Regulation 4 Determining whether an exception to the special restrictions should be made

The relevant authority must consider all the information the authority holds that is relevant to the request and take the matters referred to in regulation 6 into account in determining whether the authority is satisfied that the case is exceptional.

The relevant authority must notify the prospective adopters in writing as to whether the authority is satisfied that the case is exceptional, giving reasons, where the authority is not so satisfied, why the authority is not so satisfied.

If, in relation to Northern Ireland, in a case which is not a Convention case, the Secretary of State is satisfied that the case is exceptional, the Secretary of State must also notify the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland.