EU Exit and legislative context for the Act
On 31 January 2020, the UK left the European Union and the Withdrawal Agreement agreed with the EU entered into force. The Withdrawal Agreement provided for a transition period which ended at 11pm on 31 December 2020.
	For the recognition of professional qualifications, the EU Directive 2005/36/EC on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications ("MRPQ Directive") provided a framework for the recognition of professional qualifications across the EU. The MRPQ Directive enabled European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals to have their professional qualifications recognised in an EEA State or Switzerland, other than the state in which the qualification was obtained.
	The European Union (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2015 ("2015 Regulations") implement part of the MRPQ Directive. As part of preparing the statute book for the UK’s exit from the EU, the Government made the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 ("2019 Regulations") which provide for an interim system of recognition of professional qualifications from the EEA and Switzerland and came into force at the end of the transition period. The Professional Qualifications and Services (Amendments and Miscellaneous Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations in 2020 amended the 2019 Regulations, primarily to implement transitional arrangements that the UK agreed with the EU, EEA EFTA states, and Switzerland.
	The Act is part of the Government’s plans to exercise the UK’s new regulatory flexibility, as outlined in the HM Treasury report on the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 3 . To make way for the new approach to the recognition of professional qualifications set out in the Act, the Act revokes the 2015 Regulations and contains powers to revoke other EU-derived legislation on the recognition of professional qualifications, which was retained following the EU exit Transition Period to provide continuity in services and surety for business. This includes legislation where preference is given to certain professional qualifications issued in the EEA and Switzerland.
	The Government issued a written Call for Evidence in August 2020 that sought views from stakeholders on the recognition of professional qualifications and the regulation of professions. The Call for Evidence was part of a wider programme of work considering recognition of professional qualifications; however, the insights from it have also informed Bill planning. The summary of responses to the Call for Evidence was published on 12 May 2021.