shall ensure that a traceability system is established for the purposes of ensuring notification of serious adverse events or reactions in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a).

(2) Where any person who is licensed to carry out a procurement activity or a transplantation activity ceases to be licensed, the Authority shall make arrangements to ensure that the data collected by that person under the licensing condition in paragraph 2(d) of Schedule 1 is kept for 30 years from the date of the retrieval of the organ.

Organs sent to [F19 or received from] another country U.K.

[F20 18.— (1) Where an organ is sent to a Member State from Northern Ireland, the Authority shall ensure that—

(a) information on organ and donor characterisation that is specified in Part A of the Annex to the Directive;

(b) information that has been collected by a registered medical practitioner or a person acting under their supervision that is required by Part B of the Annex at the time when the organ is sent to a Member State; and

(c) information to ensure the traceability of the organ,

is transmitted to that Member State in conformity with the requirements of Articles 4, 5, and 6(1) of the Implementing Directive.

(2) Where an organ is received in Northern Ireland from a Member State, the Authority shall ensure that—

(a) the requirements of Article 4 of the Implementing Directive in relation to information transmitted to the Authority in accordance with that Directive in respect of the organ have been complied with; and

(b) information to ensure the traceability of the organ is transmitted in accordance with Article 6(2) of that Directive.

(3) Where an organ is sent from Northern Ireland to, or received in Northern Ireland from, a Member State, the Authority shall ensure the reporting of serious adverse events and reactions in conformity with the requirements of Articles 4 and 7 of the Implementing Directive.

(4) The Authority shall ensure that any organs sent from Northern Ireland to, or received in Northern Ireland from, countries which are not in the European Union—

(a) can be traced from the donor to the recipient; and

(b) meet quality and safety standards that are equivalent to those required by these Regulations.

(5) The Authority shall ensure that any organs sent from Great Britain to, or received in Great Britain from, countries outside the United Kingdom—

(a) can be traced from the donor to the recipient; and

(b) meet quality and safety standards that are equivalent to those required by these Regulations.

(6) For the purposes of paragraphs (4) and (5), the Authority may conclude agreements with countries outside the United Kingdom.]

Textual Amendments

F19 Words in reg. 18 title inserted (14.7.2014) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1459), regs. 1(1), 8(a)

F20 Reg. 18 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(8) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1305, regs. 1, 8); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

European Union network of competent authorities U.K.

19.  The Authority shall, [F21 in relation to Northern Ireland,] whenever reasonably practicable—

(a) participate in the network of competent authorities established by the European Commission; and

(b) co-ordinate United Kingdom input into the activities of that network.

Textual Amendments

F21 Words in reg. 19 inserted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(9) (as substituted by S.I. 2020/1305, regs. 1, 9); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Requirement for the Authority to provide information U.K.

20.—(1) The Secretary of State may serve a notice upon the Authority requiring it to provide within a specified period any information which the notice specifies about the carrying out of its functions under these Regulations in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland.

(2) The Scottish Ministers may serve a notice upon the Authority requiring it to provide within a specified period any information which the notice specifies about the carrying out of its functions under these Regulations in relation to Scotland.

(3) The Authority shall, upon receipt of a notice under paragraph (1) or (2), provide the information requested within the period specified in the notice.

PART 5 U.K. General

Arrangements by the Authority for assistance with functions U.K.

21.—(1) Subject to paragraph (5), the Authority may make arrangements with a body in the United Kingdom for that body to assist the Authority in relation to any of its functions under these Regulations.

(2) Assistance under such arrangements may take the form of the carrying out by the body of the Authority's functions.

(3) Before making arrangements under paragraph (1) the Authority must be satisfied that the body it is proposing to make arrangements with is a suitable body, as defined in paragraph (4).

(4) A suitable body is a body that the Authority determines will carry out functions effectively, efficiently and economically.

(5) Arrangements under paragraph (1) shall not affect the Authority's responsibility for the carrying out of its functions.

(6) The Authority may not make arrangements under paragraph (1) in respect of the giving of—

(a) directions under section 23(1) (conduct of licensed activities) or 24(1) (changes of licence circumstance) of, or paragraph 2(4)(c) to (f) (characteristics of licence) of Schedule 3 to, the 2004 Act; or

(b) regulations under section 21(5) (procedure on reconsideration) of, or paragraphs 10(5) (procedure in relation to licensing decisions) or 13(1) (applications under Schedule 3 to the 2004 Act) of Schedule 3 to, the 2004 Act,

as applied by regulation 6.

Offences by bodies corporate U.K.

22.—(1) Where an offence under regulation 8 is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a) any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate; or

(b) any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity,

that person (as well as the body corporate) commits the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with that member's functions of management as if that member were a director of the body corporate.

(3) Where an offence under this Act is committed by a Scottish partnership and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of a partner, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of a partner, that partner (as well as the partnership) commits the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(4) In subsection (3), partner includes a person purporting to act as a partner.

Licences: transitional arrangements U.K.

23.—(1) The requirement to be licensed by the Authority does not apply to a procurement activity or a transplantation activity carried out in respect of an organ that is retrieved from a donor before 27th August 2012.

(2) Where the surgical act of retrieving an organ from the donor commences before 27th August 2012 but is not completed by 27th August 2012, the requirement to be licensed does not apply to any procurement activity or transplantation activity carried out in respect of that organ.

(3) Regulation 9 shall not apply where—

(a) the Authority receives an application for a licence under Schedule 1 before 27th August 2012; and

(b) the Authority is of the opinion that the requirements for that licence are or will be met.

(4) Except where paragraph (5) applies, the duration of a licence granted by the Authority by virtue of paragraph (3) shall be such period not exceeding 4 months as is specified in the licence.

(5) If the Authority is satisfied that—

(a) an applicant for a licence granted by virtue of paragraph (3) meets the requirements specified in regulation 9(2); and

(b) the requirements of regulation 9(3) are met,

it may remove the restriction as to duration imposed under paragraph (4).

Review U.K.

24.—(1) The Secretary of State must from time to time—

(a) carry out a review of these Regulations;

(b) set out the conclusions of the review in a report; and

(c) publish the report.

F22 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) The report must in particular—

(a) set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory system established by these Regulations;

(b) assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved; and

(c) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved with a system that imposes less regulation.

(4) The first report under this regulation must be published before the end of the period of five years beginning on 27th August 2012.

(5) Reports under this regulation are afterwards to be published at intervals not exceeding five years.

Textual Amendments

F22 Reg. 24(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(10); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

[F23 PART 5A U.K. Power to amend data sets specified in Schedule 1A in relation to Great Britain

Textual Amendments

F23 Pt. 5A inserted (31.12.2020) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/483), regs. 1, 3(11) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1305, regs. 1, 10); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Power for appropriate authority to amend Schedule 1A in relation to Great Britain U.K.

24A.— (1)  An appropriate authority in Great Britain may by regulations amend—

(a) the minimum data set specified in Part A of Schedule 1A (organ and donor characterisation) where the appropriate authority considers, on the basis of scientific evidence, that the amendment is justified by a serious risk to human health;

(b) the complementary data set specified in Part B of that Schedule where the appropriate authority considers, on the basis of scientific evidence, that it is appropriate to do so.

(2) In this regulation—

“appropriate authority” means—

(a)

in relation to England, the Secretary of State;

(b)

in relation to Wales—

(i)

the Welsh Ministers; or

(ii)

the Secretary of State acting with the consent of the Welsh Ministers;

(c)

in relation to Scotland—

(i)

the Scottish Ministers; or

(ii)

the Secretary of State acting with the consent of the Scottish Ministers;

(e)

for the whole of Great Britain, the Secretary of State acting with the consent of the Welsh Ministers and the Scottish Ministers.

Scope and nature of powers U.K.

24B.— (1) Regulations made by the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers under regulation 24A are to be made by statutory instrument.

(2) For regulations made under regulation 24A by the Scottish Ministers see section 27 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (Scottish statutory instruments).

(4) Any power in regulation 24A to make regulations includes power to make—

(a) different provision for different purposes;

(b) consequential, supplementary, incidental, transitional, transitory or saving provision.

Scrutiny of regulations U.K.

24C.— (1) A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Secretary of State under regulation 24A is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(2) Regulations made under regulation 24A by the Scottish Ministers are subject to the negative procedure (see section 28 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (instruments subject to the negative procedure)).

(3) A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under regulation 24A is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.]

PART 6 U.K. Amendments to other legislation

Amendment of the 2004 Act U.K.

25.—(1) The 2004 Act is amended as follows.

(2) In section 14 M1 (remit)—

(a) in subsection (1) after paragraph (h) insert—

“(i) the donation, testing, characterisation, procurement, preservation, transport, transplantation and disposal of human organs, in so far as those activities are activities to which regulation 5(1) of the 2012 Regulations applies and are not within the remit of the Authority by virtue of paragraphs (a) to (h).”; and

(b) after subsection (2A) insert—

“(2B) Expressions used in paragraph (i) of subsection (1) and in the 2012 Regulations have the same meaning in that paragraph as in those Regulations.”.

(3) In section 32 (prohibition of commercial dealings in human material for transplantation), after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) The Authority may not designate a person under subsection (3) to engage in any activity relating to an organ (within the meaning given by Directive 2010/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation) for use for the purpose of transplantation.”.

(4) In section 41(1) M2 (interpretation of Part 2), after the definition of “the 2007 Regulations” insert—

““the 2012 Regulations” means the Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation Regulations 2012;”.

(5) In section 59(4) (provisions extending to Scotland)—

(a) before paragraph (a) insert—

“(za) section 13,”; and

(b) in paragraph (f), after “and 61,” insert—

“(fa) Schedule 2,”.

(6) In Schedule 2 M3 (the Human Tissue Authority), at the end of paragraph 1 (membership), insert—

“(3) The Scottish Ministers may nominate a person who is a member of the Authority to make representations about the carrying out of its functions in Scotland.”.

(7) In Schedule 3 M4 (licences for the purposes of section 16), in paragraph 13 (applications under this Schedule), in sub-paragraph (1), for “and Schedule 1 to the 2007 Regulations” substitute “ , Schedule 1 to the 2007 Regulations and Schedule 1 to the 2012 Regulations ”.

Marginal Citations

M1 Amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (c.22), Schedule 7, paragraph 23 and by S.I. 2007/1523.

M2 Amended by S.I. 2007/1523.

M3 Amended by the Health Act 2009 (c.21), Schedule 3, Part 1, paragraph 7.

M4 Amended by S.I. 2007/1523.

Amendment of the 2006 Regulations U.K.

26.  In the 2006 Regulations—

(a) in regulation 2 (interpretation), in the definition of “organ”—

(i) omit “and vital”,

(ii) for “an important” substitute “ a significant ”, and

(iii) at the end of the definition insert “ , and part of an organ is also considered to be an organ if its function is to be used for the same purpose as the entire organ in the human body, maintaining the requirement of structure and vascularisation ”;

(b) in regulation 11 (cases in which restriction on transplants involving a live donor is disapplied), at the end of paragraph (2) insert—

“and where that referral concerns an organ, the referral must state that the registered medical practitioner, or a person acting under the supervision of that registered medical practitioner—

(a) is satisfied that the donor's health and medical history are suitable for the purposes of donation; and

(b) has—

(i) provided the donor with the information the donor requires to understand the consequences of donation, and

(ii) endeavoured to obtain information from the donor that is relevant to transplantation.”.

(c) after regulation 11(2) insert—

“(2A) In paragraph (2)(b), in cases where the person giving consent is different from the donor, the references to donor shall be read as if they were a references to the person giving consent.”.

Amendment of the Human Tissue Act [F24 2006] (Ethical Approval, Exceptions from Licensing and Supply of Information about Transplants) Regulations 2004 U.K.

27.  In the Human Tissue Act 2004 (Ethical Approval, Exceptions from Licensing and Supply of Information about Transplants) Regulations 2006 M5 , in regulation 3 (exceptions from licensing requirement)—

F25 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) in paragraph (5)(a) omit “and vital” and for “an important” substitute “ a significant ”.

Textual Amendments

F24 Word in reg. 27 title substituted (14.7.2014) by The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1459), regs. 1(1), 9(a)

F25 Reg. 27(a) omitted (14.7.2014) by virtue of The Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1459), regs. 1(1), 9(b)

Marginal Citations

M5 S.I. 2006/1260, to which there are no relevant amending instruments.

Amendment of the 2007 Regulations U.K.

28.  In the 2007 Regulations, in regulation 9(1) (extension of other provisions of the 2004 Act to Scotland), before “15(a)” insert “ 14 (remit), section ”.

Amendment of the 2006 Scotland Regulations S

29.—(1) The 2006 Scotland Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (cases in which restriction on transplants of organs are disapplied), at the end of paragraph (3) insert—

“, and that referral must state that the medical practitioner is satisfied that the donor's health and medical history are suitable for the purposes of donation, and that the medical practitioner, or a member of that practitioner's team, has—

(a) provided the donor with the information required to understand the consequences of donation; and

(b) endeavoured to obtain information from the donor that is relevant to transplantation.”.

(3) In regulation 3 (cases in which restriction on transplants of organs are disapplied), in paragraph (5), at the end of sub-paragraph (a) omit “and” and after that sub-paragraph insert—

“(ab) stated in that referral that the medical practitioner is satisfied that the donor's health and medical history are suitable for the purposes of donation, and that the medical practitioner, or a member of that practitioner's team, has—

(i) provided the donor, or one or more of the individuals referred to in paragraph (6)(b), with the information required to understand the consequences of donation, and

(ii) endeavoured to obtain from the donor, or one or more of the individuals referred to in paragraph (6)(b), information that is relevant to transplantation; and”.

(4) In regulation 5 (cases in which restriction on transplants of organs or tissue are disapplied), in paragraph 7, at the end of sub-paragraph (a) omit “and” and insert after that sub-paragraph—

“(ab) stated in that referral that the medical practitioner is satisfied that the donor's health and medical history are suitable for the purposes of donation, and that the medical practitioner, or a member of that practitioner's team, has—

(i) provided the donor, or the person referred to in paragraph (8)(b), with the information required to understand the consequences of donation, and

(ii) endeavoured to obtain from the donor or the person mentioned in paragraph (8)(b) information that is relevant to transplantation; and”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health.

Anne Milton

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,

Department of Health