# The Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003, Regulation 2: Interpretation

Extent: N.I.
Status: prospective

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 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;
“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” 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;
“Education and Library Board” means a board established under Article 3 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986;
“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;
“medical practitioner” has the same meaning as in the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972;
“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.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2003/16/regulation/2 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/intercountry-adoption-hague-convention-regulations-northern-ireland-2003/regulation-2
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.