4.‘Intercountry adoption’ is a general term referring to the adoption of a child resident abroad by adopters resident in the United Kingdom; it may also refer to the adoption of a child resident in the United Kingdom by adopters resident overseas.   Before 1990 there were few intercountry adoptions, many of which were adoptions of children by birth relatives.   There are currently over 300 adoptions each year of children from overseas by adopters living in the United Kingdom where the adopters have been approved as suitable to adopt by their local authority social services or approved adoption agency.
5.There are approximately 100 other cases each year where people avoid the adoption procedures and bring children to the UK without approval.   The Act aims to prevent such cases by creating new offences of failing to comply with regulatory requirements.
Background Intercountry adoptions