The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2024

• Citation: S.I. 2024/1183 (W.)
• Sections: 8

Section 1 Title and coming into force

The title of these Regulations is the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2024 and they come into force on 1 January 2025.

Section 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations—

“ the 2023 Regulations ” (“ Rheoliadau 2023 ”) means the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Wales) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2023 ;

“ the Swiss Agreement ” (“ Cytundeb y Swistir ”) means the Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications done at London on 14 June 2023 .

Section 3 Amendments to regulation 2 of the 2023 Regulations

(1) Regulation 2 (interpretation) of the 2023 Regulations is amended as follows.

(2) For the definition of “adaptation period” substitute—

“ adaptation period ” (“ cyfnod ymaddasu ”) means—

in the case of an applicant who makes an application in reliance on the holding of professional qualifications obtained in Switzerland, a period of supervised practice, subject to an assessment and which may be accompanied by further education or training, in a Welsh regulated profession under the responsibility of a qualified member of that profession;

in the case of an applicant who makes an application in reliance on the holding of professional qualifications obtained otherwise than in Switzerland, a period of supervised practice, subject to an assessment and which may be accompanied by further training, in a Welsh regulated profession under the responsibility of a qualified member of that profession;

(3) Omit ““ specified ” (“ penodedig ”) means specified in regulations;”.

Section 4 Amendment to regulation 8 of the 2023 Regulations

In paragraph (6) of regulation 8 (procedure to be followed on application for recognition) of the 2023 Regulations, for “the United Kingdom”, substitute “England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland” .

Section 5 Amendment to regulation 11 of the 2023 Regulations

For regulation 11 (fees) of the 2023 Regulations substitute—

Fees

(11)

(1) A Welsh regulator may charge such fees as they consider appropriate in connection with an application.

(2) Any fees charged by a Welsh regulator in connection with an application must be—

(a) reasonable and proportionate to the cost of the application, and

(b) transparent and made public in advance.

(3) In the case of an applicant who makes an application in reliance on professional qualifications obtained in Switzerland, any fees must be payable by electronic means.

(4) In the case of an applicant who makes an application in reliance on professional qualifications obtained otherwise than in Switzerland, any fees must be payable by electronic means through the Welsh regulator’s website.

Section 6 Amendment to Schedule 2 to the 2023 Regulations

After paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 (the specified states) to the 2023 Regulations, insert—

(4) The Swiss Confederation

Section 7 Amendments to Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and repealing Regulation (EC) No 842/2006

In Article 10 (training and certification) of Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and repealing Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 —

(a) in paragraph 10, for “an EEA EFTA state”, substitute “a specified state” ;

(b) for paragraph 16 substitute—

(16) For the purposes of this Article, a ‘specified state’ means a state specified in Schedule 2 to the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Wales) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2023.

Section 8 Amendments to the Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations 2015

(1) The Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations 2015 are amended as follows.

(2) Regulation 4 (meaning of “ competent ”) is renumbered as paragraph (1) of that regulation.

(3) In regulation 4(1) (as renumbered by paragraph (2))—

(a) in sub-paragraphs (a) and (c)(ii), for “an EEA EFTA state”, substitute “a specified state” ;

(b) omit sub-paragraph (d);

(c) insert a new paragraph (2)—

(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a “ specified state ” means a state specified in Schedule 2 to the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Wales) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2023.

(4) In regulation 6 (qualifications and supervision)—

(a) in paragraph (5)(b)(i), for “4(a)” substitute “4(1)(a)” ;

(b) in paragraph (6)(a)(i), for “4(c)” substitute “4(1)(c)” .

(5) In the shoulder note to Schedule 2, for “4(a)” substitute “4(1)(a)” .

(6) In the shoulder note to Schedule 3, for “4(c)” substitute “4(1)(c)” .