(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend provisions on the transfer of audit working papers to third country competent authorities contained in sections 1253D and 1253E of, and Schedule 10 to, the Companies Act 2006 (c.46). The Regulations give effect to Commission Decision 2010/64/EU of 5th February 2010 (O.J. L35, 6.2.2010, p.15) and Commission Decision 2010/485/EU of 1st September 2010 (O.J. L240, 11.9.2010, p.6) concerning the adequacy of the competent authorities of certain third countries pursuant to Article 47 of Directive 2006/43/EC on statutory audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts (O.J. L157, 9.6.2006, p.87). These Regulations also reimplement certain aspects of Article 47 of Directive 2006/43/EC ("the Directive").

Commission Decision 2010/64/EU specified four competent authorities of third countries as meeting requirements that are considered adequate for the purpose of Article 47(1) of the Directive. They are the Canadian Public Accountability Board; the Financial Services Agency of Japan; the Certified Public Accountants and Auditing Oversight Board of Japan and the Federal Audit Oversight Authority of Switzerland.