All members of an adoption panel established before 30 December 2005 (referred to in this regulation as the “old adoption panel”) will cease to hold office on that date.

With effect from 30 December 2005, the adoption agency must establish a new adoption panel in accordance with regulations 3 and 4.

Where a member of an old adoption panel ceases to hold office under paragraph (1) and whether that member’s term of office was extended by the adoption agency in accordance with regulation 5A(1A) of the Adoption Agencies Regulations 19838 or in any other case, that member may be appointed as a member of a new adoption panel of the same adoption agency save that their term of office on the new adoption panel must not exceed that permitted by regulation 4 taking account of the term they have already served as a member of the old adoption panel.