The European Qualifications (Health Care Professions) (Croatia Accession Amendment) Regulations 2013

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement, in part, Annex III to the Act annexed to the Treaty concerning the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, signed at Brussels on 9th December 2011, insofar as it amends the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC (“the Directive”), relating to acquired rights for doctors, dentists, nurses responsible for general care, midwives and pharmacists (‘acquired rights provisions’).

The acquired rights provisions make special provision for the recognition of professional qualifications obtained by Member State nationals in the former Yugoslavia before 8th October 1991 and which are attested by Croatia as being valid qualifications under the Directive. These Regulations amend existing UK legislation to transpose those provisions.

Regulations 2 and 3 make provision for the acquired rights provisions to apply to professional qualifications obtained in the field of medicine (including general and specialist practice).

Regulations 4 and 5 make provision for the acquired rights provisions to apply to professional qualifications obtained in the field of dentistry (including general and specialist practice).

Regulation 6 makes provision for the acquired rights provisions to apply to professional qualifications obtained in the field of general care nursing and midwifery, although specific qualifications relating to midwifery, which were obtained before 1st July 2013 (the date of accession of Croatia to the European Union), are excluded from benefiting from the preserved rights under the Directive.

Regulation 7 makes provision for the acquired rights provisions to apply to professional qualifications obtained in the field of pharmacy in respect of England, Wales and Scotland.

Regulation 8 makes provision for the acquired rights provisions to apply to professional qualifications obtained in the field of pharmacy in respect of Northern Ireland.

An Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk. Copies have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

A Transposition Note has been prepared for these Regulations, a copy of which can be obtained from the Department of Health, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the costs of business.