(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations bring into force provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16) (“the Act”) on “exit day”. “Exit day” means 31 January 2020 at 11 p.m. in accordance with section 20(1) of the Act.

Regulation 2 brings into force section 7(1) and (6), which relates to the status of retained EU law, and paragraphs 7, 8 and 10 to 12 of Schedule 8, which provide glosses to existing and future powers to make subordinate legislation respectively.

These Regulations also amend the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (Commencement and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/808) (“the First Commencement Regulations”).

Regulation 3 amends the day appointed for the coming into force of provisions in the Act relating to the repeal of the European Union Act 2011 (c. 12) (to the extent not already been commenced) from exit day to IP completion day (31 December 2020 at 11 p.m.). It also amends the transitional provision in the First Commencement Regulations to make it clear that following the repeal of the reference to EU obligations in section 30 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26) the remaining reference to international obligations does not include EU obligations during the period from 4 July 2018 to IP completion day.