GEN 2A.1 Introduction

This chapter applies to any person to whom any provision in the FCA Handbook applies and to any reader of the Handbook.

This chapter also applies in respect of instruments or documents issued by the FCA under an enactment that do not form part of the FCA Handbook. Accordingly, it applies to any person to whom such an instrument or document applies and to any reader of any such instrument or document.

Section 1B of the EUWA makes cross-cutting provision to ensure that UK legislation gives effect to the implementation period at Part 4 of the withdrawal agreement. For example, it makes sure, where relevant, that the definition of “Member State” used in EU-derived legislation is treated as if it includes “the UK” and that references to “EU law” (however expressed) are read as a reference to such law so far as it is applicable to and in the UK by virtue of Part 4 of the withdrawal agreement. The effect of the EUWA is that these provisions also apply to FCA Handbook rules and other legislation (within the meaning of the EUWA) made by the FCA.

The purpose of this chapter is to confirm and explain that, during the implementation period, the entire FCA Handbook and other documents issued by the FCA should be read in light of section 1B of the EUWA.

In this chapter, the expression “EUWA” means the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

In this chapter the expressions “implementation period”, “EU-derived domestic legislation” and “enactment” have the same meaning as in the EUWA and the expressions “withdrawal agreement” and “IP completion day” have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020.