Fix problems moving goods from GB to Northern Ireland
- 1 step
UK Act of Parliament
2018
United Kingdom
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
6 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 4 journeys · 9 statutory instruments
Who this Act binds
Plus 6 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesWhat this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Publication and rules of evidence
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Queen's Printer must publish retained EU law and treaties Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 8 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Further provision about exceptions to savings and incorporation
Corresponding powers involving devolved authorities
Further amendments of devolution legislation and reporting requirement
Powers in connection with fees and charges
Instruments which are exempt EU instruments
Regulations
Consequential, transitional, transitory and saving provision
Additional repeals
Review of EU legislation during implementation period
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ministers must arrange Parliamentary debates on vital EU legislation Crown / Minister / Government department
Bills affecting trade between Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ministers must declare if new Bills impact trade with Northern Ireland Crown / Minister / Government department
Prohibition on extending implementation period
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Ministers are prohibited from extending the post-Brexit transition period Crown / Minister / Government department
Ministerial co-chairs of the Joint Committee
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Minister of the Crown must personally co-chair the Withdrawal Joint Committee Crown / Minister / Government department
No use of written procedure in the Joint Committee
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- UK co-chair must not use written procedures in the Joint Committee Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 36 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Repeal of the European Communities Act 1972
Saving for ECA for implementation period
Saving for EU-derived domestic legislation for implementation period
Saving for EU-derived domestic legislation
Incorporation of direct EU legislation
Saving for rights etc. under section 2(1) of the ECA
Exceptions to savings and incorporation
Savings and incorporation: supplementary
Interpretation of assimilated law
Incompatibility orders
Status of assimilated law
General implementation of remainder of withdrawal agreement
General implementation of EEA EFTA and Swiss agreements
Interpretation of relevant separation agreement law
Dealing with deficiencies arising from withdrawal
Supplementary power in connection with implementation period
Power in connection with certain other separation issues
Power in connection with Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol in withdrawal agreement
Implementing the withdrawal agreement
Protection for North-South co-operation and ... prevention of new border arrangements
Powers involving devolved authorities corresponding to sections 8 to 8C
Retaining EU restrictions in devolution legislation etc.
Parliamentary approval of the outcome of negotiations with the EU
Certain dispute procedures under withdrawal agreement
Financial provision
Publication and rules of evidence
Maintenance of environmental principles etc.
Family unity for those seeking asylum or other protection in Europe
Customs arrangement as part of the framework for the future relationship
Future interaction with the law and agencies of the EU
Interpretation
Index of defined expressions
Regulations
Consequential and transitional provision
Extent
Commencement and short title
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Vehicle Certification Agency
Type approval authority for new vehicles, components, and systems. Certifies that vehicles meet safety and environmental standards. Issues UK type approvals replacing …
Connected legislation
9 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Secondary legislation (9)
- Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 2019
- Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments ) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 2019
- Intellectual Property (Amendment ) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 2020
- REACH (Amendment ) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 2019
- Road Vehicles and Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Type-Approval) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 2019
- The Challenges to Validity of EU Instruments (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 2020
- The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2023 2023
- The Ozone-Depleting Substances and Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (Amendment ) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 2019
- Windsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme) Regulations 2023 2023
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.