UK: Exiting the EU: The Friendly Societies (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018

The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 received Royal assent at the end of June. Under section 8(1) of the Act, a Minister of the Crown is given the power through Regulations to make provisions to prevent, remedy or mitigate any failure of retained EU law to operate effectively or any other deficiency in retained EU law, arising from the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.

A final draft of the Friendly Societies (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 has been published, and will be made in exercise of the section 8(1) power. A copy of the Regulations is available here (pdf) and the accompanying explanatory memorandum is available here (pdf). The Regulations make a number of changes to the Friendly Societies Act 1992, including replacing the references to the EU Audit Directive.

The Regulations will not be be laid in Parliament until they have gone through the new 'sifting' process prescribed within Schedule 7 of the 2018 Act (further guidance is available here; for discussion see here).