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UK Law Reference
All sections of European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
2018 c. 16, s.6

Section 6 — Interpretation of assimilated law

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

This version in force from 2024-01-01

Snapshot: 2026-08-24

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .

(1) A court or tribunal—

(a) is not bound by any principles laid down, or any decisions made, on or after [F1 IP completion day] by the European Court, and

(b) cannot refer any matter to the European Court on or after [F1 IP completion day].

(2) Subject to this and subsections (3) to (6), a court or tribunal may have regard to anything done on or after [F1 IP completion day] by the European Court, another EU entity or the EU so far as it is relevant to any matter before the court or tribunal.

(3) Any question as to the validity, meaning or effect of any [F2 assimilated] law is to be decided, so far as that law is unmodified on or after [F1 IP completion day] and so far as they are relevant to it—

(a) in accordance with any [F3 assimilated] case law ..., and

(b) having regard (among other things) to the limits, immediately before [F1 IP completion day], of EU competences.

(4) But—

(a) the Supreme Court is not bound by any [F4 assimilated] EU case law,

(b) the High Court of Justiciary is not bound by any [F4 assimilated] EU case law when—

(i) sitting as a court of appeal otherwise than in relation to a compatibility issue (within the meaning given by section 288ZA(2) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995) or a devolution issue (within the meaning given by paragraph 1 of Schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998), or

(ii) sitting on a reference under section 123(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995,

(ba) [F5 a relevant court or relevant tribunal is not bound by any [F4 assimilated] EU case law so far as is provided for by regulations under subsection (5A),] and

(c) no court or tribunal is bound by any [F4 assimilated] domestic case law that it would not otherwise be bound by.

(5) In deciding whether to depart from any [F4 assimilated] EU case law [F6 by virtue of subsection (4)(a) or (b)], the Supreme Court or the High Court of Justiciary must apply the same test as it would apply in deciding whether to depart from its own case law.

(5A) [F7 A Minister of the Crown may by regulations provide for—]

(a) [F7 a court or tribunal to be a relevant court or (as the case may be) a relevant tribunal for the purposes of this section,]

(b) [F7 the extent to which, or circumstances in which, a relevant court or relevant tribunal is not to be bound by retained EU case law,]

(c) [F7 the test which a relevant court or relevant tribunal must apply in deciding whether to depart from any retained EU case law, or]

(d) [F7 considerations which are to be relevant to—]

(i) [F7 the Supreme Court or the High Court of Justiciary in applying the test mentioned in subsection (5), or]

(ii) [F7 a relevant court or relevant tribunal in applying any test provided for by virtue of paragraph (c) above.]

(5B) [F7 Regulations under subsection (5A) may (among other things) provide for—]

(a) [F7 the High Court of Justiciary to be a relevant court when sitting otherwise than as mentioned in subsection (4)(b)(i) and (ii),]

(b) [F7 the extent to which, or circumstances in which, a relevant court or relevant tribunal not being bound by retained EU case law includes (or does not include) that court or tribunal not being bound by retained domestic case law which relates to retained EU case law,]

(c) [F7 other matters arising in relation to retained domestic case law which relates to retained EU case law (including by making provision of a kind which could be made in relation to retained EU case law), or]

(d) [F7 the test mentioned in paragraph (c) of subsection (5A) or the considerations mentioned in paragraph (d) of that subsection to be determined (whether with or without the consent of a Minister of the Crown) by a person mentioned in subsection (5C)(a) to (e) or by more than one of those persons acting jointly.]

(5C) [F7 Before making regulations under subsection (5A), a Minister of the Crown must consult—]

(a) [F7 the President of the Supreme Court,]

(b) [F7 the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales,]

(c) [F7 the Lord President of the Court of Session,]

(d) [F7 the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland,]

(e) [F7 the Senior President of Tribunals, and]

(f) [F7 such other persons as the Minister of the Crown considers appropriate.]

(5D) [F7 No regulations may be made under subsection (5A) after IP completion day.]

(6) Subsection (3) does not prevent the validity, meaning or effect of any [F8 assimilated] law which has been modified on or after [F1 IP completion day] from being decided as provided for in that subsection if doing so is consistent with the intention of the modifications.

(6A) [F9 Subsections (1) to (6) are subject to relevant separation agreement law (for which see section 7C).]

(7) In this Act— [F10 “assimilated case law” means— (a) assimilated domestic case law, and (b) assimilated EU case law; “assimilated domestic case law” means any principles laid down by, and any decisions of, a court or tribunal in the United Kingdom, as they have effect immediately before IP completion day and so far as they— (a) relate to anything to which section 2 or 3 applies, and (b) are not excluded by section 5 or Schedule 1, (as those principles and decisions are modified by or under this Act or by other domestic law from time to time); “assimilated EU case law” means any principles laid down by, and any decisions of, the European Court, as they have effect in EU law immediately before IP completion day and so far as they— (a) relate to anything to which section 2 or 3 applies, and (b) are not excluded by section 5 or Schedule 1, (as those principles and decisions are modified by or under this Act or by other domestic law from time to time); “assimilated law” means anything which, on or after IP completion day, continues to be, or forms part of, domestic law by virtue of section 2 or 3 or subsection (3) or (6) above (as that body of law is added to or otherwise modified by or under this Act or by other domestic law from time to time);] ... ... ... ... ...

Amendment notes

  1. F1 Words in s. 6 substituted (30.1.2020 for specified purposes, 31.1.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), ss. 26(1)(a), 42(7) (with s. 38(3), Sch. 5 para. 66); 2020 c. 2, reg. 2(11)(c); S.I. 2020/75, reg. 4(i); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 5(e)
  2. F2 Word in s. 6(3) substituted (1.1.2024) by Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 8(3)(b)(i) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)
  3. F3 Word in s. 6(3)(a) substituted (1.1.2024) by Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 8(3)(b)(ii) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)
  4. F4 Word in s. 6(4)-(5ZA) substituted (1.1.2024) by Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 8(3)(c) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)
  5. F5 S. 6(4)(ba) inserted (30.1.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), ss. 26(1)(b), 42(7) (with s. 38(3), Sch. 5 para. 66); 2020 c. 2, reg. 2(11)(c); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 5(e)
  6. F6 Words in s. 6(5) inserted (30.1.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), ss. 26(1)(c), 42(7) (with s. 38(3), Sch. 5 para. 66); 2020 c. 2, reg. 2(11)(c); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 5(e)
  7. F7 S. 6(5A)-(5D) inserted (30.1.2020 for specified purposes, 19.5.2020 in so far as not already in force) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), ss. 26(1)(d), 42(7) (with s. 38(3), Sch. 5 para. 66); 2020 c. 2, s. 2(11)(c); S.I. 2020/518, reg. 2(l)
  8. F8 Word in s. 6(6) substituted (1.1.2024) by Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 8(3)(d) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)
  9. F9 S. 6(6A) inserted (30.1.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), ss. 26(1)(e), 42(7) (with s. 38(3), Sch. 5 para. 66); 2020 c. 2, reg. 2(11)(c); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 5(e)
  10. F10 Words in s. 6(7) inserted (1.1.2024) by Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 8(3)(e)(i) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)