Part 1: UK Market Access: Goods Mutual recognition: goods Section 4: Exclusion of certain requirements existing before commencement
This section excludes certain existing requirements from being relevant requirements for the purposes of the mutual recognition principle where different regulatory requirements existed in different parts of the UK.
	Subsection (1) sets out that a statutory requirement which applies in relation to a particular sale of goods in a part of the UK and would otherwise be classified as a relevant requirement under section 3 should not be so classified in relation to that sale if it meets the conditions set out in subsection (2) below. In effect this means that statutory requirements meeting these conditions will be excluded from the scope of mutual recognition and remain unaffected by it.
	Subsection (2) sets out the conditions referenced in subsection (1). Subsection (2)(a) sets the condition that the same statutory requirement would have applied to the sale had it taken place on the relevant day (the day before the day on which this section came into force). Subsection 2(b) sets the condition that there was no corresponding requirement in force in each of the other three parts of the UK on that day.
	Subsection (3) provides that "the relevant day" is the day before the day on which this section came into force.
	Subsection (4) provides that the re-enactment of a statutory requirement, without substantive change, does not affect its continuity for the purposes of subsection (2)(a), meaning that these re-enactments will also be excluded from the principle of mutual recognition as existing requirements.
	Subsection (5) defines "corresponding requirement" for the purposes of subsection (2)(b). This is a statutory requirement that would have the same effect in another part of the UK as the statutory requirement that applies in the relevant part of the UK on the day before the day when this section comes into force.
	Subsection (6) provides that, for the purposes of subsections (2) and (5), a statutory requirement is only regarded as the same as (or having the same effect as) another statutory requirement if any differences between them are not substantive.