Regulation 2 InterpretationI1

In these Regulations–

• “the 1987 Order” means the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987;

• “the Act” means the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act (Northern Ireland) 2001;

• “the Adoption Agencies Regulations” means the Adoption Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989^f1 subject to the modifications set out in Schedule 4;

• “adoption agency” means an HSS trust or a registered adoption society which is an accredited body for the purposes of the Convention^f2;

• “adoption panel” means a panel established in accordance with Regulation 5 or 5A of the Adoption Agencies Regulations;

• “British Islands” has the same meaning as in Article 58ZA of the 1987 Order;

• “Central Authority”^f3 means the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety;

• “contact order” has the same meaning as in Article 8(1) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995^f4;

• “Education and Library Board” means a board established under Article 3 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986^f5;

• “eligible to adopt”, except in regulation 6(4)(a), has the meaning given in regulation 4(1);

• “entry clearance” has the same meaning as in the Immigration Act 1971^f6;

• “medical practitioner” has the same meaning as in the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972^f7;

• “prospective adopter” means a married couple or a person who makes an application under regulation 3;

• “receiving State” has the meaning given in Article 2(1) of the Convention;

• “relevant HSS trust” in Part II has the same meaning given in regulation 13;

• “RSCA” means, in relation to a Convention country other than the United Kingdom, the Central Authority of the receiving State;

• “SOCA” means, in relation to a Convention country other than the United Kingdom, the Central Authority of the State of origin;

• “State of origin” has the same meaning as in Article 2 of the Convention.