Regulation 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations–

• “the Act” means the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act 1999;

• “the 1978 Act” means the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978;

• “the 2001 Regulations” means the Adoption of Children from Overseas (Scotland) Regulations 2001^f1;

• “the Adoption Agencies Regulations” means the Adoption Agencies (Scotland) Regulations 1996^f2 subject to the modifications set out in Schedule 4;

• “adoption agency” means a local authority or an approved adoption society which is an accredited body for the purposes of the Convention^f3;

• “adoption panel” has the same meaning as in the Adoption Agencies Regulations;

• “contact order” has the same meaning as in section 11(2) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995^f4;

• “eligible to adopt”, except in regulations 6(7)(a) and 9(1) has the meaning given in regulation 5;

• “local authority” in Part 3 means a local authority acting in its capacity as an adoption agency;

• “prospective adopter” in Part 2 means a person who makes an application under regulation 3;

• “receiving State” has the same meaning as in the Convention;

• “relevant local authority” in Part 2 has the 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.