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There are currently no known outstanding effects for the Contracts (Applicable Law) Act 1990.
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In this Act, a reference to the Rome Convention is a reference to the provisions contained in Schedule 1 (which is derived from the Convention on the law applicable to contractual obligations opened for signature in Rome on 19th June 1980).]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Commencement Information
I1S. 1 wholly in force at 1.4.1991 see s. 7 and S.I. 1991/707, art. 2
[F3(1)The Rome Convention applies to contracts made on or after 1st April 1991.]
F4(1A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F5(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)[F6The Rome Convention] shall apply in the case of conflicts between the laws of different parts of the United Kingdom.
F7(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F2S. 2 heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(3)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F3S. 2(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(3)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F4S. 2(1A) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(3)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F5S. 2(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(3)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F6Words in s. 2(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(3)(d); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F7S. 2(4) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(3)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Commencement Information
I2S. 2 partly in force; s. 2(1) in force for certain purposes at 1.4.1991 and s. 2(2)-(4) fully in force at 1.4.1991 see s. 7 and S.I. 1991/707, art. 2
I3S. 2(1) in force at 1.3.2005 for specified purposes by S.I. 2004/3448, art. 2(a)
[F9(1)Any question as to the meaning or effect of any provision of the Rome Convention is to be decided in accordance with section 6 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (interpretation of [F10assimilated] law).]
F11(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)Without prejudice to any practice of the courts as to the matters which may be considered apart from this subsection—
(a)the report on the [F12Convention on the law applicable to contractual obligations] by Professor Mario Giuliano and Professor Paul Lagarde which is reproduced in the Official Journal of the M1Communities of 31st October 1980 may be considered in ascertaining the meaning or effect of any provision of [F13the Rome Convention]; F14...
F14(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F8Words in s. 3 heading substituted (31.12.2020) by The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(4)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F9S. 3(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(4)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F10Word in s. 3(1) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 28(2)
F11S. 3(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(4)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F12Words in s. 3(3)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(4)(d)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F13Words in s. 3(3)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(4)(d)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F14S. 3(3)(b) and word omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(4)(e); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Commencement Information
I4S. 3 partly in force; s. 3(a) in force 1.4.1991 by s. 7 andS.I. 1991/707, art. 2
I5S. 3(1)(2)(3)(b) in force at 1.3.2005 by S.I. 2004/3448, art. 2(b)
Marginal Citations
M1O.J.1980 No.C282/1.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F15S. 4 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(1)Nothing in this Act applies to affect the determination of issues relating to contractual obligations which fall to be determined under the Rome I Regulation.
[F17(2)In this section “the Rome I Regulation” means Regulation (EC) No. 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the law applicable to contractual obligations as that Regulation has effect as [F18assimilated direct] legislation (including that Regulation as applied by regulation 5 of the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2009), unless the issues are ones in respect of which Regulation (EC) No. 593/2008 has effect by virtue of Article 66 of the EU withdrawal agreement, in which case it means that Regulation as it has effect by virtue of that Article.]
(3)This section extends to England and Wales and Northern Ireland only.]
Textual Amendments
F16S. 4A inserted (E.W.N.I.) (17.12.2009) by The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/3064), regs. 1(1), 2
F17S. 4A(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2019/834, reg. 3(6) (as substituted by The Jurisdiction, Judgments and Applicable Law (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1574), regs. 1, 6(4)(a))
F18Words in s. 4A(2) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 28(3)(a)
(1)Nothing in this Act applies to affect the determination of issues relating to contractual obligations which fall to be determined by the Rome I Regulation.
[F20(2)In this section—
“the Rome I Regulation” means Regulation (EC) No. 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the law applicable to contractual obligations as that Regulation has effect as [F21assimilated direct] legislation (including that Regulation as applied by regulation 4 of the Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations (Scotland) Regulations 2009), unless the issues are ones in respect of which Regulation (EC) No. 593/2008 has effect by virtue of Article 66 of the EU withdrawal agreement, in which case it means that Regulation as it has effect by virtue of that Article.]
(3)This section extends to Scotland only.]
Textual Amendments
F19S. 4B inserted (S.) (17.12.2009) by Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/410), regs. 1(1), 2(a)
F20S. 4B(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2019/834, reg. 3(7) (as substituted by The Jurisdiction, Judgments and Applicable Law (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1574), regs. 1, 6(4)(b))
F21Words in s. 4B(2) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 28(3)(b)
The enactments specified in Schedule 4 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule.
Commencement Information
I6S. 5 wholly in force at 1.4.1991 see s. 7 and S.I. 1991/707, art. 2
This Act binds the Crown.
Commencement Information
I7S. 6 wholly in force at 1.4.1991 see s. 7 and S.I. 1991/707, art. 2
This Act shall come into force on such day as the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Advocate may by order made by statutory instrument appoint; and different days may be appointed for different provisions or different purposes.
Subordinate Legislation Made
P1S. 7 power of appointment conferred by s. 7 exercised by S.I.1991/707
Commencement Information
I8S. 7 wholly in force at 1.4.1991 see S.I. 1991/707, art. 2
(1)[F22Except as provided by virtue of section 4B(3), this] Act extends to Northern Ireland.
F23(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F24(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F22Words in s. 8(1) substituted (S.) (17.12.2009) by Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/410), regs. 1(1), 2(b)
F23S. 8(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(8); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F24S. 8(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Law Applicable to Contractual Obligations and Non-Contractual Obligations (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/834), regs. 1, 3(8); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Commencement Information
I9S. 8 wholly in force at 1.4.1991 see s. 7 and S.I. 1991/707, art. 2
This Act may be cited as the Contracts (Applicable Law) Act 1990.
Commencement Information
I10S. 9 wholly in force at 1.4.1991 see s. 7 and S.I. 1991/707, art. 2
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