Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Adoptions with a Foreign Element (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 and come into force on 24th May 2010.

Amendment of the Adoptions with a Foreign Element (Scotland) Regulations 2009

2.–(1) The Adoptions with a Foreign Element (Scotland) Regulations 2009(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 21 (procedure following receipt of Article 16 Information)–

(a) for paragraph (3) substitute–

"(3) Where–

(a) the procedure in paragraph (2) has been followed; and

(b) the prospective adopters have confirmed in writing to the adoption agency that they wish to proceed to adopt the child,

the adoption agency must notify the Central Authority in writing that the requirements specified in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) have been satisfied and, at the same time, confirm that it is satisfied that there are no impediments to the adoption proceeding.";

(b) after paragraph (5) insert–

"(5A) Where the prospective adopters visit the child in the State of origin they must, no later than 3 working days after visiting the child–

(a) notify the adoption agency–

(i) that they have visited the child; and

(ii) as to whether they wish to proceed to adopt the child; and

(b) provide the adoption agency with any additional reports and information received on or after that visit.

(5B) Where the adoption agency receives notice under paragraph (5A) the agency must notify the Central Authority in writing–

(a) that the prospective adopters have visited the child; and

(b) as to whether the prospective adopters wish to proceed to adopt the child.".

(3) In regulation 22(3) (procedure where proposed adoption not to proceed) for "the child is placed with the prospective adopters" substitute "any Convention adoption is made in the State of origin or, if none is made, before the child´s entry into the United Kingdom".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make amendments to the Adoptions with a Foreign Element (Scotland) Regulations 2009 ("the principal Regulations") to remove the requirement that prospective adopters, in adoptions proceeding under the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-‘operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption ("the Convention"), visit the child in their State of origin before an agreement under Article 17(c) of the Convention is made. They also make provision for notification requirements when the prospective adopters have visited the child by inserting new paragraphs (5A) and (5B) in regulation 21 of the principal Regulations. Regulation 2(3) makes a consequential amendment to regulation 22 of the principal Regulations.

These amendments apply to adoptions in Scotland where the United Kingdom is the receiving State (where a child is brought from outwith the British Islands to the United Kingdom for adoption by a British resident in accordance with the Convention).